The star of The Rewrite, a rom-com about an off-the-boil screenwriter forced to take work as a teacher, tells Catherine Shoard how the internet has shrunk his attention span, his son's love for butter and why showbiz is like steroids. Grant also speaks about emailing George Clooney in shared dislike for the Daily Mail, and what he feels about George Clooney's plan to make a movie based on Nick Davies's book about the Leveson inquiry
The Rewrite is released in the UK on 10 October Continue reading...
The Rewrite is released in the UK on 10 October Continue reading...
- 10/9/2014
- by Catherine Shoard and Henry Barnes
- The Guardian - Film News
[Press Release] Culver City, Calif., Sept. 3, 2014 -- George Clooney has identified his next project to direct: an adaptation of the book Hack Attack, journalist Nick Davies' account of the British phone hacking scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch's news empire. The adaptation will be produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov through their Smokehouse banner for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Commenting on the announcement, Michael De Luca, president of Production for Columbia Pictures, said, "As the son of a journalist, George has a sharp interest in the role journalism plays in all of our lives – whether that's for good, as in Good Night, and Good Luck., or for bad. With Hack Attack, George will explore the dark side of that world, a business where all of the rules of journalism are...
- 9/6/2014
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
YouTube announced a contest this week in collaboration with director Guillermo Del Toro in which entrants with YouTube channels can submit a short horror story to be judged by Del Toro, with the winner getting the opportunity to sign a deal with Del Toro’s Legendary Pictures.
The contest is called “You Tube Space House of Horrors: A Legendary Halloween“, and starting September 22, YouTube will open up YouTube Space locations in Los Angeles, London, New York and Tokyo to applicants to produce their horror film on one of YouTube Space’s custom sets. Variety has details on some of the sets YouTubers can utilize for the contest, all of which are inspired by Del Toro’s films.
And for lucky applicants who demonstrate a well-managed production schedule, a strong concept for their film and promising talent, Del Toro will be on hand to provide support and feedback during the filming and editing process.
The contest is called “You Tube Space House of Horrors: A Legendary Halloween“, and starting September 22, YouTube will open up YouTube Space locations in Los Angeles, London, New York and Tokyo to applicants to produce their horror film on one of YouTube Space’s custom sets. Variety has details on some of the sets YouTubers can utilize for the contest, all of which are inspired by Del Toro’s films.
And for lucky applicants who demonstrate a well-managed production schedule, a strong concept for their film and promising talent, Del Toro will be on hand to provide support and feedback during the filming and editing process.
- 9/5/2014
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
George Clooney's next directing gig will be a big screen adaptation of a book called Hack Attack. It's based on the true story of journalist Nick Davies and his account of the British phone hacking scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch's news empire. Here's a more detailed description of the story:
Hack Attack depicts a world where, as Davies writes, "Everything is for sale. Nobody is exempt." Over six years, Davies investigated News Corporation and its subsidiary, News International; his book shows how their habit of hacking into the voice mail messages of elected officials, celebrities, and even ordinary British citizens and the victims of terror attacks was wide-ranging and ongoing. The resulting scandal would not only mark the end of News of the World after 168 years of continuous publication, but spur a government inquiry that would bring to light some of the most unthinkable of business practices.
The film...
Hack Attack depicts a world where, as Davies writes, "Everything is for sale. Nobody is exempt." Over six years, Davies investigated News Corporation and its subsidiary, News International; his book shows how their habit of hacking into the voice mail messages of elected officials, celebrities, and even ordinary British citizens and the victims of terror attacks was wide-ranging and ongoing. The resulting scandal would not only mark the end of News of the World after 168 years of continuous publication, but spur a government inquiry that would bring to light some of the most unthinkable of business practices.
The film...
- 9/4/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
With the recent controversy surrounding a bunch of celebrities having their phones hacked, unleashing a wave of risqué pictures- an event that's been classily nicknamed The Fappening- people might have forgotten about a much more tumultuous phone hacking scandal. In 2011, British newspaper "News of The World" closed it's doors after 168 years of circulation. Why? Because it was discovered that the paper's owner had been part of a phone hacking/tapping campaign that shook the nation to its core. The owner in question, News Corp's Rupert Murdoch, had overseen the hacking of the confidential voicemails and e-mails of Britain's most prominent elected officials, celebrities, and citizens.
Journalist Nick Davies, who spent 6 years investigating News Corp, as well as its subsidiary News International, released a tell-all book in July titled Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How The Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch. That book, which tells a dark tale of corruption,...
Journalist Nick Davies, who spent 6 years investigating News Corp, as well as its subsidiary News International, released a tell-all book in July titled Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How The Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch. That book, which tells a dark tale of corruption,...
- 9/4/2014
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
George Clooney has tackled a variety of projects as a director, including the world of American politics in The Ides of March and World War II in this year’s The Monuments Men. His next movie could be the most interesting yet though as he looks set to adapt journalist Nick Davies’ book Hack Attack.
It chronicles the scandal which surrounded Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation empire in 2011 when it was revealed that the likes of the News of the World had hacked the voicemails of celebrities, politicians and families whose loved one had been killed in Iraq War or were victims of various crimes.
The movie is set to be released through Sony Pictures, and Davies’ book investigated News Corp’s actions over a period of six years, right up until the point they were exposed to the public and authorities.
“This has all the elements – lying, corruption, blackmail...
It chronicles the scandal which surrounded Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation empire in 2011 when it was revealed that the likes of the News of the World had hacked the voicemails of celebrities, politicians and families whose loved one had been killed in Iraq War or were victims of various crimes.
The movie is set to be released through Sony Pictures, and Davies’ book investigated News Corp’s actions over a period of six years, right up until the point they were exposed to the public and authorities.
