Jessica Chastain

Two New Clips from LAWLESS Featuring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Guy Pearce

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 5:32 pm

In a summer filled with superhero spectacles and sci-fi extravaganzas, it’s nice to get back to the roots of Depression-era, moonshine-runnin’ crime dramas.  Director John Hillcoat (The Road) has the cure for what ails you in Lawless, an adaptation of the Matt Bondurant novel, “The Wettest County in the World.”  Lawless stars Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) and Tom Hardy (Inception) as the Bondurant brothers, Southern bootleggers during the Prohibition era.  A new clip from the film shows a nice moment between the two characters and highlights the range of both.  Another clip introduces the strangely androgynous character, Special Agent Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) who has swooped in from Chicago to shut the Bondurants down.  There’s some good stuff on display here, hints of which were seen in this trailer.  You should also check out these awesome character posters.  Lawless, also starring Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, Mia Wasikowska and Dane DeHaan will debut in theaters on August 29th.  Hit the jump to see the clips.

Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Shia LaBeouf and More Featured in LAWLESS Character Posters

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 18th, 2012 at 11:45 am

The period crime drama Lawless was on my radar for quite a while given its pedigreed cast and talented director, but the film rocketed towards the top of my most anticipated list with a truly stellar first trailer.  Based on the novel The Wettest County in the World, the film stars Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy as two brothers who become bootleggers in the South during Prohibition.  The trailer highlighted some truly badass moments for Guy Pearce and Gary Oldman, and I love the aesthetic that director John Hillcoat (The Road) has chosen for this story.  A few character posters have gone online featuring a majority of the film’s cast.  They’re not the most artful one sheets I’ve ever seen (the photoshop on Oldman is highly questionable), but I’m assuming these will appeal to wide commercial audiences who haven’t yet heard about the film.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.  The film also stars Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Mia Wasikowska, and Dane DeHaan.  Lawless will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and is slated to open nationwide on August 31st.

James Franco Enlists Olivia Wilde, Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain, and More for Poetry Adaptations

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 15th, 2012 at 7:57 am

By now, we’re all aware that James Franco is a fairly multifaceted fella.  He dips his toe in comedy, drama, short films, experimental films, and higher education.  For his latest project, he’s assembled an impressive cast for two feature films based on a couple of books of poems.  Variety reports that Franco stars alongside Mila Kunis and Jessica Chastain in an adaptation of the 1983 book of poems Tar by C.K Williams, and he also enlisted Olivia Wilde, Chloe Sevigny and Whoopi Goldberg for an adaptation of Black Dog, Red Dog by Stephen Dobyns.

For Tar, Franco and executive producer Victorino Noval selected 10 directors via a competition at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts to helm segments of the film.  He also used a similar formula for Black Dog, Red Dog. Tar is completed and could premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, while Black Dog is still in the editing phase.  They’re both interesting projects, and it’s nice of Franco to give NYU students a shot and something as high profile as this.  The actor recently wrapped Sam Raimi’s Oz the Great and Powerful and will next star in Seth Rogen’s directorial debut The End of the World.  He can also be seen playing a cornrowed drug dealer in Spring Breakers. No word on where Franco obtained the cloning technology necessary to do all the things he’s done in the past five years.

Jessica Chastain Passes on IRON MAN 3

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 7th, 2012 at 2:19 pm

In late April, we learned that Jessica Chastain was eyeing a role in director Shane Black’s Iron Man 3.  Well, not entirely unexpectedly, Chastain has had to decline the role due to scheduling difficulties.  The role was reportedly that of a “sexy scientist” who rivals Robert Downey Jr.‘s Tony Stark in intelligence.  Last year, the incredibly talented Chastain burst onto the scene with roles in seven films including The Tree of Life and The Help.  She’s become very in-demand as of late, and her schedule just became too crowded to make room for Iron Man 3.

Hit the jump to read her statement and to find out what other projects she has on the horizon.

New Images from LAWLESS, ANNA KARENINA, and NOW YOU SEE ME

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 7th, 2012 at 12:50 pm

We’ve got a few new images to share with you this afternoon.  Briefly:

• Lawless – Following a beyond stellar first trailer, we’ve got these new looks at Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Shia LaBeouf, Mia Wasikowska, and Guy Pearce in director John Hillcoat’s bootlegging-centered period drama.  The film opens on August 31st.
• Anna Karenina – A new image of Keira Knightley from director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) adaptation of the classic novel.  The film also stars Jude Law and Aaron Johnson and opens on November 9th.
• Now You See Me – The first official image of Isla Fisher in director Louis Letterier’s magician-centered heist drama, also starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and Mark Ruffalo.  The film opens on January 18th, 2013.

