And just like that, another year is coming to a close.
2013 isn't yet over, but as we enter the last few days of December, everyone is giving in to the urge to look back, to take stock, to see how far we've come, and think about where we're going. We haven't yet busted out our 2014 calendar, but we are still taking for granted that Earth is bound to complete another rotation of the sun.
It's been a busy year around IAR HQ, one complete with plenty of material of which we're immensely proud. So at the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, we're flipping through our figurative family photo album to select those pictures in which we look the most attractive. And we're doing it for your enjoyment. By which I mean to say we're sharing a selection of notable stories, updates, interviews, and oddities that represent what we're all about.
For your navigational convenience and enjoyment, out BEST OF 2013 conglomeration has been divided into several simple categories, from Big-Time Rogue interviews to coverage of superhero movies to IAR's set visits to our discussions with some directors and legends, as well as highlights from promotional junkets and the biggest conventions. We also have sections devoted to some of the stars we've lost over the last year, as well as interview material with figures from awards season favorites.
Simply click on any of the colorful links to enjoy the best material from 2013!
Opening in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on December 25th is the new film from actor and director Ralph Fiennes (Coriolanus) entitled The Invisible Woman. In addition to Fiennes, the film also stars Felicity Jones (Like Crazy), Kristin Scott Thomas (Only God Forgives), and Tom Hollander (About Time).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Ralph Fiennes to talk about his work on The Invisible Woman. The accomplished actor and director discussed his new film, his lack of knowledge about the life of Charles Dickens, directing his second film, what he learned from making Coriolanus, reuniting with his The English Patient co-star Kristin Scott Thomas, and casting Felicity Jones.
Currently playing in Los Angeles and New York, and opening nationwide on December 20th is the new comedy/drama Inside Llewyn Davis from Academy Award-winning writers and directors Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men). The film's music was produced by the iconic T-Bone Burnett and features an excellent cast of actors that includes Oscar Isaac (The Bourne Legacy), Carey Mulligan (Drive), Justin Timberlake (The Social Network), John Goodman (Argo), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), Stark Sands (Flags of Our Fathers), Adam Driver (Frances Ha), Ethan Phillips (Lean on Me), Max Casella (Blue Jasmine), and Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Stark Sands to talk about his work on Inside Llewyn Davis. The talented Broadway actor discussed his new film, singing with Justin Timberlake, why Carrie Mulligan was intimidated, working with T-Bone Burnett, his family ties to the legendary musician, what he learned from being on a Coen brothers set, the advice he wants to get from John Goodman, and basing his character on folk singer Tom Paxton.
Opening in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on December 25th is the new film from actor and director Ralph Fiennes (Coriolanus) entitled The Invisible Woman. In addition to Fiennes, the film also stars Felicity Jones (Like Crazy), Kristin Scott Thomas (Only God Forgives), and Tom Hollander (About Time).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Felicity Jones to talk about her work on The Invisible Woman, as well as The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The talented young actress discussed her new movie, collaborating with Ralph Fiennes, working with an actor/director combo, what she is looking for from a director on set, her character's complex relationship with Charles Dickens, having Kristin Scott Thomas play her mother, watching their English Patient reunion, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, why she liked working with director Marc Webb, and what she is allowed to say about her mysterious role.
Available on Blu-ray and DVD beginning December 17th is the new found-footage horror comedy Ghost Team One from first time feature film directors Ben Peyser and Scott Rutherford. The movie stars Carlos Santos (La Agencia), J.R. Villarreal (The Death and Life of Bobby Z), Fernanda Romero (Drag Me to Hell), Tony Cavalero (TV's Aim High), and Meghan Falcone (TV's Anger Management).
IAR is proud to present this exclusive clip from Ghost Team One entitled "Chuck's Video Diary."
Opening in theaters on December 13th is the highly awaited sequel The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug from Academy Award-winning directer Peter Jackson. The film is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the second chapter of its own trilogy, which includes last year's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and next year's The Hobbit: There and Back Again.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug stars Martin Freeman (The World's End) as Bilbo Baggins, Ian McKellen (X2) as Gandalf the Grey, Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Smaug and The Necromancer, Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) as Legolas, Evangeline Lilly (Real Steel) as Tauriel, Luke Evans (The Raven) as Bard the Bowman, Lee Pace (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2) as Thranduil, Stephen Fry () as Master of Lake-town, Sylvester McCoy (TV's Doctor Who) as Radagast the Brown, Manu Bennett (TV's Arrow) as Azog the Defiler, and Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) as Galadriel, as well as Richard Armitage (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Thorin Oakensheild, Graham McTavish (Rambo) as Dwalin, Ken Slott (Charlie Wilson's War) as Balin, Aidan Turner (TV's Being Human) as Kili, Dean O'Gorman (TV's Legend of the Seeker) as Fili, Mark Hadlow (King Kong) as Dori, Jed Brophy (District 9) as Nori, Adam Brown as Ori, John Callen as Oin, Peter Hambleton as Gloin, William Kircher (Out of the Blue) as Bifur, James Nesbitt (Match Point) as Bofur, and Stephen Hunter as Bombur, who all portray The Company of Dwarves.
