Frances McDormand

New Making-Of Featurette for Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 8th, 2012 at 8:49 am

Focus Features has released a new behind-the-scenes featurette for Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom.  The featurette does a good job of explaining the plot, and most of the adult cast– Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, and Jason Schwartzman—break down their respective characters.  The cast also talks up Anderson’s distinct visual style, but the style is large part of why I’m slightly wary of the film.  The movie looks cute and funny, but it also seems like its verging on self-parody.  Hopefully, the film’s heart and humor won’t be overshadowed by the style.

Hit the jump to check out the featurette, and click here for six clips from the movie.  The film also stars Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, and Bob Balaban.  Moonrise Kingdom will open the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, and open in limited release on May 25th.

6 Clips from Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 24th, 2012 at 3:58 pm

Last week we shared two clips from Wes Anderson’s latest feature, Moonrise Kingdom, and now all of the clips released thus far are officially online.  There are six clips in total and they’re chock full of Anderson staples.  The visuals are gorgeous, the actors look like they’re having a blast, and the camera movements are undeniably Anderson-y.  For those unfamiliar, the story centers on a young boy and girl who decide to run away together into the wilderness, and the madness that ensues from the community’s search for the pair.  I’m a big fan of Anderson so this one’s been on my radar for a while, and these clips only serve to reinforce my excitement for the film.  Let the twee commence!

Hit the jump to check out the clips.  The film stars Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Jason Schwartzman, Jared Gilman, and Kara Hayward.  Moonrise Kingdom will open the Cannes Film Festival (in-competition) and will open in limited release on May 25th.

Production Begins on Gus Van Sant’s PROMISED LAND Starring Matt Damon and John Krasinski

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 24th, 2012 at 1:41 pm

Focus Features announced today that production has commenced on the drama Promised Land.  The screenplay was written by Matt Damon and John Krasinski, based on a story by Dave Eggers, and the project was poised to be Damon’s directorial debut before scheduling issues forced him to vacate the director’s chair. Damon’s Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant swooped in and swiftly took over directing duties, and now filming has begun.  Focus President Jeb Brody draws some very flattering comparisons when describing the project:

“Matt and John’s script is rich in Frank Capra-esque qualities, blending humor and heart while exploring the power of community in this day and age. An actor’s director like Gus will bring forth all the emotions in the story, which is a true passion project for everyone.”

In addition to Damon and Krasinski, the cast also includes Frances McDormand, Hal Holbrook, Rosemarie DeWitt, Scoot McNairy, and Titus Welliver.  Hit the jump to read the press release, which includes a plot synopsis.

7 New Character Posters for Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 17th, 2012 at 11:56 am

With writer-director Wes Anderson, nothing is ever very simple.  The Fantastic Mr. Fox is not just for kids, Ben Stiller is not just a comedic actor, and these new character posters for Anderson’s latest feature, Moonrise Kingdom, are not just ordinary posters.  A batch of seven character posters for the film have gone online, but the catch is that they’re all motion posters with interactive qualities.  Moreover, they’re a thing of beauty.  The artwork for Anderson’s films is always gorgeous, but these Moonrise Kingdom posters are at once visually appetizing and downright fun.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.  The film stars Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Jared Gilman, and Kara Hayward.  Moonrise Kingdom will open on May 25th.

International Poster for Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 13th, 2012 at 8:05 am

An international poster for Wes Anderson‘s new comedy Moonrise Kingdom has gone online.  The story centers on a young boy and girl who decide to run away together into the wilderness, and the madness of the community’s search for the pair.  While I prefer the first poster for the movie, this one has a nice touch by making it clear that the background is a painted backdrop.

Hit the jump to check out the poster and click here for new images from the movie.  The film stars Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Jared Gilman, and Kara Hayward. Moonrise Kingdom will open the Cannes Film Festival, and open in limited release on May 25th.

14 New Images from Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 11th, 2012 at 1:54 pm

A new batch of images from Wes Anderson’s upcoming pic Moonrise Kingdom has landed online.  The story centers on a young boy and a young girl who decide to run away together into the wilderness, and the madness of the community’s search for the pair.  Anderson’s stellar ensemble cast is filled out with the likes of Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, and, of course, Jason Schwartzman.  These images give us a nice feel for the tone Anderson has in mind, and as a big fan of the writer/director I’m incredibly excited to check the full film out (I included it in the latest installment of our Most Anticipated feature).

Hit the jump to check out the images, which feature stars Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward fairly prominently.  Moonrise Kingdom opens on May 25th.

New Images from MOONRISE KINGDOM, SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD, and PARANORMAN

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 5th, 2012 at 1:10 pm

Focus Features has released new images for Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom (premiering at Cannes, and then opening in limited release on May 25th),  Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley (opening June 22nd), and the stop-motion animated film Paranorman (opening in 3D on August 17th).  Note that the image from Moonrise Kingdom is probably promotional and not from the movie.

Hit the jump to check out the images, and click on the corresponding links to learn more about each movie.  You can also find synopses after the jump.

New Trailer and Poster for MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 20th, 2012 at 10:11 am

A new trailer and poster for Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted have gone online.  The Madagascar movies aren’t going to redefine animation or family films, but I still giggled thoughtout this trailer.  I found the first movie surprisingly enjoyable, but the sequel was a letdown.  Judging by the trailer, Europe’s Most Wanted looks like a bit of silly fun, and I’m absolutely fine with that.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer and check out the poster. The film features the voices of Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Frances McDormand, Bryan Cranston, Jessica Chastain and Martin Short. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted opens on June 8th.

Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM to Open Cannes Film Festival

by Talia Soghomonian    Posted: March 9th, 2012 at 7:12 am

Moonrise Kingdom will premiere in Cannes on May 16, opening the 65^th annual edition of the world’s biggest film festival. Directed by Wes Anderson who co-wrote the screenplay with Roman Coppola, the film will be released in French cinemas on the same day as its screening in Cannes and on May 25 in the US. Cannes Film Festival president Gilles Jacobs commented:

“With Wes Anderson opening the 65th Festival de Cannes, young American cinema will be celebrated on the Croisette.”

Produced by Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson for Focus Features and Indian Paintbrush, Moonrise Kingdom stars Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman. More details and the trailer after the jump.

First Trailer for Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 12th, 2012 at 11:54 am

The first trailer for Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom has gone online and the film looks unmistakably Wes Anderson.  It goes right up to the line of a parody, but it looks like the “Bad Dads” subtext has finally washed away.  Instead, the story centers on a young boy and girl who decide to run away together and the madness of the ensuing search.  There looks to be more quirks than you can shake a branch-with-nails-sticking-out-of-it at, but Anderson’s always added enough depth and shading to his characters to make those quirks work.  If you hate Anderson’s work, there’s no way this is going to turn you around; for everyone else, it looks like he’s back in fine form with a seriously funny movie.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film stars Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Jared Gilman, and Kara Hayward.  Moonrise Kingdom opens May 25th.

Matt Damon Will No Longer Helm Directorial Debut; May Still Star

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 5th, 2012 at 7:55 am

Matt Damon had been prepping for his untitled directorial debut, but it looks like he’s left that chair behind.  The star had already begun casting and had brought Frances McDormand on to co-star.  He had also spoken about being inspired by his previous directors and his excitement about getting behind the camera.   However, we’ve now learned that Damon will no longer direct but may still star in the film.   According to Vulture, Damon and co-writer and co-star John Krasinski were being “precious” about the script, which is based on a story idea by Dave Eggers and centers on a traveling salesman whose arrival in a small town causes him to seriously reexamine and change his life.

It’s a bit puzzling that Damon wouldn’t be happy enough with the script to direct, but he likes it enough to stay attached to star.  It’s not the payday since the movie has a low budget ($12 million), so perhaps he’s willing to give up the director’s chair to someone who can find a way to make the script work.  Either way, don’t count this project as dead since the talent on board should draw someone worthwhile to the helm.

Matt Damon Casts Frances McDormand in Directorial Debut; Talks About Learning from Great Directors

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 19th, 2011 at 9:25 pm

I am excited to see what Matt Damon can do as a director.  Over the past couple years, he has often spoken of his aspirations to direct after a decade plus working with the greats: Martin Scorsese, the Coen brothers, the Stevens (Spielberg and Soderbergh), Paul Greengrass, to name a few.  In a recent interview, Damon discussed how these directors influenced him, and we’ll get to that after after that jump.  First, Damon revealed that he cast Frances McDormand in his directorial debut.  The project is based on an idea by Dave Eggers and John Krasinski, about “a salesman who goes to this small town and how the salesman is changed by his experience there.”  Damon and Krasinski will also star in the film alongside McDormand.  Damon says they’re trying to round out the cast, so hopefully we’ll receive the full list in the coming weeks.

Now back to Damon’s approach to directing.  Hit the jump for quotes.

Sundance Film Festival Adds PREDISPOSED, JOHN DIES AT THE END, THIS MUST BE THE PLACE, and OSLO AUGUST 31ST; First Images from the Films

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 19th, 2011 at 2:25 pm

While earlier this month the line-up for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival was announced, the fest has added four more films to the fest. Predisposed, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo, and Tracy Morgan will screen as part of the Premieres line-up and John Dies at the End starring Paul Giamatti, Chase Williamson, and Rob Mayes has been added to the Park City at Midnight line-up. Additionally, This Must Be the Place starring Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, and Judd Hirsch and Oslo, August 31st starring Anders Danielsen Lie, Hans Olav Brenner, and Ingrid Olava will screen as part of the Spotlight line-up.

Hit the jump to check out the first images from the films as well as a brief synopsis for each. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 19 – 29th. Click here for all our coverage.

First Trailer for MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 8th, 2011 at 10:31 am

The first trailer for the third entry in the Madagascar franchise has been unveiled. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted finds the zoo-friendly characters on the lam in Europe, where they join a traveling circus. It looks as though they might be going the spy thriller route (uh-oh), with Ben Stiller‘s character doing his best Tom Cruise impression. There are a few cute scenes here, especially with the penguins and Sacha Baron Cohen‘s character, and kids are sure to eat this movie up, but there’s really not much to convince your average adult moviegoer that this isn’t a straight-to-DVD cartoon sequel. Noah Baumbach (Fantastic Mr. Fox) penned the screenplay, so hopefully the full film offers something for a more mature audience to enjoy as well.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer. The film also features the voices of Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer, and Frances McDormand. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted opens June 8th, 2012.

French Trailer for THIS MUST BE THE PLACE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 13th, 2011 at 1:05 pm

I’m still not sure what to make the goth Nazi-hunter dramedy This Must Be the Place.  The reaction to the film at Cannes was bafflement and The Playlist thought “the film was pretty much like three different movies disjointedly mashed together.”  Judging by the trailer, I can certainly see how that would be an issue.  However, my greatest concern lies with Sean Penn who plays the lead role of Cheyenne, a former rock star who goes looking for a Nazi war criminal who tortured his father at Auschwitz.  Penn’s delivery along with his hair and make-up screams at the viewer “I AM ACTING,” and the performance rings similar to his full-retard work from I Am Sam.  In all fairness, The Playlist says the movie isn’t as bad as you’d expect, but my expectations at this point are for a total disaster.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer, which is in English with French subtitles.

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