MSN Movies UK - Blog
Splice – Exclusive Adrien Brody interview
by Andy Gibbons
Last week Splice star Sarah Polley gave us her thoughts on the upcoming movie and this week we track down her on-screen hubby (and Oscar-winning actor) Adrien Brody to get his take on the film….
Tell us a bit about Clive…
Well Clive is a very hip, young, successful scientist who’s at the cutting edge of genetic research. Basically when the story begins he and Elsa, who’s played by Sarah Polley, they lose their funding – they work for a private firm where they’re basically integrating different animal genes to create creatures to synthesize proteins for medical research – then she convinces him to go one step further since this is all about to be pulled from us and we integrate human DNA with animal DNA and create a new chimera. And then the s*** hits the fan….
Both Clive and Elsa make some rather questionable decisions during the course of the movie. Did you find it hard to have much sympathy or empathy for them?
No actually, I think people make mistakes all the time. I think it’s very realistic. People make mistakes that are shockingly foolish and probably often realise that in retrospect but you know, we get excited by things. If you asked any criminal in a penitentiary if they thought they’d get caught, I don’t think they’d say yes so I don’t think their intentions are to do something malicious in the film but they were ambitious and they were not thought out and not entirely scientific; there were emotions which got in the way that makes for an interesting story.
The world Clive and Elsa operate in is a very technical one. Can you tell me a bit about the research you did and how much of the technobabble you actually understood?
Well I had to have a basic understanding of it. I did a kind of a genetics research for dummies course – I got to spend time in a hospital with a great young geneticist who guided me through the process. I actually did a similar number of procedures that these characters were doing and I got to understand protocol and terminology. It’s a very complex process but when you understand what’s transpiring and the nature of it, cell structure and these things, it becomes much more personal. It was essential for The Pianist for me to learn to play the piano so that they could shoot it so I did that on a superficial level for the shot to work. But what it taught me and the insight that it gave me to the relationship between the pianist and the piece and the language and the story telling and the way that you play and the emotional connection to the place that the character was in and the music and all these things, enhanced my connection beyond anything I could have imagined. That’s the beauty of any research you have the opportunity to do.
Some people will call Splice a science fiction, some will call it a thriller while Delphine has described it as a love story. Where do you stand?
That’s interesting. I think it’s a family drama, a dysfunctional family drama (laughs).
Splice opens across the UK on July 23rd
Twilight: Eclipse – MSN exclusive Ashley Greene and Xavier Samuel interview
by Andy Gibbons
We’ve already heard from Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz so now it’s the turn of Alice Cullen, actress Ashley Greene, and badboy vampire Riley, Aussie newcomer Xavier Samuel, to spill the beans on Twilight: Eclipse.
Ashley, can you tell me what Eclipse has in store for Alice?
Ashley – People will kind of get to see the vampire side of Alice in this film. In the previous two you are well aware that Alice is a vampire but she’s very positive and optimistic and she kind of has a heart of gold and you haven’t really seen her get dangerous or dark so in this film me and (director) David Slade worked to pull out some darker elements of Alice.
Xavier, how does Riley fit into the story?
Xavier – When you first meet Riley he’s just a young guy, full of promise but then he gets his humanity snatched away from him and gets kinda mixed up in this Lady Macbeth type relationship where he’s being manipulated to seek revenge. Then he’s busy trying to control this bloodthirsty newborn vampire army.
This is your first Twilight film – did you have any idea when you were letting yourself in for?
Xavier – (laughs) I kind of knew that it was severely popular and I’d seen it on the back of buses, that sort of stuff. But I was just kind of privileged to be involved in a story that reaches so any people. It’s been a really wonderful experience for me.
Is it more fun to play the bad guy?
Xavier – Absolutely, yeah. But also he’s kind of a complex bad guy which I really dig – that it’s not just this two dimensional kind of character, there’s a lot going on.
Ashley, we learn more about Alice in this film and she gets plenty of action – is this the book you’ve been waiting to make?
Ashley – I was certainly excited about it. There’s always certain things on each film that I get excited about; we have kind of this ability to take these characters and grow with them and add elements and layers onto these characters which is kinda nice. So yeah, it was definitely sort of amped up for Eclipse and then I heard David Slade was signed and I kind of knew instantly that it would be a different sort of film. If you’ve seen 30 Days Of Night or Hard Candy you know he has a niche for pulling out the darker side of things so yeah, it was super exciting.
This is the third Twilight film and you’ve had a different director each time – what did David bring to the movie?
