‘The Good Wife’s’ Alan Cumming and actress Kristin Chenoweth have been announced as the hosts of the 2015 Tony Awards, which take place on June 7th. The pair are no strangers to the Tonys, having both picked up awards in previous years.

Alan Cumming will host the Tony Awards alongside Kristin Chenoweth.

Cumming won a Best Actor in a Musical Award for his performance in Cabaret at the 1998 Tonys, while Chenoweth won Best Featured Actress in a Musical a year later in 1999, for You're A Good Man Charlie Brown. Chenoweth was also nominated for Best Actress in a Musical in 2004 for her role as the original Glinda in Wicked.

Continue reading: Kristin Chenoweth And Alan Cumming Revealed As Hosts For 2015 Tony Awards, As Nominees Are Announced

'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' Unites Original Starry Cast With Richard Gere

By Rich Cline in Movies / TV / Theatre on 27 February 2015

Richard Gere Judi Dench Maggie Smith Bill Nighy Celia Imrie Dev Patel Penelope Wilton

Judi Dench and Bill Nighy appeared to have a lot of fun during their set adventures.

After The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel earned nearly $140 million on its release in 2012, the all-star cast and crew were keen to reassemble for a sequel. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel hits UK cinemas this weekend and arrives in America next week, adding Richard Gere and Tamsin Grieg to a cast that includes Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Dev Patel and Penelope Wilton.

Richard Gere and Lillette Dubey in 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'
Richard Gere is a newcomer in 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'

For Nighy, the biggest fear during filming was "killing the national treasure that is Dame Judi" while filming a sequence on a scooter. "This is the second time I've been on a motorcycle - the first was the first movie - and it's probably the last," he laughed. "That's enough for my motorcycling career!"

Continue reading: 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' Unites Original Starry Cast With Richard Gere

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Review

By Rich Cline

Good

A badly under-developed script leaves a fine cast without much to do in this sequel to the 2012 hit. Reuniting in India, the actors find moments of comedy and emotion that help make the film watchable, and the big Bollywood-style finale leaves the audience with a smile on its face. But the simplistic plot-threads never amount to much at all, which leaves the project feeling like a missed opportunity to deepen the characters and push the premise in more interesting directions.

Business at the hotel in Jaipur is booming, so managers Sonny (Dev Patel) and Muriel (Maggie Smith) are looking for investors to expand into a second property. But this distracts Sonny from his upcoming wedding to Sunaina (Tena Desae), and she's not too happy about that. There are also two new guests (Richard Gere and Tamsin Grieg) who may be important. Meanwhile, Evelyn (Judi Dench) is offered a new job just as she realises she might like to pursue a relationship with Douglas (Bill Nighy), whose ex-wife (Penelope Wilton) turns up unexpectedly. Madge (Celia Imrie) is struggling to choose between her many suitors. And Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are having relationship issues due to their lack of communication.

All of these momentous plots, and a few more, swirl around over the course of about a week, which means that none ever has a chance to develop. It also means that the characters are all so busy with their own stories that they don't interact very much, and what contact they do have feels rather contrived. As a result, the film feels like an awkward mix of disconnected slapstick, farce and melodrama. That said, these high-powered actors can hold together even the flimsiest scene. Dench and Nighy generate some lovely emotional resonance in their contrived storyline, while Smith finds some quiet pathos in Muriel's own journey, even if the filmmakers seem to have forgotten to hire someone to do her costumes, hair and make-up.

Continue reading: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Review

Bill Nighy Expresses Concern At 'Dad's Army' Movie Reception

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 24 February 2015

Bill Nighy Blake Harrison Toby Jones Catherine Zeta Jones

The 'Love Actually' and 'Shaun of the Dead' actor had concerns about how the big screen adaptation of the beloved sitcom will be received.

Veteran British actor Bill Nighy is set to star in next year’s movie adaptation of legendary comedy ‘Dad’s Army’, but he’s apparently worried that fans of the original series will hate the resulting film.

Nighy was interviewed by British newspaper The Times and revealed that he had been plagued with worries during the filming of his part, which began in Yorkshire in October last year. He plays the part of Sergeant Arthur Wilson, the role originally occupied by John Le Mesurier, alongside Toby Jones’s portrayal of Captain Mainwaring.

