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Stars Pay Tribute to Minghella
20 March 2008 (WENN)
Hollywood stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey and Ralph Fiennes have paid moving tributes to Oscar-winning film director Anthony Minghella who died on Tuesday. The British filmmaker - who the won Best Director Oscar for his 1996 movie The English Patient - died from complications following surgery for cancer of the tonsils and neck, which he underwent last week at London's Charing Cross Hospital. He was 54-years-old. Paltrow, who starred in the director's Academy Award-nominated film The Talented Mr. Ripley alongside Jude Law and Matt Damon, stated she was "shocked" by the news, calling Minghella "a wonderful man." American Beauty star Kevin Spacey, who was a close friend of the Cold Mountain moviemaker, says, "He was one of the greats and anybody who loves storytelling will realize that he had much more to do and it's an incredibly sad moment. I just found out and he was a great man and a great friend." Brit actor Ralph Fiennes, who was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his starring role in Minghella's The English Patient, fondly remembers his time working on the hit film with the late director. He says, "Anthony possessed a sensitivity and alertness to the actor's process that very few directors have. He directed most of The English Patient with an ankle in plaster, never losing his gentle humor and precision. His films deal with extreme aloneness and the redemptive power of love, even at the moment of death. I will remember him as a man who always wanted to get to the heart of the matter."

Director Anthony Minghella Dies at 54
18 March 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Director Anthony Minghella, who won an Academy Award for directing the 1996 epic The English Patient, has died at age 54, his agent announced today. Variety reports that a spokesman for Mr. Minghella said he suffered a brain hemorrhage on Tuesday morning at Charing Cross Hospital in London, while in for a routine neck operation.

A director who worked in theater and television (most notably for the series Inspector Morse and the lush, haunting The Storyteller series), Minghella made his feature film directorial debut with the ghost story/romance Truly, Madly, Deeply, which starred Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman. The film won Minghella a BAFTA award for his screenplay and effectively launched his film career. The little-seen indie romance Mr. Wonderful followed in 1993, but it was three years later that Minghella had his biggest success with The English Patient, an adaptation of the novel by Michael Ondaatje. Aggressively marketed by Miramax and arriving near the height of the independent film movement (though the film, with its epic scope, pushed the definition of indie filmmaking), the film became a surprise success, ultimately taking in $78 million in the US and winning a whopping nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture as well as Director for Minghella. Three of the film's stars, Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas and Juliette Binoche, were Oscar-nominated, with Binoche taking home the Best Supporting Actress award in a shocking upset over Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall.

Minghella followed up that success in 1999 with the moody thriller The Talented Mr, Ripley, another book-to-film adaptation based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith. Though the film starred high-profile actors Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow, it was the then little-known Jude Law who walked away with the film with his role as a callow, rich playboy. The film earned Law a Best Supporting Actor nomination and Minghella another Adapted Screenplay nod. Minghella tried to replicate his successful literary adaptation formula with Cold Mountain, a high-profile version of the bestselling Civil War novel that, ironically, was filmed partly in Romania. Despite another big (and some said, overly aggressive) push by Miramax and a cast that included Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Renee Zellweger, Natalie Portman and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the movie was considered a major under-performer, though it did earn $95 million in the US alone and a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Zellweger. Major nominations for Best Picture or Director, however, failed to materialize. Minghella worked on a smaller scale with the London-based drama Breaking and Entering, which reteamed him with both Law and Binoche, and had just completed filming on The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, the pilot for a TV series based on the novel by Alexander McCall Smith. Beginning in 2000, Minghella also became a producer, with credits including The Quiet American, The Interpreter, and the recent Oscar winner Michael Clayton. In 2005, Minghella also staged an acclaimed version of the opera Madame Butterfly, which played at the English National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.

Minghella is survived by his parents, his siblings in the entertainment industry Dominic Minghella and Edana Minghella, two other sisters, his wife, choreographer Carolyn Choa, and two children, Max Minghella and Hannah Minghella. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff

Harry Potter Finale To Be Split Into Two Movies?
15 January 2008 (WENN)
The last installment in the Harry Potter movie franchise may be released in two parts - because one edit of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows could leave out too much information about the boy wizard's final adventures. The sixth film in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is due for release in November, and although the characters' futures are wrapped up in just seven novels by author J.K. Rowling, fans of the movies will be given an extra treat with a double dose of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. A source says, "There's so much to fit that the view is the last movie should be in two halves. There is a huge battle when Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, takes on (evil wizard, Lord) Voldemort (played by Ralph Fiennes) that needs to be done really well." And Rowling has briefly commented on the reports herself, stating on her website: "It is simply impossible to incorporate every storyline into a film under four hours long." Fans of the books have previously criticized the big-screen adaptations for their lack of detail.

Winslet Replaces Pregnant Kidman in Film
9 January 2008 (WENN)
Kate Winslet has replaced Nicole Kidman in World War II drama The Reader, after the pregnant Australian actress pulled out of the project. Kidman on Monday confirmed she is expecting a baby with her husband Keith Urban. She was due to start shooting the adaptation of German author Bernhard Schlink's book with director Stephen Daldry later this month, but withdrew from the movie after learning of her pregnancy. And now Winslet, who was originally offered the role but had to decline because the shoot clashed with her commitments to upcoming film Revolutionary Road, has now signed up to star in The Reader opposite Ralph Fiennes.

Fiennes Caught in 'Pool Romp'
5 March 2007 (WENN)
English actor Ralph Fiennes incurred the wrath of a Belgium hotel boss after he reportedly frolicked naked in a swimming pool with four women. British newspaper The Sun reports The English Patient star, 44, and his female companions disturbed guests at the Hotel Tuilerieen in Bruges. Hotel manageress Patricia Homble says, "I wasn't happy about it." Fiennes is currently in the stunning Belgium city filming comedy In Bruges, which also stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Last month, Qantas flight attendant Lisa Robertson was fired from the airline after she admitted she had sex with the actor in a lavatory during a long-haul flight in January.

Fiennes Flight Attendant "Admits Toilet Tryst"
19 February 2007 (WENN)
Friends of the flight attendant at the centre of Ralph Fiennes' airborne sex scandal insist she did have sex with the actor in the aircraft toilet. The British actor caused controversy late last month on a long-haul journey from Australia to India when he reportedly "became amorous" with 38-year-old Qantas stewardess Lisa Robertson, who has been suspended from the company while an investigation takes place. Robertson revealed to friends she had been the one to initiate sexual intercourse - contradicting her official statement of events to employer Quantas - leading Fiennes to the toilet after they enjoyed an intimate conversation. She says, "I've always fancied him and to see him on my flight was a real thrill. I reached down for his hand and told him to follow me. We went into the toilet and locked the door and off came much of our clothes." In a statement to her bosses, Robertson claimed the Maid In Manhattan actor followed her into the lavatory where she rejected his advances before eventually convincing him to leave.

