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Sandy Powell and Colleen Atwood talk costume design
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
A few weeks ago we talked about the annual “Art of Motion Picture Costume Design” exhibition coming up at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) Museum and Galleries (see Related Content, right). Back then we knew that the Oscar-winning designs from The Duchess would be represented, but now they’ve confirmed more of the top fashion films that will make up this most prestigious of displays. We’ve got some sci-fi crowd-pleasers like Star Trek and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, some chic faves like A Single Man and Sherlock Holmes and the customary dollop of Oscar-nominated treasures with four of the five flicks (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Bright Star, Nine and The Young Victoria) competing for the Best Costume Design gong making the list (the fifth, Coco Before Chanel was not selected). And to whet our fashionista whistle, two of the top designers behind these movies, Sandy Powell and Colleen Atwood have been interviewed by the Los Angeles Times.
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Robin Hood fever coming to Nottingham in May
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Now that Avatar has been dethroned from atop the US box office, our 2009 movie hangover is starting to shift and we’re reminded of all the exciting cinematic treats 2010 still has to offer. And one of the films we’re really psyched about is Robin Hood, Sir Ridley Scott’s action-packed tale of the Sherwood Forest bandit starring Russell Crowe as our steal from the rich, give to the poor hero and Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian. Not that we’re the only ones hoping for big things as Nottingham, the home to the English folklore idol, is planning a month of Robin Hood themed fun to coincide with the film’s release in May.
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Pretty Woman voted top Valentine's Day movie
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
It’s all about Julia Roberts this Valentine’s Day. Head to the cinema for the most romantic night of the year and there she is, her sparkly smile shining out in ensemble rom-com Valentine’s Day (along with practically every other star in Hollywood), or stay in for a snuggle in front of a classic love story and chances are she’ll pop up there too. What are we talking about? Only a new poll to find Britain’s most beloved Valentine’s Day movie and coming in to take the top spot is the film that made Julia a household name, 1990’s modern Cinderella story, Pretty Woman.
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Win tickets to the UK world premiere of Alice in Wonderland
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Good news, Boxwishers! We have now passed the one month point in our wait for Alice in Wonderland. Yes, Tim Burton’s re-imagining of the classic Lewis Carroll children’s tale will be heading to a cinema near you in less than four weeks and we’re happily crossing off the days on the Boxwish calendar. But if the wait is driving you as mad as a hatter, we’ve uncovered a fantastic competition which promises to send one lucky person and a chum to the world premiere of the fantasy flick to be held on Thursday 25th February. Click over for more.
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Our first listen to Danny Elfman's score for The Wolfman
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Film composer Danny Elfman has two exciting musical scores set to be released soon. There’s his one for Alice in Wonderland, which continues his long-time screen collaborations with director Tim Burton and his one for gothic horror, The Wolfman. We’ve already heard (and loved) a few samples of the Alice score (see Related Content, right), yet things have seemingly been less smooth-sailing for The Wolfman’s music, which, as we’ve reported has been a hokey-cokey of in-out-shake-it-all-about nonsense. First Elfman was onboard, then he’d left the project and been replaced by Paul Haslinger and then he was back in. It made us tired just trying to keep up, but now we’ve gotten a more substantial taste of Elfman’s The Wolfman music as preview samples of it have been posted online.
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Win a dinner date with Brit hunk, Gerard Butler
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
It’s just seven days to go until Valentine’s Day otherwise known as the most romantic or the most depressing, cynical and expensive day of the year depending on your outlook. And if you have no-one to canoodle with, or rather are looking to make an upgrade on your current partner, we have just the thing – the chance to win a date with Gerard Butler. Not too shabby we’re sure you’ll agree and maybe, just maybe, if you ask very nicely, he’ll turn up in his skimpy 300 costume. Worth a shot, eh?
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Prop replicas of District 9 weapons on sale
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
You know us. We’re not ones to condone nasty violence here at Boxwish (though we’d pay through the roof to see the Terminator cyborgs take on the Transformers – make that crossover movie now!) And so we want to be clear that the weapons we’re about to tell you about are nothing but replicas of props. They can’t really hurt people and so are ever so safe, so if you’re thinking of getting one, please assure your girlfriend/ wife/ mum [delete as applicable] that they’re not dangerous to have around the house. Done that? Cool, now check out these completely kick-ass and freakin’ awesome District 9 replicas and prepare to part with your cash.
