VIVIENNE JOLIE-PITT CAST IN "MALEFICENT"

Teaser Artwork for Maleficent

Looks like the acting bug has been inherited! Just one day after her Father Jon Voight was in the City, it has been announced that Angelina Jolie’s Daughter Vivienne Jolie-Pitt has been cast in Disney’s Maleficent, due to hit theatres March 2014.

Four-year-old Vivienne will be playing a minor role as the child version of Princess Aurora! The live-action Film gives us Backstory to what led Maleficent to curse Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Motion Pictures)

ALL-STAR READING OF "8" IN LOS ANGELES: GEORGE CLOONEY, BRAD PITT, MATT BOMER, CHRIS COLFER & MORE SHOW SUPPORT

AFER presents a live Reading of 8

An all-star Cast Reading of Dustin Lance Black's Play 8, took place this evening in Los Angeles with the likes of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matthew Morrison, Matt Bomer, Martin Sheen, George Takei, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Bacon, John C. Reilly, Chris Colfer and many more taking part.  

Directed by Rob Reiner, 8 is based upon Court Transcripts and actual Interviews chronicling the landmark Federal Trial of California's  Prop. 8, which served to prohibit Same-Sex Couples from marrying. The Reading was presented by the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

Watch the one-night-only Reading below:

For more, visit AFER's Official YouTube Page here.

(Photo/video credit: AFER)

"IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY": MOVIE REVIEW

Still from In the Land of Blood and Honey

Many curious eyes will be fixed upon Angelina Jolie's written and directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey. I might even go out on a limb to say that perhaps over-ambitious, she delivers ably. Set during the Bosnian War in the '90s, we see an unconventional Love Story between both Ajla (Zana Marjanović) and Danijel (Goran Kostić), held together during War and forever divided by their ethnic differences.  

Ajla, of Muslim descent, is captured and contained at a Rape Camp during the Bosnian-Serbs' Ethnic Cleansing regime.  She falls in love prior to the War with Danijel, a Serbian Soldier and subsequently one of her Captors, raising a few eyebrows among his peers and Father, Nebojsa (Rade Šerbedžija). Although Danijel vows to protect Ajla secretly, we see the impact of circumstance on their relationship as their true allegiances to one another and their beliefs are tested to the extreme by torture.  We see all sorts of horrible things happen, including the rape and humiliation of any non-Serbian Women, to their being used as Human Shields at battle - a brutal side to a Story seldom acknowledged in Hollywood.

Although In the Land of Blood and Honey struggles a bit early in its tone with a Script that reads almost too text book-like and perhaps one too many coincidences to be fully believable, Jolie masters the art of suspense and this is palpable as the Story progresses.  For much of the latter part of the Film, I was overcome with the agonizing feeling that something is terribly wrong for Ajla nor Danijel. Jolie's efforts in humanizing both sides of the complex struggle are respectable, but I for one would have gotten more from this had she explored the emotional element of Loss a bit more here.  The costs paid by Ajla and Danijel are great, including Friends and Family but do we ever get a full grasp of this?

A-LISTERS AT 23RD ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS GALA

Brad Pitt & Angeline Jolie at 23rd Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala

The 23rd Annual Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala is where it was at last night with tons of A-listers flying out to spritz-up the Desert with a bit of Glamour. Brad Pitt, who arrived with a cane in-hand after inuring his knee skiing with three-year-old Daughter Vivienne, received the Desert Palm Achievement Award. On-stage, he thanked Co-stars Jonah Hill, Sean Penn and Philip Seymour Hoffman. On his Tree of Life Co-star Jessica Chastain who earlier received the Spotlight Award, he joked "Usually an Actress has to work in the Porn industry to have that kind of success. It’s impressive.”.

Others honoured last night included Michelle Williams in Prada, receiving the Desert Palm Achievement Award for her work in My Week with Marilyn; Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud Director Stephen Daldry being named Director of the Year; Glenn Close getting a Career Achievement Award; Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Diablo Cody & Jason Reitman given the Ensemble Award for Young Adult; Director Michel Hazanavicius being presented with the Sono Bono Visionary Award for The Artist; and Octavia Spencer, a Breakthrough Performance Award for her work in The Help. 

