Polanski Directs Political Thriller
Thu Jun 26, 10:03 PM GMT
According to Variety, Roman Polanski will direct Pierce Brosnan, Nicolas Cage, and Tilda Swinton in an adaptation of the Robert Harris novel, The Ghost.
The report goes on to say that Cage will portray a ghostwriter hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister after the original writer was found dead. During the research process, the ghostwriter uncovers the Prime Minister’s clandestine dealing—dealings that might have lead to the death of the original writer.
… More…
It’s a Wonderful Life according to Stevie
Thu Jun 26, 8:27 PM GMT
According to billboard.com, Stevie Wonder is not only about to embark on an international summer tour; he is also at work on two new projects.
… More…
Tricky Releases First Album in Five years
Thu Jun 26, 8:23 PM GMT
According to a report on pitchforkmedia.com, trip hop progenitor Tricky will release Knowle West Boy, his first album since 2003’s Vulnerable.
… More…
The Verve to Release Urban Hymns Follow-Up
Thu Jun 26, 8:21 PM GMT
According to pitchforkmedia.com, English band The Verve will release Forth, its first album in 11 years and the follow-up to 1997’s highly lauded Urban Hymns, which elevated the band to international fame before it broke up in 1999 at the height of its popularity.
… More…
Never Miss a Concert with iLike
Thu Jun 26, 7:53 PM GMT
According to a press release, the iLike sidebar for iTunes and Windows Media Player automatically scans music played in iTunes and alerts the user when artists are performing locally, ensuring that users will never overlook a concert they would otherwise attend.
… More…
Cohen, Brolin, Cotillard Extended Academy Invitations
Thu Jun 26, 7:51 PM GMT
According to an E! Online report, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has invited Sacha Baron Cohen, Marion Cotillard, Josh Brolin and more than 100 others to be voting members.
… More…
High-Def Releases for the Week of June 24
Tue Jun 24, 3:48 PM GMT
10,000 B.C. [Blu-ray]
The Spiderwick Chronicles [Blu-ray]
ZZ Top: Live from Texas [Blu-ray]
Blu-ray War Classics Bundle (Patton / The Longest Day / Sand Pebbles) [Blu-ray]
Persepolis [Blu-ray]
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure [Blu-ray]… More…
Jazz Awards Winners
Thu Jun 19, 9:09 PM GMT
The Associated Press reports that the Jazz Awards honored both living legends and more contemporary players in its 12th annual ceremony, recognizing achievement in 41 categories of music and journalism.
… More…
Jazz Pianist Esbjorn Svensson Dies in Diving Accident
Mon Jun 16, 8:05 PM GMT
The Associated Press reports that Swedish jazz pianist Esbjorn Svennson died in a diving accident off a small island near Stockholm. He was 44.
… More…
Bana, Schwartzman, Hill: More Funny People
Thu Jun 12, 8:38 PM GMT
Variety reports that Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, and Jonah Hill have joined the cast of Judd Apatow’s Funny People, which already has Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann starring.
… More…
Plant and Krauss Nominated for Americana Awards
Thu Jun 12, 4:50 PM GMT
According to the Associated Press, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have been nominated for the seventh annual Americana Honors and Awards in the Top Album, No. 1 Song, and Best Duo categories.
… More…
Neeson and Nesbitt are in Heaven
Thu Jun 12, 4:47 PM GMT
According to a Reuters report, Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt will star in Five Minutes of Heaven directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel (The Invasion).
… More…
EMI and BBC Delve into Each Other’s Archives
Thu Jun 12, 4:45 PM GMT
Billboard.com reports that the BBC and EMI Music Group have signed an agreement that allows both groups to take advantage of the wealth of one another’s material.
… More…
Rogen and Baruchel are Ready for the Apocalypse
Wed Jun 11, 7:01 PM GMT
According to a Variety report, Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder) will star in the upcoming action comedy Jay and Seth vs. the Apocalypse for Mandate Pictures.
… More…
Buddy Guy to Release New Album
Wed Jun 11, 4:23 PM GMT
Billboard.com reports that bona fide blues legend Buddy Guy is releasing a new album of original material featuring collaborations with Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks.
… More…
Vinyl Spins On at Retailers
Tue Jun 10, 8:44 PM GMT
An Associated Press article on cnn.com reports that a fortuitous error has led Fred Meyer, the Pacific Northwest retail chain, to feature vinyl records in its stores.
… More…
High-Def Releases for the Week of June 10
Tue Jun 10, 8:10 PM GMT
Jumper [Blu-ray]
The Bucket List [Blu-ray]
The Other Boleyn Girl [Blu-ray]
Natural Born Killers [Blu-ray]
The Professionals [Blu-ray]
Broken Trail [Blu-ray]
The Signal [Blu-ray]
Heart: Alive in Seattle [Blu-ray]
Witless Protection [Blu-ray]… More…
Film Institute and Amazon to Digitize Rare Films
Tue Jun 10, 7:10 PM GMT
… More…
Hugh Grant and Ziyi Zhang in New Comedy
Tue Jun 10, 4:40 PM GMT
Variety reports that Hugh Grant and Ziyi Zhang (Memoirs of a Geisha) will star in the Universal Pictures comedy Lost for Words directed by Susanne Bier (Things We Lost in the Fire).
