Screenhead

I am impressed with this cast: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Josh Hutcherson and Mia Wasikowska are set to star in The Kids Are All Right. Bening and Moore play wife and wife, same-set parents, with Ruffalo the father of the son (Hutcherson) and daughter (Wasikowska) as the sperm donor.  

Director Lisa Cholodenko  started shooting yesterday from the script she co-wrote with Stuart Blumberg.

Movie pivots on the brother and sister who set out to find their same-sex parents’ (Bening and Moore) sperm donor. This completely upsets their family dynamic once he (Ruffalo) enters their lives.

It’s hard to tell if this is a drama or comedy or both.

Anthony Hopkins might take on the role of Ernest in Hemingway & Fuentes, an independent project about the renowned writer, written and directed by Andy Garcia.

Garcia is co-writing the script with Hilary Hemingway, a screenwriter, author and the niece of Ernest Hemingway. The movie will focus on the relationship between Hemingway and his longtime fishing-boat captain Gregorio Fuentes.

Hints are also surfacing that Annette Benning could play the role of Hemingway’s wife and Widow Mary Welsh.

Garcia is not calling the film a biopic, but rather a historical drama, concentrating on the final, complex chapter in Hemingway’s dramatic life.

Hemingway spent a good deal of the last decade of his life in the fishing towns of Cojira, Cuba and Ketchum, Idaho, a time when the author is artistically recognized for penning “The Old Man and the Sea,” the novella about a Cuban fisherman that won him a Pulitzer Prize in 1952.

Garcia told Hollywood Reported that he wants to explore both the psyche of Hemingway, the dynamic with Fuentes and the relationship both had with fishing. “I’m a Hemingway nut and also an avid fisherman, and the reality of the relationship between Hemingway and his captain is compelling to me,” he said. Garcia, who said the project is in its nascent stages, said he aims to star as Fuentes.

You might ask, who is Fuentes?

He is the captain, who died in 2002 at the age of 104 and led a colorful life himself. Born in the Canary Islands, he migrated to Cuba when he was ten-years-old; some say he was the model for “Old Man and the Sea” protagonist Santiago, though others may say otherwise.

Mother Child is written and will be directed by Rodrigo Garcia with Annette Bening and Naomi Watts in the starring roles.  What a beautiful combination!

Bening and Watts range of work will bring true performances to this story. Garcia is known for his television work as well as the film Nine Lives featuring nine intertwining tales about women.

Mother Child is a multilayered story overlapping tales as the script follows a woman who gave up her daughter 35 years ago and an African-American woman who is looking to adopt. Kerry Washington and Shareeka Epps also star.

Mother Child turns an emotional story about making choices and missing opportunities with the unbreakable blood bond between mother and daughter.

Filming begins early next year in L.A.

The Women now has a blogging site where you can get the latest information on the movie with scheduled interview dates with all the stars.  You even can post your thoughts about the movie and subject matter.  The movie opens September 12th.

The blogging site even offers a view of the poster from the original 1939 movie, which I’ve posted here.

Okay, women leave the kids home with dad and go see The Women remake. 

When I first saw the original The Women(1939) with legendary stars Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Joan Fontaine and Paulette Goddard directed by George Cukor, I could not fathom a remake. The original movie is perfect.

I am sure you are aware of my view on remakes — “Don’t do that!”  Just make the movie and use a different title. Remakes are impossible.

The whole point I am trying to make is that the trailer for 2008 The Women is fabulous — I had a good laugh, brilliant timing, strikingly funny. 

I am so excited to have Meg Ryan back in a role that was meant to be hers. It’s actually refreshing.

Then, we have Annette Bening, Jada Pinket Smith and Eva Mendes directed by Diane English.  Yes, it’s all about women and men; but no men in the movie, just mentioned — even though they play a vital part.

If you are up on The Women, it originally started as a play about comedy of manners that is a bit caustic, by Clare Boothe Luce. 

A contemporary observation with hilarious action on-stage about the pampered lives and power struggles of various wealthy Manhattan socialites and up-and-comers and the back biting, gossip that drives and spoils their relationships. As men commonly are the subject of their lively discussions and play a significant part, they are strictly characters referred to yet never seen.

Will the reaction of this movie be similar to Thelm and Louise?

For the first time, Annette Bening has been elected to the Academy Board to represent the actors.

Some other familiar names re-elected to the board are John Lasseter, who represents shorts and animation, and Kathleen Kennedy, who represents producers.

Congratulations Annette!