Fiennes in Air Sex Scandal?
12 February 2007 (WENN)
British actor Ralph Fiennes is at the centre of an airplane sex scandal after allegedly following a flight attendant into a toilet. The Constant Gardener star was on a long-haul journey from Australia to India late last month when he reportedly "became amorous" with 38-year-old Qantas stewardess Lisa Robertson. Her job is now in jeopardy after colleagues spotted her leaving the same cubicle as the 44-year-old actor. In a statement obtained by British newspaper The Sunday Telegraph, Robertson says, "While conversing with Mr. Fiennes during my break, I expressed a need to go to the toilet. I went to the nearby toilet and entered it, he followed me and entered the same toilet. I explained to him that this was inappropriate and asked him to leave. Mr. Fiennes became amorous towards me and, after a short period of time, I convinced him to leave the toilet, which he did. I left the toilet a short time later." Fiennes split from his long-time partner Francesca Annis last year after he was caught having an affair with Romanian singer Cornelia Crisan.

Fiennes Finds Another Older Woman In Barkin?
1 December 2006 (WENN)
British movie star Ralph Fiennes has reportedly found new love with actress Ellen Barkin, according to US reports. The 43-year-old Schindler's List actor, who famously dumped his wife Alex Kingston for older woman Francesca Annis, has now sparked fresh romance reports after being seen out in New York with Barkin, 52. The couple were spotted dining together at Orso before checking out Julianne Moore's new play The Vertical Hour. An eyewitness tells US publication In Touch the couple held hands throughout the performance, saying, "He didn't take his eyes of her."

'All the King's Men' To Premiere at Toronto Festival
7 July 2006 (StudioBriefing)
All the King's Men, Steven Zaillian's take on the Robert Penn Warren novel based on the life of Huey Long, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, organizers of the festival announced Thursday. The movie stars Sean Penn as the Southern politician (whom Warren named Willie Stark), originally played by Broderick Crawford in the 1949 film adaptation of Warren's novel. (The original won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor for Broderick, and Best Supporting Actress for Mercedes McCambridge.) The film also stars Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, James Gandolfini, and Kate Winslet. The festival will also feature the world premiere of Bob Balaban's Bernard and Doris, in which Susan Sarandon plays the aging tobacco heiress Doris Duke and Ralph Fiennes the gay butler to whom she left her billion-dollar fortune.

60 Stars To Host 60th Tony Awards
25 May 2006 (WENN)
The 60th Tony Awards in New York next month will be a star-studded affair with 60 co-hosts representing each year of the theatre world's prizegiving ceremony. Oprah Winfrey, Anna Paquin, Julia Roberts, Ralph Fiennes and Cynthia Nixon are among the stars who will host short segments of the show, which will be take place at Radio City Music Hall on June 11. In a statement, Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, the executive producers of the award ceremony, say, "The 60th Anniversary show is bigger than just one host, so we've put together a line-up of 60 stars from the stage to lead our celebration."

Kingston Contemplated Suicide
23 May 2006 (WENN)
Former ER star Alex Kingston was so devastated by the end of her marriage to actor Ralph Fiennes, she considered taking her own life. The actress was so distraught over the split, she actually got into her bathtub with a knife and planned to slit her wrists. Kingston, who is now happily remarried, claims those dark days are now behind her. She says, "I can't imagine being that person at all. You don't know where life is going to take you. You think you know and then all of a sudden you realize it's all completely wrong." The star married German freelance journalist Florian Haertel in 1998 and they have one daughter, Salome.

'Wedding Crashers' and 'Virgin' Land Five MTV Nominations
25 April 2006 (WENN)
Zany comedies Wedding Crashers and The 40-Year-Old Virgin have topped this year's MTV Movie Awards nominations with five gongs apiece. The two films will compete with King Kong, Sin City and Batman Begins for the Best Movie Prize, while Virgin's Steve Carell will fight for the Best Performance honor with Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Rachel McAdams and Terrence Howard. Batman Begins' Christian Bale, Jessica Alba (Sin City), Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire), Kate Beckinsale (Underworld: Evolution) and Ewan McGregor (Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith) will fight it out for the Best Hero prize while the Best Villains race is between Harry Potter bad guy Ralph Fiennes, Darth Vader Hayden Christensen and Batman foe Cillian Murphy, among others. In other categories, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo star Rob Schneider will compete with Beyonce Knowles (The Pink Panther), Alba, and Jessica Simpson (Dukes Of Hazzard) for the Sexiest Performance honor. And parents-to-be Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are favorites to claim the Best Fight for their rumble in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The 2006 MTV Movie Awards will air on June 8.

London Critics Honor 'Constant Gardener' Stars
9 February 2006 (WENN)
Ralph Fiennes's week took a turn for the better yesterday when the newly-dumped star of The Constant Gardener picked up a Best British Actor nod at the London Film Critics' Circle awards - while co-star Rachel Weisz triumphed in the female category. Fiennes, who split from actress Francesca Annis on Tuesday following reports he is romancing a Romanian singer, was hailed for his role in the gritty political thriller. Gay cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain grabbed an equal share of success with wins for Film of the Year and a Director of the Year award for its maker Ang Lee. Awards chairman William Russell said, "Brokeback Mountain has all the ingredients of a classic love story, except that the lovers are two young ranch hands who fall in love one summer while herding sheep, but go on to marry and have children, while continuing to meet over the years. Ang Lee has succeeded in presenting this highly controversial situation in an intelligent and sensitive fashion, and secured outstanding performances from the entire cast. It is a feat which has been rightly recognized." Elsewhere, Downfall star Bruno Ganz picked up Actor of the Year for his mesmerizing portrayal of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, while Naomi Watts won Actress of the Year for King Kong at the London ceremony.

'Constant Gardener' Voted Top British Film
1 February 2006 (StudioBriefing)
The Constant Gardener has won the prestigious Evening Standard British Film Award for best film of 2005. The awards ceremony recognizes outstanding achievement in British film. Ralph Fiennes was named best actor for his performance in Gardener. Natasha Richardson received the best actress award for Asylum.

Weisz Horrified Fiennes Has Missed Out on Nominations
31 January 2006 (WENN)
British actress Rachel Weisz is repeatedly disappointed when awards bosses fail to nominate her The Constant Gardener co-star Ralph Fiennes, especially when now she has won so many honors. The pregnant beauty won a Golden Globe on January 16 and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award Sunday night for her performance as Tessa Quayle in the gritty drama, but is baffled as to why Fiennes has been ignored. She says, "It's beyond my comprehension (why Fiennes has been overlooked). I feel that any award or any acclaim I get I share with him 50-50."

Weisz's Mummy Dreams Complete
9 January 2006 (WENN)
The Mummy star Rachel Weisz has confirmed she's five months pregnant with movie-maker fiancé Darren Aronofsky's baby. The British actress, who admitted last year she became "broody" while playing a pregnant woman in acclaimed movie The Constant Gardener, revealed all about her happy news on Friday night's The Tonight Show in America. Her announcement ends a month of speculation about Weisz's pregnancy, but it stalls her plans to wed her director boyfriend. She explained, "I'm supposed to have organized the wedding but we got a little ahead of ourselves... It's a slightly modern situation... I'm trying to figure it out now." After wearing a prosthetic stomach to play pregnant Tessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener - opposite Ralph Fiennes - Weisz revealed, "I loved it and I would definitely like to do it for real." Weisz emigrated to New York to live with Aronofsky in 2002 after a year of dating.

