Moviefone Editorial

Author: Jesse Schedeen

  • 9 Things You Never Knew About ‘Orphan’ on its 10th Anniversary

    9 Things You Never Knew About ‘Orphan’ on its 10th Anniversary

    Warner Bros.

    “Orphan” turns ten years old this month, and it still maintains a strong cult following. Not since “The Exorcist” has a horror movie managed to make us so terrified of a preteen girl. Celebrate this horror movie milestone by learning more about the making of “Orphan” and how the story changed from page to screen.

    1. The film drew outrage from adoption and foster groups, forcing WB to remove a line in the trailer that said, “It must be difficult to love an adopted child as much as your own.” The line remained in the actual film, however.

    2. The filmmakers were so impressed by Isabelle Fuhrman‘s audition that they cast her despite Fuhrman not resembling the fair-skinned, blond-haired girl described in the script.

    3. Director Jaume Collet-Serra made a point of filming the scene where Esther walks in on her adoptive parents having sex in as few takes as possible, so as not to make Fuhrman swear any more than necessary.

    Warner Bros.

    4. The movie poster is designed to be psychologically off-putting. Rather than featuring an ordinary photo of Fuhrman’s face, it features half of her face mirrored to form an impossibly symmetrical full face.

    5. Actress Aryana Engineer, who plays the deaf Max, is actually mostly deaf and normally wears cochlear implants.

    Warner Bros.

    6. Actress Vera Farmiga is an accomplished pianist and was reportedly very angry at Collet-Serra for editing down the scene where Kate is composing music, as she felt her hard work was wasted.

    7. There are several major plot differences between early drafts of the screenplay and the final version of the film. For example, originally Esther was supposed to have succeeded in killing Daniel in the hospital.

    Warner Bros.

    8. Earlier versions of the script also included much more background information for Esther, revealing that she was molested by her biological father from an early age and was sent to the orphanage after murdering him and his lover.

    9. The film also has a deleted subplot where Esther frames a homeless man for the murder of Sister Abigail. Portions of this material are included as bonus features on the DVD.

  • 15 Classic Action Movies That Only Get Better With Age

    15 Classic Action Movies That Only Get Better With Age

  • 21 Essential ’90s Movies You Should Watch This Summer

    21 Essential ’90s Movies You Should Watch This Summer

     

  • 9 Things You Never Knew About ‘(500) Days of Summer’ on its 10th Anniversary

    9 Things You Never Knew About ‘(500) Days of Summer’ on its 10th Anniversary

    Fox Searchlight

    Romantic comedies don’t get much better than “(500) Days of Summer.” Ten years later, we still enjoy getting caught up in the whirlwind, doomed romance between Tom and Summer. To celebrate this anniversary, here are some things you might not know about “(500) Days of Summer.”

    1. Co-writer Scott Neustadter based the screenplay and the characterization of Tom on one of his previous relationships. On the DVD commentary he estimates 75% of the events in the film actually happened to him.

    2. While well-known now for directing the “Amazing Spider-Man” movies and 2017’s “Gifted,” at the time director Marc Webb was mostly known for his music video work. “(500) Days of Summer” was his first feature-length project.

    Fox Searchlight

    3. Webb returned to his roots after completing work on the film, filming a music video starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel dancing to the song “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” from Deschanel’s band She & Him.

    4. The movie is widely praised as a showcase for Los Angeles architecture, but originally the script was set in San Francisco.

    Fox Searchlight

    5. Before Deschanel was cast as Summer, the character was written as having a short, blond hairstyle representative of summer.

    6. Matthew Gray Gubler‘s dialogue had to be slightly altered in order to avoid an R-rating. Apparently Paul saying the word “humjob” instead of “blowjob” made all the difference to the MPAA.

    7. The documentary about love contains a great deal of footage not included in the final movie. In fact, it wasn’t originally intended to be included at all, at least until it received strong test audience reactions.

    Fox Searchlight

    8. The rooms used for Tom’s apartment and the New Hampshire Greetings offices were both in the same building.

    9. The movie gives conflicting information as to what year it takes place. The narrator refers to May 23 being on a Wednesday, which would suggest the film unfolds from January 8, 2006 to May 23, 2007. However, one of Summer’s email messages to Tom is dated 2008.

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’

    Warner Bros.

    It’s been ten years since the Harry Potter saga delivered one of its most pivotal sequels. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” pushed this beloved fantasy saga in a darker direction, complete with a tragic death and new insight into the origins of the wizarding world’s greatest villain. Celebrate this milestone by learning more about the making of the sixth Potter movie.

    1. “The Half-Blood Prince” is the third-longest movie in the series, falling behind only “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” and “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

    2. The actor who plays the 11-year-old version of Tom Riddle, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, is the nephew of Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes.

    Warner Bros.

    3. Though roughly 7,000 girls auditioned for the role of Lavender Brown, Jessie Cave was cast despite not attending these auditions. Fortunately for her, she had a recommendation straight from Emma Watson.

