Toni Collette

John Cusack Plays GRAND PIANO, Jude Law Stars in DOM HEMINGWAY and Liam James Added to THE WAY, WAY BACK

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: May 16th, 2012 at 5:34 pm

A couple of heavy hitters in casting news today.  Here are the headlines at a glance:

• John Cusack may join Elijah Wood in the indie thriller, Grand Piano.
• Jude Law will star in the title role of Richard Shepard’s Dom Hemingway.
• Liam James joins Steve Carell and Toni Collette in indie drama, The Way, Way Back.

Hit the jump for more on each project.

Casting Call: Toni Collette and Dev Patel Join DEFIANT; Richard Jenkins Signs on for ONE SQUARE MILE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 23rd, 2012 at 11:55 am

We’ve got a couple of casting stories to share this afternoon.  First up, Toni Collette and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) have joined the cast of the thriller Defiant.  The film is based on the true story of a double honor killing in India.  Muslim men are allowed to marry non-Muslim women per Islamic law (in order to “take over the reproductive capabilities of the enemy), but Muslim women are not allowed to marry non-Muslim men.  In May of 2011, two Muslim women allegedly killed their daughters because they had eloped and married migrant Bihari Hindu laborers.

Deadline reports that Patel will play Hari, “a young man who is, along with his girlfriend, trying to escape vengeful parents who want to kill the lovers to stop them marrying.”  Colette will play a journalist covering the story who is drawn into danger.  Bill Bennett is set to direct, and the project will be shopped to buyers at Cannes.  Collette is currently filming Hitchcock and Patel stars in Aaron Sorkin’s new HBO series The Newsroom, which premieres this summer.  Hit the jump for casting news regarding Richard Jenkins.

Steve Carell and Toni Collette Join Indie Family Drama THE WAY, WAY BACK

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: April 17th, 2012 at 7:05 pm

There’s a reunion of sorts happening for Steve Carell and Toni Collette, who last starred together in 2006 Oscar-winner, Little Miss Sunshine.  Carell and Collette will join Jim Rash (Community) and Nat Faxon’s (Bad Teacher) directorial debut, The Way, Way Back.  Their script landed on 2010′s Black List, and after earning an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay of their effort for The Descendents, I’m sure we can look forward to much more from the duo.  The Way, Way Back is an indie drama about a dysfunctional family, but that’s where the similarities to Little Miss Sunshine seem to stop.  The plot centers on a teenage boy on summer vacation who is coming to grips with his emotionally-distant mother and his cheating step-father.  The parental roles will be played by Collette and Carell, while the film also stars Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney and Annasophia Robb. Hit the jump for more.

ALFRED HITCHCOCK AND THE MAKING OF PSYCHO Gets New Title and Begins Principal Photography

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 12th, 2012 at 8:14 am

Sacha Gervasi‘s Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho has picked up a new title, and begun principal photography.  The film will now simply be entitled “Hitchock“, which is probably better since the previous title sounds more fitting for a documentary.  Hitchcock is being billed as a love story between the legendary director (played by Anthony Hopkings) and his wife and partner Alma Reville (Helen Mirren).  The movie also stars Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, Toni Collette, Danny Huston, Michael Stuhlbarg, Kurtwood Smith, Wallace Langham, Richard Portnow, and Michael Wincott.

Hit the jump for the press release.

Toni Collette, Danny Huston, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Michael Wincott Up for ALFRED HITCHCOCK AND THE MAKING OF PSYCHO

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 21st, 2012 at 1:27 pm

Earlier today we learned that Jessica Biel will be playing Vera Miles in the star-studded real life pic Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, and now four more thesps are lined up to join the project. Anthony Hopkins is set as the famous director, Scarlett Johansson is playing Psycho scream queen Janet Leigh, Helen Mirren is set as Hitch’s wife, and James D’Arcy is up for the role of the uber creepy Anthony Perkins. Now Variety reports that Toni Collette, Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man) and Michael Wincott (The Crow) are in negotiations to take on supporting roles. Hit the jump for more.

First Trailer and Poster for JESUS HENRY CHRIST Starring Michael Sheen and Toni Collette

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 20th, 2012 at 6:02 pm

The first trailer and poster for the comedy-drama Jesus Henry Christ have gone online. The film centers on a child genius who sets out to find his biological father, only to discover the he was the result of a sperm donation. Toni Collette plays the boy’s mother, while Michael Sheen plays the “father.” The film was directed by Dennis Lee (Fireflies in the Garden), but the trailer looks like a complete rip off of a Wes Anderson movie; the framing seems almost identical. The premise is a good enough starting point, but I can’t help but shake the feeling that the whole thing plays like one of those Redbox knock-offs that looks like a real movie, but is actually just a watered-down imitation of the real thing. Sheen and Collette are immensely talented so I’d be more than happy to be proven wrong, but this trailer isn’t doing it for me.

Hit the jump for the trailer and poster. The film also stars Jason Spevack and Samantha Weinstein.

Russell Crowe, Liev Schreiber, Alex Proyas, David Michôd, and More to Direct Anthology Film SYDNEY UNPLUGGED

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 20th, 2012 at 8:13 am

Australian actors and directors are lining up to participate in the anthology film Sydney Unplugged.  According to THR, Anthony LaPaglia, Toni Collette, Liev Schreiber, Russell Crowe, Alex Proyas, David Michôd, Ivan Sen, John Curran, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Rachel Ward, and Ray Lawrence will each helm a short film.  Sydney Unplugged is along the lines of previous “famous-people-love-major-city” movies New York, I Love You and Paris, J’Taime.

