Funny People - An Inside Look

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Funny People - Trailer

Over the past few years, writer/director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) has shown that nothing—not even losing your virginity or the miracle of childbirth—is sacred. About his third film behind the camera, he says, "I'm trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!" Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in Funny People, the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience. Adam Sandler, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, RZA and newcomer Aubrey Plaza join a cast that reunites Judd Apatow with Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Jonah Hill in their third comedy together.

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The Time Travellers Wife - Trailer

This is the remarkable story of Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana), a dashing, adventuresome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams), an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course.

The film is due out on 14th August.

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Yo Teach...! Viral for Judd Apatow's Funny People

Upscale Font Part of the viral marketing for Funny People with an electronic press kit of Mark Taylor Jackson (Jason Schwartzman). High school is tough enough without the added distractions of drug abuse, teen pregnancy and anorexia. Fortunately for the colorful underachievers at Jackson High, theres a teacher whos got their back: Mr. Bradford (Mark Taylor Jackson), the wise-cracking mentor of Yo Teach...! Each week, Mr. Bradford tosses his lesson plan to the wind and tackles a new moral dilemma while keeping one step ahead of Principal Andrews and the politically correct PTA.

Written and directed by Judd Apatow
Starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, and Eric Bana

Due out on 31st July 2009

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Funny People - First TV Spot for Judd Apatow's new film.

Some new footage in this TV spot. The film is due out on 31st July.

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Eric Bana talks about Captain Nero and Star Trek

A great interview by the good people over at Collider with Eric Bana. He plays the big bad in Star Trek, the Romulan, Captain Nero.

As well as Star Trek he talks about Funny People and The Time Travellers Wife.

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Star Trek - TV Spot - Do It In

This spot opens with the 'dare' by Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood). I'm really looking forward to seeing this film.

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Star Trek - Live Interactive coverage for the premiere. You can submit questions via Twitter

Paramount Pictures International (PPI) today announced plans to bring live interactive coverage from the world premiere of J.J Abrams’ hotly anticipated movie STAR TREK at Sydney Opera House – the first time a film has premiered in the Concert Hall of Australia’s most iconic building.

The premiere is taking place on Tuesday April 7th and PPI will have a team of bloggers using the latest mobile technology & social media to bring the red carpet event to life, alongside a fan-submitted Q&A from the press junket.

Fans are invited to submit questions for film-makers including director J.J Abrams’ and cast members Eric Bana, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto via Twitter using an #asktrek hashtag.

Video responses to a selection of these questions will be published to a dedicated Star Trek channel using social multimedia network Phreadz, alongside a live Twitter feed and photos served via Flickr (see http://startrek.phreadz.com).

This channel will also feature a live Ustream feed direct from the red carpet, bringing the premiere to life for fans in all four corners of the web. This will be going live at 7am GMT on Tuesday, and will be archived and available to view throughout the day.

As well as creating this social media back-channel PPI will be capturing more traditional audio-visual red carpet publicity edits for subtitling and syndication via a global network of sites and online services including MSN and Real Player.

This initiative is being co-ordinated by Picture Production Company who previously collaborated with PPI to bring film-makers to online platforms including virtual worlds Second Life, PlayStation Home and video-blogging community Seesmic.


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Star Trek - New Trailer

From director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman comes a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, Star Trek, featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before.

One grew up in the cornfields of Iowa, fighting for his independence, for a way out of a life that promised only indifference, aimlessness, and obscurity.

The other grew up on the jagged cliffs of the harsh Vulcan desert, fighting for acceptance, for a way to reconcile the logic he was taught with the emotions he felt.

In the far reaches of the galaxy, a machine of war bursts into existence in a place and time it was never meant to be. On a mission of retribution of the destruction of his planet, its half-mad captain seeks the death of every intelligent being, and the annihilation of every civilized world.

Kirk and Spock, two completely different and unyielding personalities, must find a way to lead the only crew, aboard the only ship, that can stop him.

