iDeal Partners Film Fund Presents 電影基金介紹

PAGEPAGE1949west27thstreet7thfloornewyork,ny10001tel2129246701fax2129246742iDealPartnersFilmFundPresentsAMagnoliaPicturesreleaseTHEANSWERMANWritten&DirectedByJOHNHINDMAN95min.,1.85:1,35mmDistributorContact:PressContactPressContactLA:MattCowalAdamKershKarenObermanArianneAyers42West42WestDanielleMcCarthy220West4211400W.OlympicBlvd.SteMagnoliaPictures12thFloorLosAngeles49W.27thSt.,7NewYork(310)477-4442NewYork,(212)277-7555phoneKaren.Oberman@42(212)924-6701phoneAdam.Kersh@42W(212)924-6742faxpublicity@SYNOPSISFromfirst-timewriter-director

JohnHindman,comesTHEANSWERMAN,a

romanticcomedystarringJeffDaniels(TheSquidandtheWhale)

and

LaurenGraham(GilmoreGirls)

aboutloveandthesearchformeaning.

ArlenFaber(Daniels)isthereclusive

andmisanthropic

authorof"MeandGod,"abookthathasredefinedspiritualityforanentiregenerationandhasbeentranslatedintoover100languages.Ontheeveofthe20thanniversaryofhisstillwildlypopularbook,Arlenisstillsoughtafterasthemanwhohasalltheanswers.

Arlen

findhis

world

turnedupsidedownwith

hislife

collideswithElizabeth(Graham),asinglemotherwhomightjustbeabletoprovidethesalvationheneeds.

Inaddition,Arlen

formsanunlikelyfriendshipwith

Kris("Thumbsucker's"

Lou

TaylorPucci),ayoungmanfreshoutofrehabwhoissearchingformeaning.

BothElizabethandKrisarehopefulthatArlenhastheanswers,butthetruthis,hehasn'tgotaclue.KatDennings(NickandNorah’sInfinitePlaylist)andOliviaThirlby(Juno)alsostarinthis

charminglywittyromanticdrama.