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Listen to extracts from Alice in Wonderland "Almost Alice" soundtrack
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
You’ve got to take your hat off to those marketing bods behind Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. The movie is still a month away from release and yet all the time we get drip-fed new and exciting details relating to it keeping our appetites truly whetted. There have been the usual trailers and stills, but one thing helping it stand apart is the duo of soundtracks coming our way soon. There’s Danny Elfman’s trademark spooky score, which has already been heard in short bursts thanks to the film’s website, and now “Almost Alice”, the accompanying soundtrack packed with top rock, pop and indie stars has also gone online with snippets from the 16-track album ready for us to sample.
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Co-star in new movie with Hugh Jackman!
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Calling all aspiring young actors, fancy starring alongside Hollywood hero Hugh Jackman in his latest flick? Well, here’s your chance as an open casting call has been posted online for the upcoming futuristic drama, Real Steel for a lead part opposite Wolverine. Firefly Casting is in charge of recruitment and they’re searching for a young lad, aged between 10 and 14-years-old who can play Max, “a street-smart, tough, charming kid with a hard untrusting outer shell which hides a warm, enthusiastic spirit”. So if you fit the bill or know of someone who does, read on for more.
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How fantastically weird is this? A Gizmo skirt!
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
L.A-based fashion designer Brian Lichtenberg has always loved flirting with the bolder side of fashion. From his RIP YSL T-shirt to his metallic panelled leggings, his clothing creations consistently push the envelope with his most celeb-tastic piece arguably the hooded silver mini-dress as seen on the likes of Kim Kardashian, Ciara, Demi Lovato and most recently, Lindsay Lohan at a Golden Globes after party. However we’ve now stumbled upon one item that is not only completely gaga and ingenious but packed with film flair. Introducing the Gizmo skirt as inspired by the cute critter from 80s classic, Gremlins and its sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
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We want a gay Disney character demands Facebook group
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
The Princess and the Frog is riding high at the moment. The Disney fairytale hit the top of the US box office at the end of last year before Avatar parked itself there (and is hoping for a similar impact on its UK release tomorrow), garnered some complementary reviews and has just picked up three Oscar nominations – pretty good going all round, especially since it marked both the studio’s return to 2D animation after a five year lapse and the first ever black princess in the titular Princess Tiana (voiced by Dreamgirls’ Anika Noni Rose). New territory for the House of Mouse but while these strides forward have been applauded, some people are eager for further change with one Facebook group campaigning for the first ever openly gay Disney character.
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Win tickets to the UK premiere of Valentine's Day
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
What are you doing this time next week? Well, if you’re the lucky winner in either one of these two fab film competitions you could be hobnobbing with Hollywood’s finest at the UK premiere of ensemble rom-com, Valentine’s Day. Sound better than just an average Thursday night in? We thought so too and with the movie promising to be a cheery dose of love and laughs packed with some of the most gorgeous stars such as (big breath) Bradley Cooper, Julia Roberts, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Topher Grace, Jessica Biel, Eric Dane, Queen Latifah, Emma Roberts and more, it could be just the thing to add some fun to an otherwise forgettable February night.
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Freddy Krueger voted top horror villain in new poll
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
When it comes to film frights it seems that we have long memories as British sci-fi and fantasy magazine, SFX has conducted a poll into the ultimate horror villain and the top ten is packed with bogeymen from years back. Coming in to top the survey is Freddy Krueger, the bladed glove-wearing disfigured stalker who slashes up children and teens in their dreams causing them to die in the real world in the Nightmare on Elm Street horror franchise. The scary slasher first had us hiding behind our hands in 1984 and through sequels and spin-offs has haunted us for years and years and now he’s been named our number one nightmare. Congrats Freddy!
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Talent signs on for American Psycho musical
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Cast your minds back to September 2008. George W. Bush was still President, Avatar was shrouded in mystery and the iPhone was Apple’s most impressive new gadget, as it was way back then that we first told you about the planned musical of American Psycho. Remember how we laughed at the idea, applauded its audacity but cheerfully shook our heads muttering that “we’ll believe it when we see it”. Well, looks like we’re about to eat our words as what was then just an ambitious idea is now charging full steam ahead with top talent signed on to participate. So chain saws and business cards at the ready as Patrick Bateman will soon be treading the boards.
