Adele has given birth to someone like her. A source close to the singer confirms to People that the incredible singer and boyfriend Simon Konecki are the excited new parents of a son. “We are all over the moon,” the insider gushes of the event. Adele announced the pregnancy in June and asked fans to “respect” her “privacy” at the time. We will continue to do so now, simply sending our very best wishes to the expanding family. In other celebrity baby news this week, Megan Fox is now a mother !
Also in Thursday morning’s round-up of news briefs: The National Board of Review releases details for its awards event; Tyler Perry revs up for a second Double Cross ; a Toronto heist thriller heads to U.S. theaters; And remembering Dutch actress Syliva Kristel and Japanese director Koji Wakamatsu. Meredith Vieira to Host National Board of Review Awards Gala The event will take place January 8th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. The NBR will announce their Award Winners on December 5th. “It’s a true honor to be reteaming with my friends at the NBR for their special night,” said Vieira in an NBR statement. “I look forward to working with Annie and the organization in the coming months to put together a fantastic evening in honor of the best films of the year.” Wasteland Heads to U.S. Theaters The film, directed by Rowan Athale, centers on Harvey Miller, a young Englishman recently released from prison, recruits his three best friends and devises a complex scheme to rob the local drug kingpin (who also happens to be the reason for Harvey’s incarceration). To complicate matters further, Harvey must balance exacting his revenge and pulling off this major score with trying to win back his reluctant but still-caring ex-girlfriend. Distributor Oscilloscope, which picked up rights to the film, plans a 2013 release. Around the ‘net… Tyler Perry and James Patterson Finalize Alex Cross Film Sequel Tyler Perry will star in a second movie based on Patterson’s crime novel Double Cross The first opens this Friday, Deadline reports . David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Timothy Hutton Undergo After The Fall The three are starring in the film being directed by Anthony Fabian ( Skin ) based on the true story of parents grieving for the unexpected death of their daughter, but use it as a motivation to build a state of the art children’s hospital where families are welcomed into the healing process, Deadline reports . Bryan Singer’s Jack Gets New Title and Release The director’s fantasy-adventure starring Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci and Ian McShane is now titled Jack the Giant Slayer from the previous Jack the Giant Killer . The move will give the PG-13 tale that stars Nicholas Hoult about a young mean who unintentionally opens a gateway between earth and a race of giants, a more “family friendly” title. New Line and Warner Bros. plan an August 9th release, THR reports . R.I.P. Koji Wakamatsu The Japanese filmmaker had just been honored as Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. He got his film start in pornography but went on to make independent productions that won praise. The Caterpillar director, however, said he thought his films were under appreciated in Japan, Deadline reports . Emmanuelle Actress Sylvia Kristel Dies The Dutch actress starred in the 1974 erotic French film. The 60 year-old actress had been suffering from cancer and was admitted to a hospital in July after suffering a stroke. Emmanuelle , which told the story of a sexually promiscuous housewife, spawned numerous sequels and played in a cinema on the Champs-Elysees for 11 years, BBC reports .
Our partners at Movie Fanatic are teaming up with Silent Hill: Revelation 3D for an exclusive giveaway. Click the image below for details on how you can attend the premiere! The event goes down Wednesday, October 24 at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood. Winners will be selected this Friday, October 19. There’s still time! Movie Fanatic has five pairs of tickets to give away on each of its social media sites: Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, and Pinterest. Enter on all five sites to increase your chances – it’s easy and free! Just follow the link now for instructions on this exclusive Silent Hill premiere giveaway !
Emily Maynard and Jef Holm broke up last week. They have yet to confirm this officially, but all indications are that they have gone their separate ways. Recent activity by The Bachelorette couple certainly corroborates this sad truth: They have not written to each other or posted anything about each other since. Holm deleted his Twitter profile pic of himself and Emily. Now it’s a solo shot. Emily changed her pic to one of herself and daughter Ricki, instead of Jef. Lest you think we’re making something out of nothing, it continues: He’s also changed his Instagram photo from himself and Emily Maynard to one of himself and a friend at his organization, People Water. Emily recently posted a photo of the quote, “She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.” Jef wrote “Can’t wait to hang with my mom & sisters in AZ for the next few days. Excited to have another niece! #lovebabies.” He retweeted the following quote: “#God has a way to heal your sorrow. God has a way to touch your tomorrow. Trust him.” Even People magazine, to which the pair denied previous breakup rumors, ran an article about how they MIGHT be broken up. It’s as good as confirmed. Sad, but we’d be astonished if they were still together (or got back together) at this point. It’s only a matter of time before the official breakup statement comes out. In happier news, Ashley Hebert and J.P. Rosenbaum are getting married in December.
