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Weinergate: Let's Cast the Inevitable Anthony Weiner Film

Movieline — 2011-06-09T20:00:00+00:00

It's the political scandal of the moment -- that is, until the next political scandal of the moment. New York congressman Anthony Weiner was busted for engaging in "inappropriate online exchanges with at least six women and repeatedly lying about sending a sexually suggestive photograph to a young woman over Twitter last month." (Somewhere, John Edwards is saying, "Oh, is that all?") In a summer of superheroes and precocious kids, Weiner stands out as, well, a wiener. And knowing Hollywood, that means a film about the formerly rising (Ding!) political star cannot be far behind. Ahead, Movieline offers five casting suggestions for the inevitable Weinergate.

Adrien Brody as Anthony Weiner
There are few Hollywood leading men in Anthony Weiner's age bracket that can give the still-seated congressman a run for his money in the Adam's apple department. (Andrew Garfield is close, but far too young for this role.) At 38, Adrien Brody is only eight years Weiner's junior, possesses the requisite strong apple, and is originally from Woodhaven, N.Y., a neighborhood inside the 9th District that Weiner represents. A better fit simply isn't possible.

Rosario Dawson as Huma Abedin

Some background on Huma Abedin: Married to Weiner for barely one year, she's also a political up-and-comer. (Ding?) Abedin started her career as an intern during the Clinton administration, and later became Hillary Clinton's traveling chief of staff during the 2008 campaign for the Democratic Party nomination. That's all well and good, but what matters for this exercise is that she looks like a bevvy of Hollywood starlets -- Abedin bares a passing resemblance to both Gwen Stefani and Olivia Thirlby (too blond and too young, respectively), but neither bring the looks and toughness together like Rosario Dawson does. That Dawson is also very politically minded herself is an added bonus.

David Morse as Andrew Breitbart

Andrew Breitbart broke Weinergate open last week, and then on Monday he hijacked the congressman's press conference -- a ridiculous sequence of events which Jon Stewart correctly dubbed something akin to an episode of 'Maury.' With his beady eyes and oily demeanor, Breitbart certainly recalls Will Ferrell's performance as George W. Bush, but that might be a bit too on the nose. Give David Morse 20 pounds, though, and Breitbart could come to cinematic life. For what it's worth, Val Kilmer would also work here, though probably only if Oliver Stone directed.

Sarah Hyland as Meagan Broussard

26-year-old Texas resident Meagan Broussard was one of at least six women that Anthony Weiner sent sexually charged messages and photographs to. "I just thought it was risky. Real risky," she said to ABC News. Not that risk prevented her from sending some sexually charged images back. Oh, well! Broussard looks very much like Rena Sofer, but since she's almost 20 years older than the Texas nurse, 'Modern Family' star Sarah Hyland gets the call. (Alternatively, Hyland could play Bristol Palin in the movie version of Sarah Palin's 'The Undefeated.')

Raven-Symoné as Gennette Cordova

Poor Gennette Cordova. The girl voted "Most Likely to Be Involved in a Tabloid Scandal" by her high school classmates actually was: She mistakenly received a crotch shot from Weiner over Twitter, and was the Patient Zero of the entire scandal. Courtesy of her Facebook page, she also looks a lot like Raven-Symoné. That's so ~~Raven~~ random!

Written by Christopher Rosen at Movieline.

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13 Indispensable Box Office Facts About Woody Allen

Movieline — 2011-06-03T12:00:00+00:00

Woody Allen's latest film, 'Midnight in Paris,' just had the best limited debut of 2011 and the highest per-theater average in nearly two years. What better occasion to revisit his ups and downs at the box office?

'Paris,' Allen's 46th feature film as director, has grossed $3.8 million so far in limited release thanks to mostly glowing reviews (not to mention launching a new celeb couple in co-stars Rachel McAdams and Michael Sheen).

In this Moviefone exclusive courtesy of Movieline, we look at Allen's many hits ('Annie Hall,' 'Hannah and Her Sisters') and misses (the best-forgotten 'Anything Else' with Jason Biggs).

A few box office facts for the Allen-obsessed after the jump.

From Movieline:

1. Highest-Grossing: 'Hannah and Her Sisters' ($40 million)

'Hannah and Her Sisters' opened in limited release on Feb. 7, 1986 before going nationwide on March 14 of that same year. (It landed in fifth place during that weekend, behind 'Gung Ho,' 'Pretty in Pink,' 'The Color Purple' and 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills.') 'Sisters 'was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. With $39.9 million, 'Manhattan' is Allen's second biggest grosser, and largest when adjusted for inflation.

