Thomas Haden Church

Collider Visits the Set of JOHN CARTER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 9:07 am

“Barsoom” reads a sign on the outskirts of the movie set we’re about to visit.  “Barsoom” is what Martians call their planet in Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ A Princess of Mars.  A group of my fellow online movie journalists and I are headed to the set of Andrew Stanton‘s adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel, John Carter.  Mars may technically be in Big Water, Utah, but today we’ll be walking the ruins of an ancient Martian city, meeting a princess who bleeds blue, and a nine-foot-tall nomad tribe of warriors.  Hit the jump to take a trip to the red planet and find out about my visit to the set of John Carter.

Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church JOHN CARTER Set Visit Intervew

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 9:06 am

Tharks, the green-skinned, six-limbed creatures living on Mars in John Carter are about nine feet tall.  Great actors though they are, Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church, are not nine feet tall.  Even though they’re wearing the standard motion-capture grey leotards and tracking dots, there’s no accounting for height…unless you add stilts.  Watching Dafoe and Church march around on stilts is one of the high-lights of any set visit I’ve gone to.

With a sandstorm whipping into our faces and into our microphones, my fellow movie journalists and I spoke to Dafoe and Church on the set of John Carter.  In addition to talking about the stilts, we spoke about the scene they were currently filming, their characters, how doing motion-capture on set helped their performances, and more.  Hit the jump to check out the interview.  John Carter opens in 3D on March 9th.

7 New Images from JOHN CARTER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 6th, 2012 at 9:14 am

I was underwhelmed by last night’s Super Bowl spot for John Carter (a movie so epic, it can fit into its title!), but I still think the movie can deliver.  It’s got scope, it’s going to be unlike anything else this year, and it’s got Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo and WALL-E) at the helm.  Disney has released 7 new images from the film and they provide a better look at Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris, the warrior princess of Mars.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The film also stars Taylor Kitsch, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Hayden Church, and Willem Dafoe.  John Carter opens in 3D on March 9th.

7 Clips from Cameron Crowe’s WE BOUGHT A ZOO

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 3rd, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Fox has provided us with 7 clips for We Bought a Zoo, the latest movie from writer/director Cameron Crowe.  Matt Damon stars as “a single dad who decides his family needs a fresh start, so he and his two children move to the most unlikely of places: a zoo.”  I missed the local Thanksgiving sneak preview, but based on the word of mouth from those who made it, We Bought a Zoo is a return to form for Crowe after the disappointing Elizabethtown.

Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit, Elle Fanning, and John Michael Higgins also star.  We Bought a Zoo opens on December 23.  Hit the jump to watch the clips.

New Clip from Cameron Crowe’s WE BOUGHT A ZOO

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 29th, 2011 at 5:47 pm

Fox has released a new clip from writer-director Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo. I caught the film at the preview screening last weekend and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I loved it. I’m an avid Crowe fan, but the marketing materials had me worried Zoo was nothing more than a sappy family popcorn movie. What Crowe has crafted is an incredibly poignant character piece that packs a walloping emotional punch. It comes close to being “gooey” in parts, but rarely crosses over into the saccharine. Matt Damon is great, Scarlett Johansson is charming, and the score by Sigur Ros’ Jonsi is the perfect compliment to Crowe’s delightful script that’s rife with more than a couple signature “Cameron Crowe” moments. If you’re looking for a movie to enjoy with the whole family over the holidays that won’t have you counting down the seconds until it’s over, We Bought a Zoo is a fine choice.

This clip features Thomas Haden Church as Damon’s brother, trying to persuade him from wasting his entire savings on fixing up the dilapidated zoo. Hit the jump to check it out. We Bought a Zoo opens December 23rd.

Sneak Previews of Cameron Crowe’s WE BOUGHT A ZOO to Run over Thanksgiving Weekend

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 16th, 2011 at 12:52 pm

20th Century Fox will be giving sneak previews Cameron Crowe‘s family film We Bought a Zoo in over 800 theaters on November 26th to take advantage of Thanksgiving weekend.  The previews are well in advance of the film’s December 23rd release date, but Fox has a lot of confidence in the movie following reactions from test screenings in both major cities and the heartland.  The sneaks will give the movie a chance to build up buzz and possibly be a stronger contender during awards season, especially since it has to share its December 23rd weekend with The Adventures of Tintin, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, War Horse, The Darkest Hour, and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

We Bought a Zoo stars Matt Damon as “a single dad who wants to give his family a new start and moves to a home that’s smack in the middle of a down-and-out zoo. Together, he and his two children try to restore the zoo to its former glory.”  The movie also stars Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning, and Patrick Fugit.  Hit the jump to check out the trailer. [Update: We've been sent the full press release, which is now included after the jump.]

TIFF 2011: KILLER JOE Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 12th, 2011 at 10:15 pm

You have to respect a film that goes completely bonkers.  It doesn’t mean the movie becomes good, or every shortcoming is instantly forgiven.  But if a movie’s going to fail, then you hope that it fails in a spectacular fashion.  The true fiascos aren’t just train wrecks.  They’re train wrecks that were hit by an atomic bomb.  Up until the last twenty minutes, William Freidkin’s Killer Joe looks like it will just be a disappointing movie.  It’s not tightly twisted enough to be an effective crime film, and it’s not funny enough to be a dark comedy, and the only saving grace is Matthew McConaughey’s performance.  But then the train goes off the tracks, the warhead comes crashing down, and you have to tip your glass to the madness.