Bill Nighy is set to feature in next year's 'Dad's Army' movie

Continue reading: Bill Nighy Expresses Concern At 'Dad's Army' Movie Reception

4 Early Eddie Redmayne Films You Definitely Need To See

By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 23 February 2015

Eddie Redmayne Stephen Hawking Julianne Moore Sean Bean Kimberley Nixon David Tennant Juno Temple Christopher Lee Bill Nighy

He's finally won his Best Actor Oscar, but we've seen it coming for years.

Eddie Redmayne caused no surprise when he landed the award for Best Actor at the 2015 Oscars, following his role as a young Stephen Hawking in his epic biopic 'The Theory Of Everything' which had already won him a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.

Eddie Redmayne at the 2015 Oscars
Eddie Redmayne wins Best Actor

It was a foreseeable win, and one that Hawking himself has admitted he's very proud of for Redmayne. We were, of course, already aware of his extraordinary talents before he was cast in the movie, following appearances in 'Les Miserables' and 'My Week With Marilyn', but even before then he was gluing people to screens with his early performances. These are four movies starring Eddie Redmayne that you probably haven't seen, but definitely should:

Continue reading: 4 Early Eddie Redmayne Films You Definitely Need To See

At 80 Retirement Is "The Rudest Word In The Dictionary" For Dame Judi Dench

By Stephanie Chase in Movies / TV / Theatre on 21 February 2015

Judi Dench Maggie Smith Bill Nighy Richard Gere

'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' star has no plans to give up work anytime soon.

Dame Judi Dench has described “retirement” as “the rudest word in the dictionary”, as she promotes her latest film, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Speaking to The Telegraph, the 80 year also revealed she doesn't allow the word “old” to be used in her house and as for “vintage”, well that’s on the banned list too.

Judi Dench in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“I don't want any of those old words,” the actress told the newspaper. “I like 'enthusiastic' and I like the word 'cut' because that means you've finished the shot.”

Continue reading: At 80 Retirement Is "The Rudest Word In The Dictionary" For Dame Judi Dench

Catherine Zeta Jones, Bill Nighy For Big Screen Version Of 'Dad's Army'

By Michael West in Movies / TV / Theatre on 08 October 2014

Catherine Zeta Jones Bill Nighy

Catherine Zeta Jones will star in a big screen adaptation of 'Dad's Army'.

Oliver Parker is to direct a British cast in a feature film adaptation of the popular comedy Dad's Army. Universal Pictures have picked up the movie, which will star Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta Jones, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon and Harry Potter star Toby Jones.

Catherine Zeta Jones Catherine Zeta-Jones will star in a movie adaptation of 'Dad's Army'

The feature film is being written by Hamish McColl, who penned Mr. Bean's Holiday and Johnny English Reborn, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Continue reading: Catherine Zeta Jones, Bill Nighy For Big Screen Version Of 'Dad's Army'

Pride Review

By Rich Cline

Essential

Based on a true story, this crowd-pleasing comedy-drama is such a joy to watch that it wears our faces out with all the smiling, laughing, crying and cheering. Skilfully written and directed, and sharply well played by an ace cast, this is a story that can't help but get under the skin. Its twists and turns are genuinely jaw-dropping, and the character interaction sparks with all kinds of issues that feel hugely resonant, even though the events depicted took place 30 years ago. In other words, this is a strong candidate for film of the year.

It's set in 1984 London, where 20-year-old Joe (George MacKay) sneaks out of his parents' home to attend the gay pride festivities. When he meets a group of lesbian and gay activists (including Ben Schnetzer, Andrew Scott and Dominic West), he feels like he has found his own place in the world. Their cause is to aid striking miners, because they understand how it feels to be abused by the police and oppressed by their own government. But of course Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners finds it difficult to get a group to accept their assistance. Eventually, they discover a group of strike supporters in the small Welsh village of Dulais who are willing to partner with them, so they travel to Wales to meet them (including Imelda Staunton, Bill Nighy, Paddy Considine and Jessica Gunning), sparking a major culture clash.

