In an interview with EW, Lone Ranger co-star Johnny Depp explained the startling new look of his character, Tonto, who wears feathers and black and white face paint but, more importantly, has a bird sitting on his head . Inspiration came from a painting entitled “I Am Crow” by artist Kirby Sattler: “It seemed to me like you could almost see the separate sections of the individual, if you know what I mean,” Depp said. Nobody knows what this means, but sure. WHAT ABOUT THE BIRD?? “It just so happened Sattler had painted a bird flying directly behind the warrior’s head. It looked to me like it was sitting on top. I thought: Tonto’s got a bird on his head. It’s his spirit guide in a way. It’s dead to others, but it’s not dead to him. It’s very much alive.” Below: A look at the Sattler original, via the artist’s official site : [ EW ]
Twilight fans need to hear just one word to understand why this rather standard-looking pillow is going for thousands on Ebay: “Feathers.” Yes, that’s right — the prop pillow that Edward Cullen shredded during his in flagrante honeymoon sexing with Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is up for auction by the prop reseller Hollywood Parts, which guarantees the authenticity of the item with this lovely detail: “Make up stains from the main actors can be seen on the pillow.” ( Butter-colored , I presume?) Somehow it’s still available for the low, low Buy It Now price of $2,999.99. And I thought shoes from the future were a good investment… [ eBay via Examiner ]
Oh to be young and in love and periodically a flesh-rending creature of globular, hairy, throbbing pulp. That’s the curse heaped upon the eponymous romantics in Jack and Diane , one of the more anticipated — and more disappointing — features in Tribeca 2012’s narrative competition. It’s hard to be too down on such lean passion; Jack and Diane ‘s premiere Friday night amounted to the culmination of nine years of work by filmmaker Bradley Rust Gray, whose acclaimed 2010 drama The Exploding Girl served as sort of a hetero prelude to the lesbian body horror/romance mashup swamping his latest: Diane (Juno Temple) is a hot British teen mess visiting her aunt in New York City, all babydoll dresses, knit watermelon halter tops and purple knee socks, rocked by the hormonal lighting strike that is butch, brooding Jack (Riley Keough). The girls club, they kiss, they bond, they exchange vaguely sweet Manhattan banalities (“I have a Metrocard if you want it”), and then… I don’t even know. On the one hand it’s not worth spoiling; jumpy genre reveals are involved, hinted at by customarily grisly animation by the Brothers Quay. On the other hand, Jack and Diane is too much of a mess to spoil, suffocated in the dynamics of longing without even the hope of dramatic — or even darkly comedic — satisfaction. It’s a movie whose shadowy genre overtones — a girl! In a bathroom! With a bloody nose! And a monster! — surrenders to the same auteurist A.D.D. that sank The Exploding Girl . For once, I would like to see Gray’s New York not refracted surveillance-style through long lenses and the fraught nubile wits of characters whose doe eyes and costumes connote virtually the whole story. Temple’s expressive genius — all matted blond hair and mischievous (and monstrous) pixie — goes only so far against Keough’s near-total blankness, getting most of its mileage out of a single early, affecting confessional between the star-crossed girls. Ultimately, though, it’s hard to know just how seriously to take Jack and Diane , with all its sinewy portent and bizarre porn digressions and tragicomic pube-shaving and actual straight-faced dialogue such as, “Do you have to take a shit? Try to do like I do and fart it out.” Viewers familiar with The Exploding Girl might realize after a while that they’re only staying with Jack and Diane for the promise of more B-list hipster-goddesses losing control; then it was Zoe Kazan’s simmering epileptic panic, and now it’s the viscera-devouring prospect of sapphic passion — in one case featuring Elvis Presley’s grandaughter (Keough’s mother is Lisa Marie Presley) and Kylie Minogue in a heavily tattooed cameo. It is what it is, and it never feels like much more. Nevertheless, there is at least one glint of salvation in Jack and Diane , though it has nothing to do with its filmmaking or performances (and here I should issue a spoiler alert): Keough and Minogue make out to the strains of Shellac’s rare and entrancing hate-punk ballad ” Doris ,” which I suppose means that someone somewhere has a clean MP3 of the notoriously vinyl-only single. Rejoice! Can I have a copy? Read all of Movieline’s Tribeca 2012 coverage here . Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