New Images from Cameron Crowe’s WE BOUGHT A ZOO Starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 2nd, 2011 at 10:20 am

New images from Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo have gone online.  Based on Based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee, the film tells the story of a man (Matt Damon) who decides to buy and renovate a zoo following the death of his wife.  The movie notable not only because of it’s solid cast (Scarlett Johansson, Patrick Fugit, Elle Fanning, J.B. Smoove, and Thomas Haden Church) but because it’s Crowe’s first film since 2005′s fiasco Elizabethtown.  The images make the movie look a tad sappy (as zoo animals plus uplifted families tend to do) but I’ll withhold further judgment until a trailer hits.

Hit the jump for the images along with what Crowe and Damon had to say about the film.  We Bought a Zoo opens December 23rd.

First Images From Derick Martini HICK, the Duplass Brothers JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME, Coppola’s TWIXT and First Clip/Images From Friedkin’s KILLER JOE

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 26th, 2011 at 11:48 am

If you’re a movie fan, today is a great day.  That’s because thanks to the Toronto International Film festival announcing some of their 2011 schedule, we’ve been inundated with a tremendous amount of new movie images for some of the biggest films arriving later this year.  And continuing our coverage, after the jump you can check out the first images from Derick Martini’s Hick (which stars Blake Lively, Chloe Moretz, Alec Baldwin, Juliette Lewis, Eddie Redmayne and Rory Culkin), Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass Jeff, Who Lives at Home (which stars Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Judy Greer and Susan Sarandon) Francis Ford Coppola’s Twixt (starring Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning and Ben Chaplin) and the first clip and images from Killer Joe (which stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon).

LUCKY THEM Finds Investor in Boston Red Sox Owner; Marisa Tomei, Thomas Haden Church, and Alec Baldwin Attached to Star

by Jason Barr    Posted: April 4th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

Over the weekend, the late Paul Newman’s final production project, Lucky Them, made an investor out of Boston Red Sox owner John Henry. The indie flick, now being exec. produced by Newman’s widow Joanne Woodward, was written by Huck Botko (The Virginity Hit) and Emily Wachtel. According to Variety, Botko will helm the pic which tells the story of a “rock-music journalist assigned to track down her ex-boyfriend.” Currently, Marisa Tomei, Thomas Haden Church, and Alec Baldwin are attached to the project in unspecified roles. Shooting on Lucky Them is expected to begin later this year.

Thomas Haden Church Joins Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch in William Friedkin’s KILLER JOE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 4th, 2010 at 8:50 am

Thomas Haden Church has joined Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch in William Friedkin’s dark comedy Killer Joe.  As we previously reported, the film “centers on a brother (Hirsch) and sister combo who plot the death of their mother for the insurance money and hire “Killer Joe” Cooper, a cop and contract killer (McConaughey) to do the deed.”  Variety doesn’t mention what role Church will play in the film.

Church was most recently seen in the comedy Easy A.  After he shoots Killer Joe, Church will move on to the Cameron Crowe flick We Bought a Zoo starring Matt Damon (and possibly Amy Adams).

EASY A Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 17th, 2010 at 6:22 am

Easy A is easily one of the funniest comedies of the year.   It’s witty, clever, silly, and is anchored by a breakthrough performance by star Emma Stone.  Comedies set in high schools are usually a grind, but Easy A is the best one since 2004′s Mean Girls. The film even has some smart commentary on the nature of reputation in the digital age and how easier access to information hasn’t made it any easier to get to the truth, especially when a lie can be so much juicier.  And in between its smart jokes and thoughtful subtext, Easy A also has a big heart.  That’s essential when your protagonist is cashing in on pretending to be a skank.

First Ten Minutes of EASY A Online

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 14th, 2010 at 10:22 am

The Emma Stone comedy Easy A has received highly positive buzz coming out of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.  When you see the first ten minutes of the movie that studio Screen Gems has put online, you’ll begin to understand why.  While the framing device of Emma Stone’s character narrating her story via a video blog reminds me of this, there’s also plenty of wit and Stone looks like she could be giving a breakthrough performance.  This intro does a great job of selling the movie and after watching these first ten minutes, I’m betting you’ll want to see the other eighty.

Hit the jump to check out the first ten minutes of the film and click here to see eight clips plus a featurette.  Easy A opens this Friday.

Martin Landau, Thomas Haden Church, and Ezra Miller Are a REASONABLE BUNCH

by Jason Barr    Posted: September 1st, 2010 at 9:49 am

Here is a bit of casting news for you this morning.  Oscar winner Martin Landau (Ed Wood), Oscar nominee Thomas Haden Church (Sideways), and Ezra Miller (City Island) have joined Sam Levinson’s The Reasonable Bunch.  According to Variety, Landau will play the father of Ellen Barkin’s character, Church will play Barkin’s ex-husband, and Miller will play Barkin’s son.  In addition to these three, Kate Bosworth, Demi Moore, Ellen Burstyn, and the previously mentioned Barkin are also attached to star.

Originally titled Devil in My Shoes, the family drama revolves around “two reckless siblings (Bosworth and Miller) who are dragged to a chaotic family wedding by their overwrought mother (Barkin).”  The Reasonable Bunch will mark the directorial debut of Levinson, the 25-year-old son of Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man), who will be working from his own script.  Filming is set to commence in Michigan next week.

8 Movie Clips and a Featurette from EASY A

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 29th, 2010 at 12:52 pm

A movie that I’m hearing a lot of great buzz on is director Will Gluck’s (Fired Up) Easy A.  The film stars Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm MacDowell, Aly Michalka, and Stanley Tucci. Here’s the synopsis:

After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl (Emma Stone) sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne’s in “The Scarlet Letter,” which she is currently studying in school – until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.

The Los Angeles press junket was this weekend and we’ll have exclusive video interviews with most of the cast and director Will Gluck very soon. Until then, Screen Gems has provided us with eight movie clips and a featurette, so hit the jump to check them out.  Easy A hits theaters September 17.

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