spratt89

The father of Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle has apparently admitted that he nodded off while viewing the award-winning movie.

Patrick Boyle, 88, watched the film at his local cinema and said it was "great", but not his favourite.

"That is Shallow Grave. It has always stuck in my mind because it was his first," he told The Sun. "I've seen Slumdog Millionaire - but I think I missed a couple of parts so I wouldn't mind seeing it again."

A broken television meant that Boyle's father also missed watching the BAFTAs, where the film picked up seven gongs. However, he plans to fly to the US for the Oscars, where it has been nominated in ten categories.

spratt89

Lily Allen has reportedly agreed to write a movie with her film producer mother Alison Owen.

The singer will start work on the project when she is less busy with her music commitments, according to The Sun.

A source told the newspaper: "As soon as she has finished promoting her album, she'll concentrate on the movie."

Allen is expected to top both the album and singles charts tomorrow with It's Not Me, It's You and its lead track 'The Fear'.

She is also lining up a number of US TV interviews in order to boost her career across the pond.

spratt89

Hugh Jackman has let slip that he would like the late Heath Ledger to be honoured at the 81st Academy Awards.

Ledger, who died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs last year, has been nominated for best supporting actor for his role in The Dark Knight.

His family said they were 'proud and excited' by the nod, adding that Ledger had enjoyed the "time of his life" making the film.

Jackman, who will host this year's Oscars ceremony, told AP that it would be a "fitting" honour and that Ledger deserves the recognition. "I can't hide the fact that I would really love for that honour to be bestowed upon him," Jackman said of the fellow Australian.

The Australia star also revealed that there are to be changes inside the Kodak Theatre for the February 22 event.

"The look of the theatre is very different. It's more like the nightclub of your dreams. It's very intimate," he said.

spratt89

The Friday the 13th remake scored big box office on the day from which it got its name, grossing $19.1 million to lead the Presidents Day holiday weekend race by a mile. Assuming early estimates hold, that sum is easily the biggest single-day gross so far in 2009. Second place on Friday went to He's Just Not That Into You, which earned $5 mil; the romantic holdover should get a sweet bounce on Valentine's Day. The same goes for Confessions of a Shopaholic, which brought in $4.4 mil on its opening day. Fellow new release The International, however, may never see the boost it needs: The banking thriller banked just $2.6 mil in its initial 24 hours. Friday's totals are below, and please check back here on Sunday for a full weekend recap in the Box Office Report.
1. Friday the 13th -- $19.1 mil
2. He's Just Not That Into You -- $5 mil
3. Taken -- $4.7 mil
4. Confessions of a Shopaholic -- $4.4 mil
5. Coraline -- $3 mil
6. The International -- $2.6 mil
7. Paul Blart: Mall Cop -- $2.4 mil
8. The Pink Panther 2 -- $1.9 mil
9. Push -- $1.8 mil
10. Slumdog Millionaire -- $1.5 mil

spratt89

Reese Witherspoon has revealed that she is "dying to do" an action film, citing Angelina Jolie as her inspiration.

The actress claimed that she would even go to the gym to build up the physical strength needed for an all-action role.

Bang Media quotes her as saying: "I would like to do an action movie. I love to watch Angelina Jolie in movies like Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

"I think movies where women have great strength and character are interesting. I'm dying to do one."

The mother-of-two recently revealed that her children sometimes find her embarrassing.

spratt89

The child stars of Slumdog Millionaire have reportedly been forbidden from attending the 81st Academy Awards by their parents.

Rubin Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, both eight, were offered the chance to attend the prestigious Oscar ceremony next weekend after film bosses deemed it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

However, producer Christian Colson revealed that their parents refused to grant the children permission to travel, meaning that they will miss the event.

"The last thing they said to us was give us the money for the plane fares instead," WENN quotes Colson as saying.

Slumdog picked up seven gongs at the recent BAFTAs and has been nominated in ten categories at the Oscars.

spratt89

Watchmen: The End Is Nigh will be released next month for Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3, according to publisher Warner Bros. Interactive.

The downloadable episodic beat-em-up will serve as a prequel to the upcoming big screen adaptation of the DC comic. The game allows players to take on the role of either Rorschach or Nite Owl II in singleplayer or multiplayer mode.

The comic's editor Len Wein and artist Dave Gibbons both assisted developer Deadline Games in the production of the title.

Watchmen: The End Is Nigh is available for download on Xbox 360 and PC from March 4, with PSN users able to pick it up one day later. The film lands in cinemas on March 6.

spratt89

Terry Gilliam has spoken about the difficulty of finishing The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus without Heath Ledger.

Speaking to ITN, the BAFTA-winning director described the weeks following the January 2008 death of the Australian actor as "madness".

The movie, which stars Ledger, Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits, is about the leader of a travelling theatre troupe which takes audience members through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations.

