Trailer review - On the Road.

The much awaited adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s classic is coming soon and is brought to the screen by director Walter Salles. An interesting choice - the director of Central Station is familiar both with adaptations and road movies, one of his last critically acclaimed films being Motorcycle Diaries. This should draw the attention of the same public. One might even say that the filmmaker and the writer share common themes; loss and self-discovery through a meaningful travel experience.

It would take a great director to visually render the spirit of the book, its slice of truth and fleeting madness, the complexity of the characters, their fast-paced and constant wanderings and their destructive self-searching. To find the essence of Jack Kerouac’s spontaneous prose and at the same time emancipate the film from the literary masterpiece seems like a great challenge. But if we judge it by the trailer, we do recognize Walter Salles’ unique style. The film should prove interesting both as an adaptation and, independently, as a film in the artistic continuity of this director’s body of work.

For those who have read the novel (and if you haven’t, I strongly urge you to!), you know that the book certainly had "it", the question is: does the film have "it" too? 

We will find out on May 23rd!

In the meantime, let us quote one of the most striking sentences of the novel which is also to be found in the trailer... and I’m glad it is!

"... the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..." 

Enjoy, and Viddy Well.

E. D.

Prometheus Unveiled

The International trailer for Prometheus by Ridley Scott is finally here! It reveals a great deal of this highly anticipated film. The trailer is nicely done: visually sensational, it leaves us craving for more!

A team of explorers leaves earth on a ship called Prometheus to look for the origins of mankind. "How far would you go to get your answers?" asks David (Michael Fassbender). And from what we see in the trailer, they're meaning to go pretty far. The title explains it perfectly: curiosity will be mankind's ruin just like it was for Prometheus himself.  For stealing godly fire, Prometheus was doubly punished: Zeus sent Pandora and her box to carry out diseases among men and chained Prometheus to a rock, where he was condemned to have his liver eaten by an eagle for all eternity.

On the Prometheus vessel too, punishment is delivered: "Get it out of me!" screams Noomi Rapace, writhing in pain, as if something was indeed eating her insides. So be warned (and thrilled!), this looks terrifying. Not to mention the extraordinary cast that Sir Ridley Scott has assembled: Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce. It's going to be hard to wait for another month!

Enjoy and Viddy Well!



Oh, and also, Damon Lindelof (the genius to whom we owe Lost) wrote the script...
E.C

The News

Rooney Mara during
the filming of The Bitter Pill

Looks like nothing can stop Rooney Mara from becoming the most interesting actress around! On top of replacing Carey Mulligan in Spike Jonze's next film, the actress will star in Brooklyn, (adapted from Colm Toibin's novel), in which she'll play an Irish immigrant arriving to New York in the 1950s, as well as in Ain't Them Bodies Saints, which already stars Casey Affleck and Ben Foster. Written and directed by David Lowery, the film takes place in the 1970s and tells the story of an outlaw who, after escaping from prison, tries to reunite with his wife and daughter. Mara is having a very busy year: she's already shooting Steven Soderbergh's The Bitter Pill, and will star in one of the many projects of Terrence Malick. The project used to be known as Lawless but is now untitled as Malick graciously let John Hillcoat get the title for his own film (which will be at the Cannes Film Festival). So we can all agree that Rooney is definitely the actress to watch.

Meanwhile, Rooney's sister, Kate Mara, will star in Charlie McDowell's (son of Malcom McDowell) first feature film, Fighting Jacob. Jamie Bell stars as boxer Jacob Rosenthal, who after being left by his girlfriend (Mara) is forced to take a closer look at his life.

Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book is coming to the screen. Disney has just hired Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) to helm the adaptation. The children's book is about a young orphan raised by ghosts in a graveyard. Too bad Tim Burton isn't on board as well! (though I'm sure that Selick will do a great job).

That's it for today! Have a very viddy day!

E.C

THE MUSICAL POST - "Top Hat"

Today's musical post is from Top Hat (1935), directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Ginger Rogers and the man who simply reeked with class: Fred Astaire!

This is perhaps the most famous bit of the movie, "Top hat, white tie and tails" was written by Irving Berlin, who later wrote the lyrics for Annie Get Your Gun (1950).

Enjoy watching how he makes tap dancing look so easy...

Viddy Well,

E.D.

Today's news

Here they are at last! The first images of Quentin Tarantino's next movie "DJANGO UNCHAINED" have been released today. 

