Jamie Campbell Bower

ANONYMOUS Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 27th, 2011 at 9:28 pm

[This is a re-print of my review from the 2011 Toronto Film Festival]

In Anonymous, Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans) tells young playwright Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto), “All artists have something to say because otherwise they’d just make shoes.” It’s a funny quote when you consider that director Roland Emmerich‘s previous filmography is mainly comprised of brainless blockbusters like Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012. Anonymous, a political thriller wrapped in a conspiracy theory, could not be further from those movies and Emmerich sets out like a man with something to prove. There are no monsters, aliens, cataclysms, and the only explosion is the destruction of the Globe Theatre, which actually did burn to the ground in 1613. The film plays fast and loose with most historical facts (including why the Globe burned down), but it manages to craft an intriguing period piece before getting bogged down in political intrigue and tearing down historical figures.

Rhys Ifans and Jamie Campbell Bower Talk ANONYMOUS, SPIDER-MAN, TWILIGHT, MORTAL INSTRUMENTS and 3D

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: October 27th, 2011 at 2:26 pm

With Roland Emmerich’s period drama Anonymous opening this weekend, I recently got to speak with two of the stars, Rhys Ifans and Jamie Campbell Bower.  While Emmerich is known for his big-budget disaster movies like 2012 and Independence Day, Anonymous is quite a departure, as the story centers on a conspiracy to cover up the true author of William Shakespeare’s plays.  There are no monsters or aliens.  Instead, Emmerich has made a really entertaining political thriller wrapped in a conspiracy theory that also stars David Thewlis, Joely Richardson, Rafe Spall, Xavier Samuel and Vanessa Redgrave.  Here are some clips and the trailer.

During a very fun and relaxed interview, Ifans and Campbell Bower talked about video games, karaoke, whether or not Shakespeare really wrote his plays, 3D, and Ifans talks about what fans can look forward to in The Amazing Spider-Man and Campbell Bower talks about Twilight and Mortal Instruments. Hit the jump to watch.

5 Clips from Roland Emmerich’s ANONYMOUS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 15th, 2011 at 8:57 am

We’ve been provided with 5 clips from director Roland Emmerich’s period drama Anonymous to share with our readers.  Best known for big-budget films like 2012 and Independence Day, the film marks quite a departure for the director.  The story centers on a conspiracy to cover up the true authors of William Shakespeare’s plays, as the works were used to criticize the monarchy.  The cast includes Jamie Campbell Bower, Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Joely Richardson, and Vanessa Redgrave.  Hit the jump to watch the clips. Anonymous opens October 28th.

New Trailer for Roland Emmerich’s ANONYMOUS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 5th, 2011 at 9:42 am

A new trailer for Roland Emmerich’s Anonymous has gone online.  Like the previous trailer, there’s the poor decision to use Radiohead’s “Everything in Its Right Place”, but we also get a better explanation of the plot.  The movie isn’t simply about the controversial theory that William Shakespeare didn’t write his own plays.  The controversy is wrapped up in a much larger period drama involving political intrigue and how the plays were used to criticize the monarchy while protecting the identities of the true authors.  The larger question isn’t whether or not Shakespeare wrote his plays and poems, but if a big-budget director like Emmerich can go through an entire movie without destroying a revered building or monument.

Hit the jump to check out the new trailer.  The film stars Jamie Campbell Bower, Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Joely Richardson, and Vanessa Redgrave.  Anonymous will play at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and hit theaters on October 28th.

Starz Officially Cancels CAMELOT

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: June 30th, 2011 at 3:05 pm

After premiering the first season in April with Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green, Claire Forlani, and more leading the series, Starz has officially decided it will not pursue their medieval drama series Camelot for a second season. A representative for the cable network says, “Due to significant production challenges, Starz has decided not to exercise the option for subsequent seasons of Camelot with our production partners GK-tv, Octagon Films and Take 5 Productions.”  Honestly, I was never sold on the series to begin with as it just seemed like they were taking the violence and sex of Spartacus: Blood and Sand and sending it over to Camelot. Between this and Party Down (a very funny show that, for whatever reason, lacked an audience), the cable company doesn’t seem to have as much luck with their original series’ as Showtime or HBO.

