Bruce Willis

Interview: The Journey of Rumer Willis With a Stop in ‘Sorority Row’

PatrickMcD — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:07:42 -0600

CHICAGO – Rumer Willis, the progeny of popular stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, is now on her own as a young actor and continuing her movie career with a role in “Sorority Row,” opening on Friday this week.

HollywoodChicago.com got a chance to interview Ms. Willis, as she talks about her life in the spotlight, her experiences on-set in filming Sorority Row and the inspirations that continue to drive her life and career.

Shooting from the Hip: Rumer Willis as Ellie in ‘Sorority Row’
Photo credit: © 2009 Summit Entertainment

HollywoodChicago.com: What was different about the Sorority Row experience than any other film or TV show you’ve performed on?

Rumer Willis: It was a great, dynamic group of women and we immediately bonded. I like this movie because it was a female driven cast and it’s a horror film that’s character driven. Most horror films are about the plot and the killer and all that. But this is about all the girls’ journeys, dealing with an intense emotional situation. That was one thing that really attracted me to it. And it’s really funny, really witty. I was pleased how much the humor came through, especially with our chemistry.

HC: This film is essentially a remake of 1983’s ‘House on Sorority Row.’ I noted in the production notes that the screenwriter said the “morals had changed” between then and now. What were you able to get away with in this film that the other couldn’t, because of the difference between the eras?

RW: None of us have actually seen the original. They didn’t want us to watch it so it wouldn’t effect our performances. I felt anyway it was more about taking an idea and the premise, but changing it up and making it more relevant.

Apparently the original is pretty campy, this one I think is more scary. I was actually scared at the screening and I know what happens. That is the difference.

HC: You had to scream a lot in this film. How do you motivate yourself as an actress for that? Is it evoking a feeling of fear or just a certain energy?

RW: I think it’s both. The energy especially has to be high when doing certain emotional scenes. For me at least, when I would scream, it would get me into that mindset. When you scream enough, your hands start to shake and I got really into it much more.

I did think about the back story of the character and her relationship to different things. And my character is just having a mental breakdown and can’t handle anything. So it really made sense that she’s just screaming all the time.

HC: You never were in a sorority in real life. What do you find either odd or enticing about that life, even at the level that you were pretending to be in one?

RW: The main foundation of sororities, I think, is to create a forum for people to get to know each other on campus. I mean, going away to college, the first year on your own, it really is a way to create a sisterhood which can last you a lifetime.

We created our own sorority sisterhood off set. To be able to make friendships with women – in the sense whatever you need, whenever you need it – you’ll have people that will be there for you. And that’s a great thing.

‘Sorority Row’: Margo Harshman, Audrina Partridge, Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Leah Pipes and Caroline D’Amore
Photo credit: © 2009 Summit Entertainment

HC: Carrie Fisher has a reputation for being blunt and outrageous. Do you have any anecdotes from working with her on Sorority Row?

RW: She’s so unbelievably witty and intelligent. At times, she’d be really quiet and we’d be in the make-up trailer, then she’d sneak in a line or a little tidbit. I wouldn’t realize until later…then I would think back and say, ‘What? That was brilliant!’

But really seeing her wielding a shotgun, as the housemother, could not have been any better. How could you not love that?

HC: What training in acting or performance, if any, has prepared you most for the ‘hurry up and wait’ nature of film and TV production?

RW: I knew what it was to work on a set from a very young age. It isn’t really a surprise to me. Some people complain, but to me I don’t know why you ever would. To have an opportunity to do something you love when there are so many young actors competing for the same thing is special.

It can be difficult at times, when doing these intense emotional scenes. But thankfully this shoot was pretty quick. It was 20 degrees, so there was a motivation to get it done a little quicker (laughs). You have to step out of it when it’s over or at lunch breaks and I don’t have a hard time doing that. You actually need those breaks to recharge.

HC: If you could have the choice of any kind of role in the movies, what kind of character would it be?

RW: I enjoy anything that pushes me or challenges me outside of the ‘comfort zone,’ that’s how you grow the most. It would be really fun to play the antagonist, the ‘bad guy,’ if I could play it in a way where people really didn’t like the character. That’s when you know you’re doing a good job.

