On a (Not So) Routine Expedition

Diablo Cody on the set of ‘Land of the Lost’ — The writer goes behind the scenes of the ’70s remake with Will Ferrell and Danny McBride

Marshall, Will, and Holly: These three simple names are a generational mantra of sorts. Recite them in front of any American who was reared in the ’70s and you’re likely to elicit an immediate (sung!) response: ”On a routine expedition…”

Bottom Line: Breathless, bloody and barmy sex and swordplay epic that remains a hoot in spite of itself.

By Ray Bennett
Venue: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic — Legend has it that Countess Elizabeth Bathory was a murdering monster, the scourge of 16th century Europe, slaughtering virgin girls by the score and bathing in their blood in order to stay young. Slovak director Juraj Jabubisko’s over-the-top English-language epic “Bathory” says history got her all wrong: She was the victim of a terrible libel.

Colorful, bloodthirsty and absurdly comic, the film had its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and could reap substantial international boxoffice rewards from indulgent audiences with a taste for that kind of thing.

Read more… »

Actress Anna Friel has admitted feeling “nervous” about what the UK will make of her hit US show Pushing Daisies when it airs next month.

Speaking before a screening of the programme at Hollywood’s Paley Television Festival, she said: “I’m so nervous, all the big billboards have started to go up [in the UK] so I’m hoping they like it. It’s very important for me that the Brits like it.”

The show has meant Anna and her family have moved to LA, and the former Brookside star is loving it.

“I’m really settled here now. I went back [to Britain] for two weeks about three weeks ago for the first time in ages, it was lovely, but it’s really nice to come back,” she said.

Anna’s co-star Lee Pace explained the show’s premise: “I play Ned who can touch the dead back to life. If the dead live for longer than a minute then something else will die and if I touch something for a second time they die again forever. But in the first episode I bring to life my childhood sweetheart (played by Anna) and high comedy ensues.”

Ned’s gift means the pair can never touch each other or Anna’s character Chuck will die forever. And Lee revealed there are several re-takes when he accidentally touches Anna during filming.

“She’ll drop dead and we’ll all laugh and have to do another take but I really like that there’s that standing in between us, rather than us falling into bed together.”

Pushing Daisies airs on ITV in April.

Source

Actress Anna Friel has slammed her native Britain for holding back her career - because the media still associates with her stint on U.K. soap opera Brookside. Friel, who has found fame Stateside on hit U.S. series Pushing Daisies, finished her two-year run on Brookside in 1995 - but states the British press still bombard her with questions about the now obsolete series.

The 31-year-old played the role of lesbian Beth Jordache in the show, who killed her abusive father and buried his body in the garden. She explains, “It was getting to be a joke here (in the U.K.). Even when I was 80 (sic), my epitaph would be, ‘Brookside. Used to be in a TV soap.’ How long ago is it now? Thirteen years.”

However Friel insists she doesn’t regret her time on the series: “I’m not embarrassed about any aspect of my life or past. It’s just really boring - people talking about the same things. I just think it’s time to let it go. Otherwise, the last 13 years have been for nothing. I do feel it’s a bit of a shame, though, that it had to happen in America rather than here. I wouldn’t say I’ve reinvented myself but, in America, they just take me in a different way.”

Source

Anna Friel is bombarded by “weird” fan letters.

The British actress, who stars in hit US TV show ‘Pushing Daisies’, admits her stunning looks attract far too much unwanted attention.

Anna said: “I don’t really think about being a fantasy object. I’d only think about it if I got weird things through the post. There was a guy who sent me a photograph of his bedroom and it was walls and walls just covered in posters of me. I found that a bit freaky. And asking for knickers is weird too.”

The 31-year-old star, who has been dating ‘Harry Potter’ actor David Thewlis for seven years, also admits being seen as a sex symbol made it hard for her to trust men and form relationships.

Anna, who has previously dated actor Darren Day and singer Robbie Williams, told Esquire magazine: “It was hard having relationships. I think that is why I fell into Darren’s arms. He was someone who wasn’t really bothered by any of that. And I thought, ‘Here is someone to love me and take care of me.’

“I get lots and lots of attention. I suppose you have got to look through it and make sure they like you for the right reasons.”

Source