2011. Dir: Clint Eastwood. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench and Josh Lucas. ●●○○○
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? I have asked before and I will shout it from the rooftops if absolutely necessary. Biopics (much like any other film genre) must exist for a reason, you must decide whether you want to draw parallels with the human condition, or prescient societal factors, or you must seek to restore or destroy a reputation, alternative aim to explain your protagonists public actions through their private history. J. Edgar does none of these. Instead it throws events and personal relations onto the screen, with three distinct elements of the film all failing to relate with each other and therefore failing to relate with the greater context.
The first element of the film, and perhaps the most compelling, establishes, through the unreliable narrative of Hoover himself played sympathetically by Leonardo DiCaprio, the origin mythology of the FBI from it's beginnings in the anti trade union movement through the war against organised crime in the 1930's and the development of modern police procedural to catch and prosecute Bruno Hauptmann, the kipnapper of Charles Lindbergh jr. (notably dubbed the "crime of the century" at the time). This section celebrates J. Edgar as a nerdy modernist standardising the process for catching criminals against a backward looking establishment. This alone may have been an interesting picture, in spite of it's glorification of his early achievements and the missed opportunities to discuss his political talents or his much publicised fear of Bolshevism not to mention the constraints of using the scientific method for raising convictions.
The first element is narrated by an older Hoover (during the Presidential tenure of JFK and later) a deeply paranoid man, clinging on to power through blackmail and illegal wire tapping. The film barely plays homage to the unspeakable acts of criminality and suppression that Hoover exercised through his COINTELPRO programme, a bitter taste in the mouth of anyone with a degree of knowledge of the civil rights movement, he may have associated equality with Communism but as we have no basis for the genesis of those beliefs there's no explanation for his acts (save a clunky scene with his dominant mother - Judi Dench - regurgitating anti-Black rhetoric).
What makes this worse is the disfiguring make-up plastered over the younger cast members by this time. Leo's jowls are surprisingly solid but he compensates with a determined physical presence and some possible expression, Naomi Watts as his long-term secretary Helen Gandy largely gets away with her transformation, but poor Armie Hammer playing Associate Director Clyde Tolson peers helplessly through an impenetrable mask of latex unable to contort any facial muscles even before his debilitating stroke. Given the excellent make-up work in The Iron Lady and the modern advances in CGI aging techniques (not something the one take Eastwood would be interested in I expect) this seems utterly baffling.
Finally crowbarred into the narrative is a attempt to clarify Hoover personal relationship with his mother and with Tolson, alluding to the rumoured relationship between the two but without firmly decided whether the rumours are true or not. The film seems to side with an asexual love affair, with Hoover admitting he loves/needs Tolson only to himself and the relationship remaining unconsummated. There are a couple of scenes of hand-holding and one fist-fight inexorably heading towards a kiss but nothing towards romanticism or even hidden passion. Even Tolson's occasional calls for restraint are ignored by Hoover indicating there's little shared intellectual or emotional connection.
I am confused about where the blame lies in this muddled production. I considered laying it Eastwood's door, after all if I believe in auteur theory than the strengths of the director as author are also their failures, however whilst this clearly fits within his back-catalogue it's also his most hack-for-hire directorial work since 2002's Blood Work. The workmanlike approach and unfussy editing is all there, but there's no great resolve for story-telling, even his trademark themes of guilt, retribution and repentance are absent.
I can't even lay it at the hands of cinematographer Tom Stern (although it was terribly dark) or Eastwood's over-present score.
No, the finger of blame lies with Dustin Lance Black, Oscar winning screenwriter for Milk he hews too close to the successful formula he used previously. In Milk Sean Penn, as the titular Supervisor records a statement to be read after his death on a dictaphone detailing his career and personal life. With Harvey the political was the personal, his campaigns relate directly to the discrimination he experienced and the private and public life were visibly entangled. Hoover is writing a (massively embellished) history of the early years of the FBI to a string of untrusted lower level agents, people he sacks merely for not identifying Lindbergh as the most famous American of the 20th Century, so therefore he is unlikely to slip details of his weekend pursuits with Tolson, let alone the kiss, in which case where did those memories come from and how have the audiences heard/experienced them?