“This has all the elements – lying, corruption, blackmail...
- 9/4/2014
- by Josh Wilding
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
George Clooney has decided on his next directorial effort, this one an adaptation of Nick Davies' "Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How the Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch" exploring the 2011 British phone-hacking scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. which ended in the shuttering of "The News of the World" after 168 years of publication. Quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney said, "This has all the elements -- lying, corruption, blackmail -- at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London, and the fact that it's true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider it an honor to put his book to film." It will be interesting to see how Clooney approaches the project. As of now there's no word on who will write the screenplay, though I could assume it will be Clooney and frequent writing partner...
- 9/4/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
George Clooney just signed on to direct an adaptation of the "Hack Attack" book, exploring the British phone-hacking scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch's news empire, which includes FoxNews and 20th Century Fox film studio. The film is based on journalist Nick Davies, who spent six years investigating Murdoch's News Corp and its subsidiary, News International. His book exposes the company's habit of hacking into the voicemail messages of elected officials, celebrities and even ordinary British citizens. "This has all the elements . lying, corruption, blackmail . at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London," said Clooney. "And the fact that it's true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider it an honor to put his book to film." Shooting is scheduled to start next year.
- 9/4/2014
- WorstPreviews.com
George Clooney’s next directorial project is set to put the tabloid press in his crosshairs once again, with the star set to helm an account of the recent phone hacking scandal that prompted the Leveson Inquiry. Sony is pressing forward with an adaptation of journalist Nick Davies’ book, Hack Attack, focusing on the phone-hacking activities of News International, and the subsequent fallout. For those with short memories, the scandal eventually led to the closure of The News Of The World after some 168 years of publication, and the...
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- 9/4/2014
- by George Wales
- TotalFilm
George Clooney is to make a film of the phone hacking scandal that engulfed the News Of The World newspaper...
George Clooney has picked his new directorial project following The Monuments Men, and he's set to bring the story of the British tabloid phone hacking scandal to the screen.
The scandal, of journalists within Rupert Murdoch's new empire hacking the mobile phones of dozens of people, led to the eventual closure of the News Of The World newspaper of course. And its ramifications continue to be felt.
You'll probably not be surprised to hear that this will not be a 20th Century Fox film (Fox having put out Clooney's last movie). Instead, Sony is backing the project.
The film is going to adapt Nick Davies' book Hack Attack, and Clooney said that "this has all the elements - lying, corruption, blackmail - at the highest levels of government...
George Clooney has picked his new directorial project following The Monuments Men, and he's set to bring the story of the British tabloid phone hacking scandal to the screen.
The scandal, of journalists within Rupert Murdoch's new empire hacking the mobile phones of dozens of people, led to the eventual closure of the News Of The World newspaper of course. And its ramifications continue to be felt.
You'll probably not be surprised to hear that this will not be a 20th Century Fox film (Fox having put out Clooney's last movie). Instead, Sony is backing the project.
The film is going to adapt Nick Davies' book Hack Attack, and Clooney said that "this has all the elements - lying, corruption, blackmail - at the highest levels of government...
- 9/4/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
George Clooney is going back to some familiar territory for his next directorial effort. The Oscar-nominated Good Night, and Good Luck director has set his sights on Hack Attack, based on journalist Nick Davies’ account of the phone hacking scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, which led to the demise of News of the World.
“This has all the elements – lying, corruption, blackmail – at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London,” said Clooney in a statement. “And the fact that it’s true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and...
“This has all the elements – lying, corruption, blackmail – at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London,” said Clooney in a statement. “And the fact that it’s true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and...
- 9/4/2014
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
George Clooney has Rupert Murdoch in his sights. The "Descendants" star has signed on to helm an adaptation of "Hack Attack," a recent book by Nick Davies that dissects the British phone-hacking scandal which implicated Murdoch's News International subsidiary and led to the shuttering of long-running U.K. tabloid "News of the World," according to Deadline. Clooney will also produce the Sony project alongside his Smokehouse Pictures partner Grant Heslov. “This has all the elements — lying, corruption, blackmail — at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London,” said Clooney in a statement. “And the fact that it’s true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider it an honor to put his book to film.” Added Sony production president Michael De Luca: “As the son of a journalist, George has a sharp interest in the role journalism plays in...
- 9/3/2014
- by Chris Eggertsen
- Hitfix
George Clooney has selected an adaptation of Nick Davies' book "Hack Attack" as his next project to direct.
The film is an account of the British phone hacking scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch's news empire. Davies investigated News Corporation and its subsidiary, News International over the course of six years and his book explores their habit of hacking into voice mails of politicians, actors, and ordinary citizens.
The adaptation will be produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov through their Smokehouse banner for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Shooting is scheduled to start next year.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael De Luca, president of Production for Columbia Pictures, says: "As the son of a journalist, George has a sharp interest in the role journalism plays in all of our lives - whether that's for good, as in Good Night, And Good Luck, or for bad. With Hack Attack, George will explore...
The film is an account of the British phone hacking scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch's news empire. Davies investigated News Corporation and its subsidiary, News International over the course of six years and his book explores their habit of hacking into voice mails of politicians, actors, and ordinary citizens.
The adaptation will be produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov through their Smokehouse banner for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Shooting is scheduled to start next year.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael De Luca, president of Production for Columbia Pictures, says: "As the son of a journalist, George has a sharp interest in the role journalism plays in all of our lives - whether that's for good, as in Good Night, And Good Luck, or for bad. With Hack Attack, George will explore...
