Jeff Daniels

Aaron Sorkin’s HBO Cable News Drama Officially Called NEWSROOM; Check Out a Small Bit of the Script

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: December 5th, 2011 at 6:23 pm

For awhile now we’ve been updating on the progress of a new HBO drama series from writer Aaron Sorkin with the likes of Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, Olivia Munn, Emily Mortimer and more playing various characters working at a fictional cable news channel called UBS. More specifically, the series follows one of the programs on the channel that’s not unlike Countdown with Kieth Olberman. Now HBO Watch is reporting the series formerly known as More as This Story Develops will now simply be called Newsroom. Obviously it draws parallels to Sorkin’s Sports Night series from years back, but this will much different tonally and stylistically. Daniels play the show host Will McCallister while Waterston plays network president Charlie Skinner and if you want to get a taste of the dynamic between these two characters and the work Sorkin has put on the page, you can check out a bit of the expected snappy dialogue from the show after the jump.

The Farrelly Brothers Plan to Next Direct DUMB AND DUMBER Sequel With Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 26th, 2011 at 4:04 pm

Well this was unexpected. Having just wrapped production on a big screen version of The Three Stooges, directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly are now hoping to move on to a sequel to 1994’s Dumb and Dumber. Deadline reports that the intention is to bring back the film’s stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels to reprise their classic roles as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne. Apparently a script has already been written by Sex Drive scribes Sean Anders and John Morris, who also co-directed the Adam Sandler/Adam Samberg comedy I Hate You Dad. The plan is for the Dumb and Dumber sequel to be the Farrelly brothers’ next directorial project. The original film’s producers Charles B. Wessler, Brad Krevoy, and Steve Stabler are returning as well.

You may remember that a painful sequel to the hit comedy, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, was produced in 2003 without the brothers involvement. Hopefully this new sequel will fare better. If Carrey and Daniels do indeed come back, this could actually be a lot of fun. There’s no word on the story or whether other characters from the first film will appear, but I’m hoping for a cameo by Petey and the blind kid all grown up. The only other film on Carrey’s schedule next year is the Steve Carell comedy Burt Wonderstone, and Daniels is currently filming Aaron Sorkin’s new series for HBO, so they could feasibly fit the film into their schedules. Hit the jump for a refresher on the art of graceful idiocy.

First Posters for MY WEEK WITH MARILYN and TEXAS KILLING FIELDS Starring Sam Worthington

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 26th, 2011 at 1:16 pm

We’ve got a couple new posters for you today. First up is the stunning first poster for My Week With Marilyn. Based on the memoirs of Lawrence Olivier’s assistant Colin Clark, the film details a week in the life of Marilyn Monroe. Michelle Williams stars as the titular Marilyn and she looks absolutely perfect in this stellar one-sheet. The film also stars Kenneth Branagh, Dominic Cooper, Judi Dench, Julia Ormond, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne. My Week With Marilyn opens in limited release November 4^th.

Additionally, we have the first poster for the thriller Texas Killing Fields. Based on a true story, the film centers on the tracking of a sadistic serial killer who dumps his victims’ bodies in a Texas marsh. The impressive cast includes Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jason Clarke, and Chloe Dean Moretz. The film also has a new release date, as Texas Killing Fields will open in select theaters October 14^th.

Sam Waterston Joins Aaron Sorkin’s HBO Drama Pilot MORE AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: June 1st, 2011 at 6:49 am

We’ve known for some time now that Jeff Daniels would lead a new cable news centric drama pilot at HBO called More as This Story Develops. In addition, Emily Mortimer has been confirmed to take the lead female role with Alison Pill and Olivia Munn taking supporting roles. Now The Wrap reports Law & Order alum Sam Waterston, who played Jack McCoy on the staple legal series until its recent cancellation, has signed on for a role in the promising new series. Waterston will play Charles Skinner, the president of the cable news division which houses news anchor Will McCallister’s (Daniels) own show. This assembly of talent with Greg Mottola (Superbad) at the helm of the pilot has me excited for what looks to be yet another great series on HBO.

