Simon Baker

Casting Call: Simon Baker Set for I GIVE IT A YEAR; Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson to Topline Thriller NO GOOD DEED

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 2nd, 2012 at 1:20 pm

We’ve got a couple of casting stories to share with you today. First up, The Mentalist star Simon Baker has settled on a feature project to shoot during his upcoming hiatus from the CBS series. Variety reports that Baker will star in the comedy I Give it a Year. The film stars Rafe Spall (Anonymous) and centers on “the comedic trials and tribulations of a pair of newlyweds during their first year as a married couple.” Dan Mazer, a writer-director on Da Ali G Show and a credited scribe on Borat and Bruno, is set to direct the pic. It’s a bit of a departure for Baker who’s best known for dramatic roles, and with Mazer onboard I think we can safely assume this won’t be your average romcom.

Hit the jump for casting news concerning the thriller No Good Deed.

MARGIN CALL Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 21st, 2011 at 6:23 am

The 2008 economic collapse is one of the major events of our lifetimes and some filmmakers have rushed to turn the events into A Very Serious and Important Movie.  J.C. Chandor’s Margin Call would like to be that movie.  It dresses up its respected cast in fine suits, puts them in the financial world, and then has them look at computer monitors and say “Fuck me…” in astonishment about 80-90 times throughout the course of the film.  Chandor wants to bury the audience in the world of financial intrigue and corruption without doing the hard work of explaining the machinations of that world in any kind of detail.  He gets away with it for the first half-hour as the audience becomes wrapped in a propulsive, plot-driven drama, but by the end the only saving grace is Kevin Spacey playing against type.

Simon Baker Talks MARGIN CALL, Occupy Wall Street, THE MENTALIST, and His Thoughts on DOCTOR STRANGE

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: October 20th, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Opening this weekend, in limited release, is writer/director J.C. Chandor’s Margin Call. Starring Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore, Paul Bettany, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley and Simon Baker, Margin Call is a very smart economic thriller that revolves around the key people at an investment bank during the 24-hour period before the 2008 financial crisis. As the film unfolds, we learn who knew what and when, and what lines people are willing to cross to stay ahead.  While Hollywood often glamorizes or exaggerates real events, Margin Call makes you feel like a fly on the wall and it never feels forced.  Definitely recommended.  For more on the film, watch the trailer here.

A few days ago I did a phone interview with Simon Baker.  During our extended conversation, Baker talked about making Margin Call, his thoughts on Occupy Wall Street, and what’s coming up on his very popular CBS show The Mentalist.  In addition, he talked about his favorite actors and his favorite films, if more people know him from The Mentalist or The Devil Wears Prada, and I asked him his thoughts on comic book movies as I’ve seen some online folks saying he’d be a good Doctor Strange.  Hit the jump for more.

Trailer for MARGIN CALL Starring Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, Demi Moore, and Paul Bettany

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 25th, 2011 at 5:19 pm

The first trailer for the financial thriller Margin Call has been released. The film debuted at Sundance, and judging from the trailer it looks to be a fairly intense morality piece. The cast is great, and Steve caught the film at the festival and said it was really good. I like the tone here, and the idea of the film’s events playing out over a single day and night is definitely intriguing.

The story centers on the key people at an investment bank during the 24-hour period before the recent financial crisis. The cast includes Demi Moore, Simon Baker, Penn Badgley, Zachary Quinto, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci and Kevin Spacey. You can check out Steve’s interview with all of the above here and here. Margin Call opens October 21^st. Hit the jump to watch the trailer.

Exclusive Sundance Interview with Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey and Writer-Director J.C. Chandor for MARGIN CALL

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 30th, 2011 at 6:17 pm

While at Sundance, I was able to sit down with Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey and writer/director J.C. Chandor for a quick interview about Margin Call.  Premiering at this year’s Festival, Margin Call is a really well done economic thriller that revolves around the key people at an investment bank during the 24-hour period before the recent financial crisis. As the film unfolds, we learn who knew what and when, and what lines are you willing to cross to stay ahead.  While it often takes Hollywood years to tell a story about something that just happened, Margin Call has already done it and the results are fantastic.