DIRECTOR’SSTATEMENT–JOHNHINDMANSinceIwastenIhavewantedtomakemovies.MyhopewastoonedaywritesomethinggoodenoughthatIcouldforcepeopletoletmedirectit.HavingbeenonmanymeetingsasawriterIcouldtellthatmostofthethingsthatstudioswerelookingforwerenotexactlyinmywheelhouse.So,IsetaboutwritingastorythatwouldbethekindofmoviethatIwouldliketosee.Formethatmeantgettingpersonal.THEANSWERMANismyattempttoaddressseveralthemesinmylife.Fathersandsons.Overprotectiveparents.Drinking.AseeminglyelusiveHigherPower.Adistastefornewagepsychobabble.Romanticlove.And,adeepreverenceforsarcasm.Ipouredeverybitofmylifeintothatstoryalthoughnothinginthemovieactuallyhappened.IfthatsoundslikeanoxymoronIwouldliketoquoteJohnSteinbeckwhosaid“somethingdoesn’thavetohavehappenedforittobetrue”.IgotabriefsmatteringofattentionbutnothingreallyhappeneduntilKevinMessickcameonboardandagreedtoproduceit.Fromthatpointforwarditwasanalmostinexorablepathtowardproduction.Notthatthereweren’tafewbumpsontheroadbutinretrospectitwasassmoothajourneyasonecouldaskfor.Inmyyearsdoingstand-upcomedyIlearnedonething:don’ttellastorywithjokes.Usejokestotellastory.Ilovestoriesofsmartflawedpeoplewithagreatsenseofhumorwhoareinastateofmoralcrisis.Iwanttolaughwiththemandatthem.Iwanttobetherewhenthey’vetriedeverytrickinthebookandtheonlythingleftisthetruth.Andultimately,Iwantahappyendingforallthecharacters.But,onethatisearned.IbothloveandmisstheoptimismofFrankCapra.Castingwasanamazingprocess.Wechosetopicktheperfectcastandthentryandgetfinancing.WhenwewenttocasttheroleofArlenFaberwehadacoupleofthingstoconsider.AlotofpeopleencouragedmetogoyoungerwiththeroleofArlen.SomethingIwasnotwillingtodo.Arlenisfiftyyearsoldforareason.Iwantedtoshowsomeonewhowassetinhiswaysandthenintroducecharacterswhowouldmakechangenotonlypossiblebutnecessary.Ineededanactorwhocouldbeintellectual,vulnerable,funny,andaromanticlead.WhenJeffDanielsreadthescripthecalledmerightaway.Listeningtohimtalkaboutthestoryitwasasthoughhehadwrittenithimself.HegoteverynuanceIhadworkedforaswellastheoverarchingthemeofthestory.HisworkinthemovieisasamazingtomenowasitwaswhenIwasontheset.ForthepartofElizabeth,LaurenGrahamwastheonlyactressImetwith.Ithinkyou’llseewhy.Tomesheistheclosestthingwehavetothosegreatfasttalkingwomenofthefortiesandfifties.Ididn’tneedagirl,Ineededawoman.Shewasperfect.IwasafanofLouTaylorPucci’sfromThumbsuckerandIwasdelightedwhenheagreedtodoit.OlivaThirlby,KatDennings,NoraDunn,andTonyHalealljumpedonboardandwewereset.TheworkoftheentirecastexceededmyexpectationsandtothisdayIwonderhowIgotsolucky.Imissshootingit.ImissthefrontrowseatIhadforthebestpartsofsomebodyelse’slife.Wecaughtitallonfilmofcourse.But,Iwasrighttherewiththosecharacterswhentheyexperiencedthebiggestmomentsoftheirlife.Youcan’tbeatthat. -JohnHindman,DirectorandWriter