    4. This is the first film in the series not to feature any Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom scenes, despite the fact that Professor Snape is revealed to have taken over the class early in the film.

    Warner Bros.

    5. Director David Yates said the film’s color and lighting were heavily inspired by the work of Dutch painter Rembrandt. Fittingly, this is the only film in the series to be nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar.

    6. While Yates has directed every “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” movie since “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” WB almost went with a different director for “The Half-Blood Prince.” They approached Terry Gilliam, but Gilliam refused, having been passed over to direct “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” years before.

    Warner Bros.

    7. Kevin McKidd was approached to play werewolf villain Fenrir Greyback, but had to decline due to his other commitments. McKidd has since said he doesn’t regret turning down the part, as it would have terrified his children.

    8. Bill Nighy was cast as Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in “The Half-Blood Prince,” but after his scene was cut, Nighy instead made his series debut in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.”

    Warner Bros.

    9. The set used for Professor Slughorn’s office is a modified version of the same one used for the Trophy Room in “The Goblet of Fire” and the Room of Requirement in “The Order of the Phoenix.”

    10. Actor Alan Rickman admitted to feeling a perverse sense of glee over Snape’s role in Dumbledore’s death scene, comparing it to the climax of “Die Hard” and pointing out how his character got to be on the opposite end of a battle involving one character falling to their death.

    Warner Bros.

    11. Narcissa Malfoy actress Helen McCrory was originally cast as Bellatrix Lestrange in “The Order of the Phoenix,” but left the project after becoming pregnant.

     

  • 9 Things You Never Knew About ‘When Harry Met Sally’ on its 30th Anniversary

    9 Things You Never Knew About ‘When Harry Met Sally’ on its 30th Anniversary

    Columbia Pictures

    One of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time is now 30 years old. “When Harry Met Sally” is a terrific reminder that the best rom-coms are truly timeless. Celebrate this anniversary with some fun trivia about the making of this modern love story.

    1. Both director Rob Reiner and writer Nora Ephron drew from their own personal lives while making the film. Ephron based Sally on herself and several friends, while Reiner’s struggle with his divorce influenced the portrayal of Harry.

    2. Reiner has a cameo in the film during the New Year’s Eve scene. He’s the unseen person announcing that the new year is happening in ten seconds.

    Columbia Pictures

    3. Ephron originally envisioned the movie’s title as “When They Met.” Other potential titles included “Boy Meets Girl,” “Just Friends” and “Words of Love.”

    4. Tom Hanks and Michael Keaton were both considered for the role of Harry.

    5. Katz’s Deli still pays tribute to the film’s most famous scene by displaying a sign that reads “Where Harry met Sally… hope you have what she had!”

    Columbia Pictures

    6. That fake orgasm scene was added to the movie on the fly after it was decided Sally needed more to talk about in the deli. Meg Ryan chose the topic of conversation and Billy Crystal came up with the line, “I’ll have what she’s having.”

    7. It took no fewer than 60 takes to pull off the scene where the four characters are talking on the phone simultaneously.

    Columbia Pictures

    8. Harry can be seen the Stephen King novel “Misery” in one scene. Ironically, Reiner went on to direct the film adaptation after completing “When Harry Met Sally.”

    9. The scenes featuring couples relating how they met were performed by actors, but the material itself was taken from real-life testimonials Reiner collected.

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘The Blair Witch Project’

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘The Blair Witch Project’

    Artisan Entertainment

    If “The Blair Witch Project” taught us anything, it’s that you don’t need big budgets or elaborate gore effects to make a great, utterly unforgettable horror movie. You just need a strong premise and a cast dedicated enough to pull off the illusion. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this found footage classic by learning more about the making of “The Blair Witch Project.”

    1. Part of the reason “The Blair Witch Project” is so effective is that the actors’ reactions of fear are often genuine. For example, directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez would sneak up on their tent at night and shake it suddenly.

    2. The actors agreed to remain in-character as much as possible during filming. They used the safe word “taco” for those moments when they needed a break.

    Artisan Entertainment

    3. The movie’s ad campaign was notorious for convincing many moviegoers it was actually a factual documentary, to the point that many fans sent sympathy cards to actress Heather Donahue‘s mother.

    4. Much of the material for the ad campaign was taken from deleted scenes from the movie. Originally, the movie was intended to include a closing sequence where a news crew investigates the disappearance of the main characters.

    Artisan Entertainment

    5. Even the actors were led to believe the Blair Witch legend was true during filming. They were only told afterward that it was entirely made up for the movie.

    6. “The Blair Witch Project” set a Guinness world record for the highest box office to budget ratio, with the movie earning roughly $248 million on a budget of $60,000.

    7. One way the production saved money was by purchasing a video camera at Circuit City and returning it for a refund after filming was complete.

    Artisan Entertainment

    8. Approximately 20 hours of footage was shot in total, with the final film being whittled down to a lean 82 minutes.

    9. Maryland-based hunters complained about the 1999-2000 season being ruined because so many fans of the movie were traipsing about the wilderness and scaring away game.

