James + Semaj is a column where James Franco talks to his reverse self, Semaj, about new films. Rather than a conventional review, it is place where James and Semaj can muse about ideas that the films provoke. James loves going to the movies and talking about them. But a one-sided take on a movie, in print, might be misconstrued as a review. As someone in the industry it could be detrimental to James’s career if he were to review his peers, because unlike the book industry—where writers review other writer’s books—the film industry is highly collaborative, and a bad review of a peer could create problems. So, assume that James (and Semaj) love all these films. What they’re interested in talking about is all the ways the films inspire them, and make them think. James is me, and Semaj is the other side of me.
- 7/7/2016
- by James Franco
- Indiewire
Despite his work being sometimes tepidly received at all corners of the globe, James Franco, the filmmaker, has been a major force on the world festival stage. He'll be showing up at Venice once again this year with his William Faulkner adaptation "The Sound and the Fury," but while he's there he'll be picking up some hardware. The festival has announced that Franco has been awarded the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker prize, dedicated to a personality who has made an original contribution to innovation in contemporary cinema. Calling the multi-hyphenate a "relentless 'manufacturer' of cultural imagery" (problem a great, non-value-judgment way of putting it), Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera said that Franco "is one of the most versatile and multi-talented auteurs on the current American scene, as an actor in cinema and theatre, director, screenwriter, producer, soap-opera star, video-artist and much more." Barbera went on to note that Franco's latest,...
- 8/8/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Actor-director to receive Jaeger-Le Coultre filmmaker award.
Actor-director James Franco will receive the Venice Film Festival’s Jaeger-Le Coultre Glory to the Filmmaker award for 2014.
The prize is dedicated to “a personality who has made an original contribution to innovation in contemporary cinema”.
Venice director Alberto Barbera said: “James Franco is one of the most versatile and multi-talented auteurs on the current American scene, as an actor in cinema and theatre, director, screenwriter, producer, soap-opera star, video-artist and much more – indeed, a relentless ‘manufacturer’ of cultural imagery.
“The adaptation of the great classics of American literature, like his new film based on a novel by Faulkner which will be presented in Venice, is a major thread in his creative approach, characterized by boldness, lucidity, courage and self-confidence. These values transform his omnivorous verve into a concept of total art performance, founded on considerable curiosity and intelligence”.
Franco’s film The Sound and the Fury, based on [link...
Actor-director James Franco will receive the Venice Film Festival’s Jaeger-Le Coultre Glory to the Filmmaker award for 2014.
The prize is dedicated to “a personality who has made an original contribution to innovation in contemporary cinema”.
Venice director Alberto Barbera said: “James Franco is one of the most versatile and multi-talented auteurs on the current American scene, as an actor in cinema and theatre, director, screenwriter, producer, soap-opera star, video-artist and much more – indeed, a relentless ‘manufacturer’ of cultural imagery.
“The adaptation of the great classics of American literature, like his new film based on a novel by Faulkner which will be presented in Venice, is a major thread in his creative approach, characterized by boldness, lucidity, courage and self-confidence. These values transform his omnivorous verve into a concept of total art performance, founded on considerable curiosity and intelligence”.
Franco’s film The Sound and the Fury, based on [link...
- 8/8/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
From the mind of our foremost Young Actor Turned Serious Artist James Franco comes the story of another young star who tried to shed his youthful image in Hollywood – Sal Mineo. Franco’s latest directorial venture, the Mineo biopic Sal, focuses on the time after his celebrated turn in Rebel Without a Cause that set him up for a long road of typecasting. Rebel would define Mineo’s (Val Lauren) career, and his struggles to be seen as more than a pretty face, as you can see in the trailer, made his life hellish. Historical spoiler: Mineo’s story ends (and this biopic, likely), with his tragic stabbing in the alley behind his apartment at the premature age of 37. While the source material is compelling, the trailer is just awful. It looks like Franco slapped some 1950s-period accurate clothing on Lauren and his cohorts and then filmed in sketchy areas of La when other people just conveniently...
