Variety On the Town

Ragin' Cajuns

The event: "Little Chenier" premiere

The details: Saturday in New Orleans at the Prytania theater followed by an after-party at Grand Isle.

The guest list: Pic’s stars Johnathon Schaech, Fred Koehler, Tamara Braun, Clifton Collins Jr., Chris Mulkey, Isabella Hofmann, director-writer Bethany Ashton Wolf and writer Jace Johnson plus members of the local community.

The menu: Cajun cuisine like gumbo and fried alligator and a local cocktail called Sazerac made from a 200-year-old recipe.

The entertainment: Zydeco music from the Abe Manuel Band (whose members appear in the film) joined by 16-year-old fiddler Amanda Shaw.

The talk: The tale of two brothers, which Louisiana lieutenant governor Mitch Landrieu called “the most accurate depiction of Cajun culture” that he had ever seen, finished shooting just one month before Hurricane Rita devastated the southwestern Louisiana community where the pic was filmed. The preem was a fund-raiser for those in the region who are still in need. Money was raised for  Rita Remembered (P O Box 145, Lake Charles, LA 70602), which aids people through an arts and literacy program; and Musicians’ Village — a cornerstone of the area’s Habitat for Humanity program — which was conceived by Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis’ to provide a community for the city’s displaced musicians.

From left: Jace Johnson, Chris Mulkey, Isabella Hofmann, Johnathon Schaech,
Bethany Ashton Wolf, Clifton Collins Jr. and Tamara Braun. (Photo by Catherine Victoria)

Blanchett Talks Up 'Elizabeth'

Cate Blanchett and helmer Shekhar Kapur chatted with Tudor fans about their latest pic, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" during the Variety screening series Tuesday at the Arclight. “When we were making ‘Elizabeth,’ it wasn't a surefire thing at all," explained Blanchett. "We went in a bit rock n' roll about it. It was really edgy. The fact that it found an audience, we were all thrilled and surprised." This time around, Clive Owen joins the cast as Sir Walter Raleigh, with whom Blanchett becomes romantically entangled. “Once a script began to emerge that had a love triangle at the beginning of it, than I found it interesting," said Blanchett. "Also the backdrop of this film is so epic. But at the center of it was an internal struggle with current and domestic concerns. Individual concerns about the aging process, fertility and attractiveness. I felt she was at war with herself as much as with Spain."  (E. Maxwell)

Variety screening of 'Into the Wild'

The event: Variety Screening Series of  “Into the Wild” on Monday at the Arclight in Hollywood.

The guest list: Director Sean Penn and musician Eddie Vedder with cast members Emile Hirsch, Kristen Stewart, Marcia Gay Harden, Jena Malone and Brian Dierker.

The talk: “The will is a function of the heart and I needed an actor with the size of heart that seemed to match what showed in Chris’ will,” said Penn about casting Hirsch to play the lead role of young wanderer and adventurer Christopher McCandless.  The true story of McCandless’ travels from suburban Virginia to his final destination in the wilds of Alaska left a deep impression on both Hirsch and Vedder. The Pearl Jam frontman recorded the soundtrack to the film, providing the musical narrative to McCandless' ill-fated odyssey. “I thought he had a real healthy sense of rebellion, and it was pure and it was positive and I was honored to take part in representing this kid who to me is an American hero."   (J. Marks)

Haggis' Big Challenge

After showcasing his latest pic “In the Valley of Elah”  at both the Venice and Toronto film fests earlier this month,  writer-director Paul Haggis brought the film to Gotham for two intimate screenings. Prior to Thursday’s Literary Society screening at the Lowes Theater at Lincoln Center, Haggis explained the origins of the pic about an Iraq war veteran's murder that was inspired by a Playboy Magazine article. “One of my agents at CAA sent me the article because I had told them to bring me the material they thought will never be made. They warned me that it was going to be tough project to get financed and it was.” Helmer added that he was happy that the pic was one among many war-inspired films this season. “When our President says that you shouldn’t question what he is doing and just go along with the war, we filmmakers like to think for ourselves, which is why I think you are seeing a lot of these films coming out right now.” (A. Morfoot)

TORONTO: Jude Law is all smiles as he arrives at the Toronto Film Festival on Monday to promote his new film "Sleuth." Also in town for the fest is thesp Laura Linney who was on hand to tout her new pic "The Savages."

Lunch with 'Jane Austen'

Just hours after attending the world premiere of “The Jane Austen Book Club” at the Toronto Film Festival, pic’s scribe-helmer Robin Swicord and thesps Hugh Dancy and Lynn Redgrave made their way down to Gotham for a Monday lunch in honor of the film at the Brasserie Ruhlmann at Rockefeller Center.

“I had three hours of sleep last night,” Swicord said. “I just flew back this morning.” Based on Karen Joy Fowler’s bestselling novel by the same name, pic is about a group of women who form a book club devoted to Austen's novels. After the release of this year’s “Becoming Jane” and a slew of Austen-based movies released in the last decade, the helmer had some advice for industryites thinking about another scribe-based pic. “I definitely think that right now would not be the best time to bring out yet another Austen movie,” before adding,  “but she never goes out of style. She is for the ages.” (A. Morfoot)

Helmers Debut Their 'Reel Talent'

Helmers Jon Turteltaub and James Foley were back where it all began for the unspooling of their first student films at USC's Eileen Norris Theater last week. Turteltaub and Foley along with USC alumns George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis have allowed their first short films to be compiled into a DVD, “Reel Talent: First Films By Legendary Directors,” released by Fox Home Entertainment, as a fundraising project for USC’s film school. “When you’re in school you're always worried your film is going to suck,” recalled Turteltaub. “But stop worrying: It is going to suck. It’s a learning experience,” he said before adding, “But now they’ve put it out on DVD those f—s!” Foley displayed the same humility during the Q&A. “I never understood when I was sitting in this room and listening to directors on stage and people would ask directors ‘so what did you think of your movie?’ and they would say, 'I never watch my films.' Well, now I do: It’s painful!” (E. Bertet)

New Yorkers love 'Chicago 10'

The Sundance version of “Chicago 10” made its first and last screening in Gotham on Wednesday at the Guggenheim Museum.