Cleverly, the script allows each character in the story to take his or her own personal journey, and the variety of plot-threads weave together beautifully to be powerfully involving. This also allows the filmmakers to explore a wide range of issues in both communities. The gays are facing family rejection, public harassment and the dawn of the Aids epidemic, while the miners are grappling with deep-seated prejudices while watching their lives eviscerated by Thatcher's systematic plan to crush the unions. All of this gives the cast a lot of meat to chew on, and yet the film's brightly anarchic pacing and energetic period touches keep it from ever feeling preachy.

Continue reading: Pride Review

With 100%, 'Pride' Is Probably The Best British Movie Of The Year

By Michael West in Movies / TV / Theatre on 12 September 2014

Bill Nighy Paddy Considine Imelda Staunton Dominic West

'Pride' could be BAFTA's - and perhaps Oscars bound - after critics lauded it ahead of release this weekend.

Pride is almost certainly the movie that you have to see at the cinema this weekend. The comedy-drama has everything to match some of the great British movies of recent years - The King's Speech, Tyrannosaur, In Bruges, etc. It has a strong narrative, a hugely talented cast and, now, excellent reviews.

Pride poster

Set in the summer of 1984, with Margaret Thatcher in power and the National Union of Mineworkers on strike, Pride tells the story of a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists who raise money to support the strikers' family. Initially rejected by the Union, the group set off to a tiny mining village in Wales to make their donation in person. In probably the most British line in a movie synopsis, ever, "As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all."

Continue reading: With 100%, 'Pride' Is Probably The Best British Movie Of The Year

'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' Looks Fantastically Watchable [Trailer + Pictures]

By Michael West in Movies / TV / Theatre on 11 August 2014

Richard Gere Judi Dench Bill Nighy Maggie Smith

The trailer for 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' has rolled out online.

Forget The Avengers, The Hunger Games and The Hobbit, for it was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that ruled supreme as the true box-office success story of 2012. Fox were never expecting much when producers Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin pitched the idea of a movie about a group of British retirees travelling to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel - maybe a tidy little profit and a healthy top up in DVD sales.

Judi Dench in 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2'

Though Broadbent and Czernin acquired an extraordinary cast - Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Celie Imrie - and a clever, funny script. The movie took $136 million worldwide, on a budget of just $10 million. It was a hugely impressive comedy that paved the way for an immediate sequel.

Continue reading: 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' Looks Fantastically Watchable [Trailer + Pictures]

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Trailer

Set eight months after the 2012 original film, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel sees the majority of the cast return India for this sequel from director John Madden. In the run up to Sonny's (Dev Patel) wedding to Sunaina (Tena Desae), he is struggling to find the time to work at his hotel. With only one room left in the hotel, Sonny is confronted with an interesting situation when two new arrivals turn up - Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). With help from Murial (Maggie Smith) acting as the co-manager, will Sonny will be able to juggle his personal and working lives?

Continue: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Trailer

'Salting The Battlefield': Is Bill Nighy Still One Of Britain's Best Actors?

By Michael West in Movies / TV / Theatre on 28 March 2014

Bill Nighy David Hare Helena Bonham Carter Ralph Fiennes

Bill Nighy excelled in the final part of David Hare's Worricker trilogy, 'Salting the Battlefield'.

Salting the Battlefield, the British drama written by Sir David Hare, concluded the Worricker triology on Thursday evening (March 27, 2014) in a remarkable series that has seen Bill Nighy lead a phenomenal cast including Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Graves, Ralph Fiennes.

Bill Nighy Salting the Battlefield Bill Nighy in 'Salting the Battlefield'

The third part of Hare's Worricker trilogy focused on Nighy's Bill Worricker - a disillusioned MI5 agent - and fellow ex-agent Margot (Carter) trying to his give his boss the slip in Germany, with a trail of subterfuge leading right back to Downing Street.

Continue reading: 'Salting The Battlefield': Is Bill Nighy Still One Of Britain's Best Actors?

I, Frankenstein Review

By Rich Cline

Even with its relentlessly cliched production design (trenchcoats and flickering candles galore), this raucous gothic thriller deploys enough visual flash to hold our attention. The gigantic effects-heavy action sequences are eye-catching and sometimes exciting, and there are elements of the story that almost begin to resonate before the script veers off in another more simplistic direction.

