From 'The Playlist'

Guy Pearce and Evan Rachel Wood have been added to cast of Todd Hayne's five-hour HBO mini-series adaptation of the 1945 noir-ish melodrama, "Mildred Pierce."

Led by Kate Winslet, the project will reportedly stay more faithful to James M. Cain's novel of the same name compared to Michael Curtiz's 1945 film version which starred Joan Crawford. It's not known what roles Pearce and Wood will play but they'd be perfect as Winslet's husband and daughter. Either way, it's great to see the under-appreciated talents of both actors being recognized by Haynes.

The story centers on a woman who strives to maintain her family's middle-class lifestyle in the midst of the Great Depression. When her unemployed husband is unable to provide, she separates from him, and with their children in tow, strikes out on their own. While Mildred achieves great financial success in the restaurant business, her relationship with her eldest daughter, Veda, becomes strained when she takes for granted the status they've attained.

Haynes is just one of a number great filmmakers who have been brought onto HBO projects this season. The likes of Kathryn Bigelow, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Demme are all helming upcoming pilots for the network while David Fincher, Charlize Theron, Simon Beaufoy, Russell Crowe and Zooey Deschanel all have producing interests.

Shooting for "Mildred Pierce" will take place in New York this April through to June. Someone get us on the set of this. We'd kill to visit.

p.s. i'd kill to visit

Kate at Covent Garden

the morning after the bafta awards kate, the most gracious, signed autographs in covent gardens

Kate at BAFTA Awards 2010

Kate Presents Colin Firth with Best Actor Bafta for 'Simple Man'

and he deserves the oscar too!




and presented by kate winslet doubles his win

Kate to London for BAFTA's

Kate Winslet was casually dressed this morning when she arrived at London's Heathrow Airport. She's making a quick trip home to the UK to present at the BAFTAs before she heads to the Oscars, where she'll also be a presenter on March 7 . She was last year's big winner at both ceremonies.

Actors Pick Their Favorite Performances of the Decade

notice sandra bullock on kate



(Courtesy: New York Times Magazine)

It's Official: HBO Picks Up Kate Winslet's 'Mildred Pierce'

Todd Haynes' "Mildred Pierce" is headed to HBO.

The premium cable network has picked up the five-hour miniseries project starring Kate Winslet, which it will co-produce with MGM, Killer Films and John Wells Prods.

Haynes is directing the adaptation of James M. Cain's classic noir novel, which centers on Mildred Pierce Beragon (Winslet), a proud single mother struggling to earn her daughter's love during the Great Depression in middle-class Los Angeles.

Haynes and Jon Raymond co-wrote the script for "Mildred," which is being executive produced by Haynes, Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon of Killer Films and John Wells. Ilene Landress serves as producer.

Casting for the other roles is under way, with production on the mini slated to begin in April in New York.

This marks the second major screen adaptation of Cain's novel.

The 1945 feature by Michael Curtiz earned Joan Crawford an Academy Award for the title role.

HBO had been considered the leading candidate for the Haynes/Winslet take on "Mildred Pierce" ever since word on the project surfaced last summer.

Winslet is hot coming off her Oscar win for "The Reader" last year. After starting off on British TV, the actress has been focused on features for the past 16 years, earning six Oscar nominations. In 2005, she made a rare TV appearance with a guest turn on Ricky Gervais' HBO/BBC comedy "Extras."

Haynes' writing/directing credits include "I'm Not There" and "Far From Heaven."

For HBO, the green light for "Mildred Pierce" follows the critical success of another longform project toplined by feature stars, the movie "Grey Gardens" headlined by Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange.

(hollywood reporter)

Kate and Marion Together?

Kate Winslet and Marion Cotillard are in talks to join Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion." How great it would be to see two of the best together on screen.

Matt Damon and Jude Law are set for the action-thriller.

Soderbergh's been developing the project with producing partner Gregory Jacobs. Participant Media is in talks to co-finance and produce. Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher of Double Feature Films are also producing.

The plan is to shoot the project later this year.

"Contagion," based on a script penned by Scott Z. Burns, revolves around the threat posed by a deadly disease, with multiple plotlines in the style of Soderbergh's "Traffic."

Kate's Films 1994-2009

My Favorite Films of the Decade*

My Favorite Films: These are films that moved me, touched my heart, filled my spirit, made me laugh or made me cry, uplifted me or completely devestated me. Some of them made me feel. Some made me think. Some of them surprised me. Some made me laugh out loud. Some stunned me visually and audibly. Some gave the Best acting of the decade. None of them made me feel as if i wasted my time watching and liking or loving them.

All of them AMAZED me one way or another.

These are my favorite films of the 'oughts' as opposed to the best. They are the films I have revisited and will revisit often.



So, in alphabetical order, my favorite films of the past decade are:

Angels and Demons
Avatar
Away from Her
Babel
Batman Begins
Before Sunset
Blindside
The Bourne Trilogy: Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum
The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas
Chocolat
Crash
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Devil Wears Prada
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Fahrenheit 911
Finding Neverland
(500) Days of Summer
The Hours
In the Bedroom
Iris
I've Loved You So Long
The Jacket
La Vien Rose
Little Children
Love Actually
Luther
Mamma Mia
March of the Penguins
Marie Antoinette
Match Point
Milk
Mona Lisa Smile
Moulin Rouge
Munich
The New World
Nine
The Others
Phantom of the Opera
The Pianist
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Pride and Prejudice
The Reader
A Single Man
Spider Man Trilogy
Unfaithful
United 93
Volver



and the Best of them: FILM OF THE DECADE: (TIE)

'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and 'The Pianist'



Best Actor:

Adrien Brody - 'The Pianist'





Runners up: Joseph Gordon-Levitt - '(500)Days of Summer', Colin Firth - 'A Single Man' and Sean Penn - 'Milk'






Best Actress:
Kate Winslet - 'The Reader', 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', 'Finding Neverland' and 'Little Children'





Runners up: Julie Christie 'Away from Her' and Marion Cotillard 'La Vie en Rose' and 'Nine'




Best Actresses Supporting:
Rachel Weisz - 'The Constant Gardner'
Sandra Bullock - 'Crash'
Thandie Newton - 'Crash'



and

Best Actors Supporting:
Michael Shannon - 'Revolutionary Road'
Matt Dillon - 'Crash'




Best Director:
Roman Polanski - 'The Pianist'



Beat Original Screenplays:
'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'
'(500) Days of Summer'



Best Screenplays Adapted:
'Milk'
'The Pianist'
'The Reader'



Best Musical Score:
'Finding Neverland'



The Films:





*(reposting from my blog 'inside josh's mind' as kate so predominately figures in to it)