The marketing people at Lionsgate are no dummies. They clearly recognize that celebrity culture has been reduced to “What are you wearing” questions on the red carpet, and are ramping up their marketing efforts for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with the movie poster equivalent: seven character portrait images that depict Katniss & Compay in fancy freaky fashions before the next round of adolescent-on-adolescent bloodshed begins. Based on the images below, the film’s costume designer Trish Summerville should consider establishing a men’s line (as long as she doesn’t stray too far into Stanley Tucci /Caesar territory), but whoa, she’d get ripped a new one by Joan Rivers for her women’s wear. I’m guessing that Jennifer Lawrence /Katniss’ winged outfit is Mockingjay -inspired, and it certainly will be mocked. Thank God JLaw didn’t wear that number to the Oscars. Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Francis Lawrence , who is directing the second installment of The Hunger Games franchise, Catching Fire will come on board for the final two in the series, Mockingjay – Part 1 and Mockingjay – Part 2 . Lawrence is currently filming Catching Fire , which is due out in 2013. Collider broke the news of Lawrence’s commitment to the final two Hunger Games . Gary Ross, who directed the first Hunger Games , starring Jennifer Lawrence, Wes Bentley, Stanley Tucci and Josh Hutcherson declined to direct the follow-ups saying he didn’t believe he could reasonably take on the tight schedule. Lawrence noted last May after the announcement he’d direct Catching Fire : “It is truly an honor and a privilege to bring Catching Fire, the second chapter of Suzanne’s beloved trilogy, to the big screen. I fell in love with the characters, the themes and the world she created and this chapter opens all of these elements up in such a thrilling, emotional and surprising way. I can’t wait to dive right into it and bring this chapter to life along with the truly superb cast and filmmakers involved.” Catching Fire will open November 22, 2013. Mockingjay – Part 1 is due out on November 21, 2014 and Mockingjay – Part 2 is set for November 20, 2015. [ Source: Collider ]
Jennifer Lawrence, Alexander Ludwig, Amber Chaney, Benjamin Bratt, Cody Simpson, Elizabeth Banks, Gary Ross, Jacqueline Emerson, Leven Rambin, Peter Facinelli, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Kelly Osbourne attended The World Premiere Of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games” at Nokia Theatre LA Live. Hollywood.TV was at the event to capture all the stars as they greeted their screaming adoring fans! “Like” us on Facebook @ facebook.com CC3B5276
Rob Marshall, Alec Baldwin, Julie Andrews, Hilaria Thomas, Jane Krakowski, Jeff Goldblum, Matthew Broderick, James Lipton, Martin Short attended The Roundabout Theatre Company’s 2012 Spring Gala “From Screen To Stage” honoring Rob Marshall. The event was held at Hammerstein Ballroom and Hollywood.TV was on the red carpet to interview the stars! “Like” us on Facebook @ facebook.com 8CFB03EA
Don’t miss the ‘Hunger Games’ red-carpet premiere tonight at 8:30, streaming live from MTV News! By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Josh Hutcherson in “The Hunger Games” Photo: Lionsgate As the countdown to “The Hunger Games” grows shorter and shorter, fans have been craving as much of the tributes as they can possibly get. Luckily, we have a brand-new exclusive clip from the upcoming movie. Soon after they are chosen for the games, the tributes from District 12, Katniss ( Jennifer Lawrence ) and Peeta ( Josh Hutcherson ), go through the public relations wringer, including a broadcast interview with the eccentric TV personality Caesar Flickerman, played by a very blue-haired Stanley Tucci . In this exclusive clip, Peeta sits down to answer a few personal questions from Caesar before heading into the arena. Similarly, the cast and crew of “The Hunger Games” will have to face the judgments of the diehard fans of the book, when the film finally comes out on March 23. MTV News’ Josh Horowitz spoke with Lawrence about her reaction to seeing the finished film and how fans have treated her during the lead-up. “It was really good. It didn’t surprise me, which was good. During filming, I really liked everything what I was seeing. I liked everything that Gary was doing. Then I saw it, and it was all there,” Lawrence said. “It’s always hard for me watching because I think I am a horrible troll and I’ll never work again. Overall, I think everybody else in the movie is fantastic, and I think the film itself is really good.” Life has changed significantly for Lawrence since scoring the highly coveted role, not for the better in some cases. “I get photographers hiding in my bushes,” she said. “We’re way past autographs. We’re into being stalked and followed.” Other than the paparazzi, the response has been generally more positive for Lawrence. “Everyone’s been really nice fortunately. I mean, the movie’s not out yet, so we’ll see.” MTV News goes live from the “Hunger Games” red-carpet premiere tonight! Tune into our live stream from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. ET as Josh Horowitz catches up with the stars and asks fans’ burning questions! Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Jennifer Lawrence
