Jennifer Aniston Watch

As much fun as I had with my foray into creative writing the other day, April Fools’ Day is now over and with that, it’s back to the truth for me!

The truth is that Jen is looking stunning these days! Jen spent her April Fools’ Day on the set of Marley & Me with screen husband Owen Wilson and a rather rambunctious canine costar (see more photos at PopSugar). I, for one, can’t wait until this movie comes out (on December 25); without a doubt, Jen will shine in the role of Jenny Grogan.

One thing’s for sure - when Jen’s new movies come out, baseball player John Maine will be one of the first in line. He has recently cited her down-to-earth nature and her beauty as factors in his long-standing admiration of her. From recordonline.com:

Let all the other jocks have the hots for Pamela Anderson or Jenna Jameson or Paris Hilton.

“I’ll take Jennifer over all of them every day of the week,” said Maine, who will make his regular-season debut for the Mets tonight against the Atlanta Braves. “I just love her soft and natural, girl-next-door looks and the way she carries herself, her whole demeanor.

“And, oh, yes, the hair,” he suddenly added with a jolt before seeming to drift off into fantasy land. “The hair is unbelievable.”

What can I say? The lad has excellent taste.

Jen hit the road rolling today, as she and Owen were snapped filming another scene for Marley & Me. Clearly one of the earlier (early ’90’s) scenes in the book - gotta love the scrunchie! Wait a second . . . she somehow even manages to make that look good. She truly has magical powers. Including the ability to defy age - is she really 39? She looks so young!

Check out I’m Not Obsessed for even more pics of Jen behind the wheel of this very period-appropriate vehicle!

After Jen’s break during Owen and Eric’s newsroom scenes, it seems that she’s returned to Miami and jumped right back into filming Marley & Me! According to reports (including one from the Herald-Tribune), Florida governor Charlie Crist paid a visit to the set on Friday, and Jen and Owen were both there that day. City Manager Pete Hernandez was on hand, along with Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, who blogged about his experience on the set, as well as the benefits that a city like Miami can reap from the film industry. Check out his entry (as well as a sweet group shot) here.

Also, Marley fans may want to check out the Sun-Sentinel’s Marley & Me quiz. Test your smarts on the world’s worst dog! And no cheating - save your visit to www.marleyandme.com for after you take the quiz!

Jen’s been a busy woman, hard at work on the Miami set of Marley & Me. However, she had a bit of a break this week, as Owen’s been filming scenes without her at the Fort Lauderdale offices of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where John Grogan worked during his early “Marley days.” Owen and Eric “McSteamy” Dane have been filming their scenes this week; People shows the onscreen colleagues on the set on Monday. The Sun-Sentinel has shared their inside account of the action, as well as the insights of Sun-Sentinel employees who worked as extras and saw it all! While some of John’s actual former colleagues were on the set (including one who actually dogsat Marley), one thing has changed from real life to reel life - Eric’s character, Sebastian Tunney, is completely fictional.

Jen has used her time off to spend some time with friends back in LA. PopSugar has pictures of Jen leaving Courteney’s house earlier this week, looking gorgeous and with MacBook Pro in hand. The friends would meet up again very soon, in a more festive setting, as Splash News reports that Jen was later spotted at last night’s opening of Eva Longoria’s new restaurant Beso; Courteney and David were also reported to be in attendance, along with Jason Bateman, who played realtor Riggleman in The Break-Up. The video on Splash indicates that Jen’s trek into the restaurant was a swift one, as she almost evaded the paparazzi. Anyway, it looks like Jen’s fully enjoying her break!

Now you see ‘em . . .

now you don’t!

Are those bangs just a bit of movie magic? New Marley & Me set pictures show Jen sporting bangs . . . sometimes. Other pictures, presumably taken upon her arrival onset and prior to hair and makeup, show her without the fringe. It seems that some sort of styling trickery is involved, but as the old Clairol ads used to say, only her hairdresser knows for sure!

Anyway, PopSugar has other pics from the set, including an adorable one of Jen getting affectionate with her own furry friend Norman! Wonder if this project will afford Norman the opportunity to get back to his acting roots with a cameo, alongside Dolly, Jen’s other dog - either way, it does seem like fate that someone like Jen, with her real-life love for dogs, is involved in Marley’s tale.

Jen spent her St. Patrick’s Day hard at work on the Miami set of Marley & Me, wearing shorts bearing the logo of Central Michigan University (Jenny Grogan’s alma mater?). PopSugar has more pictures of Jen on the set; I’m particularly fond of this one, as it’s wonderful to see her sharing a laugh with her good friend Chris!

On a side note, here’s something totally random that I noticed: Jen’s next four movies will be released in alphabetical order! Check it out:

He’s Just Not That Into You - August 1, 2008
Management - September 19, 2008
Marley & Me - December 25, 2008
Traveling - early 2009

Clearly I spend entirely too much time geeking out about Jen’s new movies, but I think that it’s understandable when they all look like they’re going to be so good!

