Celeste and Jesse Forever

Sundance 2012: Matt’s Review Scorecard and Wrap-Up

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 31st, 2012 at 12:39 pm

Like I did last year, I had a great time at the Sundance Film Festival.  It’s tough to complain about weather conditions or getting around when you have the privilege to watch and discover new movies all day.  Even better, plenty of Sundance 2012 films turned out to be pretty damn good.  For me, there weren’t any quite as excellent as Martha Marcy May Marlene or Project Nim from last year, but those movies set an incredibly high bar.  Many of my peers felt they saw something truly special with Beasts of the Southern Wild and I can understand the love even if it didn’t hit me with as much emotional impact.  Most of my peers also loved Liberal Arts and Sleepwalk With Me, and I’m sorry I missed those.  But all in all, the festival ran as smoothly as last year, the volunteers (especially those in the press tent) were awesome, and it’s always a joy to hang out with people from other movie websites.

Hit the jump for my festival scorecard where you can see an organized list of my ratings for the movies I saw (although I highly encourage you to read the full review rather than just glance at a letter).  While this is my wrap-up, Steve will be posting his Sundance interviews throughout the week so keep an eye out for those.

Sundance 2012: Fox Searchlight Picks Up THE SURROGATE; Sony Pictures Classics Acquires CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 24th, 2012 at 10:44 am

Two of the more high profile films featured at this year’s Sundance Film Festival have now secured distribution. Fox Searchlight will handle the drama The Surrogate, while Sony Pictures Classics has picked up the comedy Celeste and Jesse Forever. The Surrogate is quickly becoming one of the more crowd-pleasing pics at the fest, picking up a considerable amount of buzz with each screening. The film stars John Hawkes as a paraplegic polio victim who sets out to find a sex surrogate (Helen Hunt) wiling to take his virginity. Fox Searchlight acquired worldwide rights to the flick, which also stars William H. Macy.

Additionally, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired distribution rights to Celeste and Jesse Forever. Co-written by and starring Rashida Jones, the film centers on a couple that decides to break up. The impressive cast is rounded out by Andy Samberg, Emma Roberts, and Elijah Wood. Hit the jump to read the full press release regarding both acquisitions, and click here to read Matt’s review of the Celeste and Jesse Forever.

Sundance 2012: CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 22nd, 2012 at 2:32 am

Rashida Jones is a funny, talented actress who has been confined to supporting roles.  She’s the best friend, the girl-friend, the co-worker, but never the leading lady.  Jones has sought to right that wrong by co-writing herself a fantastic role in the comedy Celeste and Jesse Forever.  The script not only provides a showcase for her dramatic range and comic timing, but also her ability to write hilarious dialogue and situations.  But in a bizarre twist, her performance ends up carrying her script’s stumbling blocks and clumsy ending.  Even when she’s her own worst enemy, Jones comes out the victor.

Sundance 2012: Sundance Film Festival USA to Include Films featuring Frank Langella, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Olsen, Vera Farmiga, and More

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 13th, 2011 at 12:52 pm

In September, we reported that the Sundance Film Festival would be taking its show on the road by offering a handful of festival selections to theaters across the country.  Sundance has now announced the nine films that might be coming to your city provided your city is Ann Arbor, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, San Francisco, or Tuscon.  This year’s Sundance Film Festival USA slate includes movies featuring Frank Langella, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Olsen, Vera Farmiga, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Isla Fischer, Adam Scott, and many more.

Hit the jump for the line-up and theater which each film will be playing.  The 2012 Sundance Film Festival will run from January 19 – 29th.  All Sundance Film Festival USA screenings will take place on January 26th.

Sundance 2012: First Images from CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER, LAY THE FAVORITE, GOATS, and SHADOW DANCER

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 5th, 2011 at 4:27 pm

Today, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival announced their premieres line-up. Along with the announcement comes a boat load of images from the films set to be showcased at the fest. After the jump we’ve got images and syonpses from Celeste and Jesse Forever (starring Andy Samberg, Rashida Jones, and Elijah Wood), Lay the Favorite (starring Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, and Catherine Zeta-Jones), GOATS (starring David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, and Ty Burrell), and Shadow Dancer (starring Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, and Clive Owen).

The 2012 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 19 – 29th.