During the interview, the cast talked about what drew them to the project and what does it mean for each of them to be at Sundance.  As usual, you can either read or listen to the interview after the jump.

Exclusive Sundance Interview with Demi Moore, Simon Baker, Zachary Quinto, Paul Bettany and Penn Badgley for MARGIN CALL

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 26th, 2011 at 8:25 pm

It’s hard to land an exclusive interview with big name stars.  After all, when you’re very famous, every reporter wants to talk to you.  So when I was told that I would get some time with Demi Moore, Simon Baker, Penn Badgley, Zachary Quinto and Paul Bettany at Sundance to talk about their excellent movie Margin Call (which premiered last night at Sundance), I made sure my schedule would be clear.  Thankfully, while I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down with this very famous group, everyone couldn’t have been friendlier or more excited to talk about the film.  And after watching it for myself last night, I understand why.  Margin Call, which is written and directed by JC Chandor, is a top notch economic thriller that revolves around the key people at an investment bank during the 24-hour period before the recent financial crisis. As the film unfolds, we learn who knew what and when, and what lines are you willing to cross to stay ahead.  While it often takes Hollywood years to tell a story about something that just happened, Margin Call has already done it and the results are fantastic.

During the interview, the cast talked about what drew them to the project, how did they prepare for the technical jargon, what does it mean for each of them to be at Sundance, and a lot more.  As usual, you can either read or listen to the interview after the jump.

4 Clips from MARGIN CALL Starring Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, Paul Bettany, and Jeremy Irons

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 12th, 2011 at 1:36 pm

Earlier this week, we brought you the poster for the upcoming drama Margin Call.  Today, we’re bringing you four clips from the film, which will premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.  The film takes place at an investment firm and looks at a 24-hour period during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis.

Hit the jump to check out the clips and click here to see images from the film.  Written and directed by J.C. Chandor, Margin Call stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci.  The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 20 – 30th.

Exclusive: Poster for MARGIN CALL Starring Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, and Jeremy Irons

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 10th, 2011 at 11:36 am

We’re pleased to bring you an exclusive look at the poster for the upcoming drama Margin Call.  The film takes place at an investment firm during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis.  Written and directed by J.C. Chandor,  Margin Call has an impressive cast that includes Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci.  The film will be playing at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Hit the jump to check out the poster and click here to see images from the film.  The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 20 – 30th.

Tim Kang Exclusive Interview THE MENTALIST

by Christina Radish    Posted: January 2nd, 2011 at 7:14 pm

The hit CBS drama series The Mentalist follows Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a track record for solving serious crimes by using his unconventional skills of observation. His role in cracking tough, high-profile cases is greatly valued by his fellow agents, which include Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney), Kimball Cho (Tim Kang), Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) and Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti), who all think Jane is a loose cannon, but admire his charm and knack for clearing cases.

Actor Tim Kang plays Kimball Cho, the straight-arrow, by-the-book agent who has a respect for Patrick Jane, but doesn’t quite understand his approach. Before joining the CBI, Cho was in juvenile hall as a kid and then in the military, giving him a different insight into the individuals they are investigating and the crimes they are working to solve. In this recent exclusive phone interview with Collider, Tim Kang talked about his unusual path to acting, how much fun he has working with the ensemble on The Mentalist, his enjoyment of the acting process and that viewers will get to learn a bit more about the supporting characters throughout the remainder of the season. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

First Promo Poster, Images and Official Synopsis for MARGIN CALL Starring Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Zachary Quinto

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 8th, 2010 at 1:01 pm

Continuing our coverage of the slew of new images and synopses from the American Film Market (AFM), we’ve got some great images and an official synopsis from the upcoming financial thriller Margin Call. The film marks the feature debut of writer/director J.C. Chandor and features an impressive cast that includes Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell, Zachary Quinto, Simon Baker, and Penn Badgley.  The film strikes a familiar note, as it centers on the key people at an investment bank during the 24-hour period during the financial crisis.  We recently sat down with Badgley and he told us a bit about the project, so I recommend you check that out. To get a look at the first official images from the film, a promo poster, as well as the official synopsis, hit the jump.

