2008
Now comes word that Brett Ratner might be
coming aboard to helm The Wolfman.
ProductionCharts.com lists him as the project's new
director. Universal would neither confirm nor deny the
Ratner rumors, but they say that the job is still open.
(Source: IGN.com)
January 31, 2008
Reviews are pouring in from the UK
about Things We Lost In The Fire:
Jack Foley / Indie London
Del Toro, in particular, is utterly engrossing: his lived-in
features and wide range of ex-pressions giving his character
an unpredictability that keeps viewers on their toes. You just
never know how he’ll react to something at any given time
but you’ll be utterly transfixed trying to figure him out.
Neil Davey / MegaStar
...in particular, Benicio Del Toro's cruelly overlooked
central performance, makes this a moving and strangely
uplifting tale... and thanks to Del Toro's blistering performance,
it's easy to overlook the flaws and get carried away in the raw
emotions of the piece... Still, while the film's general lack
of Oscar attention was probably correct, ...especially
Del Toro [has] a right to feel a little miffed at being excluded.
Alison Rowat / The Herald
Of the two parts, del Toro is given the most to chew on
and he puts in a truly outstanding performance... Bier and
her leading man go as close as they dare to the mundane
horrors of addiction. Del Toro, as usual, looks as though he
hasn't slept since the day he was born. Physically pained by
daylight, and by the company of fellow addicts at his
Narcotics Anonymous meetings, Jerry is a mess...
Del Toro aside, not a picture to trouble the
fire brigade at a screen near you.
January 30, 2008
Below is an excerpt of an article written by Borys Kit
and published today by The Hollywood Reporter:
Director Mark Romanek has left Universal's The Wolfman,
just weeks before the movie was to go before cameras.
The helmer and studio were on opposite sides of
the budget fence. Romanek was asking for additional money
to make the film, and the studio was adamant about containing it
to the $100 million range, especially because the project was being
eyed as an R-rated horror film, typically not blockbuster fare.
The studio is looking at several helmer contenders and
is intent on starting production in March. One complication
is that no changes can be made to the script because of the
writers strike. Any director coming on board will have to work
from the screenplay Romanek developed with Andrew Kevin Walker
and others and won't be able to put his or her stamp on it.
Benicio del Toro still is on board to star as a man who
returns to his ancestral home in Victorian England and
gets bitten by a werewolf. Anthony Hopkins and
Emily Blunt also are starring.
Also still on board are the producers, Scott Stuber and
Mary Parent, and special effects wizard Rick Baker.
"Romanek leaves behind a well-prepped production that is
poised to move forward, and Universal thanks him for helping
bring one of its most cherished legacies and characters
to renewed life, " the studio said.
(Source: The Hollywood Reporter)
January 29, 2008
The official production chart for The Wolfman
has been updated as follows:
STATUS: March 2008
LOCATION: London, Castle Combe, Lacock
PRODUCER: Scott Stuber, Mary Parent, Andy Davis
LP: Arne Schmidt
PM: David Womark
CAST: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt
Remake of the 1941 film
The Wolf Man directed by George Waggner
The film will be set in Victorian England.
Benicio will play a man who returns from America to
his ancestral homeland, gets bitten by a werewolf and
begins a hairy moonlight existence.
PRODUCTION OFFICE:
(818) 733-1818
Fax:
(818) 733-2176
STUBER/PARENT
100 Universal City Plaza,
Bungalow 4111
Universal City, CA 91608
(818) 777-6370
Fax:
(818) 733-5699
THE FIRM, INC.
9465 Wilshire Boulevard, 6th Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 860-8000
Fax:
(310) 860-8100
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
(818) 777-1000
(Source: ProductionCharts.com)
January 29, 2008
Director Mark Romanek pulled out of The Wolfman last night,
reportedly over creative differences. The studio maintains that
Romanek left the project in strong shape and that
it expects to set another director quickly.
No replacement director has been announced yet and no word
on whether a February 18 start date will remain in place.
Mark Romanek
(Source: Variety)
January 29, 2008
The African-American Film Critics Association has included
Things We Lost In The Fire on their "Top Ten Films of 2007" list.
