Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

George Clooney Producing August: Osage County

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If a movie already has Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts attached, you wouldn’t think it would need any more star power, but it’s getting some behind-the-scenes, as George Clooney has just signed on to produce August: Osage County.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play by Tracy Letts, August: Osage County tells the story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Streep has been cast as pill-popping matriarch Violet Weston, and Roberts will play her complicated adult daughter Barbara. John Wells will direct from Letts’ screen adaptation.

Clooney commented, “Grant and I are thrilled to work on this project. It’s already a great cast and great material and I can’t think of anyone better than Harvey [Weinstein] to put this all together. And we’re particularly excited to work with our dear friend John Wells [who gave Clooney his big break on ER]. It’s such a terrific group and we feel honored to help bring it to the screen.”

The filmmakers are still casting, with shooting set to begin this autumn. (Source: Variety)

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Watch Clooney, Pitt and Co. In 8: A Play About The Fight For Marriage Equality

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Last night a ridiculously star studded ensemble gathered in LA to participate in a reading of Dustin Lance Black’s play, 8, about the fight for marriage equality in California and more specifically the court case that struck down Prop 8, which has banned same sex marriage in the US’ most populous state.

However if you didn’t stay up to watch the livestream which hit 3.45am UK time, the whole thing is now on Youtube, and we’ve embedded it above. As often with staged readings of plays, it’s slightly static and a little hammy, but it still works and the starry ensemble is certainly impressive.

If you want to watch, start the video above and then click “Skip ahead to start” to get to the beginning, about 30 minutes in. It’s well worth watching, with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch, John C. Reilly, Chris Colfer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Cleve Jones, George Takei,  Yeardley Smith, Christine Lahti, Jamie Lee Curtis, Matthew Morrison and Matt Bomer all taking part.

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Brad Pitt Joins Clooney & Co. In Star-Studded Prop. 8 Play Reading

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It was already set to be one of the most star-studded plays in history, and now it’s got even starrier as Brad Pitt has signed up for this Saturday’s staged reading of Dustin Lance Black’s play, 8.

He joins George Clooney, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch, John C. Reilly, Chris Colfer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Cleve Jones, George Takei,  Yeardley Smith, Christine Lahti, Jamie Lee Curtis, Matthew Morrison, Matt Bomer and others in the one night only event, which hopes to raise millions for the fight for marriage equality.

Black’s play is based on transcripts and interviews with those involved in the court case that sought to overturn Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriage in California. Brad Pitt will star as Judge Vaughn R. Walker, the man who found Prop. 8 unconstitutional.

Until now this incredible starry event looked like it would be limited to the lucky few who managed to snag a ticket to attend the reading at LA’s Wilshire Ebell Theatre. However, it’s now been announced that the whole thing will be livestreamed free on Youtube. The only snag being that as it takes place at 7.45pm LA time, that’s 3.45am in the UK.

Black wrote the play because he believes people need to witness what actually happened in the case, and the Youtube stream is part of that. “People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter,” said Black. “I’ve built my career around exposing and uncovering ‘the real story.’ The goal of 8 is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right and that those who would deny this basic freedom from loving, committed couples have only vitriol and baseless hyperbole to fall back on. The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light. We are doing all we can to help speed that process along.”

You can watch director Rob Reiner’s announcement about the livestream here, and you’ll be able to return there on Saturday night to watch the star-studded production.

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Chris Colfer and Kevin Bacon Join Prop. 8 Play Reading

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It’ll be one of the most star-studded plays in history! On March 3rd at LA’s Wilshire Ebell Theatre, a special gala reading is taking place of Dustin Lance Black’s play, 8. The cast has now been completed with Chris Colfer (Glee), Kevin Bacon, and John C. Reilly signing on to join the already starry ensemble, all supporting the fight to have Prop 8 – which banned gay marriage in California – repealed.

Colfer, Bacon and Reilly join George Clooney, Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Matt Bomer, Jamie Lee Curtis, George Takei, Matthew Morrison, Yeardley Smith, Campbell Brown, Rory O’Malley, and activist Cleve Jones in the production, which will be the West Coast premiere of the play. 8 is based on the transcript of the court case that overturned Proposition 8 (a decision that is currently working its ways through the appeals court), as well as interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.