Movie Reviews: 'The White Countess'
22 December 2005 (StudioBriefing)
The final Merchant-Ivory production, The White Countess, is receiving a limited release this weekend and had producer Ismail Merchant lived a few months longer -- he died last May -- he might have been pleased by the reviews of the film on which he spent the remains of his days. Glenn Whipp in the Los Angeles Daily News is one of several critics who remarks that the movie "marks a fitting conclusion to the celebrated partnership of James Ivory and the late Ismail Merchant." He says that many of the distinctive Merchant-Ivory elements are combined here, including "bang-for-the-buck production design," a "literate presentation" and extraordinary performances by the stars, Natasha Richardson, and Ralph Fiennes. In the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert writes that he saw his first Merchant-Ivory movie, Shakespeare Wallah, in 1965. "So for 40 years, I have been watching them living up to their own standards when the world didn't care and, lately, even when it did. Sometimes they have made great films, sometimes flawed ones, even bad ones, but never shabby or unworthy ones. Here is one that is good to better, poignant, patient, moving." Claudia Puig, in her USA Today review, concludes: "Through the past three decades, Merchant and Ivory have been virtually synonymous with sumptuous, beautifully crafted period dramas. With Merchant's death in May, this film is a fitting tribute to the end of an era." Michael Wilmington in the Chicago Tribune comments that, with this film, the Merchant-Ivory partnership "ends on a very high note, with a deeply evocative film, beautifully done." Jan Stuart in Newsday remarks that the film "offers up heaps of everything we have come to depend on Merchant and Ivory for: hyper-articulate dialogue, authentic period detail, impassioned performances from the crème de la crème of English-speaking actors." Not all critics are impressed, however. "With its tentative pace, fussy, pieced-together structure and stuffy emotional climate, The White Countess never develops any narrative stamina," writes Stephen Holden in the New York Times.

Fiennes Considers Legal Action After "Younger Model" Slur
28 November 2005 (WENN)
British actor Ralph Fiennes is considering suing a US publication that falsely reported he'd ditched his 61-year-old lover Francesca Annis for a younger model. The Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire star, 42, is furious at an article in the New York Post which alleged he was seen flirting and canoodling with 43-year-old actress Gina Gershon. It read: "They made out in a booth and then cuddled the rest of the night." After protesting his innocence, Fiennes refused to make any further comment on the press slur, but a close friend insists, "He'll fight this all the way." The source adds, "There is no truth in any of these suggestions. It's pure personal conjecture."

Movie Reviews: 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'
17 November 2005 (StudioBriefing)
No doubt about it, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, is the best Harry Potter movie yet, most of the major critics seem to agree. The film, which opens in most cities at midnight tonight, is being ecstatically praised, even by critics who expressed reservations about the three earlier Potter flicks. One of the reasons may be that Harry has now crossed over into puberty (although the character is 14, Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays him, is 16), and is being allowed more intense experiences, both in terms of magic and romance. (Although the previous films were rated PG, the new one is rated PG-13.) Jami Bernard in the New York Daily News calls it "the darkest, most thrilling entry yet in the movie franchise." To Carrie Rickey in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the new movie "is the most fun and the most fraught with conflict." Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times concludes: "It's taken them long enough, but the movies have finally gotten Harry Potter right. Despite the reported $2.7 billion earned by the series' three previous attempts, it's not until Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that a film has successfully recreated the sense of stirring magical adventure and engaged, edge-of-your-seat excitement that has made the books such an international phenomenon." Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times observes, "The film is more violent, less cute than the others, but the action is not the mindless destruction of a video game; it has purpose, shape and style." Much of the credit for the film's artistic success, the critics say, goes to director Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco). Eleanor Ringel Gillespie in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that Newell "is the first Brit to direct a Potter picture. Perhaps that's why he 'gets' the books better than his predecessors. He's more comfortable with the boarding-school setting -- the rush between classes, the heart-to-hearts in hidden rooms, the petty estrangements and the unnecessary hurts."

Several critics have high praise for the older actors in the cast. Manohla Dargis in the New York Times particularly singles out Ralph Fiennes, writing: "For years, the movies have tried to transform this delicate beauty into a heartthrob, but as Schindler's List proved, Mr. Fiennes is an actor for whom a walk on the darker side is not just a pleasure, but liberation. His Voldemort may be the greatest screen performance ever delivered without the benefit of a nose; certainly it's a performance of sublime villainy." Chris Vognar in the Dallas Morning News suggests that parents ought not to be concerned about that PG-13 ratings. "The film follows in the fantasy tradition of stretching perceptions of the possible, and it does so in a richly realized and recognizably human universe. Sometimes, it's better to be scared than bored," he writes. Ty Burr in the Boston Globe agrees, noting that the movie "is oddly less scary in some ways than last year's Prisoner of Azkaban -- less predicated on computer-generated ghoulies and funhouse shocks. The dread here cuts deeper, though. When we hear the wail of a grieving father toward the end of the movie, it's the first genuinely human moment in a Harry Potter film, and it is awful." A handful of critics are less than enthusiastic about the movie, however. "Count me among those just mild about Harry," writes Kyle Smith in the New York Post. "The all-out cuteness of the Hogwartsians, with their Pufnstufs and Whiffenpoofs, is fine for people of developing minds, but the story so often stops its forward motion to take us on long detours into the land of CGI effects that it amounts to a $150 million magic show." An equally lukewarm review comes from Claudia Puig in USA Today, who remarks: "It's hard to beat the last movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and this film is not better, but it has much to recommend it."

Movie Reviews: 'The Constant Gardener'
31 August 2005 (StudioBriefing)
After a summer of mostly second-rate movies, the fall movie season gets off to an early start today (Wednesday) with the release of the movie version of John le Carré's The Constant Gardener, directed by Fernando Meirelles and starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post praises it as "an adult pleasure: Never cheap, wise in the ways of the heart, able to keep a number of balls in the air without letting them blur into incoherence, evocative of a hellish, desperately damaged place and gripping as a pinched nerve." Equally enthusiastic is Claudia Puig in USA Today, who writes that the film is "a masterwork of suspense, romance and political intrigue. It is a taut and gripping thriller that dazzles the eyes and engages the brain in a way that few recent films have come close to approaching." A. O. Scott comments in the New York Times: "This is a supremely well-executed piece of popular entertainment that is likely to linger in your mind and may even trouble your conscience." Jack Mathews in the New York Daily News calls it: "a slick, fast-paced production with first-rate performances and an emotional punch you won't soon forget." Michael Sragow in the Baltimore Sun begins his review this way: "A thriller from the inside out, a romance from the outside in: that's the double-edged brilliance of The Constant Gardener." And Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times ends his this way: "This is one of the year's best films." But Rick Groen in the Toronto Globe and Mail begs to differ, writing: "Yes, the cast is certainly seductive, and the direction often beguiling, yet ultimately we're left with a distinct sense of abandonment, of a story insufficiently told. That's because there's too much to tell, too much material squeezed into a two-hour running time. So the fault lies in the scope -- it's a rare film, these days, that suffers from a surfeit of ambition."

