(3 in half of 4)

Starring Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Julie Christie, Shia LaBeouf, Robin Wright Penn, John Hurt, Chris Cooper and Bradley Cooper. Various directors. 110 minutes. At the Cumberland. 14A

Only a city as narcissistic as New York, punch-drunk in love with its own image, could hope to pull off the conceit of New York, I Love You, a series of short films in search of a feature theme.

The fact that the idea only partially succeeds is proof of the difficulty of giving an urban environment top romantic billing in a film that’s really about spontaneous human interactions.

Part of a planned franchise known as “Cities of Love,” which began with the much more satisfying Paris, je t’aime, the film rises and falls by its premise of giving a dozen or so international directors and a brace of actors a chance to make short-and-snappy comments on life in the Big Apple.

The “up” ones hold our interest and pique our curiosity. Mira Nair directs Natalie Portman as an orthodox Jew torn by religious convention and by her own romantic leanings when a business deal with a diamond merchant (Irrfan Khan) shows unexpected sparkle.

Yvan Attal’s segment is split into two fast-moving segments: Ethan Hawke’s comically horny hustler tries to pick up Maggie Q’s streetwise siren, while Chris Cooper and Robin Wright Penn make their own negotiations regarding appearances and intentions.

The “down” segments include Allen Hughes’ sad mini-essay on romantic regret, as a disconsolate Drea De Matteo struggles to fathom her one-nighter with a younger partner (Bradley Cooper).

Sadder and definitely stranger is the episode helmed by Shekhar Kapur, who took over for the late Anthony Minghella (to whom the movie is dedicated). Julie Christie is an opera singer who arrives at a chic Manhattan hotel with the evident intent to kill herself. A limping bellboy, played by a very game Shia LaBeouf, somehow connects with a character played by John Hurt to turn this suicide plan into a surreal memory trip.

While many of the segments amuse, and rarely wear out their welcome (the average running time is eight minutes apiece), it rapidly becomes apparent that each of them has some kind of twist, like an O Henry short story.

The result becomes less romantic and more Pavlovian, as we watch the set-up and then wait for its inevitable overturning. The gimmick reaches its groan-worthy limit in Brett Ratner’s episode about a prom night beau (Anton Yelchin) who finds that his wheelchair-bound date (Olivia Thirlby) is full of surprises.

New York, I Love You originally screened at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, where it included a short directed by Scarlett Johansson that has since been excised, reportedly because it didn’t suit the flow of the film.

The whole enchilada was billed at TIFF as a work in progress, and that designation still suits the finished effort, which is at once as maddening and as enthralling as New York City itself.

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A patchwork quilt sewn by the motliest crew of filmmakers, this American spinoff of the art-house anthology Paris Je T’aime (by the same producers), ranges in mood from ponderous, to cute, to enigmatic to enjoyably shticky to utterly confusing depending on which of the 11 short films on the Big Apple theme you’re watching.

Unlike, say, New York Stories — with its handful of tales from oh-so-New-Yorkers such as Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen — New York, I Love You is a paean to the city from people you often don’t necessarily associate with it.

Case in point: Chinese director Jiang Wen, whose tale of a young pickpocket (Hayden Christensen) and an older one (Andy Garcia), who spar at sleight-of-hand over the attentions of the old pro’s mistress (Rachel Bilson), could have been a Scorsese throwaway.

Or Mira Nair, who offers up a characteristically multiculturally themed story about a young Hassidic woman (Natalie Portman) who has ritually shaved her head in preparation for marriage, and her playful sympatico with a Jain jewelry dealer (Slumdog Millionaire’s Irrfan Khan).

To her credit, Portman’s own feel-good (if unmemorable) directorial effort, about a father-and-daughter in Central Park, is the only one to feature a black character. In New York.

Even Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) plays against type. There is not an explosion to be found in his quirky, hormone-drenched story of a nebbish high school kid (Anton Yelchin) facing the prom dateless, who is set up on a blind date with the handicapped daughter (Olivia Thirlby) of a curmudgeonly Italian shopkeeper (James Caan). There’s very little to be said about this episode without coming dangerously close to revealing the surprise end.

Caan’s character is one of a couple of repeat characters. But the true threadline character is Zoe (Emilie Ohana), an artist keeping a New York video diary, whose lens captures bits and pieces of each of the 11 stories. The result varies. But like a deli menu, there’s something for nearly every taste in New York, I Love You.

My favourite is an is-it-real playlet directed by Shekhar Kapur and set in a stately Plaza-like hotel, where an aging opera star (Julie Christie) contemplates suicide, while being catered to by a doting and solicitous crippled young bellman (Shia LaBeouf). Memories pile on memories, phantoms of lives past appear, all in a few minutes of sad drama.

At times, the barrage of mini-plays comes off like short-attention-span theatre. There is an almost co-op egalitarianism to the timing of the material, with some segments leaving the viewer wanting more and others wearing out their welcome somewhat in a short time.

But with the names and talents involved (others not previously mentioned here include Ethan Hawke, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Cloris Leachman, Chris Cooper and Eli Wallach), you know that nobody was going to get short shrift in the editing room.

If nothing else, the sheer volume of stories in New York, I Love You gives you plenty to talk about after.

(This film is rated 14-A)

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The film is a collection of intersecting vignettes that take place all over, you guessed it, New York. As a patriotic Canadian, I couldn’t help but wonder about Canada’s role in this parade of Hollywood stars acting in an American production about New York. I do believe that, much like Kevin Bacon, everything can be traced back to Canada.

Sure, there’s the obvious – Canadian Hayden Christensen is in it. But there must be more. And there is. So, without further ado, here’s a breakdown of all of the Canadian connections to this film’s impressive star roster I can think of.

1. Rachel Bilson. The former ‘The O.C.’ star is engaged to Hayden Christensen, who was born in Vancouver and raised in a Toronto suburb.

2. Ethan Hawke. He delivered guest lectures at Montreal’s McGill University in 2003. More salaciously, he allegedly had an affair with a 22-year-old Canadian student while filming a movie in Montreal while he was still married to Uma Thurman.

3. Bradley Cooper. ‘The Hangover’ alum is currently filming ‘The A-Team’ in Vancouver.

4. Justin Bartha. Mr. Olsen Twin co-starred in ‘The Hangover’ with Zach Galifianakis, who, according to GQ Magazine, is dating a Canadian lady. (Apparently the secretive Galifianakis wouldn’t let GQ publish her name, so she remains mysterious. And possibly made-up. Regardless, Canada was mentioned, so the Canadian connection – though rather weak – still stands.)

5. Natalie Portman. The high-profile Canadian musician k-os released the single “I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman” earlier this year, featuring fellow Canuck Nelly Furtado. Sample lyrics: “I’ve been on the run/ shadow weighs a ton/ I know I found a recipe, for me/ but I can’t really make you love me.”

6. Eva Amurri. Ms. Sarandon’s daughter is in Season 3 of ‘Californication’. Californication stars David Duchovny, who spent five years filming ‘The X-Files’ in Vancouver before it was moved to the States. (A move that was widely attributed to Duchovny’s complaints about Vancouver’s weather and being too far away from his wife, Téa Leoni.) He recently did a commercial voiceover for Canadian grocery giant Metro. But enough about Duchovny, he’s not even in this movie!

