Simply Streep.com | Updates Archive

UPDATES ARCHIVE | AUGUST 2007

FIRST LOOK: "MAMMA MIA" STARS HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE
Posted: 2007-08-30 | Source: Webmaster

USA Today has published the very first production still for "Mamma Mia" alongside their exclusive first look at the film: The mother of all jukebox musicals is going Hollywood. Mamma Mia! is the name of the game as super troupers Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan meet their Waterloo and other catchy chart-toppers by '70s Swedish pop sensation ABBA in the film adaptation. As the show seen by more than 30 million Dancing Queen-humming theatergoers worldwide continues its sixth year on Broadway, the production of the summer 2008 release has shifted to the picturesque isles of Greece this week after 10 weeks at Pi-

newood Studios outside of London. That fairy-tale setting is where bride-to-be Sophia (Amanda Seyfried of Mean Girls) gathers three ex-suitors of her taverna-owning mom, Donna (Streep), the better to learn which one is her father. The hook-happy songs written by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus provide much of the electricity on stage, but movies need stars. And Mamma Mia! creator Judy Craymer, who also is one of the film's producers, says the key to luring such non-musical talents as Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard as the possible papas was the mighty Meryl. "She obviously loves singing and was bursting to do it with various projects," Craymer says of the 14-time Oscar nominee who famously lost Evita to Madonna. "We knew that she had seen the show because she wrote a letter to the Broadway cast five years ago. Now she gets to sing nine ABBA songs." You can read the full article here and see a bigger version of the production still in the Image Library.

"LIONS FOR LAMBS" TO OPEN AFI FEST
Posted: 2007-08-30 | Source: Webmaster

The American Film Institute announced today that the highly anticipated Tom Cruise drama "Lions for Lambs" will be the opening-night film for AFI Fest 2007. Directed by Robert Redford, "Lambs" is the first release under the Paula Wagner / Tom Cruise regime at United Artists. The picture stars Redford, Cruise and Meryl Streep, and is described as a politically charged drama centered around two American soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and a U.S. senator with presidential ambitions (Cruise) who may have a hand in their fates. Streep plays a TV journalist poised to land a major story with the help of the senator. Redford appears as an idealistic college professor who is torn by the choices of two of his former students. "We think it's an exciting film and an important film," Wagner, UA's chief executive, said in a statement released today by AFI. "And this is the perfect way to introduce it to the public." So far, it's the only festival selection for "Lambs." It's scheduled to be in theaters Nov. 9.

"RENDITION" POSTER
Posted: 2007-08-29 | Source: Webmaster

Here's the poster for "Rendition" with many thanks to Sam for the heads-up!

COVERAGE OF MERYL IN BELFAST
Posted: 2007-08-21 | Source: Webmaster

Hollywood actress Meryl Streep has paid a flying visit to Belfast to boost a fundraising campaign for a new arts centre in the city's Cathedral Quarter. The Metropolitan Arts Centre project needs to raise a further £1.5m to reach its £16.5m target to build the new facility, planned to open in 2011. Streep took a break from filming in London to boost the campaign. "I'm proud to come to Belfast to celebrate

this city's commitment to the centre and its great good work." The two-time Oscar winner said such projects were a testament to the "healing power of art", as it is "sometimes easy to despair in the face of world events". "It can feel like divisiveness and the urge to destroy has won the day - that's why the project is a cause for celebration and a template for hope," she added. The new complex is being developed by the trustees of the current Old Museum Arts Centre.

Additionally, there's a very interesting article at the Belfast Telegraph and the BBC has posted an online video clip of their programme (in decent quality, but at least in moving pictures ;-)

MERY STREEP VISITS BELFAST
Posted: 2007-08-18 | Source: Webmaster

Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep is in Belfast to talk about her life and work. She is supporting the Old Museum Arts Centre`s (Omac) bid to raise funding for a new building. The 58-year-old will host a dinner today and answer questions from actors. "I`m proud to come to Belfast to celebrate this city`s commitment to Omac and its great good work," she said. "Sometimes it is easy to despair in the face of world events. It can feel like divisiveness and the urge to destroy has won the day. "That`s why the Omac project is a cause for celebration and a template for hope."

"EVENING" COMES TO DVD SEPTEMBER 25
Posted: 2007-08-16 | Source: Webmaster

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced it will bring the adult drama 'Evening' to HD DVD this fall. Despite a once-in-a-lifetime cast featuring Meryl Streep, Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, Toni Collette and Claire Danes, 'Evening' was a critical and commercial bust in theaters earlier this summer, barely scraping up a $15 million domestic gross. Universal will give the flick another shot on video September 25, when it debuts the HD DVD day-and-date with the standard-def DVD version. Tech specs include 1080p/VC-1 video, and audio options in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 Surround. Extras include two behind-the-scenes featurettes, and deleted scenes.