Production was suspended following Ledger's death, while Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell stepped in to portray his character Tony in dream sequences.

Gilliam said: "It was madness, frankly, trying to rescue a film with Heath dying in the middle of it. But I think the sheer pressure of having to do something made us just go for it. You couldn't double-think anything, you just make some decisions, jump in and hope it worked.

"But shooting it after that point, I was never sure whether it would or wouldn't work. But I can actually say it works and it works brilliantly."

spratt89

Scarlett Johansson is in talks with Marvel to replace Emily Blunt as the Black Widow in Iron Man 2, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Young Victoria star Blunt is the frontrunner to take on the role, that of a Russian spy clad in a high-tech black leather suit, but Fox holds an option on the actress and is looking to exercise it for its forthcoming Gulliver's Travels remake.

Johansson is one of several actresses Marvel is in discussions with, although Blunt's agents are still attempting to hammer out a deal to avoid a scheduling conflict and allow her to star in both the Iron Man sequel and Gulliver's Travels.

Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and director John Favreau will all return for Iron Man 2, while Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke have been linked with villain roles.

spratt89

Clive Owen has said that he can tell when something is wrong in a script he is reading for a film.

The Closer actor told The Guardian that he can recognise when written dialogue is not right for the character he is playing.

Owen said: "I can smell bulls**t in a script and I can call it and say, 'That's not right'.

"I can't fix it. I wouldn't be able to rewrite it. But if you give it to me, I can say, 'Now that works.' I'm very clear [about] the rhythm and the way people speak it."

He also added that he can tell if somebody is "a rogue" and said that he has met many people who match that description.

Earlier this month, Owen revealed that onlookers laughed at him as he ran through an Istanbul market wielding a gun for a scene in his upcoming movie The International.

spratt89

Uwe Boll has asked for help raising funds for his latest movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The German director is recruiting "co-producers" to pull together $18.5 million in order to launch his terrorist disaster epic Blackout. In return for $49 (£34), investors will be given a limited-edition DVD and the opportunity to win a trip to the set.

TheBlackoutFilm.com is open until March 31, with Boll saying that he will return $40 (£28) from each payment should the project not move forward.

Boll's movies, primarily video game adaptations, have been almost universally panned by critics. His work includes Alone In The Dark, BloodRayne and In The Name Of The King.

On February 21, he will be honoured with a lifetime dishonour prize at the Golden Raspberry Awards.

spratt89

Peruvian drama The Milk Of Sorrow has won the prestigious Golden Bear prize at the Berlin Film Festival.

The downbeat drama centres on a near-silent woman (Magaly Solier) who believes that her sadness has been passed down from her mother's breast milk.

"This is for Peru. This is for our country," said director Claudia Llosa after winning the award on Saturday. "I hope more women will be encouraged by this. We need more women directors, actors. We need more women in films."

In addition to Sorrow's triumph, South American film Gigante shared the Silver Bear with German entry Everyone Else and the Alfred Bauer award for innovation in filmmaking with Polish director Andrzej Wajda's Sweet Rush.

Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi won the director prize for About Elly, his movie about three middle-class couples.

"A few days ago there was a festival in Iran and this film was screened and it got the award from the people as the best film," said Farhadi. "I'm glad my compatriots agree with the opinion of the jury."

Movies with big-name stars failed to make much of an impression at the festival, although Woody Harrelson's politically-themed The Messenger won the screenplay Silver Bear and Renée Zellweger's '50s-set comedy My One And Only was met favourably by critics.

spratt89

The Rock has signed on to star in a live-action version of 1960s cartoon The Adventures Of Jonny Quest.

Hanna-Barbera's original animation revolved around an 11-year-old boy called Jonny, who accompanied his doctor father on a series of extraordinary adventures.

Speaking to Moviehole, the former wrestler, real name Dwayne Johnson, confirmed that he will play Race Bannon, a special agent who is hired by Jonny's father to act as his son's bodyguard.

"I don't know if you've read the latest [draft] but it's awesome and it's badass and I...hadn't read an action script like that in a long time. And that action was unbelievable. That will happen," he said.

Quest could see Johnson reunited with his Game Plan director Andy Hickman, who has been tipped to helm the project.

High School Musical star Zac Efron has reportedly emerged as the studio's favourite to play Jonny, despite being ten years older than the original character.

spratt89

Madonna has said that she wants to play Wallis Simpson in a film about the American socialite who had an affair with Prince Edward.

The singer is said to see similarities between herself and Simpson, The Sun reports.

King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936 so that he could marry Simpson, who has been played by Faye Dunaway, Cynthia Harris and Joely Richardson in past dramatisations of her story.

A friend said: "Madonna sees Wallis Simpson as her next big film project. She is as passionate about it as she was about playing Eva Peron in Evita.

"Madonna said she is fascinated about this American commoner who refused to conform or offer explanations for her tangled love life."