(Source: AAFCA.com)
January 28, 2008
Alison Lohman had this to say about working
with Benicio in Things We Lost In The Fire:
"Benicio is very warm and he has such a great way at
looking at material. I think it's always an interesting choice
and he's always kind of surprising you and he frees himself up
that way to be able to be open to anything."
Alison Lohan and Benicio in a scene from Things We Lost In The Fire
(Photo: Copyright Paramount)
(Source: ThisIsNorthScotland.co.uk)
January 27, 2008
In an article entitled "Films to look out for in 2008",
film critic John Vanderhoef writes the following:
"... this year we can look forward to a multitude of fresh
content promising to keep you returning to the box office window.
Guerilla/The Argentine
Perhaps fatigued with the drudgery, fun as they may be,
of the Ocean's films, Steven Soderbergh has dedicated
himself to two films that follow a large portion of the
revolutionary Che Guevara's life. While
Walter Salles' Motorcycle Diaries revealed
a younger, curious Guevara, Soderbergh's Che,
played by Benicio Del Toro, will be knee-deep in the
Cuban uprising and revolution before tackling his ultimately
fatal work in Bolivia. Together, the two films cover some of
the most important years in Ernesto "Che" Guevara's life.
As a labor of love, and starring a notable cast, Guerilla and
The Argentine will likely end up shining stars amongst
the faux-activist, revolutionary crowd who strut about in their
flip-flops proudly, their chest branded with the unfortunately
exploited visage of one of the 20th century's greatest men
of action. I, for one, am electric with anticipation."
(Source: The Leader)
January 26, 2008
Here are a few more details about The Wolfman:
Casting:
Producers:
Scott Stuber, Andy Davis & Bill Carraro
Company:
Universal Pictures & The Stuber/Parent Co.
Location:
Pinewood and Northern England
Dates (Shooting, Rehearsal, etc.):
To be announced, beginning of February
- end June 2008.
Emily Blunt's character's name is Gwen Conliffe.
January 25, 2008
Emily Blunt talked about her upcoming role
in The Wolfman, which she starts filming next month:
"The Wolfman? Easy, I've faced the Devil in Prada. I can't
believe I'm going to spend another five months in a corset.
I'll probably be passing out because of lack of oxygen" she joked.
Emily Blunt
(Photo: Wireimage.com)
(Source: Daily Mail)
January 24, 2008
Movie critic Bill Wine wrote a "snub" article entitled
"They
Wuz Robbed 2007",
in which he states the
following:
"Three actors, three actresses , and two movies will now
officially get lost in the shuffle, either because others less
deserving got their slots on the ballot or because only five
candidates are acknowledged in each category.
"In Things We Lost in the Fire, Benicio Del Toro gives
an electrifying performance as a former lawyer who has
been in a heroin-addicted downward spiral for years and
who moves in with the widow of his best friend and her
two children while she copes with her recent loss.
In the process, he overcomes the limitations of a slightly
underwritten role and turns in an idiosyncratic, serious,
but good-humored portrait of a stumbling but recovering
junkie that feels freshly observed and genuine in every scene
and shot. It is certainly one of the year's handful
of great lead performances..."
(Source: All Headline News)
January 23, 2008
Comments about Benicio's performance
in Things We Lost In The Fire continue to
resurface. Film critic Jeff Farance wrote:
"Benicio del Toro smoldered silently,
yet again the best element of his film."
(Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal Online)
January 22, 2008
In his article entitled "The 2008 Oscar snubs",
film critic Clint O'Connor wrote the following
about Benicio's performance in Things We Lost In The Fire:
"His splendid turn as a friend helping Halle Berry get over
the loss of her husband... was larger than the film itself."
(Source: Cleveland.com)
January 21, 2008
To the question "Any interest in doing something
really dramatic in the near future?", Emily Blunt replied:
"... I’m about to do a kind of horror-drama with Benicio Del Toro
and Anthony Hopkins called The Wolfman. That’s a period piece..."
Emily Blunt
(Source: CinemaBlend.com)
January 20, 2008
Emily Blunt will play Benicio's love interest
in The Wolfman. Ms. Blunt expressed a great deal
of enthusiasm about the project in general.