SOMETHING WILD Criterion Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: May 27th, 2011 at 7:00 am

Jonathan Demme was one of the brightest spots of filmmaking in the 1980’s. Like early Spielberg, his sensibilities for Americana were funky but authentic. He liked weird people, but not in an ironic or grotesque way. He loves people, and it shows in every bit of his casting. Though the academy would reward him for The Silence of the Lambs, and unintentionally turn him into a serious director for a while, his loosey-goosey charms were never more apparent than in Something Wild, which the Criterion collection has released. It stars Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith, and introduced the world to Ray Liotta. Check out our review of the film on Blu-ray after the jump.

Jeff Daniels Joins Aaron Sorkin’s Cable News Centric Drama Series at HBO

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: March 21st, 2011 at 3:13 pm

Back in January we learned that writer Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, A Few Good Men) was behind a brand new drama series. After taking us behind the curtain of a late night sketch series in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the White House in The West Wing and cable sports news in Sports Night, the writer is taking us behind the scenes of cable news for HBO and Variety says Jeff Daniels is coming with him. The actor is currently in negotiations for the lead role in series that will have him playing the host of his own show (not unlike Kieth Olbermann or Bill O’Reilly) who is very difficult to deal with from the network perspective.

Daniels is quite a versatile actor from his slapstick antics in Dumb & Dumber to quirky drama in The Squid and the Whale, but one of my personal favorites is his turn as a naive diner employee who wants nothing more than to paint with beautiful colors in the black and white world falling apart around him in Pleasantville. Surely more casting for this promising new series is on the way, so stay tuned.

HOWL Blu-ray Review

by Harrison Pierce    Posted: January 24th, 2011 at 10:43 am

James Franco, 2010’s most oddly ubiquitous entertainer, played two real life figures onscreen last year: poet Allen Ginsberg and survivalist Aron Ralston. While Ginsberg is presumably still the better known name, far more moviegoers checked out 127 Hours than Howl, the little seen biography about the Beat founding father from acclaimed documentary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Although Howl marks the duo’s narrative film debut, they break from traditional biopic form by utilizing a unique mix of documentary-style interviews, Hollywood-style courtroom dramatics and animated sequences to depict the inspiration behind, creation of and aftermath of Ginsberg’s most famous poem, “Howl.” While pretty boy Franco is a somewhat odd choice to play the less-than-beautiful, but never less-than-charismatic Ginsberg, the actor adeptly portrays the poet’s repressed romantic yearnings, heartbreak over friend’s and family’s treatment by mid-century mental health professionals and, most importantly, his electrifying ability to manipulate the English language. The film itself, however, is a mixed bag: poetic where it should be prosaic; diffuse where it should be focused.  My review after the jump:

Jeff Daniels, Piper Perabo, and Noah Segan Join LOOPER

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 21st, 2011 at 6:09 am

In a bit of early morning casting news, Variety is confirming that Jeff Daniels, Piper Perabo (USA’s Covert Affairs), and Noah Segan (The Brothers Bloom) have joined Rian Johnson’s (also of The Brothers Bloom) sci-fi/action film Looper.  The three join a cast that already includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, and Paul Dano.

While the details of their newly acquired roles are currently unspecified, we do know that Looper is set to go in front of cameras later this month and that Primer writer/director Shane Carruth is working on some of the film’s time-travel effects.  For those unaware, Looper is set in the near future and tells the story of an organized group of killers (known as “Loopers”) who go back in time, take out pre-determined targets, and then dispose of them as if they never existed.  The film, which I’m eagerly anticipating, is currently looking at a 2012 release.

Oscilloscope Sets HOWL, Starring James Franco, for September Release

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 22nd, 2010 at 11:39 am

Distributor Oscilloscope will release Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s Allen Ginsberg film Howl in theaters and on Video-on-Demand on September 24^th.  The film, which stars James Franco as Ginsberg, centers on the poet’s 1957 public obscenity trial.  The flick, which also stars David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, and Mary-Louise Parker, opened this year’s Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews.

Hit the jump to read the full press release.