Xavier – I think he brings a sort of fierce intelligence and maturity to the film. He’s got a really firm grip on the dark side of the film but he’s paying tribute to the love triangle and keeping that intact as well so I don’t think you could pick a better man for the job – he’s really phenomenal. And also Art Jones, who edited the film, did an amazing job. All these chase sequences are so exhilarating and it just sort of snaps along. I think they are a wonderful team.
The fans of Twilight are as hardcore as I’ve seen – can that level of fandemonium ever get in the way of the work?
Ashley – There are certainly precautions that you have to take but no, it doesn’t really interfere too much. The fans have been pretty great about keeping their distance. They stay the whole work day and camp out and when we get done with work we’ll go and say hello. It’s not a big issue.
Xavier, there’s a great sequence where we see Riley rising out of a lake with his newborn army – just how cold was that?
Xavier – (laughs) It was freezing actually and we had to reshoot it as well. But it was cool; I was attached to this wire that was kind of pulling me out ‘cos it’s hard to look graceful coming out of the water. But I didn’t drown or anything so I’m kinda thankful.
After Eclipse we have one more book to go – is it in the back of your minds that the end may be in sight?
Ashley – Yeah, people keep asking that but it’s certainly not coming to an end yet. We are filming the last book but it’s going to be split into two films, we’ll have Breaking Dawn Part 1 and Breaking Dawn Part 2, and they probably won’t be done for another two years. So I think until probably the last day of filming on Breaking Dawn Part 2 it won’t be too hard, it won’t be too emotional.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will be released across the UK on the 9th July.
Twilight: Eclipse – MSN exclusive Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz interview
by Andy Gibbons
As I mentioned last week, I recently had the chance to sit down with some of the stars Twilight: Eclipse at a posh West End hotel to talk about the latest movie in the huge series. Here Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale) and Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen) talk about the fans, yoga and the beginning of the end….
Can you tell me a little about what Eclipse has in store for Rosalie and Emmett?
Nikki – Eclipse is, I think, tonally much different from the other films in that it’s a bit edgier, a bit darker, there’s a lot more action and then of course there’s this love triangle that is think is sort of amplified and heighted. I think it has a bit of something for everyone, every demographic.
We certainly get to learn a lot more about Rosalie and her back story in this film – is this the book you’ve been waiting to film?
Nikki – Selfishly yes, I’ve been really excited and hopeful that we would make it to this movie because I really wanted to have the opportunity to defend Rosalie and justify her behaviour.
Kellan, there plenty of action in Eclipse so I guess you had to be ready. How competitive was it at the gym and I also hear you got into a little yoga?
Kellan – It wasn’t competitive at all, just very encouraging. Working out with Nikki and Elisabeth (Reaser, who plays Esme Cullen) was very fun for me because they’re very much encouraging. It may have got a little competitive from me because I get bored in the gym and seeing a girl as athletic as Nikki, it’s really cool to work out side by side with her and push myself; she’s such an all star at the gym. And then with yoga, Peter (Facinelli, who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen) got me going and he is very encouraging on that level of activity as well.
I hear you managed a head stand – that’s not bad for a beginner…
Kellan – I did, I did. I was very proud of myself. It hurt but I was there.
Nikki – In the yoga studio or Peter’s room?
Kellan – Well I had a practise so I could show all the female yogaees…. (laughs)
As we mentioned, the action level is really ramped up in Eclipse. Kellan, did that give you that chance to put the all that yoga to good use?
Kellan – I really look forward to any physicality. I love action movies and I love Eclipse; I read the book and I was really hoping we’d get that far for my character ‘cos he’s not really there for the dialogue, he’s there for the presence so he has a lot of importance in the fight sequences.
The fans of Twilight are as hardcore as I’ve seen – can that level of fandemonium ever intimidate?
Nikki – For me there’s always this fear that you’re going to disappoint them because obviously the love of these films came from their love for the books so we always try to make good films, or we try to.
You had the UK premiere last night – how was that? Were you expecting that kind of reaction in London?
Kellan – No, not at all. It was really kinda cool. Just to have the fans come and camp out even without having Rob, Kristen or Taylor there; they still showed face and we really appreciate it because it is a family unit. We couldn’t make these movies without any of the cast members, big or small and it’s just really cool to see the support of the fans.
After Eclipse we have one more book to go – is it in the back of your minds that the end may be in sight?
Nikki – I think it’s quite traumatic as an actor and stepping into like different roles, knowing that you’re going to make these relationships with people and generally they don’t last. But the beauty of doing this series is that we all sort of knew we would see each other again so I think we all sort of put in a little extra effort to get to know other initially and really bond. Because of that we’ve created a true love and appreciation and respect for one another and it’s continued. It’s not like we come back to make these movies and we haven’t seen each other; we all hang out in our real lives so I don’t think about these movies coming to an end because I know we’ll be friends forever.
