Is Jena Malone Batgirl in ‘Batman v Superman’?

Rumors have been swirling that Jena Malone will be appearing in next year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice at least since last October, when The Hollywood Reporter “confirmed” her participation in the movie.

Thing is, everyone has been assuming that she would play Carrie Kelley, the female version of Robin from Frank Miller‘s The Dark Knight Returns, the source material for this movie. Sure, Carrie was 13 years old in the graphic novel and Jena is 30, but the character can easily be aged into her 20s, and Jena can play much younger. Bolstering the Robin assumption was the fact that Jena dyed her hair bright red, like Carrie’s.

However, Someone at Latino Review claims to have three sources confirming that Jena will instead be playing another DC Universe redhead, Barbara Gordon — but it is unknown which of Barbara’s two alter egos she will be: Batgirl or Oracle.

Anderson’s ‘Inherent Vice’ Opens Today!

Based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice is the latest film from Paul Thomas Anderson (of Boogie Nights and Magnolia fame), and it opens wide today, after premiering in New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 12 in order to qualify for the Oscars.

If there were an Oscar for casting, this movie might get it. The stars include: Joaquin Phoenix, Katherine Waterston, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro, Jena Malone, Martin Short, Eric Roberts and Josh Brolin.

The Mockingjay Lives — ‘Unity’ Video Clip

A second promotional video was released today to tease The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and, like the first, it features a speech from President Snow (Donald Sutherland) — but this one does not go according to the script:

That’s Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) hijacking the president’s feed from the presumed-lifeless District 13 to trumpet the news that the Mockingjay still lives.

10 Cent Pistol

No, not the Black Keys song — the new caper movie starring Jena Malone and Joe Montegna opening today, July 4.

This story about two lifelong criminals trying to stay afloat in the Los Angeles underworld finally casts Malone in the role I’ve been waiting for her to get: the beautiful femme fatale.

Directed by Michael C. Martin, the cast also features Adam Arkin and Jessica Szohr.

Oscars’ Biggest Snubs — 2014 Edition

Sometimes, it’s an honor just to be nominated for an Academy Award — and sometimes being passed over is a snub!

These are the most egregious errors on the part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, in order of outrageousness and indefensibility, from brain-meltingly inexplicable to bemusedly obtuse — according to me, at least.

Best Picture:
  American Hustle
 • Captain Phillips
 • Dallas Buyers Club
 • Gravity
 • Her
 • Nebraska
 • Philomena
 • 12 Years a Slave
 • The Wolf of Wall Street

Snubbed: Inside Llewyn Davis. On the surface, this story of a struggling folk musician in 1961 New York is just a small and quirky film, but the Oscar-winning Coen Brothers (Fargo, No Country for Old Men) have crafted yet another idiosyncratic movie about a particularly peculiar fellow moving through a world he barely comprehends — Llewyn Davis is a purist who refuses to compromise even one iota to claim the fame he desperately desires but which dangles just beyond his reach.

Happy Birthday to Catching Fire’s Jena Malone!

I want to wish a very happy birthday today to one of the most talented, beautiful and underappreciated actresses in Hollywood, Jena Malone. To help celebrate, here is a gallery of Jena looking gorgeous while promoting her newest film, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, in which she plays the crafty and deadly Johanna Mason.

 

When Catching Fire opens tomorrow, I hope it proves to be the breakout role that Jena has been waiting for; the one that really puts her in the spotlight. She has been acting and winning awards ever since she was a child, but has yet to really break through into the public’s consciousness. May the odds be ever in your favor, Jena!

(She’s also a damn great photographer!)

‘Final’ Trailer for ‘Catching Fire’ Looks Pretty Hot

If you’re like me and you hate the Boston Red Sox with the fiery passion of 10,000 suns (or maybe you just don’t like baseball), then you also weren’t watching the World Series last night when Lionsgate unveiled what it’s calling the “final trailer” for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

It’s the best trailer so far because it actually contains some footage from the arena for the very first time. It would be a shame to miss it, so here it is:

Sadly, the new fan favorite (and mine) from the novel, Johanna Mason (Jena Malone), is hardly in it — she can be glimpsed at the 0:57 mark, over Peeta’s left shoulder as he’s talking to Katniss.

The other novel fan fave, Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), and Mags (Lynn Cohen) are just barely recognizable at the 0:46 mark, running through the jungle.

New ‘Catching Fire’ Photos (Including Johanna!)

Finally, we get a new promotional photo for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire that includes Jena Malone’s Johanna Mason!

I know that Katniss Everdeen is the lead character in this flick, but — even setting aside my obsession enthusiasm for Jena — I’m surprised that Johanna is not getting a big push, since she is probably the most popular new character from the sequel book. Okay, you can probably make a case for Finnick, but he’s pretty front-and-center in the promotional campaigns. I was at the New York Comic Con this past weekend, where the Catching Fire booth included a display of character Barbie dolls, and who do you think was represented? Katniss, Peeta, Finnick and Effie Trinket! No Johanna. (Interestingly, the Peeta doll is the same height as the Katniss.) Let’s see a little more love for Johanna, people!

District 7’s Johanna (Jena Malone) practicing with her axe while District 1’s Cashmere (Stephanie Leigh Schlund) and Gloss (Alan Ritchson) look on.

 

 

The Gamesmakers, including Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) front and center.

 

 

New Images, Video for Catching Fire

As we draw closer to the Nov. 22 opening of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (advance tickets are already on sale online!), the promotional campaign is starting to pick up steam. Here have the latest images released — including the official final poster and some scene stills of the tributes, among them Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Finnick (Sam Claflin) and my fave, Johanna (Jena Malone).

In addition, there is a behind-the-scenes featurette that focuses on the IMAX filming but contains lots of new footage.

Looks pretty exciting…

Eye on District 7’s Johanna Mason

It’s the weekend, so why not take a little time away from the “serious” topics like the state of regeneration on DOCTOR WHO to enjoy a little SF eye candy, courtesy of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire?

Part of the movie’s promotional campaign, is to show how the main characters — victors of previous Hunger Games — are treated as media stars and fashion icons after their wins, much as popular athletes are worshipped in today’s society. (Readers of the novel know there’s a dark side to the adulation.)

These images of Johanna Mason — as played by Jena Malone — accompany an article from an imaged fashion magazine, Capitol Couture, in which the District 7 victor discusses her personal style. In “Johanna Mason: Branching Out,” it is revealed that the bodice and plumed collar of this dress are made of sculpted cork! Jena has previously said that the lashes from the movie are real; they come from Japan and Germany!