See Photos from the Night over at Zimbio.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

"THE NEW YORK TIMES" BEST PERFORMERS OF 2011 PORTRAITS

Viola Davis

One of the things I look forward to most is The New York Times' Photos of the Best Cinematic Performers of the Year released every December at the onset of Awards Season. This year though they try a little something different, shooting short Vignettes of these Actors and Actresses as famous villainous Horror Icons; self-taught Photographer Alex Prager helms. Pretty bloody terrifying, pretty bloody brilliant.

Talent like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Rooney Mara, Mia Wasikowska, Rooney Mara, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, Kirsten Dunst, Glenn Close, Ryan Gosling and more took part. Viola Davis' Vignette hands-down is my favourite.  Watch a Ladybug practically go up her nose  and into her eyes without even a flinch.  Now that's focus!

Check out some Photos below:

ANGELINA JOLIE ON "60 MINUTES"

Angelina Jolie on 60 Minutes

CBS' 60 Minutes profiled Angelina Jolie earlier this evening, catching up with her in Budapest where she had filmed forthcoming directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey. Touching upon heavy subject matter, even she surprised herself by looking at topics like Rape, Genocide and War in Bosnia. "I think I'd be terrible in a Comedy", she laughs.

When asked about her Humanitarian efforts and whether or not she still has a "bad side" to her, Jolie says, "I'm still a Bad Girl.  I still have that side of me that belongs to Brad and our adventures.". Wow.

Jolie opens-up,  revealing a delicate side to her we don't always see. Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie's Mother, is credited for teaching her how to raise her own Kids. "I will never as good a Mother as she was... she was just grace incarnate, the most generous loving".  Jolie breaks down for a moment before declaring, "She's better than me."

The Oscar Winner also comments on her new-found love for directing stating, "I'd like having the spotlight on somebody else. I'd much prefer it.".  She does express fears that her Fans might not understand In the Land of Blood and Honey, but admits to being scared, "in a good way".

Watch the Profile in full below:

ANNA FARIS & CHRIS PRATT AT TIFF FOR "MONEYBALL"

Anna Faris in Toronto - September 2011

Surprise!  I learned today that one of my favourite Funnywomen Anna Faris (The Hot Chick, Lost in Translation) is actually married to Actor Chris Pratt, who is at TIFF 2011 with the Brad Pitt-starring Baseball flick, Moneyball.

After longing to meet her for years now, I finally got my moment telling her "It's about time you came!", to which she giggled as Autograph Seekers hit-up her Husband for some signatures.  At one point Paparazzi kept insisting that she throw a wave at the Cameras, our eyes both met and we giggled  profusely at each other.  Faris was an amazing sport and I can't wait to see more from her.  She currently is filming The Dictator, starring Sacha Baron Cohen.

Mind you, not to be outdone by his beautiful Wife, Pratt also was amazing to Fans and had only one thing to say, "Don't forget to check out Moneyball!".

See more Photos below:

"THE TREE OF LIFE" AND KIRSTEN DUNST WIN BIG AT CANNES

Still from The Tree of Life

Congratulations to Terence Malick for his victory at the Cannes Film Festival.  The shy Director's Feature The Tree of Life just received the coveted Palme d'Or Award for Best Feature; he was not on-hand to accept the Award.  Despite some "boos" having been heard at its Premiere in Cannes last week, it turns out that the Drama starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt is a Critical Darling after all.  The Film gets a Canadian release on June 10, 2011.

In a surprising turn of events, Kirsten Dunst was awarded Best Actress for her work in Lars von Trier's Melancholia.  The Dancer in the Dark Director known best for tortured Heroines in his Films, recently generated a bit of controversy when he made some Anti-Semetic remarks he made, getting him banned from the Festival. Melancholia is a Sci-Fi Piece about two Sisters whose relationship is compromised as another Planet threatens to collide with Earth.

