On the menu are industry headlines that made news over the last week...Dig in!
I am really looking forward to seeing director Brian De Palma's return to the big screen--The Black Dahlia. The film looks really good.
Josh Hartnett with co-star Hilary Swank in a scene from "Dahlia"
Nick Vivarelli of Variety takes us to the Dahlia World Premiere:
The 63rd Venice Film Festival kicked off Wednesday with Brian De Palma's noir "The Black Dahlia" giving the Lido some sparkle.
Pic's stars Scarlett Johansson, Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart strutted past the giant Golden Lions on the red carpet as the paparazzi went into a frenzy.
Among others filing into the Palazzo del Cinema were jury prexy Catherine Deneuve, Italian culture minister Francesco Rutelli, Venice Mayor Massimo Cacciari and a host of Italo industry figures.
De Palma's adaptation of James Ellroy's novel, which delves into the underbelly of 1940s Hollywood as it reconstructs the murder of aspiring actress Elizabeth Short, was received warmly, although inevitable comparisons with Curtis Hanson's "L.A. Confidential," also from an Ellroy novel, were not always in its favor.
However, Ellroy, also at the Lido, praised De Palma for "isolating the key themes of sexual obsession, redemption and the triangulation of one man (Hartnett) between two women (Johansson and Hilary Swank)."
The gala screening was followed by a lavish dinner on the Excelsior beach, complete with fireworks.
Given De Palma's recent track record (his "Femme Fatale" went straight to vid in some territories), some believed Venice topper Marco Muller was taking a risk by opening the fest with "Dahlia."
Pic opens Stateside Sept. 15 via Universal...
"This is a project that can no longer be delayed," said the Biennale boss during the opening ceremony.
Read more about the event here
Next up Dark Horizons posted news about actress Sarah Michelle Gellar's next move from a story in Production Weekly
Some actresses worry about being typecast, but not Sarah Michelle Gellar it seems who has added yet another supernatural thriller to her resume.
The former "Buffy" actress, who stars in "The Return" and briefly appears in "The Grudge" sequel this Fall, has signed on to "Addicted" for the Yari Film Group.
The article reports that the film will be a remake of the 2002 South Korean hit "Jungdok" and follows a woman who's husband and brother-in-law end up in comas after a horrible accident. When the brother-in-law wakes up, he says he's her true husband.
Swedish filmmakers Joel Bergvall and Simon Sandquist helm the project which begins shooting October 17th in Vancouver.
Gellar is one of my favorite leading ladies...Good for her and for us...
Neil Sean of SKY News shares this interesting little blurb
Thanks to her starring role as Lois Lane in the recent Superman movie, Kate Bosworth is much in demand. And the lucky girl, who is also dating the lovely Orlando Bloom, is already planning her portrayal of Lois in the next Superman film.
She said: "Lois will be back bigger and better in the next movie, and with more of her own storyline."Not only that, but I can reveal there are plans to give Lois Lane her very own investigation spin off.
What will the caped crusader think about that?
Gulp...a Lois spin-off movie...
From the World Entertainment News Service...
Scorsese Set to Become Film Critic
Famed director Martin Scorsese has been hired as a film critic for a satellite TV service after complaining about their movie review system. The Aviator director will pen a monthly column for On DirecTV, a magazine and program guide for people who subscribe to DirectTV.
Scorsese will offer critiques of overlooked films on DirecTV.
Executives at the company came up with the idea when Scorsese, a DirecTV subscriber, wrote to the firm to suggest changes in the movie review system.
Talk about perfect "casting"...
You can't top off any any Cinema Stew without talking about a former Top Gun...Can You?
Report: Scientology Was Prepared To Back Cruise
The Church of Scientology was prepared to underwrite Tom Cruise's production company, Cruise-Wagner, if it was unable to come up with other backers, according to a report on MSNBC.com, which cited an unnamed source.
A spokeswoman for Cruise-Wagner denied the claim. However, the site's source insisted, "They've got deep pockets. ... Tom has been good to the church, and they want to be there for him, but ultimately, this would have been a business deal."
In 2000, John Travolta's Battlefield Earth was plagued by accusations that it was secretly funded by Scientologists who inserted "subliminal" pitches for the church, charges that Travolta repeatedly denied. (The movie was based on a sci-fi novel written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.)
Sheesh!!!
That said, after taking a beating from the press and from fans over the last year, maybe Cruise is finally learning his lesson:
Shields: Cruise Gave 'Heartfelt Apology'
The Associated Press reported:
Brooke Shields says Tom Cruise has apologized for publicly criticizing her use of antidepressants after the birth of her first daughter.
The two had a public beef last year after the "Mission: Impossible III" star, echoing the position of Scientology, said in an appearance on NBC's "Today" show that depression can be treated with exercise and vitamins rather than drugs.
The 41-year-old actress says Cruise apologized in person Thursday.
"He came over to my house, and he gave me a heartfelt apology," Shields said Friday during an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
"And he apologized for bringing me into the whole thing and for everything that happened.
"And through it all, I was so impressed with how heartfelt it was. And I didn't feel at any time that I had to defend myself, nor did I feel that he was trying to convince me of anything other than the fact that he was deeply sorry. And I accepted it."
Cruise's spokesman confirmed the celebrities made up.
"It is true that his friendship with Ms. Shields has been mended," spokesman Arnold Robinson said in a statement. "He has not changed his position about antidepressants, which as evidenced by the black label warnings issued by the FDA on these types of drugs, are unhealthy ...
I'm glad Cruise took the time and finally apologized to Shields. Things would be going a lot better for him right now if he had done it sooner. I hate to sound cynical...But I wonder if his recent firing from Paramount had anything to do with this recent Mea Culpa?
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