7. Drea de Matteo. ‘The Sopranos’ actress co-starred in the 2007 Canadian flick ‘The Good Life’, which was filmed in Winnipeg and Argyle, Manitoba.

8. Robin Wright (Penn). ‘The Princess Bride’ star was married to Sean Penn, who became the public target of the Ontario Minister of Health Promotion’s ire after smoking a cigarette at a press conference at Toronto’s Sutton Place Hotel in 2006. The gov fined the hotel $600 for not enforcing the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Tsk, tsk, Mr. Penn. Apparently he didn’t get the memo re: smoking is no longer cool.

9. Cloris Leachman. ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ alum co-starred in one of the best movies ever, ‘Beerfest’, as Great Gam Gam. Gam Gam’s husband, Johann von Wolfhaus, was played by Canadian legend Donald Sutherland.

10. Olivia Thirlby. The actress co-starred in ‘Juno’, which was filmed in Vancouver, directed by Canadian Jason Reitman and starred Canuck wunderkind Ellen Page.

11. Shia LaBeouf. The Beef used to live with his parents at their home in La Canada, California, before moving to La Bachelor Pad. OK, this doesn’t have much to do with Canada, la country. So sue me.

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While most of the stories work and are interesting, some feel out of place and go nowhere. Brett Ratner’s tale of a teenage romp-with-a-twist starring James Caan and Anton Yelchin is cute and quirky. Bradley Cooper and Drea de Matteo hooking up after a drunken night at a bar in Allen Hughes’s cool feature is fun, and Ethan Hawke gives a great performance as an egotistical writer hitting on the wrong woman (Maggie Q) while sharing a smoke outside a restaurant. But Shekhar Kapur’s contribution about an aging singer (Julie Christie) reflecting in a hotel suite with a bellboy (Shia LaBeouf) is dry and drags on longer than it should. And Natalie Portman’s mixed-religion fantasy has its moments but leaves the audience wanting more.

Other intriguing moments include a thief (Hayden Christensen) being outsmarted by an older man (Andy Garcia) yet still getting the girl (Rachel Bilson), a young musician (Orlando Bloom) who needs a muse (Christina Ricci) to help him focus on finishing the score he’s working on, and a cute older couple (Cloris Leachman and Eli Wallach) celebrating their anniversary.

What I found most interesting about New York, I Love You is who’s absent from the film, notably Woody Allen. Allen has made a career out of inspired love stories set in NYC (Annie Hall and Manhattan for example) and I’m sure fitting in a narrative by him would have rounded out the collection nicely. Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese would have been great additions too.

If you’re a fan of New York and romance is your genre, you’ll probably enjoy New York, I Love You a lot. One thing’s for sure — it will make you want to pay the town a visit.

*** out of 5 stars

Rated R
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Christensen, Robin Wright Penn
Directed by: Yvan Attal, Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner, Mira Nair

brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com


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On the evening of November 8th, Bunny found her self on a darkened street, in Darth Vader’s arms…

In October and early November, my Ann Arbor company, Mup Mups Animal Actors, was hired to work on the film “The Vanishing on 7th Street” in Detroit.

“Vanishing” is directed by Brad Anderson (of the TV show “Fringe”) and stars Hayden Christensen (the young Darth Vader in the recent “Star Wars” sagas), John Leguizamo (Henri-Toulouse Latrec in “Moulin Rouge”) and Thandie Newton (Makemba “Kem” Likasu in the TV show “ER”) as survivors in a world where shadowy figures appear and human beings disappear.

The plot is so hush-hush, even I was not given a script (which we usually have so that we can break down the animal action as required). We had to train on-set for both animals, which can be a real challenge, no matter how simple the action seems (to the director or crew) or how good a trainer you are!

For the October days, I hired a real police horse, whose owner, a sergeant, came as his primary handler. Which was good, since we were shooting in a not-so-nice area of Detroit! The production company closed down I-75 for 8 hours for one of the police horse shoots, which I believe is the biggest stunt a film company has pulled off since the Michigan Film Incentive (MFI) was started in April 2008.

The other animal I was asked to find for the film was a white standard poodle.

I’ve been involved in the dog show scene for 15 years as an obedience and conformation exhibitor and as a vendor of my handmade porcelain dog breed jewelry. So I knew it would be difficult at this time of year to find the extreme show-groomed poodles, with the balls and flourishes. They are all on the road, being shown for those last-minute 2009 AKC standings, most with professional dog handlers.

But, luckily for us, Bunny and a few other young ones were available. Of those, he picked Bunny.

Bunny is a young white standard poodle bred and owned by longtime show exhibitor and Southeast Michigan Poodle Club president Patricia Jason of Saline. She was cast as a fancy dog wandering alone to fend for herself on the streets of the deserted city. We shot on a back street between the Compuware building and Greektown, just under the People Mover.

The script called for her to walk around from one mark to another, seemingly easy stuff. But when I, Pat and her daughter Danielle Sugai got there, we were asked to add a few other behaviors to make the scene more realistic.

This happens nearly every time I get to set with one of my animal actors! So I am always ready with my cooked garlic chicken (which I raise myself on my little farm next to the Pittsfield Preserve in Pittsfield Township).

So…on the one hand, Bunny is only 1.5 years old and prone to bouts of random silliness. On the other hand, poodles are one of the smartest breeds.

We were pretty sure she could do it.

Bunny had other ideas…

When the prop guys finished readying the set, we were allowed to work with her right there, where she would be (rummaging through broken-open grocery bags with cans and boxes spilled out on the ground and shoes and clothing scattered around- because the people had vanished).

Bunny seemed to be channeling Marilyn Monroe, who had a penchant for doing things her own way, much to the consternation of her directors.

Despite our efforts and the yummy bait, she went around, saying “Hi” to the crew, sniffing the props, eating some of the chicken and generally being a goofball.

At one point, a crew member, wearing a hoodie over his head and a variety of unusual-looking flashlight devices on the front of his clothing, came over to meet her and ask her name.

He knelt down, hugged and pet her for quite a while.

“Why all the lights?” Pat asked.

He smiled and said, “Oh, I just like flashlights.”

I said, “You look like a Star Wars character!”

A few minutes later, in better lighting, I took a good look at Bunny’s biggest fan, who was still doting on her.

“Are you Hayden?” I asked him.

“Yes, I am!” he said.

” Well,” I said, “I was kind of just kidding before but I guess you really were, like, the coolest Star Wars character- ever! ” (besides Han Solo).

It was nearly impossible to recognize him with his hoodie and makeup, which I’d say is true for most actors I’ve worked with, including Hllary Swank.

The cameras were set up. “ROLLING!” Brad yelled.

Pat released Bunny from stage right (the left side of the frame). Dragging her leash, Bunny went all the way into the set, to the bags, rummaged.

Showed her good side.

Did it right.

For a whole minute that seemed to last forever. I silently counted the seconds from the sidelines.

Danielle, standing next to me, at stage left (the right side of the frame) and I were cued via Walkie Talkie to call the dog.

We yelled, “BUNNY!”

