ENTERTAINMENT
September 9, 2011 | By Geoff Boucher, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Mel Gibson, the Oscar winner who has defended himself against accusations of anti-Semitism, is developing a film for Warner Bros. about the life of Judah Maccabee, the warrior whose ancient victory is celebrated by Hanukkah. Gibson's Icon Productions has closed the producing deal with Warner Bros., and Joe Eszterhas will write the screenplay. Gibson's camp said the filmmaker will decide if he's directing after the script is done and that he has not ruled out the possibility that he could act in the film.
ENTERTAINMENT
May 8, 2011 | By Cristy Lytal, Special to the Los Angeles Times
The new film "The Beaver" stars Mel Gibson as a mentally ill man who begins to speak through a battered hand puppet that he retrieves from a dumpster in a moment of despair. Although the controversial star made a point to puppeteer the beaver himself, on the set, puppet wrangler Anney McKilligan Ozar was tasked with grooming the creature's fur and even brushing its prominent teeth. "I had to keep his teeth nice and shiny because things wear down," she said. On an average day on the job, McKilligan Ozar said she needs "everything from 18 different sizes of needles to 18 different sizes of drill bits.
ENTERTAINMENT
May 6, 2011 | BETSY SHARKEY, FILM CRITIC
There are all kinds of problems with "The Beaver. " Ironically, Mel Gibson isn't one of them. So for those inclined to set aside the actor's alcoholic, anti-Semitic rants and his no-contest plea to domestic abuse (and I'm not arguing for that), there is a sensitive performance to be found, with Gibson creating a sad, sobering portrait of depression. Being sold in ads as a whimsical, poignant family drama from director-actor Jodie Foster, the film is more a torrential downpour of pain.
ENTERTAINMENT
April 25, 2011 | By Rebecca Keegan, Los Angeles Times
As she has crisscrossed the country tirelessly promoting her latest directorial effort, "The Beaver," Jodie Foster has been keeping in touch via text with Mel Gibson. When the star of your film is also your close friend and Hollywood's leading persona non grata, the messages can get a tad awkward. "Mel said, 'I will be dragged through gravel for you,'" Foster said in Beverly Hills. "He's been in Costa Rica. I texted him back, 'I don't want you to be dragged through gravel for me. Please do not.'" Left hanging in the air is what, if anything, Foster does want from Gibson at this point.
ENTERTAINMENT
April 22, 2011
A roundup of entertainment headlines for Friday. Mel Gibson is finally talking about his troubles. Not screaming. ( Deadline ) Lindsay Lohan is expected back in court Friday in her jewelry-theft case. ( Los Angeles Times ) Gary Busey's 1-year-old son has been hospitalized. ( Los Angeles Times ) "American Idol": Sayonara, Stefano! ( Los Angeles Times ) The Queen is 85. ( Los Angeles Times ) Jim Carrey is joining "The Office" for the season finale.
ENTERTAINMENT
March 18, 2011 | Rebecca Keegan
There was a moment during the first public screening of her new film, "The Beaver," when Jodie Foster finally felt she could exhale. The drama, starring Mel Gibson as a depressed father who reinvents himself with the help of a furry hand puppet, deals with tough subject matter that is uncomfortably close its star's very public meltdown. After a mostly comic first hour, Gibson's character reveals the depth of his depression and anger by turning his rage against himself. "There's one scene in the movie where it takes this turn and where Mel hits himself, and if people are laughing there, then we're like, 'This is bad. This is not good,' " Foster said in an interview the morning after "The Beaver's" sold-out premiere at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival here this week.