Film / Comedy

Production begins on Sept. 8, 2008 for 'A Serious Man' from Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:09:56 -0700

I just received the following press release.

NEW YORK, September 8th, 2008 – Production begins today on location in Minnesota on A Serious Man, for Focus Features and Working Title Films. Joel and Ethan Coen, Academy Award winners for No Country for Old Men and Fargo, are writing, producing, and directing the film. Working Title co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are executive-producing the film with Robert Graf, who has worked on the Coens’ last six features in various producing capacities.

The director of photography on A Serious Man is seven-time Academy Award nominee Roger Deakins, who is marking his tenth feature collaboration with the Coens. Mary Zophres is the film’s costume designer, marking her ninth feature collaboration with the Coens. Jess Gonchor is the production designer, marking his third feature collaboration with the Coens.

A Serious Man is the story of an ordinary man’s search for clarity in a universe where Jefferson Airplane is on the radio and F-Troop is on TV. It is 1967, and Larry Gopnik, a physics professor at a quiet midwestern university, has just been informed by his wife Judith that she is leaving him. She has fallen in love with one of his more pompous colleagues, Sy Ableman, who seems to her a more substantial person than the feckless Larry. Larry’s unemployable brother Arthur is sleeping on the couch, his son Danny is a discipline problem and a shirker at Hebrew school, and his daughter Sarah is filching money from his wallet in order to save up for a nose job.

While his wife and Sy Ableman blithely make new domestic arrangements, and his brother becomes more and more of a burden, an anonymous hostile letter-writer is trying to sabotage Larry’s chances for tenure at the university. Also, a graduate student seems to be trying to bribe him for a passing grade while at the same time threatening to sue him for defamation. Plus, the beautiful woman next door torments him by sunbathing nude. Struggling for equilibrium, Larry seeks advice from three different rabbis. Can anyone help him cope with his afflictions and become a righteous person – a mensch – a serious man?

Tony Award nominee Michael Stuhlbarg (whose films include The Grey Zone) stars as Larry; Fred Melamed (Suspect) plays Sy; Richard Kind (The Visitor) portrays Arthur; and Minnesota actors Aaron Wolf, Sari Wagner, and Jessica McManus are cast as Danny, Judith, and Sarah, respectively.

The Coens’ comedy thriller Burn After Reading, also from Focus Features and Working Title Films, world-premiered last month as the opening-night film of the 2008 Venice International Film Festival; made its North American premiere last week at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival; and will be released by Focus nationwide on Friday, September 12th. The film stars George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, and Brad Pitt.

Focus president of production John Lyons, who is overseeing A Serious Man and oversaw Burn After Reading on behalf of the company, has previously collaborated with the Coen brothers extensively, as casting director on their features Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo and The Big Lebowski.

Messrs. Bevan and Fellner have also had a long association with the Coens; Fargo (which won Oscars for Ms. McDormand as Best Actress and for the Coens in the Original Screenplay category), The Hudsucker Proxy, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou? (for which Mr. Clooney won a Golden Globe Award), The Man Who Wasn’t There, and Burn After Reading were all made by the Coens with Working Title. Working Title Films is Europe’s leading film production company, making movies that defy boundaries as well as demographics.

Currently in post-production at Working Title are a record number of films: Beeban Kidron’s Hippie Hippie Shake, starring Cillian Murphy, Sienna Miller, Emma Booth, and Max Minghella; Kevin Macdonald’s State of Play, starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Robin Wright Penn, and Helen Mirren; Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon, adapted by Peter Morgan from his play of the same name and starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen; Joe Wright’s The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey, Jr., and Catherine Keener; Richard Curtis’ The Boat That Rocked, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, and Nick Frost; and Paul Greengrass’ untitled thriller starring Matt Damon.

Focus Features exists to produce, acquire and distribute original and daring films that challenge the mainstream to embrace and enjoy voices and visions from around the world that deliver global commercial success.

In addition to A Serious Man and Burn After Reading, upcoming Focus Features releases include Henry Selick’s 3-D stop-motion animated feature Coraline, starring Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher; Shane Acker’s animated fantasy epic 9, starring Elijah Wood and Jennifer Connelly; Cary Fukunaga’s immigrant thriller Sin Nombre; writer/director Jim Jarmusch’s new film, tentatively titled The Limits of Control, starring Isaach De Bankolé; a contemporary comedy directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes and starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph; Taking Woodstock, the new film from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee; and Gus Van Sant’s Milk, starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk.

Focus Features and Working Title Films are part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

New production still released for 'Soul Men' with recently deceased Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:47:36 -0700

We have just been sent a new production still for the new film “Soul Men” with Samuel L. Jackson and the recently deceased Bernie Mac and the recently deceased Isaac Hayes. In the still below, Mac is on the left, Hayes is in the middle and Jackson is on the right.

