MovieZen Blog

Hollywood Stars Doing the Right Thing

2008-09-17T04:45:00-07:00

She’s a multimillionaire, a household name, has a loving family and is in good health. Now Julia Roberts says it’s time for her to step it up and provide a helping hand to those less fortunate.

The Oscar winning actress recently announced that she plans to once again team up with music superstar Bono in his charity campaign to fight the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Roberts says she was approached by the U2 star and Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani a few months ago and asked to design a T-shirt for the pair's Red label project.

The “Pretty Woman” star put her artistic skills to the test and came up with an interpretative design that features the words "revolution.evolution.devotion" over a treetop. Roberts’ signature is included in the design as well.

Money raised from the sale of the shirt, which is scheduled to go on sale later this month, will go to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Meanwhile, the actress’ pal Jude Law is also doing his part to give back to those in need.

The Oscar-nominated actor is visiting Afghanistan to promote peace in the war-ravaged country. The “Sleuth” star says he hopes his trip will maintain momentum for Peace Day (September 21^st) and urge a global cease-fire.

This is Law’s second trip to the region and one he says he has been looking forward to making for months.

"When I left Kabul last year, I was hugely moved not by the conflict that I have read so much about, but by the people's courage and the people's sense of hope," Law told reporters.

While better known for his roles in movies such as "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Cold Mountain," Law is currently starring in a documentary film called "The Day After Peace," which charts the way Peace Day can be used as a focus for lifesaving activity.

The documentary also features former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, the Dalai Lama, Angelina Jolie, Annie Lennox and Jonny Lee Miller. Law said the movie "was the most important film I have been part of" and says he intends to keep participating in Peace Day events well into the future.

Lucia Kim
**Read more articles by Lucia Kim**

Bring back the art.

2008-09-16T04:49:00-07:00

Movie advertising, while inescapable, is also looked at by many as a work of art. Some of the greatest movies have that unforgettable image. Think back to Jaws, and how compelling that simple picture was. Enough to strike terror, the end result being assumed. Then there were the Star Wars trilogy posters, each perfectly encapsulating the spirit of the given film. A great film poster gives a piece of the film, and connects to the memory of what the viewer has seen on screen. Sadly, it is a form of art that is slowly passing by. While there are still great posters on occasion, it seems more and more that the stock profile shots or cast collections are enough to satisfy the studios these days. That is why it is so striking when a movie poster comes along to shake up the status quo. A film like Sin City, unique in its feel and story telling, took the idea of the character posters and gave it a twist. And think back to 1994, when Pulp Fiction recreated the dime store novel cover in a unique twist. It was enough to intrigue the movie goer without ruining the shock of what was to come. Sure they could have done a collage of Travolta and Thurman dancing, or a hypodermic needle about to penetrate flesh, but they kept it simple yet creative, and it stands as a great piece of cinematic marketing.

I would like to see the marketing departments of studios put a little more effort into creating truly memorable posters. Most posters have been relegated to the side of the lobby, no longer compelling the theater attendee to look at them. Now, they need to draw the eyes over to see. An iconic image, such as Tom Hanks sitting on a park bench in Forrest Gump, could slip by unnoticed. But a poster like The Truman Show, an amalgamation of smaller images that create the final picture, looks just distracting enough from a distance to bring the viewer closer, where they can then marvel at the work within the work. It is too easy for me to pass by on my way out of the theater, never glancing twice at the latest teen spoof comedy or disposable action flick. I want something that reminds me of when studios used to care. Or at least more so than they seem to now.

Benji
**Read more articles by Benji**

Gutbusters

2008-09-15T04:51:00-07:00

The fall can be a time of reflection and quiet, but you need to have some fun. So with that in mind here is some of the best comedy you can get your rentals on this fall. One new and one classic.

What Happens in Vegas

Set in Sin City, story revolves around two people who discover they've gotten married following a night of debauchery, with one of them winning a huge jackpot after playing the other's quarter. Unhappy pair try to undermine each other and get their hands on the money -- falling in love along the way.

Spaceballs

King Roland of the planet Druidia is trying to marry his daughter Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) to Prince Valium, but Vespa is kidnapped by the evil race of the Spaceballs. The Spaceballs ask Roland a tremendous ransom: all the air of Druidia (you see, the air of Spaceball had serious pollution problems...). The King decides to offer a generous amount of money to a space rogue, Lone Starr, to persuade him to save Vespa. What follows is the parody of a _LOT_ of famous SF movies.

Katie Gatto
**Read more articles by Katie Gatto**

Michael Gross: Guest Appearance on Daytime Soaps

2008-09-14T04:58:00-07:00

Joining the cast of one of daytimes soaps The Young & the Restless is Michael Gross. You may remember him Steven Keaton of Family Ties from 1982-1989. After 163 shows of Family Ties, Michael Gross didn’t give up on his acting career. He was seen in several movies that included Tremors and Tremors 2, 3, and 4, Batman, Snowbound, In the Line of Duty, and Promised Land. Michael Gross also made several appearances in shows like, How I met your Mother, The Drew Cary Show, ER, Boston Legal, and Medium.