Sadly, we only get two appetizers of this much-awaited-for western à la Tarantino.

Total Film reveals "Schultz (Christopher Waltz) is a former dentist turned bounty hunter who equips Django (Jamie Foxx) with the skills to rescue his wife from plantation owner Calvin Candie (DiCaprio), who is keeping her as a slave at his Candie Land brothel".

Looking good, gentlemen! We're looking forward to it!

The movie will be released for Christmas in the US.

On January 16th, 2013 in France and on January 18th in the UK.

NEXT: Rooney Mara is to replace Carey Mulligan on the next Spike Jones movie. Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix are already part of the cast.

After Coriolanus, Ralph Fiennes just started to direct his second film The Invisible Woman. The actor and director is to play Charles Dickens and will be reunited with his partner on The English Patient, Kristin Scott Thomas. Felicity Jones is also part of the cast.

Abi Morgan, writer of The Iron Lady, Shame and the BBC series "The Hour", is the author of the script.

That's it for today!

Viddy well,

E.D.

AIRPORT ROMANCE

It hit me while I was watching a movie about love, actually. Have you ever noticed how an incredible amount of post-80‘s romantic comedies include, at some point, an airport romance scene?

With several tales of love at first sight, or love at second sight, awkward apologies followed by last-minute love declarations and sincere proposals before planes take off: this can’t be denied, there is something of an airport mystery in the air...

The sharpest among us can detect it creeping into the plot before the second half of the movie: a promotion in sight? Thinking of moving to another city? Dreams of travelling? You don’t live in the same city as your potential loved one? Say no more: here comes the airport scene. A-list actress, start packing your Prada suitcase, you are about to meet the man of your dreams... 

What about you, viewer? 

Are your expectations of romance slightly heightened when you are in an airport? Are you more alert once you pass the security gates, while you wait in the boarding room, scrutizing your fellow flying companions? Do you secretely hope a handsome stranger will sit next to you on the plane, only to be oddly disappointed when an old lady takes place beside you? Very much like what Kate Winslet experiences in The Holiday (2004) in fact.

I believe all of us have, at some point or another, had an airport fantasy of the sort. And there is no need to blush at such unrealistic daydreams when a whole generation of screenwriters has been shaping our expectations of romance. 

Here are a few examples:

You can find it at the beginning of movies, in Sleepless in Seattle (1993) for instance, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan cross each other’s paths but will not actually meet until the end.

In When Harry Meets Sally (1989): The second time they chance upon each other is on a plane, followed by a scene where Billy Crystal stalks Meg Ryan across the airport.

Jerry Maguire (1996)! Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger meet in an aiport.

You can also, and mostly find it at the end, in a final outburst of passion and rekindled flames, like in Garden State (2004). Or Love, Actually (2003), the movie opens and closes at the airport, with a tiny meant-to-be endearing version of a grown-up love declaration: a kid kisses his school sweatheart goodbye after flying through security (aah! The motion pictures... Have they actually tried to take a long distance flight after 9/11?)

Fans of Friends will also recall the last season where Ross rushes to the airport to stop Rachel from moving to Paris...

But surely the winner is the box office King himself, Steven Spielberg, who sets his entire movie The Terminal (2004) - as the title indicates - in an airport. Because why just put one airport romance scene when we can make it all happen in there?

So what is it about airports? The sense of adventure it provides? A feeling of taking off to the unknown? People from all over the world united in a small microcosm? 

In a more existential note perhaps, it reminds us of the importance of travel in finding the self, which can also be found in our relationships with others.

For my part, and in all seriousness, I have one theory. I sincerely blame it on Casablanca. 1942 gave light to a masterpiece that was to be remembered by following directors and screenwriters as one of the most beautiful love stories on screen. Are screenwriters unconsciously and eternally trying to rewrite happy airport endings to make up for the sad ending of the classic?

Are these recurrent airport romance scenes a way for them to exort the demons of their artistic youth? 

The truth, I am afraid, will never be known, and aiport romance remains a box-office winner mystery. But let me just say this, *SPOILER ALERT*....

there is a reason why Ingrid Bergman leaves in the end: it makes it a better movie. 

Viddy well, 

E.D.

P.S.: There is also such a thing as "Train romance", but let's keep it for another post!