Starring John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy, Marlene Forte, Jimmy Bennett

Well that looks bloody amazing doesn't it. Little chill up the spine watching that. Lots of action, shouting and all round coolness. Kirk taking the Captains seat for the first time, Nero mentioning the other Kirk, space battles, bar fights, I can't wait.

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Funny People - Trailer for Judd Apatow's latest starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen

Judd Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in Funny People, the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience.

Adam Sandler, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, RZA and newcomer Aubrey Plaza join a cast that reunites Judd Apatow with Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Jonah Hill in their third comedy together.

Discuss in the Forum

Mary and Max - Trailer for adults only claymation film

Collider had the trailer for what looks to be a cool little claymation movie.

It is by Academy Award winning writer/director Adam Elliot and producer Melanie Coombs. The film features the voices of Toni Collette, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Humphries and Eric Bana.

Spanning 20 years and 2 continents, “Mary and Max” tells of a pen-pal relationship between two very different people: Mary Dinkle (Toni Collette), a chubby, lonely 8-year-old living in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia; and Max Horovitz (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), a severely obese, 44-year-old Jewish man with Asperger’s Syndrome living in the chaos of New York City.

As “Mary and Max” chronicles Mary’s trip from adolescence to adulthood, and Max’s passage from middle to old age, it explores a bond that survives much more than the average friendship’s ups-and-downs. Like Elliot and Coombs’ Oscar winning animated short “Harvie Krumpet”, “Mary and Max” is both hilarious and poignant as it takes us on a journey that explores friendship, autism, taxidermy, psychiatry, alcoholism, where babies come from, obesity, kleptomania, sexual differences, trust, copulating dogs, religious differences, agoraphobia and many more of life’s surprises.

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Love the Beast - Trailer for Eric Bana's documentary about cars and stuff

I do like a good documentary and this sounds pretty cool. Bizarre to see Jeremy Clarkson's name on a movie poster. Synopsis and trailer below.

What if you were a Hollywood movie star with an obsession for cars and racing? You would probably read every script with even the tiniest link to the subject matter, in the hope that you could tell a great car story of the likes of "Grand Prix", "Le Mans" or "Mad Max". Then one day you happened to open your garage door and sitting there, right in front of you, was the film you had been searching for. This is what happened to Eric Bana and this time around, the co-star is his very own Ford GT Falcon Coupe- THE BEAST. Eric realized the story was in fact, about him, his first car, a lifetime of ownership and a lifetime of friendship. He set about documenting his own 25 year long love story. A simple tale of one man's ongoing relationship with his very first car. After years of precious restoration, Eric and his 3 closest friends, decided to enter the car into one of the most grueling and dangerous motor races that exists: The Targa Tasmania Rally. This would be a personal Everest for both man and machine, until...on day 4 of the race, tragedy strikes. The man who was hell bent on trying to convey how much he and those around him loved "THE BEAST", had just destroyed it. Eric has now unwillingly cast himself in his own real life drama. We follow him from inside the race car to the surreal world of the red carpet. This compelling true story follows Eric's progression as a car lover, and as a person conflicted by what he has done. The personal and social pressures mount up in the face of re building a car that means so much to him. Along the way Eric seeks guidance and wisdom from not only the inner sanctum of his 3 life long friends but also Jay Leno, Jeremy Clarkson, and Dr Phil.

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Learn how Star Trek: The Next Generation leads into the J J Abrams Star Trek prequel?!?

IDW Publishing has joined forces with Paramount Pictures, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, Kurtzman/Orci Productions and CBS Consumer Products to publish a four-issue miniseries entitled “Star Trek: Countdown.” Illustrated by David Messina, the comic book bridges the gap between “Star Trek: Nemesis” – which featured the Picard-led Next Generation crew -- and the paradoxically latest/earliest voyage of the Starship Enterprise.

