Kristen Stewart Reveals Plans to Take a Break from Acting

I'm sure I'll get emails from people asking "When did she start acting?", but just save it. Kristen Stewart has accomplished a lot in a very short amount of time. She had her big breakthrough in a David Fincher movie starring Jodie Foster, which is a pretty good place to start. She's experienced the joys and pains of profound celebrity thanks to the Twilight franchise, which gained her admiration from fans and harsh rebuke from everybody else. And now she's in the midst of a reinvention, working on challenging, dramatic material with a number of today's finest directors. All this and she's still only 24 years old, which may be why she's about to take a sabbatical from the spotlight.

Talking with USA Today about the numerous films coming up, including the military drama Camp X-Ray (review here), Stewart revealed she's ready to take some time for herself away from acting..

"I'm taking some time off because I've been working for two years. I'm an actor and that's my art form, and because I started that so young, I've always felt intimidated and insufficient when I think about other forms of art I want to create. I'm going to take so much time off."

Stewart has been dabbling in poetry for awhile, and it seems as if her plan now is to focus more on that, along with other creative projects she's been considering...

"I'm going to buy a live-work space in downtown LA and I'm going to make some (stuff) with my hands," Literally, I made that decision a few weeks ago. I'm making a short film. I'm making a bunch of (stuff). I don't know how I'll put it out. But I'm not going to hold it so preciously close to me. I write all the time."

We know she'll be back and involved with the Twilight-verse again as part of a contest to help budding female directors, and Stewart has a bunch of films wrapped and ready to go. She recently shot Drake Doremus' sci-fi romance, Equals, which has her starring alongside Nicholas Hoult. Still to come later this year is Still Alice, a drama starring Julianne Moore and directed by Wash Westmoreland (The Last of Robin Hood); and she also has the Tim Blake Nelson-directed ensemble, Anesthesia. Next year will see the release of the action film, American Ultra, which has Stewart reuniting with her Adventureland co-star, Jesse Eisenberg. So however long this break Stewart's taking lasts, she has so much on the way that we won't have time to miss her. 

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Cinema Royale #78- The Equalizer; Two Night Stand

On this weeks' show, Denzel Washington reunites with his Training Day director to equalize the #&#&# out of the Russian mob in The Equalizer! Plus, Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton make for a charming couple, but is Two Night Stand a walk of shame?

+Mae Abdulbaki of Punch Drunk Critics and Movies with Mae joins us to help you decide what to see in theaters this week! Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe for free, or find the show on ITunes, TuneIn, and the Cinema Royale app!

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Cinema Royale #77- The Maze Runner

On this week's Cinema Royale, Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone, True Detective) joins in to talk about her new film, the heartfelt military drama Fort Bliss. Directed by Claudia Myers, the film centers on a decorated soldier trying to reconnect with her son after an extended tour overseas.

Plus, our resident YA expert +Sandie Angulo Chen  gives her thoughts on this week's big film, The Maze Runner, starring Teen Wolf's Dylan O'Brien!

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe for free, or find the show on ITunes, TuneIn, and the Cinema Royale app!

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Cinema Royale #74- Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

The nine-year wait is over, and on this week's Cinema Royale we will return to the sleazy streets of Basin City for Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For! Was the wait worth it? And how does the sequel to 2005's groundbreaking film fit into the current comic book movie landscape?

Plus, Cinema Royale will be joined by Life of Crime director Dan Schechter to talk about his adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel (and Jackie Brown prequel) starring Jennifer Aniston, John Hawkes, Mos Def, Tim Robbins, and Isla Fisher!

Christopher Bumbray of Joblo.com joins me for another great show. Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe, and while there consider signing up for the premium service for more content and to be entered in our monthly prize drawing.

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Robin Williams Dead at 63

Sad news to end the evening as reports are surfacing that Robin Williams is dead at the age of 63. While details are still scarce, Williams was found in his California home dead of what appears to be a suicide. Williams had recently checked himself into rehab due to his long-running battle with alcohol and drug addiction but it's unclear if that was a factor. He was also reportedly battling a case of depression.