This past week, Movieline has spotlighted a number of Tribeca Film Festival filmmakers and trailers of their fest premieres. This weekend, we’re sharing more. If you’re in New York and want to see some films at the festival (or if you are looking for a taste of Tribeca from afar), here is a sneak glimpse of more of this year’s offerings from the festival’s World Narrative Competition and World Documentary Competition . Today’s spotlights include two features from Tribeca’s World Narrative Competition, Jack and Diane as well as Yossi . And from the World Documentary Competition, Movieline is featuring Downeast , Wavumba and The World Before Her . Be in the know and check them out — and share your thoughts on these and other Tribeca films. Jack and Diane by director Bradley Rust Gray – U.S. [World Narrative Competition] Synopsis : Tomboy Jack and bubbly Diane fall head over heels in love one hot summer in New York City. But neither Jack’s tough exterior nor Diane’s demure innocence prepare them for the intensity of their feelings. When Diane reveals she must leave the city for school in Europe at the end of the summer, Jack pushes her away. As Diane struggles to maintain their budding romance, she must also try to conceal from Jack the increasingly dark and violent visions that have begun to plague her. [Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival] Comments by Bradley Rust Gray… Jack and Diane quick pitch : Girl eats girl. Girl feels sorry about eating girl. Girl misses girl. There’s some gum chewing in the middle. …and why it’s worth seeing at Tribeca : It’s quite likely the only film playing in New York next week which has an animated vagina in it. Thoughts about the trailer : We were trying to capture that awkward budding moment when two people have just exposed their hearts to each other; they feel vulnerable, sensitive, and excited – all feelings which the film re-engages with in different ways. [Read Movieline’s review of Jack and Diane here .] Yossi by director Eytan Fox – Israel [World Narrative Competition] Synopsis : Returning to the role that won him TFF’s Best Actor award in Eytan Fox’s Yossi & Jagger in 2003, Ohad Knoller gives another extraordinary performance as Yossi, a closeted gay man living a solitary existence in Tel Aviv. A perennially sad, workaholic doctor, Yossi has his quiet world shaken when a middle-aged woman walks out of his past and into his examination room. Their brief but emotionally charged reunion unnerves Yossi enough to make him spontaneously leave Tel Aviv. On the desolate roads of southern Israel, a chance encounter with a group of lively soldiers ignites Yossi’s desire to awaken from his emotional slumber. [Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival] Comments by Eytan Fox… Yossi quick pitch : Yossi is a follow up to a film I made 10 years ago. It’s a character study of Yossi, of his psyche and soul. As the film starts, he is still suffering from post-traumatic stress due to the death of his lover during the war. He remains in the closet, so he is also at war with himself. As a cardiologist, he has essentially exchanged one army for another, because being a doctor also involves consistently dealing with crises and difficult issues. You even have a uniform! Ultimately, the film is about Yossi eventually processing the horrible things that have happened to him, things he has long repressed, and finding ways to escape the very difficult places that he has been in for years. He finally discovers a new way to define himself and create a new life. …and why it’s worth seeing at Tribeca : This is our world premiere for Yossi . I would say people should see it for Ohad Knoller’s performance. I’m just so impressed and moved by what he did with the character of Yossi again, ten years later. I don’t want to insult any other actors of mine or characters of mine, but I don’t think I’ve ever loved a character as much as Yossi as played by Ohad. Thoughts about the trailer : I think most American films are big on taglines, so I have some for Yossi . “It’s never too late to start your life” or “It’s never to too late to start again.” These might seem like clichés, but it takes a lot of hard work to change your life. You have to understand what you need to change, be brave and work to love yourself. Downeast by directors David Redmon and Ashley Sabin – U.S. [World Documentary Competition] Synopsis : The slogan on the ‘Welcome to Maine’ sign leading into