Steve Buscemi

Recap of BOARDWALK EMPIRE Academy of Television and Science Panel; Creator Terrence Winter Talks Season Three

by Tommy Cook    Posted: April 29th, 2012 at 2:07 am

The other night, The Academy of Television and Science hosted an exclusive panel with the cast and creator of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Boardwalk recounts the rise of the duplicitous Nucky Thompson torn between the political upheaval and criminal birth of the Prohibition.  His rise is cast against the downfall of his surrogate son, Jimmy Darmondy, a War Veteran scarred by his time over there.  It is the tense interplay between the two characters that gave Boardwalk Empire much of its dramatic heft during its first two remarkable seasons – which is probably what made Season Two’s conclusion so… surprising.

During the panel, Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt discussed the controversial finale, costar Michael Shannon lamented always playing “the crazy person”, and creator Terence Winter previewed Season Three, among many other topics of conversation.  For highlights from the panel (which also included costars Kelly Macdonald, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Kenneth Williams, Vincent Piazza and Gretchen Mol) hit the jump.

New Trailer for HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 24th, 2012 at 10:39 am

A new trailer for the animated feature Hotel Transylvania has gone online.  Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack), the story centers on Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) trying to throw a party for his daughter Mavis’ (Selena Gomez) 118th birthday, but his plans go haywire when a human (Andy Samberg) comes to the monsters-only hotel and develops a crush on Mavis.  This trailer isn’t wildly different from the first trailer that was released, but there are a couple new scenes thrown in that we haven’t see before (including a toilet joke, obviously).  I’m still on the fence about this one.  We could either be in for a really fun monster movie, or 90 minutes of unfunny and cheap gags that play to the lowest common denominator.  The premise has promise and I quite like the animation style, so I’m sincerely hoping it’s the former.

Hit the jump to watch the new trailer.  The voice cast also includes David Spade (Griffin the Invisible Man), Steve Buscemi (Wayne the Werewolf), Kevin James (Frankenstein), Molly Shannon (Wanda the Werewolf) and Cee Lo Green (Murray the Mummy). Hotel Transylvania opens on September 28th.

First Official Trailer for HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 27th, 2012 at 10:53 am

The first official trailer for the animated comedy Hotel Transylvania has gone online. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack), the story centers on Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) trying to throw a party for his daughter Mavis’ (Selena Gomez) 118th birthday, but his plans go haywire when a human (Andy Samberg) comes to the hotel and develops a crush on Mavis. The animation actually looks pretty great, and I think the story has some fun potential, but Sandler’s work as Dracula is a bit hard to get used to. It sounds like the actor’s “goofy” voice he uses when making jokes or putting on a character for SNL, so it’s tough to buy it as the actual voice of this Dracula. We don’t really get much into the story here, but there are more than a few laughs (who doesn’t love a good “skeletons taking a shower” joke?)  and I’m pleasantly surprised by how fun it all looks.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. The voice cast also includes David Spade (Griffin the Invisible Man), Steve Buscemi (Wayne the Werewolf), Kevin James (Frankenstein), Molly Shannon (Wanda the Werewolf) and Cee Lo Green (Murray the Mummy). Hotel Transylvania opens on September 28th.

New Images from Animated Film HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA Starring Adam Sandler

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 13th, 2012 at 1:01 pm

We recently got our first look at the characters from the animated film Hotel Transylvania by way of a few (very tiny) images, but today we’ve got some photos that give us a much better look at the characters. The film centers on Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) trying to throw a party for his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday, but his plans go haywire when a human (Andy Samberg) comes to the hotel and develops a crush on Mavis. The hotel has apparently been human-free since 1898, so the appearance of Samberg’s character is quite disturbing (monsters aren’t big fans of the human race). Dracula disguises the human as a monster named “Johnnystein” and tries to sneak him out of the hotel undetected. I presume the hormones get the best of young Johnnystein and he attempts to get with Dracula’s severely mature daughter.

The monsters look like a fun-loving gang in these imagines, and I imagine kids will be big fans of the film. The voice cast also includes Selena Gomez (Mavis), David Spade (Griffin the Invisible Man), Steve Buscemi (Wayne the Werewolf), Kevin James (Frankenstein), Molly Shannon (Wanda the Werewolf) and Cee Lo Green (Murray the Mummy). Hit the jump to check out the images. Hotel Transylvania opens September 28th.

