Is Brad Pitt really as good an egg as people say? Maybe not. Just days before shooting was to begin on Kevin Macdonald's feature version of State of Play, the superb BBC television series, Mr Pitt packed his bag and stomped home to Angelina. It seems that he was unhappy with Matthew Michael Carnahan's script for the conspiracy thriller and - what with the writers being on strike - was unable to arrange satisfactory revisions.
Tim Bevan, head of Working Title Pictures, did not attempt to conceal his annoyance when he described the situation as "a nightmare". Variety magazine has circulated a rumour that Russell Crowe may be considering stepping into Brad's shoes.
McDonagh makes Sundance debut
One of the most eagerly anticipated Irish pictures in recent memory has been selected to open the Sundance Film Festival. Martin McDonagh's In Bruges, which stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen adrift in that Belgian city, will kick off the event in Park City, Utah on January 17th. "In many ways In Bruges is a quintessential Sundance film. It's brutal, philosophical, funny, and totally original," Geoffrey Gilmore, director of the festival, said. "Martin McDonagh is a masterful storyteller, a tremendously gifted playwright and provocative risk-taker."
Does Sundance matter? Well, last year, when John Carney's fine Once won the international audience award, it helped propel that fine film to unexpected adulation and delicious box-office receipts. So, yes. It does matter.
Widmark and us
Acknowledging Reel News's campaign to honour stars of the golden age who are not dead yet, a loyal reader has written in - an actual letter, no less - to remind us that the great Richard Widmark still walks the earth. The star of such hardboiled classics as Pickup on South Street and Night and the City will be 93 on St Stephen's Day.
Hopper gives out Turner gong
It seems that Dennis Hopper, that disturbing avant-garde installation, has been entered for the Turner Prize. No, hang on. That's not right. The veteran actor, who takes photographs and paints in his spare time, is to present the prize - the most distinguished for contemporary British art - at Tate Liverpool on Monday. An exhibition of Hopper's own photographs will open soon in Moscow.
German Film Festival starts today
Contrary to a somewhat misleading note in last week's Ticket, The Paulaner German Film Festival begins in the Irish Film Institute today with a screening of Achim Bornhak's intriguing Eight Miles High, a tale of decadence from the 1960s. The film's director and Natalia Avelon, its star, will be on hand to wave at the audience. The event closes on Sunday with a welcome outing for Werner Herzog's great Fitzcarraldo.
Your chance to Potter into movies
Would you like to appear in one of those Harry Potter things? The producers of Harry Potter and Whatever the Next One's Called are offering fans the opportunity to secure a walk-on role in their great film.
Once a week, a series of Potter trivia questions is to be posted on the MSN site and those who prove they know their Mugthumps from their Hogfardles will win a chance to prance around in a stupid costume on some chilly set in Berkshire. For information go to: http://specials.uk. msn.com/harrypotter5
Remembering the little people
The revelation that the actors who played the Munchkins, the tiny folk in The Wizard of Oz, were disproportionately inclined towards fighting, boozing and womanising only served to further endear them to sensible movie fans. It was, thus, stirring to see the surviving little people turn up in an ornate horse-drawn carriage to belatedly receive their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"It feels great to be here," Jerry Maren, an 88-year-old showbusiness veteran, exclaimed.
It took a petition signed by the likes of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas to secure the honour. Reel News demands a star for the Horse of a Different Colour.
Big Israeli welcome for Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld has been quite taken aback by the reception he has received in Israel. The comedian, who is in the country to promote Bee Movie, his upcoming animated feature, was invited to meet both the president and the prime minister during his stay. Jerry had not visited Israel since spending time in a Kibbutz over 30 years ago.
"I would be in the fields, and nobody wanted my autograph and nobody wanted to take their picture with me," he told reporters. "They just let me hack away at those banana leaves, and no, I didn't meet the prime minister even once."