… More…
Stiller and Witherspoon Join Crowe
Mon Jun 9, 9:23 PM GMT
Variety reports that Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon will star in a “romantic comedy adventure” to be directed by Cameron Crowe.
… More…
AC/DC Joins Wal-Mart Bandwagon
Mon Jun 9, 8:13 PM GMT
According to billboard.com, AC/DC will release its upcoming album exclusively through the Wal-Mart retail chain.
… More…
My Fair Lady to Return to the Big Screen
Mon Jun 9, 4:48 PM GMT
Variety reports that Columbia Pictures is remaking the classic musical My Fair Lady but plans to retain Alan Jay Lerner’s original score.
Variety reports that Keira Knightley is in talks to star as the flower girl turned lady, Eliza Doolittle, though the studio denied comment on casting.
… More…
DiCaprio Plays Atari
Mon Jun 9, 4:34 PM GMT
Variety reports that Leonardo DiCaprio will star in a Paramount Pictures biopic about Nolan Bushnell, the creator of the Atari video game system.
… More…
Zune Arts Film Inducted into MoMA Permanent Collection
Thu Jun 5, 8:51 PM GMT
According to a press release, after being selected by the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) for its seventeenth annual compendium of the Art & Technique of the American Commercial, Zune Arts’s animated short Masks was added to the New York Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) permanent collection.
… More…
U2 to Reissue First Three Albums
Thu Jun 5, 4:53 PM GMT
Billboard.com reports that U2 is reissuing its first three albums—all remastered and including previously unreleased or rare material.
The report goes on to say that Boy, October, and War are due July 22 via Universal and will be available as single CDs, 2-disc deluxe sets, or on vinyl. … More…
Matt Damon to Star in Eastwood’s Rugby/Apartheid Drama
Thu Jun 5, 4:15 PM GMT
According to Variety, Matt Damon will star opposite Morgan Freeman in the Clint Eastwood-directed Human Factor; a drama about the Springboks rugby union team that won the 1995 Rugby World Cup and in the process rallied a divided nation.
… More…
The Unknown Pleasures of Microsoft’s Zune
Thu Jun 5, 4:09 PM GMT
Spin.com reports that Microsoft is releasing a limited edition Joy Division-themed Zune portable media player.
… More…
Guy Ritchie to Direct a New Sherlock Holmes
Wed Jun 4, 7:51 PM GMT
According to Variety, Guy Ritchie, director of Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, will direct a new version of Sherlock Holmes for Warner Bros. based on producer Lionel Wigram’s upcoming comic book of the same name.
… More…
Download Classic Concert Performances
Wed Jun 4, 5:11 PM GMT
According to billboard.com, Universal Music Group has a new arrangement with live music and memorabilia Site Wolfgang’s Vault (www.wolfgangsvault.com), to make available for download vintage concert recordings from artists on the Universal roster, including Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, and Bob Marley, among many others.
… More…
Universal Adapting Ludlum Novel
Wed Jun 4, 4:20 PM GMT
According to Variety, Universal Studios has hired Iron Man screenwriters Art Marcum and Matt Holloway to adapt the Robert Ludlum novel The Sigma Protocol for the big screen.
The report says that the novel revolves around a young investment banker whose life becomes endangered after he uncovers a secret organization that has been manipulating the global economy.
… More…
Freddie Hubbard Releases First New Album in Seven Years
Wed Jun 4, 4:04 PM GMT
Jazztimes.com reports that legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard is releasing On the Real Side, his first new album in seven years.
… More…
Sony to Sell Art-Quality Photographs from Archive
Tue Jun 3, 8:55 PM GMT
According to The New York Times, Sony will capitalize upon the trove of artifacts found beneath the company’s New York headquarters by reprinting photographs of some of its most iconic artists.
… More…
Radiohead Catalog Now on iTunes
Tue Jun 3, 8:49 PM GMT
According to a billboard.com report, Radiohead’s back catalog is at last available for download (and DRM-free to boot) from Apple’s iTunes Music Store.
… More…
Austin City Limits Festival Schedule Announced
Tue Jun 3, 8:20 PM GMT
According to The Austin Statesman’s Web site, www.statesman.com, the Austin City Limits festival’s schedule grids have been released, indicating the times and locations of all performances.
… More…
High-Def Releases for the Week of June 3
Tue Jun 3, 8:08 PM GMT
Patton [Blu-ray]
Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition [Blu-ray]
Face/Off [Blu-ray]
Signs [Blu-ray]
Semi-Pro (Two-Disc Unrated "Let's Get Sweaty" Edition) [Blu-ray]
Shooter [Blu-ray]
The Longest Day [Blu-ray]
The Eye [Blu-ray]… More…
Staples to Sell Recylable DVDs
Tue Jun 3, 4:59 PM GMT
According to a report on videobusiness.com, office-supply chain Staples will begin to sell Flexplay time-limited, recyclable DVDs as an alternative to DVD rentals.
… More…
For Sale: MartinLogan Speakers on Amazon.com
Tue Jun 3, 3:54 PM GMT
A press release from its headquarters in Lawrence, KS, announces that MartinLogan has authorized amazon.com to sell its Design series of speakers.
… More…
Bo Diddley Dies at 79
Mon Jun 2, 10:00 PM GMT
According to The New York Times, rock ’n’ roll progenitor Bo Diddley passed away due to heart failure at his home in Archer, FL. He was 79.
… More…