Movies: Meryl Streep Delights As Mary Poppins' Eccentric Cousin In New Family Film

When three-time Academy Award® winner Meryl Streep was approached by director Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca to play Mary Poppins’s eccentric Cousin Topsy in Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns, a small but memorable role, the awards season favorite excitedly said yes.

Explaining Streep’s character, Marshall says, “There's a character in the book Mary Poppins Comes Back named Fred Turvy, a man, so we thought, well, that's interesting. He was similar to Uncle Albert from the first film [the 1964 classic Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews as the titular nanny] because when PL Travers wrote these books, they always have some similarities. So there was a great character, a really fun character who fixes things, and they went to fix this bowl that they break. And the message is that he sees things from a different point of view because everything turns upside down on this certain day and Mary Poppins explains that sometimes it's good to see things from a different point of view, so it's a beautiful message, a wonderful message for kids.

Movies: Steven Spielberg Celebrates Press Freedom With “The Post”

Variety raves that Steven Spielberg's The Post, “Pulses ahead like a detective yarn for news junkies, one that crackles with present-day parallels.”

USA Today declares, “The Post is an inspirational reminder of the importance of a free press while unabashedly making journalism look like the most awesome job ever.”

And Rolling Stone praises, “Spielberg's tense, terrific new drama, with Streep and Hanks at their finest, celebrates the passionate bond between a free press and every thinking human being.”
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Movies: Meryl Streep Breaks Own Record For Most Oscar Noms With “The Post”

For almost 40 years Meryl Streep, has portrayed an astonishing array of characters in a career that has cut its own unique path. She has won three Academy Awards and just days ago, in a record that is unsurpassed, she earned a 21st Academy Award nomination for her role in Steven Spielberg's, The Post (in Philippine cinemas February 21).

Marking their historic, first-ever on-screen collaboration, Spielberg directs Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in The Post, a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents. The two must overcome their differences as they risk their careers – and their very freedom – to help bring long-buried truths to light.

The real Katharine Graham would go on to become one of the most influential women in America, a groundbreaker who unexpectedly shattered the glass ceiling to become head of The Washington Post Company’s media empire, then willed herself to become the grand dame of bold journalism. But at the time of the Pentagon Papers, she was still finding her feet, still learning how to operate as the only woman with a seat at the table.

Movies: Streep-Hanks-Spielberg Team-Up “The Post” Gets First Trailer

Universal Pictures has just released the first official trailer for the The Post, the first film collaboration between cinema giants Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

Watch the trailer at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/videos/1764594256948300/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/VgNWZSAVDgc

Steven Spielberg directs Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in The Post, a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents. The two must overcome their differences as they risk their careers – and their very freedom – to help bring long-buried truths to light.

The Post marks the first time Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have collaborated on a project. In addition to directing, Spielberg produces along with Amy Pascal and Kristie Macosko Krieger. The script was written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, and the film features an acclaimed ensemble cast including Alison Brie, Carrie Coon, David Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, Jesse Plemons, Matthew Rhys, Michael Stuhlbarg, Bradley Whitford and Zach Woods.

In Philippine cinemas January 2018, The Post is distributed in the Philippines by United International Picture

MOVIES: DISNEY REVEALS FIRST-LOOK OF “MARY POPPINS RETURNS”

Walt Disney Pictures has revealed the first look at Mary Poppins Returns, the sequel to the beloved 1964 musical classic that starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

Based on the Mary Poppins stories by P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins Returns comes from a screenplay by Life of Pi scribe David Magee, with Oscar-winning Chicago and Into the Woods director Rob Marshall at the helm.

The film stars Emily Blunt in the title role, with Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Meryl Streep.

Mary Poppins Returns is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in PL Travers’ additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Julie Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Meryl Streep).

Opening across the Philippines in 2018, Mary Poppins Returns is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Philippines.

Movies: BIG BANG THEORY’S SIMON HELBERG ON HIGH NOTES WITH MERYL STREEP AND HUGH GRANT IN “FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS”

                “The idea of finding joy in what you’re doing, that’s something everybody can understand,” says Meryl Streep of her latest inspiring film about music and the power of dreams in “Florence Foster Jenkins.”

Starring in the titular role, Meryl Streep sings to life “Florence Foster Jenkins,” along with Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg, the ear-busting movie opens into the last year of the real life Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy patron of music and philanthropist whose passion to sing does not exactly match her vocal prowess.  Supported by her devoted husband St. Clair Bayfield (Grant) and accompanist Cosme McMoon (Helberg), Florence pursues her dream of becoming an opera singer despite her horrible voice.

 Apart from world renowned and admired actors Streep and Grant, director Stephen Frears has also cast Helberg in the movie, completing an impressive chord of lead characters in “Florence Foster Jenkins.”  Helberg, best known as TV’s Howard Wolowitz in the hit sitcom “Big Bang Theory” as the fourth member of the geek quartet, who in real life is a talented concert pianist, also gives life to Florence’s real life accompanist McMoon. 

 In recent interviews, Helberg revealed that playing Jenkins’ long-suffering pianist is highly inspiring, “When I read the script I ran the gamut of emotions. I laughed hysterically, I cried. There’s a purity to Florence, there’s no cynicism, it’s all for the music.”

 "But Florence doesn’t have any sense of rhythm or pitch, so Meryl would intentionally stumble all over the place and I would have to follow her on the piano,” Helberg further says. “It was a little like tandem rock climbing, a sort of mirroring exercise. Her job was insanely hard, to be almost right but just off enough that it makes you cringe.”

 True to his character, Helberg is also a talented musician, son of actress Sandy Helberg and casting director Harriet Helberg, he finished his studies at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts in New York, where he perfected his thespian and musical talents, and reaching concert-pianist level.  

 

“Simon was a genius piece of casting,” says Grant who is extremely impressed with his acting and musical talents. “He was perfect for the role and on top of that he’s a concert standard pianist. I just hope people realise that those really are his hands playing the piano,” vouches Grant.

 “Florence Foster Jenkins” opens August 24 in cinemas nationwide from OctoArts Films International. 

Movies: MERYL STREEP IN THE INSPIRING TRUE STORY “FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS”

From Stephen Frears, the director of “The Queen” and “Philomena” comes an unforgettable heartwarming and funny story that will bring the audience to tears in “Florence Foster Jenkins,” the inspiring true story of the eponymous New York heiress who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great singer.  Starring two of the best loved actors worldwide, Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, the film celebrates the human spirit, the power of music, and the passion of amateurs everywhere.

                The voice Florence (Streep) heard in her head was divine, but to the rest of the world it was hilariously awful. At private recitals, her devoted husband and manager, St. Claire Bayfield (Grant) realized he had perhaps bitten off more than he could chew.

                “Florence Foster Jenkins’” score is composed by Alexandre Desplat (“The Queen,” “The King’s Speech”) who incorporates wonderful music from popular songs to golden classics.

                “Florence Foster Jenkins” opens August 24 from OctoArts Films International. Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAsgjz3wcGg