Raffey Cassidy to Play Child Robot in “Tomorrowland” Opposite George Clooney

April 18, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

raffey-cassidy After a major search, British child actress Raffey Cassidy has landed the pivotal role of a child robot in Brad Bird’s highly secretive sci-fi project “Tomorrowland”, which stars George Clooney and Hugh Laurie, according to THR.

Though the plot is being kept tightly under wraps, the casting seem to confirm earlier rumored reports of the movie’s plot. According to Hitfix, the official logline reads as follows: “A teenage girl, a genius middle-aged man (who was kicked out of Tomorrowland) and a pre-pubescent girl robot attempt to get to and unravel what happened to Tomorrowland, which exists in an alternative dimension, in order to save Earth.” Cassidy’s robot has existed for decades and is also a skilled fighter who has a previous relationship with Clooney’s character, also described as “a bitter inventor.” Her inventor? That would be my theory. Filming begins in August and “Tomorrowland” has a December 19, 2014 release date.

Cassidy has made a career thus far of playing younger versions of characters – she played a young Snow White to Kristen Stewart’s grown-up version in “Snow White and the Huntsman” and a young witch Angelique in Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows”, played as an adult by Eva Green. She currently stars opposite Jeremy Piven in ITV/PBS series “Mr. Selfridge.”

Newcomer Dimitri Leonidas Joins George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men”

March 13, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

dimitri-leonidas Unknown 25 year old British actor Dimitri Leonidas has been cast in WWII heist thriller “The Monuments Men” by director George Clooney, according to Variety. Leonidas will join an all-star cast that includes Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin and Clooney himself.

Clooney and producing partner Grant Heslov wrote the script based on the true story of the Monuments Men, American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others who raced against the clock to track down hidden stashes of invaluable art pieces which Hitler and the Nazi regime stole, deemed “degenerate” and intended to destroy. Filming is now underway in Europe.

Leonidas has been acting steadily on British television for several years, including a guest spot on “Doctor Who” and the recent “Sinbad” miniseries, and appeared in 2010 ancient Rome war epic “Centurion” with Michael Fassbender and Imogen Poots. His last big screen appearance was in last year’s indie paranormal coming of age tale “Animals.”

“The Artist” Oscar winner Jean Dujardin joins all-star cast in George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men”

October 29, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

George Clooney is stepping back behind the camera for his follow-up to political thriller “The Ides of March” and this time he’s assembled an even more A-list cast in front of the camera. For the WWII set drama “The Monuments Men”, Clooney will also star, alongside Daniel Craig, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, Hugh Bonneville and Bob Balaban.

Dujardin, who beat Clooney’s “The Descendants” performance for the Best Actor Oscar last year for his completely silent work in “The Artist”, is already quite known in his native France particularly for his roles in James Bond spoof films “OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies” and “OSS 117: Lost in Rio”, though he’s certainly getting a well-deserved introudction to American audiences now. Since his Oscar win, he has been cast and is currently filming opposite Leonardo Dicaprio in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

“The Help” star Octavia Spencer to receive Breakthrough Performance Award at Palm Springs Film Festival

December 7, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards Leave a comment

In further cementing of Octavia Spencer’s status as an Oscar front-runner for her scene-stealing breakout role in “The Help”, it’s been announced today that the actress will receive the Breakthrough Performance Award a the annual Palm Springs Film Festival in January. The event is an annual pit-stop for hopefuls on the long road to Oscar, and this year Spencer will be amongst fellow gold seekers George Clooney, Glenn Close, Michelle Williams and “The Artist” director Michel Hazanavicius, who are all being honored with various acting and filmmaking accolades.

“Octavia Spencer is a consummate actress who seamlessly blends her dramatic and comedic talents, creating performances of uncommon depth,” film festival board chairman Harold Matzner said via press release. “As the irascible Minny in ‘The Help,’ she captures the essence of a woman who deals with life head on, relishing confrontation and serving as a source of courage and humor for those whom she loves.”

