Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson Talks RAMPART, SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS, HUNGER GAMES, and Whether or Not He Can Still Dunk a Basketball

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 7:50 pm

Opening tomorrow, in limited release, is director Oren Moverman‘s (The Messenger) fantastic new movie, Rampart.  Led by a brillaint Woody Harrelson, Rampart is about a corrupt cop whose past is finally catching up with him in the wake of a department-wide corruption scandal.  The film also stars Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Steve Buscemi, Cynthia Nixon, Ben Foster, Anne Heche, Ice Cube, and Ned Beatty.

Recently, I got to speak with Harrelson. We talked about how he got involved in the project, what is was like to try and stick to the script while also finding the truth in the moment, what did he think of the film when he first saw it, filming on location in Los Angeles during the day, karaoke (he sings some Queen), and whether or not he can still dunk a basketball.  In addition, Harrelson talked about The Hunger Games and Martin McDonagh‘s Seven Psychopaths.  Hit the jump to watch.

First Images from Martin McDonagh’s SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS Starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, and Woody Harrelson

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 7:49 am

The first images from Seven Psychopaths, Martin McDonagh‘s highly-anticipated follow up to In Bruges, have gone online. The film stars Woody Harrelson as a gangster who goes on a rampage after his beloved shih tzu is kidnapped by an unemployed actor (Sam Rockwell) whose only source of income is helping a professional dognapper (Christopher Walken) who steals dogs and returns them for the reward money (That’s right: McDonagh has basically borrowed the M.O. of Jon Lovitz character from City Slickers 2).  Colin Farrell co-stars as Martin, a struggling screenwriter who tries to help Rockwell’s character, but only gets caught up in the mess, although it gives him great material for his next script, which is called “Seven Psychopaths”.

Hit the jump to check out the images and more info on the flick, which also stars Tom Waits, Gabourey Sidibe, Abbie Cornish, and Olga Kurylenko.  Seven Psychopaths is due out in theaters this fall.

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.

New Trailer for THE HUNGER GAMES Shows off Its Mockingjay Pin

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 2nd, 2012 at 10:18 am

A new trailer has gone online for The Hunger Games and it’s my favorite one yet.  It’s short, sweet, hits the emotional beats, has a little action, and gives us a good look at Stanley Tucci’s wacky hairdo.  The trailer also features the Mockingjay pin, which is the big icon of the series.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer, and click here to find out how you can win tickets from us to go the film’s premiere on March 12th in Los Angeles.  The Hunger Games opens in wide release and IMAX on March 23rd.

Full Trailer for HBO’s GAME CHANGE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 31st, 2012 at 2:58 pm

The first full trailer for HBO’s Game Change has gone online. Directed by Jay Roach (Recount), the film follows the behind-the-scenes turmoil of the 2008 John McCain Presidential campaign. While we’ve previously seen tiny bits of Julianne Moore’s performance as Sarah Palin, this full trailer puts her front and center with stunning results. Moore has gone above and beyond here to embody the former Vice Presidential candidate, and nails all the nuances of Palin’s character. Roach and screenwriter Danny Strong previously teamed up for the stellar Recount, and it looks as though they’ve expertly executed yet another real-life political drama. While some of Palin’s behavior in the trailer might come across as staged, the film is based on John Heilemann and Mark Halperin’s book of the same name which was the culmination of their unrivaled access to both Presidential campaigns.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer. The film also stars Ed Harris, Woody Harrelson, Ron Livingston, Sarah Paulson, Peter MacNicol, Justin Gaston, Larry Sullivan, Jamey Sheridan, and Melissa Farman. Game Change premieres on HBO March 10th.

More Images and Set Photos from THE HUNGER GAMES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 3rd, 2012 at 10:35 am

Lionsgate has released four new images from The Hunger Games along with two set photos and two hi-res versions of previously released images.  Most of the new images were quickly glimpsed in the trailer but now you can view them all big and shiny.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, and Donald Sutherland.  The Hunger Games opens March 23rd.