Up shot her head. Exactly what they wanted.

Bunny looked around. Exactly what they wanted!

What was going on?! She was perfect!

Then we called “Bunny…baby, come!” and she sauntered off in our direction. Hayden runs into the scene, rummaging through the bags himself. Perfection.

Another take. Perfect again. No mistakes.

“CUT!” Brad yelled. “Moving on!” which meant, basically, that the dog was “wrapped!”

Ah, yes, the Force was strong in Bunny that night. I felt something, or someone was helping us.

It really was amazing that Bunny did the job so perfectly after all of those silly rehearsals. Pat and I had said Bunny’s performance could be in honor of Pat’s mother, who had sadly passed away just two days before.

Later, I was talking with the Humane Association representative and she said she’d ‘felt a presence’ on set helping us. I told her I did, too.

So, later, I thanked grandma, on the way home, for helping us with Bunny!
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Since Hayden Christensen played the smart Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars”, you can’t think of the young star brigade without him. Now, on top of that, a perfume was dedicated to the Canadian, who is engaged to “OC“ Star Rachel Bilson. With a sexy unbuttoned polo shirt the 28 year old is advertising the new male fragrance from Lacoste “Challenge“:

Instyle: On the campaign picture there is not one chest hair in sight. Are you waxing?
Hayden Christensen: (laughs) God, no, I never did that. It would hurt to bad. It wouldn’t really pay off, because haven’t got a lot of chest hair.

Instyle: People Magazine voted you one of the sexiest man in Hollywood. Do you like that?
Hayden Christensen: It’s flattering, but i get embarrassed, when someone asks me about it. I’m not really paying attention to my looks. It only takes me 15 minutes in the bathroom.

Instyle: Do you like the new Lacoste Challenge fragrance?
Hayden Christensen: The fresh scent of Lemon and orange and the heavy scent of ginger and dark wood, is reminding me of my fathers smell.

Instyle: What was your biggest challenge?
Hayden Christensen: My brother Tove, my sister Heijsa and I participated in the “Eco- Challenge” in Figi, when I was 21. It was a TV-adventure show, a 500 km race with 50 teams, who have to go threw the jungle on their own. There’s still a You Tube video.

Instyle: What do you like to do in your free time? Something adventures?
Hayden Christensen: I try to win tennis matches, and played against Mats Wilander in a Lacoste tournament for example. And I have a farm near Toronto with chickens and horses. That’s a good balance to Hollywood. We grow bio-vegetables and get our own power from solar-cells. I love to work on the farm and plow the land with my tractor.

Instyle: And your fiance is walking around in rain boots threw the mud?
Hayden Christensen: (laughs) We like to walk threw the woods. But I thinks she prefers to go shopping in Beverly Hills than farm work.

Instyle: Is she giving you styling tips?
Hayden Christensen: She sometimes buys shirts for me. But my favourite one, brought my grandma from Jamaica. It is a Hard-Rock-Cafe shirt.


From the November ‘09, German issue of Instyle magazine

Since he has played Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars”, is Hayden Christensen, 28, as one of Hollywood’s hottest newcomer. His good fortune that he has decided at 17 to an acting career. Up to that time they said the Canadian, who is now engaged with “OC” star Rachel Bilson, 27, also requires a career as a tennis star. Since it was a plus that Lacoste – the main sponsor of Roland Garros – he was elected as a testimonial for the new fragrance for men “Challenge”. In Paris, hit OK! the sympathetic Star to talk about vanity, challenges, and his wedding …

Truthfully: in the morning… how long do you need in the bathroom?
Well, Rachel definitely takes more time than I do. As soon as I get out of the shower, I’m ready.

Aren’t you ambitious when it comes to your looks?
I kind of don’t care about that. I believe beauty comes from within. That’s why it’s important for me that I’m clean, when I step out of the shower. I pay attention that I eat healthy and that my body stays fit. I was at a beautician once or twice, but facials just hurt too much.

That sounds so healthy. Don’t you have any vices?
I did smoke. Until I decided, that I don’t want that in my life anymore. You have to want it. Otherwise quitting won’t work.

You’re the face of “Challenge”- which fragrance did your fiancee give you lately?
None. She rather gives me something to wear.

Because she thinks you need a stylist?
No (laughs). I suppose, because she loves shopping. And she thinks, that I don’t press ( ? belabor?) her so much, if she comes back not only with lots of stuff for her, but with a nice shirt for me, too.

What was your biggest challenge?
To stay as you are in showbiz, even if other people try to tell you how to be. That’s a challenge. That’s why most of the time I ignore, what I hear about myself. Fame can be bizarre and I try to avoid Hollywood, whenever it is possible. I work there, but I don’t attend parties, because I’m not the type who wants to be photographed all the time.

Where do you escape?
I like traveling very much, because I love to discover new places. Plus, I own a house on the Bahamas and a farm near Toronto.

A real farm with animals and land?
Well, we don’t cultivate stuff that has to be sold. But we make our own hay. And right now, I built a barn for horses, so I can keep horses too – not only pigs, chickens and pheasants. Of course someone takes care of the farm, when I’m not there. But I love it there.

Your fiancee is a shopping girl. How does Rachel like life in the countryside?
(Laughs) She’s born in L.A. and grew up there. And imagining her wearing rubber-boots in the dirt is pretty impressing. But honestly: she thinks it’s great at the farm, but she also likes going back to Los Angeles for some shopping.

How far are plans for your wedding?
We haven’t set a date, yet. And we haven’t start family planning, yet. One day we’ll have kids and then we’ll decide where to live. But that’s nothing for the near future.

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Click both to enlarge

Hayden Christensen plays a TV reporter in the film

Cars appear to have been abandoned on a portion of I-75 in Detroit, a setting for “Vanishing on 7th Street,” a psychological thriller/horror movie that is filming locally.

A neon sign for a bar called Sonny’s glows in the night at an intersection in southwest Detroit. The cars in the street are parked haphazardly. The sidewalks are scattered with pieces of clothing, oddly enough.

Suddenly, a man and a woman run tentatively away from the bar. “Keep up,” says Hayden Christensen, who’s best-known for playing Anakin Skywalker in two “Star Wars” prequels. He’s talking to Thandie Newton, star of “Crash” and “Mission Impossible II.”

The actors are working on a scene for “Vanishing on 7th Street,” an independent movie that has aspects of a psychological thriller and a horror film.

The story involves a blackout and the mysterious disappearance of a city’s population. Five remaining people must try to figure out what they’re up against.

Detroit will play itself in the film. For this scene, the crew has turned an existing building on Junction Street into the exterior of a tavern.

The movie, which has a budget of around $10 million, needed a setting that would evoke the right look and feel for the subject matter. After considering locations in Iowa, Washington, New York and Canada, the filmmakers chose metro Detroit for creative reasons and for Michigan’s generous tax breaks for filmmaking.

“The city is such a character in the way we’re shooting the movie,” says producer Celine Rattray. “The city looks a combination of beautiful and, at times, haunting. We hope that it portrays Detroit in a beautiful light.”

The “Vanishing” team has been impressed by the architecture and friendliness of local communities as it’s gone about its scary-making business.