2. Lowest-Grossing: 'September' ($486,484)

Released the year after the box office success of 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' 'September' was rife with production issues (according to Farrow, Allen actually shot the film twice); unsurprisingly, it failed at the box office. 'Cassandra's Dream' -- which grossed only $973,018 in 2007 -- ranks second among Allen's domestic financial flops.

3. Highest-Grossing With Woody As Star: 'Manhattan' ($39.9 million)

Since Allen was merely part of the ensemble in 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' his leading man performance in 'Manhattan' ranks as his biggest (non-'Antz') starring role.

4. Lowest-Grossing With Woody As Star: 'Shadows and Fog' ($2.7 million)

With a budget of $19 million, the comic-drama-noir 'Shadows and Fog' was one of Allen's costly misfires. Fun fact: 'Fog' opened the same weekend as 'Basic Instinct.'

5. Highest-Grossing With a Woody Surrogate: Seth Green, 'Radio Days' ($14.7 million)

Owen Wilson is getting some high praise for his embodiment of the Woody Allen-type in 'Midnight in Paris,' but for him to reach truly iconic Allen stand-in status he'll need to see 'Paris' gross more than 'Radio Days.' As a young version of the onscreen Woodster, Seth Green helped lead 'Radio Days' to $14 million back in 1987. John Cusack - who was one of the better Woody Allen clones in 'Bullets Over Broadway' - earns the silver medal with $13.3 million in grosses for his film.

6. Lowest-Grossing with a Woody Surrogate: Jason Biggs, 'Anything Else' ($3.2 million)

Allen co-stars with Biggs in 'Anything Else,' but the "Woody role" falls decidedly on the 'American Pie' star's shoulders. Unlike some of Allen's other financial misfires, 'Anything Else' didn't even do well overseas; 'Cassandra's Dream' outgrossed the comedy by nearly $10 million worldwide.

Watch the trailer for 'Midnight in Paris'

7. Highest-Grossing With Diane Keaton: 'Manhattan' ($39.9 million)

Keaton co-starred with Allen in two of his biggest financial successes, but it was 'Manhattan' that grossed more than 'Annie Hall.' The lesson: there's always more money in the sequel, even if it's not a sequel. (See: 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up.')

8. Highest-Grossing with Mia Farrow: 'Hannah and Her Sisters' ($40 million)

The second of Allen's muses, Farrow has the distinct honor of starring in the director's most lucrative film and his lowest earner ('September').

9. Highest-Grossing with Scarlett Johansson: 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' ($23.3 million)

Say what you will about the Scarlett Johansson-as-muse era of Allen filmmaking, but it produced two of his biggest hits ('Barcelona' and 'Match Point'), which -- not coincidentally -- were also two of his most well-regarded films from the last twenty years. We can all just forget that 'Scoop' happened.

10. Widest Release: 'Anything Else,' 1033 screens on Sept. 19, 2003

Insult to injury: despite the incredible amount of screens for a Woody Allen release, 'Anything Else' only opened in 12th place. To date, it's the only Allen film to ever top 1000 screens.

11. Smallest Release: 'Melinda and Melinda,' 1 screen on March 18, 2005

Most Allen films start off in limited release - 'Midnight in Paris' is only open on six screens as of Friday - but 'Melinda and Melinda' gets the brass ring of limited: it was out in just one theater initially, grossing $74,238 over opening weekend. The film went only to earn just $3.8 million domestically (and another $17 million worldwide), which still makes it better than 'Anything Else.'

12. Combined Grosses for the last 10 Woody Allen Films: $85.3 million

13. Total Films That Grossed More Than That in One Weekend During the Same Time Frame: 24

Not that anyone needs to hold a fund-raiser for Woody Allen, but his box office potential as a director has been reduced significantly since the mid-'80s, barring the occasional art house breakthrough ('Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' 'Match Point'). Judging from the reviews of 'Midnight in Paris,' that film could potentially join those titles as latter-day box office hits. If not, there's always next year -- Allen is filming his next film this summer in Italy.