I’d like to wish my readers, whether Irish or Irish at heart, a very happy St. Patrick’s Day! Of course, Jen fans already know of one very festive flick pick; Leprechaun is not only Jen’s first feature film, but a cautionary tale - don’t mess with a leprechaun’s gold!

While not Irish, Jen is certainly sharing in a bit of luck herself, as she soaks up the sun while on location in Miami. The Daily Mail has pictures of Jen looking phenomenal while sunbathing over the weekend. Check out the Smartwater in the ice bucket - clearly, it does a body good! Although I for one can’t get enough of her on the set with her costars, both human and canine - they make a very photogenic screen family, and I can’t wait to see them in theaters!

While it seems that Jen has moved on to her next project, is it possible that Traveling is still rolling? According to the Seattlest, filming has been going on this week in Seattle on the project; the picture under the link shows trailers set up near Pike Place Market.

While my initial reaction was that this has to be one of Aaron’s non-Jen scenes, I’ve begun to think that that may not necessarily be the case. Seattlest’s article contains a notice that seems to suggest that there are two people involved in the scene; Jen just may be one of the two. While her most recent known whereabouts would seem to make this unlikely, it is not impossible to fly in and out in a short timespan. And given Seattle’s blustery weather, it’s not entirely implausible that Eloise might wear a hat. We shall see . . .

As production has begun on Marley & Me, all eyes have been on Jen during her time in Miami. On Friday, Jen was snapped on the set of the movie, rocking her new ‘do and a gorgeous pink dress (check out PopSugar for pics). She is pictured with her hilarious costar Owen Wilson and the lucky dog playing Marley - don’t they make a lovely screen family?

Jen has also been turning heads while the cameras aren’t rolling - People has been reporting her sightings around town. Jen has been staying at the Mandarin Oriental hotel and once again taking advantage of everything that her filming location has to offer. She was first spotted on Thursday night, enjoying some after-work drinks with pals, as well as her own “woman’s best friend”:

Jennifer Aniston polished off her Thursday shooting Marley & Me – which costars Owen Wilson and Grey’s Anatomy’s Eric Dane – with a lychee martini at Mandarin Oriental’s Martini Bar in Miami.

Looking slightly sunburned and exhausted, according to a fellow patron, the actress shared her late cocktail hour with a small entourage – a gal and two guys and even Norman, Aniston’s dog, who was brought down for his nightly stroll after drinks were done.

The article goes on to note that Jen has been very friendly and has been using the hotel gym alongside other guests - as she has on previous location shoots, it appears that she is once again thoroughly enjoying her home away from home.

A new tidbit, also from People, goes on to detail Jen’s whereabouts over the weekend. It appears that she opted to follow an afternoon of script-reading with shopping at some of Miami’s classiest shops:

It was a mix of business and pleasure on Friday – with the actress hanging out and reading her script at the Mandarin Oriental pool, before getting in some retail therapy a day later.

Aniston hit the Bal Harbour Shops, sipping a cup of specialty coffee as she walked briskly around the elegant mall with her two bodyguards – and made stops at Chanel, Ferragamo, Gucci, Neiman Marcus and Prada.

Marley & Me is off to an auspicious start, as it has been reported that John and Jenny Grogan are very happy to have Owen and Jen portraying them. As this production continues to roll on, we can look forward to many more Jen sightings - and many more Marley hijinks!

After much anticipation, it’s official: production is underway on Marley & Me, based on the memoir by John Grogan. In the scene shot today (March 6) in Miami, it looks like Jen and Owen are having some car trouble! Check out Gossip Girls and Faded Youth for more pictures of Jen and Owen on the set - and check out those bangs! A great new look for a great new movie.

Speaking of things to look at, check out Faded Youth’s pics of Owen and Eric filming a snorkeling scene! Yes, that is one shirtless Eric Dane, captured on film for our viewing pleasure. Not that, you know, his shirtlessness isn’t utterly vital to the plot. I, for one, admire his unwavering commitment to his craft. And . . . enjoy!

Variety has reported some casting news that will make Grey’s Anatomy fans like myself very, very happy. According to the publication, Eric Dane, who plays Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloane on the show, has been cast in Marley & Me! He will play a friend of John (Owen Wilson) who encourages him to get a dog. That dog, of course, being Marley.

Speaking of such matters, it appears that another role has been filled in this production - that of the dog himself! According to Pet Pourri, a yellow Labrador Retriever by the name of Clyde has been cast as Marley. I can literally say that that is one lucky dog! Follow the above link for some insights on the unique challenges that are inherent in getting a dog to misbehave on cue. Also, those who have read the book might recognize shades of Marley in this article by Susan at My Friendly Pets - for that matter, I think that any dog owner can relate!

