Movie review: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy make 'Rigby' a worthy trip

EL PASO TIMES
By Jocelyn Noveck
The Associated Press
POSTED:   01/02/2015 12:00:00 AM MST



NEW YORK >> All the lonely people. Where do they all belong?

You won't hear that line in "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them" (more on that title in a moment), a highly absorbing if unwieldy film starring Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy as a couple struggling to cope — apart and together — with tragedy.

In fact, you don't hear any of that famous Beatles song. But it doesn't matter, because you'll probably be hearing it in your head. It's also an apt 12-word summary of the broader life issues the movie addresses. We're all alone, essentially, no matter how close we grow to others. We're born alone, we die alone, and in between, we cope alone. No one can cope for us.

Not that "Eleanor," written and directed by Ned Benson in his debut feature, is a total downer of a movie. It can't be, with the luminous Chastain and the appealing McAvoy heading an almost ridiculously high-quality cast. "Eleanor" is about messiness, and risk — in life and in love. But it's not all sad.

A word about the format, for those coming in cold: "Eleanor" was originally made as a pair of movies, "Her" and "Him," each a full-length film from the point of view of one character, and made to be seen in either order.



Then the Weinstein Company decided to make "Them," a more conventional approach, edited from the other two. Some who saw the first versions at festivals have objected that much has been lost. But the rest of us need to judge "Them" on its own merits. And it's an engrossing film.

Chastain plays Eleanor — yes, last name Rigby — an anthropology student who never finished her thesis. McAvoy plays Conor, a young bar owner. We meet them as they're discovering the intoxication of first love. It is indeed intoxicating; Chastain and McAvoy have a lovely chemistry.

Cut to an indeterminate time later. Eleanor is pale and troubled. We see her take a desperate act; we don't know why.

The film then follows both Eleanor's route to recovery (we're being intentionally vague here), and Conor's efforts to track her down. We learn that the two are married, and have suffered a grave setback.

Either Conor or Eleanor is onscreen at all times. Occasionally, they're together. These scenes are what we wait for: They often crackle with conflicted emotion, and, in one case, deep, unforgettable heartbreak. Chastain's Eleanor is nervous, flitty, on edge, but every so often her smile breaks the melancholy, and it boy, delivers. This movie only cements Chastain's status as one of the most compelling actors of her generation. It's hard to look away from her. And why would you?

Perhaps this enhances McAvoy's performance, for Conor can't look away from Eleanor, either. He's possessed by love, but also frustrated and mystified by it. Kudos to the Scottish actor, first for his flawless American accent, and second for finding a way to so deftly command his own space onscreen, alongside a fiery presence like Chastain's.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.elpasotimes.com/entertainment/ci_27241492/chastain-mcavoy-make-rigby-worthy-trip

Ahna O’Reilly, Richard Armitage Rise To Thriller ‘Sleepwalker’

DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD
by Jen Yamato
November 18, 2014 2:45pm



EXCLUSIVE: The Help’s Ahna O’Reilly and The Hobbit’s Richard Armitage are in the midst of filming Sleepwalker, a psychological thriller from writer Jack Olsen and director Elliott Lester (Nightingale). O’Reilly leads the cast as a grad student who goes to a campus sleep clinic to treat her insomnia and nightmares, but instead starts experiencing unsettling changes in her waking reality every time she wakes up. With the help of a doctor, she attempts to find her way back to normalcy by unraveling the tangled knot of her dreams, reality, and shockingly tragic past.

English actor Armitage is hot off of ruling Middle Earth under heavy beard and armor in Peter Jackson’s nearly-completed Hobbit trilogy. He stars in Sleepwalker as the handsome sleep researcher who develops a unique relationship with O’Reilly. After leading New Line’s summer disaster actioner Into The Storm, Armitage returns to theaters this December as the dwarf king Thorin in finale The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies.

READ MORE HERE: http://deadline.com/2014/11/richard-armitage-ahna-oreilly-cast-sleepwalker-haley-joel-osment-1201288242/

David Oyelowo, who has recently appeared in Lincoln, has complained that the class system in Britain compromises opportunities for actors.

By Alice Vincent, Entertainment Writer, online7:00AM GMT 12 Feb 2013

Actor David Oyelowo has complained about the limitations of British acting after finding great opportunities in America. Oyelowo, who was born in Oxford to Nigerian parents and now lives in Los Angeles, said that British actors suffered from a class-based "glass-ceiling", which doesn't exist in Hollywood.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Oyelowo discussed the difference between the countries: "America has its own class system, but it's about money. The more money you have, the higher up the ladder you are.Here, you can have talent and money and still be deemed working class. That means there are certain glass ceilings."

