The Screening Log - blogging film

Seen on: October 2, 2009

The players: Director: Drew Barrymore, Writer: Shauna Cross, Cast: Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis

Facts of interest: Drew Barrymore's directorial debut.

The plot: Ellen Page plays a Texas teenager who's fed up with beauty pageants and discovers her happiness in roller derby.

Our thoughts: Drew Barrymore celebrates her feature directorial debut with “Whip It,” and the result sure isn’t bad. The film is by no means perfect, but a terrific Ellen Page and a solid supporting cast inject a lot of energy and heart into Shauna Cross’ script, based on her novel about the world of women’s roller derby.

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Monday

28Sep2009

This week's new movie releases - October 2, 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009 at 1:31PM | By

Opening this week are Ricky Gervais' "The Invention of Lying" with Jennifer Garner; "Whip It" with Ellen Page; "Zombieland" with Woody Harrelson; and Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story."

ZOMBIELAND (with Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg)

Synopsis: "Zombieland" focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is a big wuss - but when you're afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive.

Capitalism: A Love Story,

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Wednesday

16Sep2009

Watch Robert De Niro in 'Everybody's Fine' trailer

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 11:42PM | By

This looks like something that could be a sweet, amusing dramedy: Kirk Jones' upcoming "Everybody's Fine," which stars Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore and Sam Rockwell and will hit theaters Dec. 4, 2009. Check out the film's first trailer after the jump.

In the flick, a widower (De Niro) embarks on an impromptu road trip to reconnect with each of his grown children only to discover that their lives are far from picture perfect.

Of course, the first thing that intrigues me here is the solid cast, which I'm really looking forward to experience in this film. I mean, who wouldn't want to see De Niro, Beckinsale, Barrymore and Rockwell work together?

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Thursday

10Sep2009

Roll with Ellen Page in five new clips from 'Whip It'

Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 11:58PM | By

Are you ready to "Whip It"? Drew Barrymore's directorial debut is set for release Oct. 2, 2009, and five clips from the flick starring Ellen Page in the lead have popped up online. Check them out after the jump.

The film centers on Bliss Cavendar, a Texas teenager who finds a way of dealing with her misery after she discovers a roller derby league in Austin. Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig and Zoe Bell co-star.

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Friday

04Sep2009

Roll behind the scenes of 'Whip It'

Friday, September 4, 2009 at 5:34PM | By

Drew Barrymore celebrates her directorial debut with "Whip It," an upcoming drama centering on Bliss Cavendar (played by Ellen Page), a Texas teenager who finds a way of dealing with her misery after she discovers a roller derby league in Austin.

A new and rather short behind-the-scenes look has hit the Web, and it features a mini interview with Barrymore about what to expect in the film, which opens Oct. 2, 2009. Barrymore, Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig and Zoe Bell co-star in the film, and you can check out the clip below.

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Monday

31Aug2009

Barrymore, Perabo won't return for 'Chihuahua 2'

Monday, August 31, 2009 at 8:54PM | By

Last year's "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" was undoubtedly one of the films I hated most in 2008, so I was obviously not thrilled when Walt Disney announced a sequel. I still can't get over the fact that the Raja Gosnell-directed mess pulled $94 million domestically.

From the folks at Moviehole comes word that neither Drew Barrymore nor Piper Perabo will be back for the sequel. Barrymore voiced a dog named Chloe in the first film, and Perabo played the lead human character, who set out to find the lost Chihuahua.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2,

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Wednesday

15Jul2009

Trailer for Drew Barrymore's 'Whip It!'

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 10:10PM | By

The first trailer for Drew Barrymore's directorial debut "Whip It!" has just debuted online, and you should check it out below if you're a fan of either roller skates or Ellen Page (or both, for that matter).

The film centers on Bliss Cavendar (played by Ellen Page), a Texas teenager who finds a way of dealing with her misery after she discovers a roller derby league in Austin.

Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig and Zoe Bell co-star in the film, which is set for release Oct. 9, 2009.

Can't say the trailer blew me away, but I am curious to see how Barrymore handles the material. All in all though, I admit "Whip It!" doesn't look that terrible at this stage. If it's got a decent story, I'm more than willing to roll with it.

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Thursday

09Jul2009

First image from Drew Barrymore's 'Whip It'

Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 1:30PM | By

The folks at USA Today just released the first photo from Drew Barrymore's upcoming directorial debut "Whip It!," a sports comedy based on the novel by Shauna Cross.

The film centers on Bliss Cavendar (played by Ellen Page), a Texas teenager who finds a way of dealing with her misery after she discovers a roller derby league in Austin.

Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig and Zoe Bell co-star in the film, which is set for release Oct. 9, 2009.

Check out Page, Barrymore and an unusually serious-looking Wiig in the still above. Ready to roll?

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Monday

06Jul2009

SNL's Jason Sudeikis is 'Going the Distance'

Monday, July 6, 2009 at 12:30AM | By

Funny guy Jason Sudeikis is keeping himself busy signing to quite a few upcoming big-screen projects, and the latest he's about ready to join is a romantic comedy.

The "Saturday Night Life" comedian is indeed in talks to join Nanette Burstein's upcoming film "Going the Distance," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

That means he'll be joining Drew Barrymore, Justin Long and Christina Applegate, who already signed on. Newcomer Geoff LaTulippe, who’s been working at New Line Cinema for several years, wrote the script.

Essentially, the film focuses on a couple’s attempt to maintain a long-distance relationship. One lives in Chicago while the other is located in Los Angeles.

Sudeikis, who delivered quite a funny performance in "The Rocker," also recently signed on to star in "The Bounty" (aka. "Bounty Hunter"). He's also got "A Good Old Fashioned Orgy" coming up soon.

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Monday

30Mar2009

Daily news dose: Campbell-Bower joins 'New Moon;' Drew Barrymore is 'Going the Distance'

Monday, March 30, 2009 at 7:13PM | By

Here's your dose of film news for March 30, 2009:

• Jamie Campbell-Bower is the latest to join Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Dakota Fanning in Chris Weitz's upcoming "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." Variety reports he plays leader of the Volturi, a group of vampires based in Italy. Campbell-Bower also starred in "RockNRolla."

• Drew Barrymore joins Justin Long in Nanette Burstein's upcoming romantic comedy “Going the Distance" for New Line Cinema. Written by Geoff LaTulippe, the film focuses on a couple’s attempt to maintain a long-distance relationship. One lives in Chicago while the other is located in Los Angeles. (Variety)

• Emily Browning, who recently starred in "The Uninvited," will star in Zack Snyder's "Sucker Punch." The fantasy action flick is set in the 1950s and centers on a girl locked inside a mental institution. Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, Evan Rachel Wood and Emma Stone are also on board. (Variety)

• Oscar winner Maurice Jarre, a French composer whose credits include "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago," has died. He was 84. Jarre won a total of three Oscars for "A Passage to India," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago."

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