Jessica Chastain turns Blonde for the next Marilyn Monroe biopic

Jessica Chastain has been somewhat of an enigma in Hollywood. With a name resembling royalty and glamour; Chastain has bagged some enviable roles in her career and has given brilliant performances to match and now her name is being attached to the next biopic, titled Blonde, on one of Hollywood’s most legendary stars that filmmakers cannot stop being obsessed with, Marilyn Monroe.

The film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novel by Joyce Carol Oates, is going to be different from the other films recently produced about Marilyn. Blonde is said to be focused on the inner, spiritual and emotional life of the star that has captivated the world for generations, along with her aura of beauty and glamour that was tinged with depression and strife.

Oates's 700-page novel, published in 2000, accounts many of Marilyn's infamous relationships, including one with United States president John F. Kennedy. Many of her alleged lovers haven’t been named, but they are clearly identified by the nicknames given to them by Marilyn and the context in which she talks about them. A male co-star from Some Like It Hot is labelled "C", who can be presumed to be Tony Curtis while Marilyn's husbands, Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller, feature as "the ex-Athlete" and "the Playwright" respectively. It’s no wonder Marilyn is famous for her illustrious and tumultuous affairs.

It’s going to be pleasant to see Chastain as a blonde once again, ditching her natural red hair. She also played a blonde as a ditzy but spirited woman in the period drama The Help, for which she received a best supporting actress Oscar nomination in 2011. Her other Academy Award nomination was for 2012's Zero Dark Thirty. Chastain has been particularly busy lately. She will star in a number of movies this year, including Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi mystery Interstellar with Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey, as well as Miss Julie - based on the 1888 play - with Samantha Morton and Colin Farrell. She is also currently filming Guillermo del Toro's horror Crimson Peake.

Blonde will be produced by Brad Pitt's production company Plan B, with the actor reportedly having been key in convincing Chastain to take the role. The two had worked together on Terrence Malik’s The Tree of Life in 2011, for which Chastain also received critical acclaim. Blonde is set to be directed by Andrew Dominik, known for his work on The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Killing Them Softly, having cast Pitt in both films, and will also forge the film from his own script.

The film was first reported for making back in 2010 and has been an infatuation project for Dominik. Chastain having been cast was a move to ensure that Marilyn is channelled as a lost and lonely movie star trapped inside a world of glamour and frivolity of her own volition. Judging from Chastain’s and Dominik’s previous work, Blonde might just be a step up from the other Marilyn biopics that Hollywood has turned out in recent years. Shooting for the film is set to start in August this year with a release in 2015.

Richard Linklater’s Boyhood – A film like we’ve never seen before

Coming-of-age films form part of the daily bread of filmmaking, not only in Hollywood but in almost every movie industry around the world. Boyhood, to be released in June this year, however, takes the concept of a coming-of-age film to a whole new level that we have never seen done before.

Boyhood's creator Richard Linklater (known for the Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight trilogy all released 9 years apart) chose 7-year-old Ellar Coltrane as his protagonist, Mason, back in 2002. This groundbreaking film, which encompasses the very essence of what dedication to art is, captures the journey of a young boy growing up over the course of 12 years using the same actor.

This larger-than-life experiment saw the group of actors, including Ethan Hawke (one of Linklater’s staple actors) and Patricia Arquette, who play Mason's parents, reunite every summer for over a decade to document a moving account of a boy growing up, culminating with him leaving for college. 

But it is not the physical and emotional growth of the boy turning into a young man that the audience witnesses, it is also the aging of the other principle actors. Hawke and Arquette visibly change through the film, going through a journey themselves. Even Mason's sister, played by Linklater's daughter, Lorelei, also evolves into a young woman through the film.

This is the first time a story of this nature has been attempted to be told on screen. The renowned director's Before Sunrise trilogy grazed the surface of this idea, with the three films spanning almost 30 years, but not to the extent that Boyhood has gone. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year and was also widely critically acclaimed at the Berlin Film Festival in February. 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic event – and quite literally so. We’ve waited over 12 years so far for the filming to be completed and now we just have to wait a few months more for the film to be officially released. The trailer is out but of course it does no justice to the magnitude of the film. Linklater should be saluted – this is not only a daunting task that required extreme patience and perseverance, but also one that not every director will have the mettle to fulfil.

Kirsten Dunst for W Magazine by Sofia Coppola

There have only been a few Hollywood starlets who have managed to remain relatively normal and likeable in the presence of fame and fortune; and Kirsten Dunst is definitely one of those stars. At 31 years old now, she has spent over 25 years in the film industry and she is just as hot property now as when she first arrived on the scene debuting in an uncredited role in Woody Allen’s New York Stories in 1989. She also had several small roles in television in the 90s. Having worked with Oscar-winning director and writer, Sofia Coppola, way back in 1999, Kirsten was interviewed by Sofia for the May edition of W Magazine, which was also guest-edited by Sofia.