If you’ve done something in the past where people have liked your character, and then turn around and do something where they hate you, that’s potentially really cool.

’Blues Brothers’ 1980: Carrie Fisher’s Back with Guns Blazing in ‘Sorority Row’
Photo Credit: © 1980 Universal

HC: In this era of tabloids, what is the weirdest thing you’ve read or heard about either you or your extended family that really made you laugh?

RW: I don’t read that stuff, ever. In general, if you so let yourself get involved in that then you are letting the opinions of others dictate your life.

I knew about it at a very young age, but it’s much more intense now. They follow you, but I always wonder after one shot, are people really going to want to see the same thing over and over? “Wow, Rumer Willis is in a grocery store.” The amount of work I’ve done is not necessarily equal to the amount of media attention that I get. At the end of the day, I don’t have any feelings about it either way, it is what it is.

HC: You were raised in Idaho and moved to Los Angeles during high school. What differences between those parts of the country do you observe that make it both better and worse when comparing the two areas?

RW: I was in a boarding school in Michigan for my first two years of high school, which was a mini-Julliard, studying theater and classical opera. And then halfway through that is when my Dad was shooting ‘Hostage’ and he told me there was a part. That’s when I left the Michigan school and moved to Los Angeles.

I loved growing up in Idaho, which has a lot to do with certain values I have. It’s odd, in a way I did grow up fast but at the same respect I didn’t, because the things I knew about when I was 14 years old and in Idaho are different from my sisters, who primarily grew up in L.A.

At a certain point in Idaho you reach a limit of growth, especially in regards to the creative arts that I wanted to pursue. I wanted to branch out, and going to the school then moving to L.A. allowed me to do that. If you’re a young actor, there isn’t any other place you would want to be, because the work is there.

HC: You mentioned your training in classical opera and theater. How did that training help you overall in performance?

RW: The opera training really helped me with the screaming in the movie (laughs). And every actor should do theater once in their life, even if they don’t do a play, because there are no ‘do-overs.’ That gives you the foundation to be much more versatile and do many more things in acting. It helps with the confidence.

HC: Your family’s roots on both your father and mother’s side was working class. Given the lifestyle that they both have built and you have enjoyed, how important is it to you and your parents to remember those working class roots?

RW: It is very important for my parents and for Ashton [Kutcher] as well. They really started from more modest roots than where they ended up. If I hadn’t grown up in my circumstances, I probably would have done the same thing.

It is a constant in our lives to remember where we came from. I never wanted anything handed to me, to be that girl who does nothing with her life. I would be bored out of my mind for one thing, and if you don’t earn the things you receive in your life you never learn to appreciate them, because it just doesn’t feel right.

‘Sorority Row’ opens Friday, September 11th. Check local theaters for show times. With Rumer Willis, Margo Harshman, Audrina Partridge, Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Caroline D’Amore and Carrie Fisher.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Round Up, July 22, 2009: ‘12 Monkeys,’ ‘The Unborn’

BrianTT — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:54:09 -0600

CHICAGO – It has been a very busy July at HollywoodChicago.com and a few high profile titles have slipped through the cracks of our Blu-Ray coverage. We can’t leave any HD stone unturned, so we wanted to play catch-up and make sure you know about these releases via the legendary Blu-Ray Round-Up column. Horror movies, comedies, and a modern sci-fi classic from Terry Gilliam - there’s something for everyone in July’s Blu-Ray selection.

“Grumpy Old Men” and “The Unborn” were released on July 7th, 2009.

“The Haunting in Connecticutt” was released on July 14th, 2009.

“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” was released on July 21st, 2009.

“12 Monkeys” will be released on July 28th, 2009.

“12 Monkeys”

Photo credit: Universal

Synopsis: “Cole (Bruce Willis) is sent back in time to save the human race from a deadly virus that has forced mankind into dank underground communities in the future. Along his travels, he encounters a psychiatrist (Madeleine Stowe) and a mental patient, brilliantly portrayed by Brad Pitt, who may hold the key to the mysterious rogue group, the Army of the 12 Monkeys, thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease. Believing he can obtain a pure virus sample in order to find a cure in the future, he is met with one riddle after another that puts him in a race with time. This sci-fi masterpiece from the genius mind of Terry Gilliam is a modern-day classic.”