- 10/1/2013
- by Samantha Wilson
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Paul McCarthy and Damon McCarthy Rebel Dabble Babble Hauser & Wirth Gallery Through July 26, 2013 Paul McCarthy Ws Park Avenue Armory Through August 4, 2013
James Franco is finishing a joke. "Natalie Wood…get it? What kind of wood doesn't float?" Everyone is very hung over this morning, but fortunately Franco sent his Maybach Landaulet and driver to whisk us to Chlamydia, the new Bobby Flay café in Chelsea, where we are drinking revivifying Bellinis and an assortment of other smart cocktails with Vito Schnabel, Slavoj Žižek, Natalie Portman (or possibly Keira Knightley, or Keira Knightley's body double), Sasha Grey, Heath Ledger, Michael Lee Nirenberg, Lena Dunham, Chloë Sevigny, and a Thai/Puerto Rican pre-op transsexual Franco introduces as "Pinball."
We are all sweating slightly and staring at Billy Cyborg passed out in a bowl of muesli. Inexplicably, the table is cluttered with untouched Chinese take-out containers and bottles of Evian, and there...
James Franco is finishing a joke. "Natalie Wood…get it? What kind of wood doesn't float?" Everyone is very hung over this morning, but fortunately Franco sent his Maybach Landaulet and driver to whisk us to Chlamydia, the new Bobby Flay café in Chelsea, where we are drinking revivifying Bellinis and an assortment of other smart cocktails with Vito Schnabel, Slavoj Žižek, Natalie Portman (or possibly Keira Knightley, or Keira Knightley's body double), Sasha Grey, Heath Ledger, Michael Lee Nirenberg, Lena Dunham, Chloë Sevigny, and a Thai/Puerto Rican pre-op transsexual Franco introduces as "Pinball."
We are all sweating slightly and staring at Billy Cyborg passed out in a bowl of muesli. Inexplicably, the table is cluttered with untouched Chinese take-out containers and bottles of Evian, and there...
- 7/9/2013
- by bradleyrubenstein
- www.culturecatch.com
James Franco is going 'Psycho' for his most recent art exhibit, on view at London's Pace Gallery this week.
For the cinematic-inspired show, the actor performs his best Janet Leigh impersonations in a lofty reimagination of Alfred Hitchcock's epic 1960 film. That's right, the ever-reaching Franco dons a blonde wig and screams his lungs out in a shower, all in an effort to recreate the disturbing terror magic of a Hollywood relic.
"Psycho Nacirema," the official title of Franco's homage to Hitchcock, is a large-scale video installation that functions as a full-on mise-en-scène of the original "Psycho." Created with Scottish artist Douglas Gordon (someone who seems all too eager to produce multiple projects centered on Norman Bates), the work references a real-life murder as well, intertwining plot points from the investigation of suspected killer Fatty Arbuckle. Arbuckle was the first actor to receive a $1 million pay check, but...
For the cinematic-inspired show, the actor performs his best Janet Leigh impersonations in a lofty reimagination of Alfred Hitchcock's epic 1960 film. That's right, the ever-reaching Franco dons a blonde wig and screams his lungs out in a shower, all in an effort to recreate the disturbing terror magic of a Hollywood relic.
"Psycho Nacirema," the official title of Franco's homage to Hitchcock, is a large-scale video installation that functions as a full-on mise-en-scène of the original "Psycho." Created with Scottish artist Douglas Gordon (someone who seems all too eager to produce multiple projects centered on Norman Bates), the work references a real-life murder as well, intertwining plot points from the investigation of suspected killer Fatty Arbuckle. Arbuckle was the first actor to receive a $1 million pay check, but...
- 6/4/2013
- by Katherine Brooks
- Huffington Post
While the show isn't quite over yet, Ology isn't as far away from the 2013 MTV Movie Awards as you'd think: our editor Stephanie Webber is literally at the Gibson Ampitheater in Los Angeles, Califronia blogging about all the backstage awards show action. But there's one bit of visual already going viral: host Rebel Wilson tore the Movie Awards stage in half by reuniting with the cast of her hit movie Pitch Perfect for a rousing reunion of the Troublemakers. Rebel and several castmembers from the film came back together to cover the likes of Miley Cyrus, Eminem, Alicia Keys, and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Plus, James Franco stops by to help Rebel get to the show with a very special costume. Watch all the action below:
Hope you're checking out Ology's official 2013 MTV Movie Awards Live Blog from L.A., where we've got all the backstage action on the winners,...