Oyelowo played Danny Hunter in BBC MI5 drama Spooks between 2002 and 2004, but has since taken on film roles in The Last King of Scotland, The Help, a film about the civil rights movement in 1960s America, and the Oscar-nominated Lincoln. Oyelowo grew up on a North London council estate, and became an actor after winning a scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His first major role was as Henry VI for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2001.

READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/9862937/Spooks-actor-speaks-out-about-the-glass-ceiling-in-British-acting.html

'Zero Dark Thirty' star Jessica Chastain 'not dating Tom Hiddleston' Published Saturday, Jan 19 2013, 12:33pm EST | By Kristina Bustos DIGITAL SPY

Jessica Chastain has denied that she's dating Thor star Tom Hiddleston.

Earlier this week, the Zero Dark Thirty actress was romantically linked to Hiddleston, after reports that she had visited his family and friends this Christmas.


"Why would they say that?" she told USA Today. "It's not true at all. It's funny, two weeks ago I was dating - I'm not dating.

"But there was a rumor on Page 6 that I was dating [co-star] Edgar Ramirez. I love him, but he's just my friend.

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a452311/zero-dark-thirty-star-jessica-chastain-not-dating-tom-hiddleston.html#ixzz2IU8sBRMt 
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Forget the 'no actors' rule! Jessica Chastain dating War Horse star Tom Hiddleston By RICHARD KAY (MAIL ON LINE)

She declared a strict 'no actors' dating policy this year after a frightening experience with paparazzi.

But it seems Jessica Chastain has already broken that vow, and fallen into the arms of War Horse star Tom Hiddleston.

The the flame-haired, porcelain-skinned Hollywood star, who has just been nominated for an Oscar for spy thriller Zero Dark Thirty, is the actor's new object of affection.

'Tom is taken with Jess and it’s serious,' says a friend. 

'Before Christmas she visited Britain to stay with him and meet all his family for the first time.'

The couple certainly appear well suited. 

However, Jessica, 35, and Tom, 31, who previously dated theatre actress Susannah Fielding, are at pains to keep their new union quiet. 

Jessica, in particular, is notoriously private about her past lovers.  

'In this business it’s very tough to maintain a relationship because we’re like gypsies — always on the move,' she has said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2262568/Jessica-Chastain-dating-War-Horse-star-Tom-Hiddleston.html#ixzz2I43T2lN3 

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Jessica Chastain Is Dating (Loki) Tom Hiddleston! 1/14/2013 7:08 PM ET (PEREZ HILTON)

Critics aren't the only ones falling for Jessica Chastain!

The Zero Dark Thirty star is rumored to be in a VERY serious relationship with Avengers bad-guy, Tom Hiddleston.

Despite attempting to keep their romance hush-hush a good friend of the couple has come forward, telling sources:

"Tom is taken with Jess and it’s serious. Before Christmas she visited Britain to stay with him and meet all his family for the first time."

Awwwww!!


READ MORE: http://perezhilton.com/2013-01-14-tom-hiddleston-jessica-chastain-new-couple#.UPWIRYc1k8c

Dan Stevens: Theater Review: ‘The Heiress’ The rich and poor: bleak and empty By Judd Hollander (EPOCH TIMES)

NEW YORK—Watching the very gripping Broadway revival of Ruth and Augustus Goetz’s 1947 work “The Heiress,” one cannot help seeing the fatalistic resignation most of the characters carry in this story.

Based on a novel by Henry James, the play mixes family dysfunction with a debilitating cynicism.


Catherine Sloper (Jessica Chastain) lives in a Washington Square town house in 1850 New York City with her father, Dr. Austin Sloper (David Strathairn). She is a terribly shy, plain-looking girl who would rather stay home embroidering instead of going out to dances or other social functions.

Also currently living with the Slopers is the Doctor’s widowed sister Lavinia (Judith Ivey).

Catherine’s relationship with her father is somewhat strained. He often treats her in a condescending manner, having little faith in his daughter’s ability to make her own way in the world.

Catherine’s only advantage, as he sees it, is her somewhat considerable inheritance, which also makes her a potential target for fortune hunters.

This danger becomes more than a possibility when Catherine meets Morris Townsend (Dan Stevens), a handsome but poor man, who quickly falls in love with the future heiress.

Chastain paints a compelling and complex portrayal of Catherine, taking the character from an awkward young woman to one who has her illusions shattered more than once. In the end she becomes just as empty as many of those around her.


Stevens does an excellent job as Morris, a charmer and probable cad. Yet over the course of the play, he begins to develop an obvious attraction toward Catherine, much of it coming from lonely desperation. He needs the security she offers and perhaps also realizes her beauty within.