Based on a graphic novel, the story picks up where Mary Shelley's novel left off, as the monster (Eckhart) is attacked by demons that want to study his non-human existence. He's rescued by gargoyles, angelic protectors of humanity, and taken to their Queen Lenore (Miranda Otto), who names him Adam and enlists him in the demon-killing cause. Although her second-in-command (Courtney) isn't so sure. Over the next 200 years, Adam hones his skills before returning to Lenore just as the demon Prince Naberius (Nighy) is launching his evil plan to re-animate a dead army with the help of sexy scientist Terra (Strahovski) and Dr Frankenstein's journal. In other words, all hell is about to break loose.

Annoyingly, every time the plot begins to get interesting, writer-director Beattie indulges in another vacuous action set piece that's as irrelevant as the 3D. There's a decent story in here about the nature of the human soul, religious fervour and moral tenacity, but the film only uses these things as devices to make the dialog sound intelligent. Which is tricky since Beattie directs his cast to deliver their lines in growling, blurting monotone. Eckhart's voice-over narration is particularly dull. And this over-earnest tone leaves every potential relationship as a non-starter.

Continue reading: I, Frankenstein Review

Richard Gere Joining Veteran Cast For 'Marigold Hotel' Sequel

By Jack de Aguilar in Movies / TV / Theatre on 31 October 2013

Richard Gere Judi Dench Bill Nighy Maggie Smith

Room for one more - Gere joins the party

Not only has The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel retained its all-star cast for the sequel, but another behemoth of the big screen has joined ranks. Richard Gere will star alongside Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton when the comedy returns, though it is currently unknown which new character Gere will play.

There isn’t much info, but the Radio Times report that the same production team will be on board, with the second film once again being written by Ol Parker. Another returnee is Penelope Wilton, who played Jean in the original film.

"We had a wonderful time shooting this film the first time and I am thrilled we will be going back in January to do another one. As far as I know everybdy will be returning," she said.

Continue reading: Richard Gere Joining Veteran Cast For 'Marigold Hotel' Sequel

Here's Why America Should Flock To See 'The World's End' This Weekend

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 23 August 2013

Simon Pegg Nick Frost Edgar Wright Bill Nighy Paddy Considine

The Brits love dweeb comedy duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost: here's why you should too.

New British comedy The World's End has been released today (23rd Aug) in America and is the third in the tenuously linked 'Cornetto Trilogy.' First off, you should know that the title is the name of the pub that proves crucial to the plotline of the movie as the characters embark on that modern British crusade: the epic pub crawl. The movie serves as a sort-of sequel to 2007's Hot Fuzz and 2004's Shaun of the Dead in that the same band of UK comedy actors are employed.

Simon Pegg Nick Frost
Simon Pegg [L] & Nick Frost [R] Are The Lords Of British Comedy Acting.

We Brits love our dorks so there's little hunky eye candy within the trilogy's recurring cast of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bill Nighy and Paddy Considine. However, what you do get is some of Britain's funniest comedy actors playing a band of unlikely heroes who will win over your hearts for their determination and the film's daft sense of humour.

Continue reading: Here's Why America Should Flock To See 'The World's End' This Weekend

Bill Nighy Turned Down Doctor Who Role - But When?

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 16 August 2013

Bill Nighy David Tennant Christopher Eccleston Peter Capaldi Matt Smith Doctor Who

Bill Nighy revealed in an interview that he had turned down the role of Doctor Who. He said the role "comes with too much baggage."

Bill Nighy turned down the role of Doctor Who. The actor, in an interview with the Daily Express, revealed he had been offered the part but would not say when. He said he wouldn't reveal this as "the rule is that you are not allowed to say you turned that job down because it's disrespectful" to the actor who obtained the role.

Bill Nighy at the premiere of About Time at Somerset House, London.

However, according to a BBC report from March 2005, Nighy was one of the contenders to replace Christopher Eccleston. David Tennant won the role, becoming the 11th incarnation of the Doctor.

Continue reading: Bill Nighy Turned Down Doctor Who Role - But When?

Peter Capaldi Gets The Bill Nighy Stamp Of Approval For Doctor Who Triumph

By Jack de Aguilar in Movies / TV / Theatre on 12 August 2013

Peter Capaldi Bill Nighy

It's a yes from Nighy

The latest tick to hit the page for Peter Capaldi as Doctor Who is that of Bill Nighy’s; the British actor, talking at the premiere of his new film, About Time, offered up a full endorsement of the Scot, revealing that he’d been offered it in the past but turned it down.