Hope you're checking out Ology's official 2013 MTV Movie Awards Live Blog from L.A., where we've got all the backstage action on the winners,...
- 4/15/2013
- by Terron R. Moore
- TVology
While the show isn't quite over yet, Ology isn't as far away from the 2013 MTV Movie Awards as you'd think: our editor Stephanie Webber is literally at the Gibson Ampitheater in Los Angeles, Califronia blogging about all the backstage awards show action. But there's one bit of visual already going viral: host Rebel Wilson tore the Movie Awards stage in half by reuniting with the cast of her hit movie Pitch Perfect for a rousing reunion of the Troublemakers. Rebel and several castmembers from the film came back together to cover the likes of Miley Cyrus, Eminem, Alicia Keys, and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Plus, James Franco stops by to help Rebel get to the show with a very special costume. Watch all the action below:
Hope you're checking out Ology's official 2013 MTV Movie Awards Live Blog from L.A., where we've got all the backstage action on the winners,...
Hope you're checking out Ology's official 2013 MTV Movie Awards Live Blog from L.A., where we've got all the backstage action on the winners,...
- 4/15/2013
- by Terron R. Moore
- Filmology
Welcome, friends, to my live-blog of the 2013 MTV Movie Awards! Join the conversation below... Or start a conversation below! 8:58 p.m. Et. So we assume that Rebel Wilson's entire monologue is being rewritten to include extensive celebration about fellow Aussie Adam Scott's -- No, not *that* Adam Scott -- triumph at the Masters. Right? 9:00 p.m. We begin in Australia. You know because there's a kangaroo. James Franco arrives in Australia in search of Russell Crowe, his favorite singer. He sees Rebel sitting outside of a tent. She has a boomerang and a koala shirt. "Rebel, you've been chosen," James...
- 4/15/2013
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Those Aussies tend to stick together -- but one big star from down under had some pretty harsh words for Rebel Wilson.The hilarious Australian actress was a guest on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno on Tuesday, where she revealed one very rough run-in with the sometimes-irritable Russell Crowe.Check out the video above to find out why he once yelled at her to "F**k off!" Ouch!Rebel will be hosting the MTV Movie Awards this Sunday -- and last night she teased appearances from James Franco, Brad Pitt and the cast of "Pitch Perfect.""It's pretty full-on," she says about her hosting gig. "I have to dance, I have to sing, I have to do jokes and I have to try to look hot ... that'll probably be the hardest one."Be sure to come back to toofab.com Sunday, April 14 for all the best and worst red carpet moments,...
- 4/10/2013
- by tooFab Staff
- TooFab
Despite several new releases this past weekend, Oz: The Great and Powerful finished in first place at the box office again. With a domestic total of $145 million and counting, the L. Frank Baum prequel has already proven to be immensely profitable for its Disney overlords, and boy do the overlords know it. With word out that screenwriter Mitchell Kapner has already begun working on a purported sequel, questions of the Oz franchise’s direction have gotten mixed into the half-furor of movie blog-dom. Which characters might return? Is Sam Raimi coming back? What’s even left to tell?
That last question might be the most compelling of all, since the Oz franchise seems to be setting itself on a trajectory similar to the Star Wars Prequels. And that’s probably not a good thing.
Roses are CGI, Violets are CGI, Everything Is CGI
Oz’s most distinctive feature was its bright,...
That last question might be the most compelling of all, since the Oz franchise seems to be setting itself on a trajectory similar to the Star Wars Prequels. And that’s probably not a good thing.
Roses are CGI, Violets are CGI, Everything Is CGI
Oz’s most distinctive feature was its bright,...
- 3/18/2013
- by David Klein
- SoundOnSight
It's been 58 years since James Dean's untimely death at age 24 in 1955. But the iconic film star continues to inspire generation after generation. Here are just a few of the countless celebrities who've been influenced by the brooding actor.
James Franco has drawn comparisons since his "Freaks and Geeks" days, and landed the title role in the 2001 TNT biopic "James Dean." Franco even devoted "Rebel," a 2012 art exhibit at Moca, to exploring themes in Dean's 1955 classic "Rebel Without a Cause." Franco also shot a series of "Rebel Without a Cause"-themed tableaux for the July 2011 issue of Elle.