Sofia met Kirsten when she was only 16 years old and auditioning for a role in The Virgin Suicides, in which she was cast as the lead opposite Josh Hartnett, in Toronto. Kirsten was Sofia’s first leading lady – although she was just a girl.

Sofia grew up loving photography and fashion, which obviously stems from her passion and affinity for art and, more importantly, making good art in her own way. Sofia wanted this May issue of W Magazine to pay homage to the world that she grew up in as a child – a world of glamour that is still refined where we take time out to enjoy life and live well.

The interview by Sofia is revealing and shares quite a bit of insight into Kirsten’s career and how she got started in Hollywood, having been urged by her mother to start early in the business. Kirsten’s latest film, The Two Faces of January, was released earlier this year and Sofia’s last directorial work was The Bling Ring released in 2013. If there’s one thing that these two powerhouse women have in common, it’s their discernment for picking films that will add quality to their body of work.

Sofia says that she has filled the magazine with things she loves and admires, having grown up reading the magazine and admiring the strong female figures represented on its pages. With Kirsten’s images shot by regular W Magazine contributor, Juergen Teller, she looks every inch the essence of old-world Hollywood glamour and sophistication. While Sofia also looks the part of ace filmmaker and magazine editor in her shot for the magazine taken by Andrew Durham, another regular photographer for the magazine.

Sofia says that Kirsten is her favourite California blonde while Kirsten says that she looks up to Sofia’s fashion sense. The bond the two share is one of female camaraderie and understanding. Having both got their breaks in Hollywood so young, they know what it is like to spend most of their lives in the spotlight.

The next Steve Jobs biopic

Leonardo DiCaprio has become a movie star god in the recent years, having delivered an array of blockbuster and brilliant performances in films like Django Unchained, The Great Gatsby and The Wolf of Wall Street. But, to the dismay of cinema-lovers everywhere, he is yet to win that coveted and much-deserved Academy Award for his work.

But the possibility of Leonardo playing Steve Jobs in the latest biopic about the Apple Inc. co-founder could very well put him in the running for his work finally being recognized. Although the film has not begun shooting yet, if he is in the cast, there’s no doubt Leonardo will turn out a mesmerizing performance as usual. In the last 13 months alone, he's been associated with nine films. 

The last film revolving around the life of Steve Jobs was released last year, titled Jobs, directed by Joshua Michael Stern and starring Ashton Kutcher and Dermot Mulroney. The film wasn’t a major success or even critically acclaimed. The latest biopic with Leonardo possibly (and hopefully) in the role of Jobs will be directed by ace-filmmaker Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) after he took over from David Fincher who reportedly wanted Christian Bale in the lead. Boyle also won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2009 for Slumdog Millionaire, which became a worldwide phenomenon.

Aaron Sorkin, who won the Oscar for Best Writing for an adapted screenplay for The Social Network, will be penning the script for the film, roughly entitled “Steve Jobs”, based on the Walter Isaacson biography of the same name. Sony acquired the rights to the biography following the Apple mogul’s death in 2011.

If Leonardo is cast in this role, it will be the first time in almost 14 years that he will be working with Boyle, after they collaborated on The Beach in 2000. A release date has not been announced for the film yet but we will definitely be waiting with baited breath, if Leonardo is cast, for another captivating performance. And it would be a mistake not to cast him, because it seems as if everything he touches turns to gold at the box office.

Gia Coppola – Success is in her name

For cinema lovers new talent, especially in the way of edgy directors, is hot and exciting news. The Coppola family name has become synonymous with groundbreaking artistic work in cinema and it certainly seems as if this momentous storytelling is in their blood.

Enter Gia Coppola – the granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola, the pioneer of this genius family. She is the daughter of Gian-Carlo Coppola, a film producer, the eldest child of Francis Ford Coppola, and also the older brother to Roman and Sofia. Roman Ford Coppola, Gia’s uncle, is an American film and music video director, who was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his 2012 film, Moonrise Kingdom.

The other well-known female in the Coppola family is Sofia Coppola, who has stunned Hollywood with her intuitive eye and mesmerizing filmmaking skills. She is a successful and acclaimed screenwriter, director, producer and actress. In 2003, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for her film Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, and she also became the third (and the first American) woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director.

And did you know that Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage, also known as Nicolas Kim Coppola, is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola and had changed his name to make his own way in the film business?

