• Cinematical has this to say about the upcoming Cold Souls, which has perhaps one of the creepier posters I've seen in a while: "Paul Giamatti [stars] as an actor (appropriately named Paul Giamatti) who decides he wants to put some of his soul in storage in order to help better tackle a new role. [...] Cold Souls is a beautifully shot film, and it also becomes more than a little bit moving, as Giamatti struggles with a question we've all asked ourselves: Is it possible to remove the burden of our soul without taking away the benefit of it? Is it the very weight we struggle under that makes us strong? Deep questions, but Cold Souls is also funny; there are fast, laugh-out-loud gags like Giamatti's compensation anxiety over the small size of his extracted soul ("It looks like a chickpea!") or the Russian trophy wife obsessed with getting an American actor's extracted soul so she can implant it and do better Soap Opera work."
• Tim Burton's artwork will be featured at MoMA. The show will include more than 700 pieces: paintings, drawings, storyboards, maquettes, puppets and other work created or designed by Burton.
• I Watch Stuff has the poster for Ice Age 3 and makes a notable observation: the squirrel character's face is very phallic (twig and berries and all) as he ogles the eyelash-batting female squirrel. Now if only this poster were in 3D...
• Via The Movie Blog, Natalie Portman has joined Darren Aronofsky's film Black Swan, about "a veteran ballerina (Portman) who finds herself locked in a competitive situation with a rival dancer, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance. But it’s unclear whether the rival is a supernatural apparition or if the protagonist is simply having delusions."
• Cinematical's James Rocchi has a positive Sundance review of Moon, the "smart science fiction" thriller starring Sam Rockwell.
• While we're on the topic of science fiction, here's an awesome timeline by Dan Meth detailing when the movies were made (to the left of the vertical line) and how far into the future they take place (to the right of the vertical line). Click to enlarge.
• Surprise, surprise. The Hangover is getting a sequel. Why should Hollywood have any original ideas when they can capitalize off a previous success? It seems like any box office success will automatically get a sequel.
• Here's a current debate regarding female protagonists in films: Cinematical responds to Linda Holmes' request for better female leads. Holmes begs Pixar to have a female lead that isn't a princess, and Monika Bartyzel at Cinematical begs people to realize that this isn't a political issue. Holmes makes the case that "little Russell, in Up, is Asian-American, right? And that's not a big plot point; presumably, he just is because there's no particular reason he shouldn't be. You don't need him to be, but you don't need him not to be, either. It's not politics; it's just seeing the whole big world." Bartyzel agrees: "Look, women aren't flukes. We love, we hate, we learn, we fight. We go to movies. We want diversity in our interests just like everyone else. We want to see films with females in the lead roles where the characterization isn't seeped in cliche. [...] And we'd like to express our desires without having it fall into a political discussion, without our reasonable desire thrown off as a feminist rant or bit of political correctness."
• And lastly, URLesque has a list of the 10 best recut movie trailers, including When Harry Met Sally and Amelie as horror films, the latter of which is really fantastic ("You can run. She doesn't have to."). Of course, they've included my favorite recut trailer: Sleepless in Seattle as a thriller about an obsessive stalker -- which actually isn't too far from the truth.
• I Watch Stuff reports: "Natalie Portman and Brad Pitt have signed on to star in an adaptation of the Leanne Shapton lengthy-titled book Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry. Romantic comedy just got incredibly pretentious." As much as I love long titles, this one's not doing much for me, and I think the mock suggestion for Bidding on the Heart as a title is both hilarious and appropriate.
• Via Cinematical: Seriously? Seats with synchronized motion? I understand the importance of "dreaming of a better tomorrow," but can't this tomorrow involve a cure for cancer instead of a needless toy intended to generate more money for the culture industry? (Thanks, Adorno!)
• Cinematical is irritated by Sci-Fi's switch to Syfy. I concur. It's a stupid name, and it's insulting to sci-fi fans. (Not to go all Adorno on you again, but the Sci-Fi channel can't really trademark a genre... it's always about money, isn't it?)