"MAMMA MIA" TO START FILMING IN GREECE
Posted: 2007-08-16 | Source: Webmaster

James Bond star Pierce Brosnan will swap guns for Abba songs this month when he begins filming a Hollywood version of the hit musical "Mamma Mia" on the Greek island of Skiathos, the show said Wednesday. The Irish actor's co-star Meryl Streep may also make an appearance when filming begins there and on the neighbouring island of Skopelos on August 29, a production official was quoted by AFP as saying on condition of anonymity. The film is hoping to recreate the success of the British musical, created in 1999 using songs by hit Swedish band Abba, for the big screen. Actor Tom Hanks is producing the film, due to be screened next year, and the stage musical's British creator, Phyllida Lloyd, will direct, according to the Hollywood trade press. In anticipation of the stars' arrival, residents of Skopelos have created a blog, www.skopelos07.wordpress.com, dedicated to the film and to promoting the two islands as tourist destinations.

VIDEO UPDATE: DOCUMENTARIES, TELEVISION REPORTS
Posted: 2007-08-14 | Source: Webmaster

The following video clips have been added to the videos archive: 2 interview clips from "Prime" and "Adaptation", Meryl's appearance on the documentary "Intimate Portrait: Diane Keaton" (with many thanks to the great Florencia!), a television report by Entertainment Tonight on the 1994 release of "The River Wild" as well as various television news segments on the releases of "A Prairie Home Companion", "The Devil Wears Prada" and her appearance at the Coolidge Center in 2006.

"DARK MATTER" WINS BEST FILM AT 2007 ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL
Posted: 2007-08-10 | Source: Webmaster

The New York Asian American International Film Festival celebrated two weeks of Asian and Asian American film with a closing ceremony at the Asia Society honoring filmmakers from around the world. This year, the thrilling drama "Dark Matter", starring Liu Ye and Meryl Streep has won the award for Best Film. Thanks to Frank for the heads-up!

"LIONS FOR LAMBS" STILLS AND POSTER
Posted: 2007-08-10 | Source: Webmaster

Here comes the official poster for "Lions for Lambs", alongside three new production stills.

"RENDITION" OFFICIAL WEBSITE LAUNCHED
Posted: 2007-08-10 | Source: Webmaster

The Official Website for "Rendition" can be now launched at http://www.renditionmovie.com. For now, the site features an official synopsis and photos of the film's three stars with more to come closer to its release.

"LIONS FOR LAMBS" TRAILER AND OFFICIAL WEBSITE!
Posted: 2007-08-04 | Source: Webmaster

United Artists has launched the Official Website for "Lions for Lambs" and its theatrical trailer as well. It's very different to the previous teaser, so head over to Yahoo Movies to watch it. Caps from the trailer have been added as well.

And here's the film's official synopsis: Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise star in "Lions for Lambs," a powerful and gripping story that digs behind the news, the politics and a nation divided to explore the human consequences of a complicated war. Directed by Academy Award winner Robert Redford, the story begins after two determined students at a West Coast University, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Redford), and attempt to do something important with their lives. But when the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan, Malley is both moved and distraught. Now, as Arian and Ernest fight for survival in the field, they become the string that binds together two disparate stories on opposite sides of America. In California, an anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged but disaffected student (Andrew Garfield) who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the charismatic Presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (Cruise), is about to give a bombshell story to a probing TV journalist (Streep) that may affect Arian and Ernest’s fates. As arguments, memories and bullets fly, the three stories are woven ever more tightly together, revealing how each of these Americans has a profound impact.

"RENDITION" TRAILER ONLINE!
Posted: 2007-08-03 | Source: Webmaster

The very promising trailer for "Rendition" has hit the internet and can be viewed over at Moviefone in high definition quality. A downloadable version is in the video archive. I also added caps of Meryl's scenes to the Image Library. Many thanks to Mycah for the heads-up!

"RENDITION" TRAILER TO BE SHOWN ON ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT
Posted: 2007-08-02 | Source: Webmaster

Make sure to watch "Entertainment Tonight" tonight as they will have a sneak peek on the upcoming thriller "Rendition", starring Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin. The trailer is likely to be released a couple of days after the television premiere, so fingers crossed we'll get to see more soon.