"I always thought Luke Perry was James Dean," "Beverly Hills, 90210" creator Darren Star noted back in 1991. Nearly 20 years later, Shenae Grimes, star of the newer "90210" incarnation, observed of Dylan McKay, "He’s so dreamy and so ‘James Dean-y’." And in 2011, Perry told More of the comparison, "It has been mentioned to me.
James Franco has drawn comparisons since his "Freaks and Geeks" days, and landed the title role in the 2001 TNT biopic "James Dean." Franco even devoted "Rebel," a 2012 art exhibit at Moca, to exploring themes in Dean's 1955 classic "Rebel Without a Cause." Franco also shot a series of "Rebel Without a Cause"-themed tableaux for the July 2011 issue of Elle.
"I always thought Luke Perry was James Dean," "Beverly Hills, 90210" creator Darren Star noted back in 1991. Nearly 20 years later, Shenae Grimes, star of the newer "90210" incarnation, observed of Dylan McKay, "He’s so dreamy and so ‘James Dean-y’." And in 2011, Perry told More of the comparison, "It has been mentioned to me.
- 2/8/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
I don't know folks, but watching this, I felt uneasy about what I was seeing and hearing. Everytime I watch, read or hear anything about this project (since early last year), I immediately remember the 2011 stunt both Harmony Korine (the director of Spring Breakers) and James Franco (the star of Spring Breakers) pulled, which we wrote about, and which, as I recall, generated lots of discussion. As a recap... in 2011, both Franco and indie-film enfant terrible Korine, teamed up to work on a project they called “a violent new art film” titled Rebel (photo above). The film, which was to premiere at the Venice Biennale that year, was to include a...
- 1/17/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
James Franco’s new art film Interior. Leather Bar., directed by him and filmmaker Travis Mathews, is all about gay sex, and Franco’s damn proud of it.
Premiering at this week’s Sundance Film Festival, the gay S&M film reimagining 40 minutes of footage rumored to be taken out of William Friedkin’s 1980 drama Cruising blurs the boundaries between observer and observed, truth and fiction, delight and pain.
Just check out this seriously Not Safe For Work exclusive clip from the movie, below, featuring Franco — playing a version of himself — flinching as a man is pleasurably beaten off camera.
Premiering at this week’s Sundance Film Festival, the gay S&M film reimagining 40 minutes of footage rumored to be taken out of William Friedkin’s 1980 drama Cruising blurs the boundaries between observer and observed, truth and fiction, delight and pain.
Just check out this seriously Not Safe For Work exclusive clip from the movie, below, featuring Franco — playing a version of himself — flinching as a man is pleasurably beaten off camera.
- 1/15/2013
- by Solvej Schou
- EW - Inside Movies
By Seth Metoyer, MoreHorror.com
Although Way Down In Chinatown officially wrapped its whirlwind shoot last weekend, production team Eric Michael Kochmer, Jonathan Haloosim (22Mm Productions) and the MOnsterworks66 duo, Angel Corbin and Maria Olsen, are taking time out to official welcome the multi-talented Ashli Haynes to the cast.
Haynes plays the alluring yet tainted Annie Loraine, who may well turn out to be far more than either Victor or Jessica Mitchum – played respectively by Justin Dray and Stephanie Sanditz – can handle. She will also share screen time with Lisa Loring and Nancy Wolfe, of The Addams Family and Helter Skelter fame respectively, as well as, among others, Kochmer, Corbin and Olsen.
Haynes is a stranger to neither stage nor screen and has known from the young age of 3 that she was destined to be a performer. At 10, she found herself in ‘The Object of My Affection’, starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd.
Although Way Down In Chinatown officially wrapped its whirlwind shoot last weekend, production team Eric Michael Kochmer, Jonathan Haloosim (22Mm Productions) and the MOnsterworks66 duo, Angel Corbin and Maria Olsen, are taking time out to official welcome the multi-talented Ashli Haynes to the cast.