“12 Monkeys” stars Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Plummer. It was written by David Peoples & Janet Peoples and directed by Terry Gilliam. It is rated R. The film is presented with a 1080P High-Defintion Widescreen 1.85:1 transfer with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

Special features include a feature commentary with director Terry Gilliam and producer Charles Roven, “The Hamster Factor & Other Tales of 12 Monkeys,” and “12 Monkeys Archives”.

“Grumpy Old Men”

Photo credit: WB

Synopsis: “Two elderly, eccentric, next-door neighbors sustain a rancorous relationship that only a wise observer could recognize as a very special friendship. When a lonely, flamboyant, middle-aged widow moves in across the street from them, the male rivalry begins.”

“Grumpy Old Men” stars Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Kevin Pollak, Ossie Davis, and Daryl Hannah. It was written by Mark Steven Johnson and directed by Donald Petrie. The film is presented with a 1080P High-Defintion Widescreen 1.85:1 transfer with an English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 track.

The only special feature included is the theatrical trailer.

“The Haunting in Connecticutt”

Photo credit: Lionsgate

Synopsis: “When the Campbell family moves to upstate Connecticut, they soon learn that their charming Victorian home has a disturbing history: not only was the house formerly a funeral parlor where inconceivable acts occurred, but the owner’s clairvoyant son Jonah served as a demonic messenger, providing a gateway for spiritual entities to crossover. Now, unspeakable terror awaits when Jonah, the boy who communicated with the dead, returns to unleash a new kind of horror on the innocent and unsuspecting family.”

“The Haunting in Connecticutt” stars Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Amanda Crew, and Elias Koteas. It was written by Adam Simon & Tim Metcalfe and directed by Peter Cornwell. It is rated PG-13 and unrated. The film is presented with a 1080P High-Defintion Widescreen 2.35:1 transfer with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track.

Special features include the audio commentaries with director, producer, cast and crew on the unrated version, “Two Dead Boys: The Making of The Haunting in Connecticutt,” “The Fear is Real: Reinvestigating the Haunting,” “Anatomy of a Haunting,” “Memento Mori: The History of Postmortem Photography,” deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Peter Cornwell, and the theatrical trailer.

“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”

Photo credit: Universal

Synopsis:”Adam Sandler and Kevin James star as best friends and fellow firefighters Chuck and Larry, the pride of their Brooklyn fire station. Chuck owes Larry for saving his life. Larry calls in that favor big-time by asking Chuck to pose as his “domestic partner” so his kids will get his pension. But when a fact-checking bureaucrat becomes suspicious, the two straight guys are forced to improvise as love-struck newlyweds. Jessica Biel, Ving Rhames and Dan Aykroyd co-star in this hilarious comedy.”

“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, and Dan Akyroyd. It was written by Barry Fanard and Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor and directed by Dennis Dugan. It is rated PG-13. The film is presented with a 1080P High-Defintion Widescreen 1.85:1 transfer with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

Special features include U-Control functionality, a feature commentary with director Dennis Dugan, Adam Sandler and Kevin James, and a feature commentary with director Dennis Dugan.

“The Unborn”

Photo credit: Universal

Synopsis: “Enter a world of unrelenting evil as terror finds a new form in The Unborn. From the producers of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the co-writer of The Dark Knight comes this shocking supernatural thriller about a young woman (Odette Yustman) plagued by chilling dreams and tortured by a demonic ghost that haunts her waking hours. Her only hope to break the debilitating paranormal curse is in an exorcism with spiritual advisor Sendak (Gary Oldman). See what lies beyond the doorway of our world in this non-stop nightmare of the undead…”

“The Unborn” stars Odette Yustman, Gary Oldman, Meagan Good, Cam Gigandet, James Remar, Jane Alexander, and Idris Elba. It was written and directed by David S. Goyer. It is rated PG-13 and unrated. The film is presented with a 1080P High-Defintion Widescreen 2.40:1 transfer with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

Special features include deleted scenes in hi-def and BD-Live access.

