open hearts Tagged Articles at Cinematical

As Scrubs began to wind down over the last few years, the question became: What will happen to Zach Braff? A few years ago, that answer was simple -- he'd be a famous director/star. He had made quite an impact with Garden State, and it seemed like he would continue to make wonderfully music-laden features that balance quirk with a decent semblance of reality. But then, hopes started to crumble. Chicken Little was alright and all -- a family film, so that doesn't count. However, that was followed with The Last Kiss, which didn't live up to expectations, and then The Ex, which ripped out the hearts of Bateman/Braff appreciators and stomped on them.

With his movie path in question until we see what he makes of his sophomore feature Open Hearts, Braff is sticking with television, but behind the scenes. Reuters reports that he and Office alum David Denman are going to jump into a drama pilot for Fox. Considering the oh-so-popular themes on television today, would it be a hospital pitch, or a cop pitch? More of the same for Zach -- he's in negotiations to direct and executive produce Saint of Circumstance. Should things go well, Denman will start as "an office worker who quits his dead-end job to become a paramedic on the night shift." The reason for Zach's involvement -- the pilot was written by his brother, Adam Braff.

So I ask you:

In case you haven't noticed, I can get pretty vocal about my skepticism. One thing I often complain about is the immigration of talented foreign filmmakers, who come over and make disappointing English-language debuts. I won't name names this time around, but you know it is common. Now, the great Dane Susanne Bier announced her own debut long ago, and the film, Things We Lost in the Fire, is actually due next month and it could actually be decent (even with Halle Berry). Then there's her English-language screenplay debut (co-written with Jeffrey Hatcher), The Duchess, which is being directed by Saul Dibb and which stars Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. That will probably be pretty good, too. But her newly announced second film in English, well, that could be awful.

According to Variety, Bier has signed to helm Lost for Words, a romantic comedy or something about a movie star who falls in love with a Chinese actress and her female translator. I'm not sure if its a love triangle thing or a threesome thing or what, but it was scripted by Jamie Curtis, who co-wrote Spice World, so it is sure to be hokey. Now, I make no secret of the fact that I love Spice World. Doesn't matter, I still think this is going to be bad, if only because of my skeptical prejudice. The movie has some more British talent involved, too; it will be produced by Love Actually writer-director Richard Curtis, along with Mr. Bean's Holiday (and Hot Fuzz) producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

In her native Danish language, Bier last gave us After the Wedding, which was nominated for an Oscar earlier this year. She's also the director of festival hits Open Hearts (aka Dogme #28) and Brothers, both of which are being remade into English. Zach Braff (Garden State) is tackling the former while Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father) is helming the latter. We'll just have to wait and see what translates better, her films or her filmmaking skills.

Fans of Garden State will be happy to know that Zach Braff has finally stepped behind the camera once again, except it's not for his follow-up feature film. Nope, according to Vulture, Braff is directing a Dunkin' Donuts commercial starring none other than the ultra volatile "please don't hit me with anything" supermodel Naomi Campbell. I cannot think of a stranger scenario -- here we have the super quirky Braff helming a commercial for a store known for their greasy donuts ... and it stars a supermodel! Has Campbell ever eaten a donut in her life (using them as weapons to attack random assistants does not count)? Braff, on the other hand, is apparently a big fan of the chain. While out doing press for The Last Kiss, he was asked what he liked most about Boston. His answer? "I have never seen a city that has more Dunkin' Donuts on every corner. I love Dunkin' Donuts, and I'm not doing an advertisement, but there's nothing like a nice donut." So there you have it -- the dude digs donuts.

While reps for Braff, Campbell and Dunkin' Donuts wouldn't confirm this to be true, filming reportedly took place yesterday back on Braff's home turf in Orange, New Jersey. And after doing some more digging, I uncovered the plot (if you want to call it that) of said commercial. Holy Moly tells us that Campbell is filmed "gardening while wearing an evening gown," (makes sense, right) and when a neighbor annoys her, she throws her shoe through their window. (Get it? Because Campbell throws things and needs money to pay off those who are suing her -- hence, embarrassing herself with this crummy commercial?) What does this all have to do with Dunkin' Donuts? Well, there's another woman who watches the whole thing and "keeps cool" by drinking some sort of iced coffee. Don't you see her? She's wayyy in the back corner. No, behind the production assistant. In the blue jeans. Yes, the one holding a sign that reads "Garden State Was Overrated!"

No word yet on the status of Braff's film Open Hearts (a remake of Susanne Bier's 2002 Danish film), but perhaps the guy signed on to this gig in order to get used to directing again. That would be the most logical excuse. Then again, maybe it's the only job he can find. Time to make the donuts another film, Zach -- whaddya think?

