“The Great Debaters” is coming out on the shelves May 13^th!!!

I have a copy to giveaway!!! Please post your name; I will draw the winner Wednesday. You don’t want to miss this movie - it is inspirational to the core.

“The Great Debaters” is a wonderful and provoking film written beautifully by Robert Eisele and directed very tightly by Denzel Washington who plays the lead role.

This film sets forth the traditional values and dignity the American spirit needs, once again. Even though it’s a historical story, it has everything to do with society today.

Eisele wrote the spirit of this film and Washington brought it to life with some very young and talented actors (Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker.)

Forest Whitaker also stars making this the first film were two black Oscar winners star in the same movie.

As a side note:  I had a chance to interview Robert Eisele about writing the script for “Debaters” and working with Washington.  Eisele spoke very highly of Washington’s ability to take the character to another depth, something you can only understand by watching him work on the set.

I must acknowlege Oprah Windrey for producing this film!!!

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Short Film Online Competition — Cannes 2008

Watch the best films premiering at this year’s Cannes Short Film Corner and vote for your favorites by rating them with 5 stars. The film with the best ratings will win a special award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival!

Check this site out and you get to vote for the winner. Some great little films: My favorite is “Struck.”  “Struck” all star cast includes Kelly Preston, Jenna Elfman, Nancy Cartwright and more.

You be the judge and enjoy.

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The official poster from TRUMBO is here.  I am so excited about this movie.

It’s a remarkable story of Dalton Trumbo’s journey from Hollywood royalty, to blacklisted writer to Academy Award winner.  Trumbo is one of my favorite screenwriters of the Golden Era of Hollywood, ROMAN HOLIDAY is one of my favorites.

The film focuses on the writer’s own indelible words, the film features performances of some of his extraordinary letters, clips from his films and, archival and contemporary interviews with those who knew him best. Forced to write underground, letter writing became the chief repository of Trumbo’s extraordinary talents and they serve as a wonderfully entertaining testament to his boundless intellect, acerbic humor, and staggering resilience.

TRUMBO is directed by Peter Askin and is based on the play Trumbo by Christopher Trumbo. The film includes the all-star cast of Joan Allen, Brian Dennehy, Michael Douglas, Paul Giamatti, Nathan Lane, Josh Lucas, Liam Neeson, David Strathairn, and Donald Sutherland.

Here is a list of films written by Trumbo:  A MAN TO REMEMBER (voted one of the ten best films of 1938); KITTY FOYLE (ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION); A GUY NAMED JOE (BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE AWARD); THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO (BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE AWARD); TENDER COMRADE, and OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE AWARD).The film is opening June 27th!

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Here is the official poster for BANGKOK DANGEROUS, an adrenaline-powered thriller starring Nicholas Cage as an anonymous assassin who takes an unexpected turn when he travels to Thailand to complete a series of contract killings.

Directors Oxide Pang and Danny Pang (The Eye) paint an explosive picture of the Bangkok underworld, illuminated with neon and saturated in violence.  Based on the Pang Brothers’ wildly popular Hong Kong action film of the same name BANGKOK DANGEROUS is written by Jason Richman.

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It looks like Tom Cruise and Sumner Redstone are in agreement for the next installment of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, which Cruise will star in the fourth movie.

According to Variety, Redstone said, “I consider Tom Cruise a great actor and a good friend. And if Paramount decides to move ahead with him, I will not object.” He added that the decision was “up to Brad Grey, who runs Paramount.” Redstone was seen dining with Cruise in Beverly Hills in March.Tom Cruise just celebrated 25 years since starring in his first movie, “Risky Business.”  He also was on the Oprah Winfrey show discussing everything and has a, first time ever, official web site at Tom Cruise. 

The web site is awesome and very much Cruise’s persona.

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“Peacock” has an all-star cast to gush over: Susan Sarandon, Bill Pullman, Josh Lucas, Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page.

The psychological thriller takes place in a small town, where a quiet bank clerk’s (Murphy) life is shattered by a train crashing into his back yard revealing a woman living there.

Michael Lander is set to direct with a script he co-wrote together with Ryan Roy.

According to Variety, Sarandon stars in Warner Bros.’ upcoming “Speed Racer” and was most recently seen in Disney’s “Enchanted.”

Pullman starred in the Sundance film “Phoebe in Wonderland” and “Bottle Shock.” He also will be seen in Jennifer Lynch’s “Surveillance,” which will bow in Cannes this month.

Lucas is in production on Michael Cuesta’s “Tell-Tale” and next can be seen in Boaz Yakin’s “Death in Love.” His production company, Two Bridges, recently wrapped “The Boy in the Box,” in which he plays the single father of a mentally challenged boy.

With this cast “Peacock” looks very promising.

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 Variety has an inspirational article about Sean Combs shifting careers from hi-hop “P. Diddy” to serious actor on Broadway and in Hollywood.   

Combs is an encouragement to those who want to make an impact while following their dream to be what they want to be. 

The article reinforces the concept that you need to give it all if you want to pull off a great success in your life. Hard work and honesty make the success we want to achieve. 

After reading this article, I can see how Combs will become a role model for many young people, and I hope he makes the right choices with huge success as an actor.  

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 I am sorry to hear that Javier Bardem has left the “Nine” and will not take on the lead role of Guido Contini in the musical that Rob Marshall is directing.

The musical focuses on Contini, a film director who experiences personal and creative crisis trying to balance all the women in his life.

Though it’s been clearly reported that Bardem loved the script and the idea of working with Marshall, he pulled out because he is exhausted from work and awards season, and will take as long as a year to recharge his batteries. Wow!

The rest of the cast is hanging in there: Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard and Sophia Loren. Also, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench are in negotiations to join the rest of the cast soon.  

According to Variety, Bardem was ready to make the film late last year, but “Nine” got postponed, along with several other high profile projects, because it needed refinements to the Michael Tolkin script that weren’t possible because of the writer’s strike.

Bardem will next be seen in Woody Allen-directed “Vicky Christina Barcelona,” which debuts  at the Cannes Film Festival.

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People’s latest magazine says Kate Hudson is the most beautiful person while 99 others are listed behind her.  I think she’s beautiful,too. What fun to be listed at the top! Go Girl.  Here’s the link to the article giving the sneak peek details.

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Here is the latest Vanity Fair piece on Miley Cyrus who plays Hannah Montana.  Apparently, this issue is a hot issue because Miley looks older than her true age of fifteen in the magazine photos.  Disney came out and made a statement,  Miley came out and made a statement and Annie Leibovitz (photographer) came out and made a statement. Anyway here is the link, take a look and let me know what your thoughts are on the matter.  

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