Check out our full-length theatrical review of “The Unborn”.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Sin City’ Exceeds Expectations With Flawless Release

BrianTT — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:22:52 -0600

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – “Sin City - Recut, Extended, Unrated” was one of the best DVD box sets in the history of the format. Most collectors interested in the Blu-Ray upgrade of the title will probably already own the box set that came with an entire graphic novel and is currently anchoring many a respectable DVD shelf. The Blu-Ray release features two new special features and, of course, HD picture and sound. Should you upgrade?

Yes. I’m sorry to say it, but those of you who liked “Sin City” enough to buy the DVD set will love the two new special features on the Blu-Ray release. The video and audio are flawless. Ultimately, one of the best standard DVD releases has become a must-own Blu-Ray release, an exhaustive, fascinating dissection of a very enjoyable film.

Sin City was released on Blu-Ray on April 21st, 2009.
Photo credit: WDSHE

“Sin City” is what we call a “schedule clearer”. There’s so much material in this one two-disc set that you’ll need to cancel some plans. It brings new meaning to “jam-packed”.

Most viewers will start with the movie itself, a film that has held up very well since its release. I enjoy “300” and even parts of “The Spirit,” but they don’t compare to this ambitious, stunningly rendered film. And, as the back of the case says pretty correctly, “If ever a movie was meant to be experienced in high definition, Frank Miller’s Sin City is guilty on all counts!”

Sin City was released on Blu-Ray on April 21st, 2009.
Photo credit: WDSHE

The film itself looks incredible in 1080p with the film’s original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and the sound mix is perfect in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. I found no flaws in either the video or audio. The line definition between the blacks and whites of Rodriguez’s vision is crystal clear with no blurring or unnecessary grain.

On the first disc, you can watch the film itself five separate ways. You can just experience the movie itself, watch it with a commentary by Rodriguez and Miller, watch it with an amazing commentary by Rodriguez and Tarantino, watch with the audio track of a recording of the first Austin audience to see the film, or use Cine-Explore.

That last choice is the first Blu-Ray exclusive feature and it’s a stunner. The film split-screens to show you what you’re watching at several different stages. For example, in the opening scene, you’ll see Josh Hartnett in the film itself, the actor standing on a green screen, and the panels from the original comic that inspired it, all on the same screen. It’s a must-see feature for fans of the film.

Disc one would make “Sin City” worth buying on Blu-Ray. The movie with flawless video/audio, a great picture-in-picture special feature, and a very entertaining commentary track from Tarantino and Rodriguez justify the purchase price. But it’s just the beginning.

Sin City was released on Blu-Ray on April 21st, 2009.
Photo credit: WDSHE

Disc two features the “Recut, Extended, Unrated Version” of “Sin City”. Now you can watch a re-edited version of the film with 23 minutes not included in the theatrical version and with the option to watch each story individually. Want to just see Marv’s (Mickey Rourke) story from beginning to end? Now you can in HD.

Disc two also includes all the special features from the last edition and a new interactive comic book called “Kill ‘Em Good”. The special features included are “15-Minute Film School,” “All Green-Screen Version,” “The Long Take,” “Sin City: Live in Concert,” “10-Minute Cooking School,” “How it Went Down: Convincing Frank Miller to Make the Film,” “Special Guest Director: Quentin Tarantino,” “A Hard Top With a Decent Engine: The Cars of Sin City,” “Booze, Broads and Guns: The Props of Sin City,” “Making the Monsters: Special Effects Make-Up,” “Trench Coats & Fishnet: The Costumes of Sin City,” the teaser and theatrical trailer. There will be no questions left unanswered about the making of the movie.

“Sin City” should be a model for movies like this one on Blu-Ray. Of course, you can’t have this exhaustive a treatment for an intimate drama, but a technically-accomplished, challenging film like “Sin City” should play to its fan base like this release does. The bar for blockbusters on Blu-Ray has been set just a bit higher.