Movie Stars Shocked by African Poverty
31 July 2005 (WENN)
Screen stars Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz were so shocked by the poverty prevalent in rural Kenya while filming upcoming movie The Constant Gardener, they set up a trust find to provide aid in the towns which appear in the film. Schindler's List heartthrob Fiennes and Constantine actress Weisz joined cast and crew in contributing to The Constant Gardener Trust which has already funded a much needed bridge, schooling costs, road building and community groups in east Kenya. Producer Simon Channing-Williams says, "These are places were people are seriously, seriously poor and deprived, and water is at a dreadful premium. A lot of people on the film were astounded by what they saw and wanted to do something."

Stars Pay Emotional Tributes to Late Merchant
27 May 2005 (WENN)
A galaxy of stars, including Sir Anthony Hopkins and Ralph Fiennes, have paid emotional tributes to veteran movie producer Ismail Merchant, who died from a stomach-related illness Wednesday at the age of 68. Merchant garnered critical acclaim for Oscar-winning period films like Howards End and The Remains Of The Day, which he made with long-term Merchant Ivory partner James Ivory. Hopkins and Fiennes are devastated by the film entrepreneur's death, and credit him with inspiring them to approach movies in a more inventive and passionate way. Hopkins, who starred in Howards End and Remains of the Day, says, "I'm deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ismail Merchant. He was the one and truly great maverick producer, a law to himself. He could charm the birds out of the trees, which had its very positive side and sometimes he could get you to work for nothing." Fiennes says of his time shooting Merchant's latest movie The White Countess, "Having just finished working with Ismail and James Ivory in Shanghai, I was full of admiration for their passion and commitment to the film we were making. There was no one like him."

'Breakfast' Not Ready To Be Served at Cannes, Say Reports
21 April 2005 (StudioBriefing)
Neil Jordan's Breakfast at Pluto, starring Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea, which had been expected to be a top contender at Cannes this year, did not make the final cut because it could not be completed in time, according to published reports. Jordan, whose 1992 film The Crying Game was nominated for six Academy Awards and became one of the most talked-about films of the decade, has reportedly mounted an equally controversial film in Pluto. British and Irish films were conspicuously absent from the list of 20 films that will be competing for this year's Palme d'Or at Cannes. The British film The Constant Gardener from Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles and starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, had also been expected to make the Cannes competition but was also reportedly not completed in time.

Fiennes Is Voldemort
6 August 2004 (WENN)
Oscar-nominated Ralph Fiennes has won the highly sought-after role as Harry Potter's nemesis Lord Voldemort in the fourth film in the blockbuster series. The Schindler's List actor will play the evil wizard - who has never been seen before, but whose spirit is visible in the first three movies - in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire. The film, directed by Four Weddings And A Funeral's Mike Newell, sees the return of Daniel Radcliffe as Potter, alongside mainstays Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire is set to be released in November 2005.

Potter Teen Star for War Role?
6 July 2004 (WENN)
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has been tipped to star in the adaptation of an acclaimed book about the second world war - after the project was hit with yet another delay. Author Sebastian Faulks' World War I novel Birdsong has been trying to get his 1994 story on the big screen for years, and is sick of constant delays. Faulks says, "The film has been supposed to be happening for ten years now with the film company Working Title who have the rights. All the original actors are now too old - Ralph Fiennes and before him Daniel Day-Lewis. More recently they were talking about Orlando Bloom or Jake Gyllenhaal, but it's apparently not them either. By the time it gets made, the star of Harry Potter could end up being old enough to do it - is he a good actor?"

Ralph Fiennes & Uma Thurman Voted Worst Double Act
2 December 2003 (WENN)
The Avengers stars Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman have been voted the worst movie double act of all time, by critics at a British film magazine. The pair were universally panned when they appeared in box-office flop in 1998, and experts at Total Film deem Fiennes' performance "stiff" and Thurman's "robotic". In second place came the Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty pairing up in 1987's Ishtar, while Sylvester Stallone and Estelle Getty's Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot came third. Total Film's Ceri Thomas says, "There's a lot of competition for the worst film duo, but you have to go a long way to beat Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes. They look as if they've never even met before, just plonked on the set together on the day of the shoot and told to flirt. Completely unconvincing."

Helena and Ralph Join 'Wallace and Gromit' Team
27 October 2003 (WENN)
Oscar-nominated stars Helena Bonham-Carter and Ralph Fiennes will lend their voices to the first ever feature length Wallace And Gromit movie. The project, titled Curse Of The Wererabbit, will begin shooting in Bristol, England this week at Aardman Animations's studio. The movie sees the studio's popular characters Wallace and Gromit hunt down the mysterious beast which has been rampaging their village's prize marrows and potatoes just days before the giant vegetable growing contest. Helena will voice new character Lady Tottington, and Ralph will provide the sound for Lord Victor Quatermaine. Curse of the Wererabbit - with a budget in excess of $80 million - will take 18 months to make and is expected to be released in 2005.

Mariah's Photo Fury
24 September 2003 (WENN)
Director Brett Ratner found his famous friends most amenable when he decided to release a book of candid photos - except for singer Mariah Carey. The Red Dragon film-maker has created Hillhaven Lodge: The Photo Booth Pictures, a new book containing shots his A-list pals have taken of themselves in the black-and-white photo booth he bought for his Hollywood home. Most of those who posed - a star-studded list which includes Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Ralph Fiennes, Liv Tyler, Justin Timberlake, Colin Farrell, Paris Hilton, Kim Cattrall, Sean 'P Diddy' Combs, Jude Law and Heidi Klum - were more than happy to okay the book. But Ratner laughs, "Everybody in the book is a personal friend, so I didn't have to contact anyone for permission. But some people had vanity issues. "I had to send Mariah Carey - who's a very good friend of mine - the pictures to let her know which ones I would use. Some of them have to have image control."

Sandra's British Leading Men
16 May 2003 (WENN)
Sandra Bullock loves British men - she's now signed up to share the screen with Ralph Fiennes in a new movie. The brunette beauty - who featured in Two Weeks Notice with bumbling English star Hugh Grant - will appear with Fiennes in a love story called Vapor, which starts filming later this year for director Neil LaBute. Sandra, 38, plays a struggling actress who saves the life of a complete stranger and the man - Fiennes, 40 - turns out to be an eccentric scientist who captures her heart.

