Helen Hunt and company shine in comically rocky ‘Then She Found Me’
Submitted by SHNS on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:37.
By PHIL VILLARREAL, Arizona Daily Star

The premise of Helen Hunt’s romantic comedy “Then She Found Me” is reminiscent of “Rocky IV,” when Rocky tells his wife the circumstances in which he’ll fight Ivan Drago, his revelations increasingly awful.

In Russia, he says. On Christmas Day. For no money.

Hunt’s character, April, finds herself in a similar, almost comically excruciating scenario. First her husband (Matthew Broderick) leaves her, then her adoptive mother dies, then she’s confronted by her birth mother (Bette Midler), whom she never really wanted to meet.

Further complicating matters is that April, a 39-year-old schoolteacher, has a biological clock that’s playing the “Final Jeopardy” theme song.

At least Colin Firth is there, as he is in all romantic comedies, to show the female lead that if she waits long enough, she’ll eventually be swept away by an impossibly kind and nonthreatening single parent played by Colin Firth.

The slyly funny film does its best to make you feel the stress of its Joblike main character, who strives to keep her faith — mostly in herself, although April is religious — in the face of her imploding life. She’s forced to develop relationships with two of the most important people she’ll ever meet while delicately dealing with the loss of the husband she loves yet can no longer stand.

This is no vanity project for Hunt, who directed and co-wrote the screenplay, appearing lined and distressed in most scenes, an ever-present worry dragging down the edges of her face. The actress, who won an Oscar for 1997’s “As Good As It Gets,” proves she also has talent behind the camera, with easy control of comic timing, dramatic weight and brisk pacing. Hunt is an adept manipulator, at one point breaking up a poignant love scene with April’s stomach growling.

Midler injects the film with her distinctive spirit, barely restraining the urge to try to run away with every scene. Her character showers April with an uncomfortable mix of lies and truth, all of which she thinks April needs to hear — including a bizarre whopper that she’s Steve McQueen’s love child. The miscalculated dishonesty threatens the fragile bond between the two women. Both Hunt and Midler, fluidly shifting from bittersweet comedy to raw sentiment, are affecting in their scenes together, particularly when April hammers away with questions about why and how she was given up. They know they should love each other but don’t quite know how.

That’s a theme that flows throughout the aching seams of “Then She Found Me.” Finding a way to compartmentalize your bitterness while keeping your heart open to enlightening relationships is a more difficult task than facing Ivan Drago. In Russia. On Christmas Day. For no money.

3 stars out of 4

Image Entertainment Announces U.S. Distribution Agreement for THINKFilm’s Then She Found Me

Then She Found Me Currently Playing in Theaters

CHATSWORTH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Image Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISK), a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, announced today that it has entered into a U.S. distribution agreement with CT1 Holdings, LLC, parent company of THINKFilm, for certain home video rights and all broadcast, digital and non-theatrical rights to THINKFilm’s Then She Found Me, currently showing in select theaters across the country.

The film stars Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets, What Women Want), Bette Midler (The Stepford Wives, Beaches), Colin Firth (Love Actually, Pride and Prejudice) and Matthew Broderick (The Producers, Stepford Wives). Hunt, who makes her feature film directing debut, also co-wrote and produced the film. The THINKFilm theatrical release opened April 25 and is currently playing in the top 25 markets on over 100 screens. Continued…

New York Daily News - New York,NY,USA
BY JOYCE SHELBY

The Divine Miss M took a break from her Las Vegas revue recently to dish a lot of dirt in Brooklyn. But the shoveling was all for a good cause.

Bette Midler, fellow actress Marcia Gay Harden, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, volunteers from the bank BNP Paribas and 200 public-school kids joined forces to plant more than 120 trees in Greenpoint’s McCarren Park.

Midler is founder of the New York Restoration Project, established in 1995 to green up the city. Her group has partnered with Mayor Bloomberg and the Parks Department to get one million trees planted in the five boroughs by 2017.

“It’s the responsibility of our city’s corporations and foundations, developers, block associations, policymakers, home owners and renters - all New Yorkers - to create a million living, growing legacies that will enhance our beloved city and sustain the world for generations to come,” Midler said.

“To walk under the branches of a tree that you have planted connects you to the roots of our past and the aspirations of our future,” Midler said.

In support of the effort, BNP has unveiled a mobile greenhouse, which will solicit public donations. Funds raised will go toward distribution of 1,200 trees in the city’s neediest neighborhoods.

“I urge every New Yorker to dig in and be a part of MillionTreesNYC,” Midler said.