Haynes plays the alluring yet tainted Annie Loraine, who may well turn out to be far more than either Victor or Jessica Mitchum – played respectively by Justin Dray and Stephanie Sanditz – can handle. She will also share screen time with Lisa Loring and Nancy Wolfe, of The Addams Family and Helter Skelter fame respectively, as well as, among others, Kochmer, Corbin and Olsen.
Haynes is a stranger to neither stage nor screen and has known from the young age of 3 that she was destined to be a performer. At 10, she found herself in ‘The Object of My Affection’, starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd.
- 7/16/2012
- by admin
- MoreHorror
The July 19th start of Montreal's 16th annual Fantasia International Film Festival is drawing closer (it runs through August 7th), and the powers-that-be have announced the second wave of films along with a few selections from the new Axis section of the event.
Fantasia Announces The Satoshi Kon Award For Achievement In Animation + A New Section Dedicated To International Animation Cinema + Second Wave Title Announcements
The art of animation in its many forms and disciplines has always had a strong place at Fantasia. This year, the festival has decided to give the form its own permanent section: Axis. From social realism to mind-bending fantasy, all styles and sensibilities will be showcased, now on a greater scale than ever. Further, the festival is proud to be rechristening its animation jury prize as The Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation, named after the dear, departed visionary whose feature debut, Perfect Blue,...
Fantasia Announces The Satoshi Kon Award For Achievement In Animation + A New Section Dedicated To International Animation Cinema + Second Wave Title Announcements
The art of animation in its many forms and disciplines has always had a strong place at Fantasia. This year, the festival has decided to give the form its own permanent section: Axis. From social realism to mind-bending fantasy, all styles and sensibilities will be showcased, now on a greater scale than ever. Further, the festival is proud to be rechristening its animation jury prize as The Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation, named after the dear, departed visionary whose feature debut, Perfect Blue,...
- 7/6/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Multi-hyphenate extroardinaire James Franco's latest venture is an art-film crossover exhibition titled Rebel, which will be running at Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition, inspired by the 1955 film Rebel without a Cause, features collaborations with artists including Paul and Damon McCarthy, Aaron Young, Harmony Korine, Ed Ruscha, Terry Richardson and Douglas Gordon. In advance of the show, Nowness.com offers a two-part "exposé" by Matt Black that goes behind the scenes of the exhibition. You can check out both parts right here on Indiewire. Part One: Inside Rebel: Part One from Matt Black on Nowness.com. Part Two: Inside Rebel: Part Two from Matt Black on Nowness.com.
- 5/30/2012
- by Devin Lee Fuller
- Indiewire
Looks like American enfant terrible Larry Clark is finally stepping up to the plate after a long absence. Independent French cinema group mk2 recently sat down with documentary producers Gérard Lacroix and Pierre-Paul Puljiz, and the two revealed they would be involved in the new project from the often-controversial filmmaker behind "Kids," entitled "The Smell Of Us." Puljiz, who centered doc "Larry Clark, Great American Rebel" on the director, met with Lacroix after he expressed desire in adapting Clark's novel "Tulsa."
There's not much to go on in terms of plot, but the idea stems from poet Mathieu Landais whom he met during an exhibition in Paris. Mostly the producers speak of their trouble getting the script to a point where it wouldn't have to be censored; an obvious hurdle for those at all familiar with the director's work ("Ken Park" starts with a public suicide and ends with a...
There's not much to go on in terms of plot, but the idea stems from poet Mathieu Landais whom he met during an exhibition in Paris. Mostly the producers speak of their trouble getting the script to a point where it wouldn't have to be censored; an obvious hurdle for those at all familiar with the director's work ("Ken Park" starts with a public suicide and ends with a...
- 5/22/2012
- by Christopher Bell
- The Playlist
10) The Sleeping Beauty Perverse, bizarre, sexy, funny, provocative. In other words, signature Catherine Breillat. More scattered than her superior 'Bluebeard,' but still fearless and fun. Challenging, uncompromised insights into the female psyche and sexuality, without any pat prescriptions or audience pandering. 9) Rise of the Planet of the Apes A pop-art plea for the primal rebirth of mankind. Rebel ape Caesar -- tamed but intemperate, savage but sedated, a beast who experiences self-awakening not through a celestial’s arrow but a technician’s syringe -- is one of the great Hollywood protagonists of our time. Andy Serkis is riveting as Caesar, giving a great silent-movie performance, all (almost) without words. Spielberg fell disappointingly short of making ‘War Horse’ his ‘Au Hazard Balthazar’ (though perhaps he already has done so, with the Bresson-ian ‘E.T.’), leaving director Rupert Wyatt as the only director this year to truly make a non-human his protagonist.