It’s a testament to Stevens’s acting skill and Moisés Kaufman’s direction that the character of Morris is so believable during his final scenes.

Dan Stevens: Perez Reviews: The Heiress (PEREZ HILTON)

The Heiress is playing a limited engagement on Broadway and we were lucky enough to catch this production with an all-star cast that includes Jessica Chastain, David Strathairn, Dan Stevens and Judith Ivey.

Jessica Chastain can do no wrong! We love her even more now than before! She is well on her way to becoming one of the greatest actresses of her generation!

And we are now completely smitten with Dan Stevens! We've never seen Downton Abbey before, but this talented blonde Brit - yum! - got a very warm reception from the audience. He had a lot of fans in attendance, and rightfully so - Stevens quite expertly played a despicable character with so much charm, that you couldn't help but fall in love with him!


READ MORE: http://perezhilton.com/2012-11-02-perez-reviews-the-heiress-broadway-jessica-chastain#.UJUrYMXA-RY

DAN STEVENS: The Heiress: Theater Review 6:00 PM PDT 11/1/2012 by David Rooney (THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

NEW YORK – The gasps of pleasure that accompanied the stage entrance of Dan Stevens in The Heiress on press night indicated a large contingent of Downton Abbey fans in the audience. And the actor is a savvy casting choice in a part that requires beguiling charm and sufficient sincerity to keep us wondering about his character’s motives. But the good news doesn’t extend to the actress in the title role of this plush Broadway revival. An underpowered Jessica Chastain, hampered by questionable directorial choices, dilutes the emotional impact of this nonetheless compelling melodrama.


Adapted by Ruth & Augustus Goetz from Henry James’ novel Washington Square, the 1947 play won a Tony Award for Cherry Jones in the celebrated 1995 revival, and an Oscar for Olivia de Havilland in William Wyler’s 1949 screen version.

Making her Broadway debut, Chastain is not a natural fit for Catherine, the socially awkward, plain-Jane daughter of wealthy widowed medic Dr. Austin Sloper (David Strathairn) in mid-19th century New York. In her prolific burst of film work over the past two years, the lovely Juilliard-trained actress has impressed with her poise and delicacy, balancing fragility with quiet inner fortitude. But playing against type is less a problem in Chastain’s frustrating performance here than inconsistency of characterization.

As Morris Townsend, the cash-strapped gentleman whose ardent interest in Catherine causes her to blossom in a dizzying two-week courtship, Stevens is ideal. While Dr. Sloper pegs him as a gold-digging wastrel and is determined to open his daughter’s eyes to that view, Stevens brings such unsullied earnestness to the role that we want to believe in his honest intentions, just as he appears to want the same. Morris is so bewitched by the material comforts of the Slopers’ swanky home on fashionable Washington Square that he seems as much a victim of his desires as the architect of any calculated scheme.

Strathairn is also superb as Dr. Sloper, who takes his behavioral cues from his clinical profession. The insensitivity with which he treats his daughter makes it a challenge to find a glimmer of sympathy in this joyless man – as starchy and severe as his tall hat and topcoat. But Strathairn deftly reveals the pathos of the doctor, who has never been able to forgive Catherine for the death of his beloved wife in childbirth. It’s his tragedy as much as Catherine’s that his chilliness has caused her to grow up into the exact opposite of her vivacious mother.

Ivey, as always, is a consummate pro. Without any undue scene-stealing, she is a constant delight to watch. Her good-hearted Lavinia is a giggling, frivolous woman, slightly dim and a shameless flirt; even her widow’s weeds are covered in silly flounces and ruffles. But her girlish swooning over the romance in the air between Catherine and Morris masks a touching vein of melancholy. “Life can be very long for a woman alone,” she warns her niece.

READ MORE: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/theater-review-jessica-chastain-heiress-385300

Dan Stevens and Jessica Chastain's glowing review for The Heiress! (EW)

DETAILS
Opening Date: Nov 01, 2012; Lead Performances: Jessica Chastain, Dan Stevens and David Strathairn; Director: Moises Kaufman; Genre: Drama

The frizzy wig Jessica Chastain wears in the Broadway revival of The Heiress does her no favors — but that is exactly the point. Her Catherine Sloper is the plain Jane living in 1850 New York City who becomes tongue-tied in the company of everyone other than her disarming widowed aunt (Judith Ivey). Even her wealthy physician father (David Strathairn) thinks she's a drip — ''a defenseless creature without a shred of poise'' — who pales in comparison with his late wife, who died in childbirth and whom he's idealized ever since.