And in practical terms, when you’re shooting an eerie scene like the street exterior on this particular night, it’s easier to shut down locations and create an empty landscape in Detroit than it would be in a more crowded urban area.

Executive producer Kelly McCormick, who grew up near East Lansing, has been struck by the fact that “there’s beauty and there’s brilliance juxtaposed to extreme destitution and emptiness.”

Says McCormick, “What’s been amazing is that you’ll find empty streets without any trouble here. You’ll find empty buildings that are either still together or partly dismantled or ruined in some way, shape or form that show that people have sort of already vanished. And that’s really fascinating.”

The director is Brad Anderson, whose credits include the 2004 film “The Machinist” with Christian Bale, and several episodes of the Fox series “Fringe.” John Leguizamo also stars.

The cast and crew have filmed at several locations, including a portion of I-75, the movie theaters at Dearborn’s Fairlane Town Center and Detroit churches and bars.

Scenes were shot at WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) studios in Southfield, a handy setting because Christensen plays a TV reporter. Weekend anchor Dave LewAllen and traffic reporter Erin Nicole landed small parts.

Filming is supposed to be completed next week on the roughly five-week shoot. The movie is expected to be released next year.

McCormick finds hope in the fact that projects like this are discovering Detroit’s visual potential.

“It’s like, take advantage of what this landscape is,” she says. “In a sense, then we can rebuild or we can find something interesting in it or something valuable in it still, which, for us, is this awesome landscape that makes our movie look bigger than we ever thought it was going to look.”


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Hayden Christensen: Ben
Andy Garcia: Garry
Rachel Bilson: Molly
Bradley Cooper: Gus
Natalie Portman: Rifka
Irrfan Khan: Mansuhkhbai
Orlando Bloom: David
Christina Ricci: Camille
Anton Yelchin: Boy in the Park
Olivia Thirlby: Girl in the wheelchair
James Caan: Mr. Riccoli
Ethan Hawke: Writer
Maggie Q: Woman on the Street
Julie Christie: Isabelle
John Hurt: Waiter
Shia LaBeouf: Jacob
Eli Wallach: Abe
Cloris Leachman: Mitzie
Drea de Matteo: Lydia
Chris Cooper: Alex
Robin Wright Penn: Anna
Director of Transitions: Randall Balsmeyer
Concept By: Emmanuel Benbihy
Premise By: Tristan Carne
Release Date: October 16, 2009
Running Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Rated R for language and sexual content.

New York, I Love You is the second installment of Emmanuel Benbihy’s global explorations of love. I still remember fondly watching Paris, Je T’aime on the big screen, being enthralled by how truly special each short was. Following that lead would be tough for anyone, but Benbihy and his writers have moved the concept to New York City, where viewers can be introduced to an assortment of eccentric people and neighborhoods. The result is not as masterful and refreshing as Paris, Je T’aime , but the vast array of styles and ideas still offers imaginative tales and an overall worthwhile film.

Paris, Je T’aime found the right balance between the quality of the directors and the quality of the casts. Nevertheless, it was the filmmakers time to shine, and they triumphed beautifully. New York, I Love You makes some changes to the format we fell in love with previously. First is that the star caliber is higher, while the directors are more unknown in many cases. This is fine, as it allows green filmmakers the chance to prove their talents, while still throwing in the intermittent famous director to have fun with a short. The most notable faces at the helm this time are Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner, and Mira Nair. The line-up is a jarring transition from the Coens, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven, and Alfonso Cuaron, among others.

New York, I Love You was shot over a period of 36 days. The 10 filmmakers were given three guidelines: They had only 24-48 hours to shoot, a week to edit, and they needed to give a sense of a particular neighborhood. The shorts are around 10-12 minutes in length each, give or take a minute. In my mind it is misleading to summarize a few and leave the rest out, so here are my brief thoughts on all of them. Noticeable as well are the absences of titles. This time, the name of the director acts as the title for each segment, but more on that later. His or her name will appear in bold italics.

Jiang Wen – This strange short has a young man named Ben meeting a girl in a bar. He has a cell phone she left behind, and starts a conversation that is interrupted by her boyfriend. Wen instills a rather slick methodology here that I dug, and Garcia and Christensen have a solid chemistry as foes.

Mira Nair – The director of The Namesake and Monsoon Wedding crafts a tale of a Hasidic woman dealing with an Indian diamond merchant. She is about to marry, and says that she will cut off all her hair on that very day. This is one short that I flat out did not care for. Natalie Portman and Irrfan Khan are both excellent actors, but they get lost in the story. It is incredibly bizarre, and doesn’t make much sense.

Shunji Iwai – Here we have a premise that is not entirely original, but at this length, it is compact and effective. David is a composer that spends most of his time talking to the assistant of his boss. They form a connection without seeing each other. Orlando Bloom is quite dirty, but appropriately so considering he stays at home composing music for anime films, and Christina Ricci is cute with her big eyes and nice smile.

Yvan Attal – Ethan Hawke stars as a writer who tries to hit on a random Asian woman smoking on the street. This has a twist at the end, which was hilarious, and watching Hawke emit echoes of his Before Sunset/Sunrise character is always a pleasure. Attal just points and shoots, but with Hawke and a lovely Maggie Q, that’s all we need.

Brett Ratner – Anton Yelchin is a high school senior that was just dumped before the prom by Blake Lively. He is without a date, until his local pharmacist hooks him up with his own daughter, played by Olivia Thirlby. The thing is, she is confined to a wheelchair. Mark my words, this is Brett Ratner’s best work in years. He captures the area with adequately vivid detail, while Yelchin and Thirlby are outstanding in their roles. James Caan is her father, and he pops up more than once as the pharmacist.

Allen Hughes – One half of the Hughes brothers (Menace II Society, The Book of Eli) takes Bradley Cooper and Drea de Matteo as a man and woman who evidently had sex, but are going on another date to see how it goes. Their inner thoughts follow them separately as they meet up. Cooper and Matteo make an interesting pair, but this struck me as very realistic, down to Earth, and even erotic as Hughes integrates ephemeral glimpses of their first hookup.

Shekhar Kapur – In what is easily the most gorgeously directed of the stories, and a contender for the most inexplicable, Julie Christie is Isabelle, an aging singer who is waited on in a hotel room by Shia LaBeouf and John Hurt. Many will hate this segment because of its ambiguity, but I adored it. The only problem is LaBeouf and Christie speak in such a low tone that if the volume in the theater is not turned up, you might not hear every word. It is worth noting that Anthony Minghella wrote this, and their is a dedication to him at the closing credits.

Natalie Portman – In her directorial debut, Portman follows a loving father and his daughter, who looks nothing like him. Cesar de Leon plays the father, and I found this to be a very touching example of how our society judges books by their covers. Portman’s direction can hardly be praised as masterful, but she shows natural abilities that could be put to good use in the future. Cesar de Leon also gives a quiet and subtle performance.

Fatih Akin – The director behind The Edge of Heaven gives us this tale of a painter that is obsessed with a Chinese herbalist. This could have been much more moving than it was had the actors, Ugur Yucel and Qui Shu, been given more lines. Burt Young does make a nice cameo as a landlord though.