Anthology movies are always a mixed bag, but when each short comes from a different director, it’s at least exciting to see who will come up with the best of the bunch.  I’m particularly excited to see what Michôd (who previously directed Animal Kingdom) comes up.  Filming is set to begin in Sydney in the second half of 2012.

FRIGHT NIGHT Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 18th, 2011 at 2:46 pm

There’s plenty to like about the original 1985 version of Fright Night: the performances from Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall, the great practical horror effects, and the thoughtful subtext about teens coming to grips with their burgeoning sexuality and the familiar inadequacies that come with it.  The remake of Fright Night ditches almost all of these aspects but still manages to be an entertaining creature feature filled with excellent performances, plenty of humor, and some nice surprises as it tries update the film for a new audience.

Over 15 Images from FRIGHT NIGHT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 7th, 2011 at 6:20 pm

A number of images from director Craig Gillespie’s Fright Night remake have been released. The film centers on a teenager (Anton Yelchin) whose neighbor (Colin Farrell) turns out to be a vampire. We’ve seen some of these images before, but a few of them are new. When Farrell’s in the right movie, he can be great, and the supporting cast isn’t too shabby. I’m interested to see the actor’s take on the vampire craze.

In addition to Farrell and Yelchin, Fright Night also stars Toni Collette, David Tennant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dave Franco and Imogen Poots. The film hits theaters in 3D on August 19^th.

New Trailer for FRIGHT NIGHT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 6th, 2011 at 8:52 am

A new trailer for Fright Night has gone online.  I’m not really sure what to expect from the film.  Yes, it looks like there’s a lot more action than the original and while I would be slightly worried that the update may be trying too hard to be cool, I’ve heard positive word both on the script and reports from the set.  Here’s hoping it all comes together.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film stars Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, David Tennant, Imogen Poots, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Toni Collette.  Fright Night opens in 3D on August 19th.

Toni Collette to Reteam with Director PJ Hogan for MENTAL

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 30th, 2011 at 4:15 pm

Australian-born actress Toni Collette is set to reunite with fellow Aussie PJ Hogan (Confessions of a Shopaholic) for the director’s latest project Mental. The two previously worked together on the 1994 Australian comedy Muriel’s Wedding, a film that served as a breakout hit for both Collette and Hogan. Variety reports that Mental, an Australian production, will center on a family and its “crazy but charismatic nanny,” because crazy and charismatic are the most desirable traits when choosing a nanny. Hogan is penning the script, and Screen Australia will be backing the project. Collette will next be seen in the Fright Night remake, which hits theaters August 19^th.

FRIGHT NIGHT Edit Bay Recap

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 13th, 2011 at 11:37 am

When you remake a movie that almost every horror fan loves, you’re playing with fire and it’s almost impossible not get burned.  After all, if you stick too close to the original, people will say, “why did you remake it.”  And if you decide to change too much, fans will complain about what was left out.  However, after watching twenty minutes of director Craig Gillespie’s Fright Night remake in his editing suite last week, I’m very confident he’s walking the fine line that will make the large majority very happy.  More about the footage after the jump and here’s the just released trailer.

First Trailer and Poster for FRIGHT NIGHT Starring Anton Yelchin and Colin Farrell

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 13th, 2011 at 10:52 am

DreamWorks has released the first trailer for Craig Gillespie’s 3D remake of Fright Night which stars Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Toni Collette, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Tennant and Imogen Poots,  I did a set visit for Fright Night and recently watched twenty minutes of the film in a Santa Monica editing suite.  I’m confident the remake is going to be cool.  Judge for yourself by checking out the trailer after the jump along with the poster.  Fright Night hits theaters August 19th.

2 New Images from FRIGHT NIGHT including First Official Look at David Tennant as Peter Vincent

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 11th, 2011 at 7:15 am

Last September, a set photo of David Tenannt in Craig Gillespie’s remake of Fright Night went online.  This week, DreamWorks/Disney are going to be making a major push on the film and they’re kicking it off with the first official image of Tennant as Las Vegas stage magician Peter Vincent.  I’m not sure how Vincent factors into the remake, but in the 1985 original, he was midnight movie host who proclaimed to be a vampire hunter and whose services were called upon by teenager Charlie Brewster to combat Charlie’s bloodsucking new neighbor.

Hit the jump to check out the image of Tennant along with a new image of Charlie (Anton Yelchin) and his mother (Toni Collette).  Be sure to keep checking back this week for more Fright Night stuff as we’ll be posting Steve’s report from the film’s editing bay as well as the first trailer.  Fright Night also stars Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Imogen Poots.  The film opens in 3D on August 19th.

DreamWorks Releases Official Synopsis for FRIGHT NIGHT

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: October 15th, 2010 at 5:17 pm

DreamWorks has released the official synopsis for director Craig Gillespie’s Fright Night which stars Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Toni Collette, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Tennant and Imogen Poot. Here’s what they sent over:

Senior Charlie Brewster (Anton Yelchin) finally has it all going on: he’s running with the popular crowd and dating the most coveted girl in his high school. In fact, he’s so cool he’s even dissing his best friend. But trouble arrives when Jerry (Colin Farrell) moves in next door. He seems like a great guy at first, but there’s something not quite right—but everyone, including Charlie’s mom (Toni Collette), doesn’t notice. After observing some very strange activity, Charlie comes to an unmistakable conclusion: Jerry is a vampire preying on the neighborhood. Unable to convince anyone, Charlie has to find a way to get rid of the monster himself in this Craig Gillespie-helmed revamp of the comedy-horror classic.

I know a decent amount about this remake and can tell you it’s something you should be looking forward to.  Hit the jump for more:

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