Alfred Hitchcock made Tippi Hedren a movie star, but that distinction came at a high cost, according to HBO’s The Girl.  The movie, which made its  debut tonight, stars Sienna Miller as Hedren and Toby Jones as the portly director.

Based on the book Spellbound by Beauty: Alfred Hitchcock and His Leading Ladies by Donald Spoto, the film details the relationship between Hitchcock and Hedren, who starred in The Birds and Marnie.   Angry that she spurned his sexual advances, he began harassing and even punishing her.  Particularly harrowing is the sequence that portrays the filming of the final attack sequence in The Birds, Hitchcock opted not to tell his star that live birds would be used rather than the mechanical ones they’d been using up to that point.  Crew members literally hurled live birds at Hedren for five days of filming in a cramped space; she was left seriously injured and ordered by a doctor to a week’s break from work to recover.  During the filming of Marnie, he refused to give her any helpful direction, and “tormented” her during a rape scene.

Why did she stick around for this treatment, you might ask?  She had signed a multi-year, exclusive contract with Hitchcock.  She eventually fought her way out of the agreement, but Hedren says he made her life “miserable” and set out to ruin her career.   That didn’t happen, obviously – she’s steadily worked in TV and film for the last 40+ years.  However, the director’s behavior did seriously frighten Hedren, especially as she was a single mother raising her daughter, Melanie Griffith.

And how did that now-famous daughter react to The Girl?  After a private screening, Griffith reportedly declared, “Now I need to go back to therapy.”

Lest the movie come across as sour grapes, Hedren says working with Hitchcock wasn’t all bad.  And, she says, part of the point is to let young women know they don’t have to put up with abusive or unwanted behavior.  She commented:

“I hope that young women who do see this film know that they do not have to acquiesce to anything that they do not feel is morally right or that they are dissatisfied with,” she said. “I can look at myself in the mirror, and I can be proud. I feel strong. And I lived through it beautifully.”

Photo: HBO

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Gerard Butler struck a surfer’s pose at the premiere of his current flick, Chasing Mavericks.

In this biopic, Butler plays Frosty Hesson, the guru of the late professional surfer Jay Moriarty.  In 1990, Hesson took the then 12 year old Moriarty under his wing and trained him to surf Northern California’s legendary Maverick’s, home to huge waves and massive wipeouts.  During his short career, Moriarty (played in the film by Jonny Weston), steadily rose to surfing fame until his untimely death just before his 23rd birthday.

So you might be thinking:  Gerard Butler, surfing movie… shirtless scenes?  Oh yes.  Check ‘em out when Chasing Mavericks opens on October 26th.  In the meantime, click through for more views of Butler from the premiere.

(Read the article)

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 Headed out to the movies this weekend?  Check out one of these flicks opening today, Friday, October 19.

Alex Cross – The popular detective created by author James Patterson is back on the silver screen.  Washington D.C. detective Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) tries to catch a brutal serial killer (Matthew Fox) who has murdered one of his relatives.

Paranormal Activity 4 – More found footage fun from the Paranormal Activity franchise.  In this installment, Katie (Katie Featherston) and Hunter (played by Brady Allen and now called Robbie) move into a new neighborhood and strange things begin to happen to their neighbors.  Directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost.

The Sessions – I can’t sum it up any better than IMDB did, so quoting them:  “A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest. “  Helen Hunt plays real-life Certified Sexologist Cheryl Cohen Greene.   John Hawkes plays Mark, the disabled man, and William H. Macy is the priest.

Nobody Walks – The life of a Los Angeles couple (John Krasinski and Rosemary DeWitt) is turned upside down when they agree to host a New York student (Olivia Thirlby) who is in town finishing an art film.   This indie film was directed by Ry Russo-Young, who co-wrote the script with Lena Dunham.

That’s What She Said – When two BFFs (Anne Heche and Marcia DeBonis) are befriended by a nymphomaniac stranger (Alia Shawkat), they all hit New York City for a day of shenanigans.

Photo:  Paramount Pictures

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DC Comics fans will be happy to hear this news!  Warner Bros. has a green light to begin development of a live action movie featuring the DC Comics team of superheroes known as the Justice League.   After winning a critical legal battle with the heirs of the creator of Superman, Jack Shuster, the studio is expected to begin filming a Justice League movie next year for release in July 2015.

Along with Superman, the Justice League includes The Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash and other superheroes.  They were featured in the well-received Cartoon Network animated series Justice League, which aired from 2001-2004.

Warner Bros. might feel it has some catching up to do.  While it’s been duking it out in court for the last eight years, Marvel Studios has churned out a steady stream of movies featuring its comic book heroes (including Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, The Avengers).

There’s reportedly a Justice League script in the works, so all it needs is a director and a cast.  They may already have two roles filled:  Henry Cavill plays Superman in the upcoming Man Of Steel, and Ryan Reynolds played Green Lantern (rather unsuccessfully) last year.  However, The Dark Knight‘s Christopher Nolan has already turned down the directing job, and Christian Bale has said that The Dark Knight Rises was his final turn as The Batman.   Who else would you like to see involved with this film?  What actors do you think would do these characters, well… justice?  Drop a comment and tell us!

Photo:  Cartoon Network via Player Affinity

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Gangster films are always pretty popular but Killing Them Softly adds Brad Pitt to the mix (plus Johnny Cash on the soundtrack) for what looks like a win.

Pitt is re-teaming with his Assassination of Jesse James director Andrew Dominik for the gritty adaptation of the George V. Higgins novel.

Pitt is Jackie Cogan, an enforcer trying to find out who robbed a high-stakes, mob-protected poker game in New Orleans.

Costarring James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Sam Rockwell and Scoot McNairy, Killing Them Softly is in theaters on November 30.

