The push is on. Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, a family film he made because his family asked him to, opens in theaters on Wednesday November 23 here in the US, just in time for the long holiday weekend. A few days ago I surmised that Hugo was meant to be Scorsese’s (an avowed film fan as well as a curator of celluloid and keeper of the flame) sonnet to moviemaking. Everything I’ve read about the film, as well as what the master himself had to say to Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" last week, bears that out.

One of the main characters is Georges Méliès, one of the first and most influential filmmakers of the 20^th century (played by Sir Ben Kingsley) who had by the 1930’s retired to a toy shop in Paris, just as his cinematic counterpart has.  Not having read Brian Selznick’s book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I cannot wait to find out how  Méliès, an orphaned boy, whose father has left him an automaton, a clock and a key all fit together.

We have gorgeous new character posters to share as well as a host of beautiful images, many of which show us characters we haven’t seen before, including those played by Emily Mortimer, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour and the great Christopher Lee. I highly recommend Martin Scorsese’s interview with Jon Stewart. The whole interview wasn’t available except in the context of the entire show. If you’re interested, you can find it here.  Hugo opens November 23 in the US & Canada and 2 December in the UK. Enjoy the pics!

It's been awhile since we had any news from Martin Scorsese's Hugo Cabret, now simply titled, Hugo. It's usually either feast or famine.  In any case, we're now at the beginning of October, and 'awards-baiting season' (kind of like duck hunting season) has begun, so expect the juicy little tidbits to be served up more freely in the weeks to come.

Set in 1930s Paris, Hugo is based on the novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick  with a screenplay by John Logan (The Hurt Locker, Coriolanus). Hugo (Asa Butterfield) is an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station At the heart of the story is a mystery involving his late father and an 'automaton'. 

Hugo has an insane cast including Chloe Moretz, Sir Ben Kingsley, Sasha Baron Cohen, Ray Winstone, Helen McCrory, Michael Stuhlbarg, Emily Mortimer and Christopher Lee. Hugo opens November 23 in the US and Canada and on 2 December in the UK. Check out the cool new images. If someone hadn't told me that was Jude Law (as Hugo's father) with Asa Butterfield, I would never have known that was him. That's Sasha Baron Cohen as the Station Inspector, Chloe Moretz as Isabelle and Sir Ben Kingsley as Papa Georges.

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorcese, Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson and Michelle Williams attend the premiere of their movie Shutter Island in New York last night held at the Ziegfeld Theatre.  And you know it’s not a premiere unless it’s attended by Mick Jagger!

Leo spoke to The Insider at the premiere:

“It was a very intense filmmaking experience, and it was one of the more challenging roles I’ve ever taken on to date, and I’m really proud to show it. I’m really happy with this film,”

Director Martin Scorcese says of his fourth film collaboration with Leo:

“I get inspiration from him on the set,” “He’s an extraordinary kid because he’s growing and utilizing all his experiences and putting it right into his creative energy, and the results, I think, are wonderful.”

The film opens in theatres tomorrow.

Pictures after the break

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Four films together and 10 years later, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese present their latest project Shutter Island at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday.  The two were joined by Sir Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and Mark Ruffalo on the red carpet.

At a press conference for the film, Leonardo said of the pairing:

“Each experience has been unique. It’s been a progression, now it’s been 10 years” “the biggest gift that he’s given me is an appreciation for cinema and cinema’s history, and an entirely new perspective on my view of this art form.”

“I grew up on his work, really,” “As a younger actor, you’d be a fool not to jump at the opportunity to work with somebody who I consider and many consider the definitive director of our time.”

Martin said of working with Leonardo:

“Trust is really the key” and was built up over time, Scorsese said, adding that they “really reached a kind of comradeship in ‘The Departed.’”

“I see him as a young man developing as a wonderful actor,” he said. “I’m very happy to be around when this is happening with somebody with such extraordinary talent, to be able to focus that and perfect it.“

According to imdb the movie is a:

Drama is set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island

And if you still need a Leo fix, do not worry, he has four movies in the works with 27 in development!!

Pictures after the break

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Yeah, you know you love that picture.  It was either Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler or Halle Berry.  I just wanted to tease the Gerard Butler fans

Before I get on with the winners of last night’s Golden Globe Awards, I just want to mention that I really enjoyed Ricky Gervais hosting.  What we saw of him.  I would have really liked for him to be on stage more often.  I particularly liked when he introduced Mel Gibson by saying:

“It’s not my fault. I like a drink as much as the next man. Unless the next man is Mel Gibson”

I’m sure your jaw dropped to the floor like the rest of us and the celebrities in the audience.  Mel didn’t seem bothered by it and in fact went along with it.

Sandra Bullock showed off her perfect German in her acceptance speech by telling her kids (she is step-mom to husband Jesse James’ kids):

“to brush their teeth and go to bed”

Although my television went black during his speech, I enjoyed watching Robert Downey Jr via YouTube:

For the list of winners and pictures in the press room hit the ‘continued reading’

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