With a family like this, it would be hard not to follow in the footsteps of such accomplishment and trademark brilliance. Gia has now also captivated Hollywood with her debut film offering, Palo Alto. The film is an adaption of actor James Franco’s collection of short stories of the same title and premiered in the “Orizzonti” section of the 70^th Venice International Film Festival, as well as the 38^th Toronto International Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado. The film stars James Franco, Emma Roberts and Val Kilmer and tells the story of a group of menacing teens with a weakness for trouble.

This maiden work of Gia has been cited to have many similarities with Sofia’s film The Virgin Suicides for its technique and scope. Palo Alto has been picked up by Tribeca Films for distribution with a release date in May 2014. Whether or not the film fares well critically or at the box office, Gia definitely doesn’t have to worry about finding a place to fit in as the Coppola name unquestionably has a home in Hollywood already.

“Maleficent” – A villain has never been so beautiful

We have been waiting for quite some time for this flick to be released since the casting and shooting has taken place. But with the sneak peak we’ve had from the trailer of “Maleficent”, the title lead played by Angelina Jolie, being released recently, we can safely say that a villain has never been so beautiful.

“Maleficent” is the untold story of one the stealthiest villains in Disney history from one of its most classic and loved fairy tales, Sleeping Beauty, and documents the experiences of Maleficent’s life which result in her turning into such a villain. Motivated by revenge, Maleficent viciously places a binding curse on the human king's newborn baby, Aurora. And as the child grows, she is caught in the middle of the conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her inheritance. Sounds familiar?

The movie is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes long but that’s not too inconvenient as 38-year-old Angelina’s ethereal beauty – seeming almost like a fairy tale type of beauty that never ages – makes it worth it. The movie also stars Angelina’s daughter, Vivienne, as a young Aurora, and Elle Fanning in the older role. We’re also set to see South Africa’s own Sharlto Copley in a major role in the movie.

“Maleficent” is directed by Robert Stromberg, also known for “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End” (2007), “The Golden Compass” (2007) and “The Hunger Games” (2012). The trailer that has been released of the movie looks fantastical and magical with everything that is loved from a movie in this genre. The new trailer officially debuted during the 2014 Kid's Choice Awards on Saturday, March 29 and the movie will be released in theatres on May 30.

Tom Ford – Designer of sexy now on Instagram

Instagram has become one of the main portals for celebs to stay in touch with their fans, uploading personal and behind-the-scenes photos from their lives and work. Tom Ford is the latest major celeb to join the social network and, to the delight of fans everywhere, posted his first image on Instagram on March 14^th. And of course, in true Tom Ford demeanour, the first pic is raunchy, sexy, over-the-top, and features a bag (and an ass) that most women would love to own.

Although the designer is only 7 pictures in so far and most of the images are for Tom Ford’s “Shop online” campaign, the promise of more spectacular images to come is worth the wait.

Ford gained international notoriety for his turnaround of Gucci and the creation of the Tom Ford label. He also directed, produced, and co-wrote the breathtakingly beautiful Oscar-nominated film “A Single Man” in 2009 starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.

The Tom Ford label, and more especially the ad campaigns, has become synonymous with sexy, bawdy, and illustrious. Many of the label’s ads have been banned in certain countries for its subjective vulgarity but he has not lost his loyal fan base – which has in fact grown tremendously.

Tom Ford is loved for his experimentation with images and his open acceptance and recognition of the importance of one’s sexuality and his ad images always reflect this concept. With his vision and creativity that has surpassed many in the fashion industry, one would never guess that he is over his 50s and has even been seen in some of the images used in the label’s ad campaigns.

The images that Tom Ford has produced over the years have become iconic within the fashion and beauty industry and are distinctly unique and recognizable among a myriad of designer labels. And now that he is officially on Instagram, his fans have instant access to an insight into the world of all things Tom Ford

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” straight out of Wes Anderson’s imagination

Wes Anderson has come to be appreciated most for his unique and intricate visual style in the direction of his films. He has received copious amounts of critical praise for his work and vision and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for “The Royal Tenenbaums” in 2001 and for “Moonrise Kingdom” in 2012, as well as for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for “Fantastic Mr. Fox” in 2009. But now it is being said that every film he has directed prior to his latest release, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, has just been a starter to this fantastic main course of cinematic pleasure.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” could aptly be called typically Andersonian. The film conjures tales within tales and manages to be at once whimsical and winsome as well as haunting and sombre. In a nutshell, the film recounts the marvellous adventures of Monsieur Gustave H., a renowned and legendary hotel concierge at a famous European hotel, and Zero Moustafa (played by 17-year-old Tony Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

Like most of Anderson’s films, this one too revolves around a middle-aged man and a gifted young boy whom he takes under his wing. One of the treats of the film is the captivating Ralph Fiennes in the lead, playing the role of Gustave H. He has mastered the slight nuances of his character, who can be seductive and flattering to his older female guests while being ruthless and abhorrent in his work ethic.