Calling it a “brilliant, inspired choice” Nighy said: “It’s one of those things where you think ‘Of course he’s the Doctor,’” he added. “Why didn’t I think of that before? He’s a marvellous actor. He’ll be very good as the Doctor,” Nighy went on. “He’ll bring a lot of wit and dry humour. He’s elegant and he looks great.” (Metro)

About Time is Richard Curtis’ film as the director announced he’d be stepping down from directing. Nighy plays ‘Dad’, a man whose family has a weird quirk: the men in the family can all time travel. The sci-fi rom-com enjoyed its premiere at London’s Leicester Sq. last night.

Continue reading: Peter Capaldi Gets The Bill Nighy Stamp Of Approval For Doctor Who Triumph

Richard Curtis Bows Out Of Filmmaking: What's His Secret Rom-Com Formula?

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 01 August 2013

Richard Curtis Hugh Grant Renee Zellweger Andrew Lincoln Colin Firth Keira Knightley Rachel McAdams Domhnall Gleeson Bill Nighy

Is it really 'About Time' for rom-com king Richard Curtis, responsible for 'Notting Hill' and 'Love Actually', to bow out?

Master of the romantic comedy genre, Richard Curtis, who helped bring us some of Britain's best-loved romance films of the last three decades has said that he thinks upcoming film About Time will be his last.

The thrice BAFTA-winning, Oscar-nominated director has tole Empire magazine, as reported by The Independent, that "[About Time] probably will be the last film I will direct." The 56 year-old filmmaker admitted he himself wasn't sure why he wanted to bow out, saying "I don't know. Just a feeling...just a feeling. It feels like a summing-up to me. We'll see how things turn out."

Richard Curtis Thinks About Time Will Be His Swansong.

Continue reading: Richard Curtis Bows Out Of Filmmaking: What's His Secret Rom-Com Formula?

The World's End Review

By Rich Cline

Very Good

After Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Pegg and Wright conclude their so-called Cornetto Trilogy with yet another riotously inspired exploration of British culture: the pub crawl. And this time it's apocalyptic! But what makes the film thoroughly endearing is its focus on old friendships that are so well-played that we can't help but find ourselves on-screen even when things get very, very silly.

Pegg plays Gary, the ringleader of his band of school pals. It's been more than 20 years since their failed attempt to visit all 12 pubs in their hometown of Newton Haven. Now approaching 40, Gary hasn't grown up nearly as much as his friends, so it takes a bit of convincing to get the now-settled Andy, Ollie, Pete and Steve (Frost, Freeman, Marsan and Considine) to reunite for a renewed attempt to drink their way through town. Then after the first couple of pints, they start to suspect that something isn't quite right. People are behaving strangely, as if there are alien body snatchers taking over the town. So to avoid attracting attention, the boys just carry on getting blind drunk on their way to the 12th pub, The World's End.

As in the previous films, Pegg and Wright continue developing the characters and their inter-relationships even as everything falls apart around them. Sure, the end of the humanity seems to be upon them, but there's unfinished business between them that needs sorting out, and besides there are more pints to drink. Along the way, things are spiced up as they meet Ollie's sister Sam (Pike), who shocks Gary by refusing to pick up where they left off. They also encounter a former teacher (Brosnan), the town's crazy old man (Bradley) and a shady guy known as The Reverend (Smiley).

Continue reading: The World's End Review

About Time Trailer

Tim Lake is 21-years-old and not exactly what you call an expert in the art of getting girlfriends. However, all that's about to change when his father lets him in on an incredible secret the day after a shambolic New Year party; all the men in their family can travel back in time and change things that have happened in their lives. Given that he is so clumsy around beautiful women, Tim uses this to his advantage, giving himself a second chance on first impressions. He manages to woo a beautiful girl named Mary with his advances, having honed them to perfection, but little does he realise just how dangerous his actions are. When he accidentally slips up during one time warp incident, he discovers that Mary has never met him before and that several months of romance have completely vanished. He must try and win her back once again, but accept that he cannot avoid the problems life and love inevitably bring - no matter how many times he tries.

Continue: About Time Trailer

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