The Screening Log - blogging film

Entries in Annette Bening (3)

Thursday

06Nov2008

Watts, Bening to join ‘Mother and Child’

Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 5:16AM | By

Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington and Shareeka Epps are set to star in Rodrigo García’s upcoming drama “Mother and Child.”

Described by Variety as a “multilayered” film, the plot centers on a woman who gave up her daughter many years ago and an African-American woman who is trying to adopt.

García, who developed most episodes of TV’s “In Treatment” and recently helmed “Passengers,” is directing his own script.

Bening was last seen in Diane English’s comedy “The Women.” Watts most recently starred in “Funny Games,” with “The International” coming up next.

As for Washington, her last film was “Lakeview Terrace.” Future projects of hers include Brian Robbins’ “A Thousand Words” and “Life Is Hot in Cracktown.”

Youngster Epps appeared in “Half Nelson” and will next star in Wes Craven’s “25/8.”

'The Women' web reviews

Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 2:38PM | By

Franck Tabouring

If you've already seen Diane English's comedy "The Women," I sure hope you liked it better than I did. You can check out my take on this right here. Anyway, starring Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith, the film follows four best friends who support each other during tough times. Here is what some of the Web's critics had to say about the flick:

• Eric D. Snider at Cinematical: "It's all women, all the time. Which might sound empowering and feminist, except that the women are all shallow, vain, and petty, and their primary topic of conversation is, you guessed it, men."

• CinemaBlend's Mack Rawden: "This movie is without direction. It’s without purpose. And it’s beyond terrible in almost every conceivable way. It doesn’t advance a cause or even shed light on how to handle specific issues."

Click to read more ...

Review: "The Women"

Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 2:26PM | By

Franck Tabouring

Seen on: September 14, 2008

The players: Director: Diane English, Writer: Diane English, Cast: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith

Facts of interest: Remake of the 1939 classic "The Women."

The plot: The film follows the adventures of four best friends who help support each other in times of misery.

Our quick thoughts: Diane English’s “The Women” is one huge and utterly boring mess. No, I don’t hate this film because I’m a guy or because you think I don’t understand the nature of its subject matter. I sure do appreciate plenty of chick flicks, I always enjoy a good Nancy Meyers film, and I even think quite positively about the two “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” movies.

Click to read more ...