What’s been the highlight of the last few years?
Kellan – The friendships. Let alone that we all love our characters and that it’s a fun experience to be a part of, we have such a talented group and we’ve made a family.
Nikki – We’re all very different but we’ve found a way to connect.
Finally Kellan, is Emmett’s nickname ‘Monkey Man’ going to be a bit of an albatross around your neck…
Kellan – (laughs) I hope so. I love what Nikki did with that and I love how the fans are so gung ho about it. It’s a fun nickname.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will be released across the UK on the 9th July.
Splice – Exclusive Sarah Polley interview
by Andy Gibbons
When I was in the US recently I got the chance to speak to Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley and Delphine Chanéac, the stars of upoming sci-fi / thriller / horror Splice. I’ll post the rest of the interviews over the next couple of weeks but let’s kick things off with Sarah, who plays a scientist who makes a fateful decision…
Tell us a bit about Elsa…
Elsa and Clive, who she’s married to, are two geneticists who decide to make a creature that’s a hybrid out a human and animal DNA. They call her Dren and they raise her as a child but of course the experiment gets out of control.
They both make some rather questionable decisions during the films. Did you find it hard to have much sympathy or empathy for them?
Well she’s certainly one of the most ruthless, manipulative, complicated characters I’ve ever seen but I think she’s also someone who is full of life and had a real joie de vive. She’s passionate about her work but she’s also someone who’s incredibly damaged by her childhood – she’s running away from that so I tried to focus on that to remain empathetic to her in some way. When I see the movie there are definitely moments when you lose your capacity to empathy for her but I think, as an actor, it’s important to remain empathetic to the character you’re playing.
The world she operates in is a very technical one. Can you tell me a bit about the research you did to help get under her skin and how much of the technobabble you actually understood?
I spent some time in a lab with a geneticist named George who was really, really helpful and was a consultant on the film. I read a lot about it but there’s only so much you can absorb as an actor with no science background but I thought it was really important for us to at least understand the basic science behind what we’re saying dialogue-wise. We’ve all seen movies where the actor clearly doesn’t understand the corporate speak or the science speak so I kinda wanted to avoid that but I can’t pretend to fully understand the science that’s for sure.
From your perspective how much do you think we see on screen is science fiction and how much could be science fact?
I think its science fiction in that I don’t human beings would be allowed to do something like this – I think right now scientists and geneticists are so closely scrutinised, monitored and regulated. I think the science probably could take us there but I’m not sure that it would ever be allowed. I do think however that there’s an allusion here to Big Pharma (the company Elsa and Clive work for in the film) and the profit motive and I do think science like this should happen in a public system that is heavily regulated and monitored and where there is no profit motive. But even then I hesitate to claim that this could actually happen.
Biotechnology and genetics is an incredibly contentious field – has this film affected your perspective on the subject at all?
Well I think generally I’m someone who doesn’t have huge amounts of fear or scepticism about medical science research. I’m not a religious person so for me something like stem cell research is extremely important and could save millions of lives so I’m generally someone who doesn’t have a lot of scepticism about these things. Although I know some religious people who think stem cell research is really important too.
Can I ask you a bit about Delphine and how you and she worked on the relationship between Elsa and Dren?
She’s a magnificent actress and to get to work with someone so compelling and dynamic and so expressive without words, it helped me and Adrien so much in terms of being able to be in the scene and not working with a tennis ball which a lot of actors have to do when they make like this.
You mentioned Adrien. Can you tell me a bit about the relationship you formed playing Elsa and Clive?
We did spend some time together beforehand and the great thing about Adrien is that he has a great sense of humour so we were able to laugh through most of the film which is always a relief with a film like this which can get quite intense.
Splice is very much a pet project for writer / director Vincenzo Natali. Could you feel the passion in him day to day?
Yeah, absolutely. Vincenzo has been thinking about this movie for many years and so was so thrilled to be getting to make it. Visually he’s just one of the most staggering filmmakers out there so to get to watch him with this scale and this palette was amazing.
Some people will call Splice a science fiction, some will call it a thriller while Delphine has described it as a love story. Where do you stand?
I think it’s so many things. I think it’s a drama, I think at times it’s a black comedy, I think it’s science fiction, I think its horror. It’s not a film that easily categorised in many ways. I think the thing that really defines it for me is how shocking it gets. There are moments that shock audiences and cross boundaries I haven’t seen before.
Splice opens across the UK on July 23rd
HP7 poster is unveiled
by Andy Gibbons
The first poster for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows double-header (which it would appear is now being known simply as HP7) has been unveiled and can be seen below.
