Watch: First trailer for the Coens’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” starring Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan

January 24, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos 2 Comments

This trailer has been a long time coming and let’s just say right off the bat, it’s already exceeding even our highest expectations. “Inside Llewyn Davis”, the newest from the Coen Brothers is a drama set in the 1960s about a bunch of folk musicians, led by Oscar Isaac in his first major leading role and supported by the likes of John Goodman, Carey Mulligan, Junstin Timberlake and Garrett Hedlund.

The entire cast does their own singing in the movie, but we don’t get to hear any of that here. Instead, we’re treated to a fierce Mulligan as a scorned ex-lover of Isaac’s Llewyn Davis, who takes off for some (“On the”) road adventures with a very Dean Moriarty-esque Hedlund. The cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel gives the film my favorite glowy, blurry, dreamy quality and all the characters feel like Coen signatures. In other words: Bring it on. There’s still no release date for this, one of our most anticipated films of the year, but with the first screening taking place in just a couple of weeks, hopefully one will be set soon.

Watch the first trailer below in the meantime.

First Look: Oscar Isaac and a furry friend on the set of “Inside Llewyn Davis”

February 22, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 1 Comment

As if we weren’t excited enough about the new Coen Brothers movie, they’ve added a cat. “Inside Llewyn Davis”, set in the 1960s New York City folk scene, has already started filming and Zimbio has our first look at Oscar Isaac on set and in character as Llewyn Davis himself.

As the titular struggling guitarist and singer, loosely based on real 1960s Greenwich Village based musician Dave Van Ronk, nicknamed “Mayor of MacDougal Street”, Isaac looks perfectly hobo chic with scraggly beard, drab clothing, beat up guitar case and an orange cat. Well, what’s a street musician without one, really? Isaac will presumably be joined on set soon by co-stars Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund and Stark Sands, who all play Davis’ circle of friends and fellow musicians.

No release has been set on the independently financed and produced film, but we’re hoping for a late 2012 date.

Braodway star Stark Sands joins Coen Brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis”

February 9, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

More musically inclined actors are lining up for the Joel and Etahn Coen’s next project, 1960s set folk music drama “Inside Llewyn Davis.” Deadline reports Broadway and screen actor Stark Sands has joined the cast that already includes Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund and John Goodman.

Isaac plays Davis, a fictional character loosely based on 1960s Greenwich Village based musician Dave Van Ronk, nicknamed “Mayor of MacDougal Street”, whose circle of friends and fellow musicians included Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Patrick Sky, Phil Ochs, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Joni Mitchell. Despite being talented and passionate, he can’t make ends meet just playing music. Timberlake has the role of Jim, a fellow folk musician who is married to Mulligan’s character Jean. Sands will play a young soldier on leave, while Hedlund and Goodman’s characters are still unknown. Cameras began rolling this week in New York City.

The musical abilities required should be no problem at all for Sands, a Tony nominee and recent headliner on Broadway in Green Day musical “American Idiot.” He made his big screen debut in 2003′s indie “Die Mommie Die” and has also appeared in films including “Chasing Liberty” and “Flags of Our Fathers”, as well as on TV in HBO miniseries “Generation Kill” and current CBS cop drama pilot “The 2-2.”

Garrett Hedlund to jam with Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake for the Coen Bros’ “Inside Llewyn Davis”

January 9, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

“Akira” getting pushed back may be a blessing in disguise for Garrett Hedlund (some would say flat out blessing, but we digress). Variety reports the star now has an open slot in his schedule and has promptly filled it with something awesome: Hedlund is jumping on board the Coen Brothers’ next directorial vehicle, the 1960s set folk music drama “Inside Llewyn Davis”, which already stars Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman.

Isaac plays Davis, a fictional character loosely based on 1960s Greenwich Village based musician Dave Van Ronk, nicknamed “Mayor of MacDougal Street”, whose circle of friends and fellow musicians included Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Patrick Sky, Phil Ochs, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Joni Mitchell. Despite being talented and passionate, he can’t make ends meet just playing music. Timberlake has the role of Jim, a fellow folk musician who is married to Mulligan’s character Jean. Hedlund’s character is unknown, but after having done some impressive crooning in “Country Strong”, it should be no problem for him to pick up a guitar and jam with his co-stars.

Hedlund, who is still attached to “Akira” whenever the risky, big budget remake finally gets its act together at Warner Bros, and also has the similarly long-gestating, controversial adaptation of “On the Road” in the can ready for release this year. His past couple of high profile projects, “Country Strong” and “Tron: Legacy”, weren’t exactly big breakout moments for him, but it’s clear bigger successes lay just beyond the horizon for the talented and underrated actor.

Justin Timberlake offered a lead role in Coen Bros’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” opposite Carey Mulligan

October 29, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Thus far former boybander Justin Timberlake has steered clear of mixing his musical and acting talents, but could that all change now? Variety reports Timberlake has been offered a lead role in the Coen Brothers’ 1960s folk music drama “Inside Llewyn Davis”, and not for nothing, Oscar Isaac landed the titular role in the film because of the tremendous musical talents he demonstrated during auditions, and co-star Carey Mulligan has proven musical ability as well.

