After some initial vexation from both director Michel Hazanavicius and star Jean Dujardin about The Artist’s wonder dog Uggie factoring in this year’s awards conversation, the duo seems to be warming ever so gradually to the notion that people liking Uggie is good for the movie. “When people say the dog is a good actor, it makes me happy,” Hazanavicius said in his latest interview. “I take it as a compliment for myself and the trainer.” Fair enough! And as for Dujardin? How about prime placement on the Golden Globes’ Web site praising his canine castmate?
OK, so there’s the same old caveat about Uggie just wanting sausages at the end of the day. But come on: We all want sausages at the end of the day. I’ll take mine without mustard. And with a beer. It is the end of the day, right?
[via @goldenglobes]
Full Story »With J.J. Abrams finally all-the-way onboard for sure, the Star Trek sequel is moving firmly ahead, settling into a May 17, 2013 release slot. What’s more? Abrams and LOST veteran Damon Lindelof are co-scripting with Trek writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. What’s even more-more? Star Trek 2 will reportedly be filmed in 3-D. Get ready for lens flares in yo’ face! Beam me up, Scotty — right into the freaking screen! Bring your own vintage, pre-annihilation Romulan ale and Federation perfume come May 2013 and make it a 5-D experience. Now that’d be going boldly where no filmmaker has gone before. [Deadline]
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As a fledgling artist in his teens, Drew Struzan took to illustrating movie posters to make a living; decades later, his work in the world of visual film art has become not only iconic, but a part of the way we celebrate many modern cinema classics of the past few decades. This month’s release Drew Struzan: Oeuvre collects more than 250 pieces of Struzan’s art from films including Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back, Star Trek, and Lord of the Rings, and Movieline has a special exclusive preview of rare pieces from the forthcoming book.
Drew Struzan: Oeuvre, in hardcover with a foreword by George Lucas, also includes selections of the artist’s more recent work ranging from Pan’s Labyrinth to Cowboys & Aliens to The Walking Dead, along with “record album, book, and comic book covers, to stamps, trading cards, promotional artwork and very personal original works.” The book is written by Struzan and wife Dylan and retails for $49.95.
Movieline’s exclusive gallery holds a few special treats, among them a look at Struzan’s Empire Strikes Back re-release special edition poster. Click here to launch our gallery of exclusive images.
[Pictured: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (Special Edition) ™ & © 1997 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization; The Lord of the Rings Masterpieces (1) © Copyright Drew Struzan 2006; The Dark Tower © Copyright Drew Struzan 2007]
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After decades on the circuit, retiring sci-fi icon Leonard Nimoy put in his last Star Trek convention appearance, waved his last Vulcan finger sign, and uttered the line “Live long and prosper” to a con crowd for the final time last weekend in Rosemont, Illinois. If you’ve been to Comic-Con or any of Creation Entertainment’s Trek-specific gatherings, you know how much the erstwhile Spock will be missed; if not, here’s a scene from an incisive documentary about the scene that pretty much sums it up.
Kidding! It’s the opening of Galaxy Quest, which nevertheless seemed to approximate the real life experience of working a convention as a former member of a beloved genre series. In contrast, the 80-year-old Nimoy always seemed more into and enriched by the fan interaction experience than Alan Rickman’s Alexander Dane. By Grabthar’s Hammer, Nimoy shall be missed, but kudos to a well-earned retirement. (He has been, and always shall be, our Spock.)
• Spock attends his last ‘Star Trek’ convention [AP]
Full Story »Since the only thing J.J. Abrams loves more than lens flares are secrets, this should come as no big surprise: The Super 8/Star Trek director is planning a new Paramount joint with screenwriter Billy Ray (Flightplan, Shattered Glass, and the upcoming Channing Tatum Peter Pan reimagining), which the duo devised together. The details are under wraps, natch, but it’s described as a “mystery adventure.” Thanks for that clue, fellas! While we wait for more info to hit the wires, see what potential Abrams-Ray fantasy pitches you can come up with in the comments below. (Anyone still holding out for Slusho: The Movie?) [Deadline]
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