Spencer is in good company amongst past winners including Carey Mulligan, Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Hudson, Felicity Huffman and Freida Pinto, most of whom went on to score Oscar nominations and wins. More relevant news to come from the event include the selection of the Rising Star award, which went to Jennifer Lawrence and Anna Kendrick in the past two years, respectively. Could Spencer’s “Help” co-star Jessica Chastain get her moment with that award?

Watch: Oscar hopefuls Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara and more dramatize classic cinematic villains for NY Times

December 7, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images, Videos Leave a comment

Like they did last year, the New York Times Magazine have gathered together some of “the best performers from the year in film” to act out short sequences for their cameras. This year, the theme is villainy, and each Oscar hopeful – from Ryan Gosling to Rooney Mara to Mia Wasikowska to Jessica Chastain and more – portrays a classic villain from cinema history. It’s pretty spectacular, so go here to watch now!

Don’t get all the references? Yeah, I didn’t either. Thankfully The NY Times were kind enough to list list all the references for us slightly less knowledgeable film buffs. There is also a slideshow of still photographs from the villainous shoot.

The full list of actors include:

Jessica Chastain, The Tree of Life, The Help, Take Shelter
George Clooney, The Descendents, The Ides of March
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love, Drive, The Ides of March
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Adepero Oduye, Pariah
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life, Moneyball
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter
Mia Wasikowska, Albert Nobbs, Jane Eyre, Restless

Bradley Cooper likely to be “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”

October 21, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

I think we all could have made a lot of money betting on Bradley Cooper to end up as the top choice for any number of high profile projects seeking a star. He’s proving to be continually in demand once again as Variety reports Steven Soderbergh has identified Cooper as his top choice to take one of two male leads of his “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” reboot. Cooper is being positioned for the role of Napoleon Solo, originally bookmarked for George Clooney, who had to drop out due to an injury. The Next George Clooney? Something tells us Cooper is well on his way.

There is no official offer just yet, but once a deal is on the table, it’s likely to happen because Cooper’s agents have worked hard from their end to position him for the part. Last we heard in September, Soderbergh and the studio were whittling down their wishlist of names to take on the Solo role and that of his sidekick, the young Russian secret agent Illya Kuryakin, with names that included Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Alexander Skarsgard and Ryan Gosling. The film will be a buddy cop comedy in the vein of “Lethal Weapon set in the 1960s, following the two agents who work for a top secret government agency called U.N.C.L.E., standing for United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.

Last seen on screen reprising his most famous role in “The Hangover Part II”, Cooper recently wrapped thriller “The Words” opposite Zoe Saldana Derek Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond the Pines” opposite Ryan Gosling. He’s currently filming “The Silver Linings Playbook” opposite Jennifer Lawrence for director David O. Russell and will then segue immediately into 3D battle epic “Paradise Lost”. That will wrap in March, which is when Soderbergh plans to begin shooting “U.N.C.L.E.” Looks like Cooper will be all tied up for the foreseeable future. Sigh of relief, every other young actor trying to snag a big role!

Ryan Gosling, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Alexander Skarsgard top “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” wishlist

September 15, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

George Clooney won’t be “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” but could it be a hot rising star like Ryan Gosling, Joseph Gordon Levitt or Alexander Skarsgard instead? The Wrap reports Warner Bros is looking at a wish list of about 20 names of leading men in their 20s – the aforementioned three being no brainers – who could take one of the two lead roles in the new remake of the classic 1960s comedy spy series. The big screen adaptation is being conceptualized as a sort of buddy cop picture in the vein of “Lethal Weapon” and will be set in the 60s.

Steven Soderbergh is directing the big budget, high priority project for the studio, which revolves around two secret agents – American Napoleon Solo and Russian Illya Kuryakin – who work for a top secret government agency called U.N.C.L.E., standing for United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. Clooney had been attached to Solo, and the studio would presumably pursue someone of equal caliber and star power, while the younger actor is being sought for Kuryakin. This report is obviously very premature and has absolutely no bearing on who might eventually end up with the role, but we think these shortlist and wishlist stories are fun regardless.

