Justin Long's Indie Flick 'Lumpy' Has Started Shooting

When baby faced actor Justin Long isn't starring in mediocre romantic comedies like Going the Distance  (just imagine how bad it would've been if Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day weren't in it) or pitching computers for Apple, he tends to display his more impressive acting range playing quirky or straight-laced characters in dramas and lesser known films.  Long's current project, an independent comedy called Lumpy will be his next under the radar role to help showcase that talent. 

According to the Hollywood Reporter, writer/director Ted Koland's debut film Lumpy has just started production on location in Minnesota. 

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Movie Review - 'Going The Distance'

Going The Distance Starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long Directed by Nanette Burstein Rated R

A filmmaker myself, I always try to remain impartial when going to see a movie. Despite my wildest efforts, however, my expectations for Going The Distance, the story of a couple who have a six-week summer romance in New York City, and then attempt a prolonged long-distance relationship across the country, were pretty low.  The upside about this film, directed by Nanette Burstein, who produced, wrote, directed, and edited the fabulous adolescent documentary American Teen, is that if you walk in to the theater like I did, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Drew Barrymore’s character, Erin, is a spunky, modern, every-woman, who despite her short-comings in terms of career, does not take the obvious, depressive turn for the melodramatic. Writer Geoff LaTulippe does a wonderful job developing Erin’s intricacies, desires, and indulgences and crafts a character that is as imperfect as she is likable. Barrymore, of course, deserves her credit for this as well, and it is nice to finally see her in a role that audiences can actually care about. Her love interest, Garret, played by Justin Long, is a less dimensional character, but Long’s charm overcomes the text, and the on-screen romance between the two really does work.

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The Distance for 'Going the Distance' Gets Longer

Here's some refreshing honesty from a movie studio about a swapped release date. The company is Warner Bros.; the movie is Going the Distance, a Drew Barrymore-Justin Long romantic comedy that looks wholly predictable.

The studio has decided that August 27th is not a good weekend for the film, and so it's being bumped back to September 3rd. A whole week? Yes, a whole week. Here's the official word from Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. domestic distribution president:

“Moving to the Labor Day weekend not only allows us to take advantage of the long holiday weekend, but gives us some distance from the other female-driven films releasing in August. Additionally, we have an opportunity to build more awareness and word-of-mouth for a movie we believe has strong appeal for a broad audience.”

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Trailer - Barrymore and Long Are 'Going the Distance'

Even though it stars real-life on-off loves Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, the romcom Going the Distance doesn't look like it's bringing anything all that new to the party. There's a Jim Gaffigan scene here that looks funny, mostly due to Jim Gaffigan, but it's not really reinventing the wheel, either.

Barrymore is good in this environment, though, but I'm not sure about Long. Hard to judge anyone by He's Just Not That Into You, although Long seemed even less suited for it than some of the other cast members. Still, you'd have to think if he were going to find chemistry in a romantic comedy, this might be the one. Director Nanette Burstein (American Teen) surrounds the leads with some good talent, like Jason Sudeikis, Ron Livingston, and Christina Applegate, so maybe there's hope. The trailer does have that repellent run-through-the-airport scene, however. You've been warned.

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Redford's 'Conspirator' Fills Out Cast, Starts Filming

The Robert Redford historical drama The Conspirator has already begun filming with an eye on a 2011 release, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The film stars James McAvoy as a young military attorney assigned to defend Mary Suratt (Robin Wright Penn) and comes to believe she's innocent of plotting to kill Abe Lincoln.

Several notable new cast members have been added this week. First there was Justin Long, which seems like a bad fit, Tom Wilkinson, which does not, English actor Toby Kebbell, Alexis Bledell, Kevin Kline, and now Evan Rachel Wood. There's no word on exactly what characters each will be playing, but in some cases, I'm not sure it matters. For example: You've got Tom Wilkinson.

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