Mélanie Laurent

BEGINNERS DVD Review

by Jake Lasker    Posted: December 1st, 2011 at 5:59 am

When I received the DVD for Beginners in the mail last week, I was out of my mind excited. After all, Beginners is one of my favorite films of the year. I couldn’t wait to check out the supplemental material and I’m glad to report the disc doesn’t disappoint.

First things first: the film itself. Mike Mills’ semi-autobiographical tale follows Oliver, played wonderfully by Ewan McGregor, at two very different times in his life. The first timeline follows Oliver’s time with his father Hal (an Oscar-worthy Christopher Plummer), who has recently been diagnosed with cancer and come out of the closet. The second timeline follows Oliver as he embarks on a romance with Anna (Inglourious Basterd’s Melanie Laurent), a French actress staying in Los Angeles. Oliver is kept company at all times by his faithful terrier Arthur.  Continue reading for my full review.

First Synopsis and Promo Poster for NOW YOU SEE ME Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 3rd, 2011 at 4:06 pm

Director Louis Letterier’s heist-thriller Now You See Me is quickly becoming one of my most anticipated films of 2013. It’s got a stellar cast (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco and Melanie Laurent), an intriguing/adventurous premise, and magic! Lots and lots of magic. The story centers on a group of magicians who pull off bank heists during their death-defying acts, and the FBI squad tasked with catching them. Today we’ve got the first full synopsis and a promo poster for the pick from the American Film Market, which you can check out after the jump.

The film was written by Boaz Yakin (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) & Edward Ricourt, Josh Applebaum & Andre Nemec (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), and Ed Solomon (Men in Black). Now You See Me opens January 18th, 2013.

Melanie Laurent Starring Opposite Jesse Eisenberg in NOW YOU SEE ME; Kim Dickens Moves to the HEARTLAND

by Jason Barr    Posted: July 13th, 2011 at 7:38 pm

We have a couple of casting bits to bring you tonight. First up, Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) has signed on to star opposite Jesse Eisenberg in the heist pic Now You See Me. Variety confirms Laurent’s place in the Louis Leterrier film which follows an FBI team as they track a group of the world’s greatest illusionists who rob banks and then “make it rain” on their audiences. Laurent can currently be seen alongside Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer in writer/director Mike Mills’ dramedy Beginners.

Next up, Treme‘s Kim Dickens has landed a role next to Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron in Killer Films’ Heartland. The pic tells the story of a father (Quaid) who wants nothing more than for his son (Efron) to take over the family’s Iowa-based seed business. Unfortunately for him, the son has his heart set on driving a race car. According to Deadline, Dickens will play the role of Efron’s mother, Irene. Dickens can next be seen on the silver screen in director Craig Brewer’s Footloose remake which hits theaters later this year on October 14th.

3 New Clips from BEGINNERS Starring Ewan McGregor

by Jason Barr    Posted: May 19th, 2011 at 5:20 pm

A trio of new clips from writer/director Mike Mills’ (Thumbsucker) “dramady” Beginners has landed online. Starring Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, and Mélanie Laurent (Inglorious Bastards), the film is a boy (McGregor) meets girl (Laurent) story with the twist coming when boy reflects on the lessons taught to him by his recently deceased father (Plummer) who, at the age of 75, came out of the closet to finish his sunset years in style. Beginners premiered at TIFF last year and I’m looking forward to checking it out when it hits theaters stateside on June 3rd.

Hit the jump to check out the new clips entitled “Awfully Alone,” “Fatherly Advice,” and “Joy of Sex” respectively. In case you need more Beginners in your life, you can click here for the trailer and click here for two older clips entitled “Akbar” and “Ask Me Anything.”

Trailer and Poster for BEGINNERS

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 27th, 2011 at 1:23 pm

The trailer for writer/director Mike Mills’ (Thumbsucker) comedy/drama Beginners has landed online.  Starring Ewan McGregor, Oscar-nominee Christopher Plummer (The Last Station), and Mélanie Laurent (Inglorious Bastards), Beginners follows a man named Oliver (McGregor) as he meets Anna (Laurent) and proceeds to reflect on the lessons taught to him by his late father (Plummer).  I heard very good things about Beginners after it screened at TIFF and this sentimentally charming trailer (and delightfully simplistic poster) does little to undercut that praise.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer, poster, and synopsis.  Beginners hits select theaters this summer on June 3rd.

First Images from BEGINNERS and BRIGHTON ROCK

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 18th, 2010 at 9:20 am

Yesterday we posted the first images from writer/director Guy Moshe’s Bunraku and Werner Herzog’s first 3D movie Cave of Forgotten Dreams.  Like I said in the intros, we’ve been given a ton of first look images from a lot of the movies premiering at the Festivals over the next few weeks, and we’ll be posting tons of them every day for the foreseeable future.  Anyway, today we continue our first look series with writer/director Mike Mills (Thumbsucker) Beginners and writer/director Rowan Joffe’s Brighton Rock.  The two films star Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent, Control’s Sam Riley, Andrea Riseborough, and Helen Mirren.  Hit the jump for the images and the synopses.  Both sound like they’re worth your time:

Mélanie Laurent Exclusive Interview; THE CONCERT Star On INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS’ Worldwide Appeal, Experiencing Cannes With Quentin Tarantino & Becoming A Virtuoso Violinist In 3 Months

by Ron Messer    Posted: August 9th, 2010 at 5:30 pm

Inglourious Basterds burst onto theater screens around the world last year with heaping doses of gunpowder and star power, namely Brad Pitt, to set box offices on fire.  But while familiar faces like Pitt, Mike Myers and others lit up the screen, two actors all but unknown to American audiences left an undeniable impression.  Christoph Waltz’s Oscar-winning performance as the diabolically delicious Col. Hans Landa has been well documented.  However, Mélanie Laurent’s portrayal of the main heroine Shosanna Dreyfus gave the film its conscience and heart.

