james gandolfini

Rate-a-Trailer: HBO’s ‘Cinema Verite’

Long before the Kardashians had multiple TV shows on E!, Ozzy Osbourne had ever unintelligibly bellowed out “Sharon,” or Jon and Kate’s eight were even a twinkle in their eye, there was a family called the Louds who were the subject of a 1973 PBS documentary series called An American Family. Considered one of the first reality TV series, it also tackled many taboos of the day, chronicling Bill and Pat Loud’s separation and eventual divorce, as well as the sexuality of their openly gay son, Lance. HBO’s upcoming original movie Cinema Verite, which stars Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, and James Gandolfini, provides an imagined look at what went on behind-the-scenes as cameras took over their Santa Barbara home. Is it a little weird that a fictional movie is being made about a reality TV show? Sure. But thanks to a stellar cast, we think that this definitely looks juicy enough to tune in — if only to ogle their ’70s-inspired ensembles. Click through and let us know what you think. … Read More

The Morning’s Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

1. Leftist historian Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States and a favorite of celebrities like Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, and Bruce Springsteen, has died at 87. [via NPR]
2. Charlize Theron and David Fincher are collaborating on a new drama series for HBO called Mind Hunter that will… Read More

The Morning’s Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

1. Don’t believe the trending Twitter topic: Kanye West is not dead. [via NME]
2. Yesterday Barnes & Noble launched an unfortunately-named but rather cool e-reader set to rival the Kindle: the Nook. [via LAT]
3. Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, and James Gandolfini are largely responsible for one of… Read More

James Gandolfini’s Overactive Salivary Glands…

Ever since I read Adam Gopnik’s fascinating New Yorker profile of Yasmina Reza (seriously, she and Nicolas Sarkozy are like BFF because of this insider book she wrote about his campaign), I’ve been dying to see her latest play God of Carnage. Back in 1998, the French playwright’s drama Art won a bunch of awards Stateside; God of Carnage is nominated for six Tony Awards, including a nod for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for James Gandolfini. That’s why I find this Page Six story so funny.… Read More

Vanity Fair’s Idea of Theatre Looks Like a Random Assortment of Hollywood B-Listers

Humor us for a second: Wouldn’t it have been interesting if Vanity Fair actually talked to respected, less well-known stage actors instead of honing in on every celebrity with a project on Broadway for the upcoming theatre feature in their June issue? … Read More

Hollywood Comes to Broadway this Season (Again.)

Despite Jeremy Piven’s rave reviews in Speed-the-Plow, his acting abilities have their limits: There’s still a chance he could owe the show’s producers money, and permanently soured public/critical opinion against a Tony nod. In the words of his onscreen alter ego Ari Gold, maybe it’s time for him and Mamet to drop their beef and hug it out bitch. … Read More