New Year, new movie: This one doesn’t have a title but it’s written and being produced and directed by James Gray and stars Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix in one of his first starring roles since he got the train back from Crazy Town.  This is Phoenix’s fourth collaboration with Gray after The Yards, We Own the Night and Two Lovers. (That last might have been what bought him the ticket to Crazy Town in the first place.) In any case, what is currently known only as Untitled James Gray Project is currently filming on location in Brooklyn.

The basic plot of the film involves an innocent immigrant woman (Cotillard) who is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician (Jeremy Renner) tries to save her and reunite her with her sister who is being held in the confines of Ellis Island.

Since Renner is playing the romantic hero (Orlando the Magician), we can assume that Phoenix’s character (Bruno Weiss) will be the one who seduces Cotillard’s Sonya Cybulski. Is it too soon to say “I’m in”? I love the idea of Renner playing this type of character. He’s got a look about him that is both youthful and lived in, and Phoenix can do melodramatic villain very well. Remember his Commodus in Gladiator? If he’d have had a mustache he’d have twirled it. I think the same will probably be said of Bruno Weiss. (This is, of course, all conjecture based on the brief synopsis and the pics we’ve gotten from the set.)

Speaking of pics, I’m loving Phoenix’s bowler and Cotillard’s vaudeville costume, especially the velvet wrapper she’s bundled up in. It must have been very cold in Brooklyn the past few days. Even with the velvet, Cotillard is alternately swaddled in a blanket or someone’s down coat between takes. There’s no information currently available on Untitled James Gray Project’s release date, but hopefully we’ll have a title when there is.

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Fresh from its debut in Venice, Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion opens in theaters in the US this Friday, September 9. Ahead of the opening, thanks to DreadCentral.com, we’ve got some short interviews with some of the major players.

Contagion is an action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.

The first is with Marion Cotillard who talks about her director and how she came to be a part of the film:

Laurence Fishburne talks about his character, Dr. Ellis Cheaver:

Kate Winslet talks about the script and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns:

Jennifer Ehle talks about her character, Dr. Ally Hextall and the realistic nature of the film:

Contagion opens in the UK on 21 October.

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A few weeks ago we were treated to the first official shot of Tom Hardy as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. This weekend, he’s all over the web as shooting has begun in earnest in Pittsburgh, PA.

We’ve got lots of pics of Bane as well as a shot of Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon and Marion Cotilliard as Miranda Tate. We also see Christian Bale, who looks to be rehearsing for a scene involving either a prison break or a jail-house riot. There were a lot extras walking around in orange jumpsuits with “Gotham H.O.C.” on the back. There’s also a shot of a pretty cool ATV apparently called a “tumbler” painted in desert camouflage. I have no idea what that’s about, since not only are they filming in an urban setting, but it’s supposed to be mid-winter. Piles of fake snow have been spotted along the streets and the actors were bundled up while filming. They quickly shed the coats once cameras stopped rolling. I don’t see how they do it in July heat without sweating their make-up off.

Tom Hardy Talks About Christopher Nolan & The Dark Knight Rises

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to know too much about this movie, at least in terms of plot. Director Christopher Nolan is notorious for playing things close to the vest and divulging secrets only when he wants to divulge them. I have no problem with that. These people aren’t perfecting cold fusion or formulating biological weapons or even members of Congress shaping public policy. They’re making a movie for our future entertainment. Know too much and on the one hand, expectations go through the roof in terms of the finished product (eg: Cowboys & Aliens) or you risk disappointing the rabid fan-base who may or may not agree with your choices.

I say, “relax”. The Dark Knight Rises already has a locked in release date of July 20, 2012. All things considered for a movie of this size and scope, that’s not very far away at all, especially when they’re still shooting the thing. I’m willing to let Nolan and company surprise me.

Many more pics can be found at Wick Photography.

Oscar winning actress Marion Cotillard is pregnant with her first child long time love Guillaume Canet her rep has confirmed exclusively with US Weekly.

The 35 year old actress met her baby’s daddy on the set of their 2003 French film Love Me if You Dare. She has been with him for three years.

No word on when the baby is due. 2010 ended with lots of divorce/separation announcements and 2011 is starting with lots of engagement and baby news.

Congratulations to the happy couple.

Olivia Wilde is elegant and gorgeous as she attended last night’s 19th Annual BAFTA Britannia Awards at the Hyatt Regency in Los Angeles.

Christopher Nolan and Michael Sheen were honoured at the festivities that saw a number of celebrities in attendance:

• Carey Mulligan
• Marion Cotillard
• Jane Lynch
• Betty White
• Valerie Bertinelli
• Dakota Fanning
• Rosario Dawson

Past honorees of this prestigious event include:  Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Helen Mirren, Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg and Elizabeth Taylor.

Pictures after the break

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Leonardo DiCaprio and the gorgeous Marion Cotillard are in Paris to premiere at the Gaumont Champs Elysees. Leonardo took time to sign some autographs for his lucky fans.  This guy never ages.  He has such a baby face I want to slap him. And baby face Leo is BUSY. In addition to promoting this movie, he has two films in production and 21 films in development!

That is most impressive, as is his love life with having relationships with some of the most gorgeous women in the world (think Gisele Bundchen and Bar Rafaeli)!

Also at the premiere were some of the other stars of the film:  Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Michael Caine

Inception hits theatres July 16.

Pictures after the break

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