Victoria’s Secret is officially out. Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio has been chosen to wear the coveted $2.5M “Fantasy Bra” created by London Jewelers at the brand’s upcoming show. This is normally kept under wraps until the event, but someone dropped the ball and she was shown wearing it in a YouTube preview last week. The clip has since been edited out, but you can’t unsee this stuff. Nor would you want to unsee any Alessandra Ambrosio photos or video clips. The lingerie retailer was reportedly planning to reveal that Ambrosio was the angel chosen to wear the bra at their Soho store in NYC this Thursday. Oh well. SPOILER ALERT! “I am so honored to be wearing the Fantasy Bra in the #vsfashionshow!” Ambrosio has since tweeted. “Can’t wait for you all to see it in the show!” The 2012 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show airs December 4 on CBS. Look for her in THG’s bikini pictures countdown around then as well. Synergy, baby.
You can’t be serious … Jason Thompson, the son of Republican Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson, made an off-color remark at President Obama’s expense which has now gone viral: In a clip posted on YouTube from a Republican Party Of Kenosha County brunch event, Jason Thompson commented that “we have the opportunity” to send President Barack Obama “back to Chicago — or Kenya,” drawing applause from the crowd. Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus was among the other speakers, adding that “we have an opportunity to save America” by electing Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Shorewood (Wis.) Patch reports that Tommy Thompson, who was not at the event, told reporters that he had not seen the video. A spokesperson for his campaign told BuzzFeed that “Jason Thompson said something he should not have, and he apologizes.” This, amidst all of the denials that race is not at all involved. From the mouths of babes comes the conversation at the dinner table. Shame on all of you who do this. Republicans have lost their ability to feel shame. Anything is okay as long as they win. Source Youtube
Also in Thursday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs: Val Kilmer will receive kudos from the Dallas Film Society; Jodie Foster takes on Money for her next directorial project. Also, Tribeca Film Festival names a new Deputy Executive Director and the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) launches a major new initiative; Dallas Film Society to Fete Val Kilmer Kilmer will be honored by the Dallas Film Society at their annual fall fundraiser, “The Art of Film” on November 16th. He will be presented with the Dallas Star Award November 16th followed by a conversation during the event by film critic Elvis Mitchell. Nicholas Apps Joins Tribeca Film Festival As Deputy Executive Director Tribeca named Apps Deputy E.D. effective October 15rh. He will report to Executive Director Beth Janson spearheading individual giving and corporate sponsorship initiatives, and marketing and communications efforts for Tribeca Film Institute, the year-round nonprofit founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff. IFP to Develop and Operate “Made in New York” Media Center Independent film advocacy group Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) will develop and operate a new Media Center in New York City. Bringing together traditional media and emerging technologies, IFP aims to make the Media Center “a hub for filmmakers, content creators, and entrepreneurs to work together under one roof.” Located in DUMBO in Brooklyn, it is set to open in spring 2013. More information can be found at their website . Around the ‘net… Cinematographer Harris Savides Dies Harris Savides, the acclaimed cinematographer who worked frequently with Gus Van Sant and David Fincher, has died at 55. Savides died Wednesday night, his representatives at The Skouras Agency confirmed Thursday. Savides was known for vividly recreating the hazy hues of 1970s cinema in films like Fincher’s Zodiac , Ridley Scott’s American Gangster and Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere , and for mesmerizingly fluid, long takes with Van Sant in movies including Last Days , ‘ Elephant and Gerry , A.P. reports . Ben Affleck Eyes Live By Night as Next Directing Gig The director/actor is in talks with Warner Bros. to make Live By Night which, like Argo , he will write, direct, produce and star in. The story is based on the novel by Dennis Lehane. Set during Prohibition, the focus is on Joe Coughlin, the black sheep son of a police captain who gets involved in escalating levels of organized crime, Deadline reports . Jodie Foster to Direct Money Monster Foster will direct the drama about a TV personality whose insider trading tips have made him the money guru of Wall Street. A viewer, however, loses all his money on a tip from the insider and takes him hostage on air. Ratings soar as the country is gripped by the drama. Production is set for early 2013, Deadline reports .