- 9/3/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
George Clooney's wedding may be in the very near future, but the Hollywood heavyweight already has his next major project lined up. Clooney is set to direct the film adaptation of flick Hack Attack which was based on Nick Davies' book, Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How the Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch. Grant Heslov will join the A-lister in producing the film through their company, Smokehouse Pictures, and Sony. "This has all the elements—lying, corruption, blackmail—at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London," Clooney said in a statement. "And the fact that it's true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we...
- 9/3/2014
- E! Online
George Clooney has a new project to direct: Hack Attack, a story detailing the British phone-hacking scandal linked to Rupert Murdoch’s news organization. The film will be based on the book Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How the Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch by journalist Nick Davies. THR had the news, and reports that Clooney and Grant Heslov […]
The post George Clooney to Direct ‘Hack Attack’ About Rupert Murdoch Phone Hacking Scandal appeared first on /Film.
The post George Clooney to Direct ‘Hack Attack’ About Rupert Murdoch Phone Hacking Scandal appeared first on /Film.
- 9/3/2014
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
George Clooney will direct a film based on the News International phone hacking scandal.
The upcoming movie is inspired by the book Hack Attack by Nick Davies, the journalist who investigated hacking allegations against Rupert Murdoch's company.
George Clooney on Daily Mail spat: 'It's fun to slap those bad guys'
News of the World was shut down amidst Davies and other reporters' discovery that missing school girl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked by the paper.
Clooney, who is also producing the film with partner Grant Heslov and Michael De Luca, has described his upcoming movie as an exploration of "lying, corruption [and] blackmail".
He said in a statement: "This has all the elements - lying, corruption, blackmail - at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London.
"And the fact that it's true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider...
The upcoming movie is inspired by the book Hack Attack by Nick Davies, the journalist who investigated hacking allegations against Rupert Murdoch's company.
George Clooney on Daily Mail spat: 'It's fun to slap those bad guys'
News of the World was shut down amidst Davies and other reporters' discovery that missing school girl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked by the paper.
Clooney, who is also producing the film with partner Grant Heslov and Michael De Luca, has described his upcoming movie as an exploration of "lying, corruption [and] blackmail".
He said in a statement: "This has all the elements - lying, corruption, blackmail - at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London.
"And the fact that it's true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider...
- 9/3/2014
- Digital Spy
Despite the title, George Clooney isn’t tackling this week’s celebrity picture stealing scandal for his next film as director; even he is not quite that topical. But he’s channelling relatively recent events for his next job, planning to make Hack Attack for Sony based on the News Corporation phone hacking issue.Clooney is using Nick Davies' reporting on the case, which involved journalists hacking into the voicemails of celebrities, politicians, officials and the public to score stories and dig up juicy details. The resulting backlash led to the end of New Of The World and a government inquiry.“This has all the elements – lying, corruption, blackmail – at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London,” Clooney says in a statement picked up by Variety. “And the fact that it’s true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and...
- 9/3/2014
- EmpireOnline
George Clooney’s directorial efforts are divisive to say the least. For every The Ides Of March, there’s a flaccid schmaltz fest like The Monuments Men. While his upcoming roster of projects is hectic, including the Coens’ Hail Caesar (nothing to do with tyrannical simians) and production duties on Our Brand Is Crisis and Pioneer, he’s announced his next directing gig: Hack Attack.
Based on the book Hack Attack, by journalist Nick Davies, the drama will centre around the recent phone hacking scandal in the UK. For those unaware of the story – Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid behemoth, News Of The World, came under fire when it was revealed that many of the paper’s reporters had illegally tapped the phones of celebrities (Hugh Grant for one), politicians and even a bunch of regular joes. The subsequent court case and inquiry saw many of the Notw’s major players...
Based on the book Hack Attack, by journalist Nick Davies, the drama will centre around the recent phone hacking scandal in the UK. For those unaware of the story – Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid behemoth, News Of The World, came under fire when it was revealed that many of the paper’s reporters had illegally tapped the phones of celebrities (Hugh Grant for one), politicians and even a bunch of regular joes. The subsequent court case and inquiry saw many of the Notw’s major players...
- 9/3/2014
- by Gem Seddon
- We Got This Covered
Right now George Clooney has his hands in a lot of projects at the moment. He's slated to star in Hail Caesar for Joel & Ethan Coen, is producing Our Brand is Crisis starring his Gravity co-star Sandra Bullock, and is also developing a Norwegian thriller called Pioneer. Now Variety has word that he's figured out his next directing gig with Hack Attack at Sony Pictures. The drama will focus on the recent phone hacking scandal in the United Kingdom involving Rupert Murdoch's news empire and their habit of hacking into the voicemails of elected officials, celebrities, average British citizens and even terror attack victims. Read on! The story will focus on journalist Nick Davies as he uncovered the scandal at News Corporation and News International which eventually resulted in the crumbling of News of the World, a publication that had run for 168 years, and also a government inquiry that...
- 9/3/2014
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
George Clooney's directorial career so far has been somewhat hit and miss. "Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind"? Interesting, but very flawed. "Good Night And Good Luck?" Cracking, and Oscar-nominated for its troubles. "Leatherheads?" More or less a complete washout. "The Ides Of March?" A solid political drama. "Monuments Men?" Disappointing. It's almost like he's obeying the "Star Trek" odd/even rule, and that means we're due for a good one next time around. And the megastar has chosen what it'll be. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney's planning to direct "Hack Attack," an adaptation of journalist Nick Davies' book about the News Of The World hacking scandal. In case you missed it, the case saw the revelation that journalists at the News Of The World, a 168-year-old British tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch, had been illegally hacking into the voicemails of politicians, celebrities and even murder victims...