Movie Reviews: 'Spider'
28 February 2003 (StudioBriefing)
The ever-controversial Canadian director David Cronenberg is stirring up a new to-do over his latest film, Spider, which, like A Beautiful Mind, explores the mind of a schizophrenic, with some of the scenes leaving the viewer wondering whether they're for real or simply formed in the mind of the warped protagonist, played by Ralph Fiennes. Stephen Holden in the New York Times calls it "brilliantly realized but bone-chillingly bleak." Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal lauds it as a "darkly powerful film." John Anderson in Newsday gives special praise to the star: "Fiennes has never been better," he writes. "A tour de force of organic acting." Jonathan Foreman in the New York Post singles out co-star Miranda Richardson: "The film belongs to the marvelous Richardson," he writes, "who plays both mother and whore with consummate sympathy and skill." Noting that although the film had a brief opening in December, it gathered no Oscar nominations, Jami Bernard writes in the New York Daily News: "Spider opened ... in L.A., hardly the town that would most welcome this slow, downbeat, yet masterful movie. Had it opened in New York, the critics would have seen to it that Fiennes and Richardson were represented in the awards nominations." Still, Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times wrote when the film opened that it was "disturbingly evocative" and "a richly visual feat of the imagination." However, Mike Clark in USA Today suggests today that the film may be "easier to admire than relish."

Fiennes and J.Lo's "Porn" Movie
6 November 2002 (WENN)
Superstar co-stars Ralph Fiennes and Jennifer Lopez had to change the title of their new movie three times - because it sounded like a porn movie. The film, now entitled Maid In Manhattan, was originally called The Chambermaid but both stars were worried when people asked them just how raunchy their scenes together would be. Fiennes says, "Originally it was The Chambermaid but everyone thought it was either a period piece or a porn film. Then it was called Uptown Girl which everybody hated."

Fiennes' Toothy Terror
4 October 2002 (WENN)
Movie star Ralph Fiennes designed his own dentures for his horrific new big screen creation in Silence Of The Lambs prequel Red Dragon. The actor's latest character, sicko serial killer Francis Dolarhyde, wears his dead grandmother's dentures when he kills his victims and Fiennes was so keen to portray the full horror of his latest role, he insisted on wearing ill-fitting teeth. Dolarhyde is also described as having a cleft palate, and so the actor studied all manner of dentistry to try and get into the head of writer Thomas Harris' terrifying creation. He explains, "I had to really be clear about what having a cleft palate does and if you had it badly fixed you would have your hard palate brought together but would have no teeth. For most of the film I wear good looking dentures - my own teeth - but then Dolarhyde had developed this whole weird thing of putting in his grandmother's teeth, which he wears to murder people and bites them. I found it's very hard to wear somebody else's dentures but the guy who made the prosthetic said it's impossible to wear someone else's dentures. But if you want to you can pretty much fit anything in your mouth if you practice at it. I had to practice keeping them in so the muscles in my mouth would accept them. I actually kept a set of the good dentures and then I had to do some looping so I got two sets of false teeth." Fiennes admits he got quite attached to his fake gnashers. He adds, "I got upset because they fitted very comfortably on the front of my teeth and I would take them out to eat lunch and have a sandwich and this one day I went back to work and forgot I didn't have them back in. I thought I had betrayed my character."

Fiennes's Fury at J.Lo Photos
9 September 2002 (WENN)
British thespian Ralph Fiennes is furious after spotting photos of him dining with Maid in Manhattan co-star Jennifer Lopez - and he's convinced the actress tipped off paparazzi. The pictures showed Ralph sharing a meal with Lopez towards the end of her marriage to dancer Cris Judd. And Fiennes suspects the publication of the photos was designed to make Judd jealous. Fiennes says, "I couldn't help thinking the whole thing wasn't quite organic."

Ralph Fiennes' Premature Oscar Joy
2 September 2002 (WENN)
Actor Ralph Fiennes is not as brainy as he looks, according to legendary British film critic Barry Norman. Norman tells in his memoirs And Why Not? how during an interview before the 1993 Oscar nominations, in order to cover all eventualities, he decided to ask Ralph two questions: "How do you feel about winning an Oscar nomination?" and "How do you feel about not winning an Oscar nomination?" Norman recalls, "Only the appropriate Q&A would be used. Ralph agreed. It was all going well until I said, 'How do you feel about winning an Oscar nomination?' 'What!' he said, 'Have I really got one? How do you know? Why did they tell you? How wonderful!' 'No Ralph, ' I said, 'This is make believe. It's what we agreed earlier. Don't you remember?' He looked quite crestfallen. 'Oh yes,' he said, 'I'd forgotten.' It turned out all right, though. He got the nomination!"

Ralph Fiennes: 'Red Dragon' Will Return To Terror of 'Lambs'
24 August 2002 (WENN)
Ralph Fiennes has touted the new Hannibal Lecter movie as a return to the "psychological terror" of The Silence Of The Lambs. The English actor, who plays murderer Francis Dolarhyde in the new prequel, insists Red Dragon will be more like the Oscar-winning first film about the evil serial killer than its less successful sequel Hannibal. Fiennes says, "I was quite skeptical when I first heard about the film but then I read the script and it was really good. I looked at the cast that was already in place, Edward Norton, Anthony Hopkins and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and I thought I wanted to be alongside that quality. I think the character in Red Dragon is similar to the one I played in Schindler's List, they both have similar paths. You have to enter into the way they see the world, which is weird and disturbing."

Law Left in the Dark by Lopez Power Bid
16 August 2002 (WENN)
Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher got a nasty shock when interviewing Jude Law for her TV series - all the lights suddenly went out thanks to Jennifer Lopez. The chat with the British actor, for her Conversations From The Edge series, was taking place in New York's Waldorf hotel, where Lopez and Ralph Fiennes were also filming scenes for their film The Chambermaid on the same floor. So when Lopez and co needed more power they simply unplugged the Fisher set, leaving interviewer and interviewee in darkness for half an hour.

Lopez Love In?
14 June 2002 (WENN)
If this is a day that ends in 'y,' it must be time to speculate on Jennifer Lopez's love life. The latest: rumors are rife about the nature of her relationship with acting pal Ben Affleck. Just days after her split with husband Cris Judd, the lovely Latina is being linked to Affleck, who co-stars with her in two upcoming movies: Gigli and Jersey Girl. And while Affleck's camp were quick to put out a denial that the two stars were romantically linked, media guessing is going into overdrive. Lopez is thought to have visited the Los Angeles set of Affleck's new movie Daredevil just last week and the pair reportedly left the nighttime shoot together. Ben's publicist David Pollick said it is "not true" that his client is dating the star, but did add that they were great friends. In fact, Ben so enjoyed working with J. Lo on the set of Gigli that he took out an ad in a Hollywood trade saying how impressed he was with her. Lopez separated from Judd, her husband of just seven months, last week, and while the couple insists no third party is involved, media reports have already linked her to Affleck, Ralph Fiennes and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. All have denied they are dating J. Lo.

Fiennes Slams J. Lo Affair Reports
13 June 2002 (WENN)
English actor Ralph Fiennes has slammed reports he was behind his new co-star Jennifer Lopez' recent split from her husband Cris Judd. The English Patient star, who is currently filming The Chambermaid with J.Lo, left ER star Alex Kingston for present partner Francesca Annis, whom he met while performing in a stage production of Hamlet. Fiennes and Kingston were together for more than a decade before tying the knot in 1993, but they separated two years later and divorced in 1997. Latina lovely Lopez has reportedly split from her choreographer spouse after only seven months as husband and wife, and some reports have suggested Fiennes and Lopez' relationship was more than just professional. Fiennes spokeswoman insists, "What a load of rubbish. There is no truth in it whatsoever."