- 1/1/2012
- IONCINEMA.com
Well, folks, 2011 is officially in the can, and surprisingly it wasn't such a horrendous year. It was definitely better than 2010, which was a huge step up from the putrid 2009. We laughed, we applauded, we were left dumbstruck, and of course we were infuriated. Read on for our cheers and jeers!
Now, with a fresh movie-watching start before us, we're taking our usual yearly look back at the good, the bad, the Wtf, and everything in between.
And don't be lazy by just reading along! Get off of your asses and give us your lists in the comments section below. We wanna hear from you if only to compare notes. Lots and lots of notes.
Speaking of notes, the most common complaint we've heard over the years is that we don't have one definitive list representing Dread Central as a whole so for 2011 we dropped everyone's choices in the blender, hit puree,...
Now, with a fresh movie-watching start before us, we're taking our usual yearly look back at the good, the bad, the Wtf, and everything in between.
And don't be lazy by just reading along! Get off of your asses and give us your lists in the comments section below. We wanna hear from you if only to compare notes. Lots and lots of notes.
Speaking of notes, the most common complaint we've heard over the years is that we don't have one definitive list representing Dread Central as a whole so for 2011 we dropped everyone's choices in the blender, hit puree,...
- 12/28/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
[1] Harmony Korine has built up quite a reputation as a polarizing cult filmmaker (writer of Kids, writer/director of Gummo, Mister Lonely, Trash Humpers), but that hasn't stopped him from doing quite well for himself in the relatively safe world of commercials. Among his past high-profile clients are Budweiser, Liberty Mutual, and Axe. His latest commercial effort sees him teaming up with high-end fashion line Proenza Schouler for a four-minute short titled Snowballs, featuring the brand's Southwestern-flavored Fall 2011 collection. Although Snowballs won't drop til next week, we've got an exclusive look at two posters for the film that suggest something artsy, colorful, and hopefully a little twisted. Check 'em out after the jump. [gallery columns="2" orderby="title" exclude="112515"] The new collaboration marks the second time Korine has worked with the brand. Last year, he created a short Super 8 film titled Act da Fool to promote Proenza Schouler's fall 2010 line. Watch it below: Though Korine hasn't...
- 9/23/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Laurence Fishburne is game for a laugh, while Dennis Hopper's son, Henry, leaves his mark in more than ways than one
As happy as Larry
"But you played Othello," I said to Laurence Fishburne, "so you're synonymous with Venice." He replied: "I think everyone feels something personal here." I said: "Well, you were the Moor, I've never been Shylock, so you kind of win." And he laughed very loudly...
Franco's rebel yell
Trash took a little excursion to the island of Certosa in the Venice lagoon, where James Franco was exhibiting his video installation work, Rebel. Made in collaboration with several artists, the project was inspired by Rebel Without a Cause and the work of its director, Nicholas Ray. Franco was there in a woolly jumper, as was Douglas Gordon, co-director of Zidane. For one element of the installation, Franco had commissioned Douglas to riff on two never-made scenes...
As happy as Larry
"But you played Othello," I said to Laurence Fishburne, "so you're synonymous with Venice." He replied: "I think everyone feels something personal here." I said: "Well, you were the Moor, I've never been Shylock, so you kind of win." And he laughed very loudly...
Franco's rebel yell
Trash took a little excursion to the island of Certosa in the Venice lagoon, where James Franco was exhibiting his video installation work, Rebel. Made in collaboration with several artists, the project was inspired by Rebel Without a Cause and the work of its director, Nicholas Ray. Franco was there in a woolly jumper, as was Douglas Gordon, co-director of Zidane. For one element of the installation, Franco had commissioned Douglas to riff on two never-made scenes...