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9 Milestones in the Evolution of Brad Pitt

Movieline — 2011-06-02T14:15:00+00:00

By Julie Miller at Movieline

In Terrence Malick's 'The Tree of Life,' Brad Pitt assumes the role of 1950s disciplinarian whose no-nonsense form of parenting complicates the evolution of his own offspring. How did Pitt transform himself from the free-spirited cowboy hitchhiker in 'Thelma & Louise' to the stern father who escorts his sons to church every Sunday in this weekend's Palme d'Or-winning drama?

You can always trace a direct line through a few important roles to illustrate what led to an actor's current success. Hit the jump to check out nine pivotal performances that track the evolution of Brad Pitt.

'Dallas' (1987)
After landing a few bit parts in projects like 'Less Than Zero' and 'Growing Pains,' the Missouri native landed his first recurring role on the CBS soap opera 'Dallas.' For five episodes, the future A-lister played the idiot boyfriend of Priscilla Presley's onscreen daughter. It was also on 'Dallas' that Pitt had his first onscreen kiss, with co-star Shalane McCall.

'Thelma & Louise' (1991)
Four years later, Pitt scored his first breakout part as the scene-stealing shirtless cowboy who charms his way into Louise's convertible and Thelma's hotel room before making off with Louise's life savings. The career-boosting role was originally supposed to go to Billy Baldwin, who had to drop the project when he was cast in 'Backdraft.'

'A River Runs Through It' (1992)
Following a starring role in the ill-received Tom Di Cillo indie 'Johnny Suede,' Robert Redford cast Pitt as his lead in this Academy Award-winning period drama. As a rebellious minister's son whose own interests don't necessarily align with his father's, Pitt was finally given the chance to showcase his talent (and not just his looks) onscreen. This role is often cited as Pitt's career-making performance.

Watch the trailer for 'A River Runs Through It.

'Legends of the Fall' (1994)
Just a month after his Anne Rice adaptation 'Interview with a Vampire' hit theaters, Brad Pitt returned to the multiplex for 'Legends of the Fall.' Like in 'A River Runs Through It,' the actor again portrayed a free-spirited brother in a period film, this time opposite Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn and Julia Ormond. His role in this forbidden romance earned him his first Golden Globe nomination and almost as important to his career (if not more so), the title of People's Sexiest Man Alive.

'Meet Joe Black' (1998)
Following a gruesome role opposite his then-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow in David Fincher's 'Seven,' his first Oscar nomination (for Terry Gilliam's ''12 Monkeys') and his banishment from China (because of 'Seven Years in Tibet'), Pitt reunited with Anthony Hopkins in Martin Brest's 'Meet Joe Black.' Boldly playing the role of Death in the most expensive non-special-effects-driven movie ever made, Pitt and the three-hour film both received mixed reviews.

Watch the trailer for 'Meet Joe Black.'

'Fight Club' (1999)
A year later, Pitt reunited with David Fincher for the controversial adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel. Like in '12 Monkeys,' the actor explored the psychologically disturbed with his portrayal of Tyler Durden, Edward Norton's uber-violent onscreen alter ego. Pitt flexed his muscles again two years later as a bare-knuckle boxing champ in Guy Ritchie's crime film 'Snatch.'

Watch the trailer for 'Fight Club.'

'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' (2005)
Six years and one (literally) epic $175 million misfire ('Troy') later, Brad Pitt was back in theaters with his most successful romantic comedy to date. After failing to generate much heat with his 'Mexican' co-star Julia Roberts in 2001, Pitt's off-screen chemistry with Angelina Jolie (and the tabloid's interest in his deteriorating marriage) buoyed the film's worldwide box office gross to nearly $500 million.

'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' (2007)
The previous year, Pitt launched his producing career with the documentary 'God Grew Tired of Us.' A year later, Pitt would enjoy dual credits for the first time as he produced and starred in this limited release Western thriller. Since 'The Assassination of Jesse James,' Pitt's Plan B production company has gained momentum with projects including 'The Time Traveler's Wife,' 'Kick-Ass' and 'Eat Pray Love.'

Watch the trailer for 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.'

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' (2008)
For the third time in his 24-year (and counting) career, Pitt reteamed with David Fincher for this effects-heavy drama about a man who ages in reverse. The actor, who spent his career raising speculation that he would never receive the actor-ly praise he deserves because of his good looks, was finally able to shed the bone structure and body that both boosted his career and detracted from his credibility. Perhaps after this project -- which nullified his good thanks to generous CGI and make-up -- and over three decades worth of improving performances, Brad Pitt will finally be able to win the Oscar that some believe he deserves.

Watch the trailer for 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'

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