‘Sin City’ is released by Walt Disney Home Video and stars Jessica Alba, Benicio Del Toro, Brittany Murphy, Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Elijah Wood, Rosario Dawson, Jaime King, Alexis Bledel, and Devon Aoki. It was written and directed by Frank Miller & Robert Rodriguez. It was released on April 21st, 2009. It is rated R and not rated.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Barry Levinson Wastes Great Ensemble in ‘What Just Happened’

BrianTT — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:02:59 -0700

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

CHICAGO – They made a movie about Bruce Willis’ beard. “What Just Happened” is yet another head-scratcher from one of the more acclaimed directors of the ’80s and ’90s, Barry Levinson. Like “Envy” and “Man of the Year” before it, Levinson has spit out yet another inert comedy with a great ensemble but no passion, creativity or life to it. A mediocre Blu-Ray presentation does nothing to enhance the film.

Art Linson is one of the most successful and notorious producers in Hollywood. His name is on “Into the Wild,” “Spartan,” “Fight Club,” “Heat,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” and more. He wrote a memoir about his complicated times in Hollywood and adapted his own book into the screenplay for “What Just Happened”.

What Just Happened was released on Blu-Ray on February 24th, 2009.
Photo credit: Magnolia

Linson has been turned into Ben (Robert De Niro), a producer trying to keep two troubled projects together while juggling a problematic personal life at the same time. One of his projects, “Fiercely,” stars Sean Penn (playing himself) in a dark drama with a downbeat ending that the financiers (headed by the great Catherine Keener) want radically changed. Ben has to convince the hothead director (Michael Wincott) to play along or see their movie shelved forever.

Meanwhile, Ben has to convince Bruce Willis (playing himself) that his weight gain and bushy beard could completely derail his about-to-shoot project. Willis was hired for his looks and Ben has to work with him and his agent (John Turturro) to keep the film from shutting down before it even begins. Robin Wright Penn, Kristen Stewart, and Stanley Tucci co-star.

What Just Happened was released on Blu-Ray on February 24th, 2009.
Photo credit: Magnolia

In one of the few interesting special features on “What Just Happened,” Levinson speaks about giving a rather anecdotal book without much action “pace” and how “you have to work it out”. The funny thing is that they didn’t. We never get to know anyone in “Happened” and the “insight” into Hollywood feels a few years behind the times.

The problem with making a movie about tinseltown is that it’s been done SO well before. It’s impossible not to think of “The Player” or “Entourage” when you’re watching “What Just Happened” and the script by Linson simply isn’t sharp enough to be in the same satirical knife drawer as those great behind-the-scenes looks at Hollywood. “Happened” wants to be a “bitingly sharp comedy” but we’ve seen all these personalities before. It’s going behind-the-scenes on something that has become the scene itself.

To be fair, there are elements of “What Just Happened” that works. The hilariously simple quote on the front of the case that advertises “priceless, laugh-out loud lines” isn’t that far off. Yes, there are a few funny lines, and De Niro looks more awake than in recent junk like “Righteous Kill”. It’s also impossible to be completely bored by an ensemble that includes both Penns, Tucci, Turturro, and Wincott. They’re all having fun. The problem is that they’re having more fun than you probably will.

The Blu-Ray release from Magnolia is average to mediocre. The 1080P High Definition 16x9 (2.40:1) picture is surprisingly flat. The colors are distinct and there’s not an excessive amount of grain or visual noise, but the picture looks about the same as an average upconverted standard DVD. The audio in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is similarly never distractingly bad but also unimpressive.

The special features continue the mediocrity of “What Just Happened”. The commentary with Levinson and Linson is shockingly dull. The two take long, regular pauses and spend way too much time describing the action. There needs to be a class or a book to guide commentary participants away from simply talking about what we’re watching. The deleted scenes are the most interesting special feature, especially a nauseating epilogue in which each character gets a happy ending that was very thankfully cut.

What’s most annoying about the special features for “What Just Happened” are mini-docs that run about 2 minutes long. There really needs to be a law that anything that throws you back to a menu after two minutes can not legally be called a “special feature”. The only featurette with anything interesting (and the only one that should have been included) is the roughly 23 minute “Making of What Just Happened: From Book to Screen”.

A few years ago, a Barry Levinson movie with Robert De Niro, Catherine Keener, John Turturro, Sean Penn, and Bruce Willis would have been a major, major event. Perhaps the most insightful thing that “What Just Happened” has to say about the ups and downs of Hollywood is that the movie so clearly was not.

