Category: News

The Rock’s Uncle Taught Rourke To Wrestle

How cool, that The Rock’s uncle trained Mickey.

Mickey Rourke was transformed into a professional wrestler by the uncle of grappler-turned-Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson.

Rourke spent months at former World Wrestling Federation star Afa Anoa’i’s Wild Samoan Training Center in Florida to prepare for his role as fallen ring favourite Randy ‘The Ram’ Johnson in The Wrestler.

And Dwayne Johnson – who used to wrestle under the name The Rock – reveals he kept a close eye on Rourke’s transformation from actor to muscle-bound athlete.

He tells Moviefone.com, “My uncle actually trained Mickey for the movie, and he would call me weekly and give me progress reports on Mickey. That’s a tough task to go from just being an actor to becoming not only a professional wrestler, but a professional wrestler who’s wrestled for 25 years. My uncle was amazed at Mickey’s progress and his desire to do everything. That takes commitment.”

And Johnson insists he is a huge fan of the film, insisting it accurately depicted the wrestling world.

He adds, “I loved the movie. I thought Mickey’s performance was outstanding. I thought that the movie that Darren Aronofsky created was real and memorable. That world -­ it’s a very visceral, authentic world that he created, and I can’t say enough great things about the movie, and I’m very proud of Mickey.”

Rourke’s performance in the movie earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination – but he lost out to Sean Penn, who took home the prize for Milk at February’s ceremony.

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Fanning Confirmed For New Moon Role

Yes, I am one of those Twilight geeks . . .

Dakota Fanning will star as a bloodsucking vampire in the Twilight sequel New Moon.

The teenage actress has been at the centre of fevered speculation in recent months as internet reports claim she has been offered a role opposite Kristen Stewart and brooding Brit Rob Pattinson in the movie.

And now film bosses have confirmed the news to Access Hollywood – Fanning will play the role of Jane, a member of the Italian Volturi vampires in the sequel.

Filming on New Moon is scheduled to begin in Italy this spring.

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Rourke, Braga courted for ’11 Minutes’

Always nice to hear Mickey being linked with a new film.

Mickey Rourke, Alice Braga and Vincent Cassel will star in erotic drama 11 Minutes for director Hany Abu-Assad.

Based on Paulo Coehlo’s sexually-charged novel, the story centres on a girl (Braga) who becomes an expensive call girl after being betrayed by her first lover. She takes up work at a gentlemen’s club in Geneva, throwing her into the lives of the club owner (Rourke) and a music executive (Cassel) who indulges in S&M.

Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio is also in talks to join the cast.

Abu-Assad, who directed the Oscar-nominated Paradise Now, has reworked the script from an earlier adaptation by Marcos Bernstein.

11 Minutes will begin filming this June in Brazil and Geneva, says Variety.

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No Bond For Boyle

This has been quickly denied !!!

British director Danny Boyle will not take the helm of the next James Bond movie – despite insisting he’s a huge fan of the 007 franchise.

The acclaimed moviemaker was reportedly approached by Bond bosses to direct the upcoming sequel to last year’s Quantum of Solace after he swept the board at February’s Oscars with Slumdog Millionaire.

A source told Britain’s The Sun newspaper, “He has been offered the chance to direct the 23rd Bond film by (Bond producer) Barbara (Broccoli). Everyone on the Eon team thinks Danny would be the perfect addition to the Bond family.”

However, despite the modest filmmaker insisting he is “flattered” to be linked with the Bond brand – he has no plans to direct the next movie.

A spokeswoman tells WENN, “While Danny says he always has and always will enjoy the Bond movies he has no plans to direct one. Danny is naturally flattered to be thought of!”

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Ang Lee To Head Venice Film Jury

Oscar-winning moviemaker Ang Lee has been chosen to select the winners at the upcoming Venice Film Festival in Italy.

The Taiwanese-born director has been named the head of the jury at the 2009 event, which will take place in September.

The highlight of the prestigious film festival is the presentation of the Golden Lion trophy, which is often seen as a key indicator of a movie’s potential at other prizegiving ceremonies.