It's almost as if Black is using alleged homosexuality as an excuse for his criminality. If he's one of us then he's alright. Compounded by the crass repression by his mother in the absurd daffodil speech, and don't get me started on the cross-dressing grief bit seemingly lifted from a Dummies guide to Freud. No, Dustin, the relationships Hoover had with Tolson, his mother and Gandy are irrelevant and unconnected to his career, or at least if you think they are why didn't you make the point clear in the screenplay.
Ultimately it's what I said in the opening paragraph, decide why you're writing this biography, what is the aim, and simply skirting around the possibility of gay men in power is simply not enough. Audiences deserve better.
Monday, 23 January 2012
J. Edgar
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Who Watches the Watchman (Out this week - 20/01/12)
Things are hotting up in British cinemas this weekend, as we try to push through all the awards bait pictures before the BAFTA deadline, so this weekend there's FBI agents vs. Roman Generals vs. headline grabbing Royals. In terms of my most anticipated of these I will confess the poor reviews for Clint Eastwood's biopic have not significantly dampened my enthusiasm so film of the week is J. Edgar.
In terms of box office Haywire has the most screens this side of the pond, but I suspect that franchise familiarity may just help Kate Beckinsale and her lycanthropic frenemies will take the top spot.
J. Edgar
A couple of weeks ago the Margaret Thatcher biopic managed to squeak it's way to the top of my highly anticipated pile, even though it appeared to whitewash history, and suddenly here we are again with exactly the same thing only centred around the FBI's most notorious and mendacious head of. Still the performances by Leo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer (as his almost lover Clyde Tolson) sound like they could elevate the movie.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●○○
Coriolanus
Big screen Shakespeare is often a hit and miss affair, especially when bringing his work into modern dress (in spite of the tremendous success of modern design on stage), so there has been a noticeable trepidation from purists about Ralph Fiennes' update of the lesser known piece. That said the Chechnya like setting appears to work exceptionally well with Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain both receiving high praise in supporting roles.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Haywire
Steven Soderbergh exercises his action itch allowing MMA fighter Gina Carano her moment in the sun as nearly super-heroic Mallory Kane figuring out who double crossed her whilst fighting Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender and Michael Douglas.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Nine Muses
I wasn't sure about including this as it's more documentary than narrative, indeed it started as a exhibit at the BFI. John Akomfrah's experimental film juxtaposes a retelling of Homer's Odyssey - using the UK immigrant experience in the 1960's - with images of an Alaskan winter. Beguiling trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Red Light Revolution
Billed as China's first and only sex shop comedy (unsurprising given the limited scope of the sub-genre) the trailer links together the kind of jokes you'd expect from any sexual aid romp regardless of it's national origin, including some stunts I'm sure we'd all do if we were locked into Anne Summers overnight!
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
W.E.
Did you think, whilst watching last years terrific King's Speech that what the world really needed was a sympathetic look at Wallace and Edward in the months leading towards the UK's only abdication. (I actually thought last year's movie was fairly even-handed about Wallace, highlighting the snobbery from certain corners of the Family). Apparently Madonna wanted more so we get more in the shape of this hagiography of the central relationship and endless shots of gaudy jewels.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Sitter
If Jonah Hill picks up and Oscar nod next week for his supporting turn in Moneyball it'll be dreck like this unoriginal comedy from David Gordon Green that prevents him from winning the prize. Certainly avoidable.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Underworld: Awakening
It's not a critically lauded franchise, however the series has always produced decent returns and with Kate Beckinsale returning from her third movie hiatus this should clean up in the multiplexes. Stephen Rea sits on the didelines of the eternal battle between werewolves and vampires.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
X: Night of Vengeance
Oz-sploitation thriller about two hookers caught up in a very unlikely mystery. Just listened to a review online that plainly stated most plot moving conversations co-incidently take place in bra and panties or even less. I'm sure it's fine if you like that sort of thing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Clint Eastwood
Happy Birthday to
Clint Eastwood
81 today
Is it OK to still label Clint predominantly as an actor? Surely by now his accomplishments as a director massively outweigh his on-screen work. Apparently not, earlier this year Clint was the embodiment of the Spirit of the West in Rango, albeit voiced by Timothy Olyphant. Next up for the octogenarian is the Leonardo DiCaprio starring biopic J. Edgar which has recently shifted on imdb to being a 2011 film, so I think Leo can probably start clearing his mantlepiece for the oscar now.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
But has it been worth the wait? (Film News - 29/01/11)
This weeks news has been dominated by the Oscar nominations on Tuesday morning, althugh a few other stories caught my eye. More on which later. With regards to the Academy as always we can bemoan and criticise their choices, there was an odd omission in the director category and a surprise inclusion in both foreign language and Documentary (Banksy for the Oscar!) but on the whole I think they did very well this year. In all of the categories there is a general level of quality, indeed I haven't spotted a single nomination that I disagree with (even though there are some I think we're better there's nothing bad in there). This probably speaks to the quality of films and work going into them that we've seen in the last 12 months.
