Faces to Watch: Oscar 2012 Edition, from Jennifer Lawrence to the young cast of “Les Miserables”

December 10, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards, Features Leave a comment

It’s almost that time of year again, when young actors who are lucky enough to be recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences see a drastic rise in their profiles and the movie offers come flooding in. But first, you have to get nominated. With critics awards already underway and the SAG and Golden Globe nominations both coming this week (!!), now is the perfect time to check in on the dozens of young actors who are vying for just a few spots come Oscar nomination time on January 15th.

From likely winners to maybe-nominees to long shots that deserve some more attention (in descending order), we assess the chances of up and coming actors in each acting category below.

Start Here: Best Actress >>

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NBR awards Bradley Cooper, Jessica Chastain, Quvenzhané Wallis, Tom Holland and the cast of “Les Misérables”

December 5, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards Leave a comment

Bradley Cooper has been named Best Actor by the National Board of Review for his performance in “Silver Lings Playbook”, while Jessica Chastain has won Best Actress for “Zero Dark Thirty”, which also took home the top honor of Best Picture. Supporting acting honors went to Leonardo Dicaprio for “Django Unchained” and Ann Dowd for “Compliance.” The cast of “Les Miserables” – Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks et al – will share the Best Ensemble award, though none were awarded individually.

Over in the Breakthrough acting categories, NBR gave Breakthrough Actress to expected Oscar nominee Quvenzhane Wallis for her performance as Hushpuppy in “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, which was also awarded Best Directorial Debut for Benh Zeitlin. Breakthrough Actor goes to Tom Holland, the young British star of tsunami disaster pic “The Impossible.” Holland is a much longer shot for an Oscar nom, though he is being pushed for the Lead Actor category.

NBR’s Top 10 Films after “Zero Dark Thirty” are, in alphabetical order: “Argo”, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, “Django Unchained”, “Les Miserables”, “Lincoln”, “Looper”, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, “Promised Land” and “Silver Linings Playbook”

The full list of winners are below.

Watch: Jessica Chastain leads the hunt for Osama Bin Laden in new trailer for Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty”

October 11, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos 1 Comment

After an initial teaser trailer that was as mysterious as the mission itself, we finally have a full-length trailer for Kathryn Bigelow’s Osama Bin Laden thriller “Zero Dark Thirty”, and there’s plenty more exposition contained here. For one thing, it’s great to see Jessica Chastain taking prominence, as the analyst who uncovered the intelligence that ultimately led to the raid on Bin Laden’s compound by Navy SEAL Team Six, which in the film will be played by the likes of Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke and Chris Pratt.

The parting shot of the SEALs through night vision goggles approaching Bin Laden’s compound was nothing short of heart-pounding, but I must say, it’s a relief to see just as much emphasis placed on the intelligence research that made it possible for President Obama to ultimately give the order for the SEALs to carry out the mission. In order to not sway the Presidential Election in any way – but to sway Oscar voters big time – “Zero Dark Thirty” will be released on December 19th. Watch the first trailer below.

First trailer and images for Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty” starring Joel Edgerton and Jessica Chastain

August 6, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images, Videos 1 Comment

Kathryn Bigelow has been deep in development and production on her first film since winning the Best Picture Oscar for 2009′s “The Hurt Locker”, and today the teaser trailer for Osama Bin Laden thriller “Zero Dark Thirty” has been unveiled. The film, like the mission itself, has been shrouded in controversy and secrecy, with a cast led by Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain and Kyle Chandler. As for the mysterious and slightly confusing title, Bigelow tells EW, “It’s a military term for 30 minutes after midnight, and it refers also to the darkness and secrecy that cloaked the entire decade long mission.”

From first impressions, the film seems much sleeker than “The Hurt Locker”, though surely the final product will see more of Bigelow’s signature grit and intensity. “Zero Dark Thirty” has been set for a post-Presidential election and Oscar-friendly December 19th release. The first trailer and a couple of images can be viewed below, be sure to head over to EW for much more in-depth coverage on the film.

“Janis” star Nina Arianda takes Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy through therapy in “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby”

July 12, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting Leave a comment

Nina Arianda is a name to keep your eyes on.

Two days after landing a big break playing legendary folk singer Janis Joplin in a biopic entitled “Janis” and to be directed by “Martha Marcy May Marlene” helmer Sean Durkin, the recent Tony award-winning actress has signed on to star alongside Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy in “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby“.

“The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” is a two part film, “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Hers” and “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His“. The two films tells the same story but from differing points of view, chronicling the troubled relationship of a wife (Chastain) who has recently decided to go back to college, and her husband (McAvoy), a restauranteur. Showbiz411 reports that Arianda is set to play their therapist.

Ned Benson is making his directorial debut on the two films, as well as penning the scripts.

Arianda made her big screen debut in 2011 in “Win Win” and “Higher Ground”, both of which premiered at Sundance. She also had a supporting performance as Michael Sheen’s wife in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” but “Janis” marks her first leading role.

Watch: second trailer for John Hillcoat’s violent “Lawless” starring Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf

July 10, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Videos Leave a comment

John Hillcoat‘s “Lawless” was one of our favorite Cannes films, a vivid and violent film, but also a fun, genuine pleasure to watch.

Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke and LaBeouf star as the Bondurant boys, three brothers raising hell in Prohibition era Virgina. Based on a true story and adapted from Matt Bondurant’s ‘The Wettest County in the World”, when the boys get into the business of bootlegging, they run into some nefarious gangster foes including Guy Pearce and an especially sinister Gary Oldman. And they’ve got girl problems too, coming in the forms of Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain.

Gearing up for a late August release, a second official trailer has been released this past weekend, showcasing to audiences more of the violence that was seen in the first trailer, but also focusing a little more on Shia LaBeouf and Mia Wasikowska’s relationship.

You can catch the trailer below the cut and let us know what you think of the film when it is released in the US on August 29th.

New Academy members include Jessica Chastain, Jonah Hill, Berenice Bejo and more

June 29, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards, Lists Leave a comment

Another year, another opportunity for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – so often called stodgy, old and conservative – to get some fresh new blood. Every year, around 150-200 new “artists and executives” in the industry are invited to become members. Last year’s new members included recent nominees Jesse Eisenebrg, Rooney Mara and Jennifer Lawrence, as well as Mila Kunis, Anthony Mackie and Mia Wasikowska, and this year’s list is similarly filled with some of our favorite up and comers and recent breakout stars. Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer, both Oscar nominated for “The Help” last year, have invites, as do “The Artist” duo Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. Comedians and Oscar nominees Jonah Hill and Melissa McCarthy are new Academy members as well, and will help determine the nominees and winners of all future Academy Awards, starting in 2013.

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 176 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy’s roster of members.

“These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “I’m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member.”

Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.

The 2012 invitees are:

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James McAvoy replaces Joel Edgerton, joins Jessica Chastain in “Disappearance” double-feature

May 22, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Looks like Joel Edgerton is getting to be the kind of busy that forces him to drop out of projects from time to time. The first victim: A reunion with “Zero Dark Thrity” co-star Jessica Chastain in double feature “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him” and “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her.” Edgerton’s role will now be played by British actor James McAvoy. A disappointing turn of events as Edgerton and Chastain were an exciting pairing, but McAvoy is certainly a worthy replacement.

Ned Benson wrote both scripts and will direct both films, which follow the point of views of the husband, a restauranteur, in one and the wife, who recently decided to go back to college, in the other. Each fill will be a stand-alone feature, with filming set to begin in July.

McAvoy was last seen on the big screen as the telepathic Professor Xavier in “X-Men: First Class” and recently wrapped up on British films “Filth”, “Welcome to the Punch” and Danny Boyle’s “Trance.”

Cannes REVIEW: John Hillcoat’s vivid and violent “Lawless” is a genuine pleasure to watch

May 21, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Reviews 3 Comments

John Hillcoat’s “Lawless”, an adaptation of Matt Bondurant’s ‘The Wettest County in the World’ is a vivid but violent film that tells the tale of three Bondurant brothers in Franklin, Virginia during the prohibiton era of the 1930s. Star Shia LaBeouf called it “messy, dirty, realistic … that’s the way Hillcoat does his violence”, and this will certainly be one of the bloodiest films you’ll see all year.

Based on a true story, the film follows Howard Bondurant (Jason Clarke), who returned from the Great War affected by what he had seen, middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) who believes his own invincibility after surviving Spanish Flu, and the youngest Jack (LaBeouf), a sensitive but smart young man who desperately wants to be as brave as he believes his brothers are. The Bondurants have built a thriving business in the area selling their Moonshine but their fraternal bond is soon complicated by the arrival of corrupt Special Deputy Charlie Rakes (played by the deliciously evil Guy Pearce) and two young women, Maggie (Jessica Chastain) who has a secret past and catches the eye of guarded Forrest, and pious Bertha (Mia Wasikowska) whom Jack wants to court; and also by Jack’s decision to start his own bootlegging operation with best friend Cricket (Dane DeHann).

Rebecca Hall to replace Jessica Chastain in “Iron Man 3″

May 8, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

As we all slowly try to get used to the fact that Jessica Chastain will not be joining the cast of “Iron Man 3″, here’s some news that might alleviate some of that disappointment. Variety reports British actress Rebecca Hall is now in talks for the role that Chastain had been circling opposite returning actors Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle, as well as fellow newbie Guy Pearce.

The film is said to be based on Warren Ellis’ “Extremis” storyline from the Marvel comics, and Hall may very well be playing Maya Hansen, a colleague of Pearce’s geneticist Aldrich Killian’s, with whom she develops the Extremis virus, which forces the human brain to rewire itself into something stronger. The scientists hope to send it to the US military, but it falls into the hands of terrorists instead and Hansen teams up with Stark to stop it. Shane Black begins directing the second sequel to 2008′s “Iron Man” and the first followup to “The Avengers” this month, with a release date already set for May 3, 2013.

This marks the highest profile get for Hall, who has earned raves for roles in awards contender dramas like “Frost/Nixon” and Ben Affleck’s “The Town” and was recently seen opposite Dominic West in ghost story “The Awakening.” She recently appeared in Sundance premiere and Weinstein Company pick-up “Lay the Favorite” and is currently wrapping up John Crowley’s untitled thriller opposite Eric Bana.

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