The creators of the comic, writers Mike Johnson and Tim Jones, and the film’s executive producer and co-writer Roberto Orci, have revealed to CBR News that the primary function of the series is delivering a back-story for the lead villain of “Star Trek,” Nero, a Romulan played by Eric Bana. Captain Picard plays a significant role, as well

Comic Book Resources have an interview with the creators of the comic and here is a little snippet. Be sure to check out the rest of it.

What can you share about the story both in “Star Trek: Countdown” #1 and moving forward?

TJ: It’s a very poignant character piece tracing the steps of Nero, who descends from a proud Romulan patriot to a murderous arch villain.
MJ: I think fans are going to be pleasantly surprised by the story that starts in #1 and how we introduce Nero. “Star Trek: Countdown” #1 is the issue that sets the stage, and after that the action and drama will steadily increase throughout the series, culminating in a cliffhanger that can only be resolved by a big fat summer blockbuster movie.

Who are the players? Do we get everybody: Kirk, Spock, Bones, Sulu, Chekov, Uhura and Scotty? Old Spock?

TJ: Spoiler alert here. Old Spock is the only character out of your list that appears in the comic.
MJ: Although “appears” is a word with multiple meanings.

Bob Orci also said in the announcement, “It's our way of passing the baton from the Next Generation characters and their movies to the new film.” Is he talking thematically, or do the TNG characters literally play into the story?

TJ: TNG characters literally play into the story.
MJ: Both thematically and literally. Well, not literally that there’s actually a little baton that Picard hands over to the new guys – a little silver baton with the Starfleet logo, although that would be awesome. I want one. But literally, it is in the sense that the comic is the missing part of the story between the end of “Star Trek: Nemesis” and the new film.

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Two more Star Trek posters - Uhura and the Romulan Nero

Here are Zoe Saldana as Uhura and Eric Bana as the Romulan villain Nero from J J Abrams Star Trek. Still not sold on the whole big face on a poster thing they have done for all the posters so far. It's a big sci-fi adventure so why aren't they showing some images of the space craft or alien planets. None of the actors are that big a name (apart from Bana, but he's covered in makeup) so the general public may not get what the posters are advertising.
What do you think of the way Star Trek is being marketed?
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The Incredible Hulk 2 should be happening. Tim Blake Nelson is in as the Leader but he's not sure if Ed Norton will be there.

MTV have been speaking to Tim Blake Nelson (Dr. Samel Stern) about his reappearance in The Incredible Hulk sequel as the villainous Leader.

Fans of this past summer’s “The Incredible Hulk” had a smile put on their faces recently when producer Gale Anne Hurd revealed to MTV News that a proper sequel for the big green guy was very much in the works. As it turns out, they weren’t the only ones.

“I know Gale Ann was talking to you guys about that recently, and I liked hearing it,” beamed an enthusiastic Tim Blake Nelson when MTV spoke with him recently, telling us that he’s on board with Hurd’s plan to have him play the villainous Leader in the next film.

These days, the talented writer/director/actor is in a dark editing bay assembling “Leaves of Grass,” a quirky 2009 drama that features Edward Norton in a dual performance. Nelson told us that during the shooting of “Leaves,” he and Norton sometimes spoke about their recent blockbuster experience, but he still can’t say with confidence that Norton will return following his rumored falling-out with Marvel Studios.

“We talked about [‘Hulk’] a little bit, yeah; we made some jokes about it,” Nelson remembered. “It’s all good, and I really do hope [the sequel] happens, for all sorts of reasons. But yeah, we did, we had a great time on ‘Hulk’ together. I’m eager to do ‘Hulk 2’ if they make it.”

But with stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson continuing to talk themselves up for 2011’s epic “Avengers” flick, and Hulk expected to be a character in that film, Norton has become suspiciously tight-lipped on the topic of future adventures as Bruce Banner. So, with each passing month, it seems more likely that the next Hulk appearance will replace him with another actor just as he did with Eric Bana.

“I feel Edward and I are well-suited for one another. It’s really fun collaborating with him, and he made these characters [in ‘Hulk’ and ‘Leaves’] better,” explained Nelson, revealing that although he’d prefer not to, he would return even if Norton is removed from the series.