Joshua Marston – This is reminiscent of Stanley Tucci’s recent remake Blind Date, but the dialogue is so terrific with Chris Cooper and Robin Wright Penn as the leads, that the familiarity of the premise means nothing. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Marston (Maria Full of Grace) catches the area’s aura marvelously, and has a knack for character interaction.

Shortly after the release of Paris, Je T’aime, Emmanuel Benbihy responded to some of the criticisms. The chief complaint from detractors was that the transitions were too abrupt. When one short ended, the other then began. He elected to alter this for New York, I Love You, and as I said then, the change was not necessary. For this series of stories, we might spot a character for a moment in someone else’s segment or a transition, but he/she will return later for his or her full short. They also attempt to link the stories in small ways to elicit a smooth flowing narrative. These stories should not have been edited in such a manner. It is not a flaw necessarily, but it was trivial. In the end, the viewer is also privy to a playback of clips, so as not to forget some of the shorts. Benbihy and company are trying too hard to please us, and his set up was fine before.

I’m not sure why they chose to delete the titles. Perhaps they felt this too gave the audience a bumpy segue way feeling. If this was so bothersome to people, they chose to see the wrong film. For New York, I Love You, the directors and cast list are only displayed at the final credits, complete with pictures to jog our memory. This was was ok, but I still appreciated the titles. It was suitable to begin a new story with a new vision, and by highlighting the directors name beforehand, it offered the viewer the chance to acknowledge the filmmakers. It’s almost as if they are trying to hide the fact that this is an anthology film.

Since I reviewed Paris, Je T’aime, I have seen a lot of anthology films, some good and some bad, but I have always enjoyed the smorgasbord effect. It is amazing to me that upon perusing so many articles from mainstream critics, that they all stick with the same argument for this type of movie. “It is only as good as the sum of it’s parts.” I agree with this to a point, but many critics have the attitude that because of this, the entire picture is doomed to fail, thus they seem to dismiss it before every giving the proper chance. They have the belief that unless each of the segments are equally as fulfilling, the effort is poor. This is not only ignorant, but arrogant and unfair.

Constantly reading the same carping that 10 minutes is not enough to make a connection with the characters gets old. What do they expect? The segments are not meant to be compared to full-length features. It is inevitable that one will like some shorts more than others. The point is whether or not the experience as a whole leaves a satisfying impression. Having what seems like pre-packaged complaints without affording an open mind is somewhat conceited. I will say that New York, I Love You suffers from having a segment that did not work at all in Mira Nair’s.

The task of evoking a sense of the neighborhood is not easy, but it was accomplished with adeptness considering the allocated time. The key word is “sense.” New York, I Love You and Paris, Je T’aime present tastes of the areas in their city, not the full helping. With such a small amount of time, the emphasis needs to be on characters and emotion, otherwise, this would be borderline a documentary, or a postcard, which is dull. The magnificent transition shots from Randall Balsmeyer give us fleeting tours of the city, and showcase the various landmarks with single shots, and that is all we really need to see of certain monuments. An important theme is that personalities and culture are just as crucial to the atmosphere of a city as the tourist attractions and reputation, and this provided a graceful outlook of New York City as a melting pot.

When the film was screened at the Toronto Film Festival, it apparently included two more segments. One was the directorial debut of Scarlett Johansson, which featured Kevin Bacon, and the other by Andrei Zvyganistev, which featured Carla Gugino. I can only assume these were cut to improve the final cut. After the success and positive buzz of Paris, Je T’aime made its rounds, a trilogy was envisioned. Now, at least three more installments are on the horizon in Shanghai, Jerusalem, and Rio. I say bring ‘em on. On a side note, I have read that some people were wondering why recognized New Yorkers like Woody Allen or Martin Scorsese did not participate. Well, they tried an anthology film once (New York Stories), and it did not turn out well.

With an awkward structural change, and a couple missteps in the segments, New York, I Love You is far from perfect, but enchanting all the same. With all the by-the-numbers romantic comedies raking in the cash these days, I would take another installment of this series anyday. It is breezy entertainment, but occasionally profound, and always fairly inventive. Love works in weird ways, and one never knows how they will find or lose it, but people have unusual encounters and exchanges in every city. That is what makes New York, I Love You such a tender and delightful treat. It conveys just how big this world is, and how many mesmerizing stories there are to tell…one city at a time.

The 411: New York, I Love You makes some odd changes to the structure and layout of the anthology film that weren’t needed, but the content is still very heartwarming, funny, and profound. Each of the 10 directors offer their own tale of love, and how it can work differently in everyone’s life. There were one or two I did not care for, but overall, this was a terrific film, and will hopefully get more people interested in the various filmmakers. This is not quite a wide release yet, and might not expand, but then again, neither did the first film. See it if you can, or remember it for DVD.

Final Score: 8.0 [ Very Good ]

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The Hayden Christensen film “Vanishing on Seventh Street” will be shooting in and around Detroit through Nov. 17, the Michigan Film Office confirmed with the Free Press on Tuesday.

Directed by Brad Anderson, the film is set in “a once-thriving city where shadowy forms cause residents to inexplicably disappear,” IMDB.com says. Also starring in the thriller are Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo.

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Good morning, Hollywood! This is Action News like you’ve never seen it.

At 4:30 a.m. Sunday, a crew of 75 took over Broadcast House with trucks, high-tech cameras, cables, lights, fog machines, and one famous face.

The star of the movie is Hayden Christensen, best known for his role as Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars movies. Now he’s a reporter in the movie Vanishing on 7th Street.

The film is being shot in Detroit, and all the newsroom scenes are at Channel 7.

“It’s a bit of a dark paranoid thriller,” said Brad Anderson, the movie’s director. “One night all the lights go out and there’s a big blackout in a big American city, and when the lights come on moments later 99 percent of the people have simply vanished.”

The shoot at Channel 7 is the first day of the production. The crew moves quickly to set up each scene in the building. While some crew members are from California, others are from the Detroit area, and they’re taking full advantage of Michigan’s Hollywood boom.

Sara Goller is one such “local.” She’s from Ferndale and is coordinating the locations.

“We essentially deal with logistics in filmaking, basecamps. Where are we going to park cars? Do we need security?” said Goller.

Sarah moved back to Ferndale from Los Angeles because of the film tax incentives and she now has a lot of work.

“Once you can get a job on a film as a production assistant and then you do a good job, people will recognize that and that’s what gets you rehired,” she says. “Just being a nice person and working hard are really the two main keys to success.”

The work is long. Crews set up the studio for a shot with Hayden, and then it’s on to the newsroom, which is transformed into a cold, deserted space.

Next, all the gear has to be dismantled and taken upstairs to the control room.

As Hayden gets his direction, you can see some familiar faces in the monitors. Carolyn Clifford and Stephen Clark shot their scenes as TV anchors a few days earlier, along with Erin Nicole as a weathercaster. Hayden reacts to seeing his “Action News team” disappear.

And, a mere 18 hours after it began, its a “wrap” on day one.

Vanishing on 7th Street will be shooting here for the next five weeks. Be sure to look for Action News in a supporting role when the film comes out next year.
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Christensen plays a young reporter on the Action News Team. You’ll remember the actor from his starring role as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars 2 and 3.