Chris Colfer will play Ryan Kendall, a young man who testified about his experience being sent by his parents to so-called “reparative therapy” as a teenager. John C. Reilly will play United States District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who found Proposition 8 unconstitutional after presiding over the historic 12-day public trial. Kevin Bacon will play Charles J. Cooper, the lead attorney for the anti-marriage proponents of Proposition 8

It’ll certainly be an interesting evening, although if you want to go, you’re out of luck as tickets for the charity event have long sold out. The one-night-only event is expected to raise $2 million for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

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The Descendants

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The Descendants was no doubt Oscar bound at its inception – directed and written by Alexander Payne (of Election, Sideways and About Schmidt fame) and starring one of The Oscars current favourites, George Clooney. With five nominations, the only question now is whether it’ll win.

Matthew King’s (Clooney) wife has been involved in a major accident and is on a life support machine. He is a lawyer as well as the executor of his extended family’s massive estate, even though he’s completely out of touch with his immediate family. The plot centres around Clooney coming to terms with, taking control of and understanding more about his fractured family, whilst also learning about his wife’s infidelity. [Read more…]

Jane Lynch Joins George Clooney In Dustin Lance Black’s Play, 8

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A few weeks ago it was revealed George Clooney would take part in a staged reading of 8, Dustin Lance Black’s play about the court case surrounding Proposition 8 in the California. Now more cast members for the March 3rd at LA’s Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

Adding to the star power, according to the LA Times, are Jamie Lee Curtis, Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Glee’s Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch. The play has been performed in New York, but this will be its East Coast premiere, and as it’s taking place in LA, it can call on plenty of celebs. The play chronicles the historic federal court trial overturning Proposition 8, the ballot measure that denied gay and lesbian Californians the right to marry, and is based on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families. Also taking part in the reading are Matt Bomer, George Takei, Yeardley Smith, Campbell Brown, Rory O’Malley and Cleve Jones.

All proceeds from the event will go to American Foundation for Equal Rights, with the $2 million that’s expected to be raised being used to continue fighting the court case and on awareness raising events.

It’s also been revealed that 8 will be licensed to be performed in universities and schools for free, with 40 productions expected to take advantage of this during 2012. Milk and J. Edgar screenwriter Dustin Lance Black commented, “People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter. I’ve built my career around exposing and uncovering ‘the real story,’ The goal of 8 is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right and that those who would deny this basic freedom from loving, committed couples have only vitriol and baseless hyperbole to fall back on. The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light. We are doing all we can to help speed that process along.”

And while we’re talking about Dustin, the recently married writer has just found distribution for his directorial debut, Virginia. The movie stars Jennifer Connelly, Emma Roberts and Ed Harris and centers around Virginia, a mentally ill mother protected by her illegitimate son Emmett, whose father may be the local Mormon sheriff. Their small-town secrets are threatened when Emmett begins a romantic relationship with the sheriff’s daughter, while her father runs for public office. Entertainment One has picked up North American right to the movie and a release date is expected to be announced soon. No UK release is currently set.

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Golden Globe Winners Announced – Christopher Plummer Wins For Beginners

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If anyone was hoping that the Golden Globes would reveal a frontrunner for the Oscar, they’ll be disappointed, as that awards went pretty much across the board when they were handed out last night. The big winners were The Descendants for Best Picture (Drama) and The Artist for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy).

Although The Descendants has been a bit of a quiet success, there are many who feel it could do well at the Oscars and may win George Clooney a Best Actor award (as he got at the Globes on the Drama side).

On the LGBT side, the only film winner was Christopher Plummer, who picked up the Best Supporting Actor awards for playing an elderly gay man in Beginners. While Glenn Close was nominated for playing a woman living as a man in Albert Nobbs, she was beaten out by Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady in the Best Actress (Drama) category. In the TV categories, gay-friendly Modern Family did well, winning Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy.