Any Floridians in the crowd? According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Lori Wyman Casting is looking for extras of all ages and ethnicities to work on this film. Follow the link for details. As I know that my own experience working on a Jen film was truly an unforgettable one, I would love to see another Jen fan have the opportunity.

Finally, although it has been reported that filming will begin on March 10, it seems that Jen and Owen are in Miami already. According to the Daily Mail, they are both in town for the Miami International Film Festival. Although the linked article includes a pic of Owen soaking up the Florida sunshine, no such pics have surfaced of Jen yet. To be continued . . .

According to Variety, Marley & Me has a new release date. It will open on December 25, 2008, making it a Christmas Day release like Rumor Has It three years before it. Even though they say not to act with animals or children, this flick will have to break both of those rules, and it will be all the more heartwarming for it. It will without a doubt resonate with families who have gathered for the December holidays.

Word has also surfaced of a definite schedule for filming to begin. According to articles such as this one, production is set to begin on March 10 in Miami. This is costar Owen Wilson’s first film since his August suicide attempt, and it is my hope that he is able to enjoy good health and happiness as he returns to once again light up the screen.

With the many movies that Jen currently has in production or already in the can, Jen fans can look forward to her making plenty of public appearances later in the year. He’s Just Not That Into You, Management, and Marley & Me are all set to come out this year, with Traveling set for its release early next year, and with that, we can be certain that Jen will be a very busy woman, and that she will look fabulous all the while.

I for one am very interested to see what statements she makes on the red carpet this year. As seen above, she is very fond of the classic little black dress, but there are only so many LBD’s a woman can wear! In the past, she’s branched out by wearing various light neutrals, and even the occasional showstopping red dress. One of my personal favorite looks for Jen is a more ethereal look, like she opted for at the 2004 Emmys. In coming months, there just may be a suitable opportunity for her to make yet another stunning statement like that.

More casual appearances, such as press conferences, call for polish, and in her casual style Jen certainly delivers that, as she has always favored sophisticated basics in her everyday wardrobe. She is also very consistent in her approach to red carpet beauty, and upcoming appearances will likely prove no exception. Whether straight or wavy, she usually wears her hair down for public appearances, although the few updos she’s tried have been lovely as well. And she always opts for a minimal, classy approach with the makeup, letting her natural beauty carry whatever she’s wearing.

So tell me: what do you think she’ll be wearing on the red carpet this year?

As Vince has said, Jen has “Elvis dust”, and it is understandable that any fan would want a bit of the magic. However, very few would go to the lengths that one Oregon woman did. Recent reports indicate that things got a bit exciting on the set of Jen’s recently wrapped film Management. According to this report from KGET, one of Jen’s costumes went missing when a woman broke into Jen’s trailer, posing as a wardrobe assistant. The woman was caught when costar Woody Harrelson saw the woman dancing around in the wedding gown. Jen tended to the woman while others on set contacted local mental health professionals, and presumably, order was soon restored.

In other news, there has been a casting update for another upcoming Jen project; Alan Arkin has been cast in Marley & Me. Arkin, who was recently seen in Little Miss Sunshine, will play the editor of the newspaper where John (Owen Wilson) works. According to Variety, the project is set to begin filming in the spring, and it is already shaping up to be a very exciting prospect. Now the question remains - what lucky dog will play Marley?

Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson, Management, Alan Arkin, Owen Wilson, Marley & Me, casting

One of Jen’s most exciting upcoming projects is Marley & Me, directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) and costarring Owen Wilson as author John Grogan. Jen will play John’s wife Jenny, and based on my recent reading of the memoir (as well as pictures of Jenny in this gallery on Grogan’s site), I think that this is a great casting choice. Not only is there an undeniable physical resemblance, but Jen shares Jenny’s intelligence and warmth, qualities that are essential to the role.

At the start of the book, John and Jenny are newlyweds who decide that a dog would be great practice for children. It then follows the couple for over a decade as they acclimate to the challenges that their spirited new companion presents, as well as the emotional roller coaster of starting a family. True to life itself, this story has powerful highs and lows, and Jen is ideally suited to the task of conveying the wide array of emotions necessary to do it justice.

According to this article in the Hollywood Reporter, the film is already slated for a December 19 release, just in time for the ‘08 holiday season:

Also on deck for Dec. 19 is Fox’s comedy drama “Marley & Me,” directed by David Frankel (”The Devil Wears Prada”) and written by Scott Frank (”The Interpreter”). Starring are Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston.

“Marley” is the name of an adorable but neurotic Labrador puppy who teaches some important life lessons to the couple who adopt him.

Casting for the roles of the couple’s children is already underway, and it is thought that filming will begin in March, soon after Traveling wraps. Given that much of the book takes place in Florida and Pennsylvania, it also seems that some location filming is likely. This project is definitely one to look forward to!

Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson, Marley & Me, John Grogan, Jenny Grogan, upcoming films