News

Catch John Hughes tribute ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ on DVD 11.03.09!

By Shannon Nystedt
MovieSet.com

For anyone who grew up watching John Hughes' work, or films based on Hughes’ work, then pick up director Matt Austin’s documentary Don’t You Forget About Me to take a nostalgic walk down memory lane. Before Hughe’s passing, four film-makers led by artist, musician, writer, director Matt Austin set out to find '80s teen comedy king John Hughes who disappeared from Hollywood and the public eye in 1991. The documentary chronicles their search, and includes interviews with a huge array of celebrities including those influenced by his work and stars of his films like Kevin Smith, Mia Sara, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson and Andrew McCarthy. You can find Don’t You Forget About Me on DVD November 3rd, 2009.

Read more about Don’t You Forget About Me on DVD here.

New Details Announced For Matt Reeves' Haunting Thriller 'Let Me In'

Overture Films
Press Release

Principal photography began today on Let Me In, writer/director Matt Reeves' adaptation of Let the Right One In, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Reeves (Cloverfield) and young stars Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) and Chloe Moretz ((500) Days of Summer) were among those on-set as filming commenced on the Hammer Films production at Albuquerque Studios.  Filming will also take place in various other locations in New Mexico before returning to Albuquerque to wrap in January.

In the haunting and provocative Let Me In, an alienated 12-year-old boy (Smit-McPhee) befriends a mysterious young newcomer (Moretz) in his small New Mexico town and discovers an unconventional path to adulthood.  The film is based on the bestselling vampire novel, Latden Ratte Komma In, by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist, and is an English-language remake of the highly acclaimed Swedish film of the same name.

The filmmakers note that while the new film will pay respect to the original Swedish version, they intend to forge a unique identity for Let Me In, placing it firmly in an American context.

"This project is very personal to Matt as it is to the many passionate fans of the original story," said Simon Oakes, President and CEO of Hammer Films. "The brilliance of that story deserves to be seen by audiences on a wide scale and we are excited that the pieces are in place to make that a reality."

Updates to the cast list include Elias Koteas (Shutter Island) as the policeman, Cara Buono ("The Sopranos") as Owen's mother and Sasha Barrese (The Hangover) as "Virginia." It was previously announced that Smit-McPhee and Moretz would play the leads "Owen" and "Abby" respectively and Oscar®-nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) would play the guardian of "Abby". 

Hammer Films acquired the remake rights to Let the Right One In at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival where the film took home the Founders Award® for Best Narrative Feature.  The production is scheduled for a 2010 release in the U.S. by Overture Films.  Exclusive Film Distribution is handling worldwide sales and distribution of the film.

Producing the film are Hammer's Oakes, Guy East and Nigel Sinclair, along with Oscar®-winner Donna Gigliotti (Shakespeare in Love).  Hammer's Alex Brunner and Tobin Armbrust will executive produce along with John Ptak, Philip Elway and Fredrik Malmberg. Overture's Robert Kessel, EVP Production & Acquisitions, will oversee production for the studio.  Swedish producers John Nordling and Carl Molinder, who produced the original film, are also involved as producers on this remake.

Let Me In is the first film in a two-picture co-production, financing and distribution agreement between Overture Films and Exclusive Media Group, the parent company of Hammer Films and Spitfire Pictures.

Read the full release here.

Cast Revealed for Focus Features’ ‘It’s Kind of a Funny Story’

Focus Features
Press Release

Acclaimed writer/directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck’s new film It’s Kind of a Funny Story, will begin production in New York City in early December and has confirmed casting for eight key roles. Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the project, which it is co-financing with Wayfare Entertainment. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Kevin Misher, who most recently produced Michael Mann’s Public Enemies and Dito Montiel’s Fighting, is producing It’s Kind of a Funny Story through his Misher Films with Wayfare Entertainment’s Ben Browning. Wayfare’s Michael Maher and Peter Rawlinson are executive producers; the company is in pre-production on the 3-D underwater epic Sanctum, to be executive-produced by James Cameron.

Keir Gilchrist, who stars as the title character’s son on the hit television series United States of Tara, will play the film’s lead role. Costarring will be Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Emma Roberts (of the upcoming Valentine’s Day), Academy Award nominee Viola Davis (Doubt), Zoe Kravitz (The Brave One), Aasif Mandvi (The Proposal), Lauren Graham (of this winter’s NBC series Parenthood), and Jim Gaffigan (of Focus’ Away We Go).

The comedy-drama has been adapted by Ms. Boden & Mr. Fleck from Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel of the same name; 16-year-old Craig (to be played by Mr. Gilchrist), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Mr. Galifianakis), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Ms. Roberts). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up. Ms. Davis will play Dr. Minerva, the adult ward’s staff psychiatrist; Ms. Kravitz will portray Nia, Craig’s longtime crush; Mr. Mandvi is cast as Dr. Mahmoud, a hospital psychiatrist; and Ms. Graham and Mr. Gaffigan play Craig’s parents, Lynn and George.

The movie is the third feature from the filmmaking team of Ms. Boden & Mr. Fleck, following Half Nelson (2006), for which lead actor Ryan Gosling received an Academy Award nomination, and Sugar, which was released theatrically earlier this year. Focus director of production Matthew Plouffe is supervising It’s Kind of a Funny Story for president of production John Lyons.

Read the full release here.

Get ‘In The Loop’ on DVD November 10th, 2009.

By Shannon Nystedt
MovieSet.com

Pick up In The Loop, the hilarious British satire on war lobbying from director/writer Armando Iannucci.

In the film, the US President and UK Prime Minister fancy a war. But not everyone agrees that war is a good thing. The US General Miller doesn't think so and neither does the British Secretary of State for International Development, Simon Foster. But, after Simon accidentally backs military action on TV, he suddenly has a lot of friends in Washington, DC. If Simon can get in with the right DC people, if his entourage of one can sleep with the right intern, and if they can both stop the Prime Minister's chief spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker rigging the vote at the UN, they can halt the war. If they don't... well, they can always sack their Director of Communications Judy, who they never liked anyway.

In the loop stars James Gandolfini, Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander and Gina McKee. Pick up the DVD for special features including commentary, deleted scenes, interviews and more.

Read more about In the Loop on DVD here.