Williams got his start in the world of television and got his big break on the TV series, Mork & Mindy, while also performing as a stand-up comic.  I'll always remember him for his Emmy nominated performance on Homicide: Life on the Street, which began a run of him taking increasingly dramatic performances. In 1997 he won an Academy Award for his work in Good Will Hunting, and in 2002 he gave a stellar if dark turn in One Hour Photo. Over the course of his career he worked with practically every major director in Hollywood in films such as Aladdin, Patch Adams, Dead Poets Society, Good Morning Vietnam, and The Fisher King.

Williams recently completed work on the next Monty Python movie, Absolutely Anything, and starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom, The Crazy Ones.  He was set to reprise his role as Teddy Roosevelt in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. [Variety]

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Cinema Royale #72- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; The Hundred-Foot Journey

Cowabunga! On this weeks' show, Michael Bay and the guy who brought you Battle: Los Angeles try not to ruin your childhood with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Plus, a review of the culinary rom-com The Hundred-Foot Journey starring Helen Mirren, and John Michael McDonagh's dark religious comedy, Calvary.

This plus news on Batman v Superman, a possible female spinoff of The Amazing Spider-Man, and much more! +Mae Abdulbaki joins me for another great show! Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe, and while there consider signing up for the premium service for more content and to be entered in our monthly prize drawing.

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Cinema Royale #70- Sex Tape; Boyhood; Comic-Con Preview

On this week's Cinema Royale it's time to grow up, geek out, and reach for the cloud. Richard Linklater's epic coming-of-age drama Boyhood finally hits theaters after twelve years in the making. The film was a smash at Sundance and we'll see if the wait was truly worth it. Plus, Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz try to get their Sex Tape down from the cloud in their new comedy. The "DC Film Girl" +Lauren Veneziani  joins me to look at two very different summer movies.

With San Diego Comic-Con just days away, fellow attendee Wilson Morales of Blackfilm.com will call in to preview some of the biggest panels, events, premieres, and news from the massive geek event. Marvel, Lucasfilm, DC, they'll all be on hand and we'll give you just a taste of what you can expect to see revealed!

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe, and while there consider signing up for the premium service for more content and to be entered in our monthly prize drawing.

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Interview: Eloise Mumford Talks Military Thriller 'Drones' and 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

In the same way Twilight turned Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner into instant superstars, so has Fifty Shades of Grey done the same for its cast. And one of those caught up Fifty Shades phenomenon is actress Eloise Mumford, who plays Kate Kavanagh in the upcoming film. Her sudden fame has also put a great deal of attention on her other projects, and one of those is the indie film, Drones, which opens this weekend. Directed by Rick Rosenthal and co-starring Matt O'Leary, it's basically a two-hander about two drone pilots facing a moral dilemma when ordered to launch an attack under questionable circumstances. It's a film that takes a hard look at the military's use of drone technology and the changing face of warfare.

I had a chance to talk with Mumford about her role in Drones; working with veteran director Rick Rosenthal in essentially a single-location film; and of course Fifty Shades of Grey. Check out the interview with her below.

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Interview: Michael Ealy and Meagan Good Talk 'Think Like A Man Too', Sequels, and Filming in Vegas

When 2012's Think Like a Man, based on Steve Harvey's relationship book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, wrapped up its run nearly hitting $100M it took many by surprise. The film helped make a superstar out of Kevin Hart and gave a number of actors we're used to seeing in supporting roles their chance to shine as leads. That talented ensemble consisting of Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Regina Hall, Romany Malco, and Jerry Ferrara, all came back for the sequel, Think Like A Man Too, which is expected to be a huge hit this weekend.  Taking the action to Las Vegas where one of the couples is due to be married, the guys and girls instead compete to see who can have the wildest night in Sin City. 

Along with my Addicted to Film colleague, Tim Gordon, I had a chance to talk with Think Like A Man Too stars Michael Ealy and Meagan Good about coming back for the sequel; the chemistry they've built, and if there are plans for a Think Like a Man 3. You can watch the interview below and be sure to check us out on Addicted to Film every Sunday night at 7pm on Listen Vision Radio.

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Cinema Royale #67- Jersey Boys; The Rover; Think Like A Man Too

On a special Cinema Royale, Think Like a Man Too stars Michael Ealy and Meagan Good drop by to talk about the comedy sequel which takes the laughs and relationship headaches to Las Vegas!