Cannes Announces Slate For 2002
25 April 2002 (StudioBriefing)
A preponderance of English-language films will dominate the competition at the Cannes Film Festival this year, according to the list of 22 movies that will vie for the Palme d'Or that was released Wednesday by festival organizers. Three of the films come from the U.S.: Punchdrunk Love, starring Adam Sandler and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson; About Schmidt, starring Jack Nicholson and directed by Alexander Payne; and the Michael Moore gun-control documentary Bowling for Columbine. Canadian director David Cronenberg's Spider, starring Ralph Fiennes, Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson and Lynn Redgrave has also been selected. So have the British films All or Nothing by Mike Leigh, 24-Hour Party People by Michael Winterbottom, and Sweet Sixteen by Ken Loach.

Joseph Fiennes' Sex Scenes Leave Audience Laughing
19 December 2001 (WENN)
Joseph Fiennes is in danger of losing his sex symbol status after steamy sex scenes from his latest movie with Heather Graham left cinema audiences laughing. The Shakespeare In Love heart-throb and brother of Ralph Fiennes, stars opposite Graham in the erotic thriller Killing Me Softly, but, far from thrilling cinema audiences, the scenes of kinky sex actually raised a laugh. It's the latest in a long line of flops for Fiennes, whose latest films Dust and Enemy At The Gates have both been critical failures.

Fiennes To Be Next Bond?
25 September 2001 (WENN)
Ralph Fiennes is the latest hot favorite to step into the tailored shoes of British super-spy James Bond when Pierce Brosnan retires. But original Bond-actor Sean Connery is also tipped to make a return, as the silver-tongued sleuth. Fans of the legendary Bond films are already desperate to see Pierce Brosnan in the next 007 outing, but everyone wants to know who will succeed him. A number of big names have been approached to take the coveted role, with Ralph Fiennes currently in the lead, and Sean Connery is reportedly set to play Bond's father. Filming for what will be the 20th Bond movie, called Beyond The Ice, was scheduled to begin at the start of 2002, but may be delayed if the British actors union Equity strike goes ahead.

Kate Hudson Pulls Out Of Brit Flick
14 September 2001 (WENN)
Oscar nominee Kate Hudson has enraged British film producers after quitting a movie production weeks before shooting was due to start. The Almost Famous actress had pursued Four Weddings And A Funeral director Mike Newell, telling him that she was perfect for the part in Girl With A Pearl Earring, adapted from Tracy Chevalier's best selling novel. Kate was "deliriously happy" when Newell cast her as Griet, a dutch girl, who captures the attention of artist Johannes Vermeer - who is to be played by Ralph Fiennes. Kate's spokesman Brad Cafarelli says, "Kate's not participating anymore because of creative differences. I have no knowledge of the reasons behind her decision." Reported reasons for Kate's decision has pointed to "personal demons" being battled by her husband Black Crowes rocker Chris Robinson. The film's producer Andy Patterson remains baffled by their leading lady vacancy, saying, "Kate was thrilled to have the role and we were thrilled to have her. She pursued us for this role." Casting agents are believed to be considering British actress Samantha Morton or Save The Last Dance star Julia Stiles to replace Kate.

Anthony Hopkins Set For A Return To The Stage
4 May 2001 (WENN)
Veteran actor Anthony Hopkins is set to return to the New York stage to star in William Nicholson's play Retreat From Moscow. According to Mike Nicholls, who will direct an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Allison Janney and Christopher Walken in The Seagull in New York's Central Park this summer, plans are in place for the Hannibal star to make a return to the stage. Sinead Cusack and Ralph Fiennes have been pinpointed as likely candidates to fill out the cast for the three-character drama, which is set to begin previews in January at the Promenade Theatre. Shadowlands author Nicholson, whose movie work has included a rewrite of the Oscar-winning flick Gladiator, says Nicholls had envisioned the project as a film, but eventually agreed that it should first be done in a small theatre. He explains, "This is entirely about getting the best actors, doing it somewhere simple and not making a fuss." Nicholson says of the proposed cast, "Whenever you start talking about stars of this magnitude, there are timetables to consider."

Braveheart Sword Sold For $135,000
8 March 2001 (WENN)
The sword used by Mel Gibson in Braveheart has been sold for $135, 000 at a charity auction in New York. Irish financier Dermot Desmond bought the five-foot broadsword at an auction hosted by Liam Neeson to aid the charity Movie Action For Children. Overall, the auction took in almost $405, 000. A total of 15 lots donated by stars and studios went under the hammer, including a light saber Neeson used when he played Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which was bought by Mr. Desmond's son Ross for $49, 500. The dress worn by Catherine Zeta-Jones in The Mask of Zorro went for a little over $1, 500, a shirt worn by Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient fetched $1, 950, while a birthday phone call from Michael Jackson went for $990.

Stone To Direct "Last" Film
17 January 2001 (StudioBriefing)
Director Oliver Stone has told Premiere magazine that he plans to make only one more film after completing his current project, Beyond Borders with Ralph Fiennes. Stone said that while he regarded the final movie as his "funeral oration" to filmmaking, he plans to veer away from the controversial dramas (Platoon, Wall Street, JFK, Natural Born Killers) that he has been identified with in the past. Stone said that the project will be relatively light. "It's going to be a date movie, you'll see, " he told the magazine. "I've never done something like this."

Matthew Perry The Next James Bond?
27 December 2000 (WENN)
"Friends" (1994) star Matthew Perry looks set to be the first American ever to play James Bond. The funnyman is said to be in talks to take over the role when Pierce Brosnan gives up the part. Hollywood gossip columnist Janet Charlton says, "Studio bigwigs feel Perry has the charm, youth and talent to take the long-running franchise into the new Millennium." But Bond movie makers Eon Productions denied any discussions had started about a replacement for Brosnan, who is expected to stand down after his next Bond film. Ralph Fiennes, Rupert Everett, Ioan Gruffudd and even singer Robbie Williams have all been linked with the part as well.

Ralph Fiennes To Romance Angelina Jolie
7 November 2000 (WENN)
Ralph Fiennes has set female hearts aflutter by accepting the lead role in Oliver Stone's new movie. The hunky star was offered the part in Beyond Borders (2001), after Kevin Costner dropped out, due to work schedule clashes, although sources say co-star Angelina Jolie complained 45-year-old Costner was to old to play her lover.

Kevin Costner Pulls Out Of New Oliver Stone Film
2 November 2000 (WENN)
Kevin Costner has pulled out of the new Oliver Stone film - because he's too busy filming another one. Costner was due to star alongside sexy Angelina Jolie in Beyond Borders (2001), a love story set against the backdrop of worldwide humanitarian efforts. Costner is due to begin work on another film next week and will not be finished in time to begin work on Beyond Borders (2001) in February or March. The film's producers are believed to be in talks with Ralph Fiennes about taking over Costner's role.