So when the penniless but socially adroit Morris Townsend comes courting, Dr. Sloper is naturally suspicious. But as played by Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens with a fluid American accent, Morris is no one-note cad. While he freely admits to having blown through his own inheritance and acknowledges the material benefits of a union with Catherine, he also seems to genuinely draw her out of her shell.

READ MORE: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20364394_20643906,00.html

The Heiress, Starring Jessica Chastain and Dan Stevens, Opens on Broadway NEWS By Broadway.com Staff November 1, 2012 - 10:17AM (BROADWAY BUZZ)

The Broadway revival of Ruth and Augustus Goetz’s classic play The Heiress opens on November 1 at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Starring Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain and Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens, the Moises Kaufman-helmed production will play a limited engagement through February 10, 2013.



READ MORE: http://www.broadway.com/buzz/165147/the-heiress-starring-jessica-chastain-and-dan-stevens-opens-on-broadway/

Dan Stevens: Star-Studded 'Heiress' Considers A Woman's Worth by JEFF LUNDEN (NPR)

A revival of The Heiress, a 1947 play based on the Henry James novella Washington Square, opens at the Walter Kerr Theatre in New York on Nov. 1. It stars (from left) Judith Ivey, Dan Stevens, David Strathairn and Jessica Chastain.

October 28, 2012

A much-anticipated revival of The Heiress, a 1947 play based on the Henry James novella Washington Square, opens in New York on Thursday. It marks the Broadway debut of two accomplished young stars — Jessica Chastain, the Academy Award nominee from The Help, and Dan Stevens, from the hit television series Downton Abbey.

On the surface, the story of The Heiress seems simple enough — a wealthy young woman in Victorian New York is torn between her controlling father and a young, penniless suitor. Is the father being overprotective? Is the young man just a cad? But there's much more going on, says director Moisés Kaufman.


"Henry James — because his brother, William James, was a psychologist — he really understood a lot about human psychology and he got so much so right so early on," Kaufman says. He describes the revival as "very Jamesian" in its darkness and ambiguity.

"Henry James doesn't write about villains and saints," Kaufman says. "He writes about people with flesh and blood. And one of the things that we kept talking about in this play was that those kind of ambiguities make the production richer."

Hollywood star Jessica Chastain plays the heiress, Catherine, and David Straithairn plays her father, Dr. Austin Sloper. The petite red-haired Chastain is all but unrecognizable in a tangled wig of frizzy brown hair and a jangle of awkward mannerisms, playing an only child trying desperately to get her father's approval. Chastain says she was attracted to the role because of the character's arc.

READ MORE: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/28/163723461/star-studded-heiress-considers-a-womans-worth

Dan Stevens: For Love or Money: How The Heiress Charmed Audiences From Washington Square to Broadway FEATURES By Lindsay Champion October 18, 2012 - 6:04PM (BROADWAY BUZZ)

The Heiress is bringing a taste of 19th-century New York charm to Broadway, starring Academy Award-nominee Jessica Chastain as Catherine Sloper and Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens as her suitor, Morris Townsend. Read on below to chart the history of The Heiress from Henry James’ 1880 novella to the 2012 Broadway revival.

This Brilliant Stranger
Like many great artistic works, The Heiress was originally inspired by a piece of juicy gossip. In 1879, actress Fanny Kemble met with her novelist pal Henry James to spill the story of her younger brother, a fortune hunter. Kemble's sibling had proposed to a very rich but plain-looking woman, but he wasn’t in love with her. The woman (dubbed “Miss T.” in James' journal entry) fell head over heels for her suitor, but “her father disapproved strongly (and justly) of the engagement.” Eventually, the greedy beau got discouraged and disappeared. When Miss T.’s father died, he returned, but it was too late—the heiress refused to take him back.

READ MORE:  http://www.broadway.com/buzz/164848/for-love-or-money-how-the-heiress-charmed-audiences-from-washington-square-to-broadway/

Jessica Chastain & Dan Stevens: 'Heiress' Backstage Pics! (JUST JARED)

Jessica Chastain and Dan Stevens pose backstage in their costumes at their play The Heiress for a feature in New York Magazine‘s latest issue.

Here is what the Oscar-nominated actress had to share with the mag:

On adjusting to the costumes in the play: “I’m a jeans girl, but a blue-jeans way of moving is very different from wearing petticoats, so from day one, I was wearing the shoes, the skirt, the corset. I never really left the rehearsal room. It took so long to put everything on every day, it’s like, Well, I’ll just bring my lunch and eat it here.”

