The BFG Movie Coming Summer 2016 #RoaldDahl

My kid has read many of Roald Dahl's books but The BFG is definitiely her favorite. When asked she'll say she's only read it 3 times, but I know it's a way higher number. There was a time there, in third grade, where I think she was just reading it over and over again.

Well she is going to be very happy to hear that a film is being made by none other that Steven Spielberg. It will start shooting in early 2015 and isn't due to be released until July 2016, but the clock starts now. If Mr. Spielberg needs an expert on set he can feel free to call my kid.

I can also report that they have cast the part of Sophie, with a new actress Ruby Barnhill.

If you, unlike my daughter, don't know the story like the back of your hand. Here is the studio's brief description.

"Published in 1982, The BFG is the tale of a young London girl and the mysterious Giant who introduces her to the beauty and peril of Giant Country."
Guess who the giant is being played by...Any guesses? Jeff Goldblum... Richard E. Grant...

Mark Rylance is the correct answer. I have to admit I am not familiar with him, but I am grateful it isn't Johnny Depp. So my enthusiasm for the project is not lost. Can't wait to see some trailers and sneak peek photos and anything else they slip out to us.

Stay tuned for updates....

Cinderella Meets Downton Abbey #DowntonAbbey #Cinderella

PBS Downton Abbey Cast returns Jan 4th

Disney is premiering a new live action Cinderella film this Spring. Last week they released the first trailer and I noticed something...It stars some of my beloved Downton Abbey ladies! With Downton Abbey returning to PBS January 4th we won't have to wait to see them, but when it ends on March 1st we will only have to wait 2 weeks until March 13th, when CINDERELLA opens, to see them again.

Disney Cinderella with Lily James and Richard Maden

Obviously, Cinderella is played by Lily James who is the rebellious Lady Rose MacClare in Downton Abbey. There is also Sophie McShera as the wicked step sister Drizella, who we all know and love as Daisy from the Downton kitchen. The film also features some yet to be Downton Abbey actors including Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter. I think they should be able to muddle through.

Cinderella with Cate Blanchett, Sophia McShera, and Holliday Graiger

The film looks beautiful, based on the trailer.  Just the costumes in these posters released today give you a pretty good idea of the quality and detail of the film. I'm hoping Disney has given the traditional story a bit of a feminist spin. Disney has been really great about strong female characters in the last several years, so fingers crossed!

Cinderella Helena Bonham Carter

OK that is the end of my cross promotion. Can't wait for Downton Abbey January 4th and Cinderella March 13th. Keep the good stuff comin' everyone!

130 Years of Annie #AnnieMovie @AnnieMovie

The latest incarnation of Annie is coming to theatres December 19th. My daughter and I got to see a preview screening last night and once again it did not disappoint. This new film is set in modern day New York where Annie(Quvenzhane Wallis) lives in a foster home with several other foster girls and of course the awful Ms. Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). The music has been brought into the modern age too. My daughter, who is slightly familiar with the traditional show, loved the new "pop" music. Daddy Warbucks has been transformed into Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx). I'm sure all kids will love this one and there were definitely some funny lines for the grown ups too.

My first introduction to Annie was as a little girl when my grandmother,who was born in 1910, would recite part of the original 1885 Little Orphant Annie poem to my sister and I, in an effort to tease us into memorizing the Lord Prayer. On the off chance you aren't in the know, here is the poem with the prayer section in red.

Little Orphant Annie

Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,

An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,

An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,

An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep;

An' all us other children, when the supper-things is done,

We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun

A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,

An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--

An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,

His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,

An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!

An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,

An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;

But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--

An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!

An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,

An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;

An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,

She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!

An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,

They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,

An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!

An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!

An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,

An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!

An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,

An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--

You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,

An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,

An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,

Er the Gobble-uns 'll git you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!

 

The poem written by James Whitcomb Riley was turned into the comic strip in 1924 by Harold Gray and ran until 2010. Film versions began in the silent era in 1918. The Musical Annie, that my generation is most familiar with, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan, debuted on Broadway in 1977. 

Now that's what I call a long run! I think we'll be seeing Annie for generations to come.

Frozen Opens Thanksgiving

Disney invited my family and I to see Frozen on the Disney Lot last weekend. It was a packed theatre of families with kids. What better way to spend a Saturday morning than watching cartoons with a bunch of children.

We started off strong with an animated short with classic Mickey and crew that had the whole audience howling with laughter. It relied on tried and true cartoon antics but with a fresh spin. I have to say I really enjoyed it.

I had heard that Frozen was based on the classic Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale The Snow Queen, but in truth it has almost nothing in common with that story. So I will not bother to compare it with that. On it's own Frozen was a great story of two sisters taking care of one another.

There is also a ridiculous snowman creature for comic relief, Olaf, who comes apart at regular intervals. He is so silly you can't help but laugh at his misadventures. Pretty much all the other characters are straight men for him.

The story is set in Scandinavia, though you only know that because of a lutefisk (fermented fish dish) joke spoken by a character using a German accent. I once asked Kenneth Branagh, during an interview for his show Wallander, why no one attempts Scandinavian accents and he told me it's a fear of sounding like the Muppets Swedish chef. Which it's hard to argue with.

I highly recommend this film. My husband, 9 year old daughter, and I all thought it was really entertaining and that's a tricky thing to pull off. I really believe almost anyone would enjoy it. I believe if you see the 3D version you will get the preview short, we enjoyed so much, as well.

It opens on Thanksgiving, so it could be a fun one to go see while family is town visiting.

Delivery Man Trailer Premiere

I am happy to be 1 of 533 bloggers premiering the trailer for Delivery Man. This film about a directionless man who finds out, that through a slip up at a sperm bank, he is now the father of 533 children looks incredibly sweet.

It stars Vince Vaughn as the guy who just can't get it right. But decides to try to covertly help his children. I'm guessing like any other scenerio where one becomes a parent, it will change him for the better and ultimately make him grow up and start making some better decisions for himself. Based on the trailer I'd say we'll be laughing a fair bit along the way too.

To be honest I'm not always a fan of Vince's movie, (Swingers, Old School, and that ABC After School Special...) but this trailer really made me laugh and say "aww", and just generally made me want to see it.

I bet you will too

Hotel Transylvania September 28th

Hotel Transylvania open September 28th. My daughter and I were invited to a screening this week.

My daughter really loved it. She thought it was hysterically funny and not scary at all. We saw it in a theatre full of children and except for just a second at the very beginning of the film, which has a scary shadow and then gets funny immediate, I didn't hear any child seem scared.

I really laughed throughout the film too. It is a very cute film, and enjoyable for the entire family.

My only criticism of the movie is that it really is another one all about the male characters. There is the daughter of dracula but as central as her part is, it is all the male characters in the movie that resolve her issues. The male characters interactions take up most of the film.

If that sort of thing doesn't bother you than I highly recommend it.

Marx Brothers Movie

I am dying for a Marx Brothers movie. Just like there are Rolling Stone's fans and Beatle's fans there are three Stooges fans and Marx Brother fans. I, of course fall into the the second. When I started hearing all the casting news about the Stooges movie I was bummed that there wasn't a Marx Brothers movie. That is until I got a chance to breifly interview Andy Marx, the grandson of Groucho, at The TCM Classic Film Fest a few weeks ago.


Here's the good news and a little family anecdote...



Don't be too jealous of my avant garde camera work. I'm just talented like that.