Paul Thomas Anderson Page 2

'Inherent Vice' may be an absurd comedy with a rather complicated premise, but it could prove to have one of Owen Wilson's more serious roles, as he takes on a Coy Harlingen; a government informer with some big trust issues.

Owen Wilson plays Coy Harlingen in 'Inherent Vice'

Joaquin Phoenix is Doc Sportello in the Paul Thomas Anderson's adaptation of the Thomas Pynchon novel; a private investigator forced to get involved in a case he'd rather walk away from when his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend and his wife and her lover get embroiled in a kidnapping scheme. Sound complicated? That's why he needs Coy. 'I'm the guy who's helping Doc to understand what's going on', Wilson explains. 'Except I'm not able to ever really shed too much light on it so all our scenes have this mysterious quality to it, fringed with paranoia'.

Continue reading: Owen Wilson Reveals 'Inherent Vice' Is Laced With Paranoia

Joaquin Phoenix once again demonstrates his extraordinary versatility as a screen actor with his latest role as PI Doc Sportello in Paul Thomas Anderson's forthcoming mystery drama 'Inherent Vice' - but who else makes this unusual flick one to watch out for?

Joaquin Phoenix [R] to impress once again in 'Inherent Vice' alongside Reese Witherspoon [L]

Phoenix always surprises with his choice of movie roles, going from the deadly serious sect drama 'The Master' (also directed by Anderson) to the coy, technological romance (we like the term Comp-Rom) of 'Her', and now he's takes a new turn once again in this comedic 70s thriller. He's a private investigator who is forced to take on his ex-girlfriend Shasta's case when her new boyfriend Mickey Wolfmann becomes embroiled in a kidnapping plot by his scheming wife Sloane and her secret lover. 

Continue reading: Joaquin Phoenix Is Joined By A First-Rate Cast In Anderson's 'Inherent Vice' [Trailer + Pictures]

Joaquin Phoenix and Paul Thomas Anderson are back with another team effort. The trailer for Inherent Vice dropped on Monday and, going on that alone, we’ll call this a must-see. It’s an adaptation of Thomas Pichon’s novel of the same name and follows stoner P.I. Larry “Doc” Sportello (Phoenix) as he investigates the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend’s (Katherine Waterston) wealthy boyfriend. Besides Phoenix himself, the film stars Josh Brolin as the stuffy LAPD detective Christian “Bigfoot” Bjornson, while Reese Witherspoon plays deputy DA Penny Kimball. Owen Wilson, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, and Benicio Del Toro round out an all-star cast.

Watch the full trailer here:

'Inherent Vice' the lastest movie from director Paul Thomas Anderson, and starring Joaquin Phoenix, has just gained Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood as the composer. The film which is currently in post-production could end up being one of the year's most exciting releases. There's no release date yet but in preparation here's everything you need to know about 'Inherent Vice'.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson

What’s the plot?
‘Inherent Vice’ is based on the 2009 Thomas Pynchon novel of the same name. It's set in Los Angeles between 1969 and 1970 and uses the events of the Manson family trial as its backdrop. It’s a sort of comedy-crime-stoner story, focusing on private investigator Larry ‘Doc’ Sportello, a ‘pothead’ detective who whilst helping his ex-girlfriend becomes embroiled in the disappearance of her current boyfriend, a real estate mogul. Pynchon doesn't usually allow his works to be adapted for the screen, but he has reportedly given his blessing to this project.

Who’s behind 'Inherent Vice'?
‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘There Will Be Blood’ director Paul Thomas Anderson has taken the reins. This is kind of his pet project and could be what he needs after his last film, ‘The Master’ failed to have any commercial success, despite getting strong reviews. Anderson has also written the script and is serving as producer. It has just been announced that Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood will compose the score which will be  recorded this month with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London - this it will mark his third collaboration with Anderson. Also joining Anderson again is cinematographer Robert Elswit who also worked on 'Boogie Nights' and 'Punch Drunk Love'.

Continue reading: Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Inherent Vice': Everything You Need To Know

Four people have been arrested in connection to the drugs found at Philip Seymour Hoffman’s address when he was found dead, reportedly from a heroin overdose. The Oscar winning actor - best known for his role in Capote - was 46.

