Rashida Jones Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Rashida Jones Makes a 'Frenemy of the State'
Filed under: Action », Comedy », Deals », Universal », Scripts », Family Films », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
I am appalled this awesome little news item slipped past my radar, and even more upset that I am just now hearing that Rashida Jones has a comic book called Frenemy of the State at Oni Press. As if that isn't neat enough, Variety reports that Frenemy has just been optioned by Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. I mean, a comic book that's not only penned by a woman, but stars a young woman is actually being optioned. It's the stuff geek girl dreams are made of.But I'm jumping the gun a little here, because if you're as out of the loop as I was, you don't know what Frenemy of the State is about. It stars a young heiress who works undercover for the CIA, and was described at ComicCon as "What if Paris Hilton was a spy?" But Jones describes the heroine as being a little classier than that: "She has lived a life of privilege, attended the best schools and learned every language, but her obsession with spying on exes gets her into trouble and she is recruited to be a spy in exchange for not going to prison. There is a comic element to it, this girl who is so conscious of social standing and wearing the right shoes, suddenly becoming responsible for these dangerous, life-threatening missions." If that sounds a bit drippy, remember that Lara Croft started off as a careless young heiress too, until she discovered the thrill of artifacts and firearms.
Overture Snags Rashida Jones Rom-Com
Filed under: Casting », Deals », Scripts »
Overture's latest smart rom-com move was to purchase Celeste and Jesse Forever, a script written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, who will also star as Celeste. Celeste and Jesse Forever is the tale of a divorcing couple that is struggling to keep their friendship together while also seeing other people. Suzanne and Jennifer Todd will produce under their Team Todd shingle. This is the first screenplay credit for both actors; Rashida Jones was, of course, the adorable (and three-dimensional!) fiancé Zooey in this spring's I Love You, Man, and she is currently on the TV show Parks and Recreation. McCormack has been on TV shows like In Plain Sight and Brothers & Sisters, as well as in films like Syriana and Team Todd-produced Prime and Must Love Dogs. As previously reported on Cinematical, the spec script was initially picked up by Fox Atomic.Overture is also behind another upcoming cool romantic comedy written by and starring a talented and very funny woman, Charlyne Yi's Paper Heart. And while their other non-traditional rom-com, Last Chance Harvey, didn't do all that well, it seemed to be fairly popular with its target audience and garnered Dustin Hoffman a Golden Globes nom. And it was also behind Sunshine Cleaning, which, while it obviously wasn't a romantic comedy (or even that funny, despite what the trailers led you to believe), was an interesting and entertaining movie with women behind and in front of the camera. Amy Adams and Emily Blunt were strong leading ladies, and director Christine Jeffs and first-time screenwriter Megan Holley were behind the scenes.
Is it possible that there is a studio out there willing to take a chance on unique stories and fresh talent, and fresh female talent, at that? I'm rooting for them -- and for Rashida!
Jack Black and Michael Cera Are Proud Parents
Filed under: Awards », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
The Oscars may be the most prestigious show in town, but for the average moviegoer the MTV Movie Awards probably resonate with their tastes a heck of a lot more. Sure, they have stupid categories like 'Best WTF Moment' and 'Best Fight', but that's what sets them apart from the other award shows -- and just because it isn't necessarily the classiest show doesn't mean you won't have a good time. Looking to capitalize on a little reciprocal publicity for their new comedy, Year One, Michael Cera and Jack Black joined MTV's newly announced host Andy Samberg in a new commercial for the award show this May. The ad is pretty much what you would expect from the minds of a member of The Lonely Island, the king of awkward delivery, and a merry prankster like Black. It's silly and kind of strange, but the same could be said for most of the comedy these three guys produce. Black and Cera fill in as proud parents in their rec room talking up their 'little boy' Andy -- it might be nonsensical, but more importantly, it's also kind of funny.
Even though some of us have reservations about Andy Samberg's hosting skills (I think he'll be a little awkward), I'm sure things will turn out just fine -- after all, the guy has lined up plenty of 'comedy connections' like Will Arnett and Rashida Jones to help him out. One thing's for sure: it couldn't get much worse than the year Jessica Alba hosted.
The MTV Movie Awards will air on Sunday, May 31st, and if your appetite has been whet for more Black and Cera, Year One hits theaters on June 19, 2009.
Rashida Jones Moves From Romantic Interest to Leading Lady
Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Deals », Scripts »
When you're the daughter of Peggy Lipton and Quincy Jones, good things are bound to happen. It took a few years, but Rashida Jones is on fire. She just got to play the perfect girlfriend and fiance of Paul Rudd in I Love You, Man, and now she's getting her own starring gig -- from her own pen. Variety reports that Fox Atomic has picked up a spec she wrote with Will McCormack called Celeste and Jesse Forever, and she's set to star.Even better than the news is the subject matter. The spec focuses on a young couple who are getting divorced. But rather than some sensational, War of the Roses type battle, the couple are trying "to maintain their longstanding friendship while pursuing other relationships." If this film treats relationships with half the honest and reality of I Love You, Man, this should be a worthy comedy.
I do, however, wonder how she'll hold up in the starring role. I've enjoyed her for a number of years now, since catching her on Boston Public, but I found her performance in I Love You, Man, to be a bit uneven. It actually felt like the film was shot in order, and she grew into her role. The initial scenes -- awkward and stiff, the latter scenes, more genuine, organic, and enjoyable. But making her own words come to life -- you can't get a better character and plot to feel comfortable with, so I've still got high hopes. How about you?