Jury for the 65th Cannes Film Festival

The Jury for the 65th Cannes Film Festival has just been announced:

Hiam ABBASS (actress, director)
Andrea ARNOLD (director and screenwriter)
Emmanuelle DEVOS (French actress)
Diane KRUGER (German actress)

Jean Paul GAULTIER (designer)
Ewan MC GREGOR (actor)
Alexander PAYNE (director, screenwriter and producer)
Raoul PECK (director, screenwriter and producer)


The president of the jury will be actor, writer and producer Nanni Moretti.
With such a selection of films and this jury, this year's festival should prove very interesting! We are looking forward to it.


E.D.

CLASSIC OF THE WEEK

Welcome to Viddy Well’s first Classic of the Week!

Every week, we will talk about a classic film we have seen and share our love for old cinema.


Of all the films I’ve watched growing up, The Adventures of Robin Hood is the one I’ve seen the most. I know by heart every single line and every single shot. Directed by the great Michael Curtiz, The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) had a rocky shooting. Half of the film was actually shot by William Keighley but the director was fired when the producers felt that he was being too cautious with his use of Technicolor and that he didn’t get the best out of the action scenes. Curtiz then took the helm and, as always, did a wonderful job. However, his relationship with the two main actors, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland was not so smooth. The two actors hated Curtiz who was a “tyrant” to them, often cruel and despising. None of this can be felt when you see the actual film. Robin Hood is the emblem of what Warner Bros did best in those years: a great epic adventure movie.

My passion for this film comes from the great entertainment it provides, from the magnificent use of Technicolor, the humor of the script and the sweet love story between Robin and Maid Marian. It also stems from my love for Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. The couple starred in eight films together, all very entertaining and some truly beautiful (Dodge City, Captain Blood, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex). But Robin Hood remains their masterpiece.

The glint there is in Flynn’s eyes is something few actors have: seductive, brooding, sensitive and, most of the time, mischievous. That mixture is seen best towards the end of the film, when Robin is arrested and sentenced to death. With a few wounds on his face, Robin keeps his cool when facing Gisbourne (a terrific Basil Rathbone) and continues to challenge him with his ironical remarks. But through his defiance, we can see that Robin is prepared to die. The costume in that scene is cleverly chosen: dark colors to contrast with his usual (and very fitting!) green tights and a red hood, to emphasize his vulnerability.

His first appearance in the film will remain as one of the greatest appearances ever made by a character. All the qualities of Flynn’s acting and persona can been seen at work. His childish play and irony with Prince John, his self-confidence, and of course his frown as he handles his sword. 

The couple he forms with Olivia de Havilland is also quite dashing. Havilland succeeds in giving Marian some character - a difficult task since women in adventure movies were usually considered as props. Her spectacular costumes make her look very attractive and her strong personality creates a Marian who is determined to listen to her conscience. The balcony scene conveys the sensuality of both actors and is, in my opinion, the best love scene Curtiz will ever make in his career.

Let me mention in passing a few characters who add humor to the story: Will Scarlett, the bard, always playing his banjo and laughing his heart out, Little John, who famously throws Robin into the pond, and Friar Tuck, with his legendary appetite. I also take my hat off to the villains, Prince John (Claude Rains) and Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone).

So, if you haven’t seen it, watch Robin Hood and if you already have, watch it again! You won’t regret it.

Viddy Well and see you next week for another Classic to watch!

E.C

Lindsay Lohan as Liz Taylor: Are you kidding me???

It has been announced that Lindsay Lohan will play Elizabeth Taylor on television. Lifetime is preparing a biopic of the actress, centered on her romance with actor Richard Burton. This is one of the most ridiculous choices of casting ever! Lindsay Lohan, who was once good at acting, has now become more famous for her lifestyle than her work. Though she used to be a pretty girl, she has now become a product of plastic surgery. How could she ever play the great Liz Taylor?

Lindsay Lohan 

Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Elizabeth Taylor remains as the greatest actress ever, in my opinion. Her career is filled with masterpieces: A Place in the Sun, Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cleopatra, Reflections in a Golden Eye, The Sandpiper, Ivanhoe.... and so many others. Every picture showed a different side of her. Her characters were at once filled with strength and extremely sensitive. Lohan looks and sounds nothing like her. Though she certainly has talent, Lohan could never come close to the grandeur of Taylor's acting. 

