Christopher Hampton Adapting Atonement by Jay S. Jacobs When adapting a complex novel like Ian McEwan’s best-seller Atonement, it was important to find a screenwriter who could do justice to the epic scope and passions on the pages of the book. It made sense to give the job to a writer who has specialized in adaptations, … Continue reading
ATONEMENT (2007) Starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan, Vanessa Redgrave, Brenda Blethyn, Juno Temple, Michelle Duncan, Gina McKee, Harriet Walters and Anthony Minghella. Screenplay by Christopher Hampton. Directed by Joe Wright. Distributed by Focus Features. 123 minutes. Rated R. When a film has a title like Atonement, you’re probably not in for an uplifting … Continue reading
INTO THE WILD (2007) Starring Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Brian Dierker, Vince Vaughn, Zach Galiafinakis, Kristen Stewart and Hal Holbrook. Screenplay by Sean Penn. Directed by Sean Penn. Distributed by Paramount Vantage. 140 minutes. Rated R. I suspect that there will be two very polar opposite kinds of reactions … Continue reading
Dustin Hoffman Makes a Magical Turn by Brad Balfour Dustin Hoffman’s work has been on the American cinematic landscape for so long that you could call him an icon without blinking. Perusing the list of benchmark films Hoffman has been in — from his early films such as The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, and Little Big … Continue reading
Ang Lee Expresses Lust with Little Caution by Brad Balfour Sexually provocative and fraught with violence, Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution [Sie, Jie] powerfully explores the story of a young woman who uses her sexuality to gain the trust of a high-powered Chinese official – a high-ranking collaborator with the ruthless Japanese occupiers during the 1940s. Played by … Continue reading
VIGGO MORTENSEN MAKES HIS EASTERN PROMISES by Brad Balfour It’s entirely understandable why director David Cronenberg has recently cast Viggo Mortensen as his lead in two complementary but very different films (2005’s excellent A History of Violence and the new Eastern Promises). Mortensen inhabits these characters and the characters inhabit him. It is said that when he played Aragorn in Lord … Continue reading
SICKO (2007) Featuring Michael Moore, Reggie Cervantes, John Graham, William Maher, Linda Peeno, Tony Benn, Richard M. Nixon, Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush. Screenplay by Michael Moore. Directed by Michael Moore. Distributed by Lionsgate Films and The Weinstein Company. 123 minutes. Rated PG-13. Michael Moore – non-partisan? Is that possible? Could this finally be … Continue reading
TRUE GRIT (1969) Starring John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Jeremy Slate, Robert Duvall, Strother Martin, Alfred Ryder, Jeff Corey, Ron Soble, John Fiedler, James Westerfield and Dennis Hopper. Screenplay by Marguerite Roberts. Directed by Henry Hathaway. Distributed by Paramount Pictures. 127 minutes. Rated G. When you are of a certain age, there are only … Continue reading
Mickey Rooney – Night Watchman by Jay S. Jacobs Copyright ©2007 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Originally Posted: April 27, 2007. It is not every day in which you get to speak with a living legend. Just don’t tell Mickey Rooney that he is legendary. He simply considers himself a guy who had the good fortune to work regularly for … Continue reading
MARTIN SCORSESE, LEONARDO DiCAPRIO, MATT DAMON, VERA FARMIGA AND WILLIAM MONAHAN MEETING WITH MARTIN AND THE DEPARTED BY BRAD BALFOUR The following documents two 40-minute press conference sessions merged together that tell the tale about Martin Scorsese’s latest elaborate feature, The Departed, one that finally has garnered him the top Oscar awards – Best Director and … Continue reading
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