READ MORE: http://www.justjared.com/2012/10/17/jessica-chastain-dan-stevens-heiress-backstage-pics/

Jessica Chastain and Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens Make Broadway Debuts as The Heiress Begins Performances NEWS By Broadway.com Staff October 6, 2012 - 9:25AM (BROADWAY.COM)

Performances for the revival of Ruth and Augustus Goetz’s classic play The Heiress begin October 6 at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre, starring Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain and Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens. Directed by Moises Kaufman, The Heiress will open officially on November 1, and will play a limited engagement through February 10, 2013.

Set in 18th century New York City, the play is based on Henry James’ novel Washington Square. The Heiress tells the story of Catherine Sloper (Chastain), an exceedingly wealthy but plain-looking woman who is pursued by a handsome, mysterious suitor (Stevens). Although Catherine is smitten, her father, Dr. Austin Sloper (David Strathairn), suspects the man is only after his daughter’s money. In addition to Chastain, Stevens and Strathairn, the production features two-time Tony winner Judith Ivey, as well as Virginia Kull, Kieran Campion, Dee Nelson, Molly Camp and Caitlin O’Connell.

READ MORE: http://www.broadway.com/buzz/164494/jessica-chastain-and-downton-abbeys-dan-stevens-make-broadway-debuts-as-the-heiress-begins-performances/

Dan Stevens: The Heiress, Box Office now open

The producers of the Broadway production of the Academy and Tony Award winning play The Heiress have just announced that the box office at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W. 48th St. NYC) is now open and preview performances will begin one day earlier on Saturday, October 6 at 8 p.m.

The Heiress stars Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain as Catherine Sloper, Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner David Strathairn as Dr. Austin Sloper, the leading man of “Downton Abbey” Dan Stevens as Morris Townsend and Tony Award winner Judith Ivey as Lavinia Penniman. Written by Ruth & Augustus Goetz, The Heiress is directed by two-time Tony Award nominated playwright and director Moisés Kaufman. Opening night is November 1, 2012. This is a strictly limited run through February 10, 2013.



Read more:  http://broadwayworld.com/article/THE-HEIRESS-to-Begin-Previews-Early-on-106-Box-Office-Now-Open-20120917

Dan Stevens: The Heiress Broadway showtime information

“The Heiress” — Oscar nominees Jessica Chastain ( “The Help”) and David Strathairn (“Good Night, and Good Luck”) are joined by Dan Stevens ( “Downton Abbey”) in a revival of the story about a New York girl, her domineering father and a handsome suitor. Directed by Moises Kaufman. Previews Oct. 7; opens Nov. 1. Limited engagement through Feb. 10, 2013. Kerr, 219 W. 48th. www.theheiressonbroadway.com.


READ MORE BROADWAY SHOWTIMES: http://www.lohud.com/article/20120909/ENTERTAINMENT0802/309090020/Show-by-show-Broadway-season-ahead?nclick_check=1

Martin Freeman: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Martin Freeman

Martin John C. Freeman is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Tim Canterbury in the BBC's Golden Globe-winning comedy The Office, John in Love Actually, Dr. John Watson in Sherlock Holmes, Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit

Born: September 8, 1971 (age 41), Aldershot
Height: 5' 6" (1.69 m)
Partner: Amanda Abbington
Children: Joe Freeman, Grace Freeman
Parents: Geoffrey Freeman, Philomena Freeman


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OukApItVDIg

Dan Stevens: Hollywood 'it' girl Jessica Chastain is Fashion's Night Out's fiercest fashionista in leather colour block mini dress By CASSIE CARPENTER (MAIL ON LINE)

The in-demand starlet posed alongside her co-star in the upcoming Broadway play The Heiress, British actor Dan Stevens, at the Jeffery clothing store in New York's Meatpacking District.

Jessica first shot to fame last year as the result of a handful of high-profile movies including The Help and Tree of Life, for which she garnered much critical praise.

'I’m the unknown everyone’s already sick of,' the actress joked in Vanity Fair's latest issue.

Guy Pearce: Hardy is a mountain (BELFAST TELEGRAPH)

Guy Pearce has described Tom Hardy as an "emotional mountain".

The actor is starring alongside Tom in the new movie Lawless and was full of praise for the British hunk.

Guy admitted it was difficult not to feel intimidated by Tom.

"It's so brilliant that Tom Hardy is playing the role, because he is the most exciting actor I've seen in a long time... And he brings a weight, an integrity and a power to the screen that is incredibly compelling?," he told website Flicks and Bits. "The first scene that we had together was me feeling like I'm running rings around this man, not being intimidated by him. And that was very difficult, because he's like a mountain, a mount emotionally and physically. I think that will translate on screen."

Read more:http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/guy-pearce-hardy-is-a-mountain-16201499.html