Gouldsboro reads “Open for Business,” but the recent closure of the sardine canning factory has brought this small coastal town to a total standstill. Its laid-off residents — mostly 70-year-olds — just want to get back to work, so when Italian immigrant Antonio Bussone arrives from Boston aiming to open a new lobster processing plant, most of the local labor welcomes him with open arms. After all, they’re sick of sending their lobsters to Canada when there’s a ready-and-willing workforce to process them at home. So why is tapping into federal relief funds to finance the plant turning into the biggest struggle of Antonio’s life? [Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival] Comments provided by David Redmon and Ashley Sabin… Downeast quick pitch : Downeast is a poetic exploration of Antonio Bussone’s tireless efforts to build a factory amidst conflict, navigate a faceless banking system, and employ a stagnant workforce that resides on the coast of Maine. …and why it’s worth seeing at Tribeca : The economic crises played out in the streets and suites of New York City. Downeast shows its impact on the lives of every day workers and those who press forward against the odds. Thoughts about the trailer : The trailer shows the tensions involved in opening a factory when multiple interests are involved. Wavumba by director Jeroen van Velzen – The Neterhalnds [World Documentary Competition] Synopsis : Mysticism and color reign in this stunning documentary, steeped in the fishermen lore of Kenya. Dutch filmmaker Jeroen van Velzen explores his visceral memories of an early youth spent in coastal Kenya, where a reverence for the sea reigns high. Via the locals’ enigmatic recitation of a well known folktale, we are introduced to a spirit-filled island, to which a fisherman’s visit has the magic to alternately bless or curse his bounty. [Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival] Comments by Jeroen van Velzen… Wavumba quick pitch : Wavumba is a film about an old fisherman, Mashoud, who wants to catch a big shark as he did in the old days. Mashoud brings me into a world where fantasy, belief and reality cannot be differentiated from one another. …and why it’s worth seeing at Tribeca : Not everyone has a childhood like mine, but every child grows up with amazing stories or myths he believes in. That makes this film more than just my personal discovery. By bringing you into the Kenyan reality, which is bound to other laws than ours, I want to wake up that feeling of magic you had as a child. Thoughts about the trailer : In the trailer I want convey the main story lines of the film. The reasons for heading back to Kenya and making the film are personal, but by following Mashoud on his quest to catch a big shark and by listening to myths told by an old Kenyan story teller I want to take people on a journey with me back to the world which inspired me. The World Before Her by director Nisha Pahuja – Canada [World Documentary Competition] Synopsis : Young, beautiful, and ambitious, Ankita and Ruhi compete in the Miss India pageant for the chance at a career in the beauty industry, one of the few opportunities for women to find success and empowerment in contemporary India. On the opposite end of the spectrum from Miss India is Durga Vahini, the women’s wing of the Hindu fundamentalist movement. Filming for the first time within a Durga Vahini camp, director Nisha Pahuja offsets the pageant narrative with that of camp leader Prachi, a fiery and compelling figure expressing a very different voice in the debate over women’s issues. [Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival] Comments by Nisha Pahuja… The World Before Her quick pitc h: The World Before Her looks at The Miss India beauty contest and a Hindu fundamentalist camp for girls — two competing ideas of India playing themselves out on the bodies of young women. …and why it’s worth seeing at Tribeca : There’s a lot more to the film than women in bikinis and women with guns – what’s happening in India really is a mirror that shows the West back to itself. We deal with two of the most critical and defining issues of the day – fundamentalism and capitalism. We also look at the struggles that women in India continue to face. Thoughts about the clip : In this clip you will meet Prachi our key fundamentalist character. She has a very complex relationship with her father and in this clip she expands on that relationship. In so doing Prachi points to the larger reality of female infanticide – still practiced in India. Read all of Movieline’s Tribeca 2012 coverage here .