BETTE MIDLER is temporarily back in town hosting the New York Restoration Project’s 7th annual “Spring Picnic” on Monday at the Toyota Children’s Learning Garden on the lower east side. (It’s at 11th street between Avenues B & C.) The evening will hark back to the 60’s with DJ Tom Finn spinning those “Let’s Twist Again” records. Katie Couric, Bradley Whitford, Tony Bennett, Candice Bergen, Kristin Chenoweth, Susie Essman, James Snyder, Leslie Kritzer, and the “face” of Ralph Lauren, model Lonneke, are just a few who will answer Bette’s call. Tickets? 914-579-1008.

Also check out the Charity Buzz Online Auction going on NOW thru May 29th: Click Here

New York Restoration Project’s Flower Power Auction powered by Charity Buzz Online Auctions begins today. To view lots and bid: Click Here

Below are sample items up for bid:

• Own One of Wayne Newton’s Arabian Horses
• VIP Las Vegas Package from Bette Midler with Roundtrip Airfare from JetBLUE
• Fly to LA with JetBLUE and Enjoy a Walk-On Role to The Sarah Silverman Program
• Fly to Las Vegas and Meet Tony Bennett After His Caesar’s Palace Performance on July 12th
• FLY with JetBLUE to Meet Martina McBride After the Concert of Your Choice
• Fly to Las Vegas and Enjoy Front Row Tickets to see Sir Elton John
• Enjoy Meeting Glenn Close on the Set of DAMAGES with Glenn Close
• Fly to LA, Courtesy of JetBLUE and Enjoy a Day on the Set of MONK with Tony Shalhoub
• Enjoy 2 VIP Seats at The View and Meet Whoopi Goldberg After the Show
• The Ultimate Baseball Experience from Jorge Posada
• FLY to NYC, Coutresy of JetBLUE and Enjoy a Tour of The Today Show with Meredith Vieira
• Enjoy VIP Tickets to The Rachael Ray Show
• Fly to LA with JetBLUE and Attend the Premiere and After Party of “Batman: The Dark Knight”
• Signed BITTEN Bags from Sarah Jessica Parker
• Enjoy Tickets to a Michael Kors Fashion Show
• Enjoy a Yankee Old Timer Game and Dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• Meet Jeff Foxworthy in Orlando, FL After his Performance on August 15th at The Hard Rock
• Enjoy a Foursome of Golf at Trump National, Briarcliff Manor in Westchester
• Meet Betty Buckley at Highland Park, IL
• Meet Patti LuPone After her Performance in GYPSY
• Enjoy Tickets and Greenroom Access to Jimmy Kimmell Live
• Enjoy Lance Bass’ Outfit from NSYNC Tour Plus a Phone Conversation with him
• Meet Mario Cantone After his June 7th Performance at the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando, FL
• Golf with Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy in Hyannisport
• FLY to NYC and Enjoy Two All Access Passes to the Tribeca Film Festical, Courtesy of Robert DeNiro and Stay at The Sherry Netherland Hotel

• Signed Stripper Pole from Carmen Electra PLUS a Party for 10 from S Factor
• Broadway Lovers Package
• Fly with JetBLUE to Meet Dita Von Teese
• Brighten Up Your Yard with a Teak Lutyens Bench from Smith and Hawken
• Rest Assured on this Simmons Natural Care Mattress by Danny Seo
• Enjoy a Portrait Sitting from Bradford Renaissance Portraits
• Take Home a Rod Stewart Signed Soccer Ball
• Take Home Signed Copies of Rosie ODonnell’s Books: Celeb Detox and Crafy U
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Package
• MGM Mirage Package
• Enjoy VIP Tickets to See Sandra Bernhard with a Meet and Greet
• Personalized Thank You Video from Jennifer Love Hewitt
• Meet Megan Mullally After Young Frankenstein
• Meet Kristen Chenoweth

Anybody have any favorites besides the Bette Midler Package?

In it’s third week, Then She Found Me expanded to 153 theaters taking in $489,000 (total gross: $912,000) with a per screen average of $3,196. As far as chart moves go, it rose from #21 to #15. The movie will expand to even more theaters Friday, May 16th, so if it hasn’t been to your city or near yet, then CLICK HERE

After you see the movie, don’t forget to take the polls: Click Here

Mister D: Wendy Poo found the audio for this…so thank her. I’m sick of thank you’s

Barbarian/ Bette/McDreamy Audio

Love, Mister D

Mister D: Sorry I missed this. Hopefully a YouTuber will have it….

Midler and McDreamy Tease Babs
Posted by ExtraTV Staff on May 9, 2008 11:23 AM

Star Jones back on “The View” - huh?! Even in the midst of a Star war, Barbara Walters reveals the possibility of Jones returning to the show as a guest host! “I don’t know what the situation might be,” says Babs in an “Extra” exclusive, “but I could see having Star and Rosie back on [the show.]” Wow!