Christopher Bumbray of Joblo.com stops by to review Clint Eastwood's musical Jersey Boys, based on the smash Broadway play. Plus we'll take a look at The Rover with Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce, from the director of Animal Kingdom.Plus, huge Star Wars news, info on two Bowe Bergdahll movies, and is Batman getting a solo film soon?

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe, and while there consider signing up for the premium service for more content and to be entered in our monthly prize drawing!

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Robert Pattinson Denies He's Replacing Harrison Ford in Everything

Save the "frail old man" jokes in regards to Harrison Ford's injury on the Star Wars: Episode VII set, he'll recover in time to finish up playing Han Solo, possibly for the last time. Although there's probably a good joke in there somewhere about him getting injured now when he skated through The Expendables 3 with no problem. Anyway, an unintended consequence of the injury is stirring up recent rumors Ford, who is now 71 years old, could be replaced by Robert Pattinson as Indiana Jones or Han Solo in a Star Wars spinoff.

Just how credible those rumors ever were is up for debate but that didn't stop Pattinson from getting asked about them by People while discussing his new film, The Rover. And as expected Pattinson not only denied the rumors, he sounds as if he's never heard of them. When asked about Indy, he said...

Pattinson: "I don't know why. Why is that coming out? I honestly don't understand what it's all about. Man, i wish." 

And it was much the same when questioned about Star Wars...

Pattinson: "I didn't even know there was a Han Solo spinoff coming out. Sounds like a cool spinoff. I'll watch it." 

What? You mean R-Patz isn't obsessed with every bit of Star Wars news like the rest of us? Now that I truly find hard to believe.  Pattinson has been steering clear of franchises ever since the Twilight nightmare ended, so it never really seemed likely he'd want to be part of the Disney machine. After press on The Rover is done he'll jump into Olivier Assayas' gangster film, Idol's Eye, which shoots this November.

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Cinema Royale #63- 'X-men: Days of Future Past'

Cinema Royale's loyal listeners know host Travis Hopson as the ultimate X-men fanatic, so you know this episode will be ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST! Okay, not entirely, but you get the picture. We'll also take a look at the latest Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore comedy, Blended.

Plus, we'll be joined by director Jim Mickle, whose credits include the horrors We Are What We Are and Stakeland, to talk about his throwback revenge flick, Cold in July. The film was a smash at Sundance and stars Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, and Don Johnson.

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe, and while there consider signing up for the premium service for more content and to be entered in our monthly prize drawing!

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Cinema Royale #60- The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The summer blockbuster season kicks into gear with one of the year's most anticipated films, The Amazing Spider-Man 2! Will it quiet the critics who less than impressed with the first film? Does it set up the Sinister Six and Venom for their own movies? And does Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy survive to see the sequel? Well, neither I or guest +Jeffrey Lyles are going to answer that one!

Plus, we'll take a look at the biggest news of the week: the reveal of the Star Wars: Episode VII cast and the confirmation of Zack Snyder's Justice League! Told you the blockbuster season was in full swing! We'll also have a review of the real-time thriller, Locke, starring the one and only Tom Hardy!

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe, and while there consider signing up for the premium service to get even more content!

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Interview: Steven Knight Talks Directing Tom Hardy in 'Locke'; Updates on 'Eastern Promises 2'

A single location movie is one thing, but a single location movie with only one star? Set entirely inside a moving car? Sounds difficult to say the least, unmarketable at worst, but writer/director Steven Knight is a filmmaker used to big challenges. The writer who took us into the world of illegal immigrants in Dirty Pretty Things and into the Russian underworld in Eastern Promises, takes us into one man's crumbling world in Locke, which happens to star Tom Hardy as the only on-screen character.  It's a compelling nocturnal journey of the soul that Knight and Hardy undertake in this film, and there are few other combinations that could have pulled it off.

I had a chance to talk with Knight about Locke; working with Tom Hardy and if he was always the actor he had in mind for the role. Knight also briefly talks about the Eastern Promises 2 script, saying it's better than the first, and whether he can get Hardy for a role.

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Cinema Royale #59- Brick Mansions; The Other Woman

On this week's Cinema Royale, +Leslie Combemale "The Cinema Siren" joins us to take a look at Brick Mansions, the final completed film by the late Paul Walker. Plus, we'll review revenge comedy The Other Woman, starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton's cleavage.

