Cate Blanchett Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Movies That Make Me Proud To Be a Girl
Filed under: Fandom », Lists », Trailers and Clips »
In the midst of the Toronto Film Festival this past week, I couldn't help but notice that Whip It! fever was in full swing in my home town. Everywhere I went, I would catch glimpses of young girls in that signature plaid with Whip It! buttons on their bags, or I would see posters for the comedy lining the walls of university notice boards, and I have to tell you, it does my little feminist heart proud. If movies are a big part of your life, then you know how much they can change who you are, and I can't help but notice a lack of truly cool role models for girls. Seriously, there is only so much Megan Fox we can take, and that's why it makes me happy to see girls getting into the image of a young woman defying expectations and trading in her pageant sash for the rough and tumble sisterhood of Roller Derby.
As any movie geek of the female persuasion can tell you, it isn't easy finding films they can relate to that don't reside in the 'rom-com ghetto'. Just because you are a girl doesn't mean that you don't want the same kind of escapism that boys do -- I mean, who doesn't want to save the world? But sometimes I crave a movie that's not straight out of the fan boy factory of hot chicks with guns, but can still make me fly my girl flag high. Because when I watch that kind of movie, it's a rare chance to watch a woman on screen do something other than run from a monster or into the hero's arms. So in honor of us girls, I've put together a list of five flicks that I like to watch when my girl-power reservoirs run a little low.
After the jump; they are women, hear them roar...
Sorry ... We're Getting More 'Bridget Jones'
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Deals », Remakes and Sequels »
After that stellar piece of cinema known as Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, I know you've all been dying for Renee Zellweger to put on some weight again and grab the role for a third time. Break out the party favors because now your wish is going to come true!Variety reports that Working Title is scheming up a third movie in the series for Zellweger to once again star in. The project is still in the early stages -- a writer and director have not been picked -- but it "will likely be based on the weekly columns author Helen Fielding wrote in 2005 ... in which Bridget, now in her 40s, attempts to have a baby before it's too late." Yes, Jones wants to reproduce. Does anyone actually want to see this?
In the piece, which also reports that Cate Blanchett will star in Joe Wright's Indian Summer, Variety notes Working Title's financial woes, so Bridget must be the spunky horse whipped up to keep them afloat. Sadly, they're probably not wrong, since the first made almost $282 million worldwide, while the second still went strong with $262.
Will you be getting in line for Bridget Jones #3?
Cinematical Seven: Our Most Anticipated Films of Summer '09
Filed under: Action », Animation », Comedy », Horror », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », Disney », Paramount », Universal », Warner Brothers », Fandom », The Weinstein Co. », Brad Pitt », Quentin Tarantino », Cinematical Seven », Harry Potter », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels », Lists », War », Summer Movies »
Not many movie-going summers have had the good sense or fortune to formally kick themselves off with the likes of Hugh Jackman and his razor-sharp jazz hands, but as these are the times in which we live in, it's a clear indication that we're in for about eighteen weeks of spectacular spectaculars worth gulping down popcorn and guzzling down pop* with.
Eugene's already shone the spotlight on a fair amount of smaller titles worth your while, so our staff tried to keep the focus on that which we haven't seen, those spectacles for which we're most excited and least likely to text during. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: sit down and shut up, because these are the seven movies that we're fairly f**kin' pumped for.
(*Okay, I pretty much never call soda that, but you get the idea.)
Russell Crowe Draws His Bow For 'Robin Hood'
Filed under: Action », Drama », Romance », Universal », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Images », War »
The first photo of Russell Crowe as the titular archer in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood has appeared online, courtesy of USA Today. (The whole photo is below the jump.) It's a nice, atmospheric shot with a very respectable and relatively accurate costume. The medievalist in me is automatically annoyed at Brian Grazer bragging about the costume: "He's got armor. He's very medieval. He looks, if anything, more like he did in Gladiator than anything we're used to seeing with Robin Hood." I mean, do people still expect Robin Hood to wear tights? I suppose they do, even though its not accurate, and no one has sported them onscreen since the days of Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks (not counting Cary Elwes). Most Robin Hoods wear sturdy, cool outfits nowadays, with lots of leather.
I do think it's funny Crowe went back to his Gladiator haircut after wearing that weird shaggy thing in State of Play that was supposed to be his Robin Hood coif. While this looks nicer, it's funny you'd go through one movie looking rather badly groomed, and go all sleek and Roman for a medieval film!
