I'm back

Hello guys. Sorry I haven't posted this week, but I got knocked out by the flu. I'll try to post sometime this weekend, but if I can't I promise to do so on Monday.

Gerard Butler to play Robert Burn

No, you're not dreaming. It's finally happening:

A biopic of Robert Burns, starring the Scots actor Gerard Butler, will begin shooting in Scotland this year.

The £5m production, which has been beset with financial difficulties, will begin filming following the launch of a government-backed campaign to raise funding.

Glasgow-born Butler, 39, has starred in blockbusters including The Phantom of the Opera and 300. The script has been written by Greenock-born Alan Sharp, who penned Rob Roy, the 1995 blockbuster starring Liam Neeson.

The film, which will be directed by Vadim Jean, a French film-maker, and produced by James Cosmo, a Scots actor, will be shot on location in Edinburgh and Burns’s native Ayrshire.

Most of the budget, which includes investment from Scottish Screen, is already in place. The remainder will be raised by signing up 250 “subscribers” to the project.

Each will commit a sum to the project in the same way that investors backed the publication in 1786 of the famous Kilmarnock Edition of Burns’s poetry. The success of the collection convinced Burns to stay in Scotland rather than emigrate to Jamaica, as he had planned.

Alex Salmond, the first minister, will host a dinner at Edinburgh Castle in May to help raise funds.

The film, titled Burns, will be the first big-screen biopic of the poet since the 1930s. It will focus on his love affairs with his wife Jean Armour and Agnes McLehose, also known as Clarinda, an Edinburgh society hostess.

“Robert Burns is rightly regarded as Scotland’s favourite son,” said Salmond.

“It would be great for Scotland if Burns could be immortalised in modern film, particularly as we mark the 250th anniversary of his birth this year and celebrate his genius through Scotland’s Year of Homecoming.”

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Weekly schedule for Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 1/26: Chris Matthews, Paul Morrissey
Tu 1/27: RZA, Jared Harris
We 1/28: Cuba Gooding Jr., Freida Pinto
Th 1/29: Dominic Monaghan, Rosemarie DeWitt
Fr 1/30: Michael Sheen, Russell Peters, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Philadelphia loves Gerard Butler

Gerard Butler and the rest of the cast and crew of Law Abiding Citizen received Liberty Bells from Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. The movie is expected to bring $50 million dollars into the city (yay!).

You can watch Gerard accepting his prize here alongside Jamie Foxx. Sorry I can't embed the video, but they're both really funny so check it out.

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Poll: what movie are you most excited to see?

I meant to do this at the beginning of the month, but it isn't too late to have it. Which movie are you most excited to see this year?

Gerard Butler starts work in Philadelphia

Photo from www.filmschoolrejects.com

The mayor of Philadelphia, Michael A. Nutter will present Gerard Butler and the rest of the cast and crew of Law Abiding Citizen with a Liberty Bell, an official gift from the City of Philadelphia. Gerard, co-star Jamie Foxx, and director F. Gary Gray will be welcomed at the Mayor's Reception Room, Room 202, City Hall on Fri. Jan. 23 2009 at 1:30 pm.

Law Abiding Citizen has begun filming in outside City Hall and they will be shooting until Monday. Sadly, there aren't any photos of Gerard shooting yet because according to some blogs Gerard had the day off today. If you're interested in seeing what the set looks like though just go here for the photos.

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Gerard Butler at the Inauguration

Here's a photo of Gerard at the Inauguration in Washington D.C.:



Here's an Entertainment Tonight video featuring Gerry and other celebrities at the Huffington Post Pre-Inauguration party:




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Ewan's Sundance press conference

This is why I love the internet: someone has posted the I Love You Phillip Morris press conference on youtube, so you can see Ewan McGregor and the rest of the cast and crew. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't get removed, but if it does you can tell me in the comment section and I'll do my best to find another version. There are five parts, and here is the first part for you:



Update: Found another video from Sundance. It is an interview from the red carpet premier of I Love You Phillip Morris.




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Ewan McGregor a 'visionary' at Sundance

Here are a few red carpet highlights from Sundance for you:

McGregor said, in a really lovely Scottish accent, it was "really nice" to be getting the award and that it's "really lovely" to be here. For fans on the lookout for him, he'll be here till Tuesday.

Plain White T's (that's a rock band) singer Tom Higgenson had this to say about the award during his appearance at a red carpet event prior to McGregor's arrival.

"You know what … what is the award for?" Higgenson said. "I don't even know."

That's OK. Next question. How about that Ewan McGregor?

"He's an amazing actor," Higgenson rebounded. "Ever since 'Trainspotting' I've loved the guy."

"I love Ewan," said fellow Scottish actor Alan Cumming. "I think he's a real darling."

If you want the rest of the article, just go here.

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Ewan Sundance photos

I come bearing gifts. I've got lots of photos of Ewan McGregor receiving the Ray-Ban Visionary Award at the Sundance Film Festival. And there are a few photos with fellow Scot, Alan Cumming.

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

AP/Peter Kramer

AP/Peter Kramer

AP/Peter Kramer

AP/Peter Kramer

AP/Peter Kramer

With Alan Cumming REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

AP/Peter Kramer

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Kevin McKidd to appear on Craig Ferguson's show

Mo 1/19: Sarah Chalke, Kevin McKidd, Seal
Tu 1/20: Joel McHale, Olivia Williams
We 1/21: Trace Adkins, Perez Hilton
Th 1/22: James Earl Jones
Fr 1/23: TBA

I totally forgot to tell you guys that Kevin McKidd would be on Craig Ferguson on Monday night in the US. So I'll just remind you all now, and hopefully I'll be able to post Kevin's interview after it airs on CBS.

Ewan McGregor arrives at Sundance

Here's a photo of Ewan arriving at Salt Lake City last night:


You can find all the photos of Ewan here. I would post them, but I can't because of those cursed watermarks and because, I don't want to get sued!

Also, here's a new photo from I Love You Phillip Morris:

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Scottish News

Here's more news from this week:

John Barrowman
Star support for slimming group leader

Robbie Coltrane
Flicker: The Brothers Bloom
2009 Summit Pictures Preview

Ewan McGregor
Industry dressing down for Sundance
Sundance Q Preview
Sundance '09: Our 12 Most Anticipated Films
36 Movies We Can't Wait To See in 2009
Hollywood banks on lucrative 2009

David Tennant
David Tennant makes a comback in Hamlet

Ewan McGregor will be at Sundance

I've never been able to find official confirmation that Ewan McGregor will make an appearance even though he's supposed to be receiving an award, but Best of Ewan points us to an article that confirms he will be there. There will be a press conference with Ewan, Jim Carrey, Rodrigo Santoro at the premier of I Love you Phillip Morris on Sun. Jan. 18. I'm sure there will be photos of the premier and hopefully some kind soul puts some footage of the press conference up on youtube.

There is some pretty good early buzz for the film, and Damon Wise over at Empire has put the film at number 6 on his list of favorites from this year's festival lineup.

Here is the list of I love you Phillip Morris screenings:

Sun. Jan 18 9:30 p.m. - ILOVE18CN Eccles Theatre, Park City (premiere)
Mon. Jan 19 9:15 a.m. - ILOVE19CM Eccles Theatre, Park City
Tue. Jan 20 9:00 p.m. - ILOVE20WN Tower Theatre, SLC
Sat. Jan 24 6:00 p.m. - ILOVE24SE Screening Room, Sundance Resort

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