Furthermore, the Dick and Liz relationship is now mythical. To portray in all fairness what their relationship was would call for a great director. It was rumored that Martin Scorsese was planning to adapt Furious Love, by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. Now that looks like a more serious and honorable project. Although my one reservation is that I see no one able to incarnate such a woman. Physically, it is impossible to find someone as incredibly beautiful as she was. As for her character, it will demand a damn good actress in order to render all the layers of that complex personality. I don't even want to think about who Lifetime will cast for Richard Burton... 

Let's hope that Martin Scorsese, if he ends up making a film of Furious Love, will make good and smart choices. In the meantime, I remain completely abashed at this casting announcement.

Viddy Well my friends!

E.C

Today's News

Looks like Guy Pearce's career is back on tracks! The actor will be joining the cast of Iron Man 3. According to Variety, Pearce will play Aldrich Killian, a geneticist. Ben Kingsley is also apparently in talks to be the movie's villain. I'm not much of a comic book fan (Batman is the only one I love), so that's all the info I can give you!

And the Games continue! Out with Gary Ross, In with Francis Lawrence! The I Am Legend director has been offered the chance to direct The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. The studio plans a release in 2013. Filming should start this summer as Hunger Games' star Jennifer Lawrence is attached to star in the X-Men: First Class sequel, which will start filming in January. That's too many sequels for me to bear!








Has my wish been fulfilled? Penelope Cruz is rumored to be in talks for a part in Ridley Scott's The Counselor! Her partner, Javier Bardem, is already cast. Written by Cormac McCarthy, the story follows a lawyer (Michael Fassbender) who gets involved in the drug business. Will Cruz play the femme fatale or Laura, the lawyer's fiancée? Other members of the prestigious cast include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The film should start shooting in June.

Could we be more excited? Matthew Perry's new sitcom Go On has just been picked up by NBC. The comedy will follow the story of a sportscaster, who after suffering a loss, finds comfort in group-therapy. Perry has been seen on The Good Wife lately. I was hoping that he would become a series regular, but with his new show being given the green light, it looks like it won't happen! I hope this time the show will survive. None of Perry's TV shows after Friends worked out (Studio 60 and Mr. Sunshine).



Viddy Well!

E.C

THE MUSICAL POST

Today's musical post is from Vincente Minnelli's masterpiece, Meet Me in St. Louis (1944). Judy Garland stars and gets to sing one of the greatest songs in her career. It's also a very cheerful song, so I thought it would be a nice way to start the day!

Enjoy and Viddy Well!

E.C

HIGHLIGHT ON PORTUGUESE CINEMA

Last February, the Academy Awards vastly celebrated the critically acclaimed French film «The Artist» directed by Michel Hazanavicius, which had already made itself noticed at the previous Cannes Film Festival.

Almost simultaneously, at the Berlin Film Festival this time, another partly silent film received a much quieter yet welcome greeting, with what felt like the rightly granted Alfred Bauer Prize and the FIPRESCI international Critics Award. The film is «Tabu» by Miguel Gomes, who previously directed «Our Beloved Month of August». Portuguese cinema is too rarely on the spotlight to make itself unoticed: Adopt Films already bought the US rights to the Berlin hit. With this prize came a second one: Portuguese short-film «Rafa» directed by João Salaviza also won an award.

A victory in many regards since Portuguese cinema took a severe blow at the beginning of the year: while drastic governmental measures were taken that led to budget cuts and the suppression of grants for the advancement of arts and culture, all national film production was postponed. The national Institute for film and television (ICA) froze all financial aid. It was with awe that the news spread among Portuguese artists, producers and technicians. The future of Portuguese cinema was to say the least - critical. Many were waiting for the governement to decide on a new law that was to be announced in February. In the meantime, «Tabu» won the prize, easing the tensions, and coming as both a mild relief and as an encouragement for Portuguese artists to keep hoping for less precarious times to come. A flicker of light at the end of the tunnel that was mantained when the new law came out stating that television channels are now to invest further in cinema. This decision came much later than in most of Portugal’s fellow European countries and the percentage of investment unfortunately remains still very low. A bittersweet resolution that feeds uncertainties - national film contests for grants for the year 2012 are still absent from the ICA website. With the current system of production, it seems fundraising is a slow, not-so-well-cogged, machine.

As for the film, release dates worldwide remain unsure. In France, the film will not be released before December 2012. I do urge you all to do one simple thing then, go to the movies! As this year’s Berlin Film Festival was here to prove, Portuguese cinema has stories left to be seen, and much more yet to tell.

