Public Enemies - Press Conference Part 1 - Marion Cotillard

Yesterday I was at the Public Enemies press conference in London. It was fantastic. It's not everyday you get a chance to listen to Michael Mann, Marion Cotillard and Johnny Depp talk about their films. I was also lucky enough to ask a question of both Marion and Johnny. Who would have thought it!

They each came out separately and we had about 20 minutes to ask them questions. I will start of with Oscar winner, Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) and post Michael and Johnny's later today.

Before each one we were asked to keep our questions relevant to the film. A bit of a shame as I wanted to ask Marion about her work on Christopher Nolan's Inception. Oh well. Marion looked lovely in a long green dress. All of them came across as happy, confident and they all seemed to enjoy the questions. I managed to get a photo of them all, but the one for Marion was very blurred so I couldn't use it.

Why did you say yes to Public Enemies?

Because I’m a great fan of Michael Mann and when he asked me to star I couldn’t believe it and I was very happy. I met him and read this beautiful script.

How was it doing the American accent and how did you prepare for that?

It was a technical issue and it was very hard. When I started I thought it was not possible at all, but I really tried to do my best. Fortunately Billie was half French, although she’s not supposed to have French accent.

It’s very technical. You really have to work and work. Practice and using your whole face, jaw, tongue, body in a total different way. It was very interesting. There were hours and hour in front of a mirror with my vocal coach because you don’t think how you speak.

There were so many men in this film. How did you feel being on set in one of the few female roles? Did you feel excluded?

No, absolutely not. Michael Mann has a great respect for women. He’s surrounded by women in his life and I think that is why the women in his movies are very strong. They really have strong personalities and they have a very special place in all his movies so I felt really welcome.

Michael asked you to meet some gangster’s wives and girlfriends. How was that?

They were actually convicts wives some of them were not with gangsters. They were all so generous to share their stories, the very painful experiences they had. We spent a few hours together and it was very emotional because they were very emotional going through the full story of their life.

More than their stories and they were important, but what they felt when they told me their stories. They went back through all those feelings, fear and extreme pain because you don’t know what’s going to happen when you are alone. Some of them had kids

*at this point Marion was distracted by one of the Dictaphones in front of her causing her to laugh *

I could see and feel their pain and fears because you don’t know what’s going to happen the next day. It helped me a lot. You gather some emotions and feeling. It creates your character.

You said you didn’t know anything about Dillinger as all so you must have done a lot of research to find out about him. He’s an American folk hero. Is he known in France at all?

I’m not very sure. I think that my generation doesn’t know Dillinger and yeah I didn’t know anything about him. I didn’t even know his name. The first thing I read about him was the script and the book, Public Enemies. I didn’t do a lot of research about him. My research was more about the period, the American history, and the Indian history because Billie Frechette is half [Menominee] Indian. I really wanted to know about American culture and Indian culture. I knew about the era I learnt at school about the crisis in the Thirties, but I didn’t know that much about American history. What I read about Dillinger was just the script and the book. I watched a lot of pictures of him, but my research was on the Thirties and the American culture.

I never talked about Dillinger with anyone. He may be well known with French people.

Was the experience of working with Michael Mann more than you anticipated?

When I met him, right away, when I came in his office I felt that there was a connection between the two of us. I don’t know how to explain it. I really love him as a person and a director. I wanted to be perfect for him. I wanted to give the best of my best. I don’t know if I did. He was inspirational.

Then it was my turn. I was the gentleman in the third row!

What was it like filming the interrogation scene? How much preparation did you have to do?

The difficulty of the scene was that when you have a very emotional violent scene to do you think of the technique and I had to keep the mid-western accent. It was very difficult, as I had to let it go but at the same time not think about.

I love extreme scenes. I would say that after this kind of scene I feel empty but also fulfilled. I think it may feel like when you do sports and you have a competition like the 100m. After that you feel tired and empty but fulfilled because you did something that was intense. I really love it. It’s not difficult but it is technical.

