Olivia Williams

First Trailer and Poster for HYDE PARK ON HUDSON, Starring Bill Murray as FDR

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 18th, 2012 at 11:20 am

The first trailer for the historical drama Hyde Park on the Hudson has gone online.  The film stars Bill Murray as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and centers on a weekend in 1939 which marked the first ever visit to America by a British monarchy when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited FDR’s upstate New York cottage.  Roosevelt also had an affair with his cousin, Daisy, during the same weekend.  The trailer basically plays like a funnier version of Downton Abbey, with a great deal of heart thrown in towards the end.  Lest you think this is another droll, period drama without a sense of humor, Murray is splendidly fun as Roosevelt.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  Directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill), the film also stars Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Samuel West, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Marvel, Elizabeth Wilson, and Eleanor Bron. Focus Features will release Hyde Park on the Hudson on December 7th.

First Concept Art from SEVENTH SON Starring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, and Ben Barnes

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: March 27th, 2012 at 6:16 pm

Earlier this week, we brought you word that production had begun on Sergey Bodrov’s (Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan) fantasy adventure, Seventh Son. Now we can bring you the first concept art released for the film, something not seen outside of last year’s Comic-Con. While it doesn’t show off an awful lot, you can get a definite sense of setting and scope from the image.

Based on the The Spook’s Apprentice, the first novel in Joseph Delaney‘s young adult book series, The Wardstone Chronicles, Seventh Son follows a knight training a new apprentice to combat an old evil (how’s that for vague? More plot details after the jump.) The film stars Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Kit Harington, Ben Barnes and Olivia Williams. Hit the jump for the official synopsis and a look at the image.

Official Synopsis for Fantasy Adventure SEVENTH SON Starring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, and Ben Barnes

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 26th, 2012 at 1:04 pm

Production has begun on the fantasy action adventure flick Seventh Son, and with that announcement comes an official synopsis.  Briefly: Jeff Bridges plays a knight who had imprisoned an evil witch (Julianne Moore), but then she escapes and plans to do evil witchy things.  The knight is forced to take on an apprentice (Ben Barnes)—the seventh son of a seventh son—and only has until the next full moon to get the kid up to snuff.    The movie is based on The Spook’s Apprentice, the first novel in Joseph Delaney‘s young adult book series, The Wardstone Chronicles, which has franchise potential because of course it does.  Thankfully, it’s got a good cast on board, which also includes Olivia Williams and Kit Harington.

Hit the jump for the press release, which includes the synopsis.  Legendary Pictures made a brief presentation for the film at last year’s Comic-Con so it’s possible we might see another appearance at this year’s Con.  The press release doesn’t include a release date, but Box Office Mojo is listing the film for February 15, 2013.

First Trailer for NOW IS GOOD Starring Dakota Fanning and Jeremy Irvine

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 5th, 2012 at 11:08 am

The first trailer for the drama Now Is Good has gone online. The film stars Dakota Fanning as a 17-year-old girl who is dying of leukemia and decides to forgo treatment in order to live out her last days to the fullest. While the premise may seem a bit derivative, I was actually quite impressed by the trailer. Fanning sports short hair and a British accent, and it’s refreshing to see her tackle adult material. She’s joined by War Horse star Jeremy Irvine, as the two strike up a presumably doomed romance and set out to fulfill her bucket list. As I said, it’s not the most original of stories but I’m intrigued enough to catch the film at some point down the line.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. Now Is Good opens in the UK on May 25th, but is currently without a US release date.

New Images of Bill Murray as FDR in HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 28th, 2012 at 3:42 pm

Focus Features has released a batch of new images from the historical drama Hyde Park on the Hudson. The film stars Bill Murray as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and centers on Roosevelt’s affair with his cousin, Daisy, during a weekend in 1939 which marked the first ever visit to America by a British monarchy when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited FDR’s upstate New York cottage. Olivia Williams plays FDR’s wife Eleanor while Laura Linney plays Daisy. Murray looks fantastic as FDR and I can’t wait to see his take on our nation’s 32nd president. Roger Michell (Notting Hill) directs.

Hit the jump to check out the images. The film also stars Samuel West, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Marvel, Elizabeth Wilson, and Eleanor Bron. Focus Features will release Hyde Park on the Hudson on December 7th.