ABOUTTHECASTJEFFDANIELS-ArlenFaberJeffDanielsfoundhisfirstpopularsuccesswithTermsofEndearment,playingthephilanderinghusbandofDebraWinger’scharacter.HisperformanceinTheSquidandtheWhaleearnedhimIndependentSpiritAwardandGoldenGlobenominations,aswellasNewsweek’schoiceforBestActorof2005.Danielsco-starsintheupcomingfilmsStateofPlay,TheAnswerMan,AwayWeGoandPaperItwasinMilosForman’sRagtimethatDanielsmadehisfeaturefilmdebut.OtherfilmcreditsincludeWoodyAllen’sThePurpleRoseofCairo,MikeNichols’Heartburn,JonathanDemme’sSomethingWild,RadioDays,HouseonCarrollStreet,Marie,CheckingOut,WelcomeBackRoxyCarmichael,TheButcher’sWife,GrandTour,Arachnophobia,Gettysburg,Speed,Dumb&Dumber,FlyAwayHome,2DaysintheValley,101Dalmatians,TrialandError,Pleasantville,MyFavoriteMartian,AlltheRage,ChasingSheep,BloodWork,TheHours,GodsandGenerals,IWitness,ImaginaryHeroes,BecauseofWinnDixie,RV,GoodNightandGoodLuck,Infamous,TheLookoutandmostrecentlyTraitor.DanielslaunchedhisfilmcareerfromtheNewYorkstage.RaisedinMichigan,heattendedCentralMichiganUniversity,majoringinEnglishwithaminorintheater.Impressedwiththe21-year-oldactor,guestdirectorMarshallW.MasoninvitedhimtojointheacclaimedCircleRepertoryCompanyinNewYork.Hisstagecreditsfromthisperiodinclude“TheFarm,”LanfordWilson’s“Brontosaurus,”andCorinneJacker’s“MyLife,”co-starringChristopherReeveandWilliamHurt.OtherTheroleofJedJenkinsinLanfordWilson’s“FifthofJuly”wonDanielshisfirstwidespreadrecognition.Afterthreedifferentproductionsandfilmingtheplayfortelevision,DanielsreturnedtoCircleReptostarinaone-manshowadaptingDalton’sTrumbo’s“JohnnyGotHisGun,”aneffortforwhichhewona1983ObieAward.RecentlyDanielsstarredinHallmarkHallofFame’s“SweetNothingsInMyEar”oppositeMarleeMatlin.Othertelevisioncreditsinclude“InvasionofPrivacy,”“ARumorofWar,”“TheVisit,”“TheCaineMutinyCourtMartial,”“TheJackiePresserStory,”“NoPlaceLikeHome,”“Tanner‘88,”“TheCrossing,”“Cheaters,”and“TheFivePeopleYouMeetinHeaven.”In1991,DanielsestablishedthePurpleRoseTheatreCompany,anot-for-profitprofessionaltheatreinthesmalltownofChelsea,Michigan.Sincethen,thePRTChasgainedanationalreputationasahomefornewAmericanplays.DanielshaswrittentwelveplaysforthePurpleRose,including“Apartment3A,”“BoomTown”,and“GuestArtist,”RunnerUpfor2007BestNewPlaybytheAmericanTheatreCriticsAssociation.In2003,“AcrosstheWay”wasafinalistandDaniels’firstnominationforATCA’sBestNewPlay.Inthefallof2006,thePurpleRosepremiered“EscanabainLove,”thesecondplayofDaniels’“EscanabaTrilogy.”“EscanabainDaMoonlight”soldoutin1995and1997,settingtherecordasthelongest-runningshowinDetroithistory.Hislatestplaywithmusic,“PanhandleSlim&TheOklahomaKid”willpremiereatthePurpleRoseinJune,2008.In1998,heformedPurpleRoseFilms.Thecompany’sfirstproject,EscanabainDaMoonlight,earned$2.3milliondespitebeingself-distributed,makingitoneof2001’stop-grossingindependentfilmsinthecountry.Daniels’secondventure,SuperSucker,wontheAudienceAwardforBestFeatureattheHBO-sponsoredU.S.ComedyArtsFestivalinAspen,Daniels’songwritinghastakenhimalloverthecountry.InitiallyawaytoraisemoneyforthePurpleRose,Daniels’liveperformanceandguitarplayingcanbefoundonhisthreeCDs:“LiveandUnpluggedAtThePurpleRose,”“Grandfather’sHat,”and“TogetherAgain.”Moreinformationregardinghismusiccareercanbefoundat.Danielswasawardedanhonorarydoctoratefromhisalmamater,CentralLAURENGRAHAM-ElizabethLaurenGrahamwillstarasMissAdelaideonBroadwayinthemusicalcomedy“Guys&Dolls,”openingMarch1st.GrahamrecentlycompletedproductiononTHEANSWERMANwithJeffDaniels,whichwillpremiereatthe2009SundanceFilmFestival.ShewasalsorecentlyseeninthecriticallyacclaimedFlashofGeniusoppositeGregKinnearforUniversalandSpyglassEntertainment.

ThisyearshestarredalongsideMatthewPerryandHillarySwankinBirdsofAmerica,whichpremieredatthe2008SundanceFilmFestival.GrahamgarneredcriticalacclaimforherperformanceasLorelaiGilmoreon“GilmoreGirls;”aseriesonwhichshealsoservedasproducerinitsfinalseason.ForherworkontheshowGrahamwasnominatedforaGoldenGlobeAwardfor“BestActressinaDramaSeries,”twoScreenActorsGuildAwardsfor“OutstandingFemaleActorinaDramaSeries”andtwoTelevisionCriticsAssociationAwardsfor“IndividualAchievementinDramaandComedy.”Additionally,sheearnedtwoTeenChoiceAwards,a“BestActress”nodfromViewersforQualityTelevision,andwashonoredbyPlannedParenthoodasa“ChampionofChoice”forherworkwithfamilyissuesonandoff-screen.