Update: We’ve been asked by the studio to take down the images….sorry if you missed them

Penn Badgley Interview EASY A; Plus Updates on MARGIN CALL and GOSSIP GIRL

by Sheila Roberts    Posted: September 10th, 2010 at 12:04 pm

Penn Badgley, one of television’s hottest young actors, dons blue paint and a woodchuck costume in his latest role as Woodchuck Todd, the school mascot, in Will Gluck’s hilarious new comedy, Easy A. Badgley’s irreverent character provides the emotional grounding for Emma Stone’s Olive, a self-assured senior whose life begins to parallel Hester Prynne’s in The Scarlet Letter when she’s thrust into the rumor mill after a little white lie elevates her to the status of high school slut.

For Badgley, best known for his role of Dan Humphrey in The CW’s hit series Gossip Girl, playing the part of Woodchuck Todd was so tempting, he arranged to fly between the west and east coasts to accommodate the shooting schedules for both the film and his series. The 23-year-old actor recently completed production on Margin Call, a thriller based on the events surrounding the country’s financial collapse, directed by J.C. Chandor and starring Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto and Simon Baker.  More after the jump:

Simon Baker and Paul Bettany in Talks to Join Indie Thriller MARGIN CALL

by Ti Alan Chase    Posted: June 15th, 2010 at 10:48 pm

Simon Baker (The Mentalist) and Paul Bettany (Legion) are in talks to join Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci and Zachary Quinto in the corporate thriller Margin Call.  Written and directed by rookie J.C. Chandor, Margin Call depicts 24 hours in the life of an investment bank during the 2008 financial crisis.

If cast, Bettany would portray a top-tier trader, while the Emmy-nominated Baker would play “a ruthless, high-powered securities broker . . . [who] drives his colleagues to win by any means necessary.”

THR reports that Margin Call begins shooting next week, and is being produced by Quinto’s Before the Door production company.

THE KILLER INSIDE ME Teaser Trailer Starring Casey Affleck

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 5th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

Icon Pictures has released the UK teaser trailer for Michael Winterbottom’s The Killer Inside Me.  It’s one of the best trailers you’ll see this year as it makes the film look mean, nasty, and utterly compelling.  Casey Affleck looks amazing as the lead character, a sheriff who pretends he’s a charming rube when in actuality he’s murderous sociopath.  Unlike the promo trailer that showed up last November, you don’t have to worry about being spoiled.

The film played at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to widespread controversy, particularly relating to questions about whether or not the film was misogynistic due to its portrayal of brutal violence against women.  UK audiences can judge for themselves when the film hits theaters on June 4th.  US audiences will have to wait until June 18th for the flick’s limited release.  The film co-stars Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Bill Pullman, Ned Beatty, Simon Baker, and Elias Koteas.  Hit the jump to check out the trailer from The Guardian [via The Playlist] along with the official plot synopsis.

RIDE WITH THE DEVIL Criterion Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: May 1st, 2010 at 3:49 pm

As they suggest on the commentary, Ride with the Devil was a film without a home. When Oscar season came it was ignored, and for a film like this to get any traction it would need boosters. The studio had also gone through some changes, so it was someone else’s film, and it doing well could make the new management look bad. So the tale of Jack Bull Chiles (Skeet Ulrich) and Jake Roedell (Tobey Maguire), two Missourian bushwhackers fighting in the civil war, was dumped and got lost in a great year of cinema. Through the Criterion Collection, it threatens and deserves to be reincarnated. My review of Criterion’s Blu-ray of Ride with the Devil follows after the jump.

George Romero’s SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD Review

by Ti Alan Chase    Posted: April 10th, 2010 at 2:05 pm

“Survival isn’t just for the living.”  So says the tagline for Survival of the Dead, the most recent addition to George Romero’s zombie oeuvre. It’s a great premise.

Romero effectively created the zombie genre with Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Dawn of the Dead (1978).  But it was with 1985′s Day of the Dead that he introduced the unique notion that the living dead could rise above their mindless craving for human flesh and could relearn human behaviour.  Twenty years later, when he finally made a fourth Dead movie – 2005′s Land of the Dead -  he expounded further on that idea, going so far as to make his signature black hero a zombie instead of a living human.  More after the jump:

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