"I don't really love horror, but I love those two guys
[Mark Romanek and Benicio] and that's why
I want to do it," she explains.
"It's a great script, as well as very smart and dark...
It's gonna be scary. I think it will have quite a gothic edge
and I hope people like it."
(Source: Premiere.com)
January 20, 2008
In his predictions for the 2008 Oscar
for best actor, movie critic Mike Scott includes
Benicio for his performance in Things We Lost In The Fire.
(Source: Nola.com)
January 19, 2008
During an interview with MTV, Emily Blunt has confirmed
that she will indeed begin filming The Wolfman next February.
(Source: MTV Movies Blog)
January 18, 2008
Paramount Home Entertainment announces that
the HD DVD version of Things We Lost In The Fire,
which will be released March 4th next,
will feature a discussion of the film,
as well as deleted scenes.
(Source: BusinessWire.com)
January 17, 2008
The official production chart for The Wolfman has been updated as follows:
STATUS: February 2008
LOCATION: London, Castle Combe, Lacock
PRODUCER: Scott Stuber, Mary Parent, Andy Davis
DIRECTOR: Mark Romanek
LP: Arne Schmidt
PM: David Womark
CAST: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt
Remake of the 1941 film The Wolfman
The film will be set in Victorian England.
Benicio will play a man who returns from America
to his ancestral homeland, gets bitten by a werewolf
and begins a hairy moonlight existence.
PRODUCTION OFFICE:
818-733-1818
FAX:
818-733-2176
STUBER/PARENT
100 Universal City Plaza, Bungalow 4111, Universal City, CA 91608
818-777-6370
FAX:
818-733-5699
THE FIRM, INC.
9465 Wilshire Blvd., 6th Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310-860-8000
FAX:
310-860-8100
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, CA 91608
818-777-1000
(Source: ProductionCharts.com)
January 16, 2008
Below is a photo of the Tithe Barn in Lacock which will
apparently be used by the production company as the main
location and possibly some shots of the Hight Street in The Wolfman.
Outside view of the Tithe Barn in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England.
* * *
They want to fill the inside of the barn (photo below) with blocks of ice, to resemble
an ice house, used in the nineteenth century to store dead bodies.
Inside view of the Tithe Barn in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England.
January 15, 2008
The IMDB crew list for The Wolfman has been updated.
Click here to view the list.
January 14, 2008
Here's an updated list of release dates for The Wolfman:
USA: February 13, 2009
Canada: February 13, 2009
Russia - CIS: February 19, 2009
Norway: March 27, 2009
Czech Republic: April 2, 2009
France: April 29, 2009
Algeria: April 29, 2009
Monaco: April 29, 2009
Morocco: April 29, 2009
Tunisia: April 29, 2009
Germany: April 30, 2009
Austria: April 30,2009
Netherlands: April 30, 2009
Denmark: May 1, 2009
United Kingdom: May 1, 2009
Ireland: May 1, 2009
Malta: May 1, 2009
January 13, 2008
The photo below is part of the exhibition
Freeze Frame: 5 Decades of Photographs by Douglas Kirkland
which will start on January 18th next.
Benicio posing for Douglas Kirkland in 1988 in Florida.
The photo shoot was for the promotion of Licence to Kill.
* * *
The exhibition will take place at the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences' Grand Lobby Gallery located
in the Academy's main building at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard,
in Beverly Hills, California. The Academy's Grand Lobby Gallery
is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and
weekends from noon to 6PM. The Academy box office is
located on the ground floor, and box office hours are Monday
through Friday, 9AM to 5PM. Admission is free.
January 12, 2008
The release of both the R1 DVD and HD DVD of
Things We Lost In The Fire has been postponed to March 4, 2008.
January 11, 2008
If the filming of The Wolfman goes ahead next March as
planned, Benicio could shoot scenes in the village of Lacock.
The period production, set from 1890 to 1905, is being
produced by Universal Pictures and follows the life
of Laurence Talbot, a successful actor who returns to
his ancestral home to find his missing brother.
The story then unfolds into one of folklore and werewolves.