First Images, Poster, and Synopsis from Teen Drama NOW IS GOOD Starring Dakota Fanning

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: November 3rd, 2011 at 9:08 am

 

More promotional material from AFM, y’all—and Now Is Good has to be one of the more intriguing projects to come out of the convention.  Dakota Fanning stars as Tessa, a 17-year-old diagnosed with a terminal illness: “She determines to use every moment, compiling a catalogue of what normal teenager would experience, including losing her virginity and taking drugs.”  Fanning has been a talented actor since she was in utero, and she will surely put together a great performance with this meaty role.  But I’m drawn to the young supporting cast.  Anyone who watches Skins can speak to the screen presence of Kaya Scoledario.  And Jeremy Irvine is poised to be The Next Big Thing, groomed by none other than Steven Spielberg in his debut feature War Horse.

Olivia Williams and Paddy Considine also star in Now Is Good, written and directed by Ol Parker.  Hit the jump for the images, promo poster, and synopsis. [Update: The images have been removed at the request of the studio.]

Quasi-Casting Call: Jolie May Star in O. Russell’s THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; Williams May Join HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 8th, 2011 at 10:53 am

We have two stories that are almost casting news, but nothing has been confirmed for either film.  First up, Angelina Jolie hasn’t settled on her next acting project yet.  Her directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey is set for December 23rd, she’s attached to star in Cleopatra, and Salt 2 recently got the greenlight.  Now Just Jared reports that Jolie is meeting with director David O. Russell to discuss his adaptation of The Silver Linings Playbook.  Mark Wahlberg is already attached to play at Pat Peoples, a former high school history teacher who has just been released from a mental institution and plans on reconciling with his estranged wife.  However, Pat believes he’s only been in the institution for a few months, when actually he’s been inside for several years.  Presumably, Jolie is interested in playing Peoples’ wife.  However, even if she takes the role, it’s unknown where it fall into her schedule.  Cleopatra and Salt 2 are both looking for directors.

Hit the jump for casting news regarding Hyde Park on the Hudson.

Casting Call: Matthew Macfadyen Joins Joe Wright’s ANNA KARENINA, Patricia Arquette Signs on to GLUTTON, and Adhir Kalyan Joins Indie SAMARITAN

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 3rd, 2011 at 1:48 pm

We’ve got a few casting stories for you today. First up, Matthew Macfadyen (The Three Musketeers) has joined the cast of director Joe Wright’s (Hanna) adaptation of Anna Karenina. The Daily Mail (via Dark Horizons) reports that Macfadyen replaces Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of Oblonsky in the film version of Leo Tolstoy’s classic tragic love story. In addition to Macfadyen, Olivia Williams, Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Risebourough have joined the cast as well. Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Johnson and Kelly Macdonald are set to star in the Tom Stoppard-scripted (Shakespeare in Love) flick. Filming is set to begin this fall.

Next up, Patricia Arquette has joined the cast of brother David’s directing vehicle Glutton. The psychological thriller stars Abraham Benrubi (ER) as a 1,200 pound bedridden man. Arquette and Kacey Barnfield play the two female leads in the 3D flick. Variety reports that Arquette will play the man’s sister, while Barnfield will take on the role of a blind neighbor. Hit the jump for the casting of Adhir Kalyan in the indie film Samaritan as well as a synopsis of the book Anna Karenina.

HANNA Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 8th, 2011 at 8:47 am

Director Joe Wright has finally proved he’s a force to be reckoned with.  Atonement was undercut by a poor script and his direction on The Soloist overpowered the story and the performances, but with his latest film Hanna, he finally strikes an impressive balance and transforms a standard revenge flick into an effective and surreal dark fairy tale that punches the landscape almost as hard as its protagonist punches her foes.  Hanna is a film that defiantly and confidently plays by its own rules and the result is an action flick that is as thoughtful as it is exhilarating.

First Trailer for Joe Wright’s HANNA

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: December 20th, 2010 at 4:14 pm

The first trailer for Joe Wright’s (Pride & Prejudice, The Soloist, Atonement) Hanna has been released. The thriller features Saoirse Ronan as a teenage assassin who has been trained by her father (Eric Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland.  Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams and Jason Flemyng also star.

While I thought The Soloist was a big misfire, I absolutely love Pride & Prejudice and Atonement. I’m really hoping this is a return to form for Wright.  What’s really promising about the trailer is that it looks like nothing Wright has done before and I really can’t wait to see it.   The only negative about the trailer is that it reveals a lot of the story – including what might be a big twist.  Saying that, there is a lot of action and it definitely made me want to see it.  Judge the trailer for yourself after the jump.  Hanna hits theaters April 8 and the music is being done by The Chemical Brothers.