Hit the jump to check out the images.

Fantastic First Trailer for LAWLESS Starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Gary Oldman

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 24th, 2012 at 4:18 pm

The first trailer for the period crime drama Lawless has gone online.  Based on the novel The Wettest County in the World, the film stars Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy as two brothers who become bootleggers in the South during Prohibition.  This first trailer is pretty incredible, and a different stellar actor seems to pop into frame every 10 seconds.  LaBeouf, Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce and Gary Oldman all promise strong performances under the gritty/dirty direction of John Hillcoat (The Road).  Prohibition is a swell setting for some great drama, and I’m excited to see Hillcoat weave all the pieces of the story together with a strong character focus.  If the setting, cast, Hillcoat and the story aren’t enough to entice you, did I mention that the trailer features a bad ass Gary Oldman wielding a tommy gun?

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film also stars Jason Clarke, Mia Wasikowska, and Dane DeHaan.  Lawless will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month and opens nationwide on August 31st.

Jessica Chastain May Join IRON MAN 3 as Sexy Scientist

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: April 23rd, 2012 at 6:02 pm

With only about four weeks left before Iron Man 3 begins shooting, some casting additions are still being made.  Not only has the great Sir Ben Kingsley come on board in a villainous capacity, but the charismatic Guy Pearce is reportedly adding his talent to the Marvel movie.  Now, the latest reports have Jessica Chastain back on track to join the threequel.  Her role is purportedly that of a sexy scientist who rivals Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in intelligence.  Chastain was previously thought to be in the mix for the role before scheduling issues complicated matters.  With her film The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Hers pushed back, it looks like Chastain will be joining Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and possibly Scarlett Johansson for Iron Man 3. Hit the jump for more.

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.

TAKE SHELTER Blu-ray Review

by Kevin Panasiewicz    Posted: February 22nd, 2012 at 1:25 pm

Take Shelter marks the second collaboration between Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) and his Shotgun Stories writer/director Jeff Nichols, and it only serves to verify that the promise this pairing demonstrated with their first outing was no fluke. Also like Shotgun Stories, I would be doing it a disservice to attempt to sell you on it in this intro with a single, sensational genre tag. Is it a disaster film? Eh. Psychological character study and suburban family drama? Mostly. Existential meditation? If it suits you. Checks across the board, yet it’s the way in which those distinct elements mesh that leaves Take Shelter without a clear home and all the better for it. In a way this Blu-ray’s arrival commemorates the anniversary of Take Shelter’s critically-lauded Sundance premiere and, given that most of you had no choice but to miss its limited theatrical run in L.A. and New York, this phenomenal disc makes for a handsome introduction. Take Shelter also stars Jessica Chastain (2011 movie) and Shannon’s Boardwalk co-star Shea Whigham. Hit the jump for my review.

Naomi Watts Replaces Jessica Chastain in Princess Diana Biopic CAUGHT IN FLIGHT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 8:27 am

Naomi Watts has replaced Jessica Chastain in Oliver Hirschbiegel‘s Princess Diana biopic, Caught in Flight.  We reported in November that the film focused on Diana’s real-life secret affair with heart surgeon, Dr. Hasnat Khan, “who was said to be the love of her life.”  However, THR broadens the synopsis by saying the movies takes place “during the last two years of her life,” and “the script charts her search for personal happiness as she turned into a major international campaigner and humanitarian.”  However, since her relationship with Khan reportedly began in 1995 and Diana died in 1997, the timeline still holds.  Presumably, the search for “personal happiness” involved Khan.

Filming on Caught in Flight is set to take place in the UK later this year.  Watts will next be seen in the drama The Impossible, and she’s co-starring opposite Robin Wright in The Grandmothers.

Joel Edgerton and Jessica Chastain to Star in Paired Films, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: HIS and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: HERS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 2nd, 2012 at 1:58 pm

Joel Edgerton and Jessica Chastain will star in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Hers.  The love story explores a New York City couple’s relationship during a difficult time in their marriage from the perspectives of the restaurant owner husband and of the wife, who goes back to college.  Presumably, “His” will be from Edgerton’s perspective and “Hers” will be from Chastain’s.  Ned Benson‘s two scripts sound like an intriguing premise, and it doesn’t hurt having Edgerton and Chastain as your leads.  William Hurt is in talks to join the cast.