How deeply did Christian Bale and everyone stay in character? He apparantly kept his accent on between scenes

I didn’t work with him too closely. When we were filming everything was in the Thirties. I think there is something that stays with you while you film. For example if you have an accent you keep it between the scenes, as it is hard to get there. Sometimes it is better to stay there even when you are not shooting, because if you totally get out of it to come back is the same journey. Before I did La Vie en Rose I thought it was dangerous to stay in character and more than that I thought it was kind of ridiculous. I had a judgement because I didn’t know that it’s really hard to go back there. After that my opinion, it was not even an opinion it was a stupid judgement because I didn’t know what I was talking about. Now I know I didn’t force myself to stay in character. It was easy. I couldn’t stop between takes because it was so much work to get there. I really do understand this now.

Thank to Marek at Way to Blue for inviting me and for MPC for the screening.

Part 1: Marion Cotillard

Part 2: Johnny Depp

Part 3: Michael Mann

Public Enemies review

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Christopher Nolan's Inception has started filming

NolanFans.com found the above picture of Leonardo DiCaprio, Christopher Nolan and Ken Watanabe in a Japanese magazine. I'm not sure if Leonardo and Ken are in costume or if it is just for the photo.

The photo containing the Inception director, and two of its stars, was taken on June 15th in Tokyo, Japan (one of the reported filming locations of Inception). According to reports, filming is already underway in that country, which is only one of six reported countries the film is scheduled to shoot in.

As well as Japan Inception will also film in Los Angeles, London, Paris, Morocco, Tangiers and Canada (as mentioned here). It has been described as “a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind” and as as well as Leo and Watanabe the cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy.

Source: Filmonic

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Inception - Christopher Nolan's sci-fi film has a $200 million budget

A Sun source confirmed that Leonardo DiCaprio will be heading to Alberta, Canada this November to shoot scenes for the new Christopher Nolan film, Inception.

While the psychological sci-fi thriller is filming in five different countries, a significant portion of the $200-million movie will be shot in Kananaskis.

"It's not going to be just a two-day shoot," said the source.

"It's not just some CBC mini-series. It's pretty substantial.

"These guys are going to spend more money before lunchtime than most (networks) will spend on a series. It's as big a movie as has ever been shot here."

DiCaprio headlines the film's star-studded cast as a CEO. It also stars Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, Canadian actress Ellen Page, Tom Hardy (Bronson), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy and Michael Caine. Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, The Dark Knight) will play the film's villain, a man who is blackmailing DiCaprio.

Director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Memento) has already been to Calgary twice to look at possible locations.

Nolan scouted nearby foothills and mountainous areas by helicopter and is said to have chosen Fortress Mountain (that's the one in the photo above) as the main Alberta location.

The Inception script, also written by Nolan, has been kept under tight wraps although it has been described by Warner Bros. studio as "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind."

I do love the fact hardly anything is know about the actual plot of the film. From what little I do know it seems to be giving off a Philip K. Dick kind of vibe - businessmen from rival companies, set within the architecture of the mind.

The movie is slated for a July 2010 release.

Source: Calgary Sun

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Ken Watanabe to be the big bad in Christopher Nolan's Inception

Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Batman Begins) and Tom Hardy (Bronson, Star Trek: Nemesis) have signed on for Christopher Nolan's Inception for Warner Bros., starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story was written by Nolan and is a contemporary sci-fi action film set within the architecture of the mind, with DiCaprio as a CEO type. Watanabe will play the film's villain, a man who is blackmailing DiCaprio. Hardy is a member of DiCaprio's team.

The duo join a cast that includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Michael Caine and Marion Cotillard.