Film bosses have told residents they will
pay them £300 for each house affected by design
requests and £100 to each household which has parking
affected due to filming.
Leo Stevens, chairman of the Lacock Tenants' Association
said there had been around 50 people at a meeting on Tuesday.
He said: "The production people explained what their
requirements would be and I think that people in Lacock
are generally in favour of filming. They are used to it.
"I think the film company will get in touch with those that
will be affected nearer the time to sort out compensation."
Mr Stevens, who is also vice chairman of the
National Tenants' Association, said he was
looking forward to the proposed filming.
He said: "I have been tasked with finding a blacksmith
for the film company too as they want to create a
blacksmith's shop for shoeing horses.
I do have someone in mind."
Mr Stevens said he believed other scenes were
due to be shot in Castle Combe.
The film company said in a letter they were hoping
the Tithe Barn would be the main location for filming,
including inside and outside shots.
Plans include filling the inside of the barn with
large blocks of ice, to recreate an ice house,
used for the storing of bodies. This scene would
involve Benicio's character visiting the ice house,
where his brother's body is being held.
To light the scene, crews would need to use
scissor lifts on the outside of the barn on the
corner of East Street and High Street.
The film company also wants to shoot scenes of
a blacksmith at work forging silver bullets - this could
be filmed at the rear of the Tithe Barn, or in Plan B,
in a garage by the side of number 13 High Street.
If Plan B is adopted, it is likely the school and
post office will feature in the scene.
The Werewolf film has been given a proposed start date
of March 13 and if the Tithe Barn is used the film company
will pay the National Trust a direct location fee.
However, film bosses have said if they use the High Street
instead they will pay £5,000, which will be split between
the National Trust and Lacock Parish Council.
Filming is likely to take place over one day.
(Source: Wiltshire Times)
January 11, 2008
Also last night, Benicio attended Amy Sacco's birthday party
at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
(Source: TheVegasEye.com)
January 11, 2008
Benicio attended Miramax' "unofficial" Golden Globes
pre-party yesterday, held at Mr. Chow, to celebrate
Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
You can see Benicio leaving the party
by clicking on the photo below.
Benicio is featured at 8:49 in the clip (Scene 5).
(Photo: PopSugar)
(Source: Celebrities.com)
January 11, 2008
The following is an excerpt from an interview
with Halle Berry and Susanne Bier for the
UK promotion of Things We Lost In The Fire.
The interview was done in London for the Film Festival
in late October 2007 but was published only today.
"Tell us about working with Benicio.
Ah, that was great. (laugh) He's very fun, that's true?
Susanne Bier:
He's extremely funny.
Halle Berry:
Yeah.
Susanne Bier:
He infuses any set with a weird sense of absurdity,
which makes him hilarious. He's incredibly funny
at the most unexpected points. (laugh)
How,
which points?
Susanne Bier:
Because I do, I think he perceive, I mean I can't I'm not
within his head but I think he perceives the world in a very
surreal manner. I think he has a kind of, a way of being in
the world in a sort of, he's slightly different from the rest of us.
And that, he has that tremendous sense of showing that sort
of how surreal, how crazy, how odd is this moment?
He does it all the time and..."
(Source: FemaleFirst.co.uk)
January 11, 2008
Below are four short amateur video clips from the set
of The Argentine in Campeche, Mexico, filmed a few months ago.
Clip 1 | Clip 2 | Clip 3 | Clip 4
(Source: YouTube)
January 10, 2008
Benicio attended the Critics’ Choice Awards After Party
at Shutters last Monday night.
(Photograph by Splash News)
January 9, 2008
It was just confirmed that Mark Romanek will be
heading behind the camera on February 8, 2008
in London to begin shooting The Wolfman.
The film is scheduled to come out on February 13, 2009.
(Source: Bloddy-Disgusting.com)
January 9 2008
Here are two new photos from
the Esquire photo shoot of October 2007:
(Photos by Greg Williams)
January 9, 2008
Comingsoon's Edward Douglas speaks up:
"The biggest crime of this Oscar season will be the fact
that so many critics and awards groups are ignoring the
performance by Benicio Del Toro in Susanne Bier's drama
Things We Lost in the Fire, which is one of the most
heartbreaking characters he's ever played. The movie tanked
in theatres despite strong critical support and Del Toro
has been quickly forgotten despite his jarring performance
as a junkie trying to get over the death of his best friend."