Seymour Hoffman in Capote, a film which he won Best Actor for at The Oscars

But while the arrests were made in connection to the narcotic, police officials are refusing to confirm that the arrests were directly related to the death of the popular actor, who passed away aged 46, shocking his professional peers and fans alike.

Continue reading: Philip Seymour Hoffman Death: Four Arrested On Drug Suspicions

Fiona Apple's new video for 'Hot Knife' is a strange affair. It's visually stunning, with split-screens and black and white filters. There's even an appearance from Apple's sister Apple Maude Maggart, who provides vocals on the track.

And then you find out it's directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, and everything falls into place. The director of There Will be Blood, Boogie Nights and The Master, is actually the ex-boyfriend of the singer-songwriter, which.makes things a little weird, but still.

According to an interview with V Magazine, the video has taken over a year to create, with Anderson having to leave midway through to begin work on a movie. 

Continue reading: Hot Knife: When Fiona Apple Reunited With 'The Master' Paul Thomas Anderson

Imagine for a minute an alternate Academy Awards. An Oscars ceremony that decided against rewarding biopics, inaccurate thrillers and lightweight sort-of-indie flicks mainly directed by David O'Russell. This Sunday (February 24, 2013), a rather predictable bunch of nominees will take their seats at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Daniel Day-Lewis will take home Best Actor, Spielberg will probably add to his collection of Best Director gongs, hell, maybe grumps himself Tommy Lee Jones will snatch a prize. It begs the question: is this really a collection of the very best performances and movies of the year? We present to you our alternate Academy Awards - who missed out on a nomination, though wouldn't have looked out of place with the golden statuette in their hand?

The Skyfall Cast At The Premiere In 2012

Continue reading: Alternate Oscars: Paul Thomas Anderson Wins! Leonardo Di Caprio Wins! Daniel Craig Wins!

There are rumors abounding that Mary Rudolph’s pregnant with her and Paul Thomas Anderson’s fourth child, with the claims coming about after reports that she informed NBC show Up All Night – which she stars in – of the impending birth.

Congratulations to the pair if so! The pair had their first child, daughter Peal Minnie, in 2005, adding to that with her sister Lucille in 2009 and brother Jack in 2011. The report by The Hollywood Reporter on the potential fourth child comes in attachment with another story they’re running on Up All Night finally coming to a close, owing struggling ratings, with the exit of its chief star Christina Applegate last week possibly the straw that’s broken the camel’s back. It’s thought that Rudolph had told NBC of the impending arrival with a view to them working the pregnancy into the script, but this story now suggests that that won’t matter. At the very least at least she’ll have plenty of time to prepare herself for the birth if the show goes down the pan.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master didn’t quite achieve the critical acclaim many thought it would, with the director missing out on the Oscar shortlist for best director. He returns next with Inherent Vice, an adaptation of a novel by Thomas Pynchon.

Continue reading: Maya Rudolph Pregnant With Her And Paul Thomas Anderson's Fourth Child?

Ben Affleck maintained his poise and positive outlook at the Oscar Nominees 2013 Luncheon yesterday (February 4, 2013) when he was quizzed about the Best Director category.

Affleck has been controversially omitted from the directors’ category, despite his movie Argo being included in the Best Picture category. Affleck’s career has been a chequered one (mainly marred by the work he did with Jennifer Lopez) and although many considered him a shoe-in for the Best Director statuette, he was left out of the category altogether.

Affleck has remained humble though and insists that he’s not the only director to have been omitted from the Academy’s voting process. Huffington Post reported from the luncheon, where Affleck told those gathered “There's a lot of people who were part of this process who didn't get nominated for Best Picture that I still want to work with that I think are amazing; Paul Thomas Anderson is one example. So this is an incredibly rich, robust group of filmmakers, and I'm just happy to be rubbing elbows with them.”

Continue reading: Ben Affleck Grilled At Oscar Nominees 2013 Luncheon, Argo Star Remains Humble

It was 'coming' for months; teasing us with enigmatic trailers, laced with a disconcertingly mistimed drum. It was the next big thing. With a directing CV representing no mistakes, this was going to be Paul Thomas Anderson's official entry into the pantheon of the greats.

And it still might be, but, as many are predicting, not via an instant hit of Oscar-narcotics. The 2013 Academy awards will recognise great films, no doubt, but it's likely The Master will be lucky to walk away with one.