Anyway, there's not much else to say, so I'll leave you with a fun fact. Did you know that medieval peasants hated the longbow? You had to bulk up to use it, creating what they considered to be "unsightly" muscles and bodies. Eventually, you could rip open your chest muscles and be lame for the rest of your life. But making the lower classes so proficient in it was kind of a mistake, as the nobility found out during the Peasant's Revolt.
Gallery: Robin Hood
William Hurt Joins Ridley Scott's 'Robin Hood'
Filed under: Action », Drama », Romance », Casting », Universal », Newsstand », War »
Ridley Scott's Robin Hood has added so many people that we've actually fallen a bit behind in reporting them all. Shortly after Cate Blanchett came aboard as Maid Marian, the film added Mark Strong as Sir Godfrey, Alan Doyle as Alan-a-Dale, Scott Grimes as Will Scarlet, Kevin Durand as Little John, and Bronsen Webb as someone named Jimoen. Deserving its own mention is my favorite casting (so far) -- Vanessa Redgrave as Eleanor of Aquitaine. I think she's possibly the only actress who can be as formidable in Eleanor's crown as Katharine Hepburn.
Now, The Hollywood Reporter says that William Hurt is joining up as William Marshall (or Marshal if you keep the historic spelling), a man described as "the greatest knight who ever lived" by his contemporary, Stephen Langton. He rose from obscurity to become a knight, who made his living in jousting tournaments a'la The Knight's Tale. He joined the court of Henry II and subsequently served the three following Plantagenets, including King Richard I, and his brother, King John. When he died, he was one of the most powerful men in Europe, and was known simply as "the Marshal."
'Benjamin Button' Jumps Straight to Criterion
Filed under: Classics », Drama », Romance », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Paramount », Distribution », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Brad Pitt », Home Entertainment »
Some films languish, waiting for their proper Criterion release, looking enviously at Michael Bay's Armageddon. But at least one film has been given the Criterion treatment on its very first go -- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The DVD hit store shelves on May 5 in three different formats: a Single-Disc DVD, and a Two-Disc Criterion in standard and Blu-Ray. As is the case with all Criterion releases, Button is coming loaded with more than three hours of bonus features:
The fact that this is getting the Criterion treatment so soon is causing quite a stir -- after all, this is it. This is the definitive release, and the company has given it the "important classic" crown. Is Benjamin Button deserving of it?
- The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button four-part documentary. Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher introduces the surprising beginnings of what would become an epic masterpiece including the casting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, the decision to change the location of the story to New Orleans and more.
- Follow the production from day one including the challenges of aging Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, designing over five thousand costumes and creating the animatronic baby.
- Explore the incredible visual effects techniques created specifically for the film that allowed Brad Pitt to play the title character at virtually every age. Also includes a visit to the scoring stage with composer Alexandre Desplat.
- Walk the red carpet at the film's premiere in New Orleans, with final thoughts from cast and crew.
- Audio Commentary by director David Fincher
The fact that this is getting the Criterion treatment so soon is causing quite a stir -- after all, this is it. This is the definitive release, and the company has given it the "important classic" crown. Is Benjamin Button deserving of it?
New 'Nottingham' Details and Cate Blanchett IS Maid Marian
Filed under: Action », Drama », Casting »
You ever get the feeling that a film is going to have a rocky road in front of it, no matter what? This certainly seems to be the case with Ridley Scott's Nottingham. Call me an optimist, because I still have faith that Nottingham (or whatever it decides to call itself) has a shot at being one heck of a flick. Things first started to look up when it was rumored that Cate Blanchett would be taking over the role of Maid Marian, and today Variety has confirmed that the Aussie actress has officially signed on. Speaking as someone who puts Blanchett alongside Meryl Steep as one of the coolest chicks working today, I'm thrilled that Crowe is getting a co-star that can hold her own.But that's not all, because Scott and company finally decided to open up, and new story details have been revealed. The original script was written by Kung Fu Panda's, Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, but Brian Helgeland was later brought in for a rewrite. According to Variety, "Crowe plays Robin of Loxley in an original story that hews close to historical facts of the period. Abandoned as a child, he finds community with the common people of Nottingham. Robin's abandonment and trust issues hamper his ability to fall in love. He meets his match in Marian, a strong, independent woman." The film is now being pitched as Gladiator meets Robin Hood -- I guess Crowe and Scott figured the formula worked well enough the first time, so why not capitalize on some of that 'Maximus magic'?
