tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Aside from the pivotal role as Griffin in the upcoming Doug Liman film Jumper, Jamie Bell is once again in the news with his casting in Ed Zwick's next project, Defiance.

Playing little brother to Daniel Craig, the film says the Hollywood Reporter:

...revolves around Jewish brothers (Craig, Schreiber and Bell) living in Nazi-occupied Poland who escape into the Belarussian forest where they join Russian resistance fighters in battling the Nazis. Throughout the war, they build a village inside the forest and save the lives of more than 1,200 Jews. Zwick's screenplay is based on Nechama Tec's book "Defiance: The Bielski Partisans."

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While some have noted the lack of a follow-up hit to his Billy Elliot, many have observed that Bell's choice of roles revolves around characters preferred by independent filmmakers. Says Cinematical:

He has had a few starring roles beyond that film (Billy Elliot), but nothing that has gotten him the same acclaim. He almost makes Chumscrubber and Dear Wendy tolerable, and he is fine -- though underused -- in Peter Jackson's terrible King Kong. But if you want to see him give another great performance in another great film, you have to go back to David Gordon Green's Undertow, which also admittedly may be too much an acquired taste for mainstream audiences.

[ Update from the Hollywood Reporter ] [ Variety on Bell joining Defiance ]

Updates! tMF just launched a new series of articles on The Vintner's Luck!

Part 1: Of Love, Wine and Angels, tMF begins series with an introduction to the book, plus a detailed look at some of Elizabeth Knox's most acclaimed works apart from the upcoming movie;

Part 2: A Tale of Two Actors, tMF puts the spotlight on the movie's two main characters - Xas the angel and Sobran the French vintner, and the actors chosen for the roles;

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One of this year's most anticipated films is The Vintner's Luck, directed by Niki Caro. While this is already 'old news' on the internet, it will be tMF's first-ever spotlight on an upcoming movie (more to come soon!)...

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Two of today's most talented young actors, rising French stars Gaspard Ulliel and Jérémie Renier, will play pivotal roles in the new Niki Caro film called The Vintner's Luck. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by New Zealand author Elizabeth Knox. Both actors have already won acclaim - Renier is best known for his role in the Dardenne Brother's The Child, while Ulliel has starred in a number of high-profile films, including A Very Long Engagement, Strayed, and Hannibal Rising. It will not be the first time they have appeared onscreen together as they were cast in a previous film entitled Brotherhood of the Wolf.

More than just skin deep
The young daredevil Nicholas Hoult in tMF profile!
by Jed Medina

He charmed his way into our hearts in ‘About A Boy’, and we watched him grow up in films such as Wah-Wah and The Weather Man. But while his roles in those films revealed a charming young boy who experienced his share of ups and downs, we were not prepared (and were perhaps even surprised) to see him as a manipulative and selfish young teen in Skins.

When I read the script I didn't really think I'd like Tony at all. But I got lucky to be playing a very different character from myself – it's fun playing someone else says Hoult of his role in an interview with Alaina Vieru.

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Sweet Smell of Success
Up close and personal with one of today's most talented actors, the up & coming, Ben Whishaw!
by Jed Medina

Theatre-trained Ben Whishaw first came onto the scene via Stoned, the semi-autobiographical film about the Rolling Stones in which he played Keith Richards. With notable appearances in Enduring Love and Layer Cake, his first big feature film role is in Tom Tykwer's Perfume, although theater goers in the UK will quickly tell you that he was already making waves when he played Hamlet at the Old Vic.

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