I repeat what I said on Tuesday and congratulate the first time nominees (I'd especially like to congratulate Christian Bale and John Hawkes both of whom will get two mentions on the blog today), and I very much hope that the added exposure from gaining a nod helps you find more rewarding and enjoyable work in the future.
Right now though, it's back to the real news...
The Other Side of the Wind
Moves occasionally disappear in a mire of post-production woes, it's a sad fact of life that money, time and talent all run out and whn then do it often leaves the central piece in limbo. Many never complete filming (The Man who Killed Don Quixote, Nailed), some disappear in endless editing (Margaret) and still more get blocked by legal bickering and money men (La Mula). Most of these are forgotten with time, but some become legendary and so it is with Orson Welles (below) last directorial job. Locked in an French vault in the early 1970's the John Huston and Jeanne Moreau starrer has languished whilst various parties sort out the rights, but now seems to be edging closer to a cinematic release.
LA lawyer Kenneth Sidle told the Observer: “We are in negotiations for the picture, which would lead to the finishing and public exhibition. Hopefully within the next few weeks we will know.”
All of which we've heard before a number of times, but you can guarantee that if Wind does get a release I'll be right at the front of the queue.
Read on for a possible Poe trend, erotic thrillers, some unsurprising casting news and the latest release schedule changes.
The Pale Blue Eye
The Wrap are reporting Scott "Crazy Heart" Cooper is set to write and direct his next project for Fox 2000. Whilst no plot details have yet been announced it's inferred elsewhere this could be an adpatation of Louis Bayard's mystery/thriller set around Edgar Allen Poe's (left) education at West Point Military Academy. Sounds like a fascinating mix of location and theme if it's true, and along with this years The Raven it could make for an exciting Poe double bill.
Passion
When was the last time Brian De Palma had a bone fide hit? Don't strain it has been a while. The good news is he's coming back to a screen near you with a English language remake of a French psychodrama Crime d'amour about fueding exes who eventually end with murder. The orginal starred Kristen Scott Thomas and Ludvine Sagnier, but I don't know if they were each others exes or exs of an unnamed third person. I expect De Palma might be drawn to the former though. In a statement he declared: “Not since Dressed to Kill have I had a chance to combine eroticism, suspense, mystery and murder into one spellbinding cinematic experience”. Which sounds great.
Casting News
The latest casting rumours from Hollywood are incredibly predictable, in fact I'm sure we've heard all of this before at some point.. Judi Dench has confirmed she will reprise the role of M in Bond 23, Paul Giamatti is in for Cosmopolis and Naomi Watts will be J. Edgar's secretary for Clint Eastwood. Did any of that shock you?
Release Dates
The Eagle - There's been another short delay for Kevin Macdonald's swords and sandals adaptation of the Rosemary Sutcliffe novel, luckily only a week for scheduling reasons this time. Test your slaves loyalty on 25 March 2011.
Scream 4 - All the rules have been changed as we return to Woodsboro for the first time in ten years for Wes Craven's classic franchise. Don't pick up the phone on 15 April 2011.
The Debt - Delayed from last year Helen Mirren Mossad drama has found a new date, Toronto reviews were generally positive but not enough for an awards run hence the hold up. Regret the past on 02 September 2011.