Gordon Levitt, having gotten his start on sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun” and teen comedies like “10 Things I Hate About You”, is the most experienced comedic actor of the three. Skarsgard, of “True Blood”, this weekend’s “Straw Dogs” and next summer’s “Battleship”, is obviously known more for serious, brooding characters, but that certainly doesn’t mean he can’t do comedy. “The Notebook” star Gosling had a similar image before he charmed the pants off of audiences in his recent comedic turn in “Crazy, Stupid Love.” All three men were in Toronto over the past week promoting movies; Gosling toplines Clooney-directed political thriller “The Ides of March”, Gordon Levitt the real-life cancer dramedy “50/50″ and Skarsgard in Lars Von Trier’s end of the world drama “Melancholia”.

Watch: New Clip of Shailene Woodley and George Clooney in “The Descendants”

September 14, 2011 | Posted by Seana Cole in Videos Leave a comment

Shailene Woodley and George Clooney share a conversation in this newly released clip of “The Descendants”.

Also starring Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Beau Bridges, the film centers around Matt King (Clooney) “an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family’s land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.”

The film was recently shown at the Toronto International Film Festival and is set to release in select theaters on November 18, 2011.

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Watch: new clip starring break out actress Shailene Woodley in “The Descendants”

September 12, 2011 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Videos Leave a comment

One of the breakout stars of this year’s Telluride Festival, Shailene Woodley shows us why she was called a “revelation” in a new clip from The Descendants, the family tragedy/drama film starring George Clooney.

Telling the tale of a father, Matt King, (Clooney) who takes his two young daughters (Woodley and Amara Miller) on a road trip to find the man their mother has been having an affair with, The Descendants has been receiving awards buzz for both Clooney and Woodley, as well as director Alexander Payne (Oscar winning Sideways, Election)

Below the cut is the trailer for the film, and an extended clip which shows us Matt meeting Sid (Nick Krause), Alexandra’s boyfriend, for the first time. Matt plays perfectly into Alexandra’s hands, as a father who appears to have lost all control over, and respect from, his daughters.

Playing at TIFF this weekend, The Descendants hits theatres on November 18th.

Telluride Breakout: “The Descendants” star Shailene Woodley

September 6, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Features, Interviews 3 Comments

While A-List stars got gussied up in black-tie attire and posed on red carpets over in Italy at the annual splashy, high profile Venice Film Festival, a smaller, more selective group of films were quietly shown in the Colorado Mountains at the Telluride Film Festival, where low-key and secrecy reign supreme. At the conclusion of the unofficial kick-off to awards season, the best received film across the board was Alexander Payne’s long-awaited follow-up to 2004′s “Sideways”, family tragedy/drama “The Descendants.” In addition to what some are calling George Clooney’s career best performance, attention is also being paid to the young actress who more than held her own playing his eldest daughter: Shailene Woodley.

The star of ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the America Teenager” was familiar to a much different crowd than the one that’s suddenly sitting up and paying attention now after Telluride. Top movie critics are tripping over themselves to laud the young thesp with praise in what is undeniably a breakout role, as a rebellious teenager who reveals a heartbreaking secret to her father (Clooney) in the wake of her mother falling into a coma and facing the inevitability that she will most likely die.

THR calls Woodley “essential to the venture’s success… [she] transforms convincingly from a girl who is reflexively condescending toward her father to one who becomes his eager accomplice and staunchest defender.” Variety singles her out in similar fashion: “Woodley… is a revelation in the role of Alex, displaying both the edge and depth the role demands. At face value, she appears to be going through a rebellious phase, but as the story unfolds, she proves to be the strong one, wiser than she appears and potentially better equipped to deal with the tragedy at hand.” Even First Showing, one of the few to not fully love the film, calls Woodley one of the two best performances, the other not being Clooney but, surprisingly, Matthew Lillard, who shows up in a supporting role later on. Zoinks!

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