Ang Lee reinvents Woodstock Aug 28, 2009
The actress played an abortionist in Vera Drake and a staunch school mistress in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Here she is Sonia, a Jewish Russian immigrant running a rundown motel two hours north of New York and giving her son hell. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Taking Woodstock is kind of a bummer, man Aug 26, 2009
Unfortunately, Lee lets the talented Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) go buck wild as Eliots shrewish Yiddische mamma. Woodstock's 40th anniversary. (MSNBC -- Movies)
Broad appeal Jul 16, 2009
" Broadbent has won a number of acting accolades throughout his career, taking on varied characters from the put-upon dad in Bridget Jones to the dramatic role of political campaigner Lord Longford. He has also worked on a number of gritty films with director Mike Leigh - including Life is Sweet and Vera Drake - where the cast arrive on set without ever having a script to work to. Broadbent won a best supporting actor Oscar for Iris in 2002 In contrast, the Potter films are lavish productions... (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Aviator and Vera take Bafta glory Jul 6, 2009
Hollywood blockbuster The Aviator and low-budget British movie Vera Drake have shared the main honours at the 2005 Bafta film awards ... But Vera Drake scored best director for Mike Leigh while Imelda Staunton took the hotly contested best actress award ... The Aviator: 4 Vera Drake: 3 Eternal Sunshine: 2 Motorcycle Diaries: 2 Ray: 2 Sideways: 1 Closer: 1. (Yahoo News -- Film Awards)
Clooney in competition at Venice Jul 6, 2009
Last year's Golden Lion was won by Mike Leigh's abortion drama Vera Drake, which also won a best actress prize for Britain's Imelda Staunton. The 2005 festival runs from 31 August to 10 September. (Yahoo News -- Film Festivals)
Abortion movie sweeps UK awards Jul 6, 2009
Imelda Staunton has won plaudits for Vera Drake. Mike Leigh's abortion film Vera Drake has swept the board with six prizes at the British Independent Film Awards, held in London on Tuesday night ... Phil Davis - Vera Drake. (Yahoo News -- Film Awards)
Three-way race for Oscar May 21, 2009
Will the voters bypass them both for Imelda Stauntons excellent work in Vera Drake, which also earned nominations for Mike Leighs direction and script. No directing nomination, no best picture winner: Its almost impossible to win the best picture prize without being nominated for best director. (MSNBC -- Academy Awards)
Best actress: Why doesn't Hollywood care? May 21, 2009
Yes, Eternal Sunshine did okay business last spring, and Oscar nominations will help Million Dollar Baby get out there, but youd be hard-pressed to find three outstanding movies more marginalized than Being Julia, Maria Full of Grace and Vera Drake. Hell, they dont even make it to marginalized status, since none managed a marginal release (Julia's 233 theaters was tops). (MSNBC -- Academy Awards)
The Aviator picks up 11 Oscar nods May 21, 2009
Also nominated for the best-actress Oscar: Catalina Sandino Moreno as a Colombian woman imperiled when she signs on to smuggle heroin in Maria Full of Grace; Imelda Staunton as a saintly housekeeper in 1950s Britain who performs illegal abortions on the side in Vera Drake; and Kate Winslet as a woman who has had memories of her ex-boyfriend erased in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ... Joining Eastwood and Scorsese among directing nominees were Taylor Hackford for Ray;... (MSNBC -- Academy Awards)
Oscar contenders friends not rivals May 21, 2009
From left are: Hilary Swank, "Million Dollar Baby," Annette Bening, "Being Julia," Imelda Staunton, "Vera Drake," Kate Winslet, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and Catalina Sandino Moreno, "Maria Full of Grace.". Todd Wawrychuk / AP. (MSNBC -- Academy Awards)
Movie producer Simon Channing Williams dies at 63 Apr 17, 2009
Together they produced 11 movies, including "Naked," "Secrets and Lies," "Topsy-Turvy," "Vera Drake" and "Happy-Go-Lucky." ... Gilbert and Sullivan costume drama "Topsy-Turvy," 1940s abortion tale "Vera Drake" and quirky London comedy "Happy-Go-Lucky" also received Oscar nominations. (Hanford Sentinal, CA)
Film producer loses cancer battle Apr 15, 2009
Mr Channing-Williams' other Mike Leigh liaison credits include Vera Drake, Naked, and Topsy Turvy. Mr Leigh added: "He battled cancer very bravely for nearly five years. Charitable act "His great phrase was 'let's just get on with things' and right almost to the last he was still working. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Storyteller found his voice on stage Mar 21, 2009
Best known for the films Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake and Happy-Go-Lucky, Leigh's play about social values and pretence has been enjoying a renaissance in recent years, most recently in New York, where Jennifer Jason Leigh played the scorching sales rep Beverly, a character Alan Bennett once described as having "shoulders like a docker, with a walk to match". The Ensemble Theatre is mounting the play this month, in a production directed by Mark Kilmurry and starring Queenie van de Zandt, Brian... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
New on DVD: 'Milk,' 'Rachel,' 'Pinocchio' Mar 13, 2009
Though occasionally brilliant, it's sometimes a test of patience not up to Leigh's Secrets & Lies, Topsy-Turvy, Naked or Vera Drake. Beyond her Golden Globe win, Sally Hawkins took acting awards from Berlin to Boston, though Hawkins' exasperatingly chipper/chatty character suggests one of those individuals who walk down big-city streets talking to themselves. (USA Today -- Life)
CineClub presents Happy-Go-Lucky on Monday Feb 8, 2009
"Happy-Go-Lucky is some sort of cinematic proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The film centres on Poppy (Sally Hawkins), a supremely optimistic woman who goes through life trying to jolly people out of their anger, fear and sorrow. She seems a bit ditzy at times and she appears to be rarely serious, but Poppy is quite serious about her positive approach to almost everything. Under the froth and tomfoolery is a woman determined to stay on the side of the good, and her determination... (Northern Daily News)
