2007

December 31, 2007

Universal Pictures' newly promoted senior vice president,

physical production, Andrew Fenady is currently overseeing

physical production on The Wolfman. He will oversee all aspects

of physical production, including formulation of production plans,

budgeting, hiring crews and managing day-to-day ops.

(Source:  Variety)

December 30, 2007

Things We Lost In The Fire is number 10

on film critic Kiko Martínez' "2007’s Top 10 Films" list:

"10. The Things We Lost in the Fire

Halle Berry plays Audrey Burke, an inconsolable woman grieving

over the murder of her husband. For support, she turns to

a long-time friend of his (Benicio del Toro), a lawyer turned

heroine addict. Both Berry and del Toro command the screen

as these complex characters. It’s one of the most convincing

dramatic duos on the screen this year. Grade: A–"

(Source:  Chicago's Extra)

December 29, 2007

Film critic Carla Meyer's list of great performances in 2007

includes Benicio for his performance in Things We Lost In the Fire.

Ms. Meyer wrote:

"Near the top of my list is Benicio Del Toro in

Things We Lost in the Fire, a movie that disappeared

from theaters too soon after its release in October.

One of a handful of American actors who gives

a good-to-great performance every time out,

Del Toro is downcast yet electrifying in [this film].

His performance as Jerry, a recovering alcoholic trying

to resume a semblance of a normal life, plays as a kind of apology.

The defeated posture and near-constant wince tell us Jerry is

always aware that he has disappointed people.

At the same time, Del Toro shows how much still remains

in this guy, who is smart, funny and incredibly magnetic.

Of course, the magnetic part might simply be Del Toro,

whose charisma jumps off the screen

regardless of the role he plays."

(Source:  Sacbee.com)

December 28, 2007

Things We Lost In The Fire is on the Boston Herald's list

of best movies of 2007.

(Source:  BostonHerald.com)

December 28, 2007

Film critic Janet Smith wrote about Benicio's performance

in Things We Lost In The Fire in the following terms:

December 27, 2007

Benicio is on critic Jeffrey Westhoff's "Best Performances" list

for his performance in Things We Lost In The Fire.

Mr. Westhoff writes:

"Del Toro avoids every cliché of playing a recovering junkie."
 

(Source:  Northwest Herald)

December 27, 2007

Benicio arriving at LAX airport in Los Angeles yesterday.

(Source:  JustJared.com)

December 26, 2007

In an interview with Harp Magazine,

painter/sculptor/director Julian Schnabel talked about

the first film he directed, Basquiat, and he mentioned the following

about Benicio's performance in the film:

"I think Benicio was great... Benicio is a great actor..."

(Source:  Harp Magazine)

December 25, 2007

Film critic Jeff Sneider has put Benicio's name

on his 2007 list as "Best Portrayals of Drug Addiction".

Sneider wrote the following about Benicio's performance

in Things We Lost In The Fire:

"Del Toro's turn as a strung-out addict desperate to kick heroin

for his late best friend's children was beyond brilliant."

(Source:  Colorado Springs Independent Online)

December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2007

Here are two new photos taken on December 10, 2007

at the ACLU of Southern California Bill of Rights Awards event:

Halle Berry and Benicio backstage.

Halle Berry, Benicio, ACLU/SC's Executive Director Ramona Ripston,

and actor and dinner emcee Christine Lahti.

(Photos by Gary Leonard)

(Source:  ACLU)

December 23, 2007

Film critic Clint O'Connor picks Benicio as best actor of 2007

for his performance in Things We Lost In The Fire.

O'connor wrote:

"Del Toro breathed new life into the overdone afflicted-addicted friend, bringing grief relief to the recently widowed Halle Berry and her children in Susanne Bier's touching drama. An astonishingly genuine performance."

(Source:  Cleveland.com)

December 22, 2007

Several names have been added to the crew list of The Wolfman,

including that of Jason McDonald as previs animator.

(Source IMDB)

December 21, 2007

There is another contest organized by Last Broadcast.co.uk

to celebrate the February 1, 2008 UK release

of Things We Lost In The Fire.

You can win a back catalogue of Benicio's movies, including Traffic,

Snatch and Excess Baggage on DVD. All you have to do is simply

drop an email at win@lastbroadcast.co.uk with your details

and the answer to the following simple question:

What is the name of Audrey's husband in the movie,

played by David Duchovny?

a) Benjamin
b) Bill
c) Bryan

Contest closes on January 11, 2008.
 

