People: The Indie Beat

Before Away from Her launched Polley into the directorial spotlight, she notably played the role of a dying mother in the 2003 film My Life Without Me. The U.K. newspaper the Guardian caught up with Polley in Toronto to discuss the film—focusing on death, which not only permeates the film but Polley’s real life, as her mother died when she was 11.

Gordon Pinsent is the male star of Away from Her, which chronicles a couple’s battle with Alzheimer’s (the victim, his wife, is played by Julie Christie). Pinsent accompanied Polley on a press tour, and the blog Pop Syndicate sat down with the two, giving us a background to this film’s story and shedding light on the two actors’ deep relationship to the work. Polley discusses the pleasure of bringing this Canadian film to a wider audience. “There is nothing like the joy of showing the film and knowing that things aren’t as cloistered as you think they are.”

Listen to an audio interview with Polley from the arts-focused public radio station KCRW, in which you can “hear Polley’s life from the other side of the camera.” Known for being candid—in fact, brutally honest—about the dark side of fame, Polley here gives praise to her cast and crew and to influential filmmakers she’s worked with, such as German Wim Wenders, all of whom Polley claims “hear music” before the movie is even in production.

Polley, a longtime attendee of indie (and mainstream) film festivals like Sundance, Cannes, and Berlin, took her directorial debut to all three. Watch a clip of her speaking at the Berlin Film Festival and giving some insight into her hopes for her first film.

Finally, see what all the fuss is about with a trailer of Away from Her from the Apple Trailers site.

Gael Garcia Bernal has exactly what it takes to be an independent film star. In the Time Out Magazine Movie Blog last April, writer David Calhoun called Bernal "a pinup with brains and good taste." In other words, Bernal is just the right combination of rising intellectual, champion of the poor, and really good-looking guy. Calhoun reports that Bernal is "hungry to learn, to work with the right people, to do the right thing, to make a difference." According to the blog, Bernal’s mind shifts from global politics to women in an instant. He's as interested in making movies as he in the Zapatista movement, which he happily declared, "was a great place to meet girls!" But he also expounds on global politics, cherishes his Mexican heritage, and makes controversial films that scare away the bigger stars.

In the Time Out article, we learned of Bernal's participation in the Zapatista Movement. But what exactly is a Zapatista? The Zapatista Army of National Liberation is a revolutionary group based in one of Mexico's poorest states, Chiapas. The movement is named in honor of Emiliano Zapata, one of the greatest proponents of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. A history of Zapata and the revolution are available on ZapatistaRevolution.com, the site of the novel “Zapatista.”

Despite being active revolutionaries, the Zapatistas are committed to nonviolence and have not used weapons since 1994. But relations between the rebels and the government are improving. The BBC reports on a 2006 Zapatista tour of all 31 Mexican states, which a spokesman for the president called, "an achievement of Mexican democracy."

Although Bernal is primarily seen as an Indie actor, his most recent film, The Science of Sleep, got quite a bit of attention. In the movie, Bernal plays Stephane, a young man who begins having such vivid dreams that he can no longer distinguish between his sleeping and waking life. The film, the screen-writing debut for director Michael Gondry, received rave reviews. The Science of Sleep was praised for being a touching love story, hilariously funny, and a surrealist masterpiece. The quirky, magical, and challenging film was catapulted into the league of great date movies. If you missed it, you'll want to check out the trailer.

If just a taste has already drawn you into the world of this psychological adventure, head to Amazon, where you can get a copy of the DVD for yourself and delve into the mystery right in your own home.

Bernal has had a long career leading up to The Science of Sleep. You might have seen him in The Motorcycle Diaries portraying revolutionary Che Guevara, or the moving story of an unlikely trio on a roadtrip, Y Tu Mama Tambien. The Internet Movie Database lists every movie he's appeared in, as well as a concise biography and trivia about the actor.

Bernal's not losing his indie ideals, but is he signed up to appear in a film with a substantial, international, all-star cast. Bernal will play the evil King of Ward 3 in the screen adaptation of “Blindness,” an apocalyptic novel by Portuguese author Jose Saramago about a society in which everyone goes blind. Producer Niv Fichman reported that Oscar-nominated director Fernando Meirelles "wanted [the film] cast in a way to represent all of humanity." Stars from many nations will appear in the film alongside American actors Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, and Danny Glover. This Globe and Mail article has the most up-to-date news on the film.

Joseph Gordon Levitt got his start on the kooky TV show, Third Rock From the Sun, playing John Lithgow’s “son.” But since then, Levitt graduated from Columbia University and has come into his own as a serious, daring actor, picking small, dark films that have received praise from critics and audiences alike. You can browse through his past and current projects on the database IMBD, find out when his films will be on TV, and learn a few fun facts.

