Anne Hathaway: Interview

Anne Hathaway

Photography Marcus Piggott, Mert Alas
Stylist Karl Templer

A Dangerous Method

A Dangerous Method is an upcoming drama movie that focuses on the relationship between psychiatrist Carl Jung and his mentor Sigmund Freud and the events leading to the creation of psychoanalysis. The film is directed by David Cronenberg. A Dangerous Method is based on a play by Christopher Hampton, which is itself based on a book by John Kerr.

 Plot: "On the eve of WWI, Zurich and Vienna are the setting for a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery. Drawn from true-life events, the film takes a glimpse into the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), his mentor Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them. Into the mix comes Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel), a debauched patient who is determined to push the boundaries.
 
In this exploration of sensuality, ambition and deceit set the scene for the pivotal moment when Jung, Freud and Sabina come together and split apart, forever changing the face of modern thought."

  
Cast:
- Michael Fassbender as Carl Jung
- Keira Knightley as Russian-Jewish patient Sabina Spielrein
- Viggo Mortensen as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung's mentor
- Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross, a debauched patient who is determined to push the boundaries.

A Dangerous Method is slated for 2011 release.

Calamity Song: Parks and Rec - Infinte Jest - Decemberists Collide

If bacon and limited government are what motivate Ron Swanson, it's fair to say that Parks and Recreation showrunner Mike Schur is equally passionate about two things of his own: David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest and the indie-rock group the Decemberists. 

 "It is literally my favorite book and they are literally my favorite band," Schur told Vulture, channeling a bit of Chris Traeger. Schur is such a Jest fanboy that when the feature rights to the novel came up for sale a year ago, he snatched them. And when a rep for the group called in search of a music-video director who was a fan of both the group and Wallace's novel, "I was literally frothing at the mouth trying to not seem too desperate," Schur says. Thankfully, Schur got the gig, and the resulting video for "Calamity Song" — which brings to life Eschaton, a tennislike game described in Wallace's novel. Despite having directed a handful of Parks episodes, Schur says this experience was "very different." [New York Magazine]

Colin Meloy stated I wrote “Calamity Song” shortly after I’d finished reading David Foster Wallace’s epic Infinite Jest. The book didn’t so much inspire the song itself, but Wallace’s irreverent and brilliant humor definitely wound its way into the thing. And I had this funny idea that a good video for the song would be a re-creation of the Enfield Tennis Academy’s round of Eschaton — basically, a global thermonuclear crisis re-created on a tennis court — that’s played about a third of the way into the book. Thankfully, after having a good many people balk at the idea, I found a kindred spirit in Michael Schur, a man with an even greater enthusiasm for Wallace’s work than my own. With much adoration and respect to this seminal, genius book, this is what we’ve come up with. I can only hope DFW would be proud.[All Songs Considered NPR.org]

Brighton Rock

Rowan Joffe is making his debut as a feature director with the film noir “Brighton Rock,” which opened Friday. It's based on Graham Greene’s acclaimed 1938 book, which was adapted into a 1947 classic gangster film of the same name starring a young Richard Attenborough. 

The new “Brighton Rock” stars Sam Riley as Pinkie, a vicious young hoodlum trying to make a name for himself among the mobs in Brighton circa 1964. Andrea Riseborough plays Rose, a naive young woman who works as a waitress and becomes involved with Pinkie. Oscar winner Helen Mirren, John Hurt and Andy Serkis also star in the film, which played the Toronto Film Festival last September and was released theatrically in England in February.

Joffe, whose mother is Tony Award-winning actress Jane Lapotaire (“Piaf”), wrote several TV movies in England, as well as the 2007 feature, “28 Weeks Later” and last year’s George Clooney thriller, “The American.” He wrote and directed the 2008 British TV movie “The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall,” which won the British Academy of Film and Television Award for best single drama.

Joffe's father, Roland Joffe, made a big splash internationally, earning best director Oscar nominations for 1984’s “The Killing Fields” and 1985’s “The Mission.” His latest film,  “There Be Dragons,” came out this year.

The Artist: A Silent Film

 The Artist is set in 1920s Hollywood as a swashbuckling fading star (Jean Dujardin) resists the advance of talkies while flirting with a pretty girl (Berenice Bejo) who becomes a superstar of the new medium. It's directed by celebrated French helmer Michel Hazanavicius, whose "OSS" spy movie parodies featured Dujardin. The Artist is itself a silent movie filmed in black-and-white, and in the long-abandoned 1:33 aspect ratio. It reaped huzzahs at Cannes, including best actor laurels for Jean Dujardin.

The Artist is a heart-tugging riff on A Star Is Born. The trailer sums up the plot in a nutshell: Hollywood's most famous leading man of the twenties, played by French star Jean Dujardin, hits hard times and is saved by the love of a good woman and his cute dog.