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Boxwish checks out the music and wardrobe Oscar contenders
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
And so the wait is over, Boxwishers. After the excitement of the Golden Globes, the Grammys, the SAGs, the Producer’s and Director’s Guild awards, etc, etc. we’re finally getting closer to the grand prize – the Oscars, with the final nominees for the biggest night in moviedom announced yesterday. And there are quite a few interesting ones on offer. The Hurt Locker’s Kathryn Bigelow could be the first woman to win the Best Director gong (and against her ex-husband, James Cameron to boot!), the expanded list of Best Film contenders has thrown up some interesting crowd-pleasers like District 9 and Sandra Bullock is the first star ever to be simultaneously up for a Best Actress Oscar and Razzie. But what of the categories that steal our spotlight here at Boxwish, the music and wardrobe rounds? Click over to find out.
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Avril Lavigne blogs about Alice in Wonderland song
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
It’s earned all sorts of conflicting reactions with online commenters. Some have lapped it up (“I love this song! Good job Avril!”), others have hated it (one branding it a “f***ing nightmare”) and others have touched on more specific aspects (“doesn’t sound strange or classical enough”), but one thing’s for certain – Avril Lavigne’s upcoming single from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland named “Alice Underground” has gotten people talking. And now we’ve got Avril’s side of the story as the Canadian punky popstrel has taken to her website to remember how she came to be involved with the movie and share her excitement at working with Burton.
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Calls for UK-based Walk of Fame
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
It’s one of the most distinctive and recognisable of Hollywood landmarks, famous around the world as a sidewalk monument to achievement in entertainment and the Hollywood Walk of Fame is still going strong. It’s endured a chequered past, becoming a haven for junkies and prostitutes, but the past couple of years have seen it restored to its former glory with millions of dollars of investment keeping the 2,300 stars nicely preserved. Just recently late crooner Roy Orbison and Oscar-winning actress Angelica Huston were honoured with stars and it’s a practice that some are hoping to bring to the UK with a touted London Walk of Fame.
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Mariah Carey on her dowdy look in Precious
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
If you’re a glamorous and gorgeous A-lister looking to be taken seriously for your acting, one tip – go frumpy. It’s worked countless times for screen stars, both male and female and even nabbed many of them Oscars (Charlize Theron for Monster, Nicole Kidman for The Hours, etc. etc.) and it’s a lesson that Mariah Carey has clearly heeded as the sexy singer has forgone her usual glitz for her latest film role, that of social worker, Mrs Weiss in the critically acclaimed Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. So it’s out with the make-up, designer labels and perfectly coiffured blonde barnet and in with the tired, plain and brunette. Forget Glitter (oh you have – well done) as there’s a new Mariah in town, albeit one that didn’t come naturally according to her.
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Live the Movie – Groundhog Day
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Groundhog Day, the story of self-obsessed, bitter weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) who finds he is living the same day, February 2nd – the Groundhog Day – over and over again until he learns to become a better person, is considered by many one of the greatest comedy films ever made. After unsuccessfully applying his ability to relive the same day without consequence to more selfish endeavours (seducing women, stealing money), the Pittsburgh meteorologist finally learns that self-improvement holds the key to his future. He then sets about dedicating his time to learning new skills and helping those around him, a personality U-turn that earns him the heart of his beloved Rita (Andie McDowell). With its potent message, the film almost challenges us, asking what we want to do with our lives and who we want to be. It encourages us to strive to better ourselves and delivers a happy ending and huge feel-good factor that is truly inspirational.
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Oxford hopes Alice in Wonderland will bring tourism to the city
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Alice in Wonderland is shaping up to be THE movie event of the spring. It’s happily setting the style in fashion circles and has music fans in a frenzy with its two soundtracks, but its next tale of inspiration could be a little more local as the city of Oxford is hoping the movie will boost business for its Alice Tour. The two-hour tour around the city, most famous for its prestigious university, takes those with an interest in Alice behind the origins of the classic children’s tale and explores what inspired its author, Oxford academic, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (who wrote under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll). And with the movie set to put Alice’s adventures firmly in the limelight, Oxford’s tourism bosses are hoping to make the most of it.
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Joe Dirt TV spin-off in the works
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
There are some movie spin-offs that makes complete sense (Kung Fu Panda, 2012, The Time Traveler’s Wife) and others that (how do we say this?) take you by surprise. File this one as a real bolt from the blue as it’s been announced that 2001 flop comedy, Joe Dirt is to make the transition from the big to the small screen. And while other recently announced spin-offs such as Push, Heathers and Teen Wolf have raised a few eyebrows, we’ve understood the possible potential in these ideas (the older films are ripe for re-visiting and share the ever-popular setting of high school while Push is all about specially gifted heroes – standard sci-fi fare), but Joe Dirt? Is the world ready for David Spade in his mullet wig again?