“Well, I’m signed on to do ‘Hulk 2’ and ‘3’ whether Edward’s there or not, so it’s not even up to me,” he explained. “When I agreed to do ‘Hulk,’ I signed off for two sequels, so it’s a moot question. I certainly hope Edward is on the sequel — but that’s up to Marvel and Edward.”

Either way, whenever Marvel and Gale Ann Hurd come calling for the “Hulk” sequel, Tim Blake Nelson says he’s fully prepared to show off his great big brain. “Oh, I already did [research into The Leader] when I was doing [Dr. Samuel] Sterns, because I felt that it would be helpful to lay in stuff as Sterns for what The Leader would be,” he explained of the super-intelligent baddie with a desire to take over the world. “So, that was all part of doing Sterns.”

If Ed Norton didn't return who would you like to see play Banner? Should Norton return?
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Funny People - Poster for Judd Apatow's latest

Adam Sandler plays a 42-year old comic named George Simmons. He’s had a good run, and even had a nice movie career. He has everything you could want: an expensive car, a big house, and a great sense of humor. The women want him and the guys want to be his friend. He knows a lot of people but has no close friends, probably because he’s a very miserable and self-involved person. One day he learns that he has a rare untreatable blood disorder, and only has six months to a year left to live. This is the the beginning of the film.

Seth Rogen plays Ira, a 25-year-old deli counter worker and aspiring stand-up comedian who performs for free at a small LA stand-up club. He’s yet to figure out his stage persona, and his friends don’t even come to his shows for support. His jokes are pretty much what you might expect. Imagine what Seth Rogen would sound like if he were a stand-up comedian.

Ira lives with two roommates, an aspiring comedian who has just been accepted to become an Improv regular named Leo (Jonah Hill) , and a sitcom star who likes to gloat about his newfound salary named Mark (Jason Schwartzman).

One night Ira gets bumped when George shows up unannounced at his club, pushing Ira’s performance. Ira ends up bombing, but Simmons sees something in the young comedian and hires him to write jokes and be his semi-personal assistant. George becomes a quasi-mentor to Ira, basically playing him $6000 a month for his company/friendship. George also gives Ira an opportunity to open up for him at various gigs.

This is the meat of the film, a story of two people connecting with each other - an aspiring young comedian and a dying middle aged comedian who now has the power of hindsight. But does George learn anything from his near death experience and newfound friendship with Ira or is he still his old self-centered self?

George confides in Ira that he’s dying, and Ira eventually convinces George to tell people about his illness. I’ve heard that Norm Macdonald has a cameo as one of George’s old Comedian friends.

And there is Laura (played by Apatow’s wife Leslie Mann), the love of his life, now in her late 30’s, married with two kids. Laura broke up with George over a decade earlier when she learned that he was cheating on her. Once an actress, Laura has become a full-time bored and some-what depressed mother, living in a ranch home in a small town. Laura and George reconnect when she learns of his illness.

Much fuss was made of Eric Bana’s comedy past when the casting announcement was first made, but Bana actually doesn’t have a comic role in the film. Bana plays Laura’s successful husband Clarke, who is always traveling to China on business. It is also worth noting that Bana doesn’t appear until late into the film. You can probably see where that storyline might be heading, so I’ll say no more.

Meanwhile, Ira meets a young alternative comic named Daisy (Aubrey Plaza), who also lives in his apartment building. He asks her out on a date but before it happens, Ira makes a discovery that could be detrimental to their possible relationship. It feels like Apatow is trying to inject some Kevin Smith into the story, but it’s not developed enough. Daisy is one-dimensional, and the relationship seems a bit forced and unnecessary.

There are twists and turns, a confrontation between Ira and his roommates, and a climax set as far outside the world of stand-up comedy as you can get. Funny People is very different tonally than anything Apatow has done before. For example, there is a moment where Ira and George have a conversation, which ends with both of them in tears. The film will probably better classified as a dramedy than a full out comedy. Apatow might have a shot at Academy Award consideration if he does this right.