Graham’sadditionalfeaturefilmcreditsinclude:Universal’sblockbustercomedyEvanAlmightyalongsideSteveCarell,BecauseISaidSooppositeDianeKeatonandMandyMoore,BadSantawithBillyBobThornton,ThePacifier,TheAmateurswithJeffBridges,NightwatchandOneTrueThingwithReneeZellwegerandMerylStreep.In2002,Grahamstarredinthe1929comedy“OnceInALifetime”atTheWilliamstownTheatreFestival.GrahamholdsadegreeinEnglishfromBarnardCollege,andanMFAfromSMUMeadowsSchoolofTheArts.GrahamcurrentlyresidesinNewYorkandLOUTAYLORPUCCI–KrisLucasLouTaylorPucciemergedasoneofthemostpromisingactorsofhisgenerationfollowingthepremiereofMikeMills’THUMBSUCKERatthe2005SundanceFilmFestival.

Inthefunny,exceptionallyobservantcoming-of-agestory,PuccistarredoppositeTildaSwinton,VincentD’Onofrio,KeanuReevesandVinceVaughnasJustinCobb,acompulsive17-year-oldthumbsucker.

PuccireceivedbothaSundanceSpecialJuryPrizeforactingandtheBestActorAwardattheBerlinFilmFestivalforhisperformance.Louispartofthreefilmsatthe2009SundanceFilmFestival–THEANSWERMAN,writtenanddirectedbyJohnHindmanstarringJeffDaniels,GregorJordan’sTHEINFORMERS,basedupontheBretEastonEllisnovel,and

JohnKrasinski’sadaptationofDavidFosterWallace’sBriefInterviewswithHideousMen.Nextyear,Pucciappearsinthreefeatures–JonasAkerlund’sTHEHORSEMAN,co-starringDennisQuaidandZiyiZhang,MarkWebber’sEXPLICITILLS,

andDavidandAlexPastor’sthrillerCARRIERS.PuccimadehisfeaturefilmdebutasKevin,thebadlybeatenyounghitchhikerencounteredbyFairuzaBalk'scharacterinRebeccaMiller's2002award-winningSundanceFilmFestivalentryPERSONALVELOCITY.HiscreditsalsoincludeRichardLinklater’sFASTFOODNATION,MartinHynes’THEGO-GETTER,FredSchepisi’sEMPIREFALLSwithPaulNewmanandEdHarris,THECHUMSCRUBBERwithJamieBellandJustinChatwinandTheoAvgerinos’sFIFTYPILLS,whichpremieredatthe2006TribecaFilmFestival.

In2005,PuccirejoinedTHUMBSUCKERco-starVincentD’Onofrioforanepisodeof“Law&Order:

CriminalIntent.”

HealsostarredwithKelliGarner(hisloveinterestintheMillsfilm),inGreenDay’s“JesusofSuburbia”videofordirectorSamuelBayer.PuccigrewupincentralNewJerseyandhadlittleinterestinactinguntilhisauntbribedhimtotryoutforcommunitytheatreatage10.

Twoyearslater,heappearedonBroadwayasFriedrichin"TheSoundofMusic."

OLIVIATHIRLBY-AnneOliviaThirlbylandedherfirstroleinVincentPerez'sTHESECRETfollowedbyherroleasNicoleMillerinPaulGreengrass'criticallyacclaimed9/11drama,UNITED93.ShehascontinuedtoworkinfilmwithprominentdirectorssuchasKennethLonerganinMARGARETandDavidGordonGreeninSNOWANGELS.Shewaslastseenintheawardwinningsensation,JUNOdirectedbyJasonReitmanandTHEWACKNESS,directedbyJonathanLevine,whichwontheAudienceAwardatthe2008SundanceFilmFestival,andtheLAInternationalFilmFestival.SherecentlystarredalongsidefilmlegendsLaurenBacallandBenGazzaraintheshortfilmEVE,writtenanddirectedbyNataliePortman.

