Perhaps all of the hoopla surrounding the upcoming James Bond installment Skyfall has created a bubble for all things 007 or this little piece of pop culture is really worth the thousands it recently fetched from its lucky buyer. The swimming trunks Daniel Craig wore as Bond in his first stint as the sexy agent in Casino Royale sold at auction for almost $72,000 at a charity auction in London. Judi Dench ‘s comments on the cleanliness of the shorts may have also triggered a jump in the price. Dench, who has played Bond’s boss M in the series and continues in the role in the upcoming latest installment Skyfall introduced the suit at the auction. She noted – apparently jokingly, “All I’m going to tell you is they’re unwashed.” Also sold was an Aston Martin DBS that Craig drove in Quantum of Solace , which the gavel his for $390,000. And a copy of the orchestral score to singer Adele’s theme song for Skyfall , which she signed along with co-writer Paul Epworth sold for $22,000. Altogether, 50 pieces of James Bond memorabilia sold at Christie’s on Friday in London, marking the 50th anniversary of the first Bond movie, Dr. No . The money raised went to several charities. Meanwhile, the anticipated song is set to a new trailer of the film that was recently released (below). Skyfall which also stars Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem opens in the U.S. November 9th. [ Source: ABC News Radio Online ]
In Monday’s round-up of news briefs, a quick look at weekend pick ups at the Toronto International Film Festival including The Place Beyond the Pines , Aftershock , Great Expectations and more that will head to a theater (hopefully) near you. Also Beasts Of The Southern Wild takes a top prize at the Deauville Film Festival in France. Focus Features Takes Toronto’s The Place Beyond the Pines The new drama starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes will be released in the U.S. via Focus Features. Directed by Derek Cianfrance ( Blue Valentine ). A World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film explores the consequences of motorcycle rider Luke (Mr. Gosling)’s fateful decision to commit a crime to support his child. The incident renders him targeted by policeman Avery (Mr. Cooper), and the two men become locked on a tense collision course which will have a devastating impact on both of their families in the years following. Toronto’s Great Expectations Heads to U.S. Theaters The Toronto Gala starring Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Jeremy Irvine, and Holliday Grainger, will head to theaters in North America via Outsource Media Group. Directed by Mike Newell, Great Expectations is a retelling of the classic and beloved Charles Dickens story of the young orphan Pip, who is given a chance to rise from his humble beginnings thanks to a mysterious benefactor. Moving through London’s class-ridden world as a gentleman, Pip uses his newfound position to pursue the beautiful Estella, a spoilt heiress he’s loved since childhood. Michel Gondry’s The We and the I Heads to N. American Theaters French director Michel Gondry’s Cannes Directors Fortnight opener The We and the I , which is having its N. American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, will open in theaters in the U.S. and Canada in early March. Distribution partners 108 Media and Paladin acquired the rights to the film that follows a group of Bronx high schoolers who board a city bus on their way home. With summer break ahead of them, and feeling more liberated than usual, this broad array of kids–the cool ones, the outsiders, and everyone in between–act out as only teenagers can and, in the course of one afternoon, their friendships, rivalries, ambitions, and anxieties are revealed. Strand Nabs In the Fog U.S. rights to Sergei Loznitsa’s In the Fog are headed to Strand Releasing. The film follows three men three men who find themselves deep in a forest during World War II and face a moral conflict. It received a FIPRESCI prize in Cannes. The film is currently playing Toronto. Leviathan Heads to Cinema Guild The doc by Lucien Castaing-Taylor will open theatrically in early 2013. The film takes a look at the commercial fishing business in the North Atlantic. It is having its North Americna premiere in Toronto and will have its U.S. debut at the upcoming New York Film Festival. Around the ‘net… Beasts of the Southern Wild, Una Noche Win Top Deauville Prizes Benh Zeitlin’s debut film won the Grand Prize at France’s Deauville Film Festival as well as the Cartier Revelation Award, while Lucy Mulloy’s “day in the life Cuban drama” took the Jury Prize. The International Critics Prize went to Michel Gondry’s The We and the I , THR reports . Dimension Scores Eli Roth’s Aftershock and Clown Dimension picked up rights to Aftershock , which is screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is an earthquake thriller scripted by Roth, Nicolas Lopez & Guillermo Amoedo. The label headed by Bob Weinstein also picked up rights to Eli Roth’s Clown , which is based on a fan-made trailer that grabbed Roth’s attention after it went viral, Deadline reports .