Michael has worked in movies with such actors and actresses as Reba McEntire, Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, and more. In shows such as How I met your Mother, Gross played the character Alfred Mosby in two episodes back in 2006. He also played as Don Newmark, Kellie’s father on The Drew Carey Show. He also had a reoccurring guest roll in ER as John “Jack” Carter, Jr.

Michael Gross is playing as Michael Baldwin’s father Lowell "River" Baldwin. Michael is played by Christian LeBlanc. His first episode was seen in August. He will be appearing for several more shows through the month of September. Michael’s father has been a mystery up until now. He will finally get to see who his father is and get to know him a little better. Will they bond during his dad’s short stay in Genoa City? It’s hard to say right now but we will know soon.

Back in 2001 Michael Gross won the award for Best Actor in his part in Tremors 3: Back to Perfection. Things are looking a little different as he goes from being Alex P. Keaton’s dad to being Michael Baldwin’s father. He is playing a more serious dad this time around.

JFrye
**Read more articles by JFrye**

Audrey Tautou is Coco Chanel

2008-09-13T04:47:00-07:00

I quite firmly believe that Sex and the City would not have been a hit if the women had no costume changes. The Devil Wears Prada succeeded because it wasn't The Devil Wears Hand-Me-Downs. Film is a great medium for couture eye candy. There's something very aspirational and enticing about close-ups of wardrobes most of us will never afford. Offer me a peak into the world of designer frocks, and I'm there.

Unfortunately, watching Project Runway does not make you a designer. If it did, I'd be typing this in a chiffon gown right now.

Audrey Tautou, the gamine French actress of Amelie and The Da Vinci Code fame (who channels the quirky beauty of another timeless Audrey) will be starring as Coco Chanel in the upcoming biopic Coco Avant Chanel (translation for the non-bilingual: Coco Before Chanel). The film, as evidenced by its title, will focus on the childhood and young womanhood of the legendary designer. And thankfully, casting directors knew enough to cast a Frenchwoman in the role. Americans with French accents make me cry. And not a good cry. Most exciting, the film will feature dresses from the Chanel collection with Karl Lagerfeld, art director of the House of Chanel, supervising the re-creation of the accessories and wardrobe.

Production starts on September 15th. In Paris, naturally.

Nadine Bells
**Read more articles by Nadine Bells**

Last Action Hero?

2008-09-12T04:50:00-07:00

Vin Diesel returns to his action roots with Babylon A.D., the first time in four years he has done something in the action genre. After trying his hand at family in The Pacifier and giving drama a go in Find Me Guilty, Diesel wisely returns to his bread and butter, and with the latest Fast and the Furious and Hannibal the Conqueror on the horizon, it looks like he has no intention of venturing away soon.

Sadly, Diesel may be our last claim to a true action star. While we have action movies, such as the Bourne series and the never ending Bond sequels, the stars of these films seem content to dip their toes in the action water before returning to more serious fare. The Jason Stathams of the world look to make a small career out of monosyllabic heroes, but much like Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme, he will most likely find a final home on video.

What does it say if Vin Diesel is the last semi-bankable action star? A generation removed from an abundance of big names such as Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Willis, what does that say that one of the last of a dying breed is Diesel? While action isn’t dead yet, you can hear it gasping for breath.

Benji
**Read more articles by Benji**

Hollywood Hotties and their Four-Legged Friends

2008-09-11T04:49:00-07:00

Hollywood could go to the dogs and actress Cameron Diaz wouldn’t be fazed at all.

In fact, the Hollywood hottie, who says she has dated a few guys that fit in the four-legged pet category, recently made headlines for going the extra mile for an injured pooch.

According to reports, Diaz not only aided a crippled German Shepard she found in L.A. last weekend, she even spent hours trying to reunite the canine with its owner.

The 35-year-old “There's Something About Mary” star reportedly took the lost dog to her mansion in the Hollywood Hills, treated its injuries, fed it and gave it some water while her assistant made “FOUND GERMAN SHEPARD” signs and posted them around town.

According to the actress’ rep, one of Diaz’s neighbors ran across the signs while looking for his lost dog and the hound and its owner were reunited a short time later.

The pooch’s owner immediately took the injured pup to a vet and Diaz followed a couple hours later to see how the dog was recovering.

There’s no question that the “Charlie’s Angels” star is a loyal pet fan; however, when pitted against fellow actress Jennifer Aniston, she might fall a bit short in putting four-legged friends in front of the two-legged variety.

When you are dating Aniston you learn quickly not to mess with her BFF Norman. The Corgi-Terrier mix is No.1 in the former “Friends” life. It’s a lesson a few of Aniston’s boyfriends have learned the hard way.

Take Aniston’s former flame John Mayer, for example. The couple recently parted ways and more than a few publications speculated the split occurred because Norman couldn’t stand the aloof singer.

According to reports, Aniston spent much of the relationship keeping her two loves apart. And it wasn’t because Mayer is a dog hater; rather sources say for some reason Norman just didn’t like the “Gravity” singer.

Since Aniston is known for treating Norman as though he was her child, knowing that her beloved pooch couldn’t stand her new squeeze reportedly made the “Bruce Almighty” star “heartbroken.”

