First time feature filmmakers Steve McQueen’s Hunger and Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges are the toast of the 11th British Independent Film nominations this year -- each share a total of seven nominations a piece, while Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire has a total of six noms in five categories and should be a serious contender in at least the screenwriting category.
Continuing their run of big time acquisitions, boutique distributor Summit Entertainment has scooped up worldwide rights for Imagi Entertainment’s CG animated Astro Boy. Curiously, the pic was previously set to be distributed domestically and worldwide by Warner Bros. and The Weinstein Company respectively.
Oh the horror! I simply do not understand Hollywood's obsession with Brit thesp (if you want to call her that) Keira Knightley. Columbia Pictures has just announced that they are redoing the classic 1964 play turned musical turned movie musical My Fair Lady and are in talks to cast Ms. Knightley in (one of) Audrey Hepburn's defining roles as flower girl Eliza Doolittle.
In 2004, Virginia Madsen's career was flipped 'Sideways' and has been headed in a pretty good direction ever since. The Oscar-nominated role marked a move for the actress from heroines in telefilms to leading ladies opposite some of Hollywood's most respected actors.