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RocknRolla: Slow to Build With a Rockin' Finish

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:30:32 PST

RocknRolla is extremely similar in tone and format to director Guy Ritchie's other films, and I must say I'm starting to think that his movies are only as good as the actors in them. Snatch is a good ensemble piece overall, but the most memorable parts are due to standout performances by actors like Brad Pitt and Alan Ford. Though not as good a film as Snatch, RocknRolla similarly benefits from some fine performers, in this case Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong, and Toby Kebbell, among other members of the extensive cast in this convoluted story.

And by convoluted I mean I'm not sure I can even get into the plot here without writing another six paragraphs or so. Suffice to say there are a couple high-level criminal guys (played by Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong and others), a resourceful accountant (Thandie Newton), a few bumbling low-level thugs (Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy), and a druggie rock star, Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell) all chasing around large amounts of money and/or a beloved painting. There are a lot of men behaving badly because they had cruel fathers. There's a good amount of violence (often paired with great music) and torture mixed with dry, dark humor. It's funny and exciting - but not consistently so. For more on what I mean,

read more. The beginning is slow to build, with tons of details to take in at once, and sometimes the story is downright uninteresting. But the ending is exciting enough to make you forget the entire hour or so that came before it. Maybe that's Ritchie's shtick: Saving the best, most memorable parts for last so you're left with the impression that it was a great movie. So, is it worth it? That depends. If you haven't liked any of Ritchie's stuff in the past, this movie will definitely not change your opinion. If you've never seen his movies, start with Snatch and make RocknRolla last on the list. And for any fan of his, RocknRolla is worth it for the helluva good ride we get to take in the last third or so of the movie. Oh, also: We get a brief glimpse of Gerard Butler's bare backside. So. There's that. Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Gerard, Thandie, and Idris RocknRoll Their Way to LA

Molly — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:30:31 PDT

Thandie Newton was joined by costars Idris Elba and Gerard Butler last night for the LA premiere of RocknRolla. They've been all over to promote the film, from Canada to the UK, and it's finally opening to limited release in the US on Friday. Director Guy Ritchie missed this one, but the cast seems to have gotten pretty close after all that traveling - Thandie and Gerard even shared a few kisses on the red carpet. Gerard's romance with Jennifer Aniston may have ended up being nothing, but even happily married Thandie seemed to enjoy his charming company.

To see more photos from the event, just read more.

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Images include: Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Thandie Newton, Danny Masterson, Chris Masterson, Joel Silver, Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Garcelle Beauvais, Kellan Lutz, Natalie Zea, Lisa Edelstein Source and Source

Jeremy Piven Wants to be the "Jewish Michael Phelps"

PopSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:30:57 PDT

After walking the red carpet in London, the RocknRolla crew flew over to Canada for their Toronto Film Festival premiere last night. The movie got a good review from PopSugar UK, and the cast looked like they were having a blast messing around with each other. After chatting with Jeremy at the Entourage premiere, we know he loves to joke around, talking about his Broadway debut and what is coming up for Ari in the new season. Here's more from what he told us on Wednesday night:

On Entourage: "I think this particular dynamic is really interesting because its a bunch of guys with a NY sensibility, where they speak the truth to each other as they know it, and it can be tough love at times and really really brutal, but no matter what their status is they are going to give it to you straight and I think there’s something very endearing about that."
On filming in NYC: "I love it. I wish I could film everything here to be honest with you. I’m actually going to start rehearsing on Monday. I’m doing Broadway around the corner. I’m doing Speed-the-Plow. It’s basically my Olympics. I’m doing eight shows a week and I just want to be the Jewish Michael Phelps."
On Ari changing in the upcoming season: "I think that the audience will see other sides to him that I’ve always thought existed - the complete dedication and love for his family . . . the fact that when he takes mushrooms in the desert and is peaking. He’s completely lost and without Lloyd he’ll never make it home. So that happens and that’s one of the greatest moments I’ve ever been able to play in my life. I’ve done a great deal of research."