Exclusive Interview with Writer/Director’s Michele and Kieran Mulroney PAPER MAN

by Sheila Roberts    Posted: April 19th, 2010 at 6:49 pm

At once a work that is both highly personal and universal in its celebration of all people who are looking for special friendships and connections in their lives, the comedic-drama Paper Man marks the first directorial effort from husband-and-wife screenwriting team Michele and Kieran Mulroney. The film centers on the unlikely bond that develops between a middle-aged writer (Jeff Daniels) who’s struggling with writer’s block and the demands of adulthood and a 17-year-old girl (Emma Stone) who’s suppressing a family secret that has stolen away her youth and its joy. The cast also includes Lisa Kudrow, Ryan Reynolds and Kieran Culkin.

Michele and Kieran talked to us about the challenges of directing their first feature film and how the Sundance Institute helped them develop their project. They also updated us on the Sherlock Holmes sequel — how they got the writing assignment, their love of the character, their favorite Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story, and their thoughts on Brad Pitt possibly playing Professor Moriarty.

New Trailer, Poster and Stills for Upcoming Ryan Reynolds Superhero Movie PAPER MAN

by Germain Lussier    Posted: April 12th, 2010 at 1:04 pm

A brand new trailer and photos for that upcoming Ryan Reynolds superhero movie hit the net today. No, not the one with the CG suit. We’re talking about Paper Man, a dramedy also starring Jeff Daniels, Emma Stone, Lisa Kudrow and Kieran Culkin. Reynolds plays Captain Excellent, the imaginary superhero friend of a struggling author (Daniels) who finds real friendship when he meets a young girl (Stone) on Long Island

Written and directed by Kieran and Michele Mulroney, Paper Man premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year and opens in limited released on April 23. Hit the jump to see the trailer, read the official synopsis and see some brand new stills.

On Set Video Interviews HOWL – James Franco, Jon Hamm, Jeff Daniels and Writer/Director’s Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 19th, 2010 at 7:13 pm

Just a few minutes ago I posted the first footage from Howl.  While I thought that’d be the last of our coverage about the film until I see it at Sundance, I was just given some on set video interviews with James Franco, Jon Hamm, Jeff Daniels and writer/director’s Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman.

Even though I rarely post interviews that I didn’t do myself, it’s pretty cool to see everyone on set talking about why they wanted to do the movie and what it’s about.  Hit the jump to take a look.

4 Movie Clips from HOWL – Premieres at Sundance and Stars James Franco, Jon Hamm, and David Strathairn

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 19th, 2010 at 5:46 pm

Every Sundance, there are always a few movies everyone is talking about before the Festival.  You know…the ones with buzz. One of the movies at this year’s Fest that people are talking about is Howl.  The reason…it’s filled with an all star cast consisting of James Franco, Jon Hamm, David Strathairn, Treat Williams, Bob Balaban, Alessandro Nivola, Mary Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.  Also, you’ve got Franco playing a young Allen Ginsberg and as the synopsis says, “it’s a legal drama, a character study and an animated trip into the magic and madness of the modern world.”

With Sundance set to begin later this week, we’ve landed the first footage from Howl and it’s four clips from the film.  If you’d like a sneak peak at one of the big films from this year’s Fest…take a look.  Also, the film plays this Thursday night in Park City, so reviews will be everywhere on Friday.

2010 Sundance Film Festival: New Photos for HOWL Starring James Franco and Jon Hamm

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 am

New photos for Howl, the upcoming film starring James Franco as revered beat poet Allen Ginsberg, have come online as the film approaches its premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.  I find these images impressive because we’re once again forced to recognize that James Franco can do anything.  Look at these photos and then remember that he’s doing a guest stint on General Hospital and it could be part of an art project.  He was also hilarious last year in Pineapple Express.  These projects are so vastly different and yet Franco always excels and it looking like Howl will be no different.

For those unfamiliar with the project, Howl is about the 1957 obscenity trial against Ginsberg for his poem, “Howl”.  Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, the film co-stars Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels, and David Strathairn.  Hit the jump to check out the images.  The 2010 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 21-31st.

AWAY WE GO Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: November 9th, 2009 at 11:01 am

The journey of Sam Mendes is an awkward one. A talented stage director, his first film came to win best picture, and fueled a (not undeserved) backlash against him. His second film was coolly received, while his next two pictured showed a lessening presence. Revolutionary Road was delayed for a year and was not the academy bait that was hoped for. For the summer of 2009 his most personal, and most satisfying film was released, Away We Go, and it shows a mellowed director dealing with personal issue is a way more satisfying way. My review after the jump.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design