‘What Just Happened’ is released by Magnolia Home Video and stars Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, John Turturro, Robin Wright penn, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Stewart, Michael Wincott, and Bruce Willis. It was written by Art Linson and directed by Barry Levinson. It was released on February 24th, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

2009 Walt Disney Pictures Preview: ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic,’ ‘Up,’ ‘The Proposal,’ ‘Surrogates,’ ‘Old Dogs,’ More

BrianTT — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:31:17 -0700

CHICAGO – This 11-image slideshow contains official press images and schedule information for the recently announced slate of films to be released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2009 including new films starring Isla Fisher, Bruce Willis, Robin Williams, John Travolta, Ryan Reynolds, Josh Duhamel, and the newest Pixar film.

These 2009 Walt Disney Pictures include “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,” “Race to Witch Mountain,” “Hannah Montana The Movie,” “earth,” “Up,” “The Proposal,” “G-Force,” “When in Rome,” “Surrogates,” “Toy Story in Disney Digital 3-D,” “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” “Old Dogs,” and “The Princess and the Frog”. Not all films have images released, but release details and dates were announced for the entire 2009 slate.

The release dates, cast lists, and filmmaker information for these Walt Disney Pictures films can be found below in chronological order, followed by a slideshow of available images.

“Confessions of a Shopaholic”
Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Bibb, Fred Armisen, Julie Hagerty, Krysten Ritter, Robert Stanton, Christine Ebersole, Clea Lewis, Wendie Malick, Stephanie March
Director: P.J. Hogan
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Executive Producers: Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Ronald Bozman
Screenplay By: Tracey Jackson And Tim Firth And Kayla Alpert, Based On The Books “Confessions Of A Shopaholic” And “Shopaholic Takes Manhattan” By Sophie Kinsella
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: February 13, 2009

“Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift
Director: Bruce Hendricks
Producers: Art Repola, Johnny Wright, Philip Mcintyre, Kevin Jonas Sr., Alan Sacks
Genre: Rockumentary
Rating: G
Release Date: February 27, 2009

“Race to Witch Mountain”
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Annasophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Alexander Ludwig, Tom Everett Scott, Christopher Marquette, Cheech Marin and Garry Marshall
Director: Andy Fickman
Executive Producers: Mario Iscovich, Ann Marie Sanderlin
Producer: Andrew Gunn
Written By: Matt Lopez And Mark Bomback And Andy Fickman
Based On Characters Created By: Alexander Key
Genre: Action, Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: March 13, 2009

“Hannah Montana The Movie”
Cast: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Margo Martindale, Jason Earles, Peter Gunn, Melora Hardin, Mitchel Musso, Lucas Till, Barry Bostwick, Moises Arias, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, With Vanessa Williams and Billy Ray Cyrus
Director: Peter Chelsom
Executive Producers: Michael Poryes And Steve Peterman, David Blocker
Producers: Alfred Gough And Miles Millar
Written By: Dan Berendsen
Based On Characters Created By: Michael Poryes And Rich Correll & Barry O’brien
Genre: Family/Comedy
Rating: G
Release Date: April 10, 2009

“earth”
Narrator: James Earl Jones
Directors: Alastair Fothergill And Mark Linfield
Produced By: BBC Worldwide, Greenlight Media
Genre: True Life Adventure
Rating: G
Release Date: April 22, 2009

“Up” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Delroy Lindo, Jordan Nagai
Director: Pete Docter
Co-Director: Bob Peterson
Producer: Jonas Rivera
Composer: Michael Giacchino
Genre: Animation/Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: May 29, 2009

“The Proposal”
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O’Hare and Betty White
Director: Anne Fletcher
Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman
Executive Producers: Alex Kurtzman And Roberto Orci, Mary Mclaglen, Sandra Bullock
Written By: Peter Chiarelli
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TBD
Release Date: June 12, 2009

“G-Force” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, With The Voices Of Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan
Director: Hoyt Yeatman
Screenplay By: The Wibberleys And Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio And Tim Firth, Based On A Story By Hoyt Yeatman (Credits Not Final)
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Genre: Comedy-Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: July 24, 2009

