Hugh Bonneville: Matt Damon is Front and Center in First 'Monuments Men' Poster

ROPE OF SILICON

BY: BRAD BREVET PUBLISHED: SUNDAY, AUGUST 25TH 2013 AT 10:30 AM

The film is based on the true story of an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys – seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 – possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind's greatest achievements.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-monuments-men-poster/

Daniel Craig, John Goodman & Hugh Bonneville Join George Clooney's 'The Monuments Men,' Bill Murray & Cate Blanchett Confirmed NEWS BY OLIVER LYTTELTON OCTOBER 29, 2012 11:24 AM (INDIEWIRE)

After a busy few years (six movies in three years, from "Up in the Air" to "The Descendants"), George Clooney's been taking things a little easier in 2012. That's not to say that he hasn't been busy: the actor wrapped Alfonso Cuaron's "Gravity," and is a producer on Ben Affleck's "Argo," a role which is all but certain to see him pick up an Oscar nomination in a record-breaking sixth different category (having previously got nods in Actor, Supporting Actor, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Original Screenplay). But with the former being delayed from its original berth in November to an unknown date next year, 2012 marks the first calendar year since Clooney's ascension to stardom in the early 90s that the actor hasn't appeared in a film in theaters.

But Clooney's on the way back, with his fourth directorial effort "The Monuments Men," and he's bringing along pretty much everyone in Hollywood with him. The WW2 drama, penned by Clooney and writing/producing partner Grant Heslov, is set in the dying days of the war, as an international team of curators and art historians come together to salvage priceless works of art from the Nazi regime. Names like Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray and Jean Dujardin were kicked around as possibilities for the film, but now the cast has solidified, and it's an even more exciting selection than previously thought.

Deadline confirm that Clooney will star in the film, with Blanchett, Murray and Dujardin all confirmed to be participating, while Daniel Craig, riding high with the international success of "Skyfall," is the highest-profile new name on board. Also joining them are "Argo" man John Goodman, "Downton Abbey"'s Earl of Grantham, Hugh Bonneville, and veteran character actor Bob Balaban. That's a pretty badass cast right there.

READ MORE: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/daniel-craig-john-goodman-hugh-bonneville-join-george-clooneys-the-monuments-men-bill-murray-cate-blanchett-confirmed-20121029

Michael Fassbender: Another award nomination for Fassbender (RTE TEN)

Sunday 15 January 2012

Michael Fassbender is among the nominees for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television's inaugural International Awards for his performance in Shame.

 

 

Fassbender - Among the nominees for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television's inaugural International Awards for his performance in Shame

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The International Awards feature five categories: Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress.

Fassbender is shortlisted alongside George Clooney (The Descendants), Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March) and Brad Pitt (Moneyball).
The winners will be announced in Los Angeles on January 27.



http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0115/fassbenderm.html

Top 10 lead actor performances of 2011 (New Jersey Newsroom)

Saturday, 31 December 2011 00:47

BY JOHN SOLTES

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

MOVIE REVIEW

A common thread among the best cinematic performances of 2011 is that the most effective roles are much smaller in scope than previous years. Many of the characters who have lingered in our collective minds are fathers and mothers trying to hold their families together. They are facing the death of their usual selves and need to change with the times, or else feel the uneasy reality of failure.

1. Vera Farmiga, "Higher Ground"
One of the most quietly moving performances in years comes thanks to Vera Farmiga, who not only stars in “Higher Ground,” but also directed the film. Playing Corinne, a woman with a good heart and strong religious beliefs, Farmiga is able to put a cinematic face on a smart, engaging Christian. The performance is so refreshing because it's the opposite of cliche. Corinne is not a zealot or fundamentalist; she's merely a mother and wife, struggling with questions she yearns to answer. Farmiga offers an ambitiously understated performance in a film that investigates what happens when one feels the pangs of dissatisfaction.

2. George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Alexander Payne, director of 'About Schmidt' and “Sideways,” has once again fascinated moviegoers with a stunning portraiture of a broken man trying to hold it all together. His clay is the always-impressive George Clooney, an actor who, like a good wine, seems to age well. Playing Matt King, a wealthy lawyer grappling with the pending death of his estranged wife, Clooney is able to convey a panoply of emotions as he works his way through the unbearable grief process. Much like Brad Pitt's role in 'The Tree of Life,' Clooney is able to create a respectable father figure who carefully tip-toes through the volatile mines of parenthood. As his wife withers in front of him, he realizes his need to take the reins.