War Horse - Originally slated for early autumn, Spielberg's serious 2011 film about a horse that went to war (natch) disappeared from the schedules for a while, but now returns. Globe trot after your pet on 06 January 2012.
The Dark Knight Rises - This years see the return of big and bright comic book heroes with Captain America and Thor on their way but few of us can really deny we long to see the brooding Batman return in 2012. Become morally questionable in your quest to serve justice on 20 July 2012.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Unreasonable punishment (Film News - 15/01/11)
Movie news isn't quite back to full throttle following the New Year break, but some interesting side stories are beginning to come out as well as fevered rumour mongering over the stars in big ticket films due to come out in 2012. Let's dive straight in.
Prometheus
For months we've thought Ridley Scott was wog primarily on a prequel to his highly successful 1979 haunted house in space flick Alien but it seems the scrpt has taken a numbef unusual turns and is now so far apart from the original concept it can no longer carry the Alien moniker in the title. He's settled for Noomi "Dragon Tattoo" Rapace in the lead role with Charlize Theron (or maybe Anjelina Jolie) supporting.
Of course we don't know how close to what we've already heard this film will be now there's no xenomorph, clearly the space jockey will be out but what of the rumoured mind controlling sex-obsessed Aliens or the bio-weapon cautionary tale that featured in some script versions?
The title may shed some clues, in classical mythology The Titan Prometheus (which literaly translates to Forethought) stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mankind, he was then punished by being chained to a rock where an eagle would eat his liver every day (being a deity it regrew overnight). Prometheus has been famously painted over the years, including the below by Jacob Jordaens. Mankind were punished too, as a direct result they were give women, in the form of Pandora who came with an ominous box. Whether Scott plans to riff on any section of the mythology or simply nod to the translation that could be an interesting premise for a sci-fi epic. 
Read on for in-your-face orgies and more hopeless selling out from Hollywood.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice Remake
Director Paul Mazursky's been stirring up the batter this week. In an interview in the Wal Street Joural he said he was willing, at 80, to remake his 1969 swingers comedy but only if the studio would give him the budget for a orgy scene filmed in 3D. Doesn't bare thinking about. 
The original's "orgy" scene.
Pirates of the Caribbean 5
Disney are so confident that On Stranger Tides, the fourth installment in the bloated cash-cow franchise that is Captain Jack, that work has already begun on the fifth film. Both Depp and number 4 director Rob Marshall are being courted to return to the series. It's enough to make you want to boycott the next one in protest to the flagrant profiteering, but I am really looking forward to seeing it come May (as you'll see very soon....)
Casting News
The female cast of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Rises have been dominating the coverage this week, there have even been articles in The Inependent and Guradan about the possible roles and the significance of them. Frankly it's a bit of a poisoned chalice as the love interest for Bruce Wayne always seems to ge the fuzzy end of the lollipop, added to which Nolan repeatedly leaves his female characters underwritten, all of which makes it surprising that women in the frame include Eva Green, Anne Hathaway, Keira Knightley, Natalie Portman, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz! Naomi is also set to get into a catfight with Amy Adams over the role vacated by Charlize Theron in J. Edgar, which proves Clint still has it.
Peter Yates
This last week we also saw the passing of veteran British director Peter Yates, his best known works are probably Breaking Away (left) which captured small town America in a way no native could've done and stage to screen adaptation The Dresser which garnered Academy Award nominations for it's co-stars Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay. He also is responsible for unleasing Cliff Richard into cinemas with 1962's Summer Holiday which proves no-one's perfect. I shall be re-watching some of the better films this weekend, I hope you get a chance to do the same.
Saturday, 1 January 2011
A horrific chapter (Film News - 01/01/11)
This is it, the last piece of film news for 2010, altough we're publishing in 2011 (I hope everyone had a good night last night). Not much new going on, one resurrected project and a couple of casting rumours. I'll be posting later today about the schedule for January's events so keep your eye out for further info.
Pinkville
Oliver Stone's long planned movie about the My Lai massacre, for those of you who don't know this was the US's most disgraceful incident of the Vietnam conflict where anything up to 500 people were murdered by members of the 23rd Infantry Division. The film, which is said to focus on the cover up and subsequent investigation, was abandoned during the writers strike of 2007. Over the last week reports that Stone will be returning to Pinkville and will cast Shia LaBeouf in an as yet unnamed role have been proliferating.