AFI Fest is fast approaching and the event unveiled Centerpiece Gala and Special Screenings details with Ang Lee ‘s Life of Pi (3-D) and Walter Salles ‘ On the Road on tap for their West Coast debuts. Peter Ramsey’s Rise of the Guardians and Jacques Audiard ‘s Rust and Bone will also debut. Bone star Marion Cotillard will receive a tribute during the festival, taking place November 1 – 8. All galas will take place at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. A number of Toronto premieres will be presented as Special Screenings at AFI Fest. Eight titles including The Central Park Five , Ginger and Rosa , Holy Motors , The Impossible , Quartet , Room 237 , TIFF winner Silver Linings Playbook and West of Memphis will screen in the section. As previously announced, the World Premiere of Sacha Gervasi’s Hitchcock will open AFI Fest, while Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln will close out the event. For the fourth year, AFI Fest will off free tickets for all of its screenings (though packages are available to ensure reserved seats for Galas). AFI Fest 2012 Galas with descriptions provided by the event: Opening Night Gala: Hitchcock : The love story between the iconic filmmaker and his wife, Alma Reville, during the filming of PSYCHO in 1959. DIR Sacha Gervasi. SCR John J. McLaughlin. CAST Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Toni Collette, Jessica Biel, Michael Stuhlbarg, James D’Arcy, Michael Wincott, Richard Portnow, Kurtwood Smith. USA. World Premiere. Thursday, November 1, 7:00 p.m., Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Centerpiece Galas: Life of Pi in 3D: Director Ang Lee ( Brokeback Mountain , Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ) creates a groundbreaking movie event about a young man who survives a disaster at sea and is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an amazing and unexpected connection with another survivor – a fearsome Bengal tiger. DIR Ang Lee. SCR David Magee. CAST Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Rafe Spall, Gérard Depardieu. USA. Friday, November 2, 7:30 p.m., Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. On the Road : Jack Kerouac’s seminal pseudo-autobiography arrives on the big screen at the intersection of fact and fiction. DIR Walter Salles. SCR Jose Rivera, Jack Kerouac. CAST Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Tom Sturridge, Danny Morgan, Alice Bragga, Elisabeth Moss, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortenson. France/UK/USA/Brazil. Saturday, November 3, 8:00 p.m., Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Rise of the Guardians in 3D: Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Sandman and Jack Frost are The Guardians – legendary characters with previously unknown extraordinary abilities charged with protecting children everywhere from an evil spirit’s attempt to take over the world. DIR Peter Ramsey. SCR David Lindsay-Abaire. CAST Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, Jude Law. USA. Sunday, November 4, 4:00 p.m., Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Rust and Bone (De Rouille Et D’Os) featuring A Tribute to Marion Cotillard: An unusual love story between a back alley boxer and a woman who has suffered a profound loss. DIR Jacques Audiard. SCR Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain. CAST Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure, Celine Sallette, Corinne Masiero, Bouli Lanners, Jean-Michel Correia. France/Belgium. Monday, November 5, 7:30 p.m., Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Closing Night Gala: Lincoln : Steven Spielberg directs two-time Academy Award® winner Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln , a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come. DIR Steven Spielberg. SCR Tony Kushner. CAST Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones. USA. World Premiere. Thursday, November 8, 7:00 p.m., Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Special Screenings: Silver Linings Playbook : When a history teacher is cuckolded by his wife and a co-worker, he goes ballistic, lands in jail, then moves in with his sports-obsessed parents. DIR David O. Russell. SCR David O. Russell, Matthew Quick. CAST Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher, Julia Stiles, John Ortiz, Paul Herman, Dash Mihok, Shea Whigham. USA. Friday, November 2, 8:00 p.m., Rigler, Egyptian. The Central Park Five : Ken Burns’ documentary about what was known as the crime of century showcases a