Teaser Trailer for GAME CHANGE Starring Ed Harris as John McCain and Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 21st, 2011 at 4:24 pm

HBO has released their first teaser trailer for Game Change, a telepic about John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.  It is a well-structured 52 seconds.  First, Ed Harris looks just like McCain when you stick a hairpiece on him.  A speech by Woody Harrelson (playing McCain’s advisor Steve Schmidt) builds nicely to the big reveal of Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin.  Plenty have tried on a Palin impression in the last couple years.  Is it any surprise that Moore’s, in just one sentence, sounds good enough to sustain a feature-length character arc?

Ron Livingston, Sarah Paulson, Peter MacNicol, Justin Gaston, Larry Sullivan, Jamey Sheridan, and Melissa Farman also star.  Game Change was directed by Jay Roach and written by Danny Strong, who previously collaborated on the HBO movie Recount, which centered on the 2000 election.  Game Change will premiere in March 2012.  Watch the trailer after the break.

The Red Pill Viral Update: MEN IN BLACK 3, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE DARKEST HOUR and THE HUNGER GAMES

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 11th, 2011 at 1:25 pm

As The Dark Knight Rises revved up their viral campaign earlier this week , it overshadowed other movies in the midst of their own marketing. The Dark Knight Rises’ “Operation Early Bird” granted early access to the prologue for people close to specified IMAX theaters and a new trailer is expected to drop on Monday. However, there are other properties that are vying for your attention and your dollars, such as Men in Black 3, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Darkest Hour and The Hunger Games. Hit the jump for an update on each of these unique campaigns.

Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced; DRIVE, 50/50, and THE ARTIST Up for Top Prize

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 29th, 2011 at 9:15 am

The nominations for the 27th Annual Independent Spirit Awards were announced this morning with The Artist and Take Shelter each nabbing five nominations. In addition to The Artist and Take Shelter, Drive, 50/50, The Descendants, and Beginners will duke it out for the top prize. Absent from the Best Feature list is Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, though the film was recognized in Best Supporting Male (Corey Stoll) and Best Cinematography. Also of note, Elizabeth Olsen and John Hawkes landed nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Male for Martha Marcy May Marlene, and Ryan Gosling and Woody Harrelson were both singled out in Best Actor for Drive and Rampart respectively.

Hit the jump to check out the full list of nominations. Recognizing the best in independent film, the awards will be handed out on February 25th, the day before the Oscars.

2012 Oscar Preview: Best Actor and Best Actress

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 25th, 2011 at 7:19 am

Yesterday we unveiled our picks for the top contenders in the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories for the upcoming 84th Academy Awards. Today, we’re taking on Best Actor and Best Actress. Though it’s still relatively early in the race, we’ve got some surefire contenders and a couple of clear frontrunners for the top acting categories. In addition to Academy darlings like George Clooney and Meryl Streep, we’ve seen some extraordinary performances from relative newcomers likes Elizabeth Olsen and Michael Fassbender. As I stressed yesterday, it’s still pretty early so things can definitely change between now and February, but there are certainly some clear frontrunners in these two races already. Hit the jump to see find out how everyone stacks up.

First Trailer RAMPART Starring Woody Harrelson

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 18th, 2011 at 1:35 pm

I’ve been hearing about the cop drama Rampart for quite a while now, specifically Woody Harrelson’s performance in the film. The first trailer has now been released, and Harrelson does indeed look to be delivering one hell of a performance. The pic focuses on a Vietnam vet and cop who does his job a bit dirtier than most, unafraid to to blur the lines between right and wrong. Harrelson looks strong here, and I’m assuming the movie as a whole hinges on his character spinning out of control. Much has been said about the actor’s Oscar chances, so if he continues to pick up steam expect to hear a lot more about Rampart in the coming weeks.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. The film also stars Ben Foster, Robin Wright, Anne Heche, Ice Cube, Sigourney Weaver, Cynthia Nixon, Ned Beatty, and Steve Buscemi. Rampart opens November 23rd.