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Elle Fanning is making the film festival rounds to promote her new film Ginger and Rosa.  For the movie’s premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, she wore a gorgeous ball gown from Rochas‘ 2013 Resort collection.   It was a little voluminous for her, but the cardigan and lace choker kept her look appropriately youthful.

Ginger and Rosa tells the story of two London teenagers in 1962 and how their friendship evolves with the changing times.

Click through for more red carpet photos of the beautiful Elle Fanning.   (Read the article)

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One of the most anticipated movies of the holiday season, Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained has released a new trailer.

With this new trailer, we get to see more of the film’s action scenes and a glimpse at some of the dark comedy that is a staple of Tarantino films.

Jamie Foxx‘s Django sets out to find his wife, played by the luminous Kerry Washington, who ends up in the hands of Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) – a sadistic plantation and slave owner who puts Washington’s character through hell.

Jonah Hill‘s appearance is unexpected and funny, DiCaprio’s slave owner is slimy and Christoph Waltz‘s bounty hunter is creepy with a wink and a nod to the spaghetti westerns of long ago.

Django Unchained opens on Christmas day.

Catch the trailer below. (Read the article)

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Argo – Ben Affleck stars as a CIA specialist who devises a plan to rescue six Americans caught in Iran at the height of that country’s 1979 revolution.

Sinister – When it comes to horror films, found footage is the new black.  Ethan Hawke plays a father who learns the secrets of murders that took place in – and continue to haunt – his family’s home.  Scott Derrickson directs.

Seven Psychopaths – What happens when a group of friends kidnaps a gangster’s dog?  You’ll find out in Seven Psychopaths.   Directed by Martin McDonagh.  The star-studded cast includes Abbie Cornish, Sam Rockwell, Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson and Christopher Walken.

Here Comes The Boom – A biology teacher and former wrestler becomes a mixed martial artist in order to raise money to save his school’s music program.   Stars Kevin James, Salma Hayek and Henry Winkler.

3, 2, 1…Frankie Go Boom – It’s the week for movies with “Boom” in the title.   Frankie (Charlie Hunnam) has endured a lifetime of humiliation and torture by his older brother, Bruce (Chris O’Dowd).  When a very embarrassing video ends up on YouTube, the brothers look to a hacker (Ron Perlman, in drag) to help.   I don’t get it either.

Smashed (limited) – What happens to a marriage between two alcoholics, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul, when one spouse decides to go sober.

Special Forces (Forces Spéciales) (limited) –   Special Forces has done the international film festival rounds and is finally making a U.S. debut.  A group of elite French soldiers try to rescue a French journalist who has been kidnapped by the Taliban.  Features Diane Kruger and Djimon Hounsou.

Photo:  Warner Bros./IMP Awards

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Coming soon to a theater near you:  Charlie Brown and the rest of the ‘Peanuts’ gang!

Iconix Brand Group announced on Tuesday that a feature film starring the beloved comic strip characters is in the works.  It is scheduled for release in 2015 – just in time for the ‘Peanuts’ 65th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the classic TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas.

The screenplay was written by Craig Schulz and Bryan Schulz, the son and grandson of ‘Peanuts’ creator Charles M. Schulz.   Steve Martino (Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who, Ice Age: Continental Drift) will direct. 20th Century Fox and animators Blue Sky Studios will jointly distribute, produce and animate the film, which has been two years in the making.

Craig Schulz shared his feelings about the project:

“We have been working on this project for years. We finally felt the time was right and the technology is where we need it to be to create this film. I am thrilled we will be partnering with Blue Sky/Fox to create a Peanuts movie that is true to the strip and will continue the legacy in honor of my father.”

Vanessa Morrison, President of Twentieth Century Fox Animation said:

“We are thrilled to partner with the Schulz family and Iconix and honored to bring the Peanuts characters to the big screen. This all started with our love and respect for the work of Charles M. Schulz.  We thank the Schulz family and Iconix for letting Fox and Blue Sky bring his vision to new generations of film goers.”

How fun!  I can’t wait to see Charlie Brown, Lucy, Schroeder and all the rest on the big screen.

Photo:  Peanuts Wiki

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 Planning on catching a movie this weekend?  Here’s a peek at new movies opening this weekend (Friday, October 5, 2012).

Taken 2 – Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace are back for this sequel to the 2008 flick.  Retired CIA operative Bryan Mills (Neeson) and his wife are taken hostage in retaliation for his killing one of his daughter’s kidnappers in Taken.

Frankenweenie – Tim Burton‘s latest animated film tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein, who uses science to reanimate his dead dog.  I’m incredibly surprised to find neither Helena Bonham Carter nor Johnny Depp in the Frankenweenie cast, but you will enjoy the voice talents of Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Charlie Tahan and Christopher Lee.

Pitch Perfect – It’s men vs. women in a choral competition at the fictional Barden University.   Stars Brittany Snow, Anna Kendrick, Alexis Knapp, David Del Rio and Elizabeth Banks.

V/H/S – This “found footage” movie is an anthology of horror shorts “discovered” by a group of criminals who are hired to break into a house and steal a rare video tape.

The House I Live In – A documentary explores the war on drugs and the criminal justice system in the U.S. By Eugene Jarecki.

Butter (limited release) – Butter sculpture.  It’s an actual competitive event, and Jim Field Smith made a comedy about it.  The ensemble cast includes Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, Olivia Wilde, Hugh Jackman, Ashley Greene and Alicia Silverstone.

The Paperboy (limited release) – Matthew McConaughey plays a reporter investigating a crime involving a death row inmate (John Cusack).  The Paperboy was directed by Lee Daniels and also features Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman and Macy Gray.

Photo: 20th Century Fox via Filmofilia

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