So why is a film - which has been at the top or near the top of many critic's end of year lists - destined to 'underachieve' come Sunday, February 24th, only to spend years accumulating a cult status of its own? Here are three perfectly ridiculous reasons why not.

Continue reading: Three Reasons Why The Master Won't Dominate The Oscars

In the run up to The Oscars, as awards season is in full swing, a mention by The American Film Institute in their top 10 films of the year represents a confidence boost for the respective directors and actors hoping to pick up that much coveted gold statue. 

One of these films in the last instalment of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy: The Dark Knight Rises, which isn't totally void of Oscar buzz, but is very much considered to be an outsider. Being selected in the list doesn't guarantee anything, but it certainly revitalises the flame for films that were released earlier in the year. 

Given the stellar list of movies, it's hard to see how Dark Knight... will prevail. Even if it's nominated, it'll more than likely face stiff competition from Life of Pi, Lincoln and Ben Affleck's Argo.

Continue reading: Batman The Dark Knight Rises Lands Spot On AFI Best Film List

It's the time of the year when every major film release is subject to more rumour space than normal, as Argo and Lincoln are mooted to dominate at the Academy Awards come 2013, but is Ang Lee's Life of Pi a viable contender?

One look at the reviews would certainly suggest that odds of up to 12/1 could be a decent wager, considering Ben Affleck's Argo and Steven Spielberg's Lincoln are as short as 7/4 and 9/4 respectively. With a positive score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems as though Life of Pi is worthy of any Oscars talk that comes it way. "Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" is a miraculous achievement of storytelling and a landmark of visual mastery," say The Chicago Sun Times in a 4/4 review, while The Los Angeles Times give it 5/5, saying, "There are always moral crosscurrents in Lee's most provocative work, but so magical and mystical is this parable, it's as if the filmmaker has found the philosopher's stone." Entertainment weekly say, simply, "Everything looks beautiful in Life of Pi."

Perhaps a more impressive outsider is Paul Thomas Anderson's, The Master, which started off in pole position to win Best Film, but it's since slipped into a position of obscurity in terms of Oscar standings. We wouldn't be surprised to see Lincoln clean up, though, as politically emotive films usually do, and considering the recent re-election of Obama, it's on-topic and on-pace to dominate come February. Please note, odds are correct at time of writing and may fluctate. In fact, they will fluctuate. 

Joaquin Phoenix, the star of The Master and current second-favourite to scoop the Oscar for Best Actor in February, has played down his acting talents claiming to actually be "not very good." Phoenix - who was rumored to be quitting the movie business before signing on for Paul Thomas Anderson's movie - said he needs to be "very close" to directors in order to get through shoots.

In a nervy interview with The Independent, Phoenix explained his self-doubts and on-set needs, "I think the trouble is that I'm not very good and I need a lot of help; I need the entire set to be working to help me," he said, adding, "The only way I can work is to be very close to the director and the acting. At least people like Paul make you feel that is a priority." Since his superb turn in Gladiator, Phoenix has decided against appearing in further blockbusters, though noted, "If every single movie was The Master it would be a pretty boring world out there. I think it's fine to have those blockbusters. I'm not against those movies. I just don't want to experience them." He has a similar outlook on awards season, recently telling Interview magazine, "I think it's bullsh*t. I think it's total, utter bullsh*t, and I don't want to be a part of it. I don't believe in it. It's a carrot, but it's the worst-tasting carrot I've ever tasted in my whole life. I don't want this carrot." He may be forced to at least nibble on the carrot should he be - as expected - nominated for a slew of awards in the coming months. Though Daniel Day Lewis is the overwhelming favourite to win the Best Actor for Lincoln, Phoenix isn't far behind in the betting, at around 3/1. 

The Master's producer Harvey Weinstein - famous for his awards season nous - will at least have Oscar's mainstay Philip Seymour Hoffman around for the publicity push. In fact, the veteran is almost certain to win Best Supporting Actor for his L Ron Hubbard-like role.

Continue reading: Oscar-Tipped Joaquin Phoenix: I'm Not Very Good And Need Lots Of Help

Action-thriller Taken 2 performed remarkably well at this weekend’s Box Office, gleaning $50m in one of the most successful October debuts. The Liam Neeson thriller beat out Frankenweenie – last week’s chart-topper - with ease. Here’s our Box Office roundup.

