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Here’s a Get Him to the Greek review that I missed when originally published — by Lindy West from The Stranger. I love this reviewer.

Don’t Knock Russell Brand. He’s the Most Beautiful Woman on Earth.

Hello. I know that in your small and extremely quaint island nation, Russell Brand is some sort of fancypants celebrity court jester to the stars, and you’re probably completely sick of him, or maybe you’re not, or whatever. I don’t care. Among my people (creepy Anglophiles aside), we hadn’t much heard of Brand until his smallish supporting role in 2008’s shockingly competent Forgetting Sarah Marshall. But with last week’s opening of Get Him to the Greek – a film that’s like a great big Brand-flavored adrenaline needle straight to the heart – America is getting acquainted with the man fast. And deep. And it’s giving me some feelings.

Apologies to that one Indian lady, but it must be said: Russell Brand is the most beautiful woman on earth. Slender as a willow wand, tall as a fairly tall human man, hair like corn silk if the corn had some sort of agricultural blight that turned its corn hairs black and curly, like a bearded Audrey Hepburn with a dirty mouth and an only slightly more serious sex addiction. Confidential to any eccentric fafillionaires reading this: I would like to touch Russell Brand on the mouth with my mouth. I promise not to suck out his soul like a witch, if that helps with the paperwork.

But beyond all that hey-let-me-rub-you-creepily-on-your-boday business (SERIOUSLY, THOUGH), Brand is an exquisitely bizarre and oddly affecting comedic actor.

Read more »

The New York Times has done a thoughtful, interesting feature on the filming of Arthur, which you can read here.

An excerpt:

On this day the cast and crew had assembled to shoot Arthur’s first encounter with his dream woman (Ms. Gerwig). In 1981 the character was a brassy shoplifter; today, she scams out-of-towners by conducting nonsense-filled walking tours. Better-known actresses tested with Mr. Brand, but according to one of the producers, Kevin McCormick, Ms. Gerwig “was the one who brought out a sweetness in him and also the one who could keep up with him.”

As Mr. Brand, bedecked in a Lincoln stovepipe hat, staggers up to her, kicking off each take with a different opening line, she quickly decides he’s a street crazy and incorporates him into her patter, comparing him in successive takes to Dylan Thomas, Willy Wonka and a cast member of the musical “Grand Hotel.”

Mr. Baynham, listening for what works and what doesn’t, took notes, refining their riffs into new jokes for later takes, and Mr. Winer frequently sprung from his chair to talk to the actors, then returned to study the monitors. After several takes, he realized what wasn’t working: There was no moment when Ms. Gerwig’s character stopped to take Arthur in with a look. After some discussion about whether a line was required, Mr. Winer decided to address it with a change in Ms. Gerwig’s blocking and body language.

All of this is more controlled than it sounds. “It’s unlike most other film experiences, where you don’t change lines that much,” Ms. Mirren said. “But Russell isn’t a wild cannon. He’s actually very careful about all the technical requirements, continuity and marks and all that stuff. He has an incredible comedian’s brain, but he pays attention to detail.”

Silly little interview. I love it.

The release of Russell’s second autobiography, My Booky Wook 2: This Time It’s Personal, is fast approaching! The book will come out on September 30 in the UK and Australia, followed by the US on October 12.

As posted on russellbrand.tv today, you can pre-order the book from Amazon or other booksellers.

And I’ve just learned that there will be a signing event at Barnes & Noble in NYC on October 13 (thanks Amber!). Details are here.

More events will surely be announced soon … keep an eye on Russell’s twitter, official site, and this very blog!

Opening lines from BW2:

As with the clinical finality of death, all things must end; just as surely, all that exists must have a beginning. When then did I become famous? Was there a moment that could be recognised and pin pointed? Yes for me notoriety was neither incremental nor intangible…

The excitement builds!

Russell Brand at the Moroccanoil Celebrity Gift Retreat by Backstage Creations at Teen Choice at Gibson Amphitheatre on August 8, 2010 in Universal City, California.

(Photos Here)

Another interview I somehow missed during the Greek promo blitz.

This one is really fantastic – about 20 minutes total, and Russell discusses some of his favorite films with Alex, including:

• Edward Scissorhands
• Silence of the Lambs
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
• Spartacus

He also chats about getting a role on the Simpsons, his thoughts on the World Cup, etc. – just a brilliant interview!

(Click for Part 2)

Ok, not a new interview, but bear with me, it’s a good one!

Russell is his hilarious, irrepressible self as he talks to Artist Direct about Aldous’s iPod, how Danish people have sex, and his favorite Morrissey lines.

Russell Brand, John Cleese, Fred MacAulay, Rob Rouse and Danielle Ward all exercise their right to freedom of expression on the inaugural Amnesty International Comedy Podcast – the first Edinburgh festival collaboration between Amnesty and the Guardian.

Listen to the podcast here at the Guardian website.

Edit: This is just a short clip of Russell doing standup, not a brand new clip or anything!

Both the Unrated and Original Theatrical Versions of Get Him to the Greek will be released on Blu-ray™ and DVD September 28, 2010 (in the USA, not sure yet about other countries).

Bonus features include:

• Gag Reel
• Line-O-Rama
• Blind Medicine – a promo for Sarah Marshall’s new TV series
• Feature Commentary with director Nicholas Stoller, cast members Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Rose Byrne, Elisabeth Moss and producer Rodney Rothman
• Getting To Get Him to The Greek Documentary
• Getting In Tune With The Greek Documentary
• The Making Of “African Child” Documentary
• Five Complete Music Videos featuring Aldous Snow, Infant Sorrow and Jackie Q
• Musical Performances from Infant Sorrow’s triumphant 1999 Greek Theater Concert and 2009 Comeback Concert, plus a peek at their infamous World Tour and the 2002 London Concert.
• Deleted, Extended and Alternate Scenes including an Alternate Intro and Ending

Additional features available only on Blu-Ray version:

• Additional and extended scenes not available anywhere else
• Musical performances from The Today Show and VH-1 Storytellers
• Karaoke –  Sing along to 15 Outrageous Songs
• The Actual Auditions that landed Rose Byrne, Elisabeth Moss, Nick Kroll, Aziz Ansari and T.J. Miller their roles

Source: PR Newswire