- 9/3/2014
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Breaking: The son of a journalist, George Clooney chronicled a high-water mark for the craft, when Edward R. Murrow stood up to Red-baiting Senator Joseph McCarthy in Good Night, And Good Luck. Clooney will next direct a film covering the opposite end of the spectrum. He’ll helm for Sony Pictures an adaptation of the Nick Davies book Hack Attack, a dissection of the British phone-hacking scandal that became a commonplace news gathering technique within Rupert Murdoch’s news empire. Clooney and his Smokehouse partner Grant Heslov will produce.
Over six years, Davies investigated News Corp and its subsidiary, News International, in a book that showed how they gained an advantage over their tabloid rivals by hacking into the voicemail messages of elected officials, celebrities, and even ordinary British citizens and the victims of terror attacks. When it was finally uncovered — the low point came when journos hacked the phone...
Over six years, Davies investigated News Corp and its subsidiary, News International, in a book that showed how they gained an advantage over their tabloid rivals by hacking into the voicemail messages of elected officials, celebrities, and even ordinary British citizens and the victims of terror attacks. When it was finally uncovered — the low point came when journos hacked the phone...
- 9/3/2014
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline
George Clooney has made the call on his next directing project. The actor-producer-director will helm an adaptation of the book Hack Attack, exploring the British phone-hacking scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch's news empire. Clooney and Grant Heslov will produce through their Smokehouse banner for Sony. Shooting is scheduled to start next year. The film is based on journalist Nick Davies' book Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How the Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch, which hit shelves in July. Davies spent six years investigating Murdoch's News Corp. and its subsidiary, News International. His book exposes the company's
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- 9/3/2014
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
George Clooney is returning to journalism and politics for his next directorial effort. The Oscar-winning actor/ director will get behind the camera for an adaptation of British journalist Nick Davies’ book “Hack Attack,” which details the long-running phone hacking scandal centered at Rupert Murdoch's News International. The drama brought down the famed tabloid News of the World and put several people in jail. Also read: George Clooney Rips Daily Mail for False Story About His Fiancee, Says It ‘Should Be Criminal’ Clooney, who will not act in this project, will produce the film with partner Grant Heslov via their Smokehouse banner at Sony,...
- 9/3/2014
- by Jordan Zakarin
- The Wrap
The internet is abuzz about the latest phone hacking scandal, which leaked nude photos of celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Kirsten Dunst. So, it's very fortuitous timing on the part of George Clooney to direct a movie about that very subject.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney has signed up to helm an adaptation of the book "Hack Attack," about the 2011 phone hacking scandal that plagued Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Author Nick Davies dives into the company's practice of hacking into voicemails of British celebs and politicians to produce news scoops.
When the scandal came to light, it brought down the 168-year-old newspaper News of the World, provoked a government investigation, led to the arrests of multiple editors, and generally brought shame upon the billionaire Murdoch.
Journalism is a topic Clooney is passionate about; his father was a news broadcaster and in 2005, he received an Academy Award nomination for...
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney has signed up to helm an adaptation of the book "Hack Attack," about the 2011 phone hacking scandal that plagued Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Author Nick Davies dives into the company's practice of hacking into voicemails of British celebs and politicians to produce news scoops.
When the scandal came to light, it brought down the 168-year-old newspaper News of the World, provoked a government investigation, led to the arrests of multiple editors, and generally brought shame upon the billionaire Murdoch.
Journalism is a topic Clooney is passionate about; his father was a news broadcaster and in 2005, he received an Academy Award nomination for...
- 9/3/2014
- by Kelly Woo
- Moviefone
Ian Hislop's opening line last night when announcing the annual Paul Foot awards won loud laughs and applause.
"We are here to remember sacked and persecuted journalists across the world," he said. "I am thinking, of course, of Piers Morgan".
There was a lot of funny follow-up Morgan material from the Private Eye editor before he referred to Hugh Grant's post-Leveson inquiry organisation as "Knocked Up", offering due apologies to Hacked Off's amused director, Brian Cathcart.
On the serious business of the awards themselves, the top prize went to David Cohen, the London Evening Standard reporter who has distinguished himself and his paper over the past couple of years with two brilliant campaigns, one about the dispossessed and the other about criminal gangs in the capital.
It was the gang campaign that won him the award. Cohen not only managed to win the trust of gang members to...
"We are here to remember sacked and persecuted journalists across the world," he said. "I am thinking, of course, of Piers Morgan".
There was a lot of funny follow-up Morgan material from the Private Eye editor before he referred to Hugh Grant's post-Leveson inquiry organisation as "Knocked Up", offering due apologies to Hacked Off's amused director, Brian Cathcart.
On the serious business of the awards themselves, the top prize went to David Cohen, the London Evening Standard reporter who has distinguished himself and his paper over the past couple of years with two brilliant campaigns, one about the dispossessed and the other about criminal gangs in the capital.
It was the gang campaign that won him the award. Cohen not only managed to win the trust of gang members to...
- 2/26/2014
- by Roy Greenslade
- The Guardian - Film News
The film about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks and, yes, the Guardian, has bombed at the box office. Even though it was stuffed with handsome talent
Age: About seven weeks.
Appearance: Don't know.
Why not? I haven't seen it.
Find me somebody who has. That won't be easy.
How come? What are we actually talking about here? It's a movie. Came out in October. Total flop. It cost DreamWorks $28m (£17.1m) to make, and Disney about the same again to market, but so far it's taken only $6m worldwide. According to Forbes, that means it's lost more money as a proportion of its production costs than any other major movie this year.
Oh. Is it a comedy about a hapless dad and the misfortunes that befall him as he buys a series of increasingly unreliable large family cars? No. That sounds quite good. This is about WikiLeaks. Journalism is said to be the fourth estate,...