(Source:  Lastbroadcast.co.uk)

December 20, 2007

To celebrate the February 1, 2008 release of

Things We Lost in the Fire in the UK,

CinemasOnline is offering the chance to win a back catalogue

of Benicio's movies. The prize includes Traffic, Snatch,

Excess Baggage, Joyride and The Hunted on DVD.

For a chance to win simply answer the following question:

Who stars in Things We Lost in the Fire and also appears

in Excess Baggage?
 

A. Benicio Del Toro
B. John McCarthy
C. Sandi Toksvig
 

You can fill out an entry form by clicking here.

Due to the nature of the prize,

all entrants must be at least 18 years of age.

(Source:  CinemasOnline)

December 19, 2007

More details are available about the February 12, 2008 release

of the DVD and DVD HD versions of Things We Lost In The Fire,

namely that the film itself will be presented in anamorphic

widescreen, along with an  English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track.

Extras will include a Discussion About Things We Lost In The Fire,

additional scenes (Neal Does "Mumsie" For Dory, Dwayne ODs,

Howard Tests Jerry, Jerry Makes Breakfast, It All Comes Down

To The Finish, Family Breakfast, and Audrey Gives Jerry

the Cupboard), and the theatrical trailer.  The extras will

be identical on both the DVD and DVD HD versions.

DVD cover of Things We Lost In The Fire.

HD DVD cover of Things We Lost In The Fire.

(Source:  DVDActive)

December 18, 2007

The Wolfman's production chart was recently updated as follows:

Status:

January 28, 2008

Location:

London / Los Angeles

Producer:

Scott Stuber, Mary Parent, Rick Yorn

Director:

Mark Romanek

LP:

Arne Schmidt

PM:

David Womark

Cast:

Benicio, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt

The film will be set in Victorian England and Benicio will play

a man who returns from America to his ancestral homeland,

gets bitten by a werewolf and begins a hair moonlight existence.

Production office:

Phone: (818) 733-1818

Fax: (818) 733-2176

Stuber/Parent

100 Universal City Plaza

Bungalow 4111

Universal City, CA, 91608

Phone: (818) 777-6370

Fax: (818) 733-5699

The Firm, Inc.

9465 Wilshire Blvd., 6^th Floor

Beverly Hills, CA 91608

Phone: (310) 860-8000

Fax: (310) 860-8100

Universal Pictures

100 Universal City

Plaza Universal City, CA 91608

(818) 777-1000

(Source:  ProductionCharts.com)

December 17, 2007

Emily Blunt has been offered the role of Gwen,

the Wolfman's love interest, in the upcoming film The Wolfman.

Emily Blunt

(Source:  Chud.com)

December 16, 2007

Things We Lost In The Fire will be coming out in

High Definition DVD on February 12, 2008.

You can pre-order it here.

 (Source: Amazon.com)

December 16, 2007

The R1 DVD of Things We Lost In The Fire is announced

for February 2008. The exact date has not yet been defined.

December 15, 2007

There is another contest organized by Last Broadcast.co.uk

to celebrate the February 1, 2008 UK release

of Things We Lost In The Fire.

You can win a back catalogue of Benicio's movies, including Traffic,

Snatch and Excess Baggage on DVD. All you have to do is simply

drop an email at win@lastbroadcast.co.uk with your details

and the answer to the following simple question:

What is the name of Audrey's husband in the movie,

played by David Duchovny?

a) Benjamin
b) Bill
c) Bryan

Contest closes on January 11, 2008.
 

(Source:  Lastbroadcast.co.uk)

December 14, 2007

The crew list has been growing again over the last couple of days

for The Wolfman. For example Jo Allen is going to work as make-up

and hair designer and hence collaborate with Rick Baker.

Jo Allen

(Source:  IMDB)

December 13, 2007

Puerto Rican filmmakers Mariem Perez and Carlos Ruis Ruis

were in Havana Wednesday to present their film Maldeamores

(Lovesickness), one of the strongest candidates for the Coral award

for first work at the New Latin American Film Festival,

currently underway in Havana.

The film's directors and two cast members greeted the Cuban public

and took pictures of the audience saying that "no one in Puerto Rico

would believe that we had such a large and lovely audience."

Maldeamores, a nominee to Best Foreign Language Film

of the upcoming 2008 Oscar Academy Awards, has been

well received by Cuban audiences and many believe

it will take the Coral award.