Isaac plays Davis, a fictional character loosely based on 1960s Greenwich Village based musician Dave Van Ronk, nicknamed “Mayor of MacDougal Street”, whose circle of friends and fellow musicians included Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Patrick Sky, Phil Ochs, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Joni Mitchell. Despite being talented and passionate, he can’t make ends meet just playing music. Timberlake has been offered the role of Jim, a fellow folk musician who is married to Mulligan’s character Jean.

Timberlake has been tentatively seeking out a film career for years, but got his big break when he played Napster founder Sean Parker in David Fincher’s modern masterpiece “The Social Network”. He’s taken mostly lead roles since, in this summer’s “Friends with Benefits” and the currently playing “In Time.” The role in the Coens’ new film would be his biggest and most prestigious yet, and while he was bandied about but not nominated for an Oscar for “Network”, “Inside Llewyn Davis” could bring him closer than he’s ever been. One step closer to EGOT for the multi-tasking entertainer.

Carey Mulligan lines up roles with the Coen Brothers and Spike Jonze

October 20, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Carey Mulligan received an Oscar nomination in 2010 for her role as an idealistic schoolgirl in 2009′s “An Eduction” and has leveraged that newfound status in Hollywood to pile up an increasingly impressive body of work. Not slowing down for a bit, she has signed on to two more high profile gigs, Variety reports. Joining the recently cast Oscar Isaac, she has snagged the female lead in the Coen Brothers’ 1960s folk music drama “Inside Llewyn Davis”, and has entered negotiations for a lead role in Spike Jonze’s still untitled next feature.

There is no word on her role in each film, though in the former she might likely play a folk musician based on a real person, alongside Isaac’s titular character, based on real-life 60s folk musician Dave Van Ronk, nicknamed “Mayor of MacDougal Street”, whose circle of friends and fellow musicians included Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Patrick Sky, Phil Ochs, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Joni Mitchell. In the Jonze pic, she’ll join Joaquin Phoenix in a tale about world leaders having to work together on impending “cataclysmic events.”

Mulligan currently has two awards season films in play, opposite Ryan Gosling in Nicolas Winding Refn’s ultra-violent arthouse actioner “Drive” (also starring Isaac) and opposite Michael Fassbender in NC-17 sex addiction drama “Shame” from director Steve McQueen. She’s not partaking much in the way of campaigning for Supporting Actress for either film though, too busy playing Daisey Buchanan for Baz Luhrmann’s 3D adaptation of “The Great Gatsby”, currently shooting in Australia. She plans to shoot “Llewyn” next February and then hop onto Jonze’s project by spring.

Oscar Isaac goes “Inside Llewyn Davis” for the Coen Brothers

October 13, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Oscar Isaac is on his way to becoming a major player in Hollywood. Variety reports the up and coming actor has landed the highly coveted lead and titular role in the Coen Brothers‘ 60s set folk music drama “Inside Llewyn Davis.” The Coens are directing with Scott Rudin producing outside of the studio system. Studio Canal will co-finance and handle France and other international territories but no US distributor has been set.

Isaac had a major presence at the Toronto International Film Festival where he was seen in Nicolas Winding Refn’s divisive violent actioner “Drive”, Channing Tatum’s high school reunion drama “Ten Year” and Madonna’s period drama “W.E.” He’s currently filming Tony Gilroy’s “The Bourne Legacy.” While he was famously one of the director’s favorites to take on the lead role, studio pressures passed it onto Jeremy Renner instead. Apparently Gilroy really fell for Isaac’s performance though, and has given him a different role in the film.

Watch: Hailee Steinfeld in 3 clips from “True Grit”

December 10, 2010 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos 1 Comment

Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld more than holds her own opposite Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin in these 3 new clips from the Coen Brothers’ “True Grit”, releasing in theaters on December 22. Steinfeld plays Mattie Ross, a tenacious teenager who enlists the help of Jeff Bridges’ US Marshal Rooster Cogburn to track down her father’s murderer, played by Brolin. Damon is LaBeouf, a Texas Ranger who tags along for the journey as well.

Two more clips and an interview with Steinfeld follow below.

Hailee Steinfeld wants Retribution in new “True Grit” character poster

November 18, 2010 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

Thirteen year old Hailee Steinfeld stands stoic next to acting heavyweights Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin in her own character poster for the Coen Brothers’ upcoming “True Grit”, a remake of the 1969 classic starring John Wayne. Steinfeld plays Mattie Ross, a stubborn young girl who enlists the help of Bridges’ drunken ex-marshal Reuben J. Cogburn to track down her father’s murderer. Thanks to IMDB we have our first look at Mattie’s character poster, and you can go there to see posters of the men who support and antagonize her.

See a high resolution version and an international poster featuring all the characters below thanks to Awards Daily.

Hailee Steinfeld on “True Grit” Audition Process

November 2, 2010 | Posted by Linda Ge in Interviews, Videos Leave a comment

Jennifer Lawrence isn’t the only teenage girl making waves this Oscar season. Come December, all eyes will be on Hailee Steinfeld, who beat out 15,000 girls to land the role of Mattie Ross in the Coen Brothers’ highly anticipated remake of “True Grit”, out December 22, 2010. A likely Oscar contender in the Best Supporting Actress category – for a role that should be Lead if it weren’t for her young age – Steinfeld tells Entertainment Weekly about how she landed the role, working with such high profile actors, and her favorite Jeff Bridges movie. Aside from the obligatory “Big Lebowski” mention, 13-year-old Steinfeld answers more appropriately, “I love Stick It!”

coen brothers