First Look at the Characters from the Animated Family Film HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA Starring Adam Sandler

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 29th, 2012 at 2:06 pm

Later this year, Sony Pictures will release the animated family film Hotel Transylvania.  The movie centers on Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) trying to throw a party for his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday, but his plans go haywire when an ordinary guy (Andy Samberg) comes to the hotel and develops a crush on Mavis.  We saw a promo poster and banner for the movie last June, but nothing since then.  But today, we were sent a new promo poster for the film, and it provides a small first look at the characters.  In a less-than-shocking reveal, Dracula looks like Sandler.  You’ll also see that the werewolf is wearing a dress shirt and tie.  Just because he’s a werewolf, he still dressed up nice for the party.  I respect that.

Hit the jump to check out the promo poster along with a new image of Mavis.   The film also features the voices of Kevin James as Frankstein, Fran Drescher as his bride Eunice, David Spade as Quasimodo, Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon as a pair of married werewolves, and Cee Lo Green as a Murray the Mummy.  Hotel Transylvania opens in 3D on September 21st.

Director Oren Moverman Talks RAMPART, His David O. Selznick Biopic at HBO, QUEER with Steve Buscemi, and More

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 7th, 2012 at 10:37 am

With his new film Rampart (which ranked #4 on my Top 10 of 2011 list), writer-director Oren Moverman took the corrupt-cop genre and twisted it just like he did with The Messenger‘s soldier-PTSD story.  He’s one of the more exciting filmmakers working today because of his ability to play against expectations and come out with a more powerful, realistic story as a result.

I got the chance to interview Moverman about the film and we talked about where the real Rampart scandal came into the story, re-teaming with Woody Harrelson, shooting the movie as if it were two different films, and more.  Moverman also spoke about his collaboration with Ben Stiller for a David O. Selznic biopic for HBO, and we discussed his script for Steve Buscemi‘s upcoming film, Queer.  Hit the jump to check out the interview.  Rampart opens in select cities this Friday.  Click here to read my full review.

TV Casting: Selma Blair Joins Charlie Sheen in ANGER MANAGEMENT; Bobby Cannavale Stars on BOARDWALK EMPIRE

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 3rd, 2012 at 4:36 pm

After cycling through hosts of women on his previous show Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen is on to new ventures and a new network with FX’s comedy series, Anger Management. Starring opposite Sheen will be, Selma Blair (Hellboy), in the form of a therapist/love interest for Sheen’s character, Charlie. Blair is one of two female roles on the show (the other being Shawnee Smith (Saw) who will play Charlie’s ex-wife) which has an initial 10-episode order from FX. Hit the jump for more from Anger Management, as well as details on Bobby Cannavale’s character in season three of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.

SAG Award Winners Announced; THE HELP Wins Best Ensemble, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 29th, 2012 at 7:13 pm

The 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award winners were announced tonight, and The Help took home the top film prize, “Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture”.  The drama also took home awards for Best Actress (Viola Davis) and Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer).  If you think that’s no big deal in terms of affecting the Oscar race, I have one word for you: Crash.  Granted, The Help didn’t even pick up an Oscar nomination for Best Director, but actors make up the largest block of Academy voters (25 percent).  And as we’ve seen, actors really like movies that make us think we’ve defeated racism, which we totally have.  That’s why all African-American actors pull in huge salaries.  Actors like Will Smith and…Will Smith.  I wouldn’t put The Help ahead of The Artist just yet, but Davis and Spencer should now be considered serious contenders in their respective catagories (Spencer is almost at a lock at this point).

First Look at Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, and Olivia Wilde in BURT WONDERSTONE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 11th, 2012 at 8:56 am

Filming is currently underway on the comedy Burt Wonderstone starring Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, Jay Mohr, James Gandolfini, and Olivia Wilde.  The story centers on a Las Vegas magician (Carell) who loses his partner and is then upstaged by a hipper magician (Carrey) doing dangerous and crowd-drawing tricks.  The first set photos from the movie show Carell’s eponymous character apparently trying to upstage his rival by aping David Blaine‘s boring non-magic.  The costumes and make-up look very “Vegas” and perhaps Wonderstone will actually try to escape from his predicament rather than sit there with people gazing up at what Chris Rock called “a trickless magician.”

Hit the jump to check out the set photos.  Burt Wonderstone is due out in 2013.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE Season One Blu-ray Review

by Rob Vaux    Posted: January 2nd, 2012 at 7:00 am

HBO’s Boardwalk Empire follows in a long line of prestige series produced by the cable network, which actually works against it a little bit. It’s hard to get excited about yet another must-see series from them, especially after the infamous letdown of The Sopranos finale and the way the network botched other great shows like Deadwood and Carnivale.  One hopes, however, that those harsh lessons have been well-learned, and with Boardwalk Empire now a bona fide hit, HBO has a chance to capitalize on the very high standard that the first season sets. The new Blu-ray collection does the show justice, and makes an exquisite New Year’s present for faithful fans. Hit the jump for my full review of the first season of Boardwalk Empire on Blu-ray.