- 9/10/2011
- by Jason Solomons
- The Guardian - Film News
Where does a maverick film-maker such as Nicholas Ray go after directing Rebel Without a Cause? Back to school, says Geoffrey Macnab
Nicholas Ray wasn't the sort of film-maker ever to go quietly into retirement. The maverick director behind Rebel Without a Cause, Johnny Guitar and Bigger Than Life possessed a notoriously cussed temperament and, despite being one of Hollywood's best-paid directors in the 1950s, was perennially broke. Dogged by financial and health problems until his death in 1979, the last few years of his life were especially turbulent. Nonetheless, as a world premiere of the restored version of his experimental film, We Can't Go Home Again, at the Venice film festival has made clear, the 1970s were far from a lost decade for Ray. In fact, amid the chaos, he undertook some of his most radical and adventurous work.
We Can't Go Home Again is just what you would expect...
Nicholas Ray wasn't the sort of film-maker ever to go quietly into retirement. The maverick director behind Rebel Without a Cause, Johnny Guitar and Bigger Than Life possessed a notoriously cussed temperament and, despite being one of Hollywood's best-paid directors in the 1950s, was perennially broke. Dogged by financial and health problems until his death in 1979, the last few years of his life were especially turbulent. Nonetheless, as a world premiere of the restored version of his experimental film, We Can't Go Home Again, at the Venice film festival has made clear, the 1970s were far from a lost decade for Ray. In fact, amid the chaos, he undertook some of his most radical and adventurous work.
We Can't Go Home Again is just what you would expect...
- 9/8/2011
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- The Guardian - Film News
A month ago today, an announcement appeared that had Twitter all aflutter: "On the occasion of the centennial of the birth of acclaimed film director and Hollywood legend Nicholas Ray (Galesville, 7 August 1911 - New York, 16 June 1979), the Venice Film Festival announces the world premiere screening on Sunday 4 September at the Lido of the restored/reconstructed copy of We Can't Go Home Again, the definitive version that is faithful to the original idea of Ray's posthumous masterpiece." A panel followed yesterday's screening, "with the participation of American director and actor James Franco and Spanish director Victor Erice, author with Jos Oliver of the book Nicholas Ray y su tiempo (Madrid, 1986). Also invited at the panel are the acclaimed visual artist and filmmaker Douglas Gordon, and Henry Hopper — the son of Dennis Hopper, who starred in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and accompanied Nicholas Ray in several of his subsequent artistic endeavors. Henry Hopper...
- 9/6/2011
- MUBI
HollywoodNews.com: There’s been a lot of speculation about why James Franco’s art installation in New York was shut down last week. His “High Low/Rob Lowe” show at the Asia Song Society in Soho (aka Ass) had a hot (literally) opening night, but then was suddenly put out of business. The show included readings from Rob Lowe’s recent autobiography on video. But it also included the “Three’s Company” installation that Franco put together last winter at Sundance. That piece was fun and a big hit. Actor Richard Kline, who played Larry on the show, even came to Sundance to check it out.
But apparently the creators of “Three’s Company” had only given permission for use at Sundance, and didn’t realize it could go on to other venues. Franco’s astute manager Miles Levy realized this too late, and decided it was best to...
But apparently the creators of “Three’s Company” had only given permission for use at Sundance, and didn’t realize it could go on to other venues. Franco’s astute manager Miles Levy realized this too late, and decided it was best to...
- 8/17/2011
- by Roger Friedman
- Hollywoodnews.com
You had better watch your back, Kristen Stewart, because James Franco has eyes for your man. Ok, it may be strictly in the professional sense, but it's clear that James wants to work with Robert Pattinson. Franco recently gushed in an interview with Playboy that he has tried to work with R.Pattz on more than one occasion. Oh, James, your man crush is showing! Related: James Franco: About Those Gay Rapist Rumors... You may remember that Franco created a submission for the Venice Biennale, an invitation-only art festival. His submission, Rebel, was intended to be a tribute to the film Rebel Without a Cause. Mind you, this is the same event for which Franco filmed that fight surrounded by naked...
- 7/20/2011
- E! Online
James asked Rob to contribute to his piece in a major art exhibit but, apparently, the ‘Twilight’ heartthrob ‘didn’t get the point’!