Filming is underway on the other period behind-the-scenes Alfred Hitchcock flick — this one stars Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh , Jessica Biel as starlet Vera Miles, Anthony Hopkins as Hitch and Helen Mirren as his wife Alma — and the very first photo from the pic has hit the web. In it, buried somewhere beneath layers of prosthetics and make-up and balding hair, is Sir Anthony as the iconic auteur. Toby Jones , eat your heart out. Sacha Gervasi ( Anvil! The Story of Anvil ) is behind the camera on the second of two competing Hitchcock films in production, but his, titled Hitchcock and penned by John J. Laughlin and O.G. Movieline contributor Stephen Rebello from Rebello’s own book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho , takes aim at Hitchcock’s life and marriage while he was making Psycho . The first image released by Fox Searchlight shows Hopkins in make-up and costume striking the iconic Hitchcock profile pose… but first, a visual equation: The stunning Blue Steel of Sir Anthony Hopkins… …plus the jowly physical presence of Hitchcock… …equals Sir Alftony Hitchkins! Thoughts?
Making its North American premiere next week at Tribeca , director Chris Kenneally’s digital-cinema study Side By Side has quite a bit going for it: There’s co-producer Keanu Reeves, narrating and leading interviews with an extraordinary range of filmmakers including Christopher Nolan, George Lucas, James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Steven Soderbergh, Lars von Trier and numerous others. There’s great technical insight from Oscar-winning cinematographers like Vittorio Storaro, Wally Pfister, Anthony Dod Mantle and Dion Beebe. There’s scene-stealers like Joel Schumacher and shooter Geoff Boyle, who encapsulates the digital age with his trenchant summary, “We’re fucked.” But among all the experts, insights and disclosures herein, there’s one appearance in particular that makes Side by Side worth a look: The Wachowskis. While they’ve made seemingly random news posing for photos with Arianna Huffington and others, I can’t even find the last instance of a bona fide interview with Andy and Lana Wachowski. Roger Ebert talked to them a bit in 2008 , but for a real chat about their work or style, you’d probably have to go back to their Matrix days , when Lana was still Larry and they hadn’t yet settled completely behind their cloak of personal, professional and creative privacy. But there they are onscreen, filling Reeves and Kenneally in regarding the advancement of digital filmmaking and its influence on the Matrix and Speed Racer . And that’s not all. “The delivery system of cinema is going to change, and that’s almost kind of more exciting in a way for me, beside the actual cameras,” Lana says. “This very ancient system of putting a can of film on a truck, driving it to a city, unloading it — that’s being replaced.” And as for the social-media influence on filmgoing, Andy weighs in with his support: “In some way, the virtual experience is more rewarding, because there’s an actual dialogue going on.” There’s more, which you can see either at Tribeca (where Side by Side premieres Apr. 24 ) or when the film arrives in theaters and on VOD this August. All of which leads to the question: How did Kenneally and Reeves even get the two to agree to a sit-down with them? Kenneally sent the back story in a statement to Movieline: We are very fortunate and grateful for all the amazing people who shared their time, insights and knowledge with us for our documentary Side by Side . We were especially fortunate to have been able to interview the Wachowskis since they rarely do interviews. Andy and Lana have had a very successful and close relationship with Keanu, and I believe the reason they agreed to the interview was because of this friendship. The Wachowskis continue to create groundbreaking movies and they are truly pioneers in the use of digital technology. The images they were able to create in the Matrix Trilogy and on Speed Racer pushed the limits of filmmaking art and technology. There are beautiful shots in those films that had never been conceived