“When it is released it will have a slightly different edit,” doc’s helmer Brett Morgen (“The Kid Stays in the Picture”) said at the pre-screening cocktail hour. “Nothing too significant but it will be a little tighter.”
Helmer, who captures the theatrics of the infamous 1968 trial via animation and archival footage, also explained his decision to use animation.

“At some point I was reading about the trial and Jerry Rubin made a comment that the it was like a cartoon show and bells went off. I was like that’s it – animate! It became a means for us to visualize that which we didn’t have and also to give the film a more reverent, youthful hook.”

Following the screening, guests made the long trek downtown for an intimate after-party at the Beatrice Inn where DJs Spencer Sweeney and Andrew W.K. entertained crowds. (A. Morfoot)

Shoot for the Stars

Guests at Thursday nights “Shooter” preem were all dressed up with no place to go.

Paramount opted not to throw a lavish after-party or rather any after-party to celebrate the sniper pic, but that didn't keep Paramount  topper  Brad Grey, helmer Antoine Fuqua, pic’s Mark Wahlberg, Danny Glover, Michael Pena and Kate Mara and thesps Jeremy Piven, Djimon Hounsou, Jenna Elfman, Constance Marie, Jill Hennessy and Lela Rochon from getting dressed up, gobbling popcorn and mingling in the lobby of Westwood’s Mann Village Theater 

Pushy ushers hurried guests inside, leaving many missing beverage straws and cranking their necks to see a radiant and pregnant Elfman as she held court in the lobby but once safely seated they noticed something else normally not seen in Tinseltown — men in camo. Yet, it fit the macho movie perfectly. Every time something blew up on screen, the aud exploded with cheering and applause —  there was plenty to cheer about.

After unspooling, Glover turned into the main attraction being thoroughly mobbed by a pack of camera phone carrying teens that would give any paparazzi a run for their money while Wahlberg made a much more serene exit stopping to chat with well-wishers but carefully avoideding Glover's throng. (L. Repstad)

'Hairspray' sticks with aud

On Thursday afternoon, New Line unveiled about 15 minutes of footage from “Hairspray” to select media, creatives involved with the film and their handlers. Acting like a proud papa, choreographer-turned-director Adam Shankman announced that this was a musical in the grand tradition, with no bells and whistles, no fantasy sequences — just good old-fashioned singing and dancing. The preview appeared to be a calculated gamble that paid off, judging from the enthusiastic reception at the Clarity theater in Beverly Hills.

New Line has clearly maximized its use of the property, which was originally released as a 1988 feature directed by John Waters, then turned into a Tony-winning hit musical and now appears poised to make a mid-year splash in theaters with early awards buzz. Those previous incarnations made stars out of Ricki Lake and Marissa Jaret Winoker, respectively, as vivacious teen Tracy Turnblad, and this big-screen version of the tuner — with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and Thomas Meehan and Mark O’Donnell co-adapting their own Broadway book — looks like a very promising launch for Nicole Blonsky, who, according to Shankman, was discovered at a Long Island malt shop and sought an audition via her profile on MySpace.com.

Blonsky could very well be the latest plus-sized “it” girl at a time when actresses like America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”) and “Dreamgirl” Jennifer Hudson have become symbols of empowerment for those who don’t fit into established perceptions female beauty and fashion. This, plus the musical’s underlying message of racial tolerance gives the film an uplift that audiences and critics can feel good about.

Admittedly, it was bit disconcerting to see John Travolta — stepping into the shoes previously occupied by Divine in Waters’ film and Harvey Fierstein on stage — bewigged and lipsticked as Edna Turnblad playing cutsey pie with Christopher Walken as hubbie Wilbur, with a graying mane that might be described as the color of straw. But Travolta, in his first musical since 1978’s “Grease,” is clearly having fun with the role.

Produced by Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, the duo who brought you “Chicago,” “Hairspray” is slated for a July 20 release. (S. Chagollan)

Frogs Fete Film

Tuesday night's screening of "Avenue Montaigne" -- France's official foreign film Oscar entry -- at the DGA was packed with members of L.A.'s Gallic community, with helmer Daniele Thompson receving many felicitations at the dessert reception after the pic, which was originally dubbed "Fauteuils d'Orchestre" ("Orchestra Seats"). The film's name was changed for its upcoming U.S. release in February via ThinkFilm.

The charming comedy of manners is somewhat of a departure from the typical weighty period French Oscar hopefuls, and was also a hit at the Palm Springs Fest where it screened twice over the weekend.

Sydney Pollack, who was honored in Palm Springs, has an amusing turn in "Avenue Montaigne" as an eminent American director casting a biopic of Simone de Beauvoir, and his French isn't half bad. (P. Saperstein)