The film also features actors in cameo roles; including Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Owen Wilson, a nearly-unrecognizable Tilda Swinton, as well as newcomers to the Anderson club; F. Murray Abraham, Jude Law and Saoirse Ronan, among other very pleasant surprises.

Anderson’s attention to detail and the breathtaking execution of his vision has become a hallmark of his cinema. But perhaps the greatest quality of this film is the sense of reverberant joy that one instantly picks up on that Anderson and his team had while putting this film together, like children constructing a play-house filled with magical toys and characteristics.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” is an ode to a world and time gone by when – adopting this ‘golden age’ mentality – life seemed more beautiful and palatable. Wes Anderson’s brilliant imagination and quirky sense of creation brings a stunning work to the cinema that exudes sultry and romantic nostalgia.

“Life” – The next film based on the life of James Dean

“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man. Immortality is the only true success.”

-       James Dean

Film makers, novelists, and pretty much most creatives have had a fascination with James Dean since, and even before, his untimely death. How could we ever put a finger on what it was exactly about him? He was beautiful and brash, masterful and misunderstood, genius and gutsy. But everything that he was, he was the original.

Anton Corbijn, the Dutch photographer, music-video director and film director, is set to direct the much-anticipated film, “Life” centred on the 1955 road trip that James Dean took with Life Magazine photographer and friend Dennis Stock, a mere few months before he died. Stock is credited to have taken some of the most iconic and memorable images of Dean.

Dane DeHaan, best known for his role in the series “In Treatment”, has been cast in the lead as Dean. He bears a striking resemblance to Dean as did his predecessor to play Dean in a film, James Franco also did. DeHaan is also hot news in Hollywood right now after being signed on to the next “Amazing Spider-Man” movie.

Robert Pattinson, made infamous by the “Twilight” movie franchise, has been cast to play the role of Dennis Stock, the photographer from Life Magazine, while Ben Kingsley (“Gandhi”, “Schindler’s List, “House of Sand and Fog”) has also been cast in the film. It hasn’t been released as to which role Kingsley will play yet but the Oscar-winner will certainly make the film one to watch.

Dean died in a near head-on collision in September, 1955 in his Porsche 550 Spyder. At the time, movie-goers only knew him for the film “East of Eden”, which also released in 1955, and the actor only became better known for “Rebel Without a Cause” when it was released a few months later. “East of Eden” had not been released yet when Stock received the assignment for Life Magazine to photograph the actor and on the journey from New York to Los Angeles and then Indiana, the two became friends.

The shooting for the film will commence within the next few months and the release date is yet to be estimated. But there are very high hopes for this film. There will never be another actor as iconic and legendary as James Dean, and even more so for him having achieved the very same immortality and greatness by still being relevant after his death that he spoke about.

12 Years a Slave – A story you almost can’t believe is true

In 1841, Solomon Northup – a husband, father, violinist and a free black man living in upstate New York – is abducted and sold into slavery. On what he thinks is a music opportunity, he is drugged and thus dissolved into the world of slavery. His life, from one of freedom, becomes ruled by whoever is his master at the time. In this pre-Civil War America, Solomon finds himself desperately trying to grasp onto whatever semblance of dignity he can before being released after 12 long, brutal years.

The film, based on the first scholarly edition of the real Solomon Northup’s memoir – which gives it an incredible amount of accuracy and truth – stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon, who has also been nominated at this year’s Academy Awards for Best Actor. This will either be the best role of his career, since “Othello” in 2008, or will set him up for more work that allows for his brilliant skills. The film also stars Michael Fassbender (best known for his role as Magneto in “X-Men: First Class”, Paul Giamatti (his role in “Cinderella Man” being one of his most known), and Brad Pitt.

This is the third feature directed by Steve McQueen and written by John Ridley. The film is also one of the main contenders at this year’s Oscars, receiving nine nominations in all; including Best Picture, Best Director (Steve McQueen), Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Best Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender) and Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o).

The film was shot on location in New Orleans, Louisiana with some locations being in close vicinity with the actual places that Solomon was kept as a slave. “12 Years a Slave” is being called an essential film in historic cinema for its storytelling of a gruelling and painful journey of a man who withstood all odds to get back his freedom. It might not be the easiest film to sit through, but it’s definitely worth it.