To be continued...

E.D.


O Som e a Fúria productions present:

FESTIVAL DE CANNES 2012

Voici de bonnes nouvelles ce matin ! La sélection officielle du Festival de Cannes vient d'être dévoilée ! Je suis bien contente de voir autant de noms attendus (Cronenberg, Audiard, Hillcoat, Dominik, Haneke...) et aussi déçue de voir que les films de Paul Thomas Anderson et James Gray n'ont pas été terminés à temps... Enfin, cela promet d'être un beau festival ! Bérénice Béjo sera la maîtresse de cérémonie. Et le dernier film de Claude Miller, Thérèse Desqueyroux, terminé juste avant sa mort, fera la clôture du festival.

Compétition officielle:

Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson
De rouille et d'os, Jacques Audiard
Vous n'avez encore rien vu, Alain Resnais
Holy Motors, Leos Carax
Cosmopolis, David Cronenberg
The Paperboy, Lee Daniels
Killing Them Softly, Andrew Dominik
Reality, Matteo Garrone
Amour, Michael Haneke
Lawless, John Hillcoat
In Another Country, Hong Sang-soo
Taste of Money, Im Sangsoo
Like Someone in Love, Abbas Kiarostami
The Angels' Share, Ken Loach
Beyond the Hills, Cristian Mungiu
Baad El Mawkeaa (Après la bataille), Yousry Nasrallah
Mud, Jeff Nichols
Post Tenebras Lux, Carlos Reygadas
On the Road, Walter Salles
Paradies: Liebe, Ulrich Seidl
Jagten (The Hunt), Thomas Vinterberg
Im Nebel, Sergei Loznitsa


E.C

Titanic (2012) ITV mini-series

If you have lived in a cave for the past fifteen years, you might never have heard of the Titanic. According to some recent tweeting activity, some people out there just found out the Titanic actually existed (see scary proof below).

For the centennial of the tragic event however, you got the chance to catch up on what happened then. From James Cameron’s new 3D release of his classic, to TV retrospectives and documentaries, I believe most of us now have a global or thorough knowledge of the drama. As E.C.’s numbers are here to prove in yesterday’s news, James Cameron new 3D release is a success, and if he was ever short on cash, he should now be able to go on many other dives to the bottom of the ocean.

From March 25th to April 15th, British Channel ITV1 released a mini-series in four episodes written by the man of the moment: Julian Fellowes - better known for having written the critically acclaimed Downton Abbey.

Remember how the first episode of Downton Abbey started with Lord Robert Crawley reading the newspaper and discovering with fright that the heir to his estate was aboard the Titanic? Julian Fellowes seemed like the current obvious choice for the British industry to complete such an ambitious project.

As both a Downton Abbey and James Cameron fan, it was with some delight mixed with apprehension that I started watching the «new adaptation» of the event. And even though James Cameron does not hold the rights to the tragedy, I did feel like I was betraying the 1997 version as I started watching the first episode of the 2012 series. 

«How can this top or even come close to the movie?», I thought. Well, it doesn’t.

But that’s not the point. The production means are not the same, and the format is not the same. James Cameron’s original version was cut down to 3h14 of romance, ice smelling and horrific deaths. And so he did brilliantly in terms of structure and rhythm. On the whole, Julian Fellowes’ version only has 45 mins more of fiction. But he did have one disadvantage: his story had to be broken down into four parts, and keep the viewer watching the next episode. He turned this into something positive by changing the form of narration, hats off to the smart screenwriting trick! Instead of writing a linear story, each episode focusses on one character’s point of view: from the moment he/she embarks upon the Titanic to the bitter end. Not only does it build up the actual ending where all points of view converge in episode 4, but it provides us from thinking of it as a chronological plot which might have turned out familiar and predictable. The effect, however, is that we were waiting for episode 4 to be spectacular, which it unfortunately fails to be... with a rushed sentimentality in bits of dialogue and useless redundancies in action, we would have wanted to know more about these characters.

Some of them seem familiar: the Italian waiter - his resemblance with James Cameron’s Fabrizzio is not reduced to his looks. A first class girl who has a slight tendency for wild behavior... But no spoilers, you’ll see for yourself. 

There are interesting inventions: the presence of the servants’ point of view - Julian Fellowes delectable mark, tensions between catholics and protestants, new second class passengers...