of before. The Wachowskis were very busy working on their next film Cloud Atlas , which they are directing along with Tom Tykwer, in Berlin, Germany, but they found a few free hours for us one afternoon. Keanu, our producer Justin Szlasa and I flew to Berlin, set up our cameras quickly and got an amazing, insightful and at times hilarious interview. The Wachowskis had a unique, intelligent perspective on image creation, digital technology, editing, archival and couldn’t have been nicer or more welcoming to us. One of the highlights of the Side by Side journey for me was seeing Lana and Andy in the audience at our screening at the Berlin Film Festival. I had the chance to speak to them afterword. They were really happy for us and had a lot of kind words to say about Side by Side . Fantastic. Of course there are plenty of other interviewees and perspectives to catch in Side by Side ; learn more about the film and check out a few clips at its Tribeca Film Festival page . Read all of Movieline’s Tribeca 2012 coverage here . Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
If the Tremor brothers were slightly less-deranged they might be the Southern-fried antiheroes of The Baytown Disco , whose trailer reveals a startling lack of disco and copious amounts of gun-battling, yee-hawing, and evil Billy Bob Thornton . (Oh, evil Billy Bob! How I love you.) Watch as Eva Longoria taps the trio of redneck bros to kidnap her godson — and in the process, invite road warriors, Thornton’s “whore assassins,” and Stefan from The Vampire Diaries to hunt them down — in Baytown Disco ‘s Smokin’ Aces -meets- Gigli trailer. The Oodie brothers are played by Clayne Crawford (who actually battled the Tremor bros. in the direct-to-video sequel Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball ), Daniel Cudmore ( Twilight , X-Men ), and Travis Fimmel; The “Southern whip-ass extravaganza” is directed by Barry Battles from his Black List ’09 script with Griffin Hood and also stars Andre Braugher (!), Meagan Good, Michael Rapaport, Paul Wesley, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Zoe Bell, and Agnes Brucker. The synopsis: The rousing rebel spirit of a family of Southern thugs takes off at breakneck speed in “The Baytown Disco” — a wickedly playful, high-velocity action-comedy in which three infamously ruthless Alabama brothers find themselves on the wrong side of crooked cops, relentless Feds, mad mobsters, road pirates, tomahawk-wielding bikers, tricky femme fatales and an unforgettable cast of characters as colorful as they are lethal when they finally try to do a single good deed. Academy Award® winner Billy Bob Thornton and Golden Globe winner Eva Longoria headline this wildly explosive, yet ultimately moving, tale of honor breaking out among thieves with madcap results. It all starts when the fetching Celeste (Longoria) has a falling out with her nefarious ex-husband Carlos (Thornton) who kidnaps her beloved son, Rob (Thomas Brodie Sangster). Knowing her ex can be a maniacal psychopath, not to mention a bit trigger-happy, she turns for help to the most bad-ass, lawless hit-man trio in Alabama: the Oodie Brothers. Ringleader Brick (Clayne Crawford, “24,” “The Glades”), mute wrestling phenom Lincoln (Daniel Cudmore, “The Twilight Saga”), and the baby of the brothers, the kick-ass G.I. McQueen (Travis Fimmel, “The Beast”) are known for being mean as a bag of rattlesnakes –and measly kidnap rescues are not on their menu of services. But when Brick is unexpectedly moved by Celeste’s plight, what he thinks is going to be an easy smash-and-grab job turns out to be the most hair-raising and hilariously intense adventure of his and his brothers’ harrowing careers. Suddenly the Oodies have their hometown Sheriff (Andre Braugher, “Men of a Certain Age,” “Salt”), in a tangle; a pesky DEA Agent (Paul Wesley, “Vampire Diaries”) on their trail, and Carlos and his heinous assortment of henchman out for their hides. With no one quite who or what they seem, they are headed for a showdown — and a shot at redemption — they never saw coming. The Baytown Disco is seeking distribution, release TBA.