Sundance 2012: Premieres Line-Up Announced; Includes RED HOOK SUMMER, LAY THE FAVORITE, and WEST OF MEMPHIS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 5th, 2011 at 2:13 pm

Last week, we learned what the 2012 Sundance Film Festival had lined-up in its In-Competition categories, plus the out-of-competition Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, Next <=>, and New Frontier selections. But today Sundance has announced the heavy-hitters with the “Premieres” category.  That’s not to say these are the best films or the ones that will get the biggest buzz.  But they’re the ones that will pack the gigantic Eccles Theater bright and early every morning.

The Premieres category will include Spike Lee‘s Red Hook Summer, Rodrigo Cortes‘ Red Lights, Stephen Frears‘ Lay the Favorite, James Marsh‘s Shadow Dancer, Ice-T‘s Something from Nothing: The Art of Wrap, and the Peter Jackson-produced West Memphis Three documentary, West of Memphis.  There’s plenty more than these few films and you can check out the entire line-up after the jump.  The 2012 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 19 – 29th.

Exclusive: Ari Graynor Talks LUCKY, THE SITTER and WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?

by Christina Radish    Posted: July 15th, 2011 at 7:07 pm

In the dark comedy Lucky, actress Ari Graynor takes on her first co-lead role as Lucy, the object of affection for Ben (Colin Hanks), who just won $36 million in the lottery. Ben has been crushing on Lucy since childhood, but she marries him strictly for the cash. Just as she’s beginning to have genuine feelings for him, Lucy discovers that he’s a serial killer whose victims all resemble her and, as the newlyweds try to make things work, she learns that covering up for him is not as easy as it seems.

During a recent exclusive phone interview with Collider, Ari Graynor talked about how ready she was to take on more responsibility in a film, the crazy ride that her character takes, how great the whole process of working with this cast was, and why she finds herself drawn to comedy. She also talked about her upcoming roles in The Sitter, opposite Jonah Hill, What’s Your Number?, opposite Anna Faris, Celeste and Jesse Forever, with Rashida Jones, and My Mother’s Curse, with Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

Casting Call: John Cho Joins TOTAL RECALL, Colin Hanks Boards MY MOTHER’S CURSE, Elijah Wood in CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 26th, 2011 at 6:12 pm

We’ve got a few casting stories for you tonight. First up, John Cho is the latest actor to join the cast of Len Wiseman’s Total Recall remake. The film stars Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, the recently confirmed Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Bielm, and late addition Bill Nighy. EW reports that Cho is on board to play McClane, the rep for the company that tries to mess with Farrell’s character’s mind. Cranston is playing the villain, with Ethan Hawke set to show up in a cameo. Total Recall hits theaters August 3rd 2012.

Additionally, Colin Hanks has signed on for the Paramount comedy My Mother’s Curse. The film stars Seth Rogen, Barbara Streisand and Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski. The story centers on an inventor (Rogen) who invites his mother along for a cross-country trip while he attempts to sell his new product and connect with a long lost love. THR reports that Hanks will play the husband of Strahovski, Rogen’s high school sweetheart. Anne Fletcher (The Proposal) will direct from a script by Dan Fogelman (Tangled). Hit the jump for the casting news of Elijah Wood in Celeste and Jesse Forever.

Emma Roberts, Chris Messina, and Ari Graynor Join CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 21st, 2011 at 10:49 am

Emma Roberts, Chris Messina, and Ari Graynor have joined the cast of the indie dramedy Celeste and Jesse Forever.  Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg star as “a young divorcing couple who try to maintain their long-standing friendship while living together and pursuing other relationships.”  According to Variety, Roberts plays a young starlet who hires Celeste to revamp her image when her career struggles.  Messina is a financial analyst who helps Celeste get over Jesse.  Graynor will play Celeste’s best friend who has trouble supporting her relationship with Jesse.

Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind ) will direct from a script Jones co-wrote with fellow actor Will McCormack.  After a prolonged development, the casting of Samberg in March advanced the process.  Filming should begin before Samberg shoots I Hate You Dad later this summer.  More after the break:

Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg Divorce in CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER; Lee Toland Krieger Will Direct

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: March 22nd, 2011 at 10:56 pm

Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live) has signed on to star opposite Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation) in Celeste and Jesse Forever.  The romantic dramedy centers on a couple that wants to remain friends following their impending divorce.  Jones co-wrote the script with long-time actor, first-time writer Will McCormack.  Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind) will direct.

Read what Jones had to say about the movie — which she compares to When Harry Met Sally and Blue Valentine — after the break.

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