3. Viola Davis, “The Help”
“The Help” is an effective cinematic adaptation that occasionally can feel too much like the usual "best-seller" fare that hits movie theaters. Surely, the film would not be as popular or noteworthy if Viola Davis were not involved. As Aibileen Clark, a black maid working in Jackson, Miss., the talented actress is able to ground the film in historical reality. She holds the weight of her son's death and her community's discrimination on her shoulders. Watching her stomach the racism around her and somehow hold her head up high is a marvel to behold. In a year when much-heralded impersonations are getting all the ink (Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn” and Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”), it's Davis' turn in “The Help” that leaves a lasting impression.















4. Brendan Gleeson, “The Guard”
I've seen Brendan Gleeson in many bad films, but I've never seen a bad Brendan Gleeson performance. In “The Guard,” a small Irish film from John Michael McDonagh, Gleeson plays Sgt. Gerry Boyle, an offensive policeman with a dirty mouth and penchant for enjoying hookers on his days off. He's far from the model of humanity, but Gleeson smartly plays him with no pretense or judgment. This makes the character a wonderful complexity of emotions. At one minute, Boyle could be insulting a black FBI agent (Don Cheadle) and in another minute, he's caring for his dying mother (Fionnula Flanagan). The fact that he can do both with a straight face shows a commitment to the character.

5. Kirsten Dunst, “Melancholia”
Despite the inherent controversy over director Lars Von Trier's work, the filmmaker knows how to engage audiences with thoughtful, provocative movies. His latest is 'Melancholia,' and it features a believable, often heartbreaking performance from Kristen Dunst. Living up to its title, the movie depicts the final hours before the end of the world. The only way we as an audience are allowed to comprehend the doom and gloom is through the tortured eyes of Justine (Dunst), a newly wed bride who somehow can identify with the looming destruction. It's a complicated performance that fits perfectly in a complicated film.

6. Dominic Cooper, “The Devil's Double”
Although “The Devil's Double” came and went from movie theaters without much fanfare, Dominic Cooper's powerhouse performances deserve recognition. He not only plays Uday Hussein, Saddam's sadistic son, but also Latif Yahia, Uday's body double. They may look similar (except for buck teeth), but these men are polar opposites. Cooper is given the unenviable task of not only bringing both to life, but also having them interact with each other and still prove believable. He pulls it off, and the results are scarily effectual.

7. Brad Pitt, “The Tree of Life”
Brad Pitt has had a banner year, and although his performance in “Moneyball” will likely nab him an Oscar nomination, it's his role in Terrence Malick's “The Tree of Life” that deserves recognition. As a strong, sometimes fierce father, Pitt embodies a loving sternness. The man looks to his sons as his greatest legacy, and he's determined to make them respectful, successful and presentable.

8. Juliette Binoche, “Certified Copy”
Juliette Binoche anchors much of Abbas Kiarostami's exquisite new film. The talented French actress, who won an Academy Award for 'The English Patient,' always keeps the audience guessing throughout the romantic movie. We never come to know whether Elle (Binoche) and James (William Shimell) are falling in love, have fallen in love already or what exactly is going on. It's to Binoche's credit that we enjoy the guessing game so much.

9. Demian Bichir, “A Better Life”
Demian Bichir turns in a powerful performance as an illegal immigrant faced with the possibility of deportation. He works long hours cutting the lawns of the posh Los Angeles crowd, while at night he watches over his son, trying to keep him out of the local gang activity. Much like Pitt in 'The Tree of Life' and Clooney in “The Descendants,” Bichir plays a father figure with the world stacked against him. One always knows a performance resonates when it eclipses the rest of the film.

10. Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
“The Artist” has become a critical darling, mostly because of its courage to tell an entire story with no words and in black and white. This leaves the audience with the facial emotions of the talented cast, and there is probably no better actor suited for the challenge than Jean Dujardin. As George Valentin, a fading film star unwilling to change with the times, the actor cleverly pays homage to the silent movies of the early 20th century and simultaneously creates a real man with real emotions. It's a deceptively layered performance.

John Soltes is an award-winning freelance journalist based in New Jersey. He currently serves as publisher of Hollywood Soapbox (www.HollywoodSoapbox.com). E-mail him at john.soltes@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ALSO BY JOHN SOLTES

'El Sicario' movie review, trailer: A haunting portrait of a cold-blooded killer
'The Adventures of Tintin' movie review, trailer: Spielberg finds his inner boy
'Carnage' movie review, trailer: Polanski's take loses some bite
'A Dangerous Method' movie review, trailer: Cronenberg explores the human mind
'The Muppets' movie review, trailer: Kermit and friends are back
'Hugo' movie review, trailer: Wondrous entertainment

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/top-10-lead-actor-performances-of-2011/page-2

Fresh Faces at the Golden Globes: Michael Fassbender of ‘Shame,’ Jessica Chastain of ‘The Tree of Life,’ Octavia Spencer of ‘The Help,’ and More (Yahoo Movies)