News surfaced on Wednesday that Kodak, the once-proud photography giant whose heavy-duty film shackles have tripped it into bankruptcy, has gone to court to get out of its 20-year naming agreement with the owners of the Kodak Theater. Of course, the Academy Awards can’t just be held at any anonymous old auditorium in the heart of Hollywood. This calls for creative solutions, and fast. Naturally, that’s where Movieline readers come in. While personally I have a fondness for Mark Lisanti’s suggested switch to “In-N-Out Arena,” theater owners CIM Group are going to need as many options to draw from as they can once the Kodak name is retired. Maybe “Meryl’s Curse Shack and Seafood Alley”? “The Crash Taste-Memorial Pavilion”? Ohhhh — how about ” The Uggieseum “? OK, fine. Do your worst! [ THR , Grantland ; photo via Shutterstock ]
Focus Features and the good folks at WNYC are going all out for first-time Oscar nominee Gary Oldman , lining up a six-film retrospective of the actor’s work that will culminate Feb. 8 in Manhattan with a screening and Oldman Q&A for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy . The best part: It’s free . Which naturally means you’d better act fast to reserve your seats. The screenings commence Monday at the Landmark Sunshine, comprising a nifty selection of Oldman’s best work over the last quarter-century including Sid and Nancy, Prick Up Your Ears, JFK and The Contender . (And, uh, Bram Stoker’s Dracula , which my memory perhaps betrays, but you tell me.) The complete schedule is below; you can book your seats over at OldmanRSVP.com . Tell him Movieline said hello! Feb. 6 at 6:30 PM : Sid and Nancy (1986) Feb. 6 at 9:00 PM : JFK (1991) Feb. 7 at 6:00 PM : The Contender (2000) Feb. 7 at 9:00 PM : Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) Feb. 8 at 5:00 PM : Prick Up Your Ears (1987) Feb. 8 at 7:30 PM : Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), followed by Q&A with Gary Oldman [ OldmanRSVP.com ]
Hunger Games fans, here’s your chance to be among the first to see Lionsgate’s highly anticipated YA novel adaptation — Movieline is giving away a pair of tickets to the Los Angeles premiere of The Hunger Games , starring Jennifer Lawrence as teen warrior Katniss Everdeen, based on the novels by Suzanne Collins. To decide our winner, we’re holding a Cornucopia of words: A Hunger Games Haiku contest! Channel your inner mockingjay and get to composing in the comments below! To celebrate the 50-day countdown to the Hunger Games nationwide release on March 23 (Twitter hashtag #HUNGERGAMES50), Movieline’s Hunger Games Haiku contest will close February 22 at 5pm PT/8pm ET , so make sure to enter with your best, most inspired Hunger Games -themed haiku. Winners will be announced on February 29. [ Browse Movieline’s Hunger Games cast gallery here ] In order to be eligible, entries must follow these guidelines: – Haiku entries must follow the 5-7-5 syllable format (otherwise that ain’t a haiku, duh). – Entries must be original writings. Write it in Katniss’s voice! As an ode to the series! Compose a ditty about pretty baker’s sons! Run wild with it! – Entrants must be 18 years of age and must be able to attend the premiere in Los Angeles at the Nokia Live on March 12, 2012. – Entrants must register with their email address in order to be contacted if selected. – Only one entry per person. Now remember, candidates: Entries will be judged by Movieline’s editors so put your best haiku forward! Elegance, wit, and razor-sharp concision are key, along with a healthy dose of Hunger Games knowledge. Wow us, and as always — may the odds be ever in your favor. For more information on the Hunger Games movie and premiere info, head to Facebook . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Everyone wants to be the one to discover the next low-budget and/or indie supernatural shocker, the stylish, wicked little thing that scares the bejesus out of you and sends you running to your friends, saying, “You’ve gotta see this!” UK filmmaker Ben Wheatley’s Kill List isn’t that wicked little thing — not by a long shot. Yet it’s a frustrating case. Wheatley drops enough unnerving bread crumbs in the first two-thirds to leave you wondering where the hell he’s headed, and even the big finale should be satisfying enough: It just belongs to a different movie, and it’s unsettling in a way that doesn’t feel earned. That Kill List begins, seemingly, as a standard domestic drama is just one of Wheatley’s intentional red herrings. (He co-wrote the script with Amy Jump.) In the movie’s opening scene Jay (Neil Maskell) is bickering with his wife, Shel (MyAnna Buring), in the presence of their somewhat daft-looking young son, Sam (Harry Simpson). It turns out Jay, an altogether regular-looking and somewhat doughy husband type, hasn’t worked for months: He’s a hit man and the hits just haven’t been coming, since he botched his last job. Then buddy and former associate Gal (Michael Smiley) shows up at the couple’s home for a dinner party, a leggy stretch of girlfriend in tow: He wants to loop Jay into a gig he’s been offered, which requires offing a number of targets. Meanwhile, the sultry, doe-eyed girlfriend, Fiona (Emma Fryer), who looks pretty friendly and normal-like (she explains to her hosts that she works in “human resources”), slips into the couple’s bathroom, removes a mirror from the wall, and does something funny to the back of it. It’s the first of the movie’s numerous “What the — ?” moments, some of which involve episodes of grim brutality that are at first discreetly presented, and then less so. That’s part of Wheatley’s MO: When the violence first kicks off, he cuts away, lulling you into thinking he’s not going to be exploitive. Surprise! Get ready for – and there’s a minor spoiler ahead, though it has nothing to do with the movie’s allegedly supershocking finale – seeing a bunch of brains blown all over a table, like the contents of the world’s ewkiest piñata. Later, we’re treated to a partial view of a rabbit skinning – yum! Should we commend Wheatley – who previously made the 2009 crime comedy Down Terrace – for putting us off guard only to pull the rug out from us? Or is he really just being a sneaky cheat? The more I think about Kill List, the cheaper its shockeroo tactics seem, despite the fact that through its first two-thirds, the picture is compelling almost in spite of itself. Kill List features lots of unapologetic art-house cutting: Scenes are edited into jagged shards, the better to dislocate us with. And in places, it’s bitterly funny. When Jay and Gal approach the first mark on their list – I won’t tell you who it is, but it’s the type of person neither you nor I would be particularly happy about killing – Gal says dryly, “Well, at least it’s not a toddler.” But the plot of Kill List depends too much on Jay’s descent-into-madness routine, and it doesn’t quite wash. This is definitely a guy with a habit of flying off the handle: He threatens physical harm to a bunch of meek, happy Christians who break into a spirited rendition of “Onward Christian Soldiers” in a restaurant. (OK, maybe that’s not so bad.) The idea is that this seemingly devoted family man has, you know, a dark side. This is a guy who’s so used to killing without reason that he no longer needs a reason: Kill List has been carefully and disingenuously front-loaded with post-Iraq meaning. And that’s before it takes a sharp left turn into Wicker Man -style folderol. Kill List is meticulously designed to be a cult film, which means it can never truly be one: It grabs its audience by the collar instead of beckoning seductively and carelessly. The conclusion of Kill List would be more unsettling if the subtle gradation of clues leading up to it didn’t raise so many unanswered questions, just for the hell of it. A mysteriously infected hand, instances of people thanking other people for things they haven’t even done yet – those could have been superb little macabre touches, if only they’d been woven more tightly into the narrative and not just left dangling like shabby hangnails. By the time Kill List jumps off the deep end into occulty weirdness, it’s almost too late for shock value. The ending is designed to make us recoil in horror. But you might be left wondering why you’d bothered with any of it in the first place. Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Need poetic inspiration for the Hunger Games haiku you’re composing for tickets to the premiere ? Look no further than the newly unveiled Hunger Games Super Bowl trailer, which will air this weekend and features new footage of special moments with Prim, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), and Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), the all-important mockingjay pin, and the deadly goings-on in the Games. Via Yahoo! Movies : Quite a breathless, pulse-quickening 60 seconds. And a reminder that these kids aren’t playing with pads on for points; could this spot actually bring in the male-driven Super Bowl demographic? Don’t forget to enter Movieline’s premiere giveaway contest , candidates!
