This week’s spotlight is “Still of the Night”, a very good recommendation for a rainy Sunday (in case it’s raining today where you live). New DVD screencaptures, promotional pictures and stills have been added to the image library. Three new clips can be found in the video archive. Production notes and review after the cut. As always, please share your thoughts on “Still of the Night” in the comments.

On August 9, Meryl Streep will be a guest on “What What Happens Live”, Bravo’s late-night, interactive talk show that features guests from the world of entertainment, politics, and pop culture. Hosted by Andy Cohen, the series includes lively debates on everything from fashion, the latest on everyone’s favorite Bravolebrities, and what celebrity is making headlines that week. For more information on the show and airdates, please visit their official website. Thanks to Zak for the heads-up!

On August 05, Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell and David Frankel will participate in the Apple Store SoHo discussion panel for “Hope Springs” as part of their Meet the Filmmakers series. This is familiar territory for Meryl, after attending panels for “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “The Iron Lady”. More information on the panel can be found on their official website. Then, on August 8, Meryl and Tommy will be guests on “The View”, August 08, to promote the release of “Hope Springs”. Airdates and more can be found on “The View”‘s offical website.

The first bunch of reviews for next week’s “Hope Springs” have been added by the leading film publications. Please note that some reveal more details about the plot. First there’s Variety, calling the film “an altogether pleasant surprise: a mainstream dramedy that frankly and intelligently addresses the challenges facing a couple after 31 years of marriage. Sony should have no trouble enticing older audiences, and upbeat word of mouth could confer sleeper-hit status.”

Tackling one of the most deceptively ordinary roles she’s had in a while (and a complete departure from her dazzling star turn in “Prada”), Streep dons owlish specs and speaks at a higher pitch than usual, imbuing Kay with the nervous, birdlike energy of a woman not entirely comfortable in her own skin. And Jones, a scowling mass of hostility and avoidance, owns the picture; Kay may have sympathy on her side, but it’s Arnold who undergoes the more significant transformation, something Jones manages without compromising the character’s splenetic temperament.

According to Screen International, “Hope Springs” is an odd but often very effective mix of mainstream romantic comedy and surprisingly hard-hitting – for a summer studio release – romantic drama. Though it won’t be easy to market, the film could strike a chord with the older demographic that has recently shown a willingness to turn out for relevant material featuring prestigious talent.

While both leads make excellent use of their ample screen time, Jones is particularly impressive as the distant yet regretful Arnold. The performance should help broaden the film’s audience to include men as well as women; and it might even be remembered next awards season.

And the Hollywood Reporter calls the film a “more comedic drama than midlife romantic comedy, rather literally titled Hope Springs holds few surprises but delivers plenty of warmth. As endless fodder for pop-psychology publications and mid-afternoon TV shows, the topic of promoting passion and intimacy in long-term relationships holds a particular place not only in the current cultural zeitgeist, but also in the lives of millions of Americans, perhaps especially those attaining and surpassing middle age.

Streep’s performance is a winning mix of vulnerability and determination as she at first tries to understand her husband’s indifference and then works to convince him to help reignite their romantic spark. Several scenes where she attempts to reassert sexual intimacy with Arnold are both heartbreaking and hilarious, particularly a risqué rendezvous in a darkened, quiet theater where her unpracticed technique goes wrong in too many different ways.

Fans can make their own opinion next week, when “Hope Springs” releases US theaters on August 08.

The promotion for “Hope Springs” is starting – video clips to promote next week’s release of the film have been published – including a b-roll for the film, a new interview with Meryl, as well as a joint interview with her and Tommy Lee Jones. Also, a new television spot has been added.

According to Deadline, actress Margo Martindale has joined the cast of August: Osage County. The Emmy winner will play the jaded sister of Meryl Streep in the feature adaptation of Tracy Letts’ family clan play. Martindale’s character is Mattie Fae Aiken, the wife of Charles Aiken, played by Chris Cooper, and the sister of Violet Weston, played by Streep. The actress will start filming in Oklahoma on September 24. Martindale won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2011 for her role on FX’s Justified. Julia Roberts also stars in August: Osage County as Violet’s daughter Barbara. Abigail Breslin, playing Barbara’s daughter, recently joined the film, as did Juliette Lewis. John Wells is directing August: Osage County, Letts is writing the adaptation of his Pulitzer and Tony-winning play. This will be the fourth collaboration for Meryl and Margo – they worked together before on “Marvin’s Room” and “First Do No Harm” – and Margo was in “The Hours” as well, though they didn’t share scenes.

This Sunday’s spotlight is “The River Wild”, Curtis Hanson’s 1994 adventure thriller featuring Meryl’s first and so far only action role. New DVD screencaptures have been added to the image library, alongside new promotional pictures and production stills. The video archive has been updated with three trailers, including the teaser and the theatrical trailer. There are also three new clips from the film. Production notes and my review after the cut. As always, please share your thoughts on “The River Wild” in the comments.

According to CBS News, a host of music guests will perform live on CBS’ upcoming “Teachers Rock” TV special. Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Josh Groban and pop group Fun. will perform at the event benefiting teachers and education. The TV special will also feature personal recollections Dave Grohl, Usher and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and James Valentine. Actors too will appear on the program, including Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Garner, Jack Black, Morgan Freeman and Matthew Morrison. The benefit concert special will also preview scenes from the upcoming film “Won’t Back Down,” starring Davis and Gyllenhaal as two determined mothers, one a teacher, who plan to transform their children’s failing inner-city school. “Teachers Rock” airs live on Aug. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.

Entertainment Tonight has published a new bunch of press interviews with Steve Carell, Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones from the set of “Hope Springs”. And a first official clip from the film, in which Kay and Arnold are looking for a place to have breakfast in Hope Springs, has been added as well. Edit: A second clip from “Hope Springs” has been added as well.

Three new television spots to promote the theatrical release of “Hope Springs” have been launched. Instead adding them one by one to the video archive, I’ve made a compilation clip (alongside the first launched tv spot), so you can watch them in one place. Also added is a second interview clip with Meryl and Tommy Lee promoting the film, which can be watched here.