Age: About seven weeks.
Appearance: Don't know.
Why not? I haven't seen it.
Find me somebody who has. That won't be easy.
How come? What are we actually talking about here? It's a movie. Came out in October. Total flop. It cost DreamWorks $28m (£17.1m) to make, and Disney about the same again to market, but so far it's taken only $6m worldwide. According to Forbes, that means it's lost more money as a proportion of its production costs than any other major movie this year.
Oh. Is it a comedy about a hapless dad and the misfortunes that befall him as he buys a series of increasingly unreliable large family cars? No. That sounds quite good. This is about WikiLeaks. Journalism is said to be the fourth estate,...
- 12/2/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
More than 100 prominent people from literature, the arts, science, academia, human rights and the law have signed a declaration urging newspaper and magazine publishers to embrace the royal charter system of press regulation.
They join people who have been victims of press misbehaviour in arguing that charter will give "vital protection to the vulnerable" from abuse of power by the press.
The signatories include broadcasters Stephen Fry, Clare Balding, Gary Lineker and Rory Bremner. Actor Emma Thompson has signed, as have Professor Richard Dawkins and Sir Jonathan Miller.
Several film directors are on the list, such as Stephen Frears, Alan Parker, Mike Leigh, Beeban Kidron, Guy Ritchie, Stephen Daldry, Bill Forsyth, Peter Kosminsky, Terry Gilliam and Michael Apted.
Among the writers and playwrights are Alan Bennett, William Boyd, Alan Ayckbourn, Tom Stoppard, Monica Ali, Helen Fielding, Michael Frayn, Ian McEwan, A C Grayling, David Hare, Alan Hollinghurst, Jk Rowling, Salman Rushdie,...
They join people who have been victims of press misbehaviour in arguing that charter will give "vital protection to the vulnerable" from abuse of power by the press.
The signatories include broadcasters Stephen Fry, Clare Balding, Gary Lineker and Rory Bremner. Actor Emma Thompson has signed, as have Professor Richard Dawkins and Sir Jonathan Miller.
Several film directors are on the list, such as Stephen Frears, Alan Parker, Mike Leigh, Beeban Kidron, Guy Ritchie, Stephen Daldry, Bill Forsyth, Peter Kosminsky, Terry Gilliam and Michael Apted.
Among the writers and playwrights are Alan Bennett, William Boyd, Alan Ayckbourn, Tom Stoppard, Monica Ali, Helen Fielding, Michael Frayn, Ian McEwan, A C Grayling, David Hare, Alan Hollinghurst, Jk Rowling, Salman Rushdie,...
- 11/29/2013
- by Roy Greenslade
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: Music giant to rep rights to Pulse’s originally commissioned film and TV music, TV shows in the works.
Sony/Atv Music Publishing has inked a deal to administer Pulse Films’ originally-commissioned film and TV music.
The rights tie-up between buzzed-about London-based outfit Pulse – producers of Gael Garcia Bernal doc Who is Dayani Cristal? and upcoming Nick Cave doc 20,000 Days on Earth – and music kingpin Sony/Atv, will include soundtrack rights to Pulse’s upcoming C4 First Cuts doc Payday directed by Fred Scott and Nick Davies (Fred & Nick), who made the Take That doc Look Back, Don’t Stare, and the score for a primetime series for a UK broadcaster, due to air next year.
At Sony/Atv, James Carslake and Jon Pugh will look to grow Pulse’s music publishing catalogue, and find creative opportunities for the company’s artists across their projects.
Pulse’s roster of directors includes Shut Up and Play the Hits and No Distance Left to Run...
Sony/Atv Music Publishing has inked a deal to administer Pulse Films’ originally-commissioned film and TV music.
The rights tie-up between buzzed-about London-based outfit Pulse – producers of Gael Garcia Bernal doc Who is Dayani Cristal? and upcoming Nick Cave doc 20,000 Days on Earth – and music kingpin Sony/Atv, will include soundtrack rights to Pulse’s upcoming C4 First Cuts doc Payday directed by Fred Scott and Nick Davies (Fred & Nick), who made the Take That doc Look Back, Don’t Stare, and the score for a primetime series for a UK broadcaster, due to air next year.
At Sony/Atv, James Carslake and Jon Pugh will look to grow Pulse’s music publishing catalogue, and find creative opportunities for the company’s artists across their projects.
Pulse’s roster of directors includes Shut Up and Play the Hits and No Distance Left to Run...
- 11/18/2013
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Review Patrick Sproull 15 Oct 2013 - 06:00
Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the role of Julian Assange in Bill Condon's The Fifth Estate. Here's our review...
Is it possible to make an accurate WikiLeaks film? As Benedict Cumberbatch’s Julian Assange puts it in the closing minutes of The Fifth Estate, the truth changes through every viewpoint - thus posing the question, what is the truth? And who really knows it?
Bill Condon’s ambitious and zealous biopic on the early days of WikiLeaks is an entirely mixed bag. It exerts itself in trying to give a broad picture of WikiLeaks whilst honing in the relationship of founder Julian Assange and his second-in-command Daniel Domscheit-Berg. Benedict Cumberbatch nails the former’s twitchy tics and pronounced accent, and his portrayal, although not exactly fair on Assange himself, is one of the highlights of The Fifth Estate. Likewise Daniel Brühl (who recently excelled...
Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the role of Julian Assange in Bill Condon's The Fifth Estate. Here's our review...
Is it possible to make an accurate WikiLeaks film? As Benedict Cumberbatch’s Julian Assange puts it in the closing minutes of The Fifth Estate, the truth changes through every viewpoint - thus posing the question, what is the truth? And who really knows it?