Nolan and the studio are aiming for a summer shoot ahead of a 2010 release.
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The Random - Inception, TMNT, Unstoppable, Toy Story 3, Pacemaker, Terminator Salvation, Fallout 3, Nightmare on Elm Street, Stone

The cast of Christopher Nolan's Inception continues to grow. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the latest to join the cast and is taking on the role that would've been played by James Franco before he left due to a scheduling conflict. Gordon-Levitt will reportedly play an associate of Leonardo DiCaprio's character, who is a "CEO-type." We still don't know anything about the story, besides that it's a contemporary sci-fi action film set within "the architecture of the mind." - Read More

Last night it was officially announced by The Mirage Group that another new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action movie was in development for 2011. The details they revealed at time were that it would be a reboot focusing on their origins and that it might use some "face replacement technology." - Read More

In a story from Variety, Denzel Washington is in talks to star in the thriller Unstoppable. The film is about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. It pits an engineer (Washington) and his conductor in a race against time. They're chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.

Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and John Ratzenberger recently watched a "complete story reel" with animatics, temp voices and music of the entire third "Toy Story" film. Hanks has already had three complete recording sessions for the film, and will probably have one more... full details

Marcus Nispel ("Friday the 13th," "Pathfinder") is attached to direct Lars Jacobson's thriller spec script "Pacemaker". No plot details, though the story is described as "Crank" meets "Taken"... full details

Arnold Schwarzenegger has given the go-ahead to include his likeness in the upcoming Terminator Salvation. A body-cast mold of Schwarzenegger made during the filming of the first film provided the basis for a digital-effects version of his famous character... full details

Fallout 3 video game developer Bethesda has filed for film and television trademarks for the game meaning a film/TV adaptation could be potentially in the works..." full details

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kellan Lutz (Twilight) is joining the cast of the new A Nightmare on Elm Street movie. The film is being directed by Samuel Bayer, produced by Platinum Dunes and it will be released through Warner Bros. Lutz is slated to play a popular school jock in this horror film reboot that features kids being tormented by dream stalker Freddy Krueger (Jackie Early Haley).

Director John Curran's new film just got two very big additions to the cast. According to Production Weekly, Robert De Niro and Edward Norton have joined the cast of Stone. The film is based of Angus McLachlan's play and De Niro will play a parole officer who befriends a teaching assistant. The film is scheduled to start filming next month in Detroit.

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Christopher Nolan's sci-fi Inception gets Page, Cotillard and Murphy

Warner Bros. is in talks with Ellen Page (Juno), Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies) and Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, 28 Days Later) to join the cast of "Inception," Christopher Nolan's latest project which stars Leonardo DiCaprio.

In keeping with most things associated with Nolan's project, a veil of secrecy exists over loglines, although it is described as a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within "the architecture of the mind."

However, as the casting process progresses, details are beginning to leak out. DiCaprio's character is mentioned as a CEO-type, while Cotillard would play his wife. Page is a young college grad student and DiCaprio's sidekick.

James Franco was in talks to join the project but had to bow out due to a scheduling conflict with Universal's comedy "Your Highness." Nolan and the studio are aiming for a summer shoot ahead of a 2010 release.

Source: THR

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UPDATED: Leonardo DiCaprio NOT to be a Button Man

UPDATE: Doh! Looks like I fell victim to an unsubstantiated rumour regarding this. MTV have this to say about it:

The upcoming film “Button Man” is not related in any way to “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” — and, contrary to earlier reports, it’s not related to Leonardo DiCaprio, either.

Entertainment Weekly is crying foul on Internet rumors that the “Body of Lies” actor would star in the “2000 A.D.” comic property. The news site is reporting that Leo is not attached to “Button Man” according to studio representatives. The rumor originated from a listing in Production Weekly, a print magazine that provides information on Hollywood projects.

While DiCaprio’s involvement is now officially scrapped, there is movement on “Button Man.” A DreamWorks representative tells Entertainment Weekly that “Eagle Eye” screenwriter Hillary Seitz will pen the screenplay for the comic book adaptation.

