Cinema: Word on the Street

 

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Anne Hathaway is breathtaking in 'Les Misérables', says Tom Hooper

In an interview with MTV News, the director revealed that he saw many big-name actresses audition for the role of Fantine but is glad to have settled upon Hathaway, who had a personal connection to the part.

"It was like half a dozen of the biggest female movie stars on the planet all wanted to play the role. The competition was insane, and they were all willing to go through the auditioning process," Hooper recalled.

"It was rather wonderful and some poetic justice that Anne Hathaway ends up getting the role given that her mother was the understudy for Fantine on the American tour when she was growing up. The first day of filming, she actually wore her mother's Les Mis cast jacket from all those years ago."

Hooper went on to say that Hathaway's commitment to playing Fantine was admirable and made the finished product that much better, explaining: "When she sings 'I Dreamed a Dream' and you just see a tiny clip in the trailer, it is quite extraordinary. This performance, it is quite breathtaking. The day we shot it on set, the crew were kind of absolutely staggered by it.

"She went to this incredibly raw and intense place to play this role. She offered to cut her hair because that's what happens to the character, and she was truly committed to going on this journey and did the most immaculate amount of research.

"I don't think I've worked with a better-prepared actor in terms of the amount of the months and months of work that she put in to build up to this moment."
 

 Hathaway previously confessed that she experienced "mental patient level of crying" when cutting her hair for Les Misérables.

LATEST NEWS

Zac Efron Wonders 'Are We Officially Dating?' in New Indie Comedy

The early days of Zac Efron's career have been something of a punchline to many film geeks, considering he got his start in Disney's High School Musical franchise and has mostly stuck to romantic comedies since moving out of the Mouse House. But I have a feeling all of that is about to change. There was good word of mouth about his work in Richard Linklater's 2008 film Me and Orson Welles, and his small comedic role was one of the best parts of Josh Radnor's new film Liberal Arts. Now Variety reports that he'll lead a comedy from Tom Gormican that asks Are We Officially Dating? Click here for more.
 

First Official Photo of Chris Pine as Kenneth Branagh's 'Jack Ryan'

We just got word a few days ago that Paramount Pictures was sending Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan back into action for a Christmas release in 2013. Now the first official photo of Chris Pine (Star Trek, Unstoppable) has arrived. It's actually one of the more exciting photos to get as a first look since Pine seems to be cruising on that motorcycle with determination. Of course, he might not even be in a chase and maybe is just heading to work, angry that he spilled coffee on some papers. Either way, it's good to finally see Chris Pine at work on this anticipated project with Kenneth Branagh directing and also playing the villain. Click here for more.

Paramount and Walden Media Ramp Up 'The Flight Before Christmas'

It seems like every summer we bemoan the death of original ideas in Hollywood, but films set around the winter holidays are rife with concepts that studios will continue to mine until the end of film making as we know it. According to Variety, Paramount Pictures and Walden Media (the company behind the Chronicles of Narnia films) are looking to return to that well of ideas yet again for another holiday-based comedy, this one called The Flight Before Christmas. The idea was hatched by Walden executive Evan Turner, and will follow a family as they deal with the flight from hell on Christmas Eve. Sounds scarier than snakes. Click here to read more if you think this sound awesome.

Michael Douglas to Play Ronald Reagan in Political Indie 'Reykjavik'

Michael Douglas is no stranger to playing the U.S.A.'s Commander in Chief, considering he played the an American President in, well, The American President back in 1995. It looks like he's about to suit up again, this time as a real person instead of a fictional one. THR reports that Douglas will portray President Ronald Reagan in Reykjavik, a political drama that spans a three day meeting of peace talks between Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (a role that has yet to be filled) in the titular Icelandic city after the nuclear fallout of Chernobyl. Kevin Hood (Becoming Jane) wrote the script, and the project has a new director. Read More.

Will Smith's Cain And Abel Movie Gets The Green Light

It's long been said that the Bible is the greatest story ever written, and Hollywood is starting to agree. In addition to Darren Aronofsky's Noah, which is currently in production, Steven Spielberg is attached to make a movie about Moses - titled Gods and Kings - and Warner Bros. is moving forward with a movie about Pontius Pilate. And now Will Smith is getting into the game as well...kinda. Read More Here.

Big Rumor: A Rebooted Batman to Make Debut in 'Justice League'?

Though news surfaced over the weekend that Ben Affleck would not be directing Justice League for Warner Bros, word on the street is that The Matrix directing duo Andy and lana Wachowski are also in the running for the job. Clearly the studio is serious about getting the DC Comics' superhero ensemble off the ground, but with the project as a priority, fans have been wondering how individual films for the team that would include Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman and more would play out beforehand or afterwards. Now we might have our answer, at least in the case of The Dark Knight. Click for more.
 

Paul Rudd & Amy Poehler as Ben Franklin in 'They Came Together'

Wait, what?! We already know that Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd are leading a romantic comedy parody called They Came Together from Role Models and Wet Hot American Summer director David Wain from a script he co-wrote with fellow comedian and The Baxter director Michael Showalter. The story follows Joel (Rudd) and Molly (Poehler) who meet and have nothing but contempt for each other as Joel's big corporation is the one that threatens to shut down Molly's quirky knick-knack store. But we're not sure where these first look photos of the romantic duo dressed up as Benjamin Franklin come into play. Click to read and see more.
 

 Growing Up Graceland' Will Explore the Final Days of Elvis Presley

The King may have left the building, but when all was said and done, Elvis Presley had starred in 33 feature films and left an indelible impression on the music and film landscape. One of the biggest musicians to cross over into film, Elvis helped paved the way for guys like Will Smith, Mark Wahlberg, and other musicians-turned-actors to entertain us on the big screen today. THR reports that the recenty-formed BiteSize Entertainment is developing a biopic of sorts about Elvis called Growing Up Graceland, based on Conversations with the King: Journals of a Young Apprentice  a book by David E. Stanley's. Read More

Michael Fassbender Joins Natalie Portman's Western 'Jane Got a Gun'

Back in May, we wrote about former Black List project Jane Got A Gun, a western from writer Brian Duffield set to star and be produced by Natalie Portman. The film, to be directed by We Need to Talk About Kevin helmer Lynne Ramsay, follows a young woman whose outlaw husband stumbles home pumped full of bullets, so she must reach out to a former lover to help protect her homestead from the criminals who are on the way to finish off the husband. Vulture's spies tell them that Michael Fassbender is in talks to take the role of the Portman's gunslinging former lover, which sounds pretty awesome. Read more here.