So now that we have a brand new Maid Marian and a look at what is in store for Crowe's man of the people, who's with me when I say that it's about time we give Scott's re-boot a fair shake?
'Nottingham' is Now 'Robin Hood'
Filed under: Action », Classics », Universal », Celebrities and Controversy », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels », War »
The mystery of Ridley Scott's Nottingham is now over. Scott announced that his "revisionist" take on the Robin Hood legend has been scrapped, right down to the title, and will now have Russell Crowe in the role of the titular archer. Why mess with hundreds of years of legend, after all?"[Robin Hood] is a bowman in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion. [Crowe as both Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham] was an idea so far back, way back when at the time I had this proposed to me, and I read it and thought, 'I don't really know what it does for it, but it's alright'," Scott told MTV News. "It is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end."
However, there is a slight shift in who the villain will be. While the Sheriff of Nottingham will play a part, Scott is returning Robin Hood to his cultural roots as an Anglo-Saxon pitted against villainous Norman invaders. "It is from France. It is the French. The villain is much bigger in that sense; much more important, and much more dangerous."
Filming begins in two months, and while Scott didn't confirm Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, he dismissed the persistent rumors that Crowe's physical fitness was a problem. "Oh that is silly. All that stuff is bullsh-t. He is going to be totally fit. That is not a problem at all. And he's been working on his bow and arrow for about 4 months. He sends me tapes of him hitting targets at about 45 meters. He's pretty good!"
As a medievalist at heart, I'm rather excited to see a traditional version that can erase all memory of a certain prince of thieves -- and Crowe and Scott are at their best when they go quasi-historical. Can't wait.
Will Cate Blanchett Save 'Nottingham'?
Filed under: Action », Casting », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy »
Does it make me a bad person that I couldn't have been happier when Sienna Miller and Nottingham decided to go their separate ways? Nothing personal, but I wasn't envisioning Miller fairing too well up against a dramatic heavy like Russell Crowe. Luckily, for those of out there who still think that Nottingham has a chance of being a darn good flick, there is a light on the horizon and her name is Cate Blanchett. During an event for the London Film Critics' Circle Awards, newly arrived Nottingham cast member, Mark Strong told the UK Telegraph, "I think Cate Blanchett is set to take the Maid Marian part," Strong went on to sing the praises of the Aussie actress and told the Telegraph, "She is a wonderful actress and it would make it a much classier film if she was in it." -- Amen to that brother. For those of you who haven't been following the travails of Scott's Robin Hood update, here is a quick little primer: First up were those bogus script reports that made Crowe's choice of dual roles sound like a bad episode of The Bobbsey Twins. But the hits kept coming, and next up was a shutdown on the set, unflattering stories that Crowe and Scott were at each other's throat, and finally Sienna Miller got the old heave-ho thanks to Crowe's so-called "gross" appearance, or her bad acting (depending on who you believe) -- not exactly the kind of anecdotes you want to end up on the DVD commentary.
Cate Blanchett, Butt-Kicking Cancer Vixen!
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Casting », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
From barely-noticed blips in Hot Fuzz, to stunning elves, to time as Elizabeth I, Cate Blanchett has proven that she can do pretty much anything. And now she's itching to stretch the boundaries even further. In a discussion with MTV, the actress revealed that she has a new pet project that she'd like to star in called Cancer Vixen.Sound a bit out of the norm? The project is based on Marisa Acocella's graphic novel about her fight with breast cancer in 2004-2005 -- a fight she happened to win without health insurance. While that doesn't say too much about the tone of the project, the following should clear it up a bit. In the animated short on the graphic novel's website, the vixen says: "Cancer, I am gonna kick your butt, and I'm gonna do it in killer, 5-inch heels." So basically, we're talking Carrie Bradshaw taking on Samantha's cancer fight.
Luckily, it doesn't sound like merely cancer and heels for the fashion-crazed Sex and the City fans. Blanchett is currently "developing it slowly and carefully," looking for a filmmaker who can handle the balance of tragedy and comedy.
Any thoughts on who should take the reins?
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