(Source:  Cuban News Agency)

December 13, 2007

To celebrate the February 1, 2008 release of

Things We Lost in the Fire in the UK,

CinemasOnline is offering the chance to win a back catalogue

of Benicio's movies. The prize includes Traffic, Snatch,

Excess Baggage, Joyride and The Hunted on DVD.

For a chance to win simply answer the following question:

Who stars in Things We Lost in the Fire and also appears

in Excess Baggage?
 

A. Benicio Del Toro
B. John McCarthy
C. Sandi Toksvig
 

You can fill out an entry form by clicking here.

Due to the nature of the prize,

all entrants must be at least 18 years of age.

(Source:  CinemasOnline)

December 12, 2007

Benicio is on Brian Tallerico's list of best performances of 2007

for his role in Thing We Lost In The Fire. Tallerico talks about

Benicio's performance in the following terms:

"... [Things We Lost In The Fire is] a movie that definitely goes

wrong in a few places, but is completely pulled back into the realm

of riveting cinema by one of the best actors alive. The amazing thing

about Del Toro's work in [the film] - playing a junkie who's forced

to deal with the sudden loss of the one friend whose support was

the only thing keeping him alive - is how completely believable it is,

even if the film around him isn't. [Things We Lost In The] Fire isn't

an awful movie by any stretch, but it's turned into a must-see simply

by Del Toro delivering some of the best acting work of the year."

(Source:  The Deadbolt)

December 12, 2007

To see a clip of Benicio's December 3^rd meeting

with Bolivia's president Evo Morales, click on the photo below:

(Source:  AOL)

December 11, 2007

Benicio attended the ACLU of Southern California’s annual

Bill of Rights Dinner at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel

in Beverly Hills, California, last night.

(Photo:  J. Strauss/WireImage)

Special guest Halle Berry presented Benicio with the ACLU Bill of Rights award.

(Photo:  Vince Bucci/Getty)

(Photo:  J. Strauss/WireImage)

More photos at:

Just Jared

WireImage

Getty Images

December 10, 2007

The list of release dates for Things We Lost In The Fire

has been updated again, as per the following:

Mexico:  December 28, 2007
Brazil:  January 4, 2008
Denmark:  January 18, 2008
France:  January 30, 2008
Finland:  February 1, 2008
Iceland:  February 1, 2008
UK:  February 1, 2008
Netherlands:  February 7, 2008
Australia:  February 14, 2008
Singapore:  February 14, 2008
Argentina:  February 21, 2008
Sweden:  February 29, 2008
Turkey:  February 29, 2008
Belgium:  March 5, 2008
Norway:  March 7, 2008
Spain:  March 19, 2008
Italy:  May 16, 2008
Germany:  June 12, 2008

(Source:  IMDB)

December 9, 2007

The following photos were taken on the set of The Argentine

in Campeche, Mexico on November 14, 2007:

December 8, 2007

Benicio in New York City last month.

(Source:  Blog)

December 7, 2007

You can now bid on an authentic handmade Afghan kite

signed by Benicio.  Click here to place your bid.

All proceeds will go to The Afghanistan Relief Organization (ARO).

The auction will end on December 15, 2007 at 18:00:00 PST.

Benicio autographed the tail of the kite.

(Source:  ebay.com)

December 7, 2007

Maldeamores will be shown in the First Work category during

the 29^th New Latin American Film Festival, which takes place

from December 4 to December 14, 2007 in Havana, Cuba.

The film won the award of the Public in Chicago and recently,

won the Best First Work award at the 33^rd edition of the

Festival de Cine Iberoamericano de Huelva, in Spain.

(Source:  CubaSi.cu)

December 6, 2007

The cast and crew list for The Wolfman has been updated to

include, among others, German cinematographer Alwin H. Küchler.

(Source:  IMDB)

December 6, 2007

More release dates have been announced

for The Wolfman, namely:

Czech Republic:  April 2, 2009

France:  April 29, 2009

Algeria:  April 29, 2009

Monaco:  April 29, 2009

Tunisia:  April 29, 2009

Romania:  May 12, 2009

(Source:  Box Office Mojo)

December 5, 2007

No cameras, no curious. The filming of Guerrilla and

The Argentine is developing in total secrecy in the streets

and buildings of La Paz, Bolivia. Yesterday the production team

filmed in the Hotel Copacabana, in the streets Bolívar and Indaburo

and in the military airport of El Alto. Nobody alien to the production

had access. Moreover, when scenes were filmed outside, there was

security 100 meters all around. The only thing that reporters and

passers-by could see were old cars and extras dressed like

in the '50s. Strict instructions have been issued to the production team

not to disclose any information to the press. The Bolivian personnel

has signed a confidentiality agreement, which, if breached,

imposes serious sanctions.

