November 2, 2007

Why Has I Could Never be Your Woman Not Been Released?

This Amy Heckerling written and directed film had been in the can for over a year. Several release dates have come and gone - first last May now November 9 and nothing, no info. And I have been very vigilant in trying to get to the bottom of the story but nobody is talking.

Film stars Michelle Pfeiffer as a woman who falls for the younger Paul Rudd. It doesn't seem that the typical story of the film being bad is the case here, because people who have seen it think its good.

Problem seems to be with the initial distributor Bauer Martinez who has had recent financial problems. The distributor listed on imbd is no longer handling the film and Heckerling is understandably remaining mum since she wants to get her film out.

If Amy Heckerling, one of the most talented female directors around, is having this many problems getting her film in the marketaplace with a star like Michelle Pfeiffer who had some good buzz this summer around Hairspray, what does that mean for other women directors?

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There are no female directed or female-centric films being released this weekend. If you are looking for something to see I recommend Gone Baby Gone.

November 1, 2007

Hollywood is obsessed with the potential writers strike so news about Hollywood is slooow. I'll leave the reporting on that subject to everyone else.

LA Times looks at the best supporting actress category. Their picks include:
Cate Blanchett- I'm Not There
Ruby Dee- American Gangster
Olympia Dukakis- Away from Her
Romola Garai and Saoirse Ronan- Atonement
Jennifer Garner- Juno
Catherine Keener- Into the Wild
Queen Latifah- Hairspray
Jennifer Jason Leigh- Margot at the Wedding
Fernanda Montenegro- Love in the Time of Cholera
Emily Mortimer- Lars and the Real Girl
Julia Roberts- Charlie Wilson's War
Amy Ryan- Gone Baby Gone
Meryl Streep- Lions for Lambs
Tilda Swinton- Michael Clayton

These choice seem quite, light. I haven't seen all the films but my top pick so far is Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone.

News
The 10th Anniversary African-American Women in Cinema takes place in NY from November 9-11.
More information: African American Women in Cinema

Variety pieces on Laura Linney and Catherine Deneuve on the eve of their tributes at AFI Fest.
Linney Practiced in Art of Deception
Deneuve Represents French Femininity

Lesbians are everywhere on Nip/Tuck (just nowhere else on broadcast TV)
More lesbians Than Ever on Nip/Tuck (After Ellen)

Meryl Streep will star in Nora Ephron's new flick Julie & Julia based on the best-selling book. Ephron will direct her own script, Amy Adams, about to break out in this month's Enchanted, will play Julie. (Hollywood Reporter)

Eliza Dushku will star in the new Joss Whedon series, The Dollhouse about a top-secret crew programmed differently for each mission for Fox. (Variety)

Julia Roberts will co-star with Clive Owen in Duplicity a couple crime caper ala Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

The Women's Murder Club received an order for three more scripts.

Tube Tonight
That Girl, Marlo Thomas appears on Ugly Betty. (8pm, ABC)
To Die in Jerusalem- documentary that profiles the families of a Palestinian suicide bomber and his victim. (HBO, 9pm)

October 31, 2007

Even Gay Movies Only Care About the Guys
EW has an interesting article this week about the Brokeback Effect on movies. The story lays out the argument that two years after the breakthrough film, Brokeback Mountain, nothing has changed. There are no new films with gay leads or gay themes in the pipeline. The article also talks about how much better TV is when dealing with gay characters.

The article strictly focuses on gay movies about men never even broaching the conversation about lesbians in film. Seems that just like the rest of Hollywood even a conversation about gay films leaves out the women.

Some interesting quotes.
"When audiences complain that Hollywood is out of touch with the rest of the country, it's invariably because a movie is deemed too liberal. When it comes to gay characters, however, it's out of touch for the exact opposite reason. In the past decade, America's attitudes toward homosexuality have shifted, particularly among young people."

"While television has been fostering greater acceptance for gay people, movies remain stuck in the 20th century. Almost two years after Brokeback, the best Hollywood can do with gay content is the ''I'm not gay!'' punchlines of Wild Hogs or the homoerotic homophobia of 300. Even the ''gayest'' studio movie of the year, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, climaxed with stars Adam Sandler and Kevin James horrified by the idea of a same-sex kiss. Here's the weird thing: Walt Disney, the company behind Wild Hogs, is the corporate sibling of ABC, which, with Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sisters, and Desperate Housewives, is the most queer-inclusive broadcast network around. So what gives? How can TV shows be so progressive while movies seem so...old?"

Brokeback Effect

Strayed outside the girl movie theme this weekend and saw two good and different movies. First was Dan in Real Life starring Steve Carrell and Juliette Binoche. Film is directed by Peter Hedges who did What's Eating Gilbert Grape 14 years ago. Carrell plays a widower who writes an advice column while trying to raise three daughters. He meets and connects with Binoche at a bookstore then realizes that she is the girlfriend of his brother played by Dane Cook (who appears to be everywhere these days.) This funny, sweet family comedy also stars Diane Weist, John Mahoney, Allison Pill and Amy Ryan.

Speaking of Amy Ryan, she seems to be the "it" actress this fall and has put herself at the top of the list for the best supporting actress Oscar with her performance in Ben Affleck's Gone, Baby, Gone which I found surprisingly good. This drama about the aftermath of a girl's kidnapping is a true Boston story. A way better Boston story than The Departed ever was.

The fantastic Janet McTeer seems to be everywhere these days. I still can't get her performance as Nora in A Doll's House a decade ago on Broadway out of my head. Catch her in The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard on PBS and in Five Days on HBO.

News
ABC's Samantha Who starring Christina Applegate has gotten a full season pick-up.

Robin Wright Penn will star in Rebecca Miller's adaptation of her book The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. "The film takes an adventurous trip through Pippa Lee's past and present, as a methamphetamine-addicted mother whose husband leaves her for a younger woman. Pippa indulges in an array of erotic adventures while heading toward a quiet nervous breakdown." Film co-stars Julianne Moore and Winona Ryder. (Hollywood Reporter)

October 29, 2007

As Cate Blanchett gets ready to take over the reigns at the Sydney Theatre Company next year with her husband Andrew Upton, the backlash has begun. Sydney actor Colin Moody has gone public about his opinions. Did anyone one question the competence of Kevin Spacey when he was appointed at the Old Vic, or Roger Rees at the Williamstown Theatre Festival?
Blanchett Not Fit to Run Our Theatre (The Observer)

Megan Mullally, Karen from Will & Grace, is about to open in Mel Brooks' new musical Young Frankenstein
A Will to Success, Grace Under Pressure (LA Times)

ABC Hearts Women- all their new shows are doing well by targeted women with its news shows this season.
ABC In Sync With Women (MediaWeek)

Scaring and mutilating women wins the weekend box office. The millionth version of Saw (actually its #4) made $32 million over the weekend. I'm sick of these movies doing so well. Problem is, women likes these movies too. Why?

Lifetime has ordered a pilot tentatively titled "The Verdict" from Jonathan Price (Executive Producer of Cane). Premise is "the trial of a female celebrity accused of having her lover murdered." (Hollywood Reporter) Groan