Lee was handed the prize for his 2005 drama Brokeback Mountain, which went on to triumph at the Academy Awards – gaining Lee a Best Director Oscar.

He also won the coveted Italian award in 2007 for controversial movie Lust, Caution.

Lee will now head the panel, which will decide this year’s honourees. A statement from festival organisers reveals the star was picked for his success in “creating a dialogue between the film-making culture of the East and West.”

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Mickey Rourke cleans up his act – and buys a new dog

Because I have lacked any Mickey Rourke posts and news over the past couple of days. He has got a new job and rid of his goatee.

It looks like the shock of not winning an Oscar has forced Mickey Rourke to clean up his act.

The former hellraiser, 56, has shaved off his famous goatee and brought a new pooch to replace Loki, his beloved chihuahua who died a few days before Sunday’s Oscar ceremony.

Rourke wore a necklace with a picture of Loki to the star-studded bash, which saw him lose out to Sean Penn in the best actor category.

Just before the ceremony he said that he would have traded an Oscar win for more time with his dog.

“It’s bittersweet. I said to myself I’d rather have Loki for another two years than an Oscar. And I told her that. But she stayed as long as she could, you know,” he said on the red carpet.

Source: http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?Mickey_Rourke_cleans_up_his_act_-_and_buys_a_new_dog&in_article_id=561471&in_page_id=7

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Banderas Next Big-name Added To Allen Cast

Another name added to Woody Allen’s next film, which will begin filming in the summer. Shaping up to have a very good cast, hopefully it will have a good story and plot.

Movie heartthrob Antonio Banderas has joined the star-studded cast in legendary filmmaker Woody Allen‘s next picture.

The Legend of Zorro star will star in the as-yet-untitled project alongside Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts and Slumdog Millionaire newcomer Freida Pinto.

Allen has yet to reveal any plot details about the forthcoming film – but shooting is scheduled to start in London this summer.

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Eastwood Handed Cannes Festival Honour

Well done to Clint Eastwood!!!

Screen legend Clint Eastwood received a special Cannes Film Festival lifetime achievement honour on Wednesday.

The Dirty Harry star was presented with the Palme d’Or award by Festival President Gilles Jacob at a private ceremony in Paris, in recognition of his successful movie career.

And Eastwood was delighted to become only the second person to receive the prestigious honour from the organisers.

He says, “I’m very, very flattered that you’ve chosen me for this. French cineastes have always been very supportive of me along the way. When I directed my first movie, French cineastes and critics encouraged me, while in my own country, everyone was much more reticent. France is the first country to approach and appreciate cinema as an art form.”

Cannes Film Festival bosses have only ever handed out one other lifetime achievement Palme d’Or honour – to Ingmar Bergman in 1997.

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Ledger’s Last Film Waiting For U.S. Buyers

I would not have expected Heath’s last film to be struggling like this. I thought it would find a major distrubutor with no problem at all. I hope it gets sorted out and gets a big release in the end.

Heath Ledger’s final film The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus is facing a limited U.S. release as bosses struggle to land a deal with a major distributor.

Executives have been searching for six months for backers in America but are having difficulty finding a company to release the experimental movie, which features late actor Ledger as a travelling magician.

And American audiences may not have easy access to the independent project as a result of the marketing difficulties.

An industry source tells Reuters, “This movie stars Heath Ledger in his final performance – it will get a deal and come out in the U.S. But it’s no accident that it’s taking this long.”

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Allen Hires Watts As His New Muse

So that’s Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins and now Naomi Watts confirmed for Woody Allen’s next film.

Naomi Watts is eager to follow in the footsteps of Oscar winner Penelope Cruz – she has signed to star in Woody Allen’s latest movie.

The Aussie actress has been cast in the as-yet-untitled film alongside Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins and will start shooting the project in London in Summer.

Cruz received critical acclaim for her turn in Allen’s latest film Vicky Cristina Barcelona – winning the Best Supporting actress trophy at the Oscars on Sunday.

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