Vatican Bans Dan Brown Film “Angels & Demons” From Rome Churches
“Angels & Demons“, the sequel to the enormously successful “The Da Vinci Code“, sees Tom Hanks reprise his role as Harvard professor Robert Langdon. This time, however, Mr Langdon is on a mission to save the Vatican from being blown up by a canister of anti-matter.
The entire film is set in Rome, and Sony Pictures applied for permission to film two key scenes inside the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria.
The plot of the book sees Mr Langdon arriving in Santa Maria della Vittoria to find a cardinal being set on fire.
The Vatican has banned the makers of a prequel to “The Da Vinci Code” from filming in its grounds or any church in Rome, describing the work as “an offence against God”.
“Angels and Demons”, the latest Dan Brown thriller to be turned into a film, includes key episodes that take place in the Vatican and Rome’s churches. Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, the head of the Vatican’s Prefecture for Economic Affairs, said that Brown had “turned the gospels upside down to poison the faith”.
“It would be unacceptable to transform churches into film sets so that his blasphemous novels can be made into films in the name of business,” he said, adding that Brown’s work “wounds common religious feelings”.
Father Marco Fibbi, a spokesman for the Diocese of Rome, said: “Normally we read the script but this time it was not necessary. The name Dan Brown was enough.”
Woody Allen Can’t Afford Big Stars Like De Niro, Nicholson, Hoffman…
Woody Allen says Robert De Niro snubbed a chance to work with him because the director couldn’t afford his huge wage demands.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker singled out De Niro, Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman as actors who had turned him down over pay.
“There are plenty of actors and actresses that say they are desperate to work with me but then they are not available or they can’t work for the pay I’m offering.”I couldn’t afford De Niro, Nicholson or Hoffman.”
Allen, 72, makes most of his films on relatively low budgets of around $15 million.
He wanted to get Nicholson or Tom Hanks for the lead role in his film “The Curse of the Jade Scorpion” but they both turned him down.
Allen said it’s not just male leads that he has problems casting. Emma Thompson and Reese Witherspoon have both been unsuccessfully approached about roles in his films.
He has been filming in Europe rather than Hollywood for his last four films, saying his productions are better received by audiences there.
Allen made three consecutive films in London – “Match Point“, “Scoop” and “Cassandra’s Dream“. Continue Reading…
Martin Scorsese Plans Frank Sinatra Biopic
Martin Scorsese will direct a film about Frank Sinatra, according to the singer’s film producer daughter Tina.Speaking to Sun Media, Tina Sinatra said Scorsese had “always wanted to do this”.
The untitled Universal movie will reportedly not focus on Sinatra’s alleged business links to the Mafia and organised crime figures.
Commenting on his friendship with gangsters, Tina said her father “never drove the getaway car”.
She added: “I don’t want him to be driving the getaway car. That would not be fair. But I trust [Scorsese] implicitly.”
Scorsese previously tried to make a film about Sinatra’s fellow Rat Pack member Dean Martin with Tom Hanks in the lead role. Continue Reading…
Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks to present Oscars
Nicole Kidman and Tom Hanks have been named among the stars who will hand out this year’s Oscars.
The ceremony will also include musical performances by Amy Adams and Jon McLaughlin from the movie Enchanted.
TV comedian Jon Stewart is hosting this year’s awards. It is the second time he has fronted the event.
Other actors who will be handing out gongs include Forest Whitaker, Dame Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, George Clooney and Cate Blanchett.
There had been fears that the awards show would have to copy the Golden Globes’ lead and downsize its ceremony due to the WGA strike.
However, the show’s producer Gil Cates claimed that the awards would run as normal despite the delays.
He said: “We are behind in the writing, but we’ll catch up. It’ll be there. You’ll hear words. I promise.”
The Oscars take place on February 24.
Tom Hanks Video Interview
The Oscar-winner talks Charlie WIlson’s War
Charlie Wilson’s War is the improbable story of Texas senator Charlie Wilson.A womaniser, drinker and recreational drug-user, Charlie Wilson wasn’t the most likely member of the senate to emerge as the saviour of Afghanistan, let alone be instrumental in the fall of the entire Soviet Union.
Penned by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin, Charlie Wilson’s War is essential viewing for a hundred reasons, not least of all being the image of squeaky clean Tom Hanks sharing a jacuzzi with two hookers and a large quantity of cocaine. We spoke to The Nicest Man In Hollywood™ to find out all about his most surprising role to date. Continue Reading…