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Slumdog scores soundtrack gongs at Grammy Awards
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Another weekend, another awards shindig and last night it was the turn of the music biz to take centre stage with the 52nd Grammy Awards. Beyoncé took home an incredible six awards, a record for a female artist and there were also smiles for Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Kings of Leon. But in the epic ceremony there was also time for a little film love with three categories rewarding the music of the movies and following his success at last year’s Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globes was composer A.R. Rahman who picked up two for Slumdog Millionaire. No brainer, really.
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Avatar nabs Costume Designers Guild Award nomination
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
It doesn’t matter what the awards are for – expect to see Avatar on the list. And so as another list of industry nominations have been made, so it follows that James Cameron’s 3D record-breaker gets a mention and that’s precisely the case with the Costume Designers Guild gongs. The annual prize-giving sorts costuming contenders into three categories – fantasy, period and contemporary and now in its 12th year, the sci-fi smash has muscled in to secure a nom for designers Mayes C. Rubeo (a previous nominee for her work on TV’s Fidel in 2002) and Deborah Lynn Scott (an Oscar-winner for her clothes on previous Cameron blockbuster, Titanic). But they face some stiff competition in their category, to see who they’re against and how it shapes up in the other two groupings, click over.
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Listen to Avril Lavigne’s Alice in Wonderland soundtrack song
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Not content with ruling the fashion roost with all number of beauty, couture and jewellery tie-ins, the upcoming Alice in Wonderland also promises to be a real treat for music lovers. As we told you a couple of weeks back, the music for the Tim Burton fantasy will be available on two soundtrack albums – one with composer Danny Elfman’s score, the other named “Almost Alice” boasting a roster of star names from alternative and rock music ranging from Franz Ferdinand to Wolfmother, Pete Wentz and Mark Hoppus to 3OH!3 and we’ve got our first taste of this exciting collection thanks to Avril Lavigne.
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Harry Potter honoured for its UK locations at film awards
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
The big news for Potter fans today is that the final two instalments, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One and Two will be shot in 3D. After the incredible impact of Avatar, it’s an inevitable move to push further into the 3D market following on from last year’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince which had some 3D sequences at IMAX cinemas. However, while fans are looking forward to the last Potter flicks, critics are still honouring last year’s sixth saga which took home three awards at the Richard Attenborough Awards as voted for by regional UK film critics and the public.
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Avatar's disappearing plant actually exists
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Okay, so we admit that cinematic botany isn’t our strongest suit here at Boxwish, but having seen and loved Avatar even we were intrigued by the onscreen plant life. The lush flora of Pandora was so gorgeous, its bioluminescence adding a real sense of awe to the alien moon that, like Jake (Sam Worthington), we fell for its charms. And while many Avatar fans are miserable with the awareness that the movie’s magic isn’t real, we’ve found that one of its plants isn’t too unlike an actual one we have here on Earth. Introducing sea pens, plants that not only glow but can shrink and disappear if touched much like Pandora’s Helicoradian.
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Star Wars named among TCM's 15 most influential film soundtracks ever
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
Here at the bustling Mecca of movie geekery that is Boxwish HQ, our office jukebox is often blaring out film soundtracks. Each member of Team Boxwish has very different tastes in music (from 3OH!3 featuring Katy Perry to Marina and the Diamonds, Owl City to Flight of the Conchords) and yet throw on some movie music and we’re all happy. So we’re excited to see that TCM has announced its 15 most influential film soundtracks and it’s a suitably eclectic bunch, ranging from classical orchestrations to disco, classic pop to funk. So click over for the full list and see how many you own.
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Clint Eastwood crowned America's most loved movie star
Posted by Team Boxwish about 1 month ago
The old dog’s still got it. A few weeks ago, the Hollywood legend that is Sir Clint of Eastwood was named America’s preferred co-star beating the likes of screen smoothie George Clooney and rom-com darling Cameron Diaz to the title and now he’s been voted the US of A’s favourite movie star. Congrats to Clint who seems to be enjoying a purple patch of popularity with the American public at the moment (his latest awards contender, Invictus has just been named the best movie for grown-ups by the AARP magazine), and it shows an improvement on last year, as the 79-year-old veteran has climbed from second on the list to the top spot, displacing Denzel Washington who has slid to third after three years of dominance. Want to know who else the people of America rate? Click over for the full list.
