Movie Crunch » Directors

Director John Hughes Dies of Heart Attack at Age 59

Wendy — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:56:56 +0000

Sadly, director John Hughes died of a heart attack today at age 59. He suffered the heart attack during a morning walk in NYC to visit family, TMZ.com reports.

John Hughes directed 80s favorites that were the mainstay of my existence, including “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”.

Twilight Sequel to go on Without Original Director Catherine Hardwicke

Wendy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:31:05 +0000

The Twilight sequel, “New Moon,” will go on – but without director Catherine Hardwicke this time. Catherine Hardwicke has left her post as director on the upcoming Twilight sequels, with Variety providing this statement from Hardwicke:

“I am sorry that due to timing I will not have the opportunity to direct New Moon. Directing Twilight has been one of the great experiences of my life, and I am grateful to the fans for their passionate support of the film. I wish everyone at Summit the best with the sequel—it is a great story.”

Guy Ritchie to Direct New Sherlock Holmes Movie

Wendy — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:30:28 +0000

Could it be a Sherlock Holmes movie like we’ve never seen before? With Guy Ritchie signed on to write and direct a new Sherlock Holmes film for Warner Bros., it’s likely to have a much different look and feel than we’re used to for the super sleuth.

The Guy Ritchie version of Sherlock Holmes is based on producer Lionel Wigram’s upcoming comic, with the character being less stuffy and more adventure driven.

This early in the game, there is no word on who will be cast as the character of Sherlock Holmes or when the film will be released.

Director Sydney Pollack Dies at Age 73, Succumbs to Cancer

Wendy — Tue, 27 May 2008 01:39:14 +0000

Director Sydney Pollack, the force behind movies like “The Way We Were,” “Three Days of the Condor,” “Tootsie,” “Out of Africa” and “The Firm,” died today at his Los Angeles home after battling cancer. Sydney Pollack was 73.

Sydney Pollack was also seen as an actor in a varity of films, most recently in “Michael Clayton,” opposite George Clooney, “Made of Honor” and the TV series “Entourage.”

Jason Reitman, Kevin Smith, Lauren Conrad to Blog for NHL

Wendy — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:31:23 +0000

Starting Wednesday, celebrities will begin blogging for the National Hockey League’s (NHL) web site. The celebrities involved include “Juno” director Jason Reitman, “The Hills” Lauren Conrad, Dierks Bentley, Kevin Smith, David Boreanaz, A.J. Buckley, Tom Cavanagh, William Fichtner and Geoff Stults.

More than a dozen celebrities will blog on the NHL site about their favorite temams during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“As NHL.com bloggers, they can be irreverent and candid about their love for the NHL,” she said.

Jason Reitman told the Associated Press:

“I’d come to really love the game and I was just a little upset because I felt there was more of an opportunity for particularly Americans to know about the game and follow the game.

This year is a little depressing because my two teams, the (Vancouver) Canucks and the (Los Angeles) Kings, neither of them are in the playoffs,” he said, adding that the invitation came “when the Canucks still had a chance.

“Now the Canucks aren’t in it. So what I decided is that I’m going to write a kind of mythical blog about what the Canucks and Kings would be doing had they still been in. In my version, for the first time in NHL history, the Canucks and the Kings will be the first two Western Conference teams to actually meet in the Stanley Cup finals.”

English Patient Director, Anthony Minghella, Dead at 54

Wendy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:30:15 +0000

Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella, who helmed “The English Patient” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” is dead at age 54.

While no details have been revealed about the cause of death, Anthony Minghella’s agent confirmed the director’s passed away today.

Update: Anthony Minghella died from a brain hemorrhage, the result of a neck operation at London’s Charing Cross Hospital.

80th Annual Academy Awards: Best Director

Jon Roth — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:43:57 +0000

The candidates for Best Achievement in Directing for the 80th Annual Academy Awards:

Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood.
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men.
Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton.
Jason Reitman for Juno.
Julian Schnabel for Scaphandre et le papillon, Le.

The Oscar goes to Joel and Ethan Coen for No Country For Old Men.

Who Will Win the Best Director Oscar for the 80th Annual Academy Awards?

Jon Roth — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:54:27 +0000

The candidates for Best Achievement in Directing (aka Best Director) for the 80th Annual Academy Awards are:

Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood.
Ethan and Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men.
Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton.
Jason Reitman for Juno.
Julian Schnabel for Scaphandre et le papillon, Le.

I’d like Reitman to win for Juno but I think Coens will take it. Anderson does have a good chance though.

Producer Bo Zenga Directing Stan Helsing Horror Spoof

Jon Roth — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:00:53 +0000

Bo Zenga, who produced Scary Movie, is making a directorial debut on Stan Helsing, a horror spoof. (His last production was Turistas, starring Josh Duhamel of Las Vegas – see video clip below.) The movie, written by Zenga, is about a video store clerk, Stan Helsing, who has to save his town from various monsters. Shooting starts this April.

Hilary Swank Lands Amelia Earhart Role

Jon Roth — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 03:30:42 +0000

Filmmaker Mira Nair will be directing Hilary Swank as pilot Amelia Earhart in a biopic written by Ron Bass. Production starts in April, and Swank will be an executive producer. She’ll also be appearing in Birds of America this year, and is currently in 2007’s P.S. I Love You.

Nair is directing New York, I Love You (2008) – which she also wrote – and Shantaram (2009). She’s producing Little Zizou and Gangsta M.D., both for 2008.