A mini-series worth watching not only in terms of content, but also because it tells us something about the evolution of TV shows and series. The unit of content has changed: while episodes used to have an intrinsic value, they are now part of a whole, which makes it possible to tell stories differently, in a lengthier format - and to our delight. 

One thing is certain at last: «One hundred years later, Titanic has not been forgotten.» (Julian Fellowes) 

Viddy well my friends, and long live period drama!


E.D.

For those however who are tired of hearing of it all, this is for you:

Tweets "from people who just found out the Titanic was real" : http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/6qjs

Today's News

What a wonderful cast! Pedro Almodovar is lining up a bunch of great actors for his next film. Described as a comedy akin to Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios, the film will reunite some of Almodovar's regulars, such as Cecilia Roth (Todo sobre mi madre), Lola Duenas (Volver), Javier Camara (Hable con ella). Also cast are Raul Arevalo, Carlos Areces and Jose Maria Yazpik. The producer is counting on a 2013 release.

Steve McQueen's cast is also getting better and better. 12 Years a Slave tells the story a free black man who finds himself forced into slavery and taken to Louisiana. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt are already in. Adepero Oduye is in talks to co-star.

Alec Baldwin has declared that next season of 30 Rock will be his last season as Jack Donaghy... and also hinted that Season 7 will be the last of the show. It already seems incredible that 30 Rock has managed to last so long with ratings that were not great. Is it because she knows it's the end that Tina Fey has been so uninspired lately?

J.K Rowling has started the Harry Potter Encyclopedia !!!! (that's it)

And now, a little treat: promotion for Ridley Scott's Prometheus continues. A new viral video has just been released, showing Michael Fassbender's character, an android named David. The video managed to reconcile me with Fassbender's blond hair! (which, if you know me, is a great achievement).

That's it for today friends. Viddy Well!

E.C

Today's news

Downton Abbey fans, get ready to cry: Maggie Smith will be leaving the show after Season 3. Apparently, the actress wants to return to the stage and would like to work on the big screen again. Lady Violet will certainly die then, be prepared! I wonder if the show will survive her departure. In Season 2, most of the fun came from Maggie Smith's brilliant portrayal of the Countess and her irony came as a relief from the much too soapy storyline.

Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska will both direct segments of The Turning, an adaptation of the collection of short stories by Tim Winton. They complete the list of 15 other Australian directors. Though helmed by different directors, it looks like the segments are all connected in some way. It will be the first time directing for both actors.

Cutting Kate Winslet's nude scene in Titanic 3D didn't seem to matter much in China where the film managed to earn $58million at its opening. Internationally, the rerelease has grossed $190.9 million. Adding this to the original release, Titanic has now gone past the $2 billion mark. Sail on, Sailor!

That's it for today! Nothing very exciting I know, but let's hope that tomorrow will bring better news!
Viddy Well my friends.

E.C

THE MUSICAL POST - "Cabaret"

Welcome to the very first musical post on Viddy Well!

Each saturday will be alive with the sound of music with a new video introducing a musical film! 

Why? Because life is a Cabaret, because we like to be Singing in the Rain and make Funny Faces, these are a few of our favourite things really. So start spreading the news and just you wait for all that jazz! With a little bit of luck it won’t be long...

In fact here comes today’s video from the opening scene of Cabaret (1972), directed by Bob Fosse and starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York and Helmut Griem.

So «Willkommen» to you all and enjoy !

Viddy Well.

E.D.

Today's News

Sorry to disappoint you E.D, but Woody's next film won't be happening in Prague. The Munich and Copenhagen rumors were also wrong: Woody's coming back to the US! Apparently, the film will be shot partly in New York and the main action will take place in San Francisco! Will coming back to the US give Woody Allen back his inspiration? I guess we'll have the answer to that next year.

Now, more on one of my favorite projects, Ridley Scott's The Counselor. As I already told you, Angelina Jolie is rumored to have a small part in it. And it now appears that her soon-to-be husband, Brad Pitt, will also appear in the film!

My decision to stop watching 30 Rock has been revoked after the show announced that Donald Glover (Community's Troy) will guest star in the live episode (April 26). Glover used to be a writer for the show.