In the film “Vanishing on 7th Street,” there’s a good chance you’ll see Dave LewAllen, Erin Nicole, Stephen Clark, Carolyn Clifford and Tom Leyden in the movie.

Erin Nicole plays a meteorologist and Hayden’s girlfriend.

Dave LewAllen is a reporter who reports on the mysterious disappearance of everybody.

Stay with WXYZ.com for details on when the movie will be set for release.


You can also see a slideshow, but the pictures are what is already uploaded.


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The newsroom of WXYZ is being used as the set for some scenes in the film “Vanishing on 7th Street.”

The movie is about the strange disappearance of nearly an entire city’s population. Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars: Episode II” and “Episode III”) plays a news reporter covering the story.

Several staff members from channel 7 news will also have small roles in the movie.

Weekend anchor Dave LewAllen will play the role of another reporter. Traffic reporter Erin Nicole plays a meteorologist and Christensen’s character’s girlfriend.

Stephen Clark, Carolyn Clifford and Tom Leyden are also expected to have roles in the film.


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Audiences generally associate Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor in the roles of the famously iconic Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But, the truth is, other actors have inhabited those roles in far more performances, yet you’ll never know what they look like.

They are voice-over actors, men and women who bring these Jedi Knights to life each week in the computer-animated series, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”

And that’s just the way they like it.


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Rising star:
Hayden Christensen

Age:
28

Hometown:
Thornhill, Ont.

Small start:
A role on the soap opera ‘Family Passions’ at the age of 12.

Big break:
Landing the role of Anakin Skywalker for the new ‘Star Wars’ franchise.

What’s next:
Christensen is set to star in at least three 2010 films, including ‘Takers,’ ‘Quantum Quest’ and ‘Vanishing on Seventh Street.’

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2. Hayden Christensen: Organic Vegetable Gardener
Hayden Christensen, otherwise known as Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, isn’t just an actor: His modeling days date back to Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2005 ad campaign. When Hayden’s not posing or acting, he’s working away on his 200-acre farm–outside Toronto in his native Canada–growing organic produce. Christensen also ran a public service announcement for Do Something, a non profit youth organization that inspires young people to change the world. The organization has initiatives for the environment, disaster relief, poverty, and more.

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I’m sorry, but sign me up for this one. Takers will be released in February, and I dunno why, but this trailer has me sold for seeing it in theaters. Who knew Paul Walker and Hayden Christensen were two different people? Who knew the husband from Obsessed was British? Who knew Chris Brown could jump through a square-foot-sized window? (Besides the LAPD) Who knew T.I.‘s first name was “Tip?” This movie looks like a thick slice of popcorn action, and pulpy fun. I have a feeling that after the cold onslaught of the Sundance Film Festival in late January, Takers will be exactly what the doctor orders.

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LewAllen on His New Movie Role


What a thrill! I got word following an audition yesterday that I was being cast in a major motion picture to be shot this month in Detroit.

The film is “Vanishing on Seventh Street,” directed by Brad Anderson, whose previous credits include “Session 9,” “The Machinist,” and “Transsiberian.”

The story is set in a once-thriving city where shadowy forms cause residents to inexplicably disappear. Five survivors fight to stay alive while grappling with the meaning of existence.

Hayden Christensen has signed to star, along with John Leguizamo and Thandie Newton. I was selected to play (of all things) a TV news reporter. This is an exciting first for me; hopefully my few lines don’t wind up on the cutting room floor! My Action News colleague, Diana Lewis, gained a measure of fame with her role in the first “Rocky,” and Bill Bonds appeared in the “Escape from the Planet of the Apes,” from 1971.

Shooting for “Vanishing on Seventh Street” is set to begin mid-October in Detroit.

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So if you’ve been waiting for the film, you can see a lot of it right now. If you’re not familiar with “New York, I Love You”, the film’s got a huge cast and eleven directors telling stories about New York City and love.

View the clips by clicking on the link below.

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Take a look:
New York I Love You movie poster. Here’s the synopsis, cast and directors:
In the city that never sleeps, love is always on the mind. Those passions come to life in NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU – a collaboration of storytelling from some of today’s most imaginative filmmakers and featuring an all-star cast. Together they create a kaleidoscope of the spontaneous, surprising, electrifying human connections that pump the city’s heartbeat. Sexy, funny, haunting and revealing encounters unfold beneath the Manhattan skyline. From Tribeca to Central Park to Brooklyn the story weaves a tale of love as diverse as the very fabric of New York itself.

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha, Andy Garcia, Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, Natalie Portman, Irrfan Khan, Emilie Ohana, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Maggie Q, Ethan Hawke, Anton Yelchin, James Caan, Olivia Thirlby, Blake Lively, Drea De Matteo, Julie Christie, John Hurt, Shia LaBeouf, Ugur Yucel, Taylor Geare,Carlos Acosta, Jacinda Barrett, Shu Qi, Burt Young, Chris Cooper, Robin Wright Penn, Eva Amurri, Eli Wallach, Cloris Leachman

Directors: Jiang Wen, Mira Nair, Shunji Iwai, Yvan Attal, Brett Ratner, Allen Hughes, Shekhar Kapur, Natalie Portman, Faith Akin, Joshua Marston, Randy Balsmeyer.

A lot of eyes last night were on Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen, who joined the likes of Sidney Toledano, Renaud Dutreil, Rachel Zoe, and Christian Dior’s Karen Watkins for dinner. “We’re excited about the US Open,” said Christensen. “We’re going to the men’s final and hopefully Nadal will be playing. “I thought you were a Federer fan!” smiled Bilson. Guests enjoyed a meal of filet mignon, bass, fresh tomato salads, and blueberry shortcake.


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BTW I’ve just received confirmation that Hayden and Rachel will be at the US Open on both Saturday and Sunday!

The film, directed by John Luessenhop, revolves around a notorious group of criminals (Idris Elba, Paul Walker, T.I., Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen and Michael Ealy) who continue to baffle police by pulling off perfectly executed bank robberies. They are in and out like clockwork, leaving no evidence behind and laying low in between heists. But when they attempt to pull off one last job with more money at stake than ever before, the crew may find their plans interrupted by a hardened detective (Matt Dillon) who is hell-bent on solving the case.

Hayden Christensen, the game of seduction

This beautiful boy on her own, ultra-sporting and engaged to Rachel Bilson, is two heads taller than me and looks as flirting that Darth Vader, but I want to have and I will have it. Me too, I see my life as a challenge, slogan of the new fragrance from Lacoste Challenge which he is the muse. I start the machine with a big smile full of teeth and the look in his eyes. Without taking his eyes, I asked if the fragrance is part of the game of seduction. It responds very jargon: “Absolutely. When you meet someone for the first time, the scent that emerges is a very important sensory stimulator. ”

Hayden Christensen, her kind of girl

I beat the lashes very quickly, I get up at half, and handed him my neck to feel. “And I sense how? It’s Chanel! “I entrust hysterical. The manager and three press officers Lacoste attending the interview giggled. A split second aback, Hayden, a great professional, has resumed very quickly. He realized he was dealing with a lunatic. Prudent, he plays the game: “Mmmm, not bad! says he, connoisseur. While Chanel, hehe, it will be used against you. ” I can link asking her kind of girls, if there is a niche for me. As a casual spokesman for the Elysee, he skews: “This is not just for girls … but I think people who make me tilter are those who have a strong sense of themselves, structured minds … ” I cut: “Einstein, but blonde?” Re-laughter of my audience in the background. He continued, without worrying about my rude interruption: “Let’s say that I appreciate those who have a great sense of humor. For life is nothing without a good dose of laughter and humor, I think. ” Phew, as he sweats after a hockey game or tennis – his two favorite sports – but he has the impression of it being done well, is the principal. Come on, I leave the first inning.