It features a battle-worn Hogwarts and the rather appropriate tag line ‘It All Ends Here’ which, as anyone who has read the final book in JK Rowling’s blockbuster series – and let’s face it, who hasn’t? – knows to be true.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 opens in the UK on November 19th 2010 with Part 2 following on July 15th 2011.
Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/andyffgibbons
Twilight: Eclipse takes over Leicester Square
by Andy Gibbons
When I first heard that the UK premiere of the latest Twilight movie would be happening without any of the three main stars, I have to admit I was a little sceptical that it would get much attention. Boy was I wrong!
Two and half thousand frenzied fans packed into London’s Leicester Square last night (many having queued over night) while another few thousand waited outside to greet Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen), Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen) Paul Meraz (Paul), Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale) and franchise newcomers Booboo Stewart (Seth), Xavier Samuel (Riley) and director David Slade, and greet them they did as central London was drowned in ear-piercing squeals.
Even though Slade admitted he felt rather “overwhelmed and terrified” by it all, the young stars took it in their stride and signed as many autographs and posed for as many pictures as possible. It’s obvious the cast and crew have a real affinity with the ‘Twihards’ and Nikki was quick to praise them, telling me “It’s incredible. I love them and I think I’m extremely lucky to be part of this and have these fans. It’s my first time here over in the UK and I’m blown away” while Kellan described all the attention as “fun”, adding “This is my first premiere here in London and I hope it’s not my last.”
Mind you, as nice as the fans can be, 16-year-old Booboo, who plays new werewolf Seth admitted that some can get a little too close, saying “One time I was doing a photo opp and this woman, she was like 40 years old, after she was like ‘Hey, do you want to make out?’ I was like ‘Whaaaat?’ It was kinda weird, you know what I mean.”
I’ve posted some pics from the night below but that’s not all – earlier today I spent some time chatting with the stars of the movie and I’ll post those interviews in full next week.
A very packed Leicester Square
Paul Meraz
Director David Slade
Ashley Greene
Nikki Reed
A relaxed Xavier Samuel
Booboo Stewart
Kellan Lutz
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will be released across the UK on the 9th July, with advance screenings on the 3rd and 4th July.
Heartbreaker review
by Andy Gibbons
What is it?
A hugely successful romcom which has gone down a storm in its native France.
Alex (Romain Duris) has a way with women, a way which he has turned into a profession as he, with the help of his sister and brother-in-law, uses his charm, good looks and wit (and any other advantage he can gain) to break up couples for a living. But the team have a strict moral code; they will only interfere when it is obvious that the woman is unhappy (knowingly or unknowingly) in the relationship. However needs must and when an unpaid debt sees Alex in danger of losing some limbs, he takes on a job to wreck the upcoming wedding of Juliette (Vanessa Paradis) and all round good egg Brit Jonathan (Andrew Lincoln) but the closer Alex gets to his prey, the more complicated things become.
What’s good?
Duris is certainly a worthy leading man and makes Alex a likeable character. He and a well cast Paradis play off each other well and their Dirty Dancing routine may well make a few potential brides melt in the middle. Much of the action is based in Monaco which, let’s face it, is impossible to make look bad on screen so allow yourself to soak up the Principality in all its glory as Alex and Juliette explore.
What’s bad?
While I see why they can be conceived as necessary, the husband and wife combo who back Alex up on his jobs feel a bit forced – the husband especially is thrown in as the comic relief, comic relief which for me just wasn’t that funny. And the pacing is all over the place – the first hour whizzes by while the remaining 45 minutes drag on and on and on.
So basically…..
Heartbreaker starts really well; a little adventure in Morocco followed by a montage of some of Alex’s recent jobs sets the tone well and the whole idea is certainly a very fun concept. However once Alex starts to fall for Juliette and the ‘rom’ part of the ‘romcom’ kicks in, things lose some momentum and it all gets a bit predictable. Still it’s bright and breezy enough to raise a smile so, as a date movie, you could do a lot worse. And given its success, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that a US remake is already in the pipeline.
Heartbreaker is in UK cinemas from July 2nd
Deathly Hallows trailer goes online
by Andy Gibbons
The first trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is now online – and it’s a belter. Here’s the official blurb from Warner Bros. and you can watch the trailer in full by clicking on the picture of Harry below.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, the seventh and final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, is a much-anticipated motion picture event to be told in two full-length parts.
Heading the cast, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
The ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Helen McCrory, Bill Nighy, Miranda Richardson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is directed by David Yates and produced by David Heyman and David Barron, with Lionel Wigram executive producing. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, based on the book by J.K. Rowling.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which marks the latest installment in the most successful film franchise of all time.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 will be released in cinemas November 2010. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will be released in cinemas July 2011.