• Speaking of remakes, will Rihanna and Channing Tatum fill the shoes of Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner is a remake of The Bodyguard? This is one of the few remakes I'm actually okay with. My main problem is that studios are remaking GOOD films simply because they're older (The Day the Earth Stood Still, ahem). I'm fine with them remaking bad movies. And let's be honest, guys, The Bodyguard is not a good movie. You know what other movies are bad? Pretty Woman (it's sexism masquerading as female empowerment!) and Ghost.
• Film Junk had a poll for Best Time Travel Movie, and Back to the Future came out on top with 45% of the votes, followed by 12 Monkeys (15.6%), Terminator 2 (11.8%), and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure is in 5th place with 4.3%. I think Bill and Ted's should higher, and as much as I love Back to the Future, 12 Monkeys is a perfect science-fiction film.
I don't which of the following makes me happiest, but I am ecstatic to announce all of them.
• Michael Cera has finally signed on for an Arrested Development movie!!! I think I just blue myself! Arrested is my second favorite television show (right after BSG, right before Mad Men), and I am oh-so curious to see what new ideas Gob will come up with (will any ever match "Fuck Mountain"??) or what other phobias Tobias has (because you know the Never-Nude is not the only one). Eek!
• Michel Gondry is in talks to direct The Green Hornet. Yes, the one with Seth Rogen. Yes, the film that will no doubt be the most random amalgamation of awesomeness ever. How can this get any weirder? I know. Cast Meryl Streep as Rogen's love interest... and then everyone BUT Streep is nominated for an Oscar.
• This news is somewhat hidden in the spoiler chat (so don't click on the link if you don't like spoilers!), but according to Kristin at E!, Alan Tudyk will star as Alpha on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. Be still my beating, bursting heart. Tudyk played Wash on Firefly (it really is true that Whedon keeps the paychecks coming for his merry band of men), and Wash is a favorite character in the Whedonverse. He was everything Xander on Buffy the Vampire Slayer tried to be but couldn't be. I'm surprised this news hasn't broken out elsewhere -- which makes me question the validity of the announcement -- but Tudyk would certainly heat things up on the show. And, oh, he's pretty damn easy on the eyes.
• And lastly, what may be the nicest surprise ever, NBC has announced that Andy Richter will be reteaming with Conan O'Brien on The Tonight Show. They were such a good team back in the day, and they have such great chemistry together. (If you missed O'Brien's last appearance on Late Night, watch it over at Hulu, and definitely pay attention at the 5:58 mark for O'Brien's early reporting on a team of people who played "old-timed baseball." Doesn't get much better than that.) In addition to joining O'Brien in some sketches (O'Brien has reassured us that his humor will not be "growing up" when it moves to an earlier timeslot, yay!), Richter will also be the announcer -- which means we will get some Richter-O'Brien lovin' every night.
• Joaquin Pheonix was on The Late Show with David Letterman last night, and it's not a pretty sight. Whether he's under the influence of some substance (the glasses do not hide the fact that his eyes can't focus) or acting, it's extremely uncomfortable and in no way going to do anything for his career. I've always had a soft spot for Pheonix, so it's difficult to watch someone with so much talent on an obvious downward spiral.
In order for class stratification and nobility to be properly instilled, the supers need to exploit the commoners for their own gain. On the flip side, however, it could be interpreted that instead of simply intending to save Metroville, the Incredibles aimed to cleverly thrust themselves back into the spotlight instead (in hopes of reclaiming superheroic greatness.) Thus, The Incredibles presents a very murky conclusion to the Nietzschean dichotomy that they had originally established in act one: it showed that it is possible to return to pseudo-greatness—or perhaps even Nietzschean greatness itself—after the birth of mediocrity, but it did not attempt to establish how permanent this form of greatness would be, nor how Nietzschean of a form it took; superheroic nobility was implied to once again be celebrated but there was no suggestion that the commoners had learned their lesson and accepted Nietzsche’s ideal of a “natural” society—one in which class stratification is strict and the growth of the noblemen is the outcome of a self-centered will to power. Hence, The Incredibles’ narrative coming full circle seems to suggest that the superhero is permanently compromised by the slave revolt.