So there you have it. If DiCaprio is not to be a Button Man, who could you see in the role?

The original post is below:

According to Production Weekly, Button Man focuses on Harry Exton, an ex-mercenary that participates in a violent underground sport known as “the game.” Exton is one of several killers — appropriately called ‘button men’ — that define victory by slaying their opponent or claiming the first two joints of their victim’s finger. When Harry decides to retire from the sport, he learns the hard way that his own survival is anything but a game.

DiCaprio is expected to star as Exton in the “2000 A.D.” comic book adaptation, from the same publishers of the in-development “Judge Dredd” relaunch. The actor-producer has snatched up the rights to several graphic novel properties as of late, such as the manga franchises “Ninja Scroll” and “Akira” — though he says that he won’t star in either film.

The erstwhile “Titanic” star has also found himself at the center of some higher profile comic book rumors in the last year. Alongside “Inglourious Basterds” actor Brad Pitt, DiCaprio has been mentioned as a contender for Steve Rogers in “The First Avenger: Captain America.”

Other than DiCaprio’s newly announced “Button Man” and his attachment to “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film “Inception,” not much is known about the Academy Award nominated actor’s involvement in comic book movie properties.

Source: MTV

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Warner Bros release dates - Green Lantern, Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Clash of the Titans, Inception, Jonah Hex and Sucker Punch

ERC Box Office is reporting that Warner has announced a slew of release dates, most notably a December 17, 2010 release date for Green Lantern. The site is also reporting that, while the title character hasn't been cast, the studio is eyeing up Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) to direct the superhero film.

The studio also announced a July 15, 2011 release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, which is the same date already chosen by Marvel for The Avengers. Warner Bros. also moved Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes to Christmas Day 2009, from an originally-planned November 13 release.

Other release dates set were Louis Leterrier's Clash of the Titans on March 26, 2010, Christopher Nolan's Inception on July 16, 2010, Jonah Hex on August 6, 2010 and Zack Snyder's recently-announced Sucker Punch on October 8, 2010.

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The Random - The Matarese Circle, Christopher Nolan on Inception, Malkovich in Jonah Hex, Nightmare on Elm Street, 20,000 Leagues rewrite

Tom Cruise will be joining Denzel Washington in MGM's adaptation of Robert Ludlum's The Matarese Circle that is being directed by David Cronenberg and written by Wanted scribes Derek Haas and Michael Brandt. Cruise is in final negotiations to take on the role of the Russian spy Vasili Taleniekov, mortal enemy of American CIA operative Brandon Scofield, to be played by Washington. Wonder if he'll do the accent?

Christopher Nolan will be shooting another project before working on Batman 3. He will direct a sci-fi action film called Inception at Warner Brothers which will be released in the summer of 2010. Described as a "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind." Sounds deep and trippy, kind of like a Tron for the cerebellum! Warner Brothers is producing with Nolan's wife Emma Thomas. Have no fear on the fate of Batman as Nolan made The Prestige between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

John Malkovich will join Josh Brolin in the comic book western, Jonah Hex, which starts shooting in April. Malkovich will play the villain, Turnbull, a wealthy Southern plantation owner whose son is killed by Union soldiers during the Civil War. He blames Hex, a former confederate soldier-turned-hardened bounty hunter and gunslinger.

News is out that Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes and New Line have hired a director for the reboot of Nightmare on Elm Street, bringing on Samuel Bayer to direct the reimagining of the Wes Craven classic. Bayer is best-known work is in commercials and music videos; he's won best director at MTV's VMAs and is responsible many classic videos, including Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Blind Melon's video for "No Rain."

Justin Marks (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Voltron) has been brought in to rewrite Bill Marsilii's draft script for Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo says The Hollywood Reporter. McG (Terminator: Salvation) remains attached to direct the big-budget underwater adventure which Sean Bailey is producing. I just hope the rewrite ends up better than the original script did.

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