Melancholia is due in theatres November 4, 2011 and also stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland and Alexander Skarsgård.  The Film is garnering some controversy as Dunst appears fully nude for the first time ever in it after having publicly gone on the record to say that Pedro Almodóvar is the only Director for whom she would remove her clothing.  Expect this one to do the Festival rounds including a possible TIFF stopoff this September.

(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)

"THE TREE OF LIFE" GARNERS BOOS AND PRAISE IN CANNES

Still from Tree of Life

Despite some high expectations for The Thin Red Line Director Terence Malick’s latest work The Tree of Life, reviews unfortunately were mixed after today’s first screening of it at the Cannes Film Festival. Many have been awaiting the Film after multiple delays in its release, almost two years to be exact.

Although many top Critics had positive things to say about the philosophical Drama starring Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain and Sean Penn, there reportedly was a bit of "booing" post-screening, which some Critics like Eric Kohn of IndieWire, took to Twitter clarifying this as an exaggeration.

Here’s what some of the Critics are saying for The Tree of Life:

“This film is not for everyone, and I will admit I am agnostic about the final sequence, which suggests a closure and a redemption nothing else in the film has prepared us for. But this is visionary cinema on an unashamedly huge scale: cinema that's thinking big.”. - PETER BRADSHAW - THE GUARDIAN

NEW "THE TREE OF LIFE" POSTER REVEALED

The Tree of Life Official Poster

Wow. This new Poster containing various small Stills was just released for Terence Malick’s The Tree of Life and wouldn’t you say it’s rather exquisite? A visual masterpiece if I might be so bold to say.

Starring Sean Penn, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain, the Story follows three Brothers growing up in the 1950s, with the eldest son Jack being instilled with the values of Love and Mercy by his Mother (Chastain), while his Father (Pitt) teaches him the value of fending for himself in life.

Jack experiences true pain and hurt for the first time through the death of a loved one, thus losing his innocence. The Story cuts ahead to a grown-up version of himself, a lost soul who finds out what it means to love unselfishly. Absolutely beautiful!

The Tree of Life is now working with the tagline: “Two Ways Through Life” and hits theatres May 27, 2011 via Fox Searchlight. Earlier in the month it will get its Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Visit its official site here.

FIRST STILL FROM "THE TREE OF LIFE" WITH BRAD PITT AND SEAN PENN

Still from Tree of Life

Director Terernce Malick has been quiet of late but when he makes a Film, it's usually a good one.  The Thin Red Line Director's  latest effort The Tree of Life originally was slated for a 2010 release as an Oscar contender, but never surfaced in time due to various issues finding a U.S. Distributor and also Malick not feeling it was ready to be seen.  The Tree of Life originally was to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

Starring a critically bulletproof duo Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, its story centers around an eleven year-old Boy named Jack (Penn as a adult) who reflects back on his Childhood growing up in the 1950s.  The Film touches upon the loss of innocence he experiences in witnessing the decline of his younger Brother.  Despite the role originally being intended for the late Heath Ledger, Pitt (who produces the Film also) plays Jack's Father, Mr. O'Brien in the Fantasy-Drama, which hits theatres May 27, 2011 via Fox Searchlight.

(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)

CAREY MULLIGAN TO STAR IN U.S. VERSION OF "THE GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO"

Can I spot a star or what?  The radiant and talented Carey Mulligan has signed in to star in all three film adaptations of Stieg Larsson's trilogy starting first with The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo.  I reviewed the original Swedish version of the film here last week and overall wasn't wowed, but hopefully the U.S. version will make a few modifications. 

It will be interesting seeing the sweet and soft-spoken (I can confirm after meeting her in-person) Mulligan transform into the dark role of Lisabeth Salander who gets tortured, raped and ultimately fights back.  Brad Pitt is rumoured to play the male lead role of disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist.  One thing I'm sure of in the very least is that the names will probably be changed to Liz and Mike for the American adaptation:p  And things aren't looking like they're slowing down any time soon following a star-turning role in An Education last year. 

Mulligan will also be appearing in Wall Street 2: Money Never Dies which opens this September alongside Michael Douglas and boyfriend Shia LaBeouf.  She's it.  (Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)