Opening in theaters on August 3rd is a new romantic comedy from director Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind) called Celeste and Jesse Forever, which was written by actors Rashida Jones (The Muppets) and Will McCormack (Syriana). The film stars an excellent cast of actors including Jones and McCormack, as well as Andy Samberg (That's My Boy), Ari Graynor (The Sitter), Eric Christian Olsen (The Thing), Rob Hubel (The Descendants), Chris Messina (Like Crazy), Emma Roberts (Scream 4), and Elijah Wood (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Ari Graynor to talk about her work on Celeste and Jesse Forever. The talented young actress discussed her new movie, her first reaction to Jones and McCormack's script, why she relates to the film's story, her character's particular point of view, and if she thinks that couples who break-up can stay friends. 

Opening in theaters on August 3rd is a new romantic comedy from director Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind) called Celeste and Jesse Forever, which was written by actors Rashida Jones (The Muppets) and Will McCormack (Syriana). The film stars an excellent cast of actors including Jones and McCormack, as well as Andy Samberg (That's My Boy), Ari Graynor (The Sitter), Eric Christian Olsen (The Thing), Rob Hubel (The Descendants), Chris Messina (Like Crazy), Emma Roberts (Scream 4), and Elijah Wood (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Andy Samberg to talk about his work on Celeste and Jesse Forever. The popular comedian/actor discussed the new movie, his initial reaction to reading Jones and McCormack's script, why he wanted to play Jesse, improvising on set, acting opposite the film's screenwriters, and adjusting to the movie's unusual comedic tone. 

Opening in theaters on August 3rd is a new romantic comedy from director Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind) called Celeste and Jesse Forever, which was written by actors Rashida Jones (The Muppets) and Will McCormack (Syriana). The film stars an excellent cast of actors including Jones and McCormack, as well as Andy Samberg (That's My Boy), Ari Graynor (The Sitter), Eric Christian Olsen (The Thing), Rob Hubel (The Descendants), Chris Messina (Like Crazy), Emma Roberts (Scream 4), and Elijah Wood (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with director Lee Toland Krieger and co-writer/actor Will McCormack to talk about their work on Celeste and Jesse Forever. The two filmmakers discussed the new movie, why McCormack and Rashida Jones began writing the screenplay together, directing actors who are also the film's writers, improvising with Andy Samberg, and who McCormack based his character on. 

Opening in theaters on August 3rd is a new romantic comedy from director Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind) called Celeste and Jesse Forever, which was written by actors Rashida Jones (The Muppets) and Will McCormack (Syriana). The film stars an excellent cast of actors including Jones and McCormack, as well as Andy Samberg (That's My Boy), Ari Graynor (The Sitter), Eric Christian Olsen (The Thing), Rob Hubel (The Descendants), Chris Messina (Like Crazy), Emma Roberts (Scream 4), and Elijah Wood (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with accomplished actress and first-time screenwriter Rashida Jones to talk about her work on Celeste and Jesse Forever. The actress/screenwriter discussed the new film, developing the script with co-writer and actor Will McCormack, making a personal project, how much of her character was actually based on her on life, and casting comedian Andy Samberg in the film. 

Synopsis: High school sweethearts turned married couple Celeste and Jesse attempt to remain best friends even through their separation and divorce.  As they both pursue new partners and dabble in fresh relationships, they find that the process is even more difficult than they anticipated.

Especially in movies that incorporate comedy, cinematic relationships tend to involve meet-cutes and happily-ever-afters.  You don't see movies centered on break-ups as often, for obvious reasons, but the dissolution of a romantic relationship can be more compelling than a happy coming together.  Based on the first trailer, Celeste and Jesse Forever might just elegantly prove that point.

Director David Frankel first gained attention as a filmmaker for his 1995 movie Miami Rhapsody starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Antonio Banderas, but it was the 1996 short film Dear Diary that won the filmmaker his Academy Award. And Frankel would also go on to earn an Emmy Award for directing the pilot episode of HBO’s Entourage. He eventually returned to making feature films in 2006 with the Academy Award nominated movie The Devil Wears Prada starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. The director followed that up in 2008 with the extremely popular Marley & Me starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Both films became cultural icons and earned $326 million and $242 million, respectively, at the box office.