This past weekend Johnny Depp suffered his fourth box office flop in a row with Transcendence, a big-budget spectacle nobody thought would fail. We'll take a look at the reasons why it bombed, and what this means for Depp as a bankable Hollywood star.

Plus, huge news on Warner Bros. Justice League movie! Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe, and while there consider signing up for the premium service to get even more content!

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Interview: Jonas Armstrong Talks WWII Thriller 'Walking with the Enemy'

There's a good chance you'll be seeing a lot of Jonas Armstrong in the future. The Irish-born actor first came to my attention as he was robbing from the rich and giving to the poor each week on BBC's Robin Hood series. But he's about to jump into the big time with a star-making performance in Walking with the Enemy, in which he plays real life figure Pinchas Rosenbaum, a Hungarian Jew who posed as a Nazi officer to rescue his countryman from the inside.

I had a chance to sit down with Armstrong, along with co-stars Simon Kunz and Simon Dutton, to talk about the film; the pressure to do justice to the historical figures they portray, and first-time director Mark Schmidt's dedication to authenticity.

You can listen to the interview in full below. [Cinema Royale]

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Cinema Royale #54- Veronica Mars; Need for Speed; The Grand Budapest Hotel

Welcome back to Neptune, marshmallows! We'll take a look at the return of Kristen Bell as every fan's favorite feisty detective, Veronica Mars! Is the Kickstarter-funded film everything fans hoped it would be? Then we'll feel the Need for Speed with Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, and Michael Keaton! Then we'll check-in to Wes Anderson's star-studded comedy caper, The Grand Budapest Hotel.

All this, and we'll be joined by "The Cinema Siren" +Leslie Combemale , and we'll have news on Captain America 3, Star Wars: Episode VII, and the Fantastic Four!

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network. You can hear it live or download it every single week on Blogtalkradio, Itunes, Libsyn, and Stitcher. Listen to the latest episode below...

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Cinema Royale #53- '300: Rise of an Empire'; Irrfan Khan Interview

On a very special episode of Cinema Royale, acclaimed Indian actor Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi, The Namesake) talks to us about his latest film, the mature romantic-drama, The Lunchbox.

Plus, we'll return to Sparta for 300: Rise of an Empire, the sequel to Zack Snyder's hit action flick, 300! And we'll jump back in time with Dreamworks' Animation's Mr. Peabody & Sherman!

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network. You can hear it live or download it every single week on Blogtalkradio, Itunes, Libsyn, and Stitcher. Listen to the latest episode below...

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Interview: Irrfan Khan Dishes on 'The Lunchbox'

I don't know if there's an actor as consistently great as Irrfan Khan. Scratch that, I know there isn't. The famed Indian actor may be known primarily for his Bollywood films, but he has carved out quite a role for himself in Hollywood, as well. Whether it's in dramatic efforts such as Life of Pi or The Namesake, or venturing into blockbuster territory in The Amazing Spider-Man (and the upcoming Jurassic World), Khan brings a soulful, patriarchal quality that has always reminded me a little bit of Gregory Peck.

Suffice it to say Khan is among my favorite actors, which is why I was so honored to interview him and director Ritesh Batra about their latest film, The Lunchbox. This quiet little romance follows two lonely people (Khan and co-star Nimrat Kauer) in the bustling city of Mumbai, who are connected by a wrongly delivered lunchbox. It's a great film, one that my colleague Roxana Hadadi loved as much as I did.

You can listen to my interview with Irrfan Khan and Ritesh Batra below.

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Cinema Royale #52- 'Non-Stop'; Academy Awards Predictions

The parties are over, the votes are counted, and now it's time to learn who will walk away the big winners at the Academy Awards! Cinema Royale will be joined by film critic and RogerEbert.com contributor Susan Wloszczyna to predict the night's victors. Can 12 Years a Slave hold off the push of American Hustle and Gravity? Will Jennifer Lawrence steal a surprise win from favorite Lupita Nyong'o? Is Cate Blanchett a sure thing opposite the legendary Meryl Streep?

Plus, Joblo.com's Christopher Bumbray helps us review Liam Neeson's latest thriller, Non-Stop!

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network. You can hear it live or download it every single week on Blogtalkradio, Itunes, Libsyn, Stitcher, and Podomatic.  Listen to the latest episode below...

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