Donald Glover as Troy in Community

And finally, here's the most exciting news! Leonardo DiCaprio will star in the adaptation of Live by Night, by Dennis Lehane. The book, which will be released in October, is a sequel to Lehane's beautiful The Given Day. Apparently, the story will take place during Prohibition. I have always thought that if The Given Day were to become a film, it should be directed by James Gray with Leo in the title role. Half my wish is now fulfilled since DiCaprio will probably be playing Danny Coughlin, who was The Given Day's main character. So now we have to hope that Warner Bros. will get a good director for this project. I'd like to see Gray of course, or Martin Scorsese. He had done wonders with his adaptation of Shutter Island. In the meantime, we'll get to read Lehane's new book, and I'm sure it will be great, as always.

So here you go. I'll be back with more news tomorrow. Enjoy and Viddy Well my friends!

E.C

To the viewer, with love.

Imdb just dropped the news: Woody Allen is to open the Los Angeles Film Festival on June  14th with the premiere of his latest film. The director continues to mix work and leisure with his cinematic journey across Europe; after a stay in Spain with Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), followed by England withYou Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010), a little travel through time in France with Midnight in Paris (2011), Woody kept the same accordion soundtrack and is now sending us his usual visual postcard from Italy with «To Rome with love». Travel agencies should expect a growing demand of tickets to the Italian capital this summer.

But what exactly is it about this time? The official logline is «A story about a number of people in Italy, some American, some Italian, some residents, some visitors, and the romances and adventures and predicaments they get into.» Well, the usual Woody Allen-ness lately.

For my part, I was too focussed on the impressive cast to notice: Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Woody Allen himself (two very talkative directors in the same movie, this will not be a silent film...), wild Penélope Cruz in a short red dress - keeping her Barcelonian fire alive, Jesse Eisenberg (yes!), Ellen Page (who probably holds the secret of eternal youth), Judy Davis, Alison Pill and Greta Gerwig.

As for french viewers, we will have to wait until the 4th of July to judge for ourselves.

Viddy Well my friends.

E.D.

p.s.: Where next Woody? I suggest Prague.

Petite perle de la Nouvelle Vague.

Trouvaille du jour : Le premier casting de Jean-Pierre Léaud pour «Les 400 coups» (1959) de François Truffaut.

1:30min d’un échange qui marque le début d’une longue collaboration avec le grand cinéaste.

Leur filmographie commune compte Baisés volés (1968), Domicile Conjugal (1970), Les Deux Anglaises et le Continent (1971), La Nuit Américaine (1973), L’Amour en fuite (1979)...

Un petit «gars gouailleur» qui a su marquer son temps en tournant avec de grands noms comme Jean-Luc Godard, Jean Cocteau, Pasolini, Bertolucci, et bien d’autres...

Enjoy! and Viddy Well, my friends.

p.s.: No english subtitles available, sadly!

E.D.

Today's interesting News

Tim Roth, aka Pulp Fiction's "Pumpkin", will head the "Un Certain Regard" jury at the Cannes Film Festival. The rest of the jury should be announced in the next few days...

The fantastic J.K Rowling will release a new book on September 27th, entitled The Casual Vacancy. The author has announced that the book will deal with social issues and that the tone was "darkly comic". You can read the synopsis on The Wall Street Journal.

Otherwise, I have to say I am a bit worried about this project: Originally called Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, the now Hitchcock film, helmed by Sacha Gervasi stars Anthony Hopkins as the English genius and Helen Mirren as his wife, Alma Reville. So far so good. But here's my problem: Scarlett Johansson (whom I usually like) will play Janet Leigh, and that really doesn't work for me at all. And even worse, Jessica Biel (whom I really do NOT like) is set to play Vera Miles... I'm not sure what to think of James D'Arcy playing Anthony Perkins. Despite his charming name, I'm not convinced that he's talented enough to play such a great actor.

I am not a great fan of all those films being made about actors. I find it hard to really believe in these performances. As much as I love Michelle Williams, for example, I couldn't forget who she was in My Week with Marilyn (but the movie was really bad anyway...). Even in The Aviator, which I love, it was difficult to associate the character played by Kate Beckinsale to Ava Gardner... The familiarity that we have with these stars is perhaps too great. So it's hard to believe when you watch someone else trying to be them.

To finish on a more positive note, there are rumors that Angelina Jolie might be playing a small role in Ridley Scott's The Counselor, which already stars the unbelievably awesome Michael Fassbender. I would love to see Jolie make a good film for a change. And I also hope that the rumor about Natalie Portman being in the film is false (more on that later).

So here you go my friends, these are the news I found interesting to share today. Have a nice night and Viddy Well!

E.C