Can I get a Hoo-Ah? Al Pacino has had a good run playing reviled real-life characters in HBO movies and miniseries, and, based on this trailer for Phil Spector, he's going to keep his streak alive when the movie debuts on March 24. more »
Martin Scorsese is taking on the 42nd President of the United States for his next project and Bill Clinton himself is fully participating in the non-fiction film. Produced in conjunction with HBO, the film will "explore his perspectives on history, politics, culture and the world." Scorsese will produce and direct the film.
In announcing the film, Scorsese said Clinton is a "Towering figure who remains a major voice in world issues," adding, "President Clinton continues to shape the political dialogue both here and around the world. Through intimate conversations, I hope to provide greater insight into this transcendent figure."
William Jefferson Clinton served as the 42nd U.S. President from 1993 to 2001 and was the first Democratic leader in six decades to be elected twice. He is credited with leading the U.S. to one of the longest economic expansions in American history. After leaving office, he established the William J. Clinton Foundation which aims to "improve global health, strengthen economies, promote healthier childhoods and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, business, NGOs and private citizens."
"President Clinton is one of the most compelling figures of our time, whose world view and perspective, combined with his uncommon intelligence, making him a singular voice on the world stage," said HBO CEO Richard Plepler and programming president Michael Lombardo in a joint statement. "This documentary, under Marty's gifted direction, creates a unique opportunity for the President to reflect on myriad issues that have consumed his attention and passion throughout both his Presidency and post-Presidency."
"I am pleased that legendary director Martin Scorsese and HBO have agreed to this film," Clinton said in a statement. "I look forward to sharing my perspective on my years as President and my work in the years since with HBO's audience."
Martin Scorsese collaborated with the 2011 doc George Harrison: Living in the Material World. He's also worked with the premium network with the documentary Public Speaking (2010) and the series Boardwalk Empire, in which he is an executive producer.
Beyoncé is taking matters into her own hands with a still-to-be-titled feature-length documentary set for HBO.
The premium network will broadcast the singer/actress extraordinaire's film February 16th, which she shot in part from a laptop. The on and offstage look into the star's life will span glimpses of her childhood to prepping for performances, running her business empire and life with Jay-Z and the birth of her daughter.
"Everybody knows Beyoncé's music, but few know Beyoncé the person," HBO programming president Michael Lombardo is quoted via Deadline. "Along with electrifying footage of Beyoncé onstage, this unique special looks beyond the glamor to reveal a vibrant, vulnerable, unforgettable woman."
Beyoncé is also an executive producer on the feature.
[Source: Deadline]
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus debuted her new HBO series Veep over the weekend, and she — along with husband/director Brad Hall — appears eager to add independent filmmaking to her repertoire. The pair hit the Tribeca Film Festival with their new short Picture Paris, teasing the project at an Apple Store event and hinting that this will not be their last foray into the indie space.
more »
It's awfully simplistic to say so but with Lena Dunham's forthcoming HBO dramedy series GIRLS, which marks the latest milestone in her rapidly ascending career, the comparisons draw themselves -- comparisons to Dunham's own prior work and to all that's come before in attempting to mine the modern single female experience for insights and laughs in film and television. But whether you're a fan or a Dunham skeptic, it's worth taking a look at the show's first trailer to see for yourself what to expect from the developing filmmaker, especially with folks like Judd Apatow shepherding her post-Tiny Furniture.
more »
After debuting to geek enthusiasm at Butt-Numb-a-Thon in December, Joss Whedon's long-awaited Cabin in the Woods will have its official world premiere at SXSW 2012 this March, the festival announced today. Also on deck to headline the film portion of the annual Austin conference are Jonas Akerlund's Small Apartments, Kevin MacDonald's music documentary Marley, and Lena Dunham's post-Tiny Furniture, Judd Apatow-produced HBO series GIRLS, which will preview its first three episodes. More details after the jump.
more »
Looks like Jane Fonda followed our advice exactly and plans to revive the news-hungry character she played in The China Syndrome in what will mark her first major TV foray: Fonda has signed on for a recurring role in Aaron Sorkin's upcoming HBO drama as Leona Lansing, the CEO of a cable news network's parent company. Sounds like a pretty close match to her third husband Ted Turner, no? If Leona Lansing starts colorizing old news reels, we'll know the parallel is intentional. [TVLine]
Earlier this year producer Jerry Weintraub predicted Oscar gold for one of his upcoming pet projects, the Steven Soderbergh-helmed Liberace biopic. "I've got a great script, it's a great story, and they're great characters," he enthused to Movieline. "That's what I make movies about. It's going to win an Academy Award... for Michael Douglas." Well, not so fast.
FILM NEWS 