James Franco is an actor, director, writer, and student so it’s no surprise he’d stretch himself even further into the world of contemporary art. James is participating in the invite-only Venice Biennale art exhibit, but apparently fellow-actor Robert Pattinson thinks the 127 Hours star should stick to acting!
In an interview with Playboy, James revealed plans for his project, to be presented at the Venice, Italy, art exhibit, but admitted that not everyone was a fan of his ideas!
“It’s a huge project I’m incredibly honored and proud to be presenting,” said James, “It’s based on Rebel Without a Cause, and some of the best contemporary artists alive—Paul McCarthy, Douglas Gordon, Ed Ruscha, Aaron Young, Damon McCarthy and Harmony Korine—worked on different sections.
James Franco is an actor, director, writer, and student so it’s no surprise he’d stretch himself even further into the world of contemporary art. James is participating in the invite-only Venice Biennale art exhibit, but apparently fellow-actor Robert Pattinson thinks the 127 Hours star should stick to acting!
In an interview with Playboy, James revealed plans for his project, to be presented at the Venice, Italy, art exhibit, but admitted that not everyone was a fan of his ideas!
“It’s a huge project I’m incredibly honored and proud to be presenting,” said James, “It’s based on Rebel Without a Cause, and some of the best contemporary artists alive—Paul McCarthy, Douglas Gordon, Ed Ruscha, Aaron Young, Damon McCarthy and Harmony Korine—worked on different sections.
- 7/19/2011
- by Alli Holt
- HollywoodLife
Robert Pattinson turned down a role in James Franco's tribute to Brad Renfro saying he 'didn't see the point'. Franco, "127 Hours" star, who was recently slammed for a lack luster hosting role at the Oscars, will debut his movie "Rebel" at the Venice Biennale art festival in Italy. The movie is a tribute to Brad Renfro, the young actor who beat Franco to a lead role in the movies "Deuces Wild" in 2002. He died from an accidental heroin overdose, in January 2008. Franco, who carved the name 'Brad' into his shoulder' told Playboy magazine " Heath Ledger died a week after Brad, and I feel Brad has been forgotten already. They didn't even mention his death at the Oscars that year." ---------------- Read More: Visit Robert Pattinson's profile page for stories, photos and his bio Robert Pattinson as a funny man? Robert Pattinson’s top ten movies - Videos ----------------...
- 7/19/2011
- IrishCentral
Movie star James Franco is making an arthouse film tribute to the late actor who beat him to a lead role in 2002 movie Deuces Wild.
The 127 Hours star will debut his movie Rebel - about Brad Renfro - at the upcoming Venice Biennale art festival in Italy, and he hopes the project will remind film fans of how great the tragic star was.
Franco, who carved the name 'Brad' into his shoulder, tells Playboy magazine, "Heath Ledger died a week after Brad, and I feel Brad has been forgotten already. They didn't even mention his death at the Oscars that year."
And Franco admits he had hoped that Twilight star Robert Pattinson would agree to be a part of the arty tribute piece.
He adds, "Some of the best contemporary artists alive - Paul McCarthy, Douglas Gordon, Ed Ruscha, Harmony Korine - worked on different sections.
"I wanted Robert Pattinson to be in the project, but when Harmony contacted him and told him the concept, Rob said, 'I don't get the point!'"
Renfro died from an accidental heroin overdose in January, 2008.
The 127 Hours star will debut his movie Rebel - about Brad Renfro - at the upcoming Venice Biennale art festival in Italy, and he hopes the project will remind film fans of how great the tragic star was.
Franco, who carved the name 'Brad' into his shoulder, tells Playboy magazine, "Heath Ledger died a week after Brad, and I feel Brad has been forgotten already. They didn't even mention his death at the Oscars that year."
And Franco admits he had hoped that Twilight star Robert Pattinson would agree to be a part of the arty tribute piece.
He adds, "Some of the best contemporary artists alive - Paul McCarthy, Douglas Gordon, Ed Ruscha, Harmony Korine - worked on different sections.
"I wanted Robert Pattinson to be in the project, but when Harmony contacted him and told him the concept, Rob said, 'I don't get the point!'"
Renfro died from an accidental heroin overdose in January, 2008.
- 7/19/2011
- WENN
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