Interestingly, while Best Director normally goes to someone who helmed one of the Best Picture winning films, in this case Martin Scorsese won for Hugo, which was that movie’s only award. It would be surprising if that patterns followed again at the Oscars. Other films to get at least one gong include Tintin, W.E., and A Separation. However overall it was The Artist that did best, with three awards, although it certainly didn’t sweep the boards and while it puts it in a strong position for the Academy Awards, it is by no means a cert.

Take a look below for all the winners in all the categories at this year’s Golden Globes.

Best Motion Picture – Drama
WINNER:
The Descendants

Nominees:
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
WINNER:
The Artist

Nominees:
Bridesmaids
50/50
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
WINNER:
George Clooney for The Descendants

Nominees:
Leonardo DiCaprio for J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender for Shame
Ryan Gosling for The Ides of March
Brad Pitt for Moneyball

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
WINNER:
Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady

Nominees:
Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis for The Help
Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Tilda Swinton for We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
WINNER:
Jean Dujardin for The Artist

Nominees:
Brendan Gleeson for The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt for 50/50
Ryan Gosling for Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson for Midnight in Paris

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
WINNER:
Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn

Nominees:
Jodie Foster for Carnage
Charlize Theron for Young Adult
Kristen Wiig for Bridesmaids
Kate Winslet for Carnage

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
WINNER:
Christopher Plummer for Beginners

Nominees:
Kenneth Branagh for My Week with Marilyn
Albert Brooks for Drive
Jonah Hill for Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen for A Dangerous Method

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
WINNER:
Octavia Spencer for The Help

Nominees:
Bérénice Bejo for The Artist
Jessica Chastain for The Help
Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs
Shailene Woodley for The Descendants

Best Director – Motion Picture
WINNER:
Martin Scorsese for Hugo

Nominees:
Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris
George Clooney for The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Alexander Payne for The Descendants

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
WINNER:
Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen

Nominees:
The Artist: Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
The Ides of March: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon
Moneyball: Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
WINNER:
W.E.: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry(Masterpiece)

Nominees:
Albert Nobbs: Brian Byrne, Glenn Close(Lay Your Head Down)
Gnomeo & Juliet: Elton John, Bernie Taupin(Hello Hello)
The Help: Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason Jr., Damon Thomas(The Living Proof)
Machine Gun Preacher: Chris Cornell(The Keeper)

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
WINNER:
The Artist: Ludovic Bource

Nominees:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Hugo: Howard Shore
War Horse: John Williams
W.E.: Abel Korzeniowski

Best Animated Film
WINNER:
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Nominees:
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Best Foreign Language Film
WINNER:
A Separation (Iran)

Nominees:
The Flowers of War (China)
In the Land of Blood and Honey (USA)
The Kid with a Bike (Belgium)
The Skin I Live In (Spain)

Best Television Series – Drama
WINNER:
Homeland

Nominees:
American Horror Story
Boardwalk Empire
Boss
Game of Thrones

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
WINNER:
Modern Family

Nominees:
Enlightened
Episodes
Glee
New Girl

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
WINNER:
Downton Abbey

Nominees:
Cinema Verite
The Hour
Mildred Pierce
Too Big to Fail

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
WINNER:
Kelsey Grammer for Boss

Nominees:
Steve Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad
Jeremy Irons for The Borgias
Damian Lewis for Homeland

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
WINNER:
Claire Danes for Homeland

Nominees:
Mireille Enos for The Killing
Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife
Madeleine Stowe for Revenge
Callie Thorne for Necessary Roughness

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
WINNER:
Matt LeBlanc for Episodes

Nominees:
Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock
David Duchovny for Californication
Johnny Galecki for The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Jane for Hung

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
WINNER:
Laura Dern for Enlightened

Nominees:
Zooey Deschanel for New Girl
Tina Fey for 30 Rock
Laura Linney for The Big C
Amy Poehler for Parks and Recreation

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
WINNER:
Idris Elba for Luther

Nominees:
Hugh Bonneville for Downton Abbey
William Hurt for Too Big to Fail
Bill Nighy for Page Eight
Dominic West for The Hour

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
WINNER:
Kate Winslet for Mildred Pierce

Nominees:
Romola Garai for The Hour
Diane Lane for Cinema Verite
Elizabeth McGovern for Downton Abbey
Emily Watson for Appropriate Adult

