UPDATE 3/25/09

Liz Smith: New Carnage for
Sopranos Star James Gandolfini

UPDATE 3/23/09

After the Sopranos

James Gandolfini won rave reviews yesterday in "God of Carnage," a Broadway play about two couples whose attempt to deal amicably with their sons' playground fight descends into mayhem. "Gandolfini overcomes his Sopranos baggage and more than holds his own as the earthy Michael," New York Post critic Elisabeth Vincentelli wrote. It was Gandolfini's first time on Broadway since he won worldwide fame as crime boss Tony Soprano in the hit TV series The Sopranos.

UPDATE 3/22/09

Gandolfini invites Ruth Lin to Broadway Opening

Ruth Lin accepted her son-in-law James Gandolfini's invitation to his opening night on Broadway tomorrow in "God of Carnage." It opens at the Bernard Jacobs Theater. Gandolfini, best known as mob boss Tony Soprano in HBO's The Sopranos, married Ruth's daughter, Deborah Lin, a former model, at Central Union Church Aug. 30. Receptions were held at the Kahala Resort and Hotel and in New York...

UPDATE 3/17/09

Wild Things Trailer to Debut with Monsters vs. Aliens

The first trailer for Where the Wild Things Are will appear before Monsters vs. Aliens when it is released on March 27^th.

Based on the children's book by Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of a disobedient little boy named Max who is sent to bed without his supper. There, he creates his own world inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown him as their ruler. Directed by Spike Jonze, the cast includes Max Records (as Max), Forest Whitaker, Paul Dano, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara and Lauren Ambrose.

After several delays, Where the Wild Things Are is currently scheduled for release October 16^th, 2009.

UPDATE 3/16/09

One to Watch: In the Loop Trailer

The Sopranos James Gandolfini is starring in an actual comedy. In the Loop is a British political comedy shot in the style of a TV show like The Office. It actually first premiered at Sundance and got some rave reviews, even though it wasn't exactly a big hit by any means. In addition to Gandolfini, In the Loop stars Tom Hollander, David Rashe, Peter Capaldi, Anna Chulmsky, and Mimi Kennedy. Sadly, I never got to see this, but Optimum has released an official trailer for the film today and it definitely looks good. If you're a fan of British humor, than this is a must watch. Watch the trailer below.

James Rocchi said in his Sundance review: "It's achingly, wrenchingly, dizzyingly funny, with a bleak, bitter sense of humor...In the Loop has such intricate and layered jokes, such carefully called-back and smartly referenced running gags that they go beyond comedic genius and into sheer dramatic brilliance."

UPDATE 3/12/09

PLAYBILL.COM'S Brief Encounter With The Cast of "God of Carnage"

By Robert Simonson

UPDATE 3/11/09

Gandolfini's Strained Vocal Cords Cancel B'way Matinee

Under doctors' order, James Gandolfini is giving his vocal cords a rest—so the Wednesday matinee performance of "God of Carnage" on Broadway was canceled.

Susanne Tighe, a spokeswoman for the production, says the former star of The Sopranos will return for the Wednesday evening performance of Yasmina Reza's comedy, which is now in previews. An official opening is set for March 22 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

"God of Carnage" also stars Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden.

UPDATE 3/9/09

Olivier Awards Presented

"God of Carnage," by Yasmina Reza, which is currently in previews at Broadway's Bernard B. Jacobs Theater, was named the year's best new comedy at the 33^rd annual Laurence Olivier Awards in London on Sunday evening. The awards, London's equivalent to the Tonys, were presented at the Grosvenor House Hotel. "God of Carnage," in a translation from the French by Christopher Hampton and directed by Matthew Warchus, will open in New York on March 22 in a production starring Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden. Other Olivier winners included Margaret Tyzack, who won best actress for "The Chalk Garden," by Enid Bagnold; and Derek Jacobi, who was named best actor for his performance as Malvolio in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." Both plays were productions of the Donmar Warehouse. The night's biggest winner was the National Theater of Scotland's production of "Black Watch," which has had two runs in New York at St. Ann's Warehouse. The London production at the Barbican picked up Oliviers for Gregory Burke for best new play; John Tiffany for best director; Steven Hoggett for best theater choreographer and Gareth Fry for best sound design.

UPDATE 2/21/09

Play Hit Sopranos Star James Gandolfini

James Gandolfini had people praying for their lives on a regular basis as mobster Tony Soprano.

But to land a role in Broadway's "God of Carnage," which begins previews Saturday, the three-time Emmy winner was the one doing the begging after seeing the play last year in London.

It was an entreaty the producers couldn't refuse.

"I inquired as to whether they were moving it [to New York]," he said. "They said they were, and I begged to be in it, and they said, 'OK, you can do it.'"

The ensemble comedy by Yasmina Reza, author of the prize-winning play "Art," also stars Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden.

It concerns two couples who meet after their sons get in a fight. The parental powwow goes from polite to @#$$%!

The play's running time—a fleet 80 minutes—and dark humor appealed to Gandolfini, who acted in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront" on Broadway before breaking through in The Sopranos.

"Sometimes you see a play and there'll be people coming out like, 'Phew, I'm glad [that's over]; that was a long time'," said Gandolfini. "But with this play, they were really energized."

UPDATE 1/24/09

Stars Align at the Glasgow Film Festival

Running from February 12-22, 2009 the festival opens with the UK premiere of Glasgow-boy Armando Iannucci's first feature, In the Loop. The Iraq war satire, starring James Gandolfini, of The Sopranos, and Peter Capaldi, attracted rave reviews after its debut at the Sundance film festival in the US this week.

UPDATE 1/22/09

IFC Films Nabs Sundance Pic In the Loop

Independent distributor IFC Films added another Sundance Film Festival acquisition to its roster Thursday when it picked up the political farce In the Loop.

The film stars James Gandolfini, Steve Coogan, Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander and Anna Chlumsky in a comic look at what happens when American and British politicians, military officials and other bureaucrats clash during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. The screenplay was written by Jesse Armstrong and Armando Iannucci, who also directed.

IFC plans to release "Loop" this year through its IFC in Theaters program and on home video through IFC Entertainment's exclusive deal with Blockbuster.

UPDATE 1/13/09

Sopranos Star James Gandolfini Joins Broadway Mob

James Gandolfini became famous for playing a Tony.

A new role could win him one.

Producers of "God of Carnage" said the Sopranos heavy will star in the play by Yasmina Reza ("Art"), which begins previews on Feb. 28. It opens March 22 at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre.

The plot involves two married couples who meet to talk after their boys get into a playground brawl.

Don't expect polite conversation from Gandolfini or his three castmates—Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden, none of whom were in last year's London staging.

Press notes describe the play as "a comedy of manners without the manners."

No doubt all that bad behavior as crime boss Tony Soprano and in film roles, such as the sadistic enforcer in True Romance, will come in handy.

"Carnage" marks Gandolfini's return to Broadway after 14 years. He made his debut there in a small part in "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1992 and appeared three years later in "On the Waterfront."

That was four years before The Sopranos debuted and catapulted the burly Gandolfini into a superstar with an ardent fan following.

The three-time Emmy winner joins Broadway's ever-expanding list of TV and film stars whose celebrity is a draw for audiences that might not typically come to the theater.

Julia Roberts' stardom offset soggy notices for "Three Days of Rain" in 2006. Katie Holmes proved bankable in the just-ended "All My Sons."

And before he suddenly left "Speed-the-Plow," citing mercury poisoning from eating too much sushi, Jeremy Piven helped sell tickets to the Mamet revival.

The Piven incident could be a lesson to Gandolfini: Swim with the fishes. Just don't eat them.