There's also John Goodman and James Cromwell, lest any turned-off theatergoers think this is too French. The Artist is due in the theaters November 23

Britney Spears: I Wanna Go

Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go" video is, like some of her past clips, an all-out affront to the pesky paparazzi that follow her every move. But, unlike any video she's done previously, this one tackles the issue with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

See, "Go" is essentially one long dream sequence — instigated by the rote questions Spears is forced to endure by members of the media — and, as such, it's packed with pop-culture nods to film and television and whistling dogs too. And that fact not only makes it pretty funny, but it sets it apart from most of Brit's other work. [James Montgomery: MTV.com]

MTV's "I Wanna Go" pop-culture cheat sheet: 

"Crossroads": Epically bad 2002 coming-of-age flick starring Spears herself written, interestingly enough, by "Grey's Anatomy" mastermind Shonda Rhimes. In a rare self-effacing moment, the supposed sequel — "Crossroads 2: Cross Harder" — is teased on a theater marquee in "I Wanna Go." 

E*Trade Baby: Lippy, fiscally savvy infant who stars in an ongoing series of commercials for the financial company. In "I Wanna Go," there's a baby too, and while he doesn't dispense any trading tips, he does whistle, using the same creepy, CGIed mouth effects the E*Trade ads do. 

"Half Baked": Cult 1998 stoner comedy starring Dave Chappelle as a weed-obsessed "master of the custodial arts" and a weed-addled rapper named Sir Smoke-a-lot, who runs with an appropriately stony crew. Said crew includes actor Guillermo Diaz, who quits his crappy fast-food job in truly epic fashion. The scene is replayed verbatim at the beginning of "I Wanna Go," only with Britney delivering the "F--- you, f--- you, f--- you, you're cool and f--- you ... I'm out!" line. As an added bonus, Diaz also co-stars in the video. Truly the most inexplicably awesome part of the entire production. 

"Kill Bill": Ultra-gory 2003 revenge flick written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, it stars Uma Thurman as Beatrix Kiddo, a bride out to avenge her wedding-day massacre. She battles several baddies throughout, including Gogo Yubari, a sadistic 17-year-old who wields a meteor hammer. In "I Wanna Go," Britney uses a microphone in much the same fashion — namely, to bash those pesky paparazzi. 

"The Mickey Mouse Club": Oft-revived Disney variety show/ teen-sploitation factory that famously featured young stars like Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling (!) and, of course, Britney. She pays homage to her Mouseketeer days in "I Wanna Go" by wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a Mickey Mouse skull. 

Seashells: Hard, protective exoskeletons created by sea-dwelling creatures. In "I Wanna Go," Diaz's character gives Britney a handful of them, and since the majority of the clip takes place in her daydream, we're going to get deep here: In dreams, seashells represent security or protection. 

"Terminator 2: Judgment Day": The 1991 sci-fi blockbuster featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular Terminator, sent back in time to protect a young John Connor from the nefarious T-1000. Arnie suffers severe battle damage throughout, including one scene where half his face is blasted off, revealing a glowing cyborg eye beneath his skin. That same scene is shown in "I Wanna Go," though it's the paparazzi who are revealed to be robotic killing machines. 

"Thriller": Iconic 1984 Michael Jackson mini-movie that may very well be the greatest music video ever made. It concludes with a famous freeze frame (and subsequent zoom-in) of MJ with glowing eyes and Vincent Price's legendary cackle. Britney pays tribute to the scene at the ending of "I Wanna Go," though it's Diaz's eyes that are glowing. We're not sure who provides the cackle.

Britney Spears: VMAs Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Oops, she did it again! In case you needed another reason to tune into the MTV Video Music Awards this year, the Queen of Pop herself – Britney Spears- will be receiving her lifetime achievement award! No stranger to the VMA stage, Spears single-handedly brought us some of the most memorable VMA performances to date! In addition to receiving this prestigious award, viewers can look forward to a special Britney Spears Tribute which will feature some of today’s biggest pop stars!

2001 MTV Video Music Awards: Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

You don’t want to miss this! Singers confirmed to take the stage for the Britney Spears tribute include: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Janet Jackson! From Catholic school girl to seductive flight attendant to sultry ringleader – Spears has created many iconic music videos over the past 12 years. I can’t even begin to imagine the costumes, dance moves, and songs that will come together for this legendary collaboration! Spears is also up for two Moonmen this year with “Till the World Ends” putting her in the running for Best Pop Video and Best Choreography.

 

 

Be sure to catch the epic tribute on August 28th at 9/8c on MTV. To hold you over until then, check out the video below showcasing some of Spears’ greatest performances! There’s no question about it, I think the crowd will be saying “gimme, gimme more!”

 

 

Note: This post is a re-blog of Christen Andrews' MTV To Honor Britney Spears At The VMAs With Lifetime Achievement Award on 923now.radio.com