Hurtling into the #1 spot, Taken 2 used some of the good grace from its predecessor to take the weekend by storm. Whist Taken was considered a commercial and critical success, the sequel can only really claim the former, as the critics have all but panned the revenge thriller. Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie endured a slow start with a paltry return of $11.5 million. The Disney release about a boy who brings his dead dog back to life was expected to do better, so will face increased scrutiny in the weeks to come. Another ‘comedy-horror’, Hotel Transylvania dropped to second-place with $26.3m. So far, Adam Sandler's animated hit film has earned $76m domestically and $105.3m worldwide, in an impressive first week. Pitch Perfect climbed three to #3 with $14.7m, while time-travel thriller Looper fell to #4 with $12.2m.

The rest of the top 10 looks something like this: End of Watch at #6 with $4 million. Trouble with the Curve comes in at #7 with $3.9 million. Horror film, House at the End of the Street drops to #8 with $3.7 million. At #9 is Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master with $1.8 million, and the 3D re-release of the aquatic fun-time tale Finding Nemo is at #10 with $1.6 million.

River Phoenix’s final movie ‘Dark Blood’ will finally be released on September 27, 2012, almost 20 years after the aspiring star died outside The Viper Room in Los Angeles. Phoenix –who had ingested a lethal combination of cocaine and heroin – stars in George Sluizer’s thriller about a young widow living in the desert on a nuclear testing site.

Phoenix – who was considered one of the finest young actors in Hollywood – died as he and Sluizer were putting the finishing touches to the movie. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the director, now 80, said of Phoenix’s death, “I was devastated…It was a terrible sadness.” The movie had roughly 11 days of production to complete when the actor died, with an insurance company making the call to abandon the project and pay out to the original investors. As the firm became owners of the movie, it sat in storage until 1999, at which point they decided to destroy it. “That’s when I said, ‘No, no, I’m going to save it from destruction”, said Sluizer, without going into detail as to how he took ownership of ‘Dark Blood’ once again. After suffering an acute aortic dissection while holidaying in France and spending months recovering, the director decided he had to finish the film, “I said, I want to finish the film before whatever happens,” adding, “At least I will finish my job as best as I could.” The movie will premiere at the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht this week, and is competing for the festival’s Golden Calf award.

Meanwhile, River’s brother Joaquin Phoenix is tipped to receive an Oscar nomination for his turn in Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘The Master.

British actors Julie Christie and Daniel Day-Lewis have won the top acting prizes at the Screen Actors' Guild (SAG) awards.

While Christie took the best actress gong for her acclaimed portrayal of a woman facing dementia in Sarah Polley's Away From Her, Day-Lewis was rewarded for his stunning role as an amoral oil prospector in Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood.

Though the awards season has been jeopardised by the ongoing industrial action by the Writers' Guild of America (WGA), the SAG awards were held without a hitch after an interim agreement was signed between the two unions, allowing acting talent to attend the ceremony without having to cross picket lines.

Christie - who is nominated for the best actress Academy award for her part in Away From Her - paid tribute to the SAG, adding to The Associated Press: "It's lovely to receive an award from your own union, especially at a time when we're being so forcefully reminded how important unions are."

And Day-Lewis dedicated his award to the late Heath Ledger, who was tragically found dead in his New York apartment last week.

"In Brokeback Mountain he was unique, he was perfect," Day-Lewis said while accepting his trophy.

"That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I've ever seen."

The 50-year-old added backstage that he had never met Ledger but had been profoundly affected by the actor's death.

"I thought he was beautiful. I just had a very strong feeling I would have liked him very much as a man," he said. "I admired him very much. I'm absolutely certain he would have done many wonderful things in his life."

Javier Bardem took the best supporting actor prize for his role as psychotic killer Anton Chigurh in the Coen Brothers' No Country For Old Men, which also won the award for outstanding cast in a motion picture.

With The Sopranos finally coming to an end, leads James Gandolfini and Edie Falco claimed the best actor and best actress prizes for TV dramas, while Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey, the stars of NBC's 30 Rock, took the comedy equivalents.

And another NBC series, The Office - an adaptation of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's Golden Globe-winning sitcom - won the award for best cast in a comedy programme.

Continue reading: Brits Julie Christie And Daniel Day-lewis Take Sag Awards