HBO Films

James Gandolfini Is EATING WITH THE ENEMY

by Jason Barr    Posted: March 21st, 2011 at 4:17 pm

James Gandolfini is returning to familiar territory: starring in an HBO production as a guy from New Jersey. Deadline reports that The Sopranos alum (and New Jersey native) is attached to star in an HBO Films adaptation of Robert Egan and Kurt Pitzer’s based-on-true-accounts book Eating with the Enemy (subtitled How I Waged Peace with North Korea from My BBQ Shack in Hackensack). Per the report, Gandolfini will play Egan, a rib joint owner who befriended members of the North Korean consulate in the mid 1990s and, after traveling to the country on four occasions, became “a helpful conduit in backdoor nuke talks.” Those must have been really good ribs.

For more on the project, hit the jump for a synopsis of Egan and Pitzer’s book.

Casting Call: Julianne Moore to Play Sarah Palin in HBO’s GAME CHANGE; Eric McCormack Joins WWE’s BARRICADE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 9th, 2011 at 5:19 pm

A couple of casting stories for you this evening. Deadline reports that Julianne Moore has been tapped to portray Sarah Palin in Jay Roach’s (Dinner for Schmucks) adaptation of Mark Halperin and John Heilemann’s book following the behind-the-scenes turmoil of the 2008 presidential election. Roach previously directed another HBO Films flick, Recount, which examined the fallout of the 2000 presidential election. The script for Game Change is being penned by Danny Strong (Recount), and follows both the Obama campaign and the McCain campaign from the party primaries up through election night, so we’ve got quite a few more roles to be cast (Obama, Clinton, McCain, etc.).

Eric McCormack is set to star in the supernatural thriller Barricade for WWE (yes, that WWE). Heat Vision reports that filming on the Andrew Currie-directed flick is set to begin later this month. The story follows a recently widowed psychiatrist who takes his children to a remote cabin to unwind. Obviously, they’re not exactly alone and the father must battle “unknown forces” to save his family from peril. Hit the jump for a synopsis of Game Change.

Sundance 2011: SALVATION BOULEVARD, PROJECT NIM and THE LAST MOUNTAIN Find Distributors

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 27th, 2011 at 6:59 pm

Another day at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, another day of acquisitions. A trio of films that premiered as part of Sundance nabbed distributors today. IFC Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide picked up North American rights to the comedy Salvation Boulevard starring Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Greg Kinnear and Jim Gaffigan. HBO and Roadside Attractions partnered up to acquire the documentary Project Nim, about an ape learning to communicate. Finally, Dada Films grabbed US theatrical rights to the coal company vs. small community documentary The Last Mountain. Regarding the acquisition of Salvation Boulevard, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films Jonathan Sebring had this to say:

“George Ratliff takes a big leap forward with this film which, aside from featuring a powerhouse cast in Pierce Brosnan, Marisa Tomei, Greg Kinnear, Ed Harris, Jim Gaffigan and Jennifer Connelly, is a clever and sharp comedy that delivers.”

Hit the jump to read the full press releases for each of the films. Be sure to check out all of our Sundance coverage (including interviews, reviews and acquisitions) here.

Trailer for HBO Films’ THE SUNSET LIMITED Starring Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 25th, 2011 at 11:32 am

The trailer for the HBO Films production of Cormac McCarthy’s (No Country for Old Men, The Road) play The Sunset Limited has been released. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones, and takes place entirely in one room.  Jones directed the film from a screenplay by McCarthy himself. As the film begins, Jackson’s character has just saved Jones’ character from jumping in front of a train, and he insists that Jones’ character come back to his apartment with him. The two proceed to discuss/debate a variety of topics, with opposing views on religion being the driving force.  The Sunset Limited will premiere on HBO on February 12^th. Hit the jump to watch the trailer.

Tom Shadyac to Direct Sam Kinison Biopic BROTHER SAM for HBO Films

by Ramses Flores    Posted: November 17th, 2010 at 7:57 pm

Tom Shadyac (Bruce Almighty) will direct a biopic about the life of standup comedian Sam Kinison for HBO Films.  The film is based on the memoir Brother Sam: The Short, Spectacular Life of Sam Kinison, written by Bill Kinison and Steve Delson.  Brother Sam chronicles Kinison’s transition preacher to one of the most popular and beloved comics of the 1980s.  Kinison died in a tragic traffic accident in 1992.

Variety reports that Rich Wilkes (xXx) will write the film, which spent years at Universal before landing at HBO, who was developing the film as a TV movie with Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury) set to star as Kinison.  After the jump, you can see Fogler as Kinison in a screen test for the film.

Al Pacino Interview YOU DON’T KNOW JACK

by Sara Wayland    Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 6:19 pm

For his latest role, Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning actor Al Pacino is taking on the role of Dr. Jack Kevorkian (aka Dr. Death) for the HBO Films presentation You Don’t Know Jack.

In 1990, 61-year-old former pathologist Dr. Jack Kevorkian astonished the world as he took the end-of-life debate head-on and performed his first assisted suicide of a terminally ill patient. Aided by his loyal friend Neal Nicol (John Goodman) and his older sister Margo Janus (Brenda Vaccaro), Kevorkian began offering his death counseling services to a grateful and growing list of clientele. As he earned the support of Hemlock Society activist Janet Good (Susan Sarandon), he incurred the wrath of the county prosecutor’s office and the infamous doctor started a media frenzy with his epic legal battles defending a patient’s right to die.

During a recent interview to promote You Don’t Know Jack, actor Al Pacino said that he decided to make a television movie for the opportunity to work with accomplished filmmaker Barry Levinson and this great cast. Here’s what he had to say:

HBO to Adapt the Scathing Tale of the RIAA’s Massive Failure, APPETITE FOR SELF-DESTRUCTION

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 3rd, 2009 at 12:04 am

I’m curious at what point the RIAA figured out it may have been approaching digital downloads from the wrong perspective.  Entrenched in an old business model with a paradigmatic shift bearing down on them like a freight train, the RIAA dug in its heels and tried to sue every American who may or may not have been near a computer that illegally downloaded music.  Instead of trying to find a new business model to capitalize on digital downloads, the RIAA found its money better used by trying to convince people it was smarter to treat all customers like criminals.

Such grand failures are the stuff of great drama and HBO Films will turn that drama into one of their movies by adaptating Steve Knopper’s “Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age”.  Hit the jump for details and celebrate that you can download the latest Britney Spears album from the comfort of your home (or you know, whatever music; that’s just an example).

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