Friday, March 30, 2012

Julia Roberts Gets Wicked In Mirror Mirror


By Darlene Donloe

Julia Roberts explores her dark side as she plays the evil queen in the comedy, Mirror Mirror, opening nationwide on March 30.

Mirror Mirror, a comedy directed by Tarsem Singh, is a twist on Snow White, one of the most beloved fairytales of all time.

When Snow White’s mother dies, her father (Sean Bean), the King, decides to remarry. Unfortunately he marries a woman who hates his daughter.  When the king disappears, the evil queen makes it her mission to make Snow White’s life a living hell.

Of course, this story wouldn’t be complete without a prince, played by Armie Hammer (The Social Network). Of course, the Prince becomes smitten with Snow White, played by Lily Collins (The Blind Side).

Lets not forget the seven dwarfs.  Well, to be politically correct, we’ll call them little people.  The little people live in the forest and occasionally rob people. It all makes for good, clean fun tha will probably be a hit with kids.

I recently caught up with Roberts at the Casa Del Mar hotel in Santa Monica, Calif., and asked her questions about her latest role.

With her long, brown tresses resting gently on her shoulders, the Academy Award®-winner, dressed in beige, flat shoes and a cream-colored pant suit, was in rare form.

JULIA ROBERTS STARS AS THE EVIL QUEEN IN 'MIRROR MIRROR'

Q: Do you have a favorite fairytale?

JR: I don’t - really.

Q: You play an evil Queen. What is the most evil thing you’ve ever done?

JR: Lied to the press. But it was only one time.

Q:  The costumes in this film are fabulous. Your thoughts.

JR: They were stunning. They really are an intriccal part. They were completely original and authentic to what we were trying to accomplish.

Q: Talk about how you enveloped the evil Queen. Did you pattern her after anyone?

JR:  I’m happy to announce she’s not inside me. Without naming names I drew from some people I know.

Q: Did you want to do this movie immediately after reading the script?

JR: No, no! I didn’t have an interest in the movie. Tarsem lured me in his way.

JULIA ROBERTS & LILY COLLINS STAR IN 'MIRROR MIRROR'

Q: Is it fun to play a villain?

JR: Fun. There aren’t any rules or syntax or reality that applies to her. I was a lot of fun. I didn’t have to worry about whether a person would really do this.

Q: You’ve said in the past that your family, especially your children, don’t watch a lot of television.

JR: Those cozy nights before bed we spend as a family and Before you know it, it’s time for bed. I love movies and a great deal of television. For us, there is a time and place for it. Stories, poetry and talking.

Q: When you were first starting out, did you ever encounter evil from other actresses?

JR: Yes, but I wouldn’t say it was just actresses.

Q: What did Tarsem say to convince you to do the movie?

JR: It’s just a feeling I have. I’m such a fan of Tarsem’s and so when I heard it was his movie. I thought he had a great take on it. So, I read the script. I was really taken aback.  Off we went.

LILY COLLINS STARS in 'MIRROR MIRROR'

Q: The Queen uses some weird concoctions to keep her youth. What do you use?

JR: I don’t. I use a lot of Lancome.

Q: Is there someone in your life that you know you can always go to to get the truth?

JR: I always want to hear the truth. I’ve always felt that way. I have an amazing family and a great group of friends. That’s what I look for. That’s what I expect.

Q: There is a second film coming out with the same subject matter. Is this like unringing the bell?

JR: It’s not about unringing the bell. It’s giving it another tone. I think people like variations on things.

Mirror Mirror, directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell), stars Roberts, Collins, Hammer, Bean, Nathan Lane, Mare Winningham, Mark Povinelli, Jordan Prentice, Danny Woodburn, Sebastian Saraceno, Ronald Lee Clark, Martin Klebba, and Joe Gnoffo.

Mirror Mirror is rated PG; Running time: 95 minutes

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

KIMBRA TO RELEASE US VERSION OF DEBUT ALBUM VOWS MAY 22, 2012

Nationwide Tour with GOTYE Kicks Off This Month

Supporting FOSTER THE PEOPLE on US Summer Tour
International newcomer Kimbra will release the US version of her debut album Vows for Warner Bros. Records on May 22, 2012. Vows features several brand new songs in addition to tracks from the platinum-certified Australian edition of the album.