    Lionsgate

    10. In addition to two movie sequels (2000’s “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2” and 2016’s “Blair Witch“), the series’ mythology has been expanded in the form of comic books, novels and PC games.

    11. A spinoff TV series is currently being developed for Lionsgate’s Studio L platform.

  • 13 Things You Never Knew About ‘True Lies’ on its 25th Anniversary

    13 Things You Never Knew About ‘True Lies’ on its 25th Anniversary

    20th Century Fox

    It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since director James Cameron and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger last got together to blow things up and make movie magic. They sure don’t make action movies like “True Lies” anymore. Celebrate this big movie milestone by learning more about the making of this beloved action movie.

    1. True Lies is a remake of a 1991 French comedy called “La Totale!”.

    2. Cameron hired a team of writers to help punch up the script’s comedy. He ultimately abandoned most of that material, but he did keep one soon-to-be-iconic one-liner, “You’re fired!”

    20th Century Fox

    3. While its budget may pale in comparison to current blockbusters, “True Lies” set a record by being the first movie with a production budget over $100 million.

    4. Schwarzenegger spent six months training for the tango dancing scene. Schwarzenegger said he used Al Pacino‘s performance in “Scent of a Woman” as inspiration/motivation.

    20th Century Fox

    5. Fortunately, Schwarzenegger didn’t need nearly as much practice for the horseback riding sequences. He was able to rely on his previous experience working on “Conan the Barbarian” and “Conan the Destroyer.”

    6. The moment where Jamie Lee Curtis‘ Helen falls during her striptease dance was an unplanned accident that Cameron kept in the final version.. That’s why Schwarzenegger briefly sits up in surprise when Curtis falls.

    20th Century Fox

    7. Gib’s rant about his ex-wife taking his ice cube trays was inspired by a similar incident from Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr‘s divorce.

    8. The bad publicity surrounding that divorce made Fox execs reluctant to cast Arnold in the film. Fortunately, Cameron stood up for Arnold and threatened to walk if Arnold didn’t get the part. He ended up being one of the movie’s highlights.

    20th Century Fox

    9. Charlton Heston‘s character Director Trilby is heavily inspired by the Marvel Comics character Nick Fury, right down to the eye patch and job description.

    10. “True Lies” is the only Cameron film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects but not win.

    20th Century Fox

    11. As of July 2019, “True Lies” still isn’t available on Blu-ray. Cameron has indicated that a new HD transfer was completed, but he has yet to find time in his busy schedule to review and approve it.

    12. A sequel almost happened in the early 2000’s. A script was completed and Cameron and the original cast were slated to return, but Cameron’s enthusiasm waned following the 9/11 terror attacks.

    20th Century Fox

    13. Following years of rumors, a TV adaptation is being developed for the Disney+ streaming service.

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’

    Dreamworks Pictures

    It’s been 15 years since the world first met Ron Burgundy, legend of the news trade and a man whose apartment smells of rich mahogany. So why not grab a trident, dive into the newscaster free-for-all and learn more about the making of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.”

    1. The Ron Burgundy character was inspired by a former Detroit newscaster named Mort Crim.

    2. According to Will Ferrell, his character’s full name is Ronald Joseph Aaron Burgundy.

    Dreamworks Pictures

    3. Ferrell drew on his years of musical experience for the early party scene where Ron riffs on Jethro Tull. Ferrell has been playing the flute since grade school.

    4. Not that he’s a particularly trustworthy figure on the best of days, but Ron is probably lying when he brags about being friends with legendary newscaster Edward R. Murrow. Murrow died in 1965, years before the events of “Anchorman.”

    Sony Pictures

    5. Ferrell’s frequent costar John C. Reilly had to turn down the role of Champ due to his commitment to Martin Scorsese‘s “The Aviator.” As consolation, Reilly was given a cameo role in “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”

    6. The zoo scenes were filmed at the Los Angeles Zoo, which is a convenient spot since it closed down in the 1960’s.

    Dreamworks Pictures

    7. As bizarre as the news team fight sequence is, it was almost even weirder. An earlier draft of the script featured a plane full of newscasters crashing in the mountains and doing battle with ninja star-wielding monkeys.

    8. Another early draft featured an extra news team member named Marshall Connors. William H. Macy was considered for the role.

    9. Director Adam McKay filmed numerous alternate takes of many scenes, sometimes shooting as many as 20 variations of a single scene.

    Dreamworks Pictures

    10. Amy Poehler originally had a role in “Anchorman,” but her character was completely cut out of the final version.

    11. Because there were so many alternate and deleted scenes left over after the final cut was completed, McKay was able to combine them and create an entirely new direct-to-video movie called “Wake Up, Ron Burgundy.”

  • Every Spider-Man Movie, Ranked From ‘Far From Home’ to ‘Venom’

    Every Spider-Man Movie, Ranked From ‘Far From Home’ to ‘Venom’