Bill Condon’s ambitious and zealous biopic on the early days of WikiLeaks is an entirely mixed bag. It exerts itself in trying to give a broad picture of WikiLeaks whilst honing in the relationship of founder Julian Assange and his second-in-command Daniel Domscheit-Berg. Benedict Cumberbatch nails the former’s twitchy tics and pronounced accent, and his portrayal, although not exactly fair on Assange himself, is one of the highlights of The Fifth Estate. Likewise Daniel Brühl (who recently excelled...
- 10/15/2013
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Benedict Cumberbatch aces Assange – but the WikiLeaks chief goes unchallenged in an otherwise watchable film
• David Cameron praises Cumberbatch's Assange
• Assange urges Cumberbatch to quit the film
Is he Woodward'n'Bernstein – or Deep Throat? Might he even be Tricky Dicky himself? This movie's ambivalence towards its protagonist, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, sometimes looks like complexity, but also an odd sort of fence-sitting. Biopics of this kind are usually conceived when their subjects' careers and reputations are at rest, and the consensus of liberal opinion securely established. But Assange is still holed up in London's Ecuadorian embassy, and the debate about the sexual charges he faces in Sweden is far from over. The film acknowledges that issue in the closing credits, but there is certainly no dramatisation of the disputed events, and the film sometimes behaves as if the difficulties in Assange's personality are structural problems in the story to be smoothed away.
• David Cameron praises Cumberbatch's Assange
• Assange urges Cumberbatch to quit the film
Is he Woodward'n'Bernstein – or Deep Throat? Might he even be Tricky Dicky himself? This movie's ambivalence towards its protagonist, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, sometimes looks like complexity, but also an odd sort of fence-sitting. Biopics of this kind are usually conceived when their subjects' careers and reputations are at rest, and the consensus of liberal opinion securely established. But Assange is still holed up in London's Ecuadorian embassy, and the debate about the sexual charges he faces in Sweden is far from over. The film acknowledges that issue in the closing credits, but there is certainly no dramatisation of the disputed events, and the film sometimes behaves as if the difficulties in Assange's personality are structural problems in the story to be smoothed away.
- 10/11/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
WikiLeaks movie ‘The Fifth Estate’: Bradley Manning episode ‘the best part of the film’ (photo: Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange in ‘The Fifth Estate’) (See previous post: “‘The Fifth Estate’ Movie Review Pt.1: ‘Tasty’ But ‘Opaque’ Take on Julian Assange.”) The Fifth Estate begins and eventually circles back to the Bradley Manning episode, in which the now-incarcerated Army private handed almost 450,000 U.S. military documents to WikiLeaks. This section is, by a far sight, the best part of the film. It slows down to consider the stakes and let interpersonal conflicts simmer and boil. Here, Daniel’s growing sense of apostasy towards the imperious Assange mixes with traditional media (represented by David Thewlis, as The Guardian reporter Nick Davies) deciding whether to cross the Rubicon and get into bed with someone so arrogantly deficient in journalistic ethics. Out of self-preservation, the old-school Guardian partnered with the internet provocateur and got what it deserved.
- 10/3/2013
- by Mark Keizer
- Alt Film Guide
If there’s one thing Julian Assange does not lack, it’s confidence. But his epic self-assurance crumbles spectacularly in this clip from the Wikileaks thriller The Fifth Estate, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the eccentric hacker-journalist.
In this scene from the movie, which opens Oct. 18, Cumberbatch’s Assange is sitting on a trove of classified documents sent to the cybergroup by Us Army soldier Bradley Manning. The thousands of pages of military and diplomatic cables contain details of countless covert sources and ongoing operations, and also document deadly embarrassments, such as the 2007 slaying of two Reuters journalists by American Apache gunships.
In this scene from the movie, which opens Oct. 18, Cumberbatch’s Assange is sitting on a trove of classified documents sent to the cybergroup by Us Army soldier Bradley Manning. The thousands of pages of military and diplomatic cables contain details of countless covert sources and ongoing operations, and also document deadly embarrassments, such as the 2007 slaying of two Reuters journalists by American Apache gunships.
- 9/11/2013
- by Anthony Breznican
- EW - Inside Movies
Cumberbatch says of playing Assange in new film The Fifth Estate, 'we show his ideas and integrity and self-sacrifice'
Benedict Cumberbatch, the British actor whose high-profile portrayal of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is generating Oscar buzz, has launched a defence of the man he plays in new movie The Fifth Estate. "I think we show his ideas and integrity and self-sacrifice," said Cumberbatch, the morning after the film opened the 38th Toronto film festival. "I think there's a lot to celebrate about his achievements."
In the film, Cumberbatch plays Assange as a quicksilver saviour, humane at times, deceitful at others, never less than human. The actor, 37, said empathy was key to his interpretation. "I think to try and go into this realm of thumbs up or thumbs down is so limiting. You want to find what's human about him. And that's not to soften the edges. [But] so it's something we can relate to.
Benedict Cumberbatch, the British actor whose high-profile portrayal of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is generating Oscar buzz, has launched a defence of the man he plays in new movie The Fifth Estate. "I think we show his ideas and integrity and self-sacrifice," said Cumberbatch, the morning after the film opened the 38th Toronto film festival. "I think there's a lot to celebrate about his achievements."
In the film, Cumberbatch plays Assange as a quicksilver saviour, humane at times, deceitful at others, never less than human. The actor, 37, said empathy was key to his interpretation. "I think to try and go into this realm of thumbs up or thumbs down is so limiting. You want to find what's human about him. And that's not to soften the edges. [But] so it's something we can relate to.