Also in Tuesday morning’s round-up of news briefs, G.I. Joe 2 director looks to new project based on Mattel toys; Iran may boycott the Venice Film Festival over sanctions; and Emmet/Furla Films and Envision Entertainment set significant funds for future projects. Emmet/Furla Films & Envision Entertainment Up Film Fund by $275M Last September, the two groups established a $250 million revolving equity and debt fund to finance a slate of “high-end, star-driven commercial feature films in collaboration with a variety of production & distribution partners.” The result have been 8 films in production including the upcoming End of Watch , Lay the Favorite , Alex Cross and Broken City . Around the ‘net… Cameron Crowe to Direct Emma Stone in Romantic Drama Scott Rudin will produce the still untitled romantic drama, which will be Cameron Crowe’s next project. The leading man is still pending and Crowe will direct from an original script he wrote. Shooting is slated for the fall, THR reports . Steve Pink to Direct Bad Santa Sequel Pink is in talks to write and direct Bad Santa 2 , the sequel of the 2003 comedy that is being spearheaded by Dimension Films, Deadline reports . G.I. Joe 2 Director Eyes Masters of the Universe Director Jon M. Chu is in negotiations to direct Sony’s Masters of the Universe , a adaptation of the ’80s era Mattel toys. This would be a follow-up to another toy adaptation Chu is working on, G.I. Joe: Retaliation , Deadline reports . Iran May Boycott Venice Film Festival Oil sanctions imposed by the European Union on Iran is cited by the country’s Cultural Ministry for the move. Kianoosh Ayari’s The Paternal House was set to screen in the festival’s Horizons sidebar. The film includes depictions of every day challenges faced by Iranian women and the ministry demanded cuts be made before he could obtain a screening visa, Deadline reports .
James Bond added another leading lady under his belt after he teamed up with none other than Queen Elizabeth II in a sketch for the opening night of the Olympics in London (with what looked like Her Majesty jumping out of a plane with the eternal superstar agent). Most certainly not quite how it happened, but nevertheless a significant royal boost for 007 ahead of his next adventure. The new international trailer of Skyfall promises more action and intrigue – and of course he’s once again ready for the fight, tux in tow. Daniel Craig returns once again crisply dressed, heading to exotic locations and facing up to eccentric bad guys and of course finding romance along the way with beautiful women. Skyfall also stars Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCrory and Judi Dench. Bardem takes his turn playing Bond’s nemesis and even sports a blond-do. The film opens in November in the States. Official synopsis: Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in Skyfall , the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In Skyfall , Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. International trailer: Watch the international trailer via YouTube Domestic trailer: Watch the domestic trailer via YouTube
We size up the Best Fight contenders, from Tom Cruise to Jonah Hill. Cast your vote now! By Kevin P. Sullivan Daniel Radcliffe and Ralph Fiennes in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” Photo: Warner Bros. With the 21st annual MTV Movie Awards just under a week away, it’s time to get you as prepared as possible for the biggest night in movies. That’s why we’re kicking off Movie Awards Week here at MTV News with exclusives, interviews with A-listers and deep dives into the awards, leading right up to the big night on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET. For our first look at the categories, we’re dissecting Best Fight blow by blow. Sure, an action-packed fight sequence will always grab our attention, but the ones that really stay with us are the ones that are bigger, badder and funnier than anything else we saw this year. But which one takes home the golden popcorn is up to you to decide, so head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to cast your vote. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill vs. Kid Gang – “21 Jump Street” There are two distinctly different fighting styles on display in this brawl from “21 Jump Street.” First, you have the typical Channing Tatum route with well-executed blows and multiple opponents going down. Then you have Jonah Hill’s style, the way we would all fight. You run away a little bit, and when things get really, really scary, you do your best to convince your foe that “the fight’s over.” As you can see in the clip, one works better than the other. Daniel Radcliffe vs. Ralph Fiennes – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” The Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader of our time, after eight movies, Harry Potter finally faced off against the dark wizard who left him an orphan in the series’ most epic fight sequence. The millions who had read the final book before seeing the film knew that everything would turn out OK for HP, but you couldn’t help but hold your breath as Harry and Voldemort dueled one last time. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson vs. Alexander Ludwig – “The Hunger Games” And then there were three. Thanks to a last-minute rule change, the star-crossed (maybe) lovers Katniss and Peeta had an opportunity to both make it out of the arena alive. The only one in their way was the violent, but not completely evil Cato. For most of the tournament, Katniss was able to best her foes through cleverness or luck, but for his last fight, it would have to be up-close and personal. Tom Cruise vs. Michael Nyqvist – “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” If you look at Cruise and then you size up Nyqvist, the fight seems a little one-sided. Ethan Hunt is a world-class secret agent, and Kurt Hendricks is a kind-of chubby nuclear strategist. Something’s got to give. What you don’t count on is just how crazy Hendricks is, but we all learned the hard way when he takes a swan dive off the top level of a car park to ensure his victory. That’s hard-core. Tom Hardy vs. Joel Edgerton – “Warrior” When two estranged brothers enter a mixed martial arts competition to determine the best in the world, they will inevitably end up fighting in the final round. We knew that much going into “Warrior.” What we didn’t know was that Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy would not pull any punches, so to speak, and deliver one of the most brutal and heart-wrenching bouts of 2011. Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET. Related Videos 2012 Movie Awards: Best Fight Nominees Related Photos 2012 Movie Awards Presenters
Remember that 1998 movie adaptation of the old British TV show The Avengers , starring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman? Me neither, but set artist Stephen Morahan does — if only because he was reminded after working on this week’s Marvel blockbuster of the same name: “[I]t looks a bit odd on your resume. So, I made this before, now it’s something completely different. And when you talk about it, people don’t even know about the other film. it didn’t do very well. I mean, that’s another big difference, too. The original Avengers was a big flop. It bombed.” [ Huffington Post ]
Contest time again! And while our L.A. squad had all the fun last time around, today I’m pleased to offer readers in and around New York City a chance to check out a nifty new doc tying the Bard, cutthroat competition and the winsome likes of Kevin Spacey and Richard Dreyfuss together in a potent nonfiction blend. If you’ve got this Friday night free and are feeling creative and/or lucky, read on to win a pair of tickets to Shakespeare High . The festival favorite makes its theatrical debut this weekend at Lincoln Center’s Howard Gilman Theater, with director Alex Rokaru and several of the film’s young actors in attendance. Check out the trailer: To win a pair of tickets to the screening this Friday, March 9 at 6 p.m. , all you have to do is write a 10-word review — no more, no less — of your favorite Shakespeare screen adaptation . For example:
Exciting news for fans of Orson Scott Card’s sci-fi series Ender’s Game : Harrison Ford has officially joined the cast as Hyrum Graff, the manipulative colonel responsible for training students in a futuristic military academy called Battle School. Harrison joins fellow cast members Abigail Breslin, Hailee Steinfeld and Asa Butterfield, who will star as Ender, a gifted strategist hired by the government to help combat an alien race in the film adaptation from Wolverine director Gavin Hood . Breslin will play Ender’s older sister and Steinfeld will assume the role of Petra Arkanian, Ender’s trusted confidante and mentor. The expected blockbuster is slated for a 2013 release. Ender’s Game fans, do you approve of this casting?
What a momentous week for Ralph Fiennes — the august British thespian turns 49 today and lands at No. 7 on my list of the year’s best performances , therefore knocking Elizabeth Olsen out of the top 10 — ouch! Let’s keep his parade of good times rolling with a quick debate over his best onscreen moment. I dare you to disagree with mine. I’m of the opinion that Ralph Fiennes’s towering work as the odious Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List deserved an Oscar over Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive , but I’ll save that furious monologue for another day. My single favorite Fiennes moment is in Quiz Show , Robert Redford’s keenly observed morality tale set against the corruption of the game show cheating scandals of the 1950s. It presents with one alluring and conflicted character in lecturer-turned-liar Charles Van Doren (Fiennes), who eats up his stage time with gusto. Just fabulous. Start at the 4:00 mark, after competitor Herbert Stempel (John Turturro) takes a dive on the easiest Oscar question. If only Movieline writers were eligible to play Twenty-One in the ’50s — we’d rack up points and snappy retorts by the dozen. Have a different choice. The Constant Gardener ? Schindler’s List ? The English Patient ? Contribute your wrongness below.
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