Hilary Swank Tagged Articles at Cinematical

It was last night's Meryl Streep chit-chat that got me to thinking; Hell, 15 nominations is impressive enough, and she's even won the dang Oscar twice! For Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie's Choice. But while in the lovely land of Hollywood that's a track record to be amazingly proud of, the simple truth is that, in the land of baseball, Meryl Streep would be batting a lusty .133. I've seen American League pitchers who can bat .133!

And that silly thought led to the next logically silly one: If Meryl Streep is batting .133, who ELSE is batting poorly? And conversely ... who's leading the league? Now, I've got to limit eligibility to those who've been nominated at least three times, because otherwise we'd have Anna Paquin as Mickey Mantle. And I'm limiting this project to actors only, because that way one can squeeze another post or two out of this lame concept if people actually like it.

1.000* -- Hilary Swank (2 for 2); Kevin Spacey (2 for 2)
.500 -- Daniel Day-Lewis (2 for 4)
.400 -- Sean Penn (2 for 5); Tom Hanks (2 for 5); Denzel Washington (2 for 5);
.333 -- Maggie Smith (2 for 6); Tommy Lee Jones (1 for 3); Helen Mirren (1 for 3); Philip Seymour Hoffman (1 for 3); Marisa Tomei (1 for 3); Alan Arkin (1 for 3); Renee Zellweger (1 for 3); Kathy Bates (1 for 3); Geoffrey Rush (1 for 3); Julia Roberts (1 for 3); Russell Crowe (1 for 3)
.285 -- Michael Caine (2 for 7)
.250 -- Jack Nicholson (3 for 12); Julie Christie (1 for 4); Cate Blanchett (1 for 4); William Hurt (1 for 4); Frances McDormand (1 for 4); Morgan Freeman (1 for 4); Ben Kingsley (1 for 4); Diane Keaton (1 for 4); Holly Hunter (1 for 4); Jon Voight (1 for 4);

More after the jump

We've all seen the many ways that Jason Segel is a big dude, but now he's gearing up to see what life is like on the other side. The Hollywood Reporter posts that he's in talks to sign onto Jack Black's Gulliver's Travels along with Emily Blunt. Black's Gulliver washes up on the island of Lilliput, where people are only 6 inches tall, and befriends a wee one named Horatio (Segel). Horatio not only has the honor of having a friend who can squash him -- he's also the love interest of the island's princess (Blunt). Lucky girl.

In less lucky circles, Hilary Swank is no longer getting debonair love from Jeffrey Dean Morgan. After romancing it up in P.S. I Love You, THR posts that he's going to stalk her in The Resident. She'll play a young doc who nabs a loft in Brooklyn, only to find that her charming landlord (Morgan) is actually a psycho who pulls her into "a terrifying game of cat and mouse." They really lack the chemistry, so this should be an improvement.

I've been pretty intrigued by Hilary Swank's collection of projects recently. She's picked up time as Amelia Earhart, been a backstabbing best friend, a lawyer inspired by her wrongfully convicted brother, and a woman who is French, or fat, or something. And now she's getting stalked.

Variety reports that she's headlining a new flick called The Resident. The film, which heads into production next May, follows a doctor (Swank) who moves into a Brooklyn loft, just to find out that her new landlord is a stalker. The project is labeled as a thriller, so I guess that means peeping holes in the walls, and perhaps a hidden camera or two? It's amazing how a hole in the wall is seem as pervly-charming when it's teenage boys and a shower, but creepy if its a landlord. Anyhow... Antti J. Jokinen wrote the feature (which he will direct) with Robert Orr, and the pen behind the lovely S&M fest Secretary, Erin Cressida Wilson, whipped up a rewrite.

Now the only question that remains is how Swank will handle it. She's a unique package -- one that can shock up an amazing performance, but also wrap herself in some cinematic crap. Will this be another Lakeview Terrace or something more notable? This could go either way.

If you're not so thrilled with the peeks of Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart, or her collection of more recent comedic fare, read on -- the Oscar-winning actress is taking another trip into the realm of the serious. Variety reports that Swank is going to star in a new film called Betty Anne Waters.

Based on a true story, Swank gets to be a high school dropout who is convinced that her brother has been wrongfully convicted of murder. Rather than just whipping up buzz for her family member, she decides to take action. "In between raising kids and waiting tables, she worked her way through college and law school so she could represent her brother after he'd used up his attempts to appeal his conviction through public defenders." That's certainly one way to help!