[via Hollywood Wiretap]

Zach Braff's next film Open Hearts may be currently on hold, but he plans to shoot in New Jersey again once everything comes together. On a conference call yesterday, he told Cinematical that he remains involved in New Jersey, where he currently serves on the board of the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

He plans to lens Open Hearts in Northern New Jersey, and enjoys working in the area where he can utilize actors and crews from New York. Braff was born and raised in Jersey, and filmed his directorial debut Garden State there three years ago.

While I wouldn't say Braff's filmmaking sensibilities are diametrically opposed to Kevin Smith's, they do target similar young audiences, but when you watch Garden State you'll come away with a much different view of Jersey than you get from Smith's films. At least no one was getting it on with a donkey in the version I saw.

It's great when a director can work outside of the Hollywood environment and manage to capture the essence of where they come from. Richard Linklater did a great job of it with Slacker, and Braff seems to have done equally as well with Garden State. Although it's hard for me to know for sure since I spent several years in college living in Austin, and have never been to New Jersey, but it feels more real than the Jersey you get from The Sopranos or Clerks II.

If you try your hand at writing, you'll hear the phrase, "write what you know" many times. Whoever coined this phrase probably had no idea how much it applied to directing as well.

Odds and ends from Friday and the weekend:

• After she finishes directing Things We Lost in the Fire, Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier will tackle an adaptation of Amanda Foreman's novel, Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire. Simply called The Duchess, pic tells a story of "politics, wealth, and intrigue of late-eighteenth-century aristocracy through the intimate story of a woman who was its leader." Bier also directed the Danish film Open Hearts, which Zach Braff is supposed to direct at some point in the very late future.
• The cast for Lajos Koltai's Evening just got a whole more interesting. Hopping onboard the project are Meryl Streep and Mammie Gummer. Mother and daughter in real life, the two will play the same character at different phases in her life. Also joining this list of amazing female actresses (which already included Vanessa Redgrave, Toni Collette and Claire Danes) are Glenn Close and Eileen Atkins.
• While there's no direct quote from the man, according to a few different sources Steven Spielberg may be interested in directing the next Jurassic Park flick himself. Though Joe Johnston (who directed part three) is Spielberg's first choice to helm, if for some reason he cannot do it then Stevie will take on the task. What does this mean for Indiana Jones 4? Hell if I know, but it can't be good.

Folks, prepare to be bummed out: Zach Braff, Emmy-nominated star of the hit NBC series Scrubs and writer/director/star of Garden State (2004) has placed his latest directorial effort on hold. Open Hearts, based on a Danish film called Elsker dig for evigt was to begin production this summer but, as Braff told Moviehole.net, he will be postponing production. "I was going to do it this summer, but since I couldn't get my top people I'm waiting until next summer." According to IMDB, the original film concerns the travails of an engaged couple after the man is paralyzed in an automobile accident and the woman falls for the husband of the driver that caused the accident. How Braff's take on the story will vary from the original remains to be seen.

While Garden State fans like myself may be disheartened to learn that Braff's next film will take that much longer to hit the screen, the fact that Braff is willing to wait for the right cast would seem to indicate an auteur striving to remain faithful to his vision. Braff's fans should also bear in mind that Open Hearts will not be the light-hearted romp Garden State was. "The next thing I will do will be completely different," he told Moviehole. "It's a really dark drama about a car accident and the way the accident affects all the people involved in it."

As to whether or not this may help firm up Braff's rumored involvement in a new Fletch film (as previously reported here on Cinematical) is anyone's guess. Braff's current film The Last Kiss -- in which he stars but does not direct -- opens in theaters on September 15.

The other day, Zach Braff posted on his blog how he may be adapting a foreign film and shooting his follow up to Garden State this summer. Well, it didn't take long to find out the name of that film, as the deal was wrapped up today. Looks like Braff will be producing and directing a re-make of the Danish film, Open Hearts, for Paramount Pictures, with production to start this June in New Jersey. That's right - he's going back to the Garden State baby!

Pic was originally directed by Susanne Bier and released by Newmarket Films in 2003. It tells the story of a woman who, after her husband is paralyzed in an accident, starts having an affair with his doctor whose wife caused the accident. Sheesh, talk about complex - I wonder if there's a Paul Simon song about this he can throw on the soundtrack? While we're only a couple of months away from the start of production, no one has been cast so far, though there's a chance Braff may make an appearance in the film. Anyone catch Open Hearts when it was out? How do you think Braff will do with it?