At my first screening of Silence, George Lucas introduced Martin Scorsese’s new Japan-set spiritual drama at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre by praising it as a film that belongs in the 20th century. Whatever Lucas meant by that, Silence feels far older, even archaic, bemoaning as it does the arduousness of European colonialism. “It’s Hard Out… Read more »
Stars of the film talk to MTV News about the thriller surrounding ‘a desperate man in a desperate situation.’ By Kara Warner Sam Worthington and Jamie Bell in “Man on a Ledge” Photo: Summit Entertainment While some filmmakers go the mysterious or fanciful route with their titles, there are just as many who tell their prospective audiences exactly what they’re going to see. “Man on a Ledge,” which opened Friday (January 27), is about as literal a film title as you can get. When MTV News caught up with the cast recently, we asked them to explain the inherent intrigue in the title, as well as why the film has so much more going for it than just a man and a ledge. “[The film is about] a desperate man in a desperate situation,” star Sam Worthington said of his character and the man on a ledge himself, Nick Cassidy. “As the movie goes on, we get to see why he’s there and how’s he’s going to get out of it.” Worthington went on to say that “Man on a Ledge” takes a few cues from action films like “The Negotiator” and “Phone Booth.” “I like those movies. I’ve always said I like doing movies that I would go and see and this is in the same vein as those movies,” Worthington said. “It’s exciting, thrilling and interesting for the audience because they’ve got a lead character who they’re wondering, ‘What’s going to happen next?’ ” “The basic premise of the movie is that there is a man on a ledge, and the great thing is that there is so much more behind that basic premise,” added co-star Elizabeth Banks, who plays determined hostage negotiator Lydia Mercer. “Why is he there? What is he there for? What’s really happening? Those are all the questions that my character has and I get to sort of be the surrogate for the audience. “The whole time we’re watching the movie we’re learning more about what’s going on. I’m the truth-seeker of the movie, I’m really interested in understanding why he’s there in the first place,” she explained. “Sam’s character says to me at one point, ‘You need to listen, I’m prepared to die’ and what he’s really saying is ‘Even if I die, I need you to carry on and tell everyone what happened,’ and that’s the great mystery of the movie. The action that drives the movie is, ‘What the heck is going on here?’ ” Jamie Bell, who plays the man on the ledge’s younger brother, conceded that the title basically sells the film. “It’s quite literal,” he said. “I think that’s what throws people off,” offered Genesis Rodriguez, who plays the girlfriend of Bell’s character. “They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a movie about a man on a ledge.’ It really isn’t. There’s more to it.’ You should check it out because you don’t know it all.” Are you planning on seeing “Man on a Ledge” this weekend? Leave your comment below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Man on a Ledge.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
There are times when too much of a good thing and not enough meet halfway and settle into a comfortable middle ground. That’s the case with Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin , which would be better if it had been made using more traditional animation techniques rather than that performance-capture nonsense and if 3-D weren’t one of its big selling points.
He’s won a Tony Award (for Red ) and held his own onscreen opposite everyone from Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon ( The Good Shepherd ) to Julianne Moore ( Savage Grace ) to Cate Blanchett ( Elizabeth: The Golden Age ). But there’s something about Eddie Redmayne’s role in My Week With Marilyn — as Colin Clark, a glorified film-set gofer mediating the relationship between Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) and her Prince and the Showgirl co-star and director Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) — that hints at just the right screen role at just the right time.
It’s that time of year for the Independent Spirit Awards to recognize the best and brightest indie films. Today, the panel announced their nominations with The Artist and Take Shelter leading the pack with five nods each. Click ahead and start placing bets on who will take home the awards this February.
The New York Film Critics Circle made waves by moving their awards announcement up to November 29 in an effort to claim “First!” but Oscar-watchers have to admit: Between the NYFCC Twitter roll-out and this morning’s Spirit Awards nominations , there’s a crackle in the air on an otherwise slo-o-o-w news day. So what if the New York critics didn’t get a chance to see everything before voting today? They saw Tree of Life ! (Clearly.) Hit the jump for the list of winners.
If there’s one thing we still need to discuss, it’s the 2011 Oscars and how co-host James Franco bungled them up. (If you believe that, I have bunch of leftover Sarah Palin jokes I’d like to fly for you.) Fellow Freaks and Geeks alum Seth Rogen responded to a question regarding Mr. Franco, and he finally weighed in on the Oscars’ decision to hire young hosts. Specifically, he thinks the Academy screwed James Franco over.
Comedian, radio personality, Charlie Sheen roaster, and sometimes actor Patrice O’N eal passed away following a stroke last month and his long term struggle with diabetes. “Many of us have lost a close and loved friend; all of us have lost a true comic genius,” wrote agent Matt Frost in a statement. O’N eal was best known for his stand up, television, and radio appearances, including stints on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and the Opie and Anthony show. He also appeared in a handful of films including Head of State and Furry Vengeance ; watch him in a scene from Spike Lee’s The 25th Hour after the jump.
Here it is, the reason I renewed my subscription to the internet: Rich lists. They’re just maddening, enthralling and depressing no matter who’s on them. Actually, if I were on one, I’d be depressed about it. Like, “I’m the richest? Is this all there is? Time to move to Sedona. Time to open a stationery shop.” On the UK magazine Heat ‘s 30 Under 30 Rich List, you’ll be pleased to learn that the UK’ s young movie stars make more money than its pop stars. But who leads the tally?