Aniston, a known dog lover (she just finished filming “Marley & Me,” which is based on the best selling book about a troublemaking Labrador Retriever), even hired a pet expert to help the three exist cohesively. Aniston and Mayer were reportedly encouraged by the dog expert to take Norman for walks around the actress' neighborhood, so the dog could get used to the crooner on neutral ground.

But, as we all know by now, in the end Mayer got the boot and Norman got his spot on Aniston’s bed back.

Lucia Kim
**Read more articles by Lucia Kim**

There is still life left in the dog days

2008-09-10T04:59:00-07:00

Ah, what would August be without an onslaught of mediocre films ready to soak up any remaining dollars that The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones, and Iron Man didn’t already grab. With Death Race already hitting screens, and Babylon A.D. being the last big release of a strong summer, the season is about to end. While some films will continue to gross into the fall, it looks like this August won’t have any genuine blockbusters as seen in Augusts past.

Last year, Superbad snuck up on the viewing public, pulling in money from all ages. The Bourne Ultimatum proved that there was an audience for intelligent action in the waning months before school. The Fugitive, Signs, The Sixth Sense, all have proven that there is money to be made.

This August, stabs were made. Tropic Thunder has shown surprising legs in its short run, and Pineapple Express proved that, contrary to Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, the stoner comedy genre still has life. But there was no real breakout to catch the attention of a weary viewing public. Perhaps a little breathing room is needed, anyway. After all, the holiday season is just around the corner.

Benji
**Read more articles by Benji**

Don’t burn this, just read about rad Brad

2008-09-09T04:52:00-07:00

The coolest party of the year – at least two days into the 33^rd annual Toronto Film Festival – was thrown by Focus Features, et al Friday night to celebrate the hugely entertaining “Burn After Reading,” the latest from the Oscar-winning brothers Coen, Ethan and Joel.

Both were on hand – by the way immediately heading right for the buffet spread at the ultra-hip Spice Route restaurant -- upon entering from the gala showing of their CIA comedy follow-up to the extensively more serious “No Country for Old Men.”

Most of their stars were there, too, save for George Clooney, who apparently got his fill of adoring Toronto crowds last year during his “Michael Clayton” tour. Tilda Swinton, the Best Supporting Actress (for “Clayton”) wasn’t there, either, though she was scheduled for interviews the next day.

Regardless, scene-stealing Brad Pitt, who plays a clueless and very funny health-club trainer, sneaked in the back door for the private party but chose to sit with pals Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo. They’re in Toronto as “The Brothers Bloom,” con men extraordinaire in a convoluted caper-comedy of the same name.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, “Burn” people Richard Jenkins, John Malkovich and a terrific-looking Frances McDormand (she’s Mrs. Joel Coen) partied politely hardy. So did “RocknRolla” stars Gerard Butler and Jeremy Piven, who were left over from doing press for their Guy Ritchie film.

One special moment: As I was leaving, three of the great character actors around -- Jenkins, Malkovich and Piven (whose “Entourage” begins a new season on HBO Sunday night) – were spotted engaging in deep conversation. How special would a film with these three be? Only, who would play the lead?

Another thought: If Pitt stayed over until Saturday, which he likely did since he was still at Spice Route well after midnight, he could run into ex-wife Jennifer Aniston. The “Friends” star, still trying to make a major mark in movies, was expected to fly in for the world premiere of a dark festival comedy called “Management,” which co-stars the ever-versatile Steve Zahn and Woody Harrelson.

Stay tuned here. We’ll let you know if Brad/Jen re-connect – and some other movie stuff – when we bring you more from Toronto in a few days.

John M. Urbancich
**Read more articles by John Urbancich**

Cher as Catwoman: Just Another Crazy Rumor?

2008-09-08T04:48:00-07:00

The Dark Knight is still hot at the box office. This doesn't stop the whispers and speculation about another inevitable sequel. The names Johnny Depp and Philip Seymour Hoffman have been thrown around as potential Riddler and Penguin choices. Brian Austin Green tried to enter his own name in the casting game, suggesting he'd be a great Riddler. Yeah. I'll give you a moment to stop laughing before I continue.

The latest rumor is that Cher is Christopher Nolan's choice to be the next Catwoman. Of course, the article claiming such a thing reads as thinly sourced. But for the moment, I'll let my head go there. Could it work?

I think it could. Nolan has an unparalleled casting gift. He was one of the first to give Robin Williams the chance to play creepy. He saw in Heath Ledger a Joker, whereas most of us (if we're honest, now) were baffled by his choice. Clearly, he knows what he's doing. Cher is an Oscar winner. And if the "studio executive of mystery" being referenced in the article speaks the truth, Cher could fit the role: "He wants to her to portray her like a vamp in her twilight years."

What do you think? Would you accept an older, cosmetically enhanced Catwoman? Personally, I was hoping for a little sexual tension between the feline and Bruce Wayne. But Nolan knows best. I'll gladly stay out of it.

Filming of the next installment (tentatively titled The Caped Crusader) is due to begin early next year.

Nadine Bells