By Thelma Adams | The Reel Breakdown – Tue, Dec 13, 2011 8:11 PM EST

 

Fresh Faces for 2011

 

When it comes to acting honors, the great thing about the Golden Globes nominees, which the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will announce Thursday morning, is that the HFPA doubles the pleasure by splitting honors into drama and comedy/musical, and they give an award for best ensemble. It's the awards season equivalent of goodie bags. It also means that there are a lot of fresh, newer faces in the mix. Here's our preview of some names neither Streep nor Pitt nor Clooney:

Michael Fassbender:GQ's Man of the Year would have made a splash just walking around his apartment in the nude in "Shame," Steve McQueen's revealing cautionary tale of a sexaholic. But the European studmuffin, 34, couldn't sit still: He went over to the bad side as Magneto in "X-Men: First Class"; spanked Sabina Spielrein, played by Keira Knightley, as a repressed Carl Jung in "A Dangerous Method"; and brooded his way across the moor as Rochester in "Jane Eyre." It's enough to make other aspiring actors whine, "Leave some parts for us!"

Jessica Chastain:Call the porcelain-skinned redhead, 30, the female Fassbender. If you had asked about her a year ago, the answer would have been a big "who"? Then came a flood of well-received movies, from the mainstream "The Help," to the arty "The Tree of Life," as well as "The Debt," "Coriolanus," "Take Shelter," and "Texas Killing Fields." Equally adept at playing a saintly suburban mother and a slatternly Southern bombshell, she may be the Streep of her generation. Her biggest problem? With so many roles, how do you pick just one to nominate?

Jean Dujardin: Already a major name in France for his fluffy spy comedies, Dujardin, 39, earned a César nomination (the French Oscar equivalent) for the title role in "OSS 177: Cairo, Nest of Spies" with director Michel Hazanavicius. He won best actor at the Cannes Film Festival for their latest collaboration, "The Artist," in which Dujardin plays an early Hollywood silent-film star who speaks a single word of English but expresses the entire language of charm in this wistfully humane black-and-white glance back at the world before talking pictures.

Elizabeth Olsen:Last January at the Sundance Film Festival, the consensus after the premiere of "Martha Marcy May Marlene" (oh, shoot the writer who decided on that title!) was that here, finally, was the Olsen sister who could really act. In her feature-film debut, the 22-year-old younger half-sibling of Mary-Kate and Ashley peeled off her clothes and got underneath the audience's skin as a cult member who flees the commune and returns home to her sister but can't quite wrap her head around her individual identity.

Octavia Spencer: The "Ugly Betty" star, 41, has arguably the most dramatic storyline in "The Help." Her Minny is a sympathetic but prickly black maid who struggles to remain her own person despite the social costs. While Minny's mouth gets her at trouble at work in a white woman's kitchen and at home with her unseen and violent husband, she gets her revenge. According to Spencer, she met novelist Kathryn Stockett through their mutual friend, writer-director Tate Taylor, and the character of Minny was actually molded to the actress well before the book became a chick-lit must-read.

Shailene Woodley: Sure, the actress received some Teen Choice nominations for her role as Amy Juergens in "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," but that was hardly preparation for her award-winning, older-and-wiser-than-her-years daughter to George Clooney's Matt King in "The Descendants." She may hang out with Miley Cyrus off-screen, but she can hold her own with Oscar-winner Clooney, never overplaying her emotional hand, even when she's the one to deliver the so-sad, too-bad news: Mom was cheating, and Dad was too self-involved to notice.

For TV fans, Melissa McCarthy of "Mike and Molly" and comic Patton Oswalt from "United State of Tara" and "Bored to Death" are old news. But both broke out big in subversive big-screen comedies. McCarthy's Megan was the surprise hit of "Bridesmaids," overtly sexual in a power-forward, plus-size way. While in "Young Adult," Oswalt also gets a sex scene, removing his wash-worn undershirt to reveal a beer-barrel gut instead of a six-pack. His Matt is the Jiminy Cricket conscience of the black comedy, a geek on a crutch with more self-respect than Charlize Theron's beautiful but blitzed ex-cheerleader. Both Oswalt and McCarthy are viable contenders for best supporting actor and actress at the Globes, with Oscar potential beyond.

While the Golden Globes are often dismissed as a fun, drunken awards party caught on camera -- a feeling that English comedian Ricky Gervais as snarky ringmaster has only intensified -- the Globes do roll out a lot of names that end up arriving on the Academy Awards ballots. Expect the majority of the fresh faces above to have become very familiar on the red carpet at Hollywood's Kodak Theater by the time February 26 and the 84th Annual Academy Awards winners' names are snug in their sealed envelopes.

http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/the-reel-breakdown/fresh-faces-golden-globes-michael-fassbender-drive-jessica-011111708.html