(Source: ComingSoon.net)
January 8, 2008
In an interview by film commentator Richard Horgan,
published by Fandango on October 21, 2007,
Susanne Bier talked about working with Benicio:
Fandango:
What impressed you most about Benicio Del Toro?
Bier:
He’s as brilliant, serious, and dedicated to each sceneas you might imagine. But he also has this great sense of humor!
And I think what impressed me most was the way he could,
at any time, infuse any moment with a sense of absurdity.
I truly believe that he views the world as being slightly surreal,
and that kind of sentiment informs pretty much everything he does.
He is willing to go wherever the scene takes him, he has no
hesitation. I like to shoot a lot of takes and do each one as
differently as possible, and Benicio is definitely
a great person for that.
Fandango:
Halle has said that Del Toro has tremendous sex appeal
in person. Was that evident on the set at all?
Bier:
Well, on a typical movie set, the crew is about 15 percent femaleand 85 percent male, so you’re dealing with a slightly different
balance. Benicio is definitely sexy, there’s no doubt about it.
When you work with an actor, you kind of recognize and
appreciate their physical traits. I mean, you appreciate how
beautiful Halle is, and you appreciate how sexy Benicio is.
But you’re also telling a story, so your mind is generally focused
more on how those traits play within the specific themes
of a particular scene.
Susanne Bier
(Source: Fandango)
January 7, 2008
The DVD (Region 1) of Things We Lost In The Fire
will also be coming out on February 12th next.
(Source: Amazon.com)
January 7, 2008
Things We Lost In The Fire will be coming out in
High Definition DVD on February 12, 2008.
January 7, 2008
Variety staff mentioned Benicio's performance in
Things We Lost In The Fire on their list of "Cinema's Scenes
of the Year - The 21 most unforgettable movie moments",
in the following terms:
"Years after the kudos races are forgotten, these moments
will remain in moviegoers' memories:
Things We Lost in the Fire
Jerry
Sunborne (Benicio Del Toro) shivers and shakes
as his body goes through yet another withdrawal,
trying to rid himself of the drugs that
have played
havoc with him for years."
(Source: Variety)
January 6, 2008
Indie Jones talked about Guerrilla and The Argentine in an
article entitled "The New Or Indie Films To Watch For In 2008".
Jones wrote:
"Keep an eye on it because — Steven Soderbergh has
been
working on a Guevara movie with Benicio Del Toro for ages.
At one point, Terrence Malick was supposed to direct
(and Soderbergh produce), but when Malick left the project
to make The New World, Soderbergh took back the
director's chair. The film is a huge bet for the filmmaker,
who ended up dividing Guevara's life into two films, shot
back to back, made in Spanish and populated almost
exclusively by South American or Spanish actors. This is
probably Soderbergh's most ambitious project ever,
so it won't go unnoticed."
(Source: Fantasy Moguls)
January 5, 2008
The official Maldeamores website has been updated
to add a clip from the film. The clip stars Luis Guzmán and
Norman Santiago (who also plays in Guerrilla and The Argentine).
Click on the photo below to view the clip.
(Source: Maldeamores official website)
January 4, 2008
The Palm Springs International Film Festival, which is being held
from January 3rd to January 14, 2008, presents
Maldeamores (Lovesickness) today at 3:30 PM
and another presentation will take place
on Sunday, January 6, 2008 at 9:30 AM.
You can buy tickets by clicking on the photo below.
(Source: Palm Springs International Film Festival)
January 4, 2008
Critic Josh Rosenblatt wrote in his "Best of '07" article:
"8 ) Things We Lost in the Fire:
As a junkie coming to the aid
of his dead friend's family, Benicio del Toro carves his face
onto the Mount Rushmore of great film actors.
Most underrated: ... Things We Lost in the Fire...
Acting Kudos (male):
Benicio del Toro (Things We Lost in the Fire)..."