THE GHOST WRITER Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: August 5th, 2010 at 9:10 am

Sometimes it’s easy to ignore the baggage of a celebrity. Robert Downey Jr. is one of those guys that though we know he can be wild, when he’s playing Tony Stark I don’t think people are thinking “he did jail time and was a heroin addict, etc.” But while The Ghost Writer was in post-production and in release, its director Roman Polanski was being held in Switzerland under house arrest. Now that Polanski is no longer coming to America and that situation is – for now – resolved, perhaps The Ghost Writer can receive the recognition it deserves as a solid thriller. Alas, any film directed by Polanski will likely always have baggage, even a smart political thriller like this. The film is about a ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) working for an ex-British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan) on his memoirs, only for the ghost writer to start uncovering things that suggest American manipulation of his reign. Information that could get him killed. My review of The Ghost Writer on Blu-ray after the jump.

Olivia Williams Video Interview GHOST WRITER – Plus She Talks SPACED, DOLLHOUSE and JOSS WHEDON

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: March 24th, 2010 at 3:59 pm

Currently playing in theaters is Roman Polanski’s great movie Ghost Writer.  Starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Catrall, Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton, & Eli Wallach., the film is about a gifted author (McGregor) that’s hired to ghostwrite the memoirs of a controversial former British Prime Minister (Brosnan).  Soon after, he becomes a hunted man as he uncovers explosive secrets about the Prime Minister’s past.

To help promote the film, I recently spoke to Olivia Williams in New York City as she plays the wife of Pierce Brosnan.  During the interview we reminisce about how she appeared on Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s Spaced, how she got involved in Ghost Writer, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon, and a lot more.  Check out what she had to say after the jump:

6 Movie Clips from Roman Polanski’s GHOST WRITER Starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: March 4th, 2010 at 9:52 am

Summit Entertainment has provided us with 6 clips from Roman Polanski’s Ghost Writer which stars Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Catrall, Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton, & Eli Wallach.  While we usually only post clips before a movie has been released, the film is expanding into more theaters this weekend and I wanted to help promote the film as I thought it was great.  If you’re looking for a smart thriller that’s been well crafted and will keep you guessing, you should definitely check out Ghost Writer this weekend.  The one sentence summary is:

A gifted author (McGregor) hired to ghostwrite the memoirs of a controversial former British Prime Minister (Brosnan) becomes a hunted man when he uncovers explosive secrets about the past.

It’s currently at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes after 84 reviews, proving the critics are in agreement on this one.  Again, one of the best films playing at a theater this weekend.  Check out the clips after the jump – along with the full synopsis:

Exclusive TV Spot for Roman Polanski’s THE GHOST WRITER – Plus Watch the Trailer if you Missed it

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 11th, 2010 at 11:58 am

Summit Entertainment has given us an exclusive TV Spot for Roman Polanski’s (The Pianist, Frantic) new movie The Ghost Writer.  While I haven’t yet seen the film, a number of my peers have, and the word on the street is that it’s quite good.  Starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan, the film is about a ghostwriter (McGregor) that’s hired to complete the memoirs of a former British prime minister (Brosnan) and he uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy.  If you haven’t yet seen any footage, after the jump is our exclusive TV spot and the trailer.

Roman Polanski’s THE GHOST WRITER Trailer

by Matt Currie    Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 7:25 pm

The trailer for Roman Polanski’s upcoming political thriller The Ghost Writer has hit the Net and it’s…well, on a scale of 1 to Hit-Girl, I’d put it closer to 1. The film stars Ewan McGregor as a man enlisted to ghost-write the memoirs of a former British prime minister, played by Pierce Brosnan. As McGregor’s character, know only as The Ghost, delves into his subject’s past, he begins to uncover potentially damaging information about the former world leader, information that could shock a nation as well as cost him his life. Kim Cattrall, Olivia Williams, and Tom Wilkinson co-star.

The cast is certainly impressive and the director proven, but I found this trailer pretty bland. That’s not to say that the movie itself won’t be worth a look; on the contrary, it seems like whoever put this thing together took what was more of a slow-building mystery and ill-advisedly cut it into the standard thriller preview chock-full of quick cuts and high-tempo orchestral music. Anyway, you can judge for yourself. Hit the jump for the trailer and the official synopsis. The Ghost Writer will be released by Summit Entertainment in a limited theatrical run starting February 19, 2010.

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