Very English But Not Very Patient
30 October 2000 (WENN)
Ralph Fiennes is drifting apart from lover Francesca Annis - and increasing work commitments are to blame. Ralph has spent little time with Francesca over the last few months, fuelling speculation that a split is on the cards. A friend says, "We are concerned for them as they are almost living separate lives at the moment." The couple have become used to the raised eyebrows directed towards their relationship - Francesca is Ralph's senior by 17 years.

Movie Reviews: Sunshine
9 June 2000 (StudioBriefing)
Critics are giving Hungarian director István Szabó's three-hour Sunshine a mixed reception. On the one hand, Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times calls the film "monumental ... a superb period recreation ... absorbing and illuminating." And Mike Clark in USA Today applauds the performances of the cast, especially Ralph Fiennes, who appears in three roles. "His is a workhorse achievement, pumping adrenaline into every scene, " Clark writes. But A.O. Scott in the New York Times describes the epic tale as "more like a collage of ideas, events and metaphors than something lived." And Jonathan Foreman in the New York Post expresses mixed feelings about it: "It is often as powerful as it is elegantly shot. Unfortunately, Szabo tends to tell this rather predictable tale in an obvious yet uneven way."

Starry Night For BAFTAs
5 April 2000 (StudioBriefing)
An impressive lineup of stars has been recruited by the producers of Sunday night's BAFTA Awards ceremony, Britain's premier film awards presentation. Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway were added to the list Tuesday, joining Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, Joseph and Ralph Fiennes, Leslie Nielsen, Julianne Moore, and Jude Law, among others. "The caliber of stars attending this year's awards is testament to the stature BAFTA now commands worldwide, " BAFTA chairman Tim Angel told the BBC Tuesday. American Beauty (1999) is nominated for 14 awards at the BAFTAs; The End of the Affair, The (1999), for 10 and the Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999), for 7.

Moore To Take Over Foster's Role In Lambs Sequel?
11 February 2000 (StudioBriefing)
Julianne Moore, who was nominated for an Oscar for Boogie Nights (1997) and recently starred with Ralph Fiennes in End of the Affair, The (1999), is close to signing a deal to take over the role of Clarice Starling in the sequel to Silence of the Lambs, The (1991), published reports said today (Friday). Jodie Foster announced last month that she had turned down the chance to reprise the Starling role due to other commitments. Today's (Friday) Daily Variety said that the script, written by Steve Zaillian, includes "a finale which allows Starling to redeem herself and leaves open the door for a third film."

Fiennes Angered Over U.K. Rating For Affair
1 February 2000 (StudioBriefing)
Although most reviewers agree that Neil Jordan's End of the Affair, The (1999) is a movie for adults, its star, Ralph Fiennes, is angry that the British Board of Film Classification has imposed an 18 certificate on the film -- comparable to an NC-17 rating. Today's London Daily Express quotes Fiennes as expressing concern that the rating will put off older people, who feel they might be offended by the sex scenes in it. "It is absurd. ... I don't think the sex in the film is sadistic, abusive or violent. I cannot understand the decision." The censor board said that its guidelines gave it no choice in the matter. The film, a version of Graham Greene's autobiographical novel of the same name, has been receiving mixed reviews. When it opened in limited release for Oscar contention in the U.S. in December, Janet Maslin in the New York Times wrote, "When it comes to holiday films worth swooning over, here's the one to see." Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times found it "handsomely mounted, literate, emotionally sophisticated." But Mike Clark in USA Today commented, "This is the kind of movie in which even the sex scenes are soulless ... a serious fumble for Jordan." And Jonathan Foreman in the New York Post agreed, writing: "It's hard to feel anything but disappointment and boredom by the time the picture grinds to a mystical ending."

Sunshine Collects 14 Nods For Canada's Genie Awards
9 December 1999 (StudioBriefing)
The Robert Lantos-produced drama Sunshine received 14 Genie nominations Wednesday, including best film, best director (Istvan Szabo) best actor (Ralph Fiennes) and best actress (Jennifer Ehle). The Genies are Canada's counterpart to the Oscars. Other Canadian films vying for best picture are: eXistenZ, Felicia's Journey (1999), Five Senses, The (1999), Histoires d'hiver and Post Mortem (1999). The awards will be handed out during a Jan. 30 ceremony broadcast live by the CBC.

Almodóvar Film Wins Top Honor At European Film Fest
6 December 1999 (StudioBriefing)
Pedro Almodóvar's All About My Mother (1999) won the best film award at the European Film Festival in Berlin Sunday night, while Almodóvar himself won the top directing prize. The best non-European film award went to David Lynch's Straight Story, The (1999). Ralph Fiennes took the best male actor award for the Hungarian-produced Sunshine, which also took the best screenplay award for Istvan Szabo and Israel Horowitz.

Brits Dominate Actor Nominees For European Film Awards
20 October 1999 (StudioBriefing)
Three British stars dominate the list of nominees for Best Actor in the European Film Awards to be held in Berlin on Dec. 4: Ralph Fiennes for Taste of Sunshine, The (1999), Rupert Everett for Ideal Husband, An (1999), and Ray Winstone for War Zone, The (1999). The other nominees include Germany's Götz George for Nichts als die Wahrheit (1999) (After the Truth) and Denmark's Andres W. Berthelsen for Mifune (1999).

Thou Shalt Carry The Ten Commandments
3 September 1999 (StudioBriefing)
ABC's decision not to air Cecil B. DeMille's classic Ten Commandments, The (1956) last Easter drew more irate phone calls than anything else that the network did last season, ABC's programming chief, Jeff Bader, has told the Washington Post. "After 21 years, the numbers ratings had eroded, so I thought by giving it a year rest it might actually help its performance, " Bader said. The 1956 spectacle, which stars Charlton Heston as Moses, will be shown next year on Palm Sunday, Bader promised. Easter, however, has been reserved for a new animated feature, Miracle Maker, The (1999) (TV), in which Ralph Fiennes provides the voice of Jesus.

Fiennes' Eugene Onegin To Close Toronto Festival
25 August 1999 (StudioBriefing)
A film version of Pushkin's Eugene Onegin (1998), a veritable Fiennes family production, has been chosen to close out the 24th annual Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 18. The film is directed by Martha Fiennes and stars brother Ralph Fiennes. Another brother, Marcus, composed and conducted the score. The festival kicks off Sept. 9 with a screening of Canadian director Atom Egoyan's Felicia's Journey (1999).

Ralph Fiennes May Portray Everest Explorer
2 June 1999 (StudioBriefing)
Only three weeks after the body of George Mallory was found on Mount Everest, Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List, The English Patient) is reportedly close to signing with Britain's United Productions to portray the legendary mountain climber in a forthcoming movie, the London Daily Mirror reported today (Wednesday). Mallory lost his life in an assault on Everest 75 years ago. The Mirror observed that Fiennes is a second cousin of another famous explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes The newspaper quoted a United insider as saying, "Ralph hasn't signed on the dotted line yet -- but he's perfect for this role."