I think this is a chapter in 20th century history that must be told, and oddly the firebrand Stone may just be the right director to make it.
Casting News
Onto less serious stuff Dame Judi Dench is in talks to join the cast of Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar and Javier Bardem has joined the long list of potential stars for The Dark Tower adaptation.
Monday, 27 December 2010
Pink Elephants on Parade (Film News - 25/12/10)
So, that title could be in relation to the Christmas period and the inevitable slide into alcoholic stupour that often accompanies it. I know I may have had one or two too many over the last few days, and I very much hope all of you did also. Alternatively it could be related to this weeks top story. By the way news is pretty thin on the ground at the moment, oddly enough Hollywood gets a few days off the party too, so there isn't much to write about. There are some schedule changes mind, and I done a look at production news so the week isn't completely wasted.
Our Wild Life
The only new project I've heard about in the last 7 days is this conservation related piece that may be enticing Philip Noyce away from the Salt sequel. It's a biopic about Dame Daphne Sheldrick who campaigned her entire life for the protection and conservation of African elephants, including perfecting the formula and husbandry for raising milk dependent baby elephants and rhinos, indeed it's difficult to understate her impact on these endagered species.
Here is Daphne, more can be found on her work at http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp
The film itself has had a somewhat rocky road to here (and it's surprising I didn't know about it), first Nick Cassavetes was attached to direct, but following his script revision he was promptly fired by New Line who then approached Walter Salles. Since then Salles (who had interested Julia Roberts in the role) has bailed leaving Noyce to potentially pick up the pieces. No news yet on casting but apparently Kate Winslet is ineterested. More on this as soon as I know.
Read on for wandering cowboys, unsung pop stars and another wild creature.
The Dark Tower
The enigmatic lead of Stephen King's most complex piece, Deschain, is currently being cast for the upcoming Ron Howard/Akiva Goldsmith film and TV adaptation. It's a part that will require an extreme amount of charisma through very little wordplay or even action, as the man is more of a cypher than an actual fully realised being. Potential names being bandied about include Viggo Mortensen (the fan favourite but probably too old for the role), Jon Hamm (more likely), Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. Whoever they choose I wish the actor who takes on the task all the luck in the world with this potential poisoned chalice.
Release Schedules
A few changes for the next couple of months:
It's a Kind of Funny Story - I'd already let the cat out of the bag for the shift of this nuthouse set comedy - a teen Cuckoo's Nest, if you will - when the trailer was slipped in a couple of Tuesday's ago. Check yourself in for a bounce against the walls on 07 January 2011.
True Grit - It's had an exception first weekend in the States and looks set to become the highest grossing Western since Unforgiven yet it's dropped back a month to get away from other calibre competition over here. Persue your father's killer on 11 February 2011.
Melancholia - I needed a summer picture, there's very little on the blockbuster front really doing it for me next year, thank heaven for Lars von Trier and his little end of the world movie without a happy ending. Don't expect "them" to save you on 01 July 2011.
One Day - Lone Shefig's follow up to An Education, based on the novel by David Nicholls, is another ill advised romance this time with two university students who sort of fall in love over a period of twenty years. Find your soul mate on 30 September 2011.
Moneyball - The troubled baseball picture (check back over it's last minute collapse and rehabilitation) is set to bring the game back to the forefront of cinematic sports, shame it's about the manager using a PC. Use a computer to pick the best seats on 04 November 2011.
It's not all good news, though. Gus van Sant's Restless has been postponed but without a new release date (or at least without one this side of the Atlantic) and Joel Schumacher's Twelve has gone directly to DVD, which could actually turn out to be a blessed relief to cinemagoers.