SXSW Review: I Love You, Man
Filed under: Comedy », SXSW », Theatrical Reviews »
Up until now, Paul Rudd has been content to sit in the back seat. Apart from a funny but nondescript star turn in Role Models, Rudd has mostly bided his time on the fringes of the various Team Apatow productions, churning out one memorable supporting performance after another, plus the occasional bit part in the likes of Night at the Museum. That he's developed a small but enthusiastic fanbase anyway speaks to his star potential.
I Love You, Man is a sweet, amusing, and perfectly acceptable comedy all around, but it's exciting because it marks the point where Rudd finally begins to stake out his territory as a comedian and a leading man. As Peter Klaven, the happy and level-headed real estate agent who discovers, upon proposing to his girlfriend of eight months, that his total lack of guy friends will result in an all-female wedding party if he doesn't act fast, Rudd combines a nice-guy earnestness with a simmering nervous energy – he's like a less sarcastic Albert Brooks or a more self-conscious Steve Martin.
Paul Rudd Woos Jason Segel in Trailer for 'I Love You, Man'
Filed under: Comedy », SXSW », Dreamworks », Trailers and Clips »
Just days after it played BNAT and was announced as the opening night film for SXSW 2009, I Love You, Man has a new trailer over at Yahoo! Movies, and as much of an admitted man-crush as I have on Paul Rudd, I'm not entirely sold on his fledgling bromance with potential best man Jason Segel. Talented riffers though they may be, the script is formally credited to director John Hamburg, whose Along Came Polly came to mind with this trailer's flatulence observation.Eh, we both know I'd give a cast that included those two, SNL's Andy Samberg, and The Office's Rashida Jones the benefit of the doubt and about ninety or so of my minutes. For what it's worth, a pal in Austin caught a recent test screening and somewhat shared Scott's sentiments on the film, among them: "This affable farce has next to nothing in the plot department, and much of the material (both good and not-so-good) feels improvised rather than written, but (like Rudd's previous flick, Role Models) there's certainly enough to enjoy."
I Love You, Man opens SXSW on March 13th before going wide a week later.
Stuff and Things: First Bond Reviews Trickle In
Filed under: Casting », Deals », Fandom », Newsstand », Trailers and Clips »
-- A bunch of early reviews for Quantum of Solace have arrived online, and the consensus seems to be that while exciting and fast-paced, it's not as good as Casino Royale. The Guardian adds, "I was disappointed there was so little dialogue, flirtation and characterization in this Bond: Forster and his writers Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade clearly thought this sort of sissy nonsense has to be cut out in favor of explosions. Well, perhaps that is what Bond fans want (not this Bond fan, though). But I was also baffled that relatively little was made of the deliciously villainous Amalric." [More reviews: Empire, BBC]
-- Black Film snagged a whole bunch of new images from the film Cadillac Records, starring Beyonce Knowles (in the blonde wig above), Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright and Columbus Short, among others.
-- Anne Pressley, a TV news reporter who also played Anne Coulter in Oliver Stone's W., was attacked in her home over the weekend -- beaten and stabbed several times -- and is suffering injuries that police say are "life-threatening". There are no suspects right now, however seeing as her purse was missing, police suggest a robbery.
-- Page Six claims Steve Carell is interested in remaking The Bobo (1967), which originally starred Peter Sellers and Britt Ekland. Story tells of an unsuccessful singing matador who's offered a prime gig, but only if he's able to convince a beautiful woman to spend the night with him. Word has it Eva Mendes is on the wish list to play that beautiful woman.
-- Several outlets threw a number of Nick Fury questions at Samuel L. Jackson during the Soul Men press junket, and the actor told IESB that, according to Jon Favreau, Fury will have a much more prominent role in the Iron Man sequel. Also on IESB: Daniel Craig talks about turning down the role Thor in Marvel's upcoming movie.
Tribeca Review: Life in Flight
Filed under: Drama », Independent », Tribeca », Theatrical Reviews », Festival Reports », Cinematical Indie »
Life in Flight should prove to any aspiring screenwriter that you don't necessarily have to have an original story in order to get a screenplay made. In the film, which debuted at Tribeca on Sunday, first-time writer / director Tracey Hecht tells the tale of a man who's supposedly living the good life, but it's not the one he wants. And it takes meeting a young, vivacious woman for him to fully realize it.
Heard that story before? Sure you have, probably dozens of times. You've seen it in goofy romantic comedies from The Seven-Year Itch to Joe Versus the Volcano as well as "indie" dramas like Garden State. But good writing and acting always trumps originality of story, and Life in Flight has both, though there's still room for improvement.
Rashida Jones Loves Paul Rudd
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting »
Aside from scoring himself the lead in I Love You Man, Paul Rudd is scoring himself a woman with some impressive genes. Variety reports that Rashida Jones has signed on to play his fiance in the upcoming comedy. You might remember Jones from her work in The Office, or going back a bit more, Boston Public, but she's also the daughter of Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton. Nice job, Paul!The film focuses on Rudd as a man who, for some reason, decides that he needs to hunt down a stranger (Jason Segal) to be his best man. I can't think of any reason why that would be necessary. Do all of his friends die in a plane crash? I don't get it. At the very least, the guy could share some of his wife's friends. But really, as long as we get a wedding with some Rudd dancing, I'll be happy.
Keeping busy, this isn't the only project Rashida has signed on for. She's also going to co-star with Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr. in Chilled in Miami. In the never-before-seen premise, a big-city woman gets transferred to rural Minnesota and "re-evaluates her big-city values." Jones will be her best friend in the film, but they're not saying whether this is her big-city best friend or someone she bonds with up north. This one, I'm not so keen on, but kudos to Rashida for picking up two big roles.
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