Levitt’s background in film and French are contributing factors to his personal and experimental Web site, Hit Record. He posts short films he has written, cast, and directed, and keeps a journal of his doings. Rather than a business site to promote projects, Levitt’s endeavors are truly artistic. One of the most interesting links is a short called “Escargot,” filmed with Brick director Rian Johnson. Levitt arrived in Paris with a French poem in his pocket and a camera. They used the poem as inspiration to examine the city of lights.

Levitt’s most recent film involves a heist gone wrong and a young man who has recently experienced brain damage. You can view a preview at AOL Movies.

The New York Times declared that The Lookout would be the film to catapult Levitt into stardom. Although the film pulled modest box office numbers, it did draw more fans to Levitt’s ovuere. In a YouTube clip from the Venice Film Festival, he discusses why the project attracted him and his intense preparation for the film.

Considered the “anti-celebrity,” Levitt has avoided the press and celebrity life as much as possible. In this article from the San Francisco Gate he discusses his interest in a more artistic and intellectual lifestyle.

At a recent movie premiere, Joseph Gordon Levitt turned the camera around on the press, conducting an interview with two photographers and putting the paparazzi in the spotlight.

This September Levitt steps up to the fashion plate in a spread for men's fall fashion in the New York Times Magazine.

Before appearing in the 2006 indie hit Junebug, Amy Adams’s career consisted mostly of appearances on TV shows and small film roles. But her supporting actress Oscar nomination secured her a spot as a rising star, leading to meaty roles in major motion pictures. Next up she will appear in Mike Nichol’s new film, Charlie Wilson’s War, with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, and the Disney film Enchanted. You can check out these projects and her past work at IMBD.

Even before the Oscar buzz began, critics were raving about Adams’s Junebug performance. Take a listen to this review by critic David Edelstein to hear what people said about Adams’s breakout performance.

Just after Adams collected her Critics Choice award for best supporting actress, LA Times blogger Tom O’Neil caught up with her online to discuss her win and her career. In this candid chat you can learn about her Italian upbringing, her favorite movies, and her love for nacho cheese.

In her next film, Adams stars as a fairy-tale princess who is transported to New York City and pursued by evil queen Susan Sarandon. McDreamy himself—that’s Patrick Dempsey—comes to her rescue to help her return home. The film is due out in November, but you can take a peek at the trailer at the film’s official Web site. 

2002’s Panic Room was Jodie Foster’s foray into the thriller genre and perhaps Kristen Stewart’s big break: the younger actress was cast as Foster’s daughter after the original child actor in the role fell ill. The two made quite the mother-daughter pair; one critic has even noted that Stewart resembles a young Foster. Watch Panic Room’s trailer at Yahoo Movies.

Recently Stewart upped the ante by adding a straight-up horror film, The Messengers, to her résumé. As if to prove how diverse her roles have been, the release of The Messengers roughly coincided with another choice role as the star of In the Land of Women, a romantic comedy with Meg Ryan and Adam Brody of TV’s The O.C. At Horror.com, read a Q&A about The Messengers with Kristen that includes some chilling descriptions of the film, insight on why she picked the part, and the actress’s opinions on the horror genre.

Even when it’s come to younger audiences, Stewart has gone for movies with spunk and originality. In Catch That Kid, one of her earlier films, she plays a bank robber who’s attempting to get money to pay for her father’s operation after he is paralyzed by a climbing accident. With Ryan Seacrest on his show On Air, Stewart, then aged 13, talks about the film and surprises us by admitting that she’s never taken an acting class. What’s more, her real-life father happens to be the stage manager for Seacrest’s show.

Approaching adolescence, Stewart clearly made use of being on the cusp of two demographics, and explains in a Time interview why she still finds children’s movies important to her career and audience.

Released just in time for spring romance, In the Land of Women chronicles a struggling writer (Adam Brody) and his relationship with a family. Mother (Meg Ryan) and daughter (Stewart) guide Brody’s character through his existential crisis—and he returns the favor. Watch a brief clip on YouTube of Stewart discussing working with Brody and how she related to the role of the young woman she plays. Stewart is candid about having gone through the emotions of her character—not as a form of method acting, but as a consequence of exploring herself through the role.

Filming this summer, Stewart will be in The Yellow Handkerchief, a romantic drama between actress Maria Bello (A History of Violence) and veteran star William Hurt. Stewart discusses this role in MTV’s Movie File blog, remarking on the two “amazing love stories” that tie the film together. Stewart will also play a role in the Robert DeNiro comedy What Just Happened?

Visit IMDB for more updates on Stewart’s career.