Production News
Remember I do this so you don't have to is the motto for this section of the News, once a month (although it's usually rarer than that) I trawl through imdb looking at the stories that piqued my interest to see if they've gone into production and if so update here. Occasionally I come across something else you might like this way, but first the updates:
Clint Eastwood's FBI supremo biopic is back on with Leonardo DiCaprio set to star as the eponymous J. Edgar, talking of resurrected projects the release of MGM from bankrupt status means Bond 23 is back on the cards. Kathryn Bigelow's Triple Frontier about the drugs trade is underway although I expect the 2011 date may be rather optimistic. Tim Burton is prepping for a Dark Shadows shoot in the new year, Steven Soderbergh is showing confidence that Michael Douglas will beat the cancer as the Liberace movie is a close as it's ever been, Andrew Dominik's Cogan's Trade has bumped up his schedule - expect to see his Marilyn Monroe movie to vanish altogether. Revenge dramas The Jesuit, Savages, Creed of Violence and Forgiveness of Blood all look to be coming over the next couple of years, all of which you can look up more details using the post labels below, except for Forgiveness which is Joshua Marston's Albanian picture. Finally expect a Trap for Cinderella, the young adult picture from Iain Softley, in 2012.
Two new film titles also managed to grab my attention:
Zebras
Not a continuation of the earlier conservation in the serengeti theme we touched upon with Our Wild Life this is inspired by The World Cup and concerns a South African football team taht come out of nowhere to become big league players. Bizarrely Ryan Kwanten of "True Blood" fame is rumoured to take the lead.
Blondie: The Florence Ballard Story
If ever I discussed afilm that was likely to end up as a TV movie it was this, even the title screams Tuesday afternoon. It will focus on Florence Ballard (no s**t) and her brief career with soul sensations The Supremes before her ill-timed exit from the group. Can anyone tell me if Florence (below) is the inspiration for Effie White?
Monday, 13 December 2010
Changing the landscape (Film News - 11/12/10)
So we're back with film news as well. A few small stories this week, none of the list looks likely to turn into box office gold but they all should be worth a look if they ever get made.
Mike Leigh's JMW Turner biopic
Mike Leigh might be taking a break from modern slices of life and will instead focus on a 19th century artist JMW Turner, whose romatic evocations of steamtrains and oil landscapes was a major precurser to the Impressionistic movement (see below in the 1844 work Rain, Steam and Speed).
Luckily for Leigh there's plenty in Turner's personal life for him to get his teeth into. Turner's mother was committed when he was still an adolescent and later in life he suffered from bouts of depression and was known for being eccentric. With this in mind it could be thematically close to most of Leigh's other work whilst skirting close to the lightness of tone in his other biopic Topsy Turvy.
Indeed the relationship between sanity and art may end up forming the backbone of this film, and it's certainly a subject that would go down well with audiences, critics and (lets face it) the Academy as well.
Read on for clues about the financial meltdown, a schedule filler and an unlikely remake.
Enron
George Clooney has picked up the rights to a film adaptation of Lucy Prebble's West End hit Enron. Showing the end of the financial giant, or as an interesting precurser to the 2008 slump, the play ultimately looks at the decisions made by the key players and the effects of these. It's highly likely that the praised British cast will be excised though which is rather unfortunate.
Nights of Calabria
Another week, another Lee Daniels project. He's changed agency (to CAA no less) which has led to a flurry of publicity for the Precious director. The press release indicates he's on the way to remaking the 1957 Fellini movie Nights of Calabiria about a prostitute looking for love. Might be right up Daniels street, but I doubt it could be as good as the original.
Untitled Kathryn Bigelow Film
Very curious rumour, which seems to defy general film making logic. Kathryn Bigelow (left) has been prepping for Triple Frontier for some time, but now she's cast Tom Hanks she's having to put the film on ice whilst waiting for a gap in Tom's schedule. Oddly she may use that time to rush out a quick movie - very Soderbergh like. Kathryn and her Hurt Locker scribe Mark Boal look set to write, cas and film an entire movie in the next 6 months or so. I hope they have an idea already because I'd hate for them to get bogged down in the planning stage or rush into something.
Casting News
Some interesting little casting titbits with confirmation that Cate Blancett will return as Galadriel in The Hobbit, Charlize Theron is looking at a role in Clint Eastwood's Hoover biopic - now called J. Edgar - alongside Armie Hammer and Gerard Depardieu and Irfan Khan will star in The Life of Pi.