Hayden Christensen, a happy man

The second round begins.

I asked him at any chance, if he is happy. “Yes, he replied, proud of him, I like to laugh, and laughter is a way of being happy. When I look at my face in celebrity magazines, I laugh at myself. I also laugh when I read what journalists write. Without a minimum of second degree, I have a very empty life. ”

Professionally, emotionally, it’s going too? I m’enquiers, seem to be about my baking … “Yes, I have been lucky in my profession, and emotionally I am surrounded by great people, who feel very good …” Annone he very first class.
“Especially if you’ve met me!” I concluded triumphantly. The gang at Lacoste is in ecstasy, the manager happy. Hayden feels compelled to abound in my mind. “Yes, I met you, and that, it proves that I really have a dream life. I can not complain. ”
At that moment, my phone rang. I look at the number, based loosely. “George Clooney is still calling me,” I said. Hayden looks to me, dumbfounded.
The device sounds. I still look at the number. “And that’s Brad, who is harassing me …” I can not help it, all these Hollywood actors spend their time to seek me, “I explain, totally mythological, to Hayden who has graciously laughing.

Hayden Christensen, a romantic man

Third round …

As it is summer, I asked the color of her swimsuit. “A colorful boxer shorts with prints, he replied without a beat.
And if he has a romantic temperament? “Yes, rather, admits he candidly. I love nature, forests, streams, I dream too much of the world as it could be. “.
I then offered him my secret weapon, my personal vision of a better world, I ask him to marry me.
The Lacoste girls, the manager, me, everyone is absolutely convinced he will say yes. Well, against all odds, believe it or not, Hayden Christensen said no. If this is not a challenge every day life!

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The film features an all-star cast, including Orlando Bloom, Bradley Cooper, Rachel Bilson (and fiancé Hayden Christensen), Christina Ricci, Ethan Hawke, Shia LaBeouf, Blake Lively and James Caan.

The studio behind the project, Vivendi Entertainment, describes the movie as “a collaboration of storytelling from some of today’s most imaginative filmmakers” who “create a kaleidoscope of the spontaneous, surprising, electrifying human connections that pump the city’s heartbeat.”

Natalie Portman, who stars in the film, also spent some time working behind the camera. She’s credited as a screenwriter and one of 11 directors, along with Brett Ratner (whose credits include Rush Hour and X-Men: The Last Stand).

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The film has not one, not two, but thirteen directors. The fact that the film was completed without falling apart over a battle of creative differences is a miracle within itself, proving the filmmakers put their heart into getting New York, I Love You onto the screen. It was shot in a little over a month’s time, a very short principal photography schedule, and will open October 16, 2009.

Natalie Portman was one of the writers on the screenplay as well as one of the stars in the film. The movie is made up of many stories, an alliance of many talented, new writers.

Love is at the center of each story, each one an exhilarating tale of the union of the heart with the backdrop of the city that never sleeps. Humorous, smart and sensuous, this film leaves a lingering ache of empathy for each character’s relationship that unfolds. Although each plot has the same core, the stories are a sundry tapestry set in New York City.

With such a talented collaboration, this film promises to be more than a teen-scene.

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Edie Sedgwick (Sienna Miller) is a spoilt little rich girl who is running from the past that haunts her. In a bid to further her art career she heads for New York City.

Here she meets Andy Warhol (Guy Pearce), who craves fame and attention, and with the beautiful Edie on his arm he gets what he wants.

As the drug culture explodes Edie embraces it until she finds herself caught between two men Warhol and a musician (Hayden Christensen).

Abandoned by the musician and shunned by Warhol Edie’s life and drug habit spirals out of control.

Director George Hickenlooper has produced a beautifully moving film of the life of Edie Sedgwick who’ fifteen minutes of fame were cut tragically short after she overdosed at the age of twenty eight.

The film flicks between the colour of Hickenlooper’s movie intertwined with the black and white scenes shot by Guy Pearce’s Andy Warhol. This makes the film appear more like a documentary of the socialite’s life.

But the film’s real plus point is its powerful cast who all produce career defining performances.

Spoilt rich girl who is famed obsessed sounds right up Sienna Miller’s street and many may ask the question is she actually acting?
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However Miller plays Edie as a wide eyed, hopeful young woman who is deeply troubled by her past, with suggestions she was sexually abused by her father.

And the transformation from naïve hopeful to New York’s biggest diva and then an out of control, drug dependent individual surely cements Miller as more than just a support actress.

Guy Pearce is also superb as Andy Warhol as the chillingly self absorbed icon who viewed humans as mere commodities who could be enjoyed for their aesthetic purposes, used for what they had to offer before being disregarded and replaced.

Warhol was a man who wanted to appear one dimensional and Pearce captures his lake of emotion in two key scenes: when Edie’s father calls him a ‘fag’ and towards the end of the film when Edie screams at him in public for letting her down.

Hayden Christensen has the most interesting role. He is labelled in the credits as just ‘the musician’ but he is playing the role of Bob Dylan.

However the fact that the film implies that Dylan played a hand in Edie’s downfall angered the singer and due to legal pressures all references to him were moved from the film. So sadly this key relationship to Edie in the film is now not much more than a nameless cameo.

Christensen’s character provides sanctuary and safety for Edie from Warhol’s aggressive puppetering. Christensen gives a great performance as he slowly moves away from his Star Wars tag.

In all Factory Girl is a tragic story of a young girl who placed her trust in a man who used and betrayed her, playing a huge part in her downfall.

But the real strength of this movie is the superb casting with Sienna Miller and Hayden Christensen in particular producing career boosting performances.

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Challenge is the invigorating new fragrance for men from Lacoste; a positively energizing scent which captures the youthful dynamism of today assertive male urbanites. Epitomizing the tenacious attitude and effortless panache of the brand’s founding father, tennis legend Ren” Lacoste, this energetic new scent is aptly named, having been designed to inspire the wearer to confidently embrace whatever challenges or surprises life throws at him its motto: “Never resist the call of the game”.

Steadfast and purposeful, Ren (C) Lacoste consistently rose to the challenge with a polished flair and grace which underpins the image of relaxed elegance that is synonymous with the Lacoste brand. Featuring an uplifting composition of fresh, aromatic top notes juxtaposed with a complex, solid woody base, Lacoste Challenge proudly reflects this heritage while bringing a modern, edgy twist via its contemporary olfactory structure and trendy packaging design the perfect blend of tradition and modernity.