Thanks to all who played along in our epic Cabin in the Woods poetry contest! After careful deliberation over your many incisive and witty horror-themed submissions , Movieline’s editors have selected the five best haikus of the bunch; read the winning selections — all of which, yes, will receive that coveted Cabin in the Woods expanding bong — after the jump. Cabin in the Woods spoilers follow, so beware! Movieline pored over submissions from the comments section, on Facebook, and on Twitter, and selected one grand prize winner and four runners up to honor for their supreme sacrifices tributes to the horror haiku gods. The Grand Prize Winner, who will be receiving a prize pack including a Cabin in the Woods t-shirt, visualization “movie tie-in” book, the novelization, a signed poster, AND the official Cabin in the Woods bong, is… Andrew Myers ! Here’s Andrew’s winning submission — a clever takeaway from Cabin in the Woods and really, a lesson to us all. Ancient wisdom says: Go check out the basement, but Don’t read the Latin. Congrats also go to our four runners-up, who will be receiving t-shirt, a poster, and the Cabin in the Woods bong: Dan Kahan : On the prowl for love Faceless ballerina girl Danced into my heart Antonio : Ultimate horror Is not zombies or clowns, but Sigourney Weaver Jered : Werewolves stalk Big Ben One of them does not belong From across the pond Shane : Five teens in the woods. Sex? Drugs? Sure. But don’t forget Killer unicorns. Give all of our winners a high-five for their haikus. Put those prizes to good use, friends.
They’ll soon go from Mr. and Mrs. Smith to Mr. and Mrs. Pitt — that’s right, celebrity supercouple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are finally making it official. A rep for the pair confirmed their news today to THR , calling it “a promise for the future.” Really, isn’t the long-awaited Brangelina engagement a promise for us all ? Hmm… could this be why Jolie made such concerted efforts to hide her ring finger on the red carpet last month in New York? Observe: What’s that? You don’t care? FINE. Let the rest of us live vicariously through Brad ‘n’ Angie while simultaneously coveting their happiness on this glorious day. Isn’t that what engagement announcements are for? (Or is this all an elaborate PR stunt to promote that Jason Segel-Emily Blunt movie about people who can’t get their act together?) Whatever. Congrats to the happy, gorgeous, charitable, and rich & famous couple and TGIF. [ THR ]
Pair reportedly may appear together in Ridley Scott’s ‘The Counselor,’ starring Michael Fassbender. By Fallon Prinzivalli Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Have you heard the news, movie fans? Seven years after meeting on the set of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are engaged! No, for real this time. Cynthia Pett-Dante, Pitt’s manager, confirmed the news on Friday (April 13), saying, “It is a promise for the future and their kids are very happy.” Robert Procop, the designer of Jolie’s engagement ring, released a statement to People : “Brad had a specific vision for this ring, which he realized over a yearlong collaboration with Robert. He wanted every aspect of it to be perfect, so Robert was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and shape to suit Angelina’s hand.” We can hear all the ladies in our office swooning, but that’s not the only exciting news for fans of the Hollywood power couple. Pitt and Jolie may star together alongside Michael Fassbender in the forthcoming movie ” The Counselor .” Deadline Hollywood reports that director Ridley Scott wanted Pitt and Javier Bardem for the movie. As he’s close to getting them both, rumors are circulating that Jolie might also be in talks to play the female lead. She and Scott have been collaborating on a Gertrude Bell biopic, which may have led to the rumors. With Brangelina’s engagement now official, it would make sense that the actors would want to remain close to one another. But Pitt and Jolie wouldn’t be the only ones to reunite via “The Counselor.” This would be the first time Scott and Pitt work together since Scott directed “Thelma & Louise,” a film that undoubtedly launched Pitt’s career. “The Counselor” was written by Cormac McCarthy. It follows a well-respected lawyer (Fassbender) who gets involved in the drug business and quickly finds himself in a situation that’s more than he can handle. If cast in the film, Pitt would play a shady middleman and Bardem would be Fassbender’s associate. The movie is said to start filming in June and Fox is currently negotiating to distribute. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