(Source:
The Austin Chronicle)
January 4, 2008
Chicago Reader's critic J.R. Jones wrote the following
about Things We Lost In The Fire:
"...These are the kinds of stories that inspire great actors,
and the four other dramas on my list are all anchored by vivid,
piercing performances... With his sorrowful stare, Benicio del Toro
always gives the impression he’s seen things too terrible to relate,
and I sure believed in him as a heroin addict shocked into sobriety
by a friend’s murder in Susanne Bier’s Things We Lost in the Fire..."
(Source: Chicago Reader)
January 3, 2008
Below is an article written by John Anderson of Variety
about Things We Lost In The Fire's cinematographer Tom Stern.
Like his frequent collaborator Clint Eastwood and his most recent
partner, Danish director Susanne Bier (Things We Lost in The Fire),
Tom Stern is all about making technique invisible.
"I don't believe in style," he says. "I want the film to be driven
naturally, by character and story. For me, it's important to get
inside the head of an actor - also the director. Anticipate their
moves, and light for that."
Those moves involved close-ups so intimate it's as if
the camera were getting under the actors' skin.
"Some styles of lighting require actors to hit their marks
precisely," says Stern. "Other times, you can be freer.
I used the lighting as a dramatic punctuation, while still
making Halle (Berry) and Benicio (Del Toro) look appropriate."
Anyone who thinks working for a post-Dogma director like Bier
is any easier than shooting for Eastwood should consider
that Bier wanted to be able to shoot 360 degrees - in a glass house,
which they found in Vancouver. "We spent about two weeks
rigging the place," Stern says. "And we wore a lot of black."
Stern, a native of Palo Alto, Calif., who spends at least half
his time in France (his wife is French), has global tastes,
which led him to become a member of the
Acad's foreign-language committee.
"The internationalism of cinema appeals to me," he says.
"I try to keep my eyes and ears open to things that are
happening all over the world."
SNAPSHOT
Awards pedigree: Satellite Award for Flags of Our Fathers.
Inspiration: The late Conrad Hall, with whom Stern worked
on American Beauty, Road to Perdition and Class Action.
Visual aids: Fine-arts books, "which usually give us some kind
of tertiary reference, but it's only tertiary."
Favorite tool: "A compass." Why? "Because it tells you
where the sun's going to come up."
Tom Stern and Halle Berry (in the background).
(Source: Variety)
January 2, 2008
A new Search engine has been placed on the first page
of this site. Simply type the word(s) you are looking for
and you will find the results at the bottom of the page.
If you have any problems, you can contact me
January 2, 2008
Here are some photos of Demián Bichir as Fidel Castro
on the set of The Argentine/Guerrilla in Puerto Rico:
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge)
(Source: DemianBichir.net)
January 1, 2008
Film critic Kristopher Tapley is having fun making lists
and at the top of his "year-in-advance predictions" for
the 2009 Oscar season are both films The Argentine and Guerrilla.
(Source: Variety)
After reading Mr. Tapley's list, Jeffrey Wells wrote:
"Red Carpet District's Kris Tapley has come up with a list
of ten movies that may, he suspects, be the
top Best Picture contenders next year. At the top of the list
is Steven Soderbergh's two Che Guevara films,
The Argentine and Guerilla. I've read the scripts for both and
believe in the potential for these films immensely."
(Source: Hollywood Elsewhere)
January 1, 2008
Film critic Kristopher Tapley, places The Argentine/Guerrilla
at number 4 on his most anticipated project of the new year.
He wrote:
”Steven Soderbergh is on his way to pulling off what
Clint Eastwood did last year, two films centered on the
same subject in the same year. The Argentine and Guerilla
will star Benicio Del Toro as Ernesto 'Che' Guevera at different
times in the revolutionary’s life. Though Guerilla was the first
project conceived, it seems that The Argentine might be the
bigger powerhouse of the two, but I can’t be too sure right now.
Regardless, one film would have been worth the wait. Two is
a Godsend given the actor in the lead, and should
the navel-gazing director get out of his head long enough
to produce something serviceable yet again, this one-two punch
might be a significant player during the awards season."
(Source: CinemaRatty.com)
January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!
