Director Emile Ardolino’s final film brings to the screen George Balanchine’s famed ballet of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Balanchine’s choreography has been restaged by the New York City Ballet under the direction of Peter Martins and features dancers Darci Kistler and Damian Woetzel as the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier. Unfortunately, it also features a smirking and incongruous Macauley Culkin as The Nutcracker. The familiar tale concerns Marie (Jessica Lynn Cohen), a young girl who, at Christmas time, is given a gift of a nutcracker by her godfather, a magician. She also meets his nephew (played by Culkin). When she falls asleep, in her peaceful Christmas Eve dreams, the Nutcracker is transformed into a prince who rescues Marie from a multi-headed Mouse King and takes her on a trip to the Land of Sweets. The film is narrated in hushed tones by Kevin Kline.~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
After releasing his autobiography ‘My Booky Wook’ late last year, it looks like the book of Russell Brand’s life will be adapted for the big screen. Reports emerged this weekend that the BBC Radio 2 presenter will work with director Michael Winterbottom and producer Andrew Eaton to write the screenplay of the top selling biography. Winterbottom and Eaton, the two men behind ’24 Hour Party People’, are no doubt an apt choice to direct/produce the story of the notorious womaniser/socialite. Brand has recently tried his hand at acting and can currently be seen in ‘Penelope’ and recently in ‘St Trinian’s’ . The film, as yet untitled (lets hope ‘My Filmy Wilm’ isn’t the only option), is expected to start shooting early next year.