Last Night’s SNL Digital Short Spoofs Batman’s Stealth Abilities

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 4th, 2011 at 7:07 am

Steve Buscemi proved to be a very capable host on last night’s very funny episode of Saturday Night Live.  As it turns out, the week when a major pedophilia case is in the news is a great week to have Buscemi in the troupe.  But given his range, Buscemi is also suited to play the ethical Commissioner Gordon when Andy Samberg and Co. needed the character for their SNL digital short.  Samberg plays Batman, paying particular attention to his ability to sneak up on on Gordon, and vanish into thin air with the same ease.  The stealth jokes escalate from the basic setup to the point where… well, hit the jump to see for yourself.

Guy Pearce, Ben Foster, and Kelly MacDonald to Star in Steve Buscemi’s Adaptation of QUEER

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 2nd, 2011 at 1:16 pm

Steve Buscemi has lined up quite the cast for his next directorial effort. The Boardwalk Empire actor is poised to direct an adaptation of William Burroughs’ novel Queer, and Vulture reports that Guy Pearce, Ben Foster, and Buscemi’s Boardwalk Empire co-star Kelly MacDonald are set to star. The book was written in 1952, after Burroughs accidentally shot and killed his wife. The story, which mirrors Burroughs’ emotional and psychological state at the time, centers on an American named William Lee living in Mexico City, weighed down by drugs, guilt, and lust. The project is still in the early stages, and financing isn’t yet firmed up, but Rampart director Oren Moverman wrote the script and told Vulture that the plan is to shoot the film during Buscemi’s next hiatus from HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Hit the jump to read the synopsis for the novel.

Olivia Wilde and Steve Buscemi Join Magician Comedy BURT WONDERSTONE [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 31st, 2011 at 12:43 pm

The magician comedy Burt Wonderstone has found its female lead, and is getting a boost from a fantastic character actor. After mulling over a number of actresses that reportedly included Sarah Silverman, Judy Greer, Jessica Biel, and Michelle Monaghan, THR reports that Olivia Wilde has won the lead female role opposite Steve Carell and Jim Carrey. The film centers on a Las Vegas magician (Carell) who breaks up with his partner and is then upstaged by a hipper magician (Carrey) doing dangerous and crowd-drawing tricks.

THR reports that Steve Buscemi is also in talks to join the cast as Carell’s former partner. Don Scardino (30 Rock) is directing, with a script by Horrible Bosses scribes John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (and a polish by Jason Reitman). James Gandolfini is also set to star as a Vegas casino owner. While I had been pulling for Greer to land the female lead, Wilde is by no means a bad choice and Buscemi is a much-welcomed addition. Production on Burt Wonderstone is set to begin in January. [Update: Deadline reports that while Wilde may end up with the role, Greer and Silverman are still in the mix and the studio is waiting to see if Biel reads for the role, so it sounds like the female lead isn't locked as of yet.]

TIFF 2011: RAMPART Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 15th, 2011 at 7:06 pm

In his debut feature The Messenger, director Oren Moverman eschewed the simplistic and pandering Soldiers-with-PTSD story seen in films like Stop-Loss and In the Valley of Elah.  Moverman took a deeper look to see how two soldiers struggled to heal their personal wounds by examining how the men struggled to help others deal with the loss of loved ones.  It was a smart and unusual way to tell a story and he has continued that approach with Rampart.  Coupled with another astounding performance from Woody Harrleson, Moverman  turns the genre on its head by showing that one dirty cop’s warped sense of justice may be necessary to not only to the world, but to his own existence.

Watch 25 Actors Before They Were Famous in Three Minutes, Including Seth Rogen, Jack Black and Natalie Portman

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 15th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

Thank the Maker for YouTube. With the advent of the video-on-demand digital age, no longer is that TV movie role that Actor X did when he was 11-years-old lost forever, and now someone’s put together a compilation of 25 “before they were famous” first roles for our viewing pleasure. Did you know that Daniel Craig was in A Kid in King Arthur’s Court? How about Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Roseanne or Jake Gyllenhaal in City Slickers? No need to hit up Netflix, some choice scenes are now all in one place.

Hit the jump to watch the montage, which includes 25 sometimes painful scenes featuring Jim Carrey, Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Ryan Gosling, Keanu Reeves, Nicole Kidman, Seth Rogen, Jake Gyllenhaal, Harrison Ford and more.

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