OliviarecentlymadeherOff-BroadwaydebutintheAtlanticTheaterCompany'sproductionof“FarragutNorth”writtenbyBeauWillimonanddirectedbyDougHughes,starringalongsideJohnGallagher,Jr.andChrisNoth.ShewashailedbyNewYorkMagazineas“themostmagneticplayer.”O(jiān)liviawillnextbeseenintheensembledramaSAFETYGLASS,aswellasinJohnHindman'sTHEANSWERMAN,whichpremieredincompetitionatthe2009SundanceFilmFestival.KATDENNINGS-DahliaKatDenningsisoneofHollywood’shottestrisingyoungstars.WithherhighlyacclaimedperformanceinNICKANDNORAH’SINFINITEPLAYLISTandherroleasCatherineKeener’sdaughterinthesmashhitTHE40-YEAR-OLDVIRGINDenningshasquicklybecomeahouseholdname.DenningswasmostrecentlyseeninNICKANDNORAH’SINFINITEPLAYLISTstarringoppositeMichaelCeraanddirectedbyPeterSollett.Thefilm,basedonthebookofthesamename,followsNickandNorahonaonenightadventureinNewYorkCity.TheNewYorkPostcalledDennings“…engaging,smartandcompletelynatural,aninstantstarinwhomthegirlsintheaudiencewillbeabletopicturethemselves”aboutherportrayalofNorahinthefilm.DenningswasnominatedbytheInternationalPressDenningsrecentlywrappedDEFENDORinToronto.DenningsstarsalongsideWoodyHarrelsonandSandraOh.Thefilm,writtenanddirectedbyPeterStebbingscentersaroundaman(Harrelson)whobelieveshehasasecretsuperheroidentity.DenningscannextbeseeninRobertRodriguez’sSHORTSwithWilliamH.MacyandLeslieMann.Thefilmfocusesonayoungboy'sdiscoveryofacolorful,wish-grantingrock,whichcauseschaosinasuburbantown.SHORTSwillbereleasedonAugust7,2009.DenningsrecentlycompletedfilmingTHEANSWERMANwithJeffDanielsandLaurenGraham.Thefilmfollowsareclusiveauthorofspiritualbookswhoispursuedforadvicebyasinglemotherandamanrecentlyoutofrehab.DenningswasseeninthehitcomedyHOUSEBUNNYco-starringwithAnnaFaris,KatharineMcPhee,EmmaStoneandRumerWillis.ThefilmcentersaroundaPlayboybunnywhobecomesthehousemotherofZetaAlphaZeta,asororityofmisfitswhoareabouttoloosetheirhouse.HOUSEBUNNYopenednumberoneattheboxofficeandhasgrossedover$70millionworldwide.DenningsotherfilmcreditsincludeCHARLIEBARTLETToppositeRobertDowneyJr.,NewLine’sRAISEYOURVOICE,whereherperformancewassingledoutbyTheNewYorkTimes,DOWNINTHEVALLEYoppositeEdwardNorton,LONDONwithJessicaBiel,andBIGMOMMA’SHOUSE2withMartinLawrence.SheappearedinIFC’sWANDERLUSTfordirectorsRobertPuciniandShariSpringerBermanandwasselectedtoparticipateintheprestigious2005SundanceFilmmaker’sLabwheresheworkedwithRobertRedfordondirectorDanteHarper’sDREAMLAND.Denningshasappearedonsomeoftelevision’smostcriticallyacclaimeddramasincludingarecurringroleonNBC’s“ER”,aguest-starringroleonahighlypublicized“CSI:Miami/NY”cross-overepisodeandacontroversialroleon“WithoutATrace.”ShealsostarredoppositeBobSagetintheWBseries“RaisingDad”andhadastandoutguest-starringroleasJennyBrier,ateenwhohires‘SamanthaJones’todopublicityforherBatMitzvah,inHBO’s“SexandtheCity.”DenningscurrentlyresidesinLosAngeles.NORADUNN-TerryFraserNora’smostrecentfilm,THEANSWERMANwithJeffDaniels,KatDenningsandOliviaThrilbywasacceptedintoDramaticCompetitionat2009SundanceFilmFestival.Init,sheplaysJeffDaniels’forcefulandacerbicliteraryagent.ThisfilmmarksareturntoSundanceforNorawhoascostarredinseveralfilmsatthefestival.Earlierthisyear,Noraappearedinthefilm,PineappleExpress,producedbyJuddApatow,anddirectedbyDavidGordonGreen.SheandEdBegleyplayAmberHeard’sparentswhocreateahilariouslymortifyingencounterwithSethRogen.FiveseasonsonSaturdayNightLivebenefittedfromtherichcastofcharactersNoracreatedincludingThePatSteven’sShow(whichshealsocreatedandwrote),whosefamousgueststarsincludedOprahWinfrey,JimmyBreslin,aswellasJohnLithgowasMargaretThatcher.HersendupofsoapoperadivaLindaDanomadethepopularsketch“Attitudes”ahilariousSNLstaple,featuringsuchstarsasJohnMalkovichandChristopherWalken.HerportrayalofloungelizardessLizSweeneyofthesingingSweeneySistershasbeenmimickedbyfansforyears.Afterfiveyearsoflatenightpandemonium,NoraplayedlesbiantelevisionproducerNormaLearinNBC’sprimetimedrama“Sisters”forthreeseasons.Shehasweavedeffortlesslybetweencomedyanddramainmemorablesupportingrolessuchastheflamboyant,blasphemousAdrianaCruzinDavidRussell’schicanti-warepicThreeKings.Thatperformancegarneredherpraiseandattention,promptingPeterTraverstowritethatshewas“finallygiventhechancetoshowherchopsasanactress.”ShecontinuedtoshowherchopsinfilmssuchasGaryFleder’sdramaRunawayJurywithJohnCusackandGeneHackman,asthestraight-lacedboozer/jurorStellaHulic;NewLine’sLawsofAttraction,oppositePierceBrosnanandJulianneMooreasaglitzyjudgefromScarsdalewhoseJudgeJudytacticscauseasplitinthestars’alreadystressedmarriage.Dunnhasbeguntocarveapresenceinindependentfeaturesaswell,appearinginFinnTaylor’sCherishandTheDarwinAwards.ShealsoplayedasympathetictherapistinnewcomerGregHarrison’sfeatureNovember(SonyClassics)starringCourtneyCoxandacameoasabitchypublicistinpastSundanceFilmFestival’scrowd-pleaserDieMommyDie.Noraplayedacrazedright-wingedfanaticinRichardKelly’s(DonnieDarko)newestfilmSouthlandTales.Norainvariablyprovesanotableadditiontoanyseriesbeitdramaorcomedy.Herecentguestspotsencompasssuchdisparateshowsas“Numbers,”“CriminalMinds”andthefinalepisodeof“PushingDaisies.”Additionally,sherecentlyrecurredon“BostonLegal”and“Shark”aswellasplayingsuchmemorablecharactersastheheadofaTVnetworkon“CurbYourEnthusiasm”andasamarriagecounselortoAriandMrs.Arion“Entourage”formultipleepisodes.InherfirstfilmroleNoraplayedoppositeSigourneyWeaverandMelanieGriffithinMikeNichols’hitcomedyWorkingGirl.Thoughtherolehadjustthreescenes,theNewYorkTimesstillpraisedherperformance,sayingsheturnedheruptightWallStreetexecutive“intoawickedWitchoftheWestside.”ShewasnextcastbyJonathanDemmeinthecultclassicMiamiBluesasaCubanbornhomicidedetective.DunnworkedagainwithMikeNicholsinWhatPlanetAreYouFrom?,andsubsequentlyappearedinthecomediesBruceAlmighty,Heartbreakers,DropDeadGorgeous,andWhat’stheWorstthatCouldHappen?,inwhichsheplayedDannyDevito’sBostoniansocietywife,andworkedwithEnglishdirectorLewisGilbertinhismusicalSteppingOut,andforWarrenBeattyinhispoliticalsatireBullworth.TheatercreditsincludetheemotionallyanguishedhousewifeBeaSmallinGeorgeFirth’sdrama,“PreciousSons”atTheBlankTheaterCo.,“TheVaginaMonologue”sinLosAngeles,SanFranciscoandSantaFeandGaryLennon’s“Blackout.”Shewroteandstarredinaone-womanshow,“SmallPrey”in1997,whichplayedtosold-outhousesforsixteenweeksinLosAngeles.Harper/Collinspublishedherbook,Nobody’sRibin1991.DunnwasadministeredtwelveyearsofCatholictutelageandupongraduatingfromSt.Mary’sAcademypursuedacareerinpaintingatTheArtInstituteofChicago.ShestudiedattheInstituteforthreeyears,thenmovedtoSanFranciscowhereshebegantostudyactingwithAnneMaceyatTheJeanSheldonActingWorkshop.Shecontinuedtheaterproductionsbeforeturningherattentiontocomedicmonologuesandcharacterstudies.ShereturnedtohernativeChicagoin1982andin1983wasspottedbyateamofSaturdayNightLivetalentscouts.SoonaftershewaswhiskedfromherdeliwaitresspositiontoNewYorkCitywheresheresideduntil1992.ShenowlivesinLosAngeles.TONYHALE-MailmanTonyHaledevelopedastrongfanbaseforhishilariousroleas'BusterBluth,'theeccentric,one-handedMama'sboyonFoxTelevision'ssmart,ground-breaking,Emmyaward-winningseries"ArrestedDevelopment."Hisperformanceas'Buster'leftfanslongingformore,andwithaplethoraofupcomingfeaturefilmrolesandTVappearances,audienceswillsoonbetreatedtoavarietyofnewrolesfromtheversatileandmulti-talentedTonyHale.InDecember2008Tonywasheardasthevoiceof'Furlough,'thetreacherousbrothermouse,inUniversalPictures'animatedfeature,TheTaleofDespereaux:BeingtheStoryofaMouse,APrincess,SomeSoupandaSpoolofThread.Itisanadaptationofthe2004NewberyMedal-winningchildren'sbookbyKateDiCamillo(BecauseofWinn-Dixie).Inthestory,'Furlough'tattle-talesonhisbrother'Despereaux'forfallinginlovewithahumanprincess.Thefilm'sall-starcastincludesDustinHoffman,KevinKline,ChristopherLloyd,WilliamH.Macy,StanleyTucci,TraceyUllmanandSigourneyWeaver.TonywillalsosoonbeseenintheromanticcomedyTHEANSWERMANstarringJeffDanielsandLaurenGraham.Thefilmwasamongtheselectlineuptobescreenedindramaticcompetitionatthe2009SundanceFilmFestivalandmarksthefeaturedebutofwriter-directorJohnHindman.TonyhaswrappedproductionondirectorStevenSoderbergh'sespionagethrillerTheInformant,starringMattDamon.Thefilmcenterson'MarkWhitacre,'(Damon)ahigh-levelmoleattheself-declared"supermarkettotheworld,"ArcherDanielsMidland.ThefilmisbasedonatruestoryandadaptedfromthebookbyKurtEichenwaldbyScottBurns.WarnerIndependentwillreleasethefilmonMarch27,2009.AlsointhecanisParamountVantage'supcomingcomedyTheGoods:TheDonReadyStory,tobereleaseonApril24,2009.HestarsalongsideJeremyPiveninthisfeatureforWillFerrellandAdamMcKay'sGarySanchezProductions.Thisfall,TonycanbeseenonNBC's"Chuck,"wherehewillplay'Emmett,'thenewassistantmanageroftheBuyMorestorewhere'Chuck'(ZacharyLevi)works.Anefficiencyexpert,'Emmett'issentinbyBuyMorecorporateanddecidestostayonwhenherealizeshowpoorlythestoreisrun.TonywasrecentlyseenonABC's"SamanthaWho,"whereheplayed'AndyAdams,'anewdoctorto'Samantha'(ChristinaApplegate).Healsoguest-starredinthefinalseasondebutof"ER,"whereheplayedanerdwhorescuesanoldladyandsubsequentlydevelopsaherocomplex.Earlierthisyear,Tonyco-starredwithJimmyFalloninTheYearofGettingtoKnowUs.Thefeature,whichpremieredatthe2008SundanceFilmFestival,alsostarredSharonStone,IlleanaDouglas,andLucyLiu.Hepreviouslyco-starredoppositeWillFerrellinColumbiaPictures'featureStrangerThanFiction,directedbyMarcForster(FindingNeverland).Inthelaterfilm,heplayed'Dave,'thebestfriendandco-workerofFerrell'scharacter.ThestellarensemblecastincludedEmmaThompson,DustinHoffman,MaggieGyllenhaalandQueenLatifah.AdditionalfeaturecreditsincludesupportingrolesindirectorBarrySonnenfeld'sroadtripcomedy,RV,withRobinWilliamsandCherylHines;andBecauseISaidSowithDianeKeaton,MandyMooreandLaurenGraham.Tonyendearedhimselftoaudiencesas'BusterBluth'inFox-TV'sEmmyAward-winningtelevisionseries,"ArrestedDevelopment."DetailsMagazinecalledhis'Buster'"themosthystericallyunhingedsupportingplayersinceCosmoKramer."OthertelevisioncreditsincludeaseriesregularroleonNBCUniversalTelevision'scomedyseries"AndyBarker,P.I." ArmyBratHalewasactuallybornatWestPointwherehisfathertaughtnuclearphysicstotheCorps.Tonyistheyoungestofthreechildren,andhisfamilymovedseventimesbeforehereachedmiddleschool.TheyspentfiveyearsatvariousmilitarylocationsinHeidelbergandBerlin.ThefamilyfinallysettledinTallahassee,Duringhishighschoolyears,TonywasamemberoftheYoungActorsTheaterwherehelearnedallfacetsoftheaterproduction.CherylHinesprecededhimasafamousalumniofthisacademy.Helovedacting,buthisfamilyurgedhimtohavea"careertofallbackon"sohereceivedhisB.A.inMassCommunications/JournalismfromSamfordUniversityinAlabama.Aftercollege,Tonyworkedforayearasacounseloratayouthprogramhelpingkidsbroadentheirhorizonsthroughactingsketchesandotherculturalexercises.TonyrealizedthathewaspassionateaboutpursuinghisactingcareerandenrolledintheMastersTheaterprogramatRegentUniversity.DuringavisittoNewYorkinhissecondyearatRegent,hefellinlovewiththe"terrifyingandexciting"cityand,aftergraduation,hemovedtoManhattan.Likemostactors,hewasinresidentialsublet-to-subletflux,movingseventimesinsixmonths.Hisfirstprofessionaljobwasina"ShakespeareintheParkingLot"productionof"TamingoftheShrew"stagedinanEastDuringthistime,TonybecameinvolvedwithWideHorizonsforChildren,anorganizationthatraisesfundstoassistwithinternationaladoptions.HespentthreeweeksvisitingchildreninRom