Released in Australia in August 2011, Vows has earned Kimbra a "one to watch" rave from Rolling Stone Australia, won her the ARIA (Australian Grammy) for Best Female Artist and spawned three hit singles. These tracks, "Good Intent," "Cameo Lover," and "Settle Down," are also included on the US edition of Vows. Kimbra recorded additional tracks for the release in Los Angeles, CA with such producers and songwriters as Mike Elizondo and Greg Kurstin.

Originating from Hamilton, New Zealand, Kimbra has been performing her jazz-inflected pop since she was 14. Kimbra's haunting vocals and impassioned delivery on the Gotye track "Somebody That I Used to Know" have helped propel it to an international hit: the video for the song has over 99 million views and is at the top of the US radio charts.

This year is shaping up to be an extremely busy one for Kimbra. Fresh from a whirlwind European run with Gotye, Kimbra will perform at the SXSW Music Conference in Austin, TX March 14-17. She will then re-join Gotye on his headline tour which begins March 22nd in Washington, DC. Later this spring, she will support Foster the People on their US tour, which kicks off May 29th with two nights at Rumsey Playfield in New York's Central Park, and runs through July 7th in Las Vegas, NV. She is also playing two SOLD OUT headline shows at Mercury Lounge March 26th and at the Troubadour April 17th. Full tour dates are below.

SXSW Shows:
March 14 - The Warner Sound Presented by Nikon @ La Zona Rosa
March 14 - KCRW Showcase @ Haven
March 15 - MTV Woodies Festival @ Outdoor Austin
March 15 - Filter Magazine Party @ Clive Bar
March 15 - The Warner Sound Presented by Nikon day party @ La Zona Rosa
March 16 - Nylon Magazine party @ W Hotel
March 16 - To Be Announced
March 17 - To Be Announced 

With GOTYE:
March 22 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
March 23 - Tower Theatre - Philadelphia, PA
March 25 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY
March 26 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY (headline)
March 27 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
March 29 - House of Blues - Boston, MA
March 30 - Corona Theatre - Montreal, QC
March 31 - Kool Haus - Toronto, ON
April 2 - Pease Auditorium - Ypsilanti, MI
April 3 - Aragon Theatre - Chicago, IL
April 4 - Epic Event Center - Minneapolis, MN
April 6 - Ogden Theatre - Denver, CO
April 10 - Showbox SODO - Seattle, WA
April 11 - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
April 12 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA
April 17 - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA (headline)

With FOSTER THE PEOPLE:
May 29 - Rumsey Playfield - New York, NY
May 30 - Rumsey Playfield - New York, NY
June 01 - LC Pavilion - Columbus, OH
June 02 - Livestrong Sporting Park - Kansas City, KC (KRBZ Beach Ball)
June 04 - Verizon Theatre - Grand Prairie, TX
June 05 - The Backyard - Austin, TX
June 07 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Alpharetta, GA
June 10 - Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia MD
June 11 - Summerstage - New York, NY
June 12 - Lachine Canal - Montreal, QC
June 14 - Mann Center - Philadelphia, PA
June 15 - Bank of America Pavilion - Boston, MA
June 16 - The Fillmore - Detroit, MI
June 19 - Downsview Park - Toronto, ON
June 20 - Congress Theater - Chicago, IL
June 21 - Congress Theater - Chicago, IL
June 22 - US Bank Theater - Minneapolis, MN
June 25 - Deer Lake Park - Vancouver, BC
June 26 - WAMU Theater - Seattle, WA
June 27 - Edgefield Amphitheater - Troutdale, OR
June 29 - Greek Theatre - Berkeley, CA
June 30 - Gibson Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, CA
July 1 - Gibson Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, CA
July 3 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
July 5 - The Great Salt Air - Salt Lake City, UT
July 6 - Commerica Theater - Phoenix, AZ
July 7 - The Pool at the Cosmopolitan - Las Vegas, NV