Sacha Baron Cohen & Will Ferrell in new Sherlock Holmes Film

Dustin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:05:21 -0700

Sacha Baron Cohen as master detective Sherlock Holmes and Will Ferrell as Watson. Etan Cohen is writing the script, and Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller will produce.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988387.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Fat People hate Wall-E

Dustin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:36:26 -0700

“Love Monkey” Kyle Smith Says

Quote:Wall-E…supposes that the human race of the future will
become a flabby mass of peabrained idiots who are literally too fat to
walk. Instead they zip around in flying wheelchairs surfing the Web,
chatting on phone lines and stuffing their faces with food meant to be
sucked down like milkshakes while unquestioningly taking orders from
the master corporation that controls all aspects of their existence.
I’m trying to think of a major Disney cartoon feature that was anywhere
near as dark or cynical as this. I’m coming up blank. I’m also not sure
I’ve ever seen a major corporation spend so much money to issue an
insult to its customers.

http://defamer.com/5020076/everyone-who-loves-wall+e-step-forward-not-so…

Ben Stiller & Reese Witherspoon to star in new Cameron Crow comedy

Dustin — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:16:55 -0700

Quote:Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon will star in an untitled Cameron Crowe romantic comedy adventure at Columbia Pictures. Columbia
was the winning bidder, beating out four rival studios, in landing the
fully developed project, which is being produced by Scott Rudin. Crowe,
who wrote the screenplay, is also producing.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117987103.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Tropic Thunder Viral Videos

Dustin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:40:48 -0700

Jack Black, Ben Stiller & Robert Downey, Jr. at 2008 MTV Movie Awards:

Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller, Jack Black Perform with Gladys Knight on American Idol Finale

Universal Pictures to release 'Role Models' on Nov. 14, 2008 with Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:56:18 -0700

I just received the following statement:

Universal Pictures will release ROLE MODELS on Friday, November 14, 2008.

Synopsis:
Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star in ROLE MODELS as Danny and Wheeler, two salesmen who trash a company truck on an energy-drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice: do hard time or spend 150 service hours with a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn’t look half bad.

Surrounded by annoying do-gooders, Danny struggles with his every neurotic impulse to guide Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) through the trials of becoming a man. Unfortunately, the guy just dumped by his girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) has only sarcasm to offer a bashful 16-year-old obsessed with medieval role play.

Meanwhile, charming Wheeler tries to trade in an addiction to partying and women to assist a fifth-grader named Ronnie (Bobb’e Thompson) redirect his foul-mouthed ways. It would probably help if Ronnie’s new role model wasn’t an overgrown adolescent whose idea of quality time includes keggers in Venice Beach.

Once the center’s ex-con director (Jane Lynch) gives them an ultimatum, Danny and Wheeler are forced to tailor their brand of immature wisdom to their charges. And if they can just make it through probation without getting thrown in jail, the world’s worst role models will prove that, sometimes, it takes a village idiot to raise a child.

Adam Sandler's New Stand-Up Comedy Movie

Dustin — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:25:16 -0700

Adam Sandler is making a new Hollywood comedy – about stand-up comics.

The actor will team up with 40-Year-Old Virgin director Judd Apatow for the new film, which has yet to be titled.

The movie will also star Seth Rogan, who let slip the news at a film screening on Friday.

Sandler
– who was flat-mates with Apatow when both were first starting out –
admitted: ‘I haven’t done stand-up in, like, 10 years.

http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2008/06/01/6849/sandlers_stand-up_movie

Coen's Burn After Reading Trailer

Dustin — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:14:04 -0700

The new Coen Brother’s “Burn After Reading” trailer is available online and on iTunes!

http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2008/05/the_coens_burn_after_reading_t.php

New production stills revealed for Joel and Ethan Coen's 'Burn After Reading' with Brad Pitt, George Clooney

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:29:28 -0700

We have just been sent new production stills for Joel and Ethan Coen’s “Burn After Reading” with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins. The brothers directed the Oscar-winning “No Country for Old Men” and “Fargo”.

Brad Pitt in “Burn After Reading”.
Photo credit: Macall Polay

George Clooney (left) and Frances McDormand in “Burn After Reading”.
Photo credit: Macall Polay

Wide opening date: Sept. 12, 2008

Story: World premiering as the opening-night film of the 2008 Venice International Film Festival, this is a dark-spy comedy from Academy Award winners Joel and Ethan Coen. The memoir of an ousted CIA official (John Malkovich) accidentally falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees intent on exploiting their find.

Writers/Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen (“No Country for Old Men,” “Fargo”)

Cast: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, Brad Pitt