• Now, this is geek-tastic. The Vader Project, via Cinematical, "features 100 reimagined Darth Vader helmets created by some of today's most talked-about underground and pop surrealist painters, artists and designers." It's exhibiting at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. Visit The Vader Project website.
• This is older news, but still worth noting because of the actress involved... Cate Blanchett has replaced Sienna Miller in Nottingham, the Robin Hood update with Russell Crowe. And despite my protests, Crowe will not be playing Maid Mariam.
• And lastly, for Valentine's Day, please give out these STD e-cards to your loved ones.
[Via Film Junk.] Howard the Duck is finally coming to DVD. You may all rejoice now that you have human-on-duck sex at your disposal.
Film School Rejects reviews Sundance films Paper Heart, Don't Let Me Drown, and Dare. It might be worth noting that Paper Heart stars Michael Cera and his real-life girlfriend Charlyne Yi (best known for her role as Martin Starr's stoner girlfriend in Knocked Up).
[Via Throwing Things.] "In a rare nexus of the Sorkinverse, Whedonverse, and Abramsverse, Sorkin Family Player Bradley Whitford is apparently about to sign for a lead role in Cabin in the Woods, a horror/thriller to be directed by Drew Goddard (who wrote Cloverfield as well as a bunch of episodes of both Lost and Alias, and who played "Fake Thomas Jefferson" in Dr. Horrible) and co-written by Goddard and Whedon. (Perhaps even stranger is that the movie will co-star Richard Jenkins.)"
Above, "the writer of Forrest Gump brings you the touching story of a man-child told through flashbacks using thick New Orleans voiceovers." Others have previously noted how similar The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is to Forrest Gump, but this video from FunnyorDie.com really sells this idea with split-screen. "If you only see one version of Forrest Gump this year..."
[Via The Movie Blog.] The Veronica Mars movie might actually be made, now that creator Rob Thomas has some spare time between Cupid scripts.
[Via Film School Rejects.] Really? Judd Appatow wants to make a horror film with SNL cast member Bill Hader?
[Via Variety.] And now, the news I've been waiting for... Matt Weiner has signed on to produce/write two more seasons of Mad Men. Season three is set to premiere in July. I think season two is one of the greatest seasons I've ever seen on television, so I'm extremely interested to see where Weiner takes Don Draper next, and especially to see if they jump ahead another two years to 1964.
And now, one of the funniest things I've seen... and it's only funny to true die-hard Star Wars fans... Star Wars as told by someone who's never seen the films.
Film School Rejects has listed the 25 Most Anticipated Movies of 2009, and amongst them are James Cameron's The Lovely Bones, Wes Anderson's The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are, Ricky Gervais's This Side of Truth, and Judd Apataow's Funny People (which stars Eric Bana!!).
Via Film Junk, Mickey Rourke is in talks to play the villain in Iron Man 2, though it's not clear who that villain will be. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think Rourke should get back into the blockbuster arena. He shouldn't have a Robert Downey Jr.-sized comeback.
Cinematical reports that Adam Shankman is going to remake Bye Bye Birdie. I can't help but think, out of all the musicals, who would want to remake that one? And why won't someone bring the musical Ragtime to the screen?
Scott Weinberg at Cinematical lists his movie resolutions for the new year. 1. No more enjoyment of Milla Jovovich movies. 9. Find a way to cover hardcore pornography at Cinematical.
Den of Geek has the top 50 movie special effects shots -- complete with clips! I'll save you the suspense; #1 is from Jurassic Park where the T-Rex investigates the light (and the pupil dilates!). And I guess it would be cheating to have the entire film 2001: A Space Odyssey in the top 10, so they don't list the ultimate sci-fi film until #29 (entering the airlock without a helmet), which, yes, is absolutely unforgivable. Other notables: at #7, Hannibal Lecter eats Ray Liotta's brains for dinner in Hannibal; at #18, the receptionist recolors her nails in Total Recall (this beat the three breasted woman and the unlocking of the woman's mask?); and at #41 (seriously), the Dark Lord rises in Howard the Duck (seriously). I don't agree with list, but I appreciate the clips.
From The Movie Blog, Spartacus is coming to television. Anyone who's ever eaten at a restaurant with me knows