Uma Thurman joins Pattinson in 'Bel Ami'

Uma Thurman will soon snuggle up to Robert Pattinson in Declan Donnellan's upcoming big-screen adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's "Bel Ami." Kristin Scott Thomas also officially jumped on board.

The film chronicles the life and controversial career of Georges Duroy (Pattinson), a journalist who became one of the most successful men in Paris by seducing the most influential and glamorous women.

The Hollywood Reporter says Thurman will play the wife of one of Duroy's friends. She's got her foot inside the Parisian society, and she later becomes Duroy's wife. Thomas is a socialite who falls for him as well.

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Daily news dose: Focus Features sets release dates; Claude Berri dead at 74

Here's your dose of quick news bits for Jan. 12, 2009...

• Focus Features today announced a bunch of release dates for some of their 2009 films. For starters, Rob Marshall's musical "Nine" will open Nov. 25. Joel and Ethan Coen's "A Serious Man" will open in limited release Oct. 2, while Mikael Håfström's John Cusack vehicle "Shanghai" is set for Sept. 4. Sam Mendes' comedy "Away We Go" will start June 5.

• Legendary French filmmaker Claude Berri died Monday in Paris. He was 74. Some of Berri's notable directing efforts include "Germinal," "Jean de Florette" and "Lucie Aubrac." He also established a fabulous career as producer, developing successful films such as "Welcome to the Sticks" and "The Secret of the Grain." He will be greatly missed. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• The folks at Bloody-Disgusting today landed some "Scream 4" news. Although none of this has been confirmed yet, Kevin Williamson is apparently on board to write a draft. Also, Wes Craven may return to helm the fourth film in the series, which will be a younger version. Finally, rumor is David Arquette, Courtney Cox and Neve Campbell may be offered cameos in the sequel.

• Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff have signed on to star in Sam Taylor-Wood's "Nowhere Boy," a film about John Lennon's early years. Aaron Johnson stars as Lennon, while Thomas playshis Aunt Mimi. Duff is on board as his mother. Matt Greenhalgh wrote the script. (Variety)

Review: "I've Loved You So Long"

Seen on: October 22, 2008

The players: Director: Philippe Claudel, Writer: Philippe Claudel, Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Laurent Grevill, Serge Hazanavicius, Frederic Pierrot

Facts of interest: French title is "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime."

The plot: For 15 years, Juliette has had no ties with her family who had rejected her. Although life once violently separated them, Lea, her younger sister, takes her into her home, which she shares with her husband Luc, his father, and their two daughters.

Our thoughts: Poor Juliette (Thomas) has been rotting for 15 years in prison for the murder of her 6-year-old child, and is finally released into the care of her loving sister Lea (Zylberstein). Starting here [A], we will move laterally 110 minutes to [B] where we return to the murder and, inexorably, its motivation.

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