Collider caught up with Laurent on the phone recently about her newest film, The Concert, which is in the midst of a national rollout.  Hit the jump for the interview’s transcript and audio, along with news of her post-Basterds work, comparing careers with her good friend Marion Cotillard and Quentin Tarantino’s advice for going behind the camera.

Matt’s Top Performers, Director, Quotes, and Kills of 2009

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 30th, 2009 at 6:38 pm

The joy of list-making continues today as I’m running down who I thought gave the best performances of the year plus what I thought were the best quotes and kills of 2009.  Please keep in mind that regarding the performances, I haven’t seen a few key films that could have very well changed the winners and runners-up: Crazy Heart (Best Actor), The Last Station and Bright Star (Best Actress), and a few others.  If you think there was someone who clearly should’ve won or been nominated, shout out in the comments section and I’ll let you know whether I saw the film or not.

With this disclaimer out of the way, I present to you my picks for the best performers, directors, quotes, and kills of 2009.  Hit the jump to check them all out.

More AFM Promo Photos and Synopses For 7 More Movies Including HELLRAISER, THE TOURNAMENT, EARTHBOUND

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 12th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

The hits from this year’s American Film Market (AFM)* keep on coming.  The yearly festival where buyers and sellers do business to bring us all the movies we’ll see in the (hopefully) near future offers plenty of photos and full synopses.  You may not have the fat cash to purchase these movies but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy their first images and plot details.  We’ve got the goods for Hellraiser, Earthbound (Starring Kate Hudson and Gael Garcia Bernal), Nowhere Boy, The Concert, The Tournament, and the animated films Escape from Planet Earth, Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs Evil.  Check it all out (plus the digital version of the promo poster for Scream 4) after the jump.  Please note that I have copied down all synopsis exactly as they were originally written.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Hits DVD and Blu-Ray on December 15th. No Word Yet on Inglourious, Inevitable Future Editions

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 20th, 2009 at 6:28 pm

While we already knew that The Weinstein Company would be releasing “Inglourious Basterds” before the end of the year in order to circumvent the expense of sending out screener copies to critics (studios send out screeners at the end of the year for films they think can garner some awards buzz), today the specs have landed online and I’m impressed that we’re not getting a bare-bones DVD but a healthy amount of special features.

However, you won’t find any deleted scenes and since the version that hit theaters in August is different than what was screened at Cannes, it would be out of the question to assume we’ll be getting another edition sometime next year.  That being said, how long have be waiting for “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair?”  I’m perfectly happy with the current cut of IB (just as I’m happy with both volumes of “Kill Bill”) and if I have to do a double dip, so be it because this DVD/Blu-Ray looks like it gets the job done.  Hit the jump for the full specs.

Diane Kruger and Melanie Laurent Exclusive Video Interviews INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 23rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm

Now that Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie “Inglourious Basterds” has opened to huge business around the world, I figure it’s time to post the last two interviews I did at the press junket and they’re with Diane Kruger and Melanie Laurent. In the film, Diane plays German actress and undercover agent Bridget von Hammersmark, and Melanie plays Shosanna Dreyfus – who witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Both of them talked about making the film, working with Quentin, and a lot more so take a look after the jump:

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 20th, 2009 at 7:13 pm

You already know if you love or hate the films of Quentin Tarantino.  It isn’t that his films haven’t evolved over the course of his career but they do possess a singular style that is often imitated but never duplicated.  His detractors will find his newest film, “Inglourious Basterds” to be his worst while his fans will celebrate it as his best yet.  Count me in the latter category.  Not only is this film have greater intensity than any horror film in recent memory, it features one of the greatest villains in cinema history.  And no, it’s not Hitler.

Exclusive: Christoph Waltz Video Interview INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 19th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

While “Inglourious Basterds” has a lot of great performances, Christoph Waltz is the one you’re all going to remember and talk about. That’s because he’s so good as Col. Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, I think he’s going to be remembered at the end of the year during Award season. Yeah…he’s that good. Anyway, I recently got to speak with him about making the film and it’s after the jump. Take a look:

Exclusive Interview with The Bear Jew (Eli Roth) INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 19th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

While Eli Roth is primarily known for his writing and directing skills, he’s slowly building up a resume as an actor. And as one of the leads in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds”, this might be a role that opens up a new door for the filmmaker.

In the film, Eli plays Sgt. Donny Donowitz – also known as ‘The Bear Jew’. I won’t spoil the reason why he’s called that…but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to mention he’s not a nice Jew. Anyway, I recently got to talk with The Bear Jew about making the movie, working for Quentin, the violence in the film, and a lot more. Take a look:

Exclusive: Samm Levine Video Interview INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 18th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

A show that I absolutely loved was “Freaks and Geeks”. So anytime I can speak with a former cast member, I’m always happy to do it. But when they’re promoting a movie that features Jews killing Nazis, I’ll reschedule my day to make sure I can help promote the film! And that’s exactly what I did to talk with Samm Levine last week. While he wasn’t part of the official junket schedule, when I was offered the opportunity to talk with him, we arranged to meet up and the interview is after the jump. He talked about how he got the part, filming in Berlin, deleted scenes, running time, what he has coming up and a lot more. It’s a great interview so take a look:

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