The face of the fragrance, and star of the TV and print advertising campaign, is popular Canadian actor, Hayden Christensen, whose playful charm, active persona and natural style make him the perfect embodiment of the brand’s youthful, modern edge.

We’re delighted to be working with Hayden as the face of the new male fragrance from LACOSTE as he perfectly captures the modern spirit of the brand. He’s young, stylish and dynamic, with a charismatic twinkle in his eye that perfectly brings to life the ethos of the new fragrance. Andreas Gerber, Global Marketing Director, LACOSTE Fragrances.

LACOSTE Challenge | The Fragrance

Subtly blending classic and modern ingredients, the unique olfactory structure of the scent serves as a sophisticated metaphor for the distinctive style of play for which Ren (C) Lacoste was renowned. Cool, focused and always clear-headed, Lacoste’s game-play was characterized by tenacious durability at the base line, punctuated with energetic bursts and an exhilarating lightness of touch.

Precise and determined, he would never run after a ball unnecessarily, which adroitly reinforces the spirit of casual elegance that remains at the heart of the brand. It was this trademark tenacity and consistency on the courts that earned Ren (C) Lacoste his famous Crocodile moniker “he never lets go of his prey which in turn inspired the iconic logo that has become synonymous with the brand, and one of the most recognizable emblems in the world.

Top Note ” THE SERVE
The fragrance opens strongly with fresh and energetic notes of tangerine and lemon, augmented by a burst of aromatic lavender one of the most classic ingredients in masculine perfumery which works to sustain the citric zing of the top notes into the heart of the scent.

Middle Accord ” THE VOLLEY
The energy of the middle accord is driven by spices including ginger, aptly representing Ren (C) Lacoste’s formidable skills at the net, which he used sparingly to sting opponents when least expected, bringing an exciting kick to his overall game play.

Base Note ” THE BASELINE
Just as the legend was renowned for his stamina at the base line; so the base notes are powerful, steady and consistent. Precious rosewood brings a modern edge to the scent, teak has an almost antique quality that reinforces the distinguished heritage of the brand, and the blackness of ebony corresponds to the slick modern design of the flacon. Together they create a sustained strength, giving the fragrance its solid foundation.

LACOSTE Challenge | The Bottle & Packaging

An inspired inventor, Ren (C) Lacoste continually made innovative adjustments to his rackets to make them more efficient and easier to handle. In the 1920s, he shipped hundreds of rolls of sticking plaster from the US to wrap around the handle of his racket to improve the grip. The idea quickly caught on and soon became used throughout the sport.

The Lacoste Challenge flacon is directly inspired by this remarkable innovation. Emulating the shape of a tennis racket handle, the solid glass bottle is encased in a lustrous black soft touch grip emblazoned with the iconic Lacoste crocodile logo, while the juice is a bright, eye-catching yellow. The color scheme is also a direct reference to the world of tennis in general, with its classic bright yellow balls and black racket grips. The outer packaging mirrors the flacon with a simple two tone design enhanced by the use of luxurious materials, including a glossy yellow finish contrasted with a soft touch matt black effect, elegantly set off by an embossed white crocodile logo with silver hotfoildetailing.

The overall result is a striking, modern reinterpretation of the brand’s youthful, sportive image, which pays tribute to the long-standing heritage of pioneering creativity that originated with its founder.

LACOSTE Challenge| The Line-Up

Eau de Toilette Spray, 1.6 fl. oz. $40.00
Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.5 fl. oz. $50.00
Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.0 fl. oz. $60.00
After Shave Lotion, 2.5 fl. oz. $42.00
After Shave Balm, 2.5 fl. oz. $37.00
Shower Gel, 5.0 fl. oz. $27.00
Deodorant Stick, 2.4 oz. net wt. $21.00

LACOSTE Challenge | Availability

Better Department Stores Nationwide
Summer 2009

LACOSTE Challenge | Press Contacts

Shane English, 212.299.3788
P&G Prestige Products, Inc.

Yasmine Afshar, 646.654.3447
NIKE Communications, Inc.

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Watch Interview

In a film spin on Desert Island Discs (Desert Island DVDs?), guests choose four of their all time favourite movies playing on Sky Movies and Sky Box Office, and sit down for some clued-up chat with the self-confessed Burt Reynolds addict.

Hayden Christensen may always be known as Anakin Skywalker, the future Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequels.

But, holding court on Alex Zane’s Guest List this week, he reveals why Jumper proved a more hazardous shoot, leaving him with the nickname “One big eye”, and both he and Alex relive the time they (separately) attempted to “do a Cool Hand Luke” and munch through 50 hard boiled eggs.

Hayden decided 15 was un oeuf, while Alex coughed up a “eggy furball”.

Amidst the movie banter, Christensen proving his good taste by choosing four class films currently playing on Sky Movies, the actor reveals a fondness for pot-bellied pigs. Apparently they smile when you tickle their tummies…

To catch this quality chat just click on the videos below or make a date with Sky Movies Premiere & HD on Thursday 4th June at 7.30pm. The interview will also be available on Sky Anytime from Sunday 6.

You can also catch Hayden Christensen in the following films currently playing on Sky Movies:

Awake – Sky Movies Premiere & HD
Wednesday 3rd June – 10pm
Thursday 4th June & Friday 5th – 6pm

Jumper – Sky Movies Screen 2 & HD
Saturday 6th June – 3.15pm & 9pm

Factory Girl – Sky Movies Indie
Saturday 6th June – 12.50pm & 11.50pm

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Christensen will join previously rumored cast members John Leguizamo and Thandie Newton. The three play survivors of a mysterious phenomenon in which, during a blackout most of the population disappears. Holed up in a tavern, they try to piece together what’s happening before the “darkness” returns.

Shooting is expected to begin later this month in Spokane, Washington and New York.

The aim of all, LACOSTE perfume for men “LACOSTE CHALLENGE” image model HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN (Hayden Christensen). Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader when young) as you may know the role. Staff and spectators gathered in the actual interview everyone, “Anna was a child I come Kin! What did I name it is?” Situation. If you did not know even heard the name, please be assured. Many others.

All told to wait about 20 minutes. 3 SP tough people has arrived surrounded by Hayden Christensen.

Attendant (?), A man of cool, and wander about which is which. In this case, the front row of girls age 10 and IKKIRI light yellow to cheer up was
just practice. “KYA ~! ~!!”" KYA, look at me!”

Maine planning of this event was that of a perfume gift to the winner. Hayden Christensen’s Pick something that you mentioned the name on the back of postcards in advance.

This incident occurred. The winner of two events and not the venue. “If not next to the coffee!” That began with noisy venue, take in the phone, there is something OSAMARIMASHITA. Girls “to take picture, I want!” Disaffected. Certainly, if you have a direct hand in the perfume, you might want it for men.

Then, the much-awaited signing. 10. 10 girls in almost every age had received a shrewd signing. This power. I want it a little.

I only have 10 minutes to start, “now get back to” the voice of the fans of Hayden Christensen was left were surrounded by SP.

Here is a story of struggle when I took pictures. SP’s so well built, but they remarkably than Hayden Christensen in Maine when I took pictures.
I was embarrassed.