While Swank's more recent interests haven't proved all that exciting, this project is sounding pretty intriguing. Added bonus: Tony Goldwyn, who's been busy lately directing TV episodes for shows like The L Word and Dexter, is directing the film. In fact, he's been working to get this made ever since the real story wrapped up in 2001 (on, of all days, September 11). At one point, Naomi Watts was attached, but now we get Swank.

Could this bring the actress Oscar #3?

You think Hilary Swank would have learned her lesson after finding deep love that died way too early and left her with a suspenders scar. You'd also think she might be wary about her involvement in perky fare, since her forays into the genre haven't brought her as much success as her dramatic work. Guess not.

Swank is going nuts scooping up projects to produce and star in. Earlier this month, she was looking at Fat, and now Variety reports that she wants to backstab her best friend. Along with producing partner Molly Smith she's grabbed Emily Giffin's debut novel, Something Borrowed. Instead of borrowing, say, a hairbrush, she's stealing her friend's man. This potential starring vehicle for the actress focuses on a "Manhattan attorney who becomes involved with her best friend's fiance following her 30th birthday." Yes, her best friend since elementary school. Oh, but before you think she's the only jerk -- the woman realizes she's in love with the man and sick of her manipulative friend. Wait. That's still jerky.

The project is out to writers, and Swank has already practiced one unhappy-lookin face (look to the upper right).

As you all know, Ben Stiller is taking on the wacky museum world once again for Night at the Museum 2: Escape from the Smithsonian. One of the big casting announcements for this sequel was Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart. Now you can see a glimpse of her as the famous pilot above, then check out one more below (featuring a few old friends) and others at TheBadandtheUgly (note: images possibly contain romantic subplot spoilers, so be warned). How cute is she?

I'm sorry Hilary, but I'm really digging the look of Adams as Earhart much more. I think the big difference between the two is that Adams seems completely natural as Amelia. Adams looks like she walked right out of the same time, whereas Swank's Amelia looks more costumed and much less natural -- at least, based on the images we've seen online.

The showdown of the Amelias will take place next year. Amelia is set to hit theaters some time in 2009, while Night at the Museum will hit screens on May 22, 2009. Which do you prefer?

A two-time Academy Award-winning actress may star in a romantic comedy adapted from a weight control book. Hilary Swank's producion company has acquired the rights to the 2004 bestseller French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure, and is developing the project as a possible starring vehicle for her, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

As its title intimates, Mireille Guiliano's book focuses more on lifestyle and state of mind than lists, tables and charts, though she includes dozens of recipes. Guiliano, a successful executive in the champagne business, also related her own personal story about gaining and losing weight. The book became an international bestseller and was translated into more than 40 languages.

The film version's heroine will be a "girl-next-door champagne company middle manager who learns some tough life lessons which help her become the woman she's always wanted to be." Will the heroine be French, or will she learn from a Frenchwoman? Heather Hach (Freaky Friday remake, TV show Legally Blonde: The Musical) has been hired to write the script.

Swank first stepped into a production role with the ensemble film 11:14 in 2003. She was executive producer for Freedom Writers and is serving in that capacity for the upcoming biopic Amelia, in which she stars as the famous flyer Amelia Earthart. Previously she was said to be starring in vampire drama Fangland and a remake of the 2003 French film Labyrinth.

[Photo removed at request of 20th Century Fox]

This is too good not to share. It's no secret that I wasn't pleased with the last round of Amelia pics that hit the net. Hilary Swank just looked goofy, and the images did nothing to drum up excitement. In fact, it did just the opposite. But man, the picture above, part of a slew that went up on Oh No They Didn't, is definitely worth it.

Finally, we've got Swank in the flying ensemble! She's got on the obligatory leather jacket, cap, and goggles, although the wardrobe gurus seem to have decided against Earhart's oft-worn scarf, and selected a striped tie instead. But that's not all. We know that it's Richard Gere standing on the right, but do you recognize the woman on the left? I've loved her since Fire with Fire, but didn't notice at first that the lady in red is, indeed, Virginia Madsen. Okay, I'm a bit more excited now.

You?

With all the bad Iron Man news floating around this week, it seems fitting that we take a glance back and remember when all the rumors circling around his debut were fun.
If you remember, there was a flurry of interest surrounding Iron Man cameos, and one of the confirmed names was Hilary Swank. Speculation was rampant as to who she would be, the guesses ranging from She-Hulk to Black Widow. And then Iron Man came and went, with no Swank to be seen. I assumed she had been left on the cutting room floor, and would show up on the DVD.