Tag: Tom Hanks

Categories
Potins

A Boycott of Angels & Demons

Just as the Vatican did with The Da Vinci Code, its sequel, Angels & Demons, is the target of controversy over references to the historic religion of Catholicism.

Again, the Vatican is demanding a complete boycott of the film, which is set to open on May 15, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

On Friday (March 20), in the Avvenire, the official newspaper of the Vatican, an article mentioned that the Catholic Church does not approve of the film, and is asking followers to boycott the movie.

In 2006, the Vatican called upon members to boycott The Da Vinci Code, but the film still earned $757 million at box offices worldwide.

The Vatican also made filming Angels & Demons difficult, closing roads and banning the crew from several key locations.

In the film, Tom Hanks returns to his role as professor Robert Langdon, a specialist in religious symbols.

Categories
Cinéma

Watch the Trailer for Angels & Demons

A trailer for the sequel to The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, stars Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, a religious symbols expert.

In the film, based on the Dan Brown novel, Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of a secret fraternity called the Illuminati, which threatens the existence of the Catholic Church.  He travels to Rome and joins forces with Vittoria Vetra.  Together, the two follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican’s only hope for survival.

Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Armin Mueller-Stahl also star in the film.

You can now view the trailer for Angels & Demons, which opens in theatres on May 15.

Categories
Cinéma

Stars Against the Looming Actors’ Strike

Over 130 Hollywood stars, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks and Morgan Freeman, have sent a collective letter to the Screen Actors Guild, asking them not to call an actors’ strike next year.

According to these celebrities, who support the union’s cause and their struggle, this is not the time to stop working when the country is in the midst of a recession.

The organisation’s directors have stated that they hope to avoid a strike, but they must first consult their members on January 2, since negotiations failed with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP).

A strike would send the industry plunging into chaos, and could affect the Oscars ceremony taking place February 22.

The screenwriters’ strike earlier this year resulted in a loss of 2 billion dollars.

Categories
Cinéma

Watch the Trailer for Angels & Demons

Columbia Pictures has released the first trailer for Angels & Demons, the sequel of the film the Da Vinci Code.

Tom Hanks returns to his role as religious expert Robert Langdon in the film. This time, Langdon discovers the rebirth of an ancient secret brotherhood called the Illuminati, the most powerful underground organisation on Earth. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, even murder.

Langdon will be up against the biggest menace that the Catholic Church has ever faced.

Ron Howard once again directed the film, which was adapted from the Dan Brown novel.

Angels & Demons opens in theatres on May 15, 2009.

Categories
Potins

Stars Unite for Paul Newman

Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Danny DeVito, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Billy Crystal will pay homage to Paul Newman during a benefit gala being held to raise funds for a camp for sick children called The Painted Turtle, founded by the deceased actor.

The evening will take place at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, California on October 27.

The stars will read excerpts from The World of Nick Adams, an adaptation of stories found in Ernest Hemingway’s autobiographies written by a long-time friend of Newman’s, A.E. Hotchner.

Categories
Potins

Winners from the 60th Emmy Awards

Yesterday (September 21), the 60th annual Emmy Awards ceremony took place in Los Angeles, reports People.

Mad Men won the award for Best Drama, while 30 Rock earned the prize for Best Comedy, and the stars of the show, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, were also honoured.

In particular, the mini-series John Adams, which Tom Hanks executive produced, swept the evening with a total of 13 Emmy awards. Five of the awards went to the cast, including Paul Giamatti for Best Actor and Laura Linney for Best Actress.

For the complete list of winners from the 60th Emmy Awards, click on the official Website.

Categories
Cinéma

Michael Keaton Joins Toy Story 3

Keaton has confirmed that he has joined the cast of the animated film Toy Story 3, along with Jodi Benson (Enchanted), who will provide the voice for Barbie.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen will return to the third installment of the film franchise, along with Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger and Ned Beatty.

In the new film, Woody and his friends from the toy box will face new challenges when Andy leaves for college.

Toy Story 3 is expected to hit theatres on June 18, 2010.

Michael Keaton provided his voice to Chick Hicks in the film Cars.  He will also be the voice behind the main character, Noah, in the animated film Noah’s Ark: The New Beginning.

Categories
Potins

Tom Hanks Banned from Catholic Church

The actor is currently shooting the movie Angels and Demons, the sequel to the film The Da Vinci Code, by author Dan Brown.  Ron Howard is directing the project, and had asked permission to film in two churches.  

A spokesperson for the Catholic Church confirmed that the request to shoot footage at the Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria churches has been refused.  The church feels that the controversial nature of the film is the reason for their denial.  Monseigneur Marco Fibbi explained, "It’s a film that treats religious issues in a way that contrasts with common religious sentiment. We would be helping them create a work that might well be beautiful but that does not conform to our views."

The Catholic Church was not happy when The Da Vinci Code was released, as the book suggests that Jesus was a married father when he died, which is not what the church believes.

Categories
Cinéma

Ewan McGregor May Star in Angels & Demons

The cast of the sequel of The Da Vinci Code is becoming clear with Ewan McGregor in negotiations to participate.  If he accepts the role, the 37-year-old star will play a senior at the Vatican who comes to the aid of Tom Hanks’ character, Robert Langdon.

Yesterday (April 24), Variety reported that the lead female role has been given to actress Ayelet Zurer, who will play Vittoria Vetra, an Italian scientist investigating the murder of her father.

Again, Ron Howard will be the director of the film, while the screenplay was written by Akiva Goldsman. 

The film is expected to be released in theatres on May 15, 2009. 

Categories
Cinéma

Ayelet Zurer Gets Big Leading Lady Part

Zurer (Munich, Vantage Point) landed the starring female role in the movie Angels & Demons, which is a sequel to The Da Vinci Code.  Tom Hanks will play Robert Langdon once again.  Naomi Watts was also in the running for this part.

Zurer will play Vittoria Vetra, daughter of physician Leonardo Vetra.  Vittoria works with Robert Langdon (Hanks) to uncover the reasons for her father’s murder.  They also try to stop a terrorist plot against the Vatican.

The movie will be directed by Ron Howard, who was also behind The Da Vinci Code, for Columbia Pictures.  Filming will begin in June in Europe.  The movie will be in theatres on May 15, 2009.

Zurer can also be seen in two other films this year entitled Longshot and Adam Resurrected.