As the revelations keep coming — Hollywood’s finest are weighing in on the host conflagration! This morning on “GMA,” the tables were turned on the interview queen, as she was in the hot seat with Bette Midler and McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey. Bette poked fun at Barbara’s newly illuminated sex life, saying, “Barbara, I didn’t know you had it in you.” Funny woman Midler then jokingly asked, “Did you sleep with my husband?” A good-natured Walters answered, “Listen Bette, I would have if I could have!”

Dempsey also delved into a personal issue — nicknames! When asked if she had an alias, the Emmy-winner said, “When I was growing up, we all wanted to have masculine names — in college I was known as Bobby.”

Now revealing her extraordinary life to the world in her memoir, “Audition,” Barbara says that she’s never been in a better place. “I’m in a very happy place in my life and, therefore, I can look back. I hope that people can relate to my struggles.”

Mister D:

Here are small clips of TSFM interviews. Copy/Paste the link in your browser until I can make them clickable:

Part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0B6Rd2SXx0
Part two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uDwpKBKhLs
Part three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZC8ErKk57Q
Part four: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j13BRI7znRw
Part five: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPin1cghcHY
Part six: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDYSiDCmceA
Part seven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NVeofcey1s
Part eight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8QLw34s0as&feature=user

Love, Mister D

Mister D:

Our BetteHead friend, Darron, has resurrected his site for Miss Wenda Watch. You’ll see TV, hear podcasts, and read the hottest dish on the web straight from the Hot Dish Diner. Seems like a helluva lot of fun to me, so check it out: Click Here

When you get the chance to see Then She Found Me make sure you participate in the polls: Click Here

Look for some extra music in the jukebox for Mother’s Day. I’m gonna see if I can drudge up some motherly songs….:-)

Love, Mister D

Mister D: Here’s yet another interview of Bette talking about TSFM among other things. Thanks for bringing this to my attention Katrin and Karen. And nobody from here better be sending any letters to her or making rude comments. Check your own houses before you start throwing stones.

Love, Mister D

Mister D: I thought this was an especially beautiful tribute to Bette and it turned out to be my little fairy helper’s….or worker elf’s…whichever she prefers…anyway, it was her creation. This is beautifully done. Thank you Hayley:

Love, Mister D

Mister D: Believe me when I say, Ms. Lipman LOVED Bette’s performance!

Elinor Lipman
I seem to be in the minority of authors who love their adaptations
5:15 PM PDT, May 7, 2008

Some worried readers of my novel, Then She Found Me, have written me in advance of the film’s release, nervous and sometimes high-handed over Hollywood’s apparent departure from my book. Below is the answer I keep handy to convey as politely as possible, Honey, if I don’t mind the changes, why should you?

Dear Worrywarts,

With respect to your fears that the movie version of Then She Found Me is unfaithful to my novel, I hope you will find the following reassuring:

1. I love the movie. Adore it. Have seen it five times. It’s smart, wry, and very touching. The book is the book and the movie is its own entity. This I internalized early on when a wise friend told me, “Think of it as a movie based on characters suggested by the novel.” I do.

2. This project has taken 19 years from option to the big screen. I never thought I’d see this day, let alone experience the thrill of rattling off this cast: Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick. And please appreciate the author-booster factor: Audience members reported to me that when Hunt, who directed the movie, introduced it at the Miami Film Festival (I wasn’t there, so this was not pandering ) she said she was inspired by my novel and hoped people would discover my work, and so forth in book-loving fashion. What actor does that?

3. She, Alice Arlen and Vic Levin tried more faithful adaptations of the book. No takers.

4. I would mind the changes if I thought the team were dumbing down or commercializing the story. Au contraire. Helen Hunt devoted 10 years of her life to getting this film made. She has said, in terms of that long road to green-lighting, “It was every version of no I’ve ever imagined.”

The first time she wrote me, she said this:

“All I’ve hoped for is that you feel April and Bernice [the book’s main characters] are alive and well, and that the theme and heart of the novel is there, through all of the changes I ended up making. I love Dwight [character who didn’t make it into the final draft]. I imagine him sitting patiently for his turn to come to the screen. After years, I finally realized I had to find a magic sentence, a north star/theme for the movie that I felt deeply about and write toward that. Once I did, it became clear and I was able to start the work of putting aside a character that I LOVE, and trying to find the ones that help tell the story as I was beginning to imagine it on the screen.”

As James M. Cain (The Postman Always Rings Twice, Mildred Pierce) said, when someone asked him, “How do you feel about what Hollywood did to your novels?” He pointed to his bookshelf and said, “Hollywood didn’t do anything to my novels. They’re all right here.”

I appreciate your loyalty to my characters, but now I hope you will put my sentences aside to see how a true book lover brought my characters back to life.

Sincerely,
Elinor