Variety adds that the films will be stand-alone, so it’s not like one is the sequel to the other.  Having them released at the same time and available to view in either order is an exciting prospect.  Myriad Pictures plans to shop the project around the Berlin Film Festival next week.  Hit the jump for the press release and a quick refresher on Edgerton and Chastain’s upcoming projects.

2012 Oscar Nominations Announced; HUGO and THE ARTIST Lead the Pack

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 24th, 2012 at 6:05 am

The nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards have finally been unveiled. Many of the categories have fallen in line just as most have predicted (I fared alright with my predictions, but not great), with Hugo scoring 11 nods, followed closely by The Artist with 10. The biggest surprises are War Horse and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close getting in for Best Picture, the exclusion of The Adventures of Tintin from Best Animated Feature, and The Tree of Life nabbing Best Picture and Best Director nods (hooray!). On the snub side of things, despite landing the most precursor critics awards of any other actor in the race thus far, Albert Brooks was denied a Best Supporting Actor nod for his stellar work in Drive (boo). Additionally, Tilda Swinton was overlooked for giving the best performance of the year in We Need to Talk About Kevin, and AMPAS has no love for Michael Fassbender‘s haunting work in Shame.

There’s still plenty to be happy about, as Gary Oldman has his first ever Oscar Nomination (yes, that’s right) and Melissa McCarthy is a Best Supporting Actress nominee. Hit the jump to check out the full list of nominees. The 84th Academy Awards will be presented by Billy Crystal on February 26th.

Oscars 2012: Adam Predicts the Nominees

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 21st, 2012 at 2:38 pm

As I’ve been covering awards season pretty extensively here on the site over the past few months, I figured it would be appropriate to (foolishly) try to predict the upcoming Oscar nominations. It’s been a fairly tame year, as a few frontrunners were singled out early in the race and have held their ground throughout the grueling awards season. We haven’t been without a few surprises, as Steven Spielberg’s War Horse took a massive tumble following snubs from most of the major guilds, and David Fincher has surged back into the race bringing his adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with him.

Though there are plenty of safe bets when it comes to the 2012 Oscar nominations, there are still a few wildcards and tricky categories. I’ve put on my prognosticating cap (those interested can purchase one of these nifty hats at your local Target) and compiled a list of who and what I think will make the cut. Hit the jump to see how I think the nods will stack up when they’re announced on January 24th.

Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, and Martin Short Join MADAGASCAR 3; Shirley MacLaine Is Ben Stiller’s Mom in WALTER MITTY

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 13th, 2012 at 11:46 am

We’ve got a couple of casting stories to bring you this afternoon. First up, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, and Martin Short have been added to the voice cast of DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. It’s a curious bit of news, as the film hits theaters in a matter of months and a full trailer has already been released, but I’m assuming the three are up for minor roles. Heat Vision’s report doesn’t specify what characters Chastain, Cranston, and Short will be lending their voices to, but Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Sacha Baron Cohen are all reprising their roles from the first two films.

The plot finds the zoo animals yet again trying to make their way back to New York City, but this time they find themselves on the wrong side of the law in Europe. Frances McDormand voices the villain in the pic, which hits theaters June 8th. Hit the jump for casting news regarding Ben Stiller’s directorial project The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Joel Edgerton Officially Joins Kathryn Bigelow’s Untitled Hunt for Osama Bin Laden Drama [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 5th, 2012 at 3:22 pm

Joel Edgerton is in, again. After having been previously reported as the star of Kathryn Bigelow’s (The Hurt Locker) untitled hunt for Osama Bin Laden drama, the Warrior star was forced to withdraw from consideration after scheduling issues with the 300 prequel looked to prevent him from toplining the project. Now Variety reports that Edgerton has officially signed on to star in the pic, which centers on the Navy Seal team that tracked and eventually killed Bin Laden. We recently reported that Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) was in talks to topline the drama, but Variety’s new report makes no mention of the actor. It’s possible he was the second choice to Edgerton, and now that Edgerton’s scheduling issues have been cleared up (he passed on the 300 prequel) Pratt is out.

The script was written by Bigelow’s Hurt Locker scribe Mark Boal, and the only other actor officially signed on is Jason Clarke. Rooney Mara had been eyed to play a female reporter embedded with the Seal team, but her Girl with the Dragon Tattoo promotion schedule prevented her from joining the pic. Edgerton is currently filming The Great Gatsby. The untitled film (previously titled Kill Bin Laden) opens December 19th, 2012. [Update: Deadline reports that in addition to Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, and Edgar Ramirez (Carlos) have joined the stellar ensemble. They also include Pratt in the cast listing, so it looks like he's still on the project after all.]

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