group of teenagers who were forced to give false confessions and were wrongfully convicted for raping and beating New York City jogger Trisha Meili. DIR/SCR Sarah Burns, Ken Burns, David McMahon. Saturday, November 3, 3:30 p.m., Rigler, Egyptian. Holy Motors : Denis Lavant plays Mr. Oscar, a shadowy figure who inhabits many roles while fulfilling assignments from inside a white limousine in Léos Carax’s beguiling work. DIR/SCR Léos Carax. CAST Denis Lavant, Edith Scob, Eva Mendes, Kylie Minogue. France/Germany. Saturday, November 3, 7:00 p.m., Rigler, Egyptian. The Impossible : A family is swept up in the monumental turmoil of the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami along with thousands of strangers. DIR Juan Antonio Bayona. SCR Sergio G. Sánchez. CAST Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring, Geraldine Chaplin. Spain/USA. Sunday, November 4, 8:30 p.m., Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Room 237 : Rodney Asher’s documentary delves into the symbols and messages hidden within Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed film, THE SHINING, revealing more secrets after 30 years. DIR Rodney Ascher. CAST Bill Blakemore, Geoffrey Cocks, Juli Kearns, John Fell Ryan, Jay Weidner. USA. Sunday, November 4, 9:00 p.m., Chinese 1. Quartet : A birthday concert for Verdi at a home for retired opera singers is disrupted by the arrival of Jean, a diva and former wife of one of the residents. DIR Dustin Hoffman in his directorial debut. SCR Ronald Harwood. CAST Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins, Michael Gambon. UK. Sunday, November 4, 9:00 p.m., Rigler, Egyptian. Ginger and Rosa : As the Cold War meets the sexual revolution in 1960s London, the lifelong friendship of two teenage girls (Elle Fanning, Alice Englert) is shattered by ideological differences and personal betrayals. DIR/SCR Sally Potter. CAST Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Alessandro Nivola, Christina Hendricks, Annette Bening, Oliver Platt, Timothy Spall, Jodhi May. UK/Denmark. Wednesday, November 7, 8:00 p.m., Chinese 1. West of Memphis : Amy Berg’s film casts a light on the brutal murder of three young boys and the 18-year struggle to exonerate the teenagers who were convicted of the crimes. DIR Amy Berg. SCR Billy McMilin, Amy Berg. CAST Damien Echols; Lorri Davis; Jason Baldwin; Jessie Misskelley, Jr.; Pam Hicks. USA. Date, time and venue TBC.
Tuesday night was a celebrity bonanza at the Time Warner Center in New York’s Columbus Circle for the New York premiere of director/star Ben Affleck ‘s acclaimed Argo . Stars Bryan Cranston , Alan Arkin , John Goodman as well as producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov were just part of the cortege of A-listers and New York glitterati who dined at the Porter House Steakhouse where Affleck held the spotlight in the bar talking to folks. Guests were divided into two screenings of the Toronto and Telluride film festivals world premiere based on the true story about a CIA agent (Affleck) who rescues six Americans hiding in the Canadian embassy at the dawn of the Iranian hostage crisis that began in November 1979. ML caught up with actor Bryan Cranston as well as Affleck at the event. Between chatting with a parade of well-heeled well-wishers including best pal Matt Damon, Oliver Stone, Sting, Ted Koppel, Brian Williams and more, Affleck gave a little insight on what motivated him to take on the project, telling ML he decided to make Argo happen because it was a fascinating story that was also a challenge, admitting to some fear in the beginning. “I wanted to direct it because it’s a challenge directorially,” he told ML. “It has three competing challenges: It’s a comedy, it’s a nail-biting thriller and it’s a CIA-intrigue spy story. I thought if I can execute that and combine those elements and execute them, unify them and tell something that is true and maintain the integrity of the truth of the stories then I could do something quite special. It’s the favorite thing I’ve ever been involved with.” In the movie, actor Bryan Cranston plays Jack O’Donnell, one of the six Americans hiding in the Canadian Ambassador’s residence after a daring escape into the streets of the Iranian capital soon after the American embassy was overrun by angry mobs with the acquiescence of the country’s new ruler Ayatollah Khomeini. Cranston said he received the Argo script from his agent and that Affleck and producer Grant Heslov had specifically asked for him to read it. “I thought, ‘Oh that’s flattering.’ And I thought, ‘Please God, let the story be as good as the offer,'” he told ML. “And it was quite frankly even better. The story is fantastic. It’s true, important and the screenplay by Chris Terrio is great. What I took away from this and what I think what audiences will is that it’s a simple story about people being selfless and doing things for all the right reasons – just to save other human beings. There’s no greater noble effort than this.” Ahead of production, a fellow actor touted to Cranston the chance to work with Affleck who in turn put a plug in for Affleck’s work ethic and being an all-around great guy. Events such as Tuesday night’s are meant to showcase Oscar contenders in their best light. And the Peggy Siegel Company, which hosts a number of these dinners and parties tied to screenings, is front and center in organizing events for titles hitting the awards circuit. “I got a tip from Jon Hamm, who said, ‘You’re going to love working with [Affleck].’ And I went, ‘Oh good,'” said Cranston. “As an actor turned director he’s one of the best and just as a director in and of itself, he’s terrific. He’s a kind and a thoughtful man. And he’s willing to do the work. People only see the finished product, but he’s very passionate about stories.” “I didn’t want to make a story that was partisan right before the election,” Affleck said to ML about Argo and the audience he hopes will come to see it when it opens this weekend. “I want a movie that the Repubicans I know and am friends with can go see. I do not want a movie that could be politicized internationally vis-a-vis, Iran. I went to great pains to just tell a factual story with out being didactic or tell the audience what to feel.” Argo Log line: On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. Academy Award-winner Ben Affleck ( Good Will Hunting ) directs and stars in the film, which is produced by Oscar-nominee Grant Heslov ( Good Night, and Good Luck ), Affleck, and Oscar-winner George Clooney ( Syriana ). [ AbovePhoto by Marion Curtis/Starpix ]
The odds of Matt Damon returning to the big screen as Jason Bourne are looking longer than ever judging from a conversation I had with the actor on Tuesday night. Damon, who’s still sporting a shaved head for his work on the sci-fi thriller Elysium , was part of the starry crowd that turned out for a special private screening of Argo , which was beautifully directed by his bud and Good Will Hunting co-writer Ben Affleck . During a dinner at the Porter House steakhouse in the Time Warner Center, I asked Damon if there had been any movement on reports that he could reprise his role after Jeremy Renner’s portrayal of Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy , another agent in the Robert Ludlum-created universe, this past summer. “There has not been any movement,” Damon told me, explaining that though “I’ve always been open to it as long as Paul Greengrass directs, I don’t think he’s going to do it.” Damon laughed when he said this, as if, perhaps, he was downplaying how Greengrass really felt about The Bourne Legacy, or perhaps because he had his own falling-out with Gilroy — who has been a writer on every Bourne film and directed Legacy — over the script to the third movie, The Bourne Ultimatum . Asked why Greengrass was loathe to return to the franchise, Damon said that although he hadn’t seen Legacy yet, “from what I understand, it kind of relives [ The Bourne Ultimatum ] from a different perspective.” ( Legacy is meant to take place concurrently with the events of the third movie, and Jason Bourne is referenced.) “What that means, because they use our actors and characters, is that whatever they said [in Legacy ] is true and so we’d have to acknowledge it in any Bourne movie that we’d do. And that makes it really tough,” Damon said with another laugh, noting: “I don’t think we can do the Dallas it-was-all-a-dream scenario . I don’t think the audience would go for that after they paid money to see a movie.” “I’d really love to do another one because I love the character,” Damon said, but then he pointed out another issue that would make it “a real struggle to extend the franchise”: Bourne’s search to “find his identity” was what drove him through the first three movies. Now that he has answered that question, Damon said, “where do you go next?” Have any ideas, Bourne fans? Leave them in the comments box below, or copyright them and have your people contact Paul Greengrass’ people. Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