- 9/7/2013
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
Benedict Cumberbatch shines as Julian Assange in Bill Condon's over-ambitious take on WikiLeaks, which opens this year's Toronto film festival
For an employee of the Guardian, particularly one with jetlag, Bill Condon's WikiLeaks thriller can seem more hallucination than movie. An account of the ascent of Julian Assange and his collaboration with this newspaper (among others) in the publication of classified documents, it plays like one of those dreams in which your office looks normal enough from the outside, but step within and everything's subtly different. It's more Scandinavian, somehow; with car park pillars and glass walls to which people attach crucial bits of paper, as on Crimewatch. The editor has developed a sudden taste for shagpile rugs. And why did you never notice the deputy is a dead spit for the dishy one on Downton Abbey?
Such tweaks will not get an artistic licence revoked. In fact,...
For an employee of the Guardian, particularly one with jetlag, Bill Condon's WikiLeaks thriller can seem more hallucination than movie. An account of the ascent of Julian Assange and his collaboration with this newspaper (among others) in the publication of classified documents, it plays like one of those dreams in which your office looks normal enough from the outside, but step within and everything's subtly different. It's more Scandinavian, somehow; with car park pillars and glass walls to which people attach crucial bits of paper, as on Crimewatch. The editor has developed a sudden taste for shagpile rugs. And why did you never notice the deputy is a dead spit for the dishy one on Downton Abbey?
Such tweaks will not get an artistic licence revoked. In fact,...
- 9/6/2013
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
Canadian festival hopes to outshine Venice and Telluride with films including WikiLeaks drama The Fifth Estate
• Watch the trailer for The Fifth Estate
• Our gallery of the pick of the line-up
• Video: Toronto 2013 kicks off
In Venice, they're rolling up the red carpet as the sun sets on the 70th film festival. Four thousand miles west, they're unfurling it, as Toronto gears up to host its festival for the 37th year. Many critics are touting it as the finest film festival lineup in history – less a programme than a dry run for Oscars night.
The festival begins on Thursday evening with the world premiere of the WikiLeaks drama The Fifth Estate, partly based on the book by the Guardian journalists David Leigh and Luke Harding, and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange, while Peter Capaldi is the Guardian editor, Alan Rusbridger, David Thewlis is the investigative reporter Nick Davies and...
• Watch the trailer for The Fifth Estate
• Our gallery of the pick of the line-up
• Video: Toronto 2013 kicks off
In Venice, they're rolling up the red carpet as the sun sets on the 70th film festival. Four thousand miles west, they're unfurling it, as Toronto gears up to host its festival for the 37th year. Many critics are touting it as the finest film festival lineup in history – less a programme than a dry run for Oscars night.
The festival begins on Thursday evening with the world premiere of the WikiLeaks drama The Fifth Estate, partly based on the book by the Guardian journalists David Leigh and Luke Harding, and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange, while Peter Capaldi is the Guardian editor, Alan Rusbridger, David Thewlis is the investigative reporter Nick Davies and...
- 9/5/2013
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
The Fifth Estate has debuted a new poster.
The artwork for the Wikileaks film features stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Brühl.
Sherlock actor Cumberbatch stars as the controversial activist Julian Assange in the film, which focuses on his relationship with colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Brühl).
Laura Linney, Stanley Tucci, Dan Stevens and Alicia Vikander also feature in the all-star cast, with David Thewlis as Flat Earth News author Nick Davies and upcoming Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi as Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger.
The movie was directed by Twilight's Bill Condon.
The Fifth Estate will arrive in cinemas on October 11. Watch a trailer for the film below:...
The artwork for the Wikileaks film features stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Brühl.
Sherlock actor Cumberbatch stars as the controversial activist Julian Assange in the film, which focuses on his relationship with colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Brühl).
Laura Linney, Stanley Tucci, Dan Stevens and Alicia Vikander also feature in the all-star cast, with David Thewlis as Flat Earth News author Nick Davies and upcoming Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi as Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger.
The movie was directed by Twilight's Bill Condon.
The Fifth Estate will arrive in cinemas on October 11. Watch a trailer for the film below:...
- 8/20/2013
- Digital Spy
Before the week is out we will know the identity of the 12th Doctor. Man, woman, black, ginger, disabled, cat, dog... we couldn't care less anymore, we just want to know who it is. The tension is killing us.
In an attempt to try to keep us busy until the big reveal on Sunday night (August 4), Digital Spy has been doing some fantasy Doctor Who casting.
Keep reading to find out who we would like to see taking over from Matt Smith in the Tardis.
Jamie Dornan - Alex Fletcher, Deputy Editor
I always prefer Doctor Who when it has a darker and more sinister tone, so ideally I'd like the BBC to pick someone who is more Eccleston than Tennant in style. If I was truly in fantasy land, I'd go for Andrew Lincoln, but he's currently far too busy kicking zombie ass on The Walking Dead.
So if I can't have Lincoln,...
In an attempt to try to keep us busy until the big reveal on Sunday night (August 4), Digital Spy has been doing some fantasy Doctor Who casting.
Keep reading to find out who we would like to see taking over from Matt Smith in the Tardis.
Jamie Dornan - Alex Fletcher, Deputy Editor
I always prefer Doctor Who when it has a darker and more sinister tone, so ideally I'd like the BBC to pick someone who is more Eccleston than Tennant in style. If I was truly in fantasy land, I'd go for Andrew Lincoln, but he's currently far too busy kicking zombie ass on The Walking Dead.
So if I can't have Lincoln,...
- 8/2/2013
- Digital Spy
It probably won't have escaped you that Bill Condon's upcoming WikiLeaks drama The Fifth Estate stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the organisation's infamous co-founder Julian Assange; he and his co-star Daniel Brühl were front and centre in the first trailer, which was released last week.