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Letteri to talk about his work on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Letteri discussed the new film, working with director Peter Jackson, creating the film's barrel sequence, the look of Smaug, and the series' controversial 48 fps technique.
It wouldn't seem that a film about a phone sex hotline could be so imaginative and creative but Sweet Talk: An Unexpected Love Story manages to be just that.
Written by author, playwright, and screenwriter Peter Lefcourt (Desperate Housewives, The Deal) and directed by actress Terri Hanauer (whose short Recycling Flo proved promising), the indie comedy marks the pair's first project as a married couple. This no doubt contributed to the intriguing dynamic between the two leads, a frustrated yet fiery young woman (Natalie Zea) and a blocked writer (Jeffrey Vincent Parise). The pair, who begin chatting over a phone sex hotline, soon find that they're on a journey of self-exploration. What starts out as soulless small talk, turns into something much more—as they create scenarios that have less to do with sex and more to do with the excitement of feeling alive and connected to someone.
Zea's portrayal of Delilah is what makes the film so grounded and alluring. This is no surprise given that the actress turned what could have been hollow small screen roles on shows like Justified and The Following and gave them an edge. In Sweet Talk, Zea takes Delilah from a woman consumed with bitterness to a woman who openly shares her fantasy about having a dangerous love affair in war-torn Budapest.
I had the chance to speak with Zea about acting with a phone instead of a scene partner, the scarcity of dynamic female roles, and how she approached conveying her character's sexuality in an honest light.
Opening in theaters on December 13th is the new biographical comedy-drama from director John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) entitled Saving Mr. Banks, which is based on the making of Mary Poppins. The film features an all-star cast the includes Academy Award-winners Emma Thompson (Brave) and Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips), Academy Award-nominee Paul Giamatti (All Is Bright), Jason Schwartzman (Moonrise Kingdom), B.J. Novak (The Internship), Bradley Whitford (CBGB), Ruth Wilson (The Lone Ranger), Kathy Baker (Machine Gun Preacher), Rachel Griffiths (Blow), and Colin Farrell (Total Recall).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Jason Schwartzman, B.J. Novak, and Bradley Whitford to talk about their work on Saving Mr. Banks. The three talented actors discussed their new film, research they did for their roles, singing the iconic Mary Poppins songs in the movie, their upcoming new musical trio, and why interviewing them is better than interviewing Tom Hanks.
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download beginning December 10th is the new martial arts film Man of Tai Chi, which marks actor Keanu Reeves (Generation Um...) directorial debut. In addition to Reeves, the film features an excellent cast of actors including Tiger Hu Chen (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Karen Mok (The Coffin), Simon Yam (The Thieves), Sam Lee (The Incredible Truth), Michael Tong (Hard Fate), and Iko Uwais (The Raid: Redemption).
IAR is proud to present an exclusive clip from Man of Tai Chi.
Opening in theaters on December 13th is the new biographical comedy-drama from director John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) entitled Saving Mr. Banks, which is based on the making of Mary Poppins. The film features an all-star cast the includes Academy Award-winners Emma Thompson (Brave) and Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips), Academy Award-nominee Paul Giamatti (All Is Bright), Jason Schwartzman (Moonrise Kingdom), B.J. Novak (The Internship), Bradley Whitford (CBGB), Ruth Wilson (The Lone Ranger), Kathy Baker (Machine Gun Preacher), Rachel Griffiths (Blow), and Colin Farrell (Total Recall).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with director John Lee Hancock to talk about his work on Saving Mr. Banks. The accomplished filmmaker discussed his new movie, why the film focusses on the pre-production of Mary Poppins rather than the production, if the project could have been made by any other studio, what Walt Disney Studios wanted him to leave out of the story, casting Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks in these iconic roles, the movie's unusual structure, and the challenges of directing two films in one.