(Source: El Correo del Sur)

On location, before filming a scene

on Bolívar Street in La Paz, Bolivia

(Photo:  La Prensa.com)

December 4, 2007

The filming of Guerrilla has begun today in La Paz, Bolivia.

Benicio and Steven Soderbergh visited Quemado Palace

last night to celebrate Latin American Medicine Day.

A press conference was held on Monday.

The filming in La Paz is planned for two days.

(Source:  Prensa Latina)

December 3, 2007

Benicio said that today he was fortunate to get to know

two of the dreams of Ernesto Che Guevara, referring to

Cuban doctors and the president of Bolivia, Evo Morales.

"Today I was lucky enough to get to know two of the dreams

of Che Guevara: First one, the Cuban doctors who are here

and the other one is Evo Morales," Benicio said in a ceremony

held at the Cancillería.

During the ceremony, Benicio showed off his half bald head,

just like the one Che Guevara had, when he arrived in La Paz,

with a false identity in 1966, to start his guerrilla campaign.

(Source:  Yahoo! España Noticias)

Photo of Che Guevara used for his false passport in 1966.

December 3, 2007

Benicio and Bolivia's president Evo Morales met

for about 20 minutes and they mostly talked about Guerrilla.

Bolivia's president Evo Morales gave Benicio a traditional Charango,

as well as several books as gifts.

December 3, 2007

Benicio is in Bolivia, where some of the scenes

for Guerrilla will be filmed in La Paz.

Benicio and Bolivia's President Evo Morales pose for

photographers at the presidential palace in La Paz.

(AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Benicio leaves the presidential palace after a meeting

with Bolivia's President Evo Morales, in La Paz.

(AP Photo/Juan Karita)

December 2, 2007

In an interview with Salon in New York,

journalist Silvana Paternostro talked about

her involvement in the Che project:

SALON:

... you've been researching the biography of an iconic

figure of Latin American revolution, Che Guevara. Why?

SILVANA PATERNOSTRO:

I started without any intentions of getting so involved

in the life of Che Guevara, but in 2001 I had taken a trip to Cuba.

Things were different. There was a cultural relationship

between Cuba and the United States, and as a senior fellow

at the World Policy Institute, I had a license to go as a

journalist. I brought the three people who had just come out

from doing the movie Traffic. Laura Bickford, the producer;

Steven Soderbergh, the director; and Benicio del Toro,

who won an Oscar for his performance. They had all informally

spoken about doing a movie about Che Guevara. So now I'm writing

a book on Che and also have been helping research and produce

the film that we are shooting right now. Benicio del Toro knows

so much about Che Guevara that together we've become almost

like a research team, and we have visited and interviewed

all the principal characters of the Che Guevara story who still live.

SALON:

And you actually appear on-screen in the film?

SILVANA PATERNOSTRO:

About two years ago, we shot here in New York at the U.N.

This was a trip that Che Guevara made to speak at the

General Assembly in December of '64. We wanted to re-create

that visit, actually the last time he was seen in public. As we were

going through all the archival material, literally three days before

we started shooting, I saw a picture of Che sitting at the desk

at the General Assembly, probably taken minutes before he

went up to the podium to speak, sitting between two men,

the ambassador and the secretary at the U.N. mission.

And right behind him I saw this woman sitting with them.*

 When I looked at the script, we only had the two men in it.

So I asked the director if there was any chance that a woman

could be sitting there, and I asked him if it could be me.

He said yes. That turned into a whole series of scenes with me

as this woman [Cuban revolutionary leader Alba Griñan Nuñez].

But sometimes I think that Steven was just playing a joke on me,

shooting with no film. You know, when you're 4 years old and

you tell your mother, "Oh, Mommy, take a picture of me!" and

there's no film in the camera? So I have to see if I make the cut.

Silvana Paternostro

(Source:  Salon.com)

* The picture below is the one referred to in the interview:

Che and Alba Griñan Nuñez (center, in the background).

December 1, 2007

Two (2) Champion Tickets to the ACLU of Southern California’s

Bill of Rights Dinner, honoring Benicio, among others,

are up for bid. Click here for details.

(Source:  CharityFolks.com)