Source: /film
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Yet more Star Trek Photos

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The plot for the new Star Trek movie

EW.com have the plot of the movie as well as the photo on the cover of Kirk and Spock.

Star Trek’s time-travel plot is set in motion when a Federation starship, the USS Kelvin, is attacked by a vicious Romulan (Eric Bana) desperately seeking one of the film’s heroes. From there, the film then brings Kirk and Spock center stage and tracks the origins of their friendship and how they became officers aboard the Enterprise. In fact, the movie shows how the whole original series crew came together: McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoë Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). The adventure stretches from Earth to Vulcan, and yes, it does find a way to have Nimoy appearing in scenes with at least one of the actors on our cover — and maybe both. The storytelling is newbie-friendly, but it slyly assimilates a wide range of Trek arcana, from doomed Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) to Sulu’s swordsmanship to classic lines like, ”I have been, and always shall be, your friend.” More ambitiously, the movie subversively plays with Trek lore — and those who know it. The opening sequence, for example, is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling ”Heresy!” But revisionism anxiety is the point. ”The movie,” Lindelof says, ”is about the act of changing what you know.”

What do you think of the plot?

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Star Trek Photos

The big push for the new J J Abrams Star Trek movie has begin. Here are a few photos showing the crew in their Starfleet uniforms and Eric Bana as the Romulan Bad Guy.




I think it looks pretty cool. The bridge of the Enterprise looks a lot better than I thought it would. What do you think of them?

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The Random

Bill Murray has told MTV that he would like to see a female Ghostbuster in the new movie.

Kenny Ortega, director of the High School Musical films, has been asked by Paramount to direct a Footloose remake. He has somebody in mind for Kevin Bacon's role. Six degrees of Zac Efron anyone?

Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle have joined the musical Fame with Thomas Dekker also in negotiations.

Danny Glover has joined the voice cast of Agent Crush, the animatronics feature film for Fantastic Films International/Crush Productions. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Glover will supply the voice of Major Rusty Gubbins in the futuristic film, which also features Ioan Gruffudd, Neve Campbell and Roger Moore.

Universal has attached The Orphanage director Juan Antonio Bayona to direct Hater, Glen Mazzara's adaptation of British author David Moody's thriller novel about an epidemic of violence perpetrated by ordinary people, according to Variety.

Rebecca Mader (Lost) has taken the lead female role in Men Who Stare at Goats, the Grant Heslov-directed adaptation of Jon Ronson's book. George Clooney and Grant Heslov are producing.

Millennium Films is remaking the 2004 French heist drama Le Convoyeur, retitled to Armored, with Eric Bana in talks to star and F. Gary Gray attached to direct. The story follows a man who takes a job for an armored car company and ingratiates himself with his co-workers, who trust him enough to make him part of their heist plans. Unbeknown to his colleagues, the man had his own motives for taking the job.

Mandate Pictures has acquired the spec I'm With Cancer, a comedic autobiographical story written by Will Reiser that Seth Rogen and his writing-producing partner Evan Goldberg will produce with Ben Karlin (The Daily Show). I'm With Cancer is Reiser's account of his struggle to beat cancer, with the story centering on a 25-year-old who finds out he has the disease.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen filming continues in the Arizona at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Jalopink has posted a few shots from the set and it appears that the movie will be using "Skids" as an Autobot in the new film.

"Variety has confirmed yesterday's casting report that Josh Brolin is up for the role of Jonah Hex..." (full details)

"As Director Louis Leterrier ("The Incredible Hulk") is begging the president of Marvel Studios to do a '1602 movie, '1602 writer Neil Gaiman says that he's all for it..." (full details)

"F/X supervisor Kurt Williams can not confirm or deny reports of Captain America being spotted in a deleted scene on the upcoming DVD for 'The Incredible Hulk'..." (full details)

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