While Jeremy called his Broadway experience "the role of a lifetime," we can't wait to see him back playing Ari alongside the boys when Entourage returns on Sunday.

To see more photos including Gerard Butler, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, and Guy Ritchie just

Madonna Loves Her RocknRolla Guy

Molly — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:02:00 PDT

It was Madonna's turn to play supportive spouse at the premiere of Guy Ritchie's new movie RocknRolla in London last night. On a night off from her Sticky and Sweet tour, Madonna didn't join her husband on the red carpet until Guy had already spent an hour talking to the press and greeting fans. When asked about how they make it work he said, "You've just got to love your wife. . . Is that boring enough?" The famous couple looked glamorous, as did the movie's stars Gerard Butler and Thandie Newton. Meanwhile, as Madonna's world tour rolls on there may be trouble on the road already dealing with a disgruntled tour crew. There's always controversy when it comes to Madonna, but she probably wouldn't have it any other way.

To see more of Madonna, Guy, Thandie, Gerard and others just

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Images include: Madonna, Guy Ritchie, Joel Silver, Thandie Newton, Trudie Styler, Gerard Butler Source

Movie Preview: Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:31:47 PDT

The title of this movie doesn't have an exclamation point at the end - I added that to the headline on account of my extreme enthusiasm for the RocknRolla trailer! As a huge fan of Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, I am positively giddy to see a trailer for another movie in that same vein. Plus, the cast rocks. There's Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven, and, well, Ludacris. There's also Hottie McManly himself, Gerard Butler.

The trailer shows a supernatural aspect to this movie, along with the same old violence and that kind of wry, dark humor that permeates Snatch and Barrels. The plot description states: "London's criminal underworld takes notice of a Russian mobster's shady land deal, a scam that puts millions of dollars up for grabs."

If you are already a fan of director Guy Ritchie's style (we can ignore that he ever had anything to do with Swept Away for now), you might swoon at this trailer just as much as I am. The movie opens in the UK September 12, and then we'll get it October 31. Until the video becomes embeddable, you'll have to check out the trailer over on Empire where it premiered. Enjoy! And let me know what you think.

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Buzz News Roundup, 5/14

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 May 2007 14:07:14 PDT

Maria Bello is set to replace Rachel Weisz in the next Mummy movie, Variety tells us.
The Smashing Pumpkins plan "residencies" in San Francisco and Asheville, N.C. this summer, Billboard reports.
The Los Angeles Times profiles Judd Apatow, whom they call "the mayor of comedy."
CBS is giving up on Innertube and looking for new places to put its online videos, writes the Wall Street Journal.
Speaking of CBS, the network has some crazy shows lined up for fall, Variety reports.

Hollywood Reporter says Guy Ritchie's next directorial project will be RocknRolla, an "ensemble British gangster flick" in the vein of Snatch.
The AP reports that Serbian singer Marija Serifovic won this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Finland. In other Eurovision news, the co-screenwriter for Borat is working on a comedic movie about the contest, says Variety.

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How War Horse's Tom Hiddleston, Toby Kebbell, and Patrick Kennedy Celebrated Nabbing Spielberg Roles

Allie Merriam — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:04:00 PST

Steven Spielberg's War Horse is getting lots of award season buzz ahead of its Dec. 25 release, but his cast of hot British actors should be getting equal press! We sat down with three of Steven's male stars, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Kennedy, and Toby Kebbell, at the recent NY junket. The guys could be familiar faces already. Tom starred in both Midnight in Paris and Thor, and Patrick earned UK fame in the BBC's most recent adaptation of Dickens's Bleak House. Toby, meanwhile, had roles in Rocknrolla and Prince of Persia. None of that previous experience prepared the guys to land a role in a Spielberg film - find out what crazy things they did when they got the excellent news!