“When in Rome”
Cast: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Will Arnett, Alexis Dziena, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, Kate Micucci, Bobby Moynihan, with Danny Devito and Anjelica Huston
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Executive Producers: Mindy Farrell And Steven Roffer, Ezra Swerdlow
Producers: Gary Foster, Mark Steven Johnson, Andrew Panay
Co-Producer: Rikki Lea Bestall
Written By: David Diamond & David Weissman
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TBD
Release Date: Summer 2009

“Surrogates”
Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, James Francis Ginty, Boris Kodjoe and Ving Rhames
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Max Handelman
Executive Producers: Elizabeth Banks, David Nicksay
Screenplay By: Michael Ferris & John Brancato
Based On The Graphic Novel By: Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Rating: TBD
Release Date: September 25, 2009

“Toy Story” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik Von Detten, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey
Director: John Lasseter
Producers: Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
Executive Producers: Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs
Original Story By: John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton And Joe Ranft
Screenplay By: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen And Alan Sokolow
Genre: Animation-Comedy/Adventure
Rating: G
Release Date: October 2, 2009

“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes, Fionnula Flanagan
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producers: Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke
Screenplay By: Robert Zemeckis
Based On The Classic Novella By: Charles Dickens
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: November 6, 2009

“Old Dogs”
Cast: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin and Matt Dillon
Director: Walt Becker
Producers: Andrew Panay, Robert Levy & Peter Abrams
Executive Producer: Garrett Grant
Written By: David Diamond & David Weissman
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: November 25, 2009

“The Princess and the Frog”
Voice Cast: Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Keith David, Jim Cummings, Jenifer Lewis
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
Produced By: Peter Del Vecho
Genre: Animated Comedy Adventure/Musical
Rating: TBD
Release Date: Christmas 2009

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to ©Disney Enterprises, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Specific photographer credits where noted.

Confessions: Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic. Photo Credit: Robert Zuckerman
Confessions2: Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic. Photo Credit: Robert Zuckerman
OldDogs: John Travolta, Robin Williams. Photo Credit: Ron Phillips
PrincessandtheFrog: Princess Tiana
Surrogates: Bruce Willis. Photo Credit: Stephen Vaughan
TheProposal: Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock. Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes
Up: Teaser One-Sheet.
WheninRome1: Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell. Photo Credit: Myles Aronowitz
WheninRome2: Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell. Photo Credit: Philippe Antonello

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Robert De Niro, Director Barry Levinson Wade Through Hollywood’s Mud in ‘What Just Happened?’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:57:58 -0600

CHICAGO – In his long and distinguished career, Robert De Niro has probably seen it all when it comes to Hollywood excesses and quagmires. Given that experience, he seems the perfect choice to portray an aging film producer and power broker whose influence is on the decline.

“What Just Happened?” teams De Niro with veteran director Barry Levinson (“Rain Man,” “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “The Natural”) in a provocative inside look at the current film business. De Niro is a producer named Ben whose latest film (starring Sean Penn) is in major trouble.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

His director (Michael Wincott) refuses to cut a scene that makes preview audiences squeamish.

Meanwhile, Ben’s other film (which is about to go into production) is also experiencing problems because star Bruce Willis (playing himself) is rejecting all the physical requirements necessary for the leading male role.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full review of “What Just Happened?” in our reviews section.

View our full “What Just Happened?” image gallery.

Ben is now a producer on the brink.

The drug-addled director requires constant reassurance, the studio executives are depending on his delivery of the latest Bruce Willis film and his estranged wife wants him in therapy so they can learn to live apart.

As an answer to the question of the movie’s title, it seems that everything can collapse to nothing in Tinseltown.

The film is based on a memoir by producer Art Linson (who also wrote the screenplay). Proving that truth is stranger than fiction, the farcical narrative delves into how egos essentially run Hollywood and how those egos are largely attached to dysfunctional human beings.

“What Just Happened?,” which is directed by Barry Levinson and features Robert De Niro, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Catherine Keener, Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn, Michael Wincott and Bruce Willis, opened on Oct. 17, 2008.

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full “What Just Happened?” review.

Bruce Willis in “What Just Happened?”.
Photo credit: Magnolia Pictures

Robert De Niro in “What Just Happened?”.
Photo credit: Magnolia Pictures

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full “What Just Happened?” review.