David Strathairn

Blueberries Meet Luscious Taste Buds in ‘My Blueberry Nights’ With Jude Law, Rachel Weisz

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:01:00 -0700

CHICAGO – We see sensual close-up shots of blueberry pie overflow with aqueducts of vanilla ice cream in Wong Kar-Wai’s opening sequence of “My Blueberry Nights”. This dreamy scene sets the tone of the latest film from the famous Chinese director as he confronts the West with his unique cinematic style.

Split into three separate stories, the film begins in a bohemian New York café owned by Jeremy (Jude Law) where Elizabeth (Norah Jones) discovers that her boyfriend has left her for another woman.

Distraught, she leaves her keys with sympathetic Jeremy and hopes her ex will pick them up at the café and be out of her life forever. Elizabeth seeks comfort in Jeremy’s companionship and accepts his advice over leftover blueberry pie. Still, her heart is broken. Elizabeth decides she must go on a journey to reinvent herself.

Read Allison Pitaccio’s full review of “My Blueberry Nights” in our reviews section.

View our full, high-resolution “My Blueberry Nights” image gallery.

She travels the country by bus and stops first in Memphis where her part in the film becomes more of an observer than a participant. Elizabeth takes on two jobs: one as a diner waitress and the other as a cocktail server. She befriends a customer at the bar, Arnie (David Strathairn), who’s an alcoholic cop grieving the loss of his wife’s faithfulness.

Rachel Weisz plays Arnie’s wife, Sue Lynne, who parades around in sultry scenes with younger boyfriends until Arnie loses his cool. He not only threatens her young boyfriend but also threatens Sue Lynne’s life. After realizing his marriage has ended, he offs himself by crashing his car and leaves Elizabeth to comfort his now-heartbroken wife.

Norah Jones (left) and Natalie Portman in Wong Kar-Wai’s “My Blueberry Nights”.
Photo credit: MaCall Polay, The Weinstein Company

Rachel Weisz in Wong Kar-Wai’s “My Blueberry Nights”.
Photo credit: MaCall Polay, The Weinstein Company

Read Allison Pitaccio’s full “My Blueberry Nights” review…

Poster Art Hits Web For ‘My Blueberry Nights’ With Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:05:37 -0700

CHICAGO – The publicist for “My Blueberry Nights” with Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Norah Jones and David Strathairn just sent us the poster art for the new film, which will open in limited U.S. theaters on April 4, 2008.

Our Chicago publicists have informed us that the film will open in the Windy City on April 18, 2008. The new poster is below. You can click it to view the image in insanely high resolution. The synopsis for the film follows the poster.

In Wong Kar Wai’s debut English-language feature, the internationally acclaimed director takes his audience on a dramatic journey across the distance between heartbreak and a new beginning.

After a rough break-up, Elizabeth (played by songstress Norah Jones in her screen debut) sets out on a journey across America and leaves behind a life of memories, a dream and a soulful new friend - a café owner (Jude Law) - all while in search of something to mend her broken heart.

Waitressing her way through the country, Elizabeth befriends others whose yearnings are greater than hers including a troubled cop (David Strathairn) and his estranged wife (Rachel Weisz) along with a down-on-her-luck gambler (Natalie Portman) with a score to settle.

Through these individuals, Elizabeth witnesses the true depths of loneliness and emptiness and begins to understand that her own journey is part of a greater exploration within herself.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Interview: ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Writer Holly Black on First Feature Film

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:19:52 -0700

CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com publisher Adam Fendelman has interviewed “The Spiderwick Chronicles” writer and co-executive producer Holly Black about her first feature-film fantasy adaptation, why she loves fairies so much and how she developed the film’s unique characters.

Click here to listen to the Holly Black interview!

“The Spiderwick Chronicles,” which opened on Feb. 14, stars Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen and Martin Short.

Click here to see our huge “The Spiderwick Chronicles” image gallery!

“The Spiderwick Chronicles” writer Holly Black
Image courtesy of Holly Black

Freddie Highmore in “The Spiderwick Chronicles”.
Image credit: IMDb

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com