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January 2012

Tom Hanks to present at the Oscars

Hanks_bigTwo-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks will present at the 84th Academy Awards, producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today

Hanks, who is a governor of the Academy, won consecutive Oscars in ‘93 and ‘94 for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.”

Co-star of Best Picture nominee “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," Hanks can next be seen in the Wachowski bros.' "Cloud Atlas."

He is repped by CAA.

VIDEO: Matthew Broderick Channels Ferris Bueller in Super Bowl Ad

Ferris Bueller, meet Super Bowl Sunday.

Twenty-five years after the release of John Hughes' classic pic "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," Honda has revived America's deacon ditcher (a.k.a. Buellerrrrrr) in a new ad scheduled to air on Sunday.

While it's sorta embarrassing to see a classic like "Ferris Bueller's" resusitated for TV, let alone a Honda commercial, the new Super Bowl spot should entertain fans of the pic, even if cast members 'Cameron' and 'Mr. Rooney' are noticeably absent.

Shot entirely in Los Angeles, Matthew Broderick plays hooky from his agent in "Matthew's Day Off," with the 49 year-old actor joy-riding in the new Honda CR-V (I know, I prefer the Ferarri, too) and quoting several of the pic's best lines.

Chk. Chk-chk it out:

SUNDANCE: Shop Talk with Sony Classics' Tom Bernard (VIDEO)

Parker Posey returns to Sundance busy, determined and frustrated

137661856Parker Posey returns to the Sundance Film Festival with a lot on her plate, which is fine by her.

"I kinda grew up here," Posey says of the fest. "Every time I come back I get reinvigorated and inspired all over again."

The 43 year-old actress, who was once deemed "Queen of the Indies" when she broke onto the scene in the 90s with independent films like "Party Girl," "Clockwatchers," and "The House of Yes," is back in Park City with the new supermarket drama "Price Check" and will also serve as host the Sundance Awards on Saturday.

"It's a real opportunity to get back to my roots," Posey says about pulling double-duty.

"Price Check," written and directed by Michael Walker, tells the story of an assertive businesswoman (Posey) who tries to turn around a struggling supermarket chain.  

Eric Mabius co-stars in the film.

Sundance2012"She cares a great deal about a job that most people would think is really mundane and boring," Posey says of her character. "And Mike (Walker) is just so smart."

Despite her glowing praise of the film though, Posey is admittedly exasperated by the state of the film world.

"Years ago we would've had a lot more money to make this movie," the actress says with a look of despair. "Now you have studios going 'We don't make dramas anymore.' They make broad comedies and the movies that can be turned into videogames."

Still, Posey compares the current indie market to a sleeping giant.

"I think we're at the beginning of the power of independent cinema," she says. "Movies can start to grow and get an audience on Demand on Netflix, it'll be cool again. It'll stop being such a commodity."

Follow Stuart Oldham on Twitter

VIDEO: 'The Surrogate' Cast Members John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy discuss the Sundance Buzz Pic

VIDEO: 'Bachelorette' cast talk dark Sundance comedy

SUNDANCE: 'The Surrogate' seduces Park City

Surrogate

Sundance2012Disabled sex drama "The Surrogate" brought the Eccles Theater to its feet Monday afternoon at the Sundance Film Festival.

Starring John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy, director Ben Lewin's drama centers on a 38 year-old man determined to lose his virginity, despite the fact that he's confined to an iron long. 

"Only one audience has seen the film so it's kinda early for me to be too overly excited," Hawkes said of the pic's early praise.

But as soon as Fox Searchlight acquired the drama late Monday, "The Surrogate" was no longer an independent feature but a Sundance success story.

"Today was fun," Oscar-winner Helen Hunt said at the Variety Studio afterward.

Hunt, who bares all in the 'sex-positive' film, said her character's full frontal nudity was "just part of the creative process."

"It was a beautiful story with beautiful actors and a great part, let the naked take care of itself," the actress said.

Based on the autobiographical memoir by journalist and poet Mark O'Brien, "The Surrogate" was directed by sixty-five year-old helmer Ben Lewin, who also struggled with Polio as a child.

"How lovely it is that we're all human," actor William H. Macy said, afterward, saying that the film's standing ovation "was really for Ben (Lewin)."

Meanwhile, Hawkes, who returns to Sundance after last year's breakout hit "Martha Marcy May Marlene," has become somewhat of a staple in Park City.

"It's a great, great festival," he said. "The studios don't seem to make midbudget movies for adults anymore so the independent arenas, like this, have to pick up the slack."

Hunt, who has kept a low-profile since 2000's "What Women Want," summed it up best:

"You die for good writing and if you get paid, even better."

Follow Stuart Oldham on Twitter 

SUNDANCE: Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan talk 'Bachelorette'

137583496Kirsten Dunst and Lizzy Caplan stopped by the Variety Studio on Monday to discuss "The Bachelorette" hours before the pic's Sundance premiere.

"For a first time director, she had such confidence," Dunst said of writer-director Leslye Headland.

"The Bachelorette" centers on a group of friends celebrating the engagement of a bride-to-be (Rebel Wilson). Isla Fisher and James Marsden also star.

"It's about girlfriends coming together," Dunst said.

Sundance2012"Strange because women aren't funny, naturally," Caplan deadpanned.

Caplan, who has another wedding-themed movie at Sundance ("Save the Date"), said low-budget productions like "The Bachelorette" bring out the best in the cast/crew.

"Everybody really needs to want to be there, ya know?"

Dunst agreed. "When you have a small budget to work with, you only get like two takes, three takes at the most, so we would move through things," the actress said. "And I think really helps keep energy and performance levels on a better kind of scale."

"Don't lie to him! It was a non-stop party!" Caplan laughs.

"The Bachelorette," produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, premieres tonight at the Eccles theater.

Follow Stuart Oldham on Twitter 

SUNDANCE: Paul Simon, Joe Berlinger on 'African Skies' doc

Sundance Photo of the Day: Cast from 'Smashed'

Nick Offerman (a.k.a. Ron Swanson from "Parks and Recreation") weirds out the cast from "Smashed" in this hilarious image, taken at the WireImage Portrait Studio on Monday.

Offerman, who told me on Sunday that his favorite place in the world was his "wife's vagina," is hands down one of my favorite things about this year's festival.

Watch our "Smashed" interview.

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