FILM/ RAVES FOR "WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN": The 1st reviews for the upcoming "We Need To Talk About Kevin," which just premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, have been released. And thus far, the 2 US reviews are both raves. Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly and Ezra Miller star in "Kevin," which is directed by Lynne Ramsay and based on the European bestseller of the same name by Lionel Shriver. The Kevin in the title is a troubled, angry youth who, you realize fairly soon in a narrative that tracks back and forth in time, has committed a high-school murder rampage. The Hollywood Reporter said: "The Bottom Line: Tilda Swinton gives a tour-de-force performance in an impressionistic film about guilt, regret and loss". They went on to say: "Moviegoers seek out a film such as We Need to Talk About Kevin for the experience of a top-flight director taking complete charge of a fractured, intricate narrative design and a top-flight actress at the peak of her game. With this film, Tilda Swinton establishes herself as the one to beat for best-actress honors at 2011 Cannes". The Los Angeles Times said: "A tragedy in multiple keys, difficult to watch but impossible to turn away from, "Kevin" reinforces Ramsay's reputation as a director in complete control of all aspects of the medium". They went on to say: ""Kevin" also provides yet another showcase for the formidable acting skills of Tilda Swinton, who is on fire as a mother attempting to come to terms with her life after her son's part in a high school massacre. With a raw yet controlled performance that covers a wide emotional spectrum, Swinton has to be an early favorite for the festival's best actress award". "We Need To Talk About Kevin" runs 110 minutes. It has not yet been rated in the US and is expected to be released here this Fall.
(SK NOTE: I've read the book, which in itself, is a must-read. The end is so surprising and shocking, that one is not quite prepared for it. It sounds like the movie is a winner).
FILM/ MCCONAUGHEY & SWANK JOIN "DALLAS BUYER'S CLUB": Matthew McConaughey and 2 time Oscar winner Hilary Swank have been cast in "The Dallas Buyer’s Club," the real-life drama from Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallee ("The Young Victoria"). The film centers on Ron Woodroof, a Texas electrician diagnosed with AIDS who began smuggling alternative drugs into the US to help himself and other AIDS patients. His actions put him on a collision course with the US Food and Drug Administration, which was bent on keeping the drugs out of the country. Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack adapted Woodroof’s story for the screen. The start date of production has not yet been announced.
TV/ NBC PICKS UP AT LEAST 4 NEW SERIES: NBC has picked up "Smash," "Prime Suspect," "Up All Night," and "Whitney," for the fall television season. Based on a concept by Steven Spielberg, the musical comedy "Smash" focuses on the cast, including Debra Messing, pictured, and "American Idol" alum Katharine McPhee, of a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. With a pilot written by
Spielberg and Theresa Rebeck ("Law and Order: Criminal Intent"), the series is pitched as an adult version of "Glee". Adapted from the acclaimed British procedural, "Prime Suspect" finds Maria Bello stepping into the role that Helen Mirren made famous, acting as a female detective who's investigating crimes out of a mostly male precinct. "Up All Night" is a single-camera comedy about a dry-witted working mom, Christina Applegate, her stay-at-home husband, Will Arnett, and her meddling parents. The series also features two "Saturday Night Live" alumni: Maya Rudolph co-stars and Lorne Michaels is a co-executive producer. "Whitney," which is inspired by the stand-up of comedian Whitney Cummings, follows a young couple dealing with the highs and lows of monogamy. Cummings wrote the pilot and Andy Ackerman directed it. NBC will present its fall schedule during upfronts next week in New York.
TV/ NORMA ZIMMER DIES AT 87: Norma Zimmer, 87, the "Champagne Lady" of television's "The Lawrence Welk Show" and a studio singer, died Tuesday at her home in Brea, California. Her family did not disclose the cause of death. Zimmer performed on Welk's network and later syndicated show from 1960 to 1982 as the "Champagne Lady," the title Welk traditionally gave to his orchestra's lead female singer. Zimmer sang solos, sang duets with Jimmy Roberts and waltzed with Welk to the strains of his effervescent dance tunes tagged "champagne music". She appeared on the orchestra's public TV specials that have aired (along with repeats of the series) since 1987. Zimmer took part in a tribute to Welk and his show held earlier this year at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. Welk, who stopped performing in 1989, died in 1992. Prior to her association with Welk, Zimmer sang with the Girlfriends, a quartet that performed with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby, including on Crosby's famous recording of "White Christmas." Zimmer also made several film and TV appearances and was the voice of the White Rose in the 1951 Disney film "Alice in Wonderland".
The National Theatre of Great Britain's production of "War Horse" will play San Francisco, Dallas, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and East Lansing as part of a 20 city U.S. national tour, which will launch in 2012. As previously posted, "War Horse" is planning stops in Los Angeles (June 13-July 22, 2012), San Francisco (August 1-26, 2012) and an open-ended Toronto production, which will begin in February 2012 at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Complete dates and additional cities for the 2012-2013 tour will be announced shortly. Representatives state that the tour will likely continue past its initial 20 engagements. "War Horse" premiered in London in 2007 and officially opened on Broadway April 14 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Lincoln Center Theater aligned with the National Theatre of Great Britain and producer Boy Boyett to import the acclaimed drama. It continues to play a celebrated West End run. The Broadway production was recently nominated for 5 Tony Awards, including Best Play.
Stephen Adly Guirgis' star-filled "Motherf**ker with the Hat," which recently received 6 Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Play, has extended its run at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The production, which officially opened April 11, had originally been scheduled to run through June 25. Performances will now continue through July 17. The play, which is described as "a new high-octane, verbal cage match about love, fidelity, and misplaced haberdashery," boasts the talents of Bobby Cannavale (Jackie), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Veronica), Annabella Sciorra (Victoria), Yul Vazquez (Cousin Julio) and comic Chris Rock (Ralph D.). "August: Osage County" Tony winner Anna D. Shapiro directs. They synopsis of the play is: "Jackie and Veronica have been in love since the 8th grade. But now, Jackie is on parole and living clean and sober under the guidance of his sponsor, Ralph D, while still living and loving with his volatile soul mate Veronica who is fiercely loving, but far from sober. Still, their love is pure. And true. Nothing can come between them, except a hat".
The revised version of the musical "Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark", which has been on hiatus since April 17, debuts tonight at Broadway's Foxwoods Theatre. The April 17 performance marked the final chance for audiences to see director-co-creator's Julie Taymor original vision for the musical, which began previews November 28, 2010, but has yet to officially open, although numerous critics filed mostly negative reviews in February. The musical took the temporary hiatus following a preview period that included several cast injuries and numerous delays for the opening night. When performances resume, audiences can expect major changes to the book and new songs by Bono and The Edge as well as the return of injured actor Christopher Tierney. Opening night is scheduled for June 14.
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