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
WINNER:
Peter Dinklage for Game of Thrones

Nominees:
Paul Giamatti for Too Big to Fail
Guy Pearce for Mildred Pierce
Tim Robbins for Cinema Verite
Eric Stonestreet for Modern Family

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
WINNER:
Jessica Lange for American Horror Story

Nominees:
Kelly Macdonald for Boardwalk Empire
Maggie Smith for Downton Abbey
Sofía Vergara for Modern Family
Evan Rachel Wood for Mildred Pierce

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George Clooney To Direct The Monuments Men

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George Clooney is busy looking for directorial projects at them moment. A few weeks ago it was reported that he’s working on a film about the Smothers Brothers, and now TheWrap says George is set to tell a story about artwork stolen by the Nazis during WWII.

Clooney has optioned the nonfiction book, The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel and will adapt the project with producing partner Grant Heslov for Sony Pictures. The filmmaker hopes to direct the film and may also star.

The book tells the story of the US government’s efforts to retrieve artwork stolen by the Nazis and the art experts whose skills were put to use in the campaign. The title comes from the name given to the American and British art historians and museum curators who helped the military track down the stolen pieces.

“I’m not opposed to doing a commercial film, I’m just opposed to doing a commercial film that doesn’t feel organic to me,” George Clooney told the The Wrap at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Saturday. “So if we’re going to do a commercial film, we thought ‘Let’s do something that seems fun and actually has something to say.'”

General movie news courtesy of Movie Muser

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Sandra Bullock Ditches The Makeup For Gravity

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Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity is definitely one of the more intriguing movies of 2012, with rumours the movie largely just has Sandra Bullock on screen for most of the running time and features single takes lasting up to 20 minutes.

The film is currently in post-production and working towards a November release date, but Sandra Bullock, has been talking about the movie with USA Today, and now director Alfonso Cuarón wouldn’t allow his stars to wear any make-up in the space-set thriller.

She says, “God help us all when my face comes rushing at you with no makeup on. I’m going to apologise now, but Alfonso, in a brilliant move, said, ‘No makeup.’ Our vain little heads are going to be some massive 17-foot image [in IMAX]. You are going to see details because it’s shot on this digital film that shows everything. It’s so scary. There are scenes where you say, ‘This is where you have to let go and let God.’ And, thank God, there are no nude scenes.”

It’ll be interesting to see in the first trailer, whether the no makeup rule really affects the look of the movie. Here’s the synopsis: ‘[Sandra] Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky [George Clooney] in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone–tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness.

‘The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.’

General movie news courtesy of Movie Muser

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George Clooney To Star In Marriage Equality Play

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There’s no doubting George Clooney’s liberal credentials, and he’s proving it once again by confirming he’ll star in a production of a play about marriage equality by Milk and J. Edgar screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. However if you’re hoping to catch it, you’ll probably be out of luck as it’s on for one night only.

It’ll be the second staging of the play, following a successful performance of the play in New York in September featuring a cast including Morgan Freeman, Ellen Barkin, John Lithgow and Bradley Whitford. This new Los Angeles version will be directed by Rob Reiner (Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally) and take place on March 3rd at LA’s Wilshire Ebell Theatre. The play itself chronicles the historic federal court trial overturning Proposition 8, the ballot measure that denied gay and lesbian Californians the right to marry.

“It is astonishing that gay and lesbian Americans are still treated as second-class citizens,” Clooney says. “I am confident that, very soon, the laws of this nation will reflect the basic truth that gay and lesbian people — like all human beings — are born equal in dignity and rights.”

The news comes at the same time that those against Prop 8 are seeking to have video of the trial released to the public, while those who argued for discrimination want it to remain hidden. Dustin Lance Black comments, “People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter.”

The ruling in that case is still slowly working its way through the appeals process, but assuming it’s upheld (which it should be because the grounds against it are bigoted and faintly stupid), Californian same-sex couples will be allowed to marry again, as they were for a brief period a few years ago. And it’ll all be because of George Clooney (well, no it won’t, but good on him anyway)! (Source: THR)

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