Top Stars May Star In Chaucer Classic
29 December 1998 (StudioBriefing)
Many of Britain's top actors are being courted to appear in a $10 million production of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the London Daily Mirror reported today (Tuesday). They include: Helen Mirren, Michael Caine, Rowan Atkinson, Sean Connery, Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, Martin Clunes and Stephen Fry. "The idea is to get the cream of British acting, " one TV exec told the newspaper. It is expected that the drama will air first in the U.S., then in Britain on the BBC.

Movie Stars Populating London Stages
19 November 1998 (StudioBriefing)
Ewan McGregor, who plays the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace, opened a seven-week engagement in Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuch (1974) Wednesday night in London. He is being paid $427 per week. Commented today's London Independent, which noted that McGregor joins the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Kevin Spacey, Juliette Binoche and Nicole Kidman on the London stage: "It is now impossible to throw a brick in some parts of north London without hitting a movie superstar who is looking for a poorly paid part in a small, but hip, stage play."

Ryan Wins Another Battle
17 August 1998 (StudioBriefing)
DreamWorks' Saving Private Ryan (1998) held off challengers for a fourth week in a row, earning an estimated $12.9 million to push its total to $125.8 million, far exceeding the announced hopes of the studio (and director Steven Spielberg in particular). Debuting strongly in second place was How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) with an estimated $11.8 million. Opening in third place was Avengers, The (1998), earning $10.8 million. Although Daily Variety box-office analyst Andrew Hindes called the result "disappointing, " other analysts insisted that the result was "respectable" or "decent." The Associated Press said that the film "overcame bad buzz." (In fact, the film was not shown to critics prior to its opening, and critics who did see it with theater audiences on Friday by and large gave it a pasting -- see separate item). But Exhibitor Relations chief Paul Dergarabedian told AP: "In the heartland and at the grass-roots level, people who are not in the film industry don't really follow that stuff very often. They look at what they want to see, and see it and judge for themselves." Nigel Andrews who follows the film business for the London Financial Times, observed, "The film is certainly bad, indeed unspeakable. But reviews are unlikely to deter ... the first wave of filmgoers who think a cast comprising Sean Connery, Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes would make the telephone book entertaining." Actually the film that received the best reviews on Friday, PolyGram's Return to Paradise (1998), starring Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche, fared poorly at the box office, earning only $2.4 million. The top-ten films according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations:1. Saving Private Ryan (1998), $12.9 million; 2. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), $11.8 million; 3. Avengers, The (1998), $10.8 million; 4. There's Something About Mary (1998), $9.1 million; 5. Snake Eyes (1998), $8.7 million; 6. Halloween: H20 (1998), $8.4 million; 7. Ever After (1998), $6.1 million; 8. Parent Trap, The (1998), $5.5 million; 9. Negotiator, The (1998), $4.2 million; 10. Armageddon, $4.1 million.

The Avengers Reviewed! -- (In England)
14 August 1998 (StudioBriefing)
Although no press screenings of Avengers, The (1998) were arranged by Warner Bros. in either the U.S. or the U.K. (where the film is opening simultaneously), critics for the London Times and the London Daily Telegraph, purchased tickets for preview screenings Thursday night and filed reviews. David Gritten in the Telegraph wrote that he understood Warner's reasoning: "This adaptation of the cult 1960s TV series, " he said, "is a leaden, witless fiasco, lacking thrills, excitement or surprise." It was all, Gritten concludes, "rather sad. It might have been possible to make a decent contemporary Avengers film, but this is emphatically not it." Geoff Brown in the Times was equally underwhelmed. He particularly faults Ralph Fiennes' portrayal of secret agent John Steed: "This is a block of ice in Seville Row tailoring and a smirk for a smile." Of the script, he says: "The film aims at sly frivolity with camp trimmings, but the amount of real wit on display would fit into Steed's buttonhole." British newspapers and radio and TV stations did their own exit polling following the Thursday night Avengers preview. One woman told BBC Radio 1: "It was dire, basically. The dialog was stilted. It was such a waste of talent." But a German tourist remarked, "It was different from the TV series, but it was just as good. It was very funny." In his review in the Times, Geoff Brown noted that on exiting the theater, he overheard the manager commenting that the movie was the worst he had ever seen, Brown concluded that it may not quite be, but he added, "At its worst it is bad enough, and its best is mediocre."

Fiennes' "Stretch"
14 January 1998 (StudioBriefing)
Commenting on word that Ralph Fiennes has been cast to provide the voice of Jesus in an upcoming animated feature, today's New York Daily News' "Dish" column recalls that Fiennes played a ruthless Nazi in Schindler's List (1993) and adds: "One can't accuse him of not exploring his range."

State-Funded Film On Jesus Ignites Row In Britain
13 January 1998 (StudioBriefing)
Fueling an already raging debate in Britain over whether millennium celebrations should encompass a primarily Christian theme, it was announced Monday that a Russian-produced animated film of the life of Jesus, financed by the U.K. film agency British Screen and the publicly funded BBC, will be released worldwide late next year. The $10-million film, using both stop-motion puppetry and cels, will feature the voice of Ralph Fiennes as Jesus. Miranda Richardson, David Thewlis, Richard E. Grant and William Hurt will provide other voices. Puppets and sets used in the production will be placed on display at the Millennium Dome, due to open on Feb. 1, 2000, published reports said.

Titanic A Hit, But Will It Pay Off?
5 January 1998 (StudioBriefing)
It continued to be clear sailing for Titanic (1997) over the weekend as it took in an estimated $32.2 million ($12.7 million on Saturday alone), bringing its three-week total to $156.4 million and boosting the possibility that it may yet turn a profit for 20th Century Fox, despite its $200 million cost. MGM's Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) earned $14.1 million, a solid figure for the third weekend of a December opener (its total now stands at $93.2 million), but less than half of Titanic's take. The Jack Nicholson-Helen Hunt starrer As Good As It Gets (1997), from TriStar, continued to live up to its title in its second week as it took in $12.3 million to wind up in third place. DreamWorks' Mouse Hunt (1997) remained in fourth with $8.7 million, followed by Scream 2 (1997) with $8 million (bringing its total to $86.2 million). Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown (1997) from Miramax was sixth with $7.7 million. Other top finishers:7. Amistad (1997), DreamWorks, $4.7 million; 8. American Werewolf in Paris, An (1997), Disney, $4.6 million; 9. Flubber, Disney, $4.5 million; 10. Mr. Magoo (1997), Disney, $4.4 million. There were no new wide releases. Kevin Costner's Postman, The (1997) turned out to be mostly a dead letter in its second week, earning only $3.7 million and failing even to make the top-ten list. In limited release, Universal's Boxer, The (1997) starring Daniel Day-Lewis earned $93, 504 in three theaters, while New Line's Wag the Dog (1997), starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro took in $1.3 million as it expanded to 69 theaters. The Australian-backed Oscar & Lucinda (1997), directed by Gillian Armstrong and starring Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett, opened unpromisingly with $82, 000 on seven screens. The Australian Associated Press observed today that the movie had been "caught in the backwash of ... Titanic."