Last fall, Frankel released the ensemble comedy The Big Year, which will be available on Blu-ray and DVD January 31^st. The film follows a group of bird enthusiasts set on a “Big Year,” a quest to outdo each other by finding the most species of birds in North America. However, their competition becomes an allegory for the challenges that they all face in their own lives. The film features and impressive cast of comedic and dramatic actors including Steve Martin (The Jerk), Jack Black (School of Rock), Owen Wilson (Wedding Crashers), Rashida Jones (The Muppets), Rosamund Pike (Barney’s Version), JoBeth Williams (Fever Pitch), Jim Parsons (TV’s The Big Bang Theory), Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother Where Art Thou?), Joel McHale (TV’s Community), Kevin Pollak (The Usual Suspects), Anthony Anderson (The Departed), Corbin Bernsen (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), Brian Dennehy (Tommy Boy), and Academy Award winners Dianne Wiest (The Birdcage), and Anjelica Huston (The Royal Tenenbaums).

I recently had a chance to speak with director David Frankel about The Big Year, as well as a few of his upcoming projects. The director spoke candidly with me about his most resent film, birding, working with three comedic geniuses, the rest of the film’s outstanding cast, Jack Black’s surprising dramatic skills, Frankel’s upcoming film Great Hope Springs, and his proposed adaptation of the popular fantasy book series Septimus Heap.

The Muppets is like a wonderful drug that has no detrimental effects, just a delicious happy high that puts a skip in your step and makes you want to kiss strangers on the cheeks.  Now, we know precisely when this rock of cinematic crack can be figuratively smoked in the comfort of our living rooms, as Disney has announced that the theatrical resurrection of Jim Henson's soulful creations will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD on March 20th.

In a now ancient but in no way diminished episode of The Simpsons, Lisa asks Homer, "Dad, what's a Muppet?"  To which her father replies, "Well, it's not quite a mop, and not quite a puppet, but man," and laughs with a satisfied chuckle before adding, "To answer your question: I don't know."  Aside from being a typically quotable moment of vintage Simpsons, this exchange actually gets to the essence of The Muppets.  Intellectually, we know that Jim Henson's creations are simply felt puppets, yet they're imbued with such character and life that we wholly believe them as living organisms with heart and soul.

The last decade has been perhaps the most fallow period for The Muppets since before they first scored their regular television series in 1976 with The Muppet Show.  They've made appearances here and there in TV specials and whatnot, but Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the ensemble have been absent from movie screens since 1999's Muppets from Space, which was itself a far cry from their cinematic streak that consisted of The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, and The Muppets Take Manhattan from 1979-1984. 

This Wednesday, however, The Muppets triumphantly return to a theater near you in the appropriately-titled The Muppets.  Over the last several months, with the full power of Disney behind them, The Muppets have returned to their previous place of pop-cultural ubiquity, and anticipation for the film is huge amongst seemingly every demographic, thanks to their nigh-universal appeal.  At the Los Angeles press day for The Muppets director James Bobin, co-writers Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller (who also stars) were present and accounted for, along with Amy Adams and, of course, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Walter, the newest addition to The Muppet cadre.  IAR Managing Editor Jami Philbrick was on hand to record their thoughts on the film, their history, and the challenges of bringing back The Muppets.

Opening in theaters on November 23rd his the highly awaited and triumphant theatrical return of The Muppets in an all-new film named after the beloved characters created by the late Jim Henson. The Muppets marks the lovable group's first theatrical film in over twelve years and features all your favorite characters including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, Beaker, Crazy Harry, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Zoot, Statler and Waldorf, and introducing the newest Muppet ... Walter.

The Muppets was co-written by Nick Stoller and Jason Segal (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), directed by James Bobin (HBO's Flight of the Conchords), and features original songs written by Flight of the Conchords member Bret McKenzie. In addition to the Muppets themselves, the film stars Segal, Academy Award-nominated actress Amy Adams (The Fighter), Academy Award-winning actor Chris Cooper (The Town), and Rashida Jones (The Social Network), as well as appearances by Jack Black (School of Rock), Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Zach Galifianakis (Puss in Boots), musician Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), political strategist James Carville (The War Room), Neil Patrick Harris (The Smurfs), Kristen Schaal (Toy Story 3), Sarah Silverman (Peep World), Academy Award-winners Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) and Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost), and living legend Mickey Rooney (National Velvet). 

IAR's managing editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with co-writer and executive producer Nick Stoller to discuss his work on The Muppets. Stoller talked about the new film, which Muppets he knew he had to focus on in the script, a missed opportunity with James Carville and Sam the Eagle, a missing scene featuring Dave Grohl and Animal, the return of Uncle Deadly (The Phantom of the Muppet Theater), developing the film's original songs, Chris Cooper's rap, and Walter's "unique" talent.