New Trailer for THE HUNGER GAMES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 7:32 am

Lionsgate has released a new trailer for The Hunger Games.  For everyone who was confused on the set-up and the premise, this trailer will get you up to speed.  Unfortunately, that’s about all it will do.  While it’s clear that director Gary Ross has not shied away from the garish fashion and make-up of the Capitol’s residents (I imagine some are going to be jarred out of the experience by Elizabeth Banks looking like she’s 80 and speaking with a British accent), there’s still no hint of the violence and brutality of the books.  I can understand why they would leave that out of the trailer, but I’m absolutely baffled as to why there’s almost no footage from the actual Hunger Games.  That’s the meat and potatoes of the set pieces, and I have no idea why they wouldn’t at least throw in some quick flashes of the action scenes. My best guess is that they’re still working on the special effects and didn’t have anything 100% finished to put into the trailer (or they’re saving those scenes for the next one).

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, and Donald Sutherland.  The Hunger Games opens March 23, 2012.

Woody Harrelson, Tom Waits, and Olga Kurylenko Join Martin McDonagh’s SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 9th, 2011 at 2:02 pm

At this point, it’s going to be very tough for the cast of In Bruges director Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths to get any better. He’s already got Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, and Christopher Walken lined up, and now Woody Harrelson, Tom Waits, and Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) have joined the line-up. Farrell stars as a screenwriter struggling with his latest script, titled Seven Psychopaths, who gets roped into a dog-napping job by his friends (Rockwell and Walken). Things take a turn when the beloved Shih Tzu of a psychopathic gangster goes missing, and the trio find themselves on the run.

Mickey Rourke was originally in talks to play the gangster, but recently turned the gig down (calling director McDonagh “a jerkoff” in the process). Harrelson will take on the role of the gangster, which pairied with the casting of Waits makes for a big step up from Rourke in my book. I loved the hell out of In Bruges and I’m anxiously looking forward to the writer-director’s follow up, especially given the fantastic cast he’s put together. Hit the jump to read the full synopsis for the film. [Update: We've been sent the full press release for the casting announcement, which is now included after the jump.]

First Synopsis and Promo Poster for NOW YOU SEE ME Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 3rd, 2011 at 4:06 pm

Director Louis Letterier’s heist-thriller Now You See Me is quickly becoming one of my most anticipated films of 2013. It’s got a stellar cast (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco and Melanie Laurent), an intriguing/adventurous premise, and magic! Lots and lots of magic. The story centers on a group of magicians who pull off bank heists during their death-defying acts, and the FBI squad tasked with catching them. Today we’ve got the first full synopsis and a promo poster for the pick from the American Film Market, which you can check out after the jump.

The film was written by Boaz Yakin (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) & Edward Ricourt, Josh Applebaum & Andre Nemec (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), and Ed Solomon (Men in Black). Now You See Me opens January 18th, 2013.

New Posters for RAMPART, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE DARKEST HOUR, and SHAME

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 3rd, 2011 at 8:32 am

New posters have been released for Rampart, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Darkest Hour, and Shame.  I haven’t seen Dragon Tattoo yet so I’m not sure if Daniel Craig sprouts a Rooney Mara.  I also haven’t seen Darkest Hour so I’m not sure if the characters are more freaked out by what’s in front of them instead of the gigantic explosion behind them.  But I have seen Rampart and I think Millennium Films can do better than “Giant Woody Harrelson Face”.  I also think the tagline should try to say more than just “Corrupt Cop Movie; Go See.”  As for Shame, the French poster tries to sell the movie as sexy, and it’s absolutely not.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.  Rampart has a one-week award-qualifying run on November 23rd before opening in limited release on January 27, 2012.  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo opens December 21st.  The Darkest Hour opens in 3D on December 23rd.  Shame opens in limited release on December 2nd.

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