But there are several real figures who were only glimpsed or entirely omitted from the trailer, which centred more on Laura Linney, Stanley Tucci and Anthony Mackie's fictional characters.
Here's Digital Spy's handy guide to who's who in The Fifth Estate, from WikiLeaks volunteers to Guardian journalists.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange
While Jeremy Renner was initially pursuing the role, Cumberbatch was cast last year to play the controversial figure of Assange, and filming on the third series of Sherlock was reportedly pushed back in order to allow him to complete the film. Assange's rise to fame as the face of WikiLeaks, the subsequent...
But there are several real figures who were only glimpsed or entirely omitted from the trailer, which centred more on Laura Linney, Stanley Tucci and Anthony Mackie's fictional characters.
Here's Digital Spy's handy guide to who's who in The Fifth Estate, from WikiLeaks volunteers to Guardian journalists.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange
While Jeremy Renner was initially pursuing the role, Cumberbatch was cast last year to play the controversial figure of Assange, and filming on the third series of Sherlock was reportedly pushed back in order to allow him to complete the film. Assange's rise to fame as the face of WikiLeaks, the subsequent...
- 7/26/2013
- Digital Spy
The first footage of Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange has been unveiled.
The Fifth Estate stars Cumberbatch as the WikiLeaks founder, opposite Rush's Daniel Brühl as Daniel Domscheit-Berg.
The trailer shows Assange's growing confidence as WikiLeaks rattles authorities including the White House with its investigations. It also hints at the breakdown in his working relationship with Domscheit-Berg, who left the organisation in 2010 after a public falling-out with Assange.
The Fifth Estate's all-star cast includes Laura Linney, Stanley Tucci, Dan Stevens and Alicia Vikander.
David Thewlis plays Nick Davies, the author of Flat Earth News, and The Thick of It's Peter Capaldi portrays The Guardian's editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger.
The Fifth Estate - directed by Twilight's Bill Condon - opens on October 11, 2013.
The Fifth Estate stars Cumberbatch as the WikiLeaks founder, opposite Rush's Daniel Brühl as Daniel Domscheit-Berg.
The trailer shows Assange's growing confidence as WikiLeaks rattles authorities including the White House with its investigations. It also hints at the breakdown in his working relationship with Domscheit-Berg, who left the organisation in 2010 after a public falling-out with Assange.
The Fifth Estate's all-star cast includes Laura Linney, Stanley Tucci, Dan Stevens and Alicia Vikander.
David Thewlis plays Nick Davies, the author of Flat Earth News, and The Thick of It's Peter Capaldi portrays The Guardian's editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger.
The Fifth Estate - directed by Twilight's Bill Condon - opens on October 11, 2013.
- 7/17/2013
- Digital Spy
In the past couple of days former high profile News International employees Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks have pleaded not guilty to charges related to phone hacking. Several other former News of the World journalists who appeared at Southwark Crown Court have also pleaded not guilty. Mr Coulson, was editor of the paper from 2003 to 2007 and then became the Conservative Party’s director of communications working for David Cameron in government after the 2010 election, before he resigned in January 2011. Mrs Brooks was the editor of both the News Of The World and The Sun before becoming the News International chief executive in 2009 and resigning in 2011. The trial, set to start in September, promises to be the Mother of all spectacles.
The recent history of the phone hacking scandal goes back to 2006 when Clive Goodman, Royal Editor for Rupert Murdoch’s (he pops up a lot doesn’t he?) News Of The World,...
The recent history of the phone hacking scandal goes back to 2006 when Clive Goodman, Royal Editor for Rupert Murdoch’s (he pops up a lot doesn’t he?) News Of The World,...
- 6/7/2013
- by Basil Creese Jr
- Obsessed with Film
Lord Justice Leveson's report is expected to cover much ground, and to set the stage for the next debate: what about the internet?
1 What can the judge say about phone hacking? It was the reason why the inquiry was set up, but with so many people now facing criminal charges, he may feel unable to comment.
2 Why did the Met fail to investigate phone hacking from 2006, when the first arrests were made? Leveson is likely to focus on the failure by the police to investigate the News of the World more thoroughly in 2006 – when Clive Goodman was arrested and charged – and at several points thereafter until the pressure from the growing number of civil claimants, such as Sienna Miller, became too great. Close relationships between various Met commissioner, senior policeman and News International executives were highlighted – relations often burnished over Mayfair lunches and dinners.
3 Can Rupert Murdoch be believed? "I...
1 What can the judge say about phone hacking? It was the reason why the inquiry was set up, but with so many people now facing criminal charges, he may feel unable to comment.
2 Why did the Met fail to investigate phone hacking from 2006, when the first arrests were made? Leveson is likely to focus on the failure by the police to investigate the News of the World more thoroughly in 2006 – when Clive Goodman was arrested and charged – and at several points thereafter until the pressure from the growing number of civil claimants, such as Sienna Miller, became too great. Close relationships between various Met commissioner, senior policeman and News International executives were highlighted – relations often burnished over Mayfair lunches and dinners.
3 Can Rupert Murdoch be believed? "I...
- 11/29/2012
- by Dan Sabbagh
- The Guardian - Film News
A vicar brightened up a Sunday morning service by breathing fire during his sermon. Reverend Nick Davies showed off his impressive barbeque party trick as part of the celebration of Pentecost. He wanted to represent how Jesus's disciples experienced the Holy Spirit descending upon them by using 'tongues of flame'. His spectacular sermon gave his congregation something to be amazed about in light of the Pentecost celebrations. There were around 150 people at St Philip and St James' Church that morning and luckily there were no injuries and nothing else in the church (more)...
- 5/29/2012
- by By Alice Stewart
- Digital Spy
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