The friend claimed that the film was being planned before the star's divorce halted proceedings, but said that Madonna is now keen to restart the project.

Last week, a naked photograph of the 'Miles Away' singer sold for $37,500 (£26,100) at an auction at Christie's.

spratt89

Keri Russell will join Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser in the cast of CBS Films's Crowley.

The movie, based on a true story, will focus on John (Fraser) and Aileen Crowley (Russell), whose two children suffered from a fatal neuromuscular disorder. While Aileen attempted to give her sick children a stable upbringing, John and maverick scientist Robert Stonehill (Ford) searched for potential cure for the disease.

"At the heart of this story is an exemplary mother in Aileen Crowley," said CBS Films president Amy Baer. "It was important that we find an actress who could portray incredible maternal sensitivity combined with the steadfastness of a woman on a mission. Keri has the talent to depict both with striking balance."

Tom Vaughan (What Happens In Vegas) will direct the drama, the first from CBS's newly-formed film division.

Russell, who rose to prominence in J.J. Abrams's TV show Felicity, has recently appeared in Bedtime Stories, Waitress and Mission Impossible III.

spratt89

Anvil played a surprise show at the British premiere of the documentary film about their career.

The band performed four tracks at the screening of Anvil! The Story Of Anvil at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London.

The showing was part of the Secret Cinema series, NME reports.

Anvil played 'This Is Thirteen', '666', 'White Rhino' and 'Metal On Metal' and were joined by Scott Ian of Anthrax on the final number.

Frontman Steve Kudlow said: "We did this recently in LA and you guys smoked them!"

Anvil! The Story Of Anvil is directed by Sacha Gervasi and charts the ups and downs of the Canadian metal band, who are now in their 50s but still follow their rock dreams.

spratt89

Paul Rudd is in negotiations to join the cast of Jay Roach's comedy Dinner With Schmucks, reports Entertainment Weekly.

The long-in-development DreamWorks project is based on Francis Veber's French movie Le Diner de Cons, where guests are invited to bring the stupidest person they know to dinner. After their companions leave, they take a vote on who brought the least intelligent person.

Rudd will play a self-absorbed man unaware that his hosts are judging him.

Sacha Baron Cohen was earmarked for a role back in 2006, but dropped out due to scheduling problems. Steve Carell has been offered a part, though he has yet to accept.

spratt89

Jeffrey Dean Morgan has hinted that there will never be a sequel to forthcoming superhero movie Watchmen.

The actor plays The Comedian in the highly-anticipated blockbuster, which follows a group of vigilantes working in the Cold War period of 1985.

Speaking to Moviehole, he said: "We are all signed for sequels... but I’d say unless Alan Moore says he’s gonna write something, we’ll never see Watchmen 2.

"I doubt [director] Zach [Snyder] would do another and without him, I wouldn’t go back, and I can’t imagine any of the other actors would want to either."

He added: "I’d love to be a fly-on-the-wall in the meeting in which someone brings up a Watchmen sequel, especially if it happens with Zach around, because he won’t want any part of it. I think this is it; what you see, is what you get. It was always a oner for me."

Watchmen is released in the UK on March 6.

spratt89

Angela Bassett has blasted Woody Allen for the lack of African Americans in his movies.

The actress, who can currently be seen playing late rapper Biggie Smalls's mother Voletta Wallace in Notorious, told The Daily Telegraph that she is unhappy with the portrayal of a black woman in Allen's latest film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

She said: "I mean, to have one black cast member for the whole film seems rather strange, and, oh yes, she's a prostitute, of course.

"Don't get me wrong, I love Spain and it looked beautiful, but that part of the world is so diverse and, really, what is that about?"

Bassett, who won an Oscar nomination for playing Tina Turner in What's Love Got To Do With It, added that she has no desire to work with Allen.

"I wouldn't want to. He's a little weird," she said.

spratt89

Hasbro's musclebound toy Stretch Armstrong will become the star of his own movie.

Steve Oedekerk (Ace Ventura, Bruce Almighty) has been commissioned by Universal to write a script based on the action figure, whose limbs can stretch up to four feet.

Hollywood has been trying to make a Stretch Armstrong movie for more than ten years, with Disney at separate times hiring Danny DeVito and Jackie Chan to lead the proposed blockbuster.

Last year, Universal inked an exclusive partnership deal with Hasbro to make movies from their toy and board game brands. The agreement was prompted by the success of Transformers and Paramount's decision to make a film from the G.I. Joe toy line.

Other Hasbro movies in development include Ridley Scott's Monopoly, Candy Land and Ouija.

"This is a new well from which to draw intellectual properties that bring a pre-awareness and nostalgia," Stretch Armstrong producer Bennett Schneir told Variety. "They are drawing filmmakers who find a real emotional connection and resonance, and this is proving to be a compelling driver for motion pictures."