Jamie Campbell Bower Play Jace Wayland in THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 31st, 2011 at 12:35 pm

A couple weeks ago, we reported that Jamie Campbell Bower (The Twilight Saga: New Moon), Ed Speleers (Eragon), and Leebo Freeman were all in the running for the male lead in Scott Charles Stewart’s adaptation of the young adult book series The Mortal Instruments.  Deadline is now reporting that Bower has won that race and will play Jace Wayland.  Jace is a member of a group known as “Shadowhunters” who are warriors devoted to ridding the world of demons.  The book’s protagonist Clary Fray (played by Lily Collins and I swear I’m not making up these character names) witnesses a murder and is eventually drawn into the world of the Shadowhunters.  In the synopsis, Jace is described as “a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk.”  Is the tagline for this movie going to be “This totally isn’t anything like Twilight, but if you liked Twilight, you should see this movie.”

Hit the jump for a synopsis of the first novel in The Mortal Instruments series, City of Bones.

Jamie Campbell Bower, Ed Speleers and Leebo Freeman Up for Role of Jace in THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 16th, 2011 at 6:59 pm

Now that the cast of The Hunger Games is just about set, it’s time to move on to the next teen fantasy/adventure book series film adaptation: The Mortal Instruments. Lily Collins (Priest) is locked as the lead in the Scott Stewart-directed flick. The Wrap reports that Jamie Campbell Bower, Ed Speleers and Leebo Freeman all tested opposite Collins on the Sony lot last week.

Bower is somewhat of a veteran of teen books-turned-films, having appeared in both Twilight (as Caius) and Harry Potter (as Gellert Grindelwald). Speleers is best known for 2006’s Eragon and Freeman is a newcomer. The book series centers on 15-year-old Clary Fray who witnesses a murder only to discover that she has encountered the “Shadowhunters”, a secret tribe of warriors who are on a mission to destroy demons. Hit the jump for a synopsis of the first novel in The Mortal Instruments series.

First Trailer for Roland Emmerich’s ANONYMOUS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 7th, 2011 at 9:25 am

Columbia Pictures has released the first trailer for Roland Emmerich’s Anonymous, a political thriller based on the controversy of who really wrote the plays credited to William Shakespeare.  Per the official synopsis, “Anonymous poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power of the throne were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.”  Since this is Emmerich’s first film where he’s not obliterating a city, the curiosity factor is too high to avoid, but this trailer does an awful job of explaining the plot beyond “Shakespeare didn’t write his plays.  Now please enjoy 16th century CGI England.”  The release date is still a ways off so I’m sure we’ll get a more plot-heavy trailer a few months from now.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film stars Jamie Campbell Bower, Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Joely Richardson, and Vanessa Redgrave.  Anonymous hits theaters on September 30th.

Jamie Campbell Bower and Executive Producer Chris Chibnall Interview CAMELOT

by Christina Radish    Posted: February 2nd, 2011 at 8:55 am

The new Starz original series Camelot, premiering on April 1^st, is a dark and brutal take on the famous legend about people with complex and conflicting desires, who are in a battle for power. When the sorcerer Merlin (Joseph Fiennes) has visions of a dark future, he turns to the young and impetuous Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower), King Uther’s unknown son and heir, who has been raised from birth as a commoner. But Arthur’s cold and ambitious half sister Morgan (Eva Green) will fight him for power to the bitter end, summoning unnatural forces to claim the crown in this epic battle for control.

During a recent interview to promote Camelot, show creator/executive producer Chris Chibnall and The Twilight Saga star Jamie Campbell Bower talked about the process of casting, the training and sword fighting necessary for the role, the underlying love story, and presenting this world in a way that audiences have never seen before. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Eva Green Interview CAMELOT; Plus Updates on PERFECT SENSE and CALLAS

by Christina Radish    Posted: January 24th, 2011 at 6:52 pm

In the Starz original series Camelot, premiering on April 1^st, French actress Eva Green plays Morgan, the beautiful and ruthlessly ambitious daughter of King Uther, who wishes to claim her right to her father’s throne. However, she has not counted on Merlin’s (Joseph Fiennes) plans or the existence of Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower), her newly revealed half brother. In her pursuit of power and her willingness to do absolutely anything to take the throne that she believes is rightfully hers, Morgan gives herself over to dark forces that threaten the court of Camelot from within.

In a recent interview to promote this new epic series, Eva Green talked about stepping into the role of such an iconic character, working with both Joseph Fiennes and Jamie Campbell Bower, getting to shoot in Ireland, and the fantastic costumes she gets to wear. She also talked about her Sundance film, Perfect Sense, with Ewan McGregor, and the possibility that she will play opera star Maria Callas in the biopic, Callas. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

New Images and the First Trailer for Starz’ Medieval Series CAMELOT

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: January 10th, 2011 at 11:18 am

Since the cable network found success with Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Starz is now hoping they’ll have a similar warm reception with Camelot, a new series focusing on the legend of King Arthur. Using Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’ Arthur, the epic series looks to have as many bloody battles and steamy romance as the sword-and-sandals predecessor. Featuring Joseph Fiennes (Merlin), Eva Green (Morgana) and newcomers Jamie Campbell Bower (Arthur) and Tamsin Egerton (Guinevere), this looks like the most intense telling of the medieval legend. But you can decide for yourself after checking out nine new images and watching the first trailer after the jump:

Joseph Fiennes and Writer/Showrunner Chris Chibnall Interview CAMELOT

by Christina Radish    Posted: October 24th, 2010 at 2:59 pm

The new Starz original series Camelot, expected to air in the Spring of 2011, is an epic period drama with a talented cast that includes Joseph Fiennes as Merlin, Eva Green as Morgan, Jamie Campbell Bower as Arthur and Tamsin Egerton as Guinevere. This 10-episode production takes a fresh approach to the powerful story of the legendary King Arthur, weaving it with the authenticity of the most classic medieval tale of all time.

During a recent interview, series star Joseph Fiennes and writer/showrunner Chris Chibnall talked about bringing this epic story to life in a fresh way, setting things up so that they can continue telling the story for multiple seasons and how being on Starz allows them to explore all aspects of the characters and story. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Exclusive: Sergio Pizzorno Scoring William Monahan’s LONDON BOULEVARD; UK Release November 26, February in America

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: October 19th, 2010 at 1:40 pm

While information regarding William Monahan’s London Boulevard (his directorial debut) has been sparse, I can report Monahan is done with the film and we’re very close to getting some new images and a trailer.

If you’re not familiar with London Boulevard, it’s about a man newly released from prison who falls in love with a reclusive young movie star and finds himself in a duel with a vicious gangster (synopsis via IMDb).  The film stars Keira Knightley, Colin Farrell, Jamie Campbell Bower, Stephen Graham, Anna Friel, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone, and Eddie Marsan.

Even though I can’t offer any new images today (hopefully soon), I can report Sergio Pizzorno (from the band Kasabian) has done the original score and the film will be released in the UK on November 26 and in the US in February.  London Boulevard will be the first offering from Graham King and Bob Berney’s new distribution company, FilmDistrict.  More after the jump.

Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Tamsin Egerton Ride into CAMELOT

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 3rd, 2010 at 1:54 pm

After finding success with the gladiator soap Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Starz will next turn to medieval times for the new series Camelot, a fresh take on the classic King Arthur saga.  Joseph Fiennes (FlashForward) and Eva Green (Casino Royale) have signed on to headline the series; Fiennes will play the iconic wizard Merlin, while Green will portray the sorceress Morgana.

The pair join Jamie Campbell Bower (New Moon) and Tamsin Egerton (St. Trinian’s), who were cast as Arthur and Guinevere, respectively.  Production begins this month with a target premiere of early 2011.  Hit the jump for the full press release.

Michael Sheen (Aro), Jamie Campbell Bower (Caius), Dakota Fanning (Jane), Cameron Bright (Alec) – The Volturi Press Conference – TWILIGHT: NEW MOON

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 8th, 2009 at 8:05 pm

As most of you know, this weekend was the press junket for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” here in Los Angeles.  Since so many of the cast were in attendance, Summit Entertainment divided up the actors by who they played in the movie.  Since Michael Sheen (Aro), Jamie Campbell Bower (Caius), Dakota Fanning (Jane), and Cameron Bright (Alec) played the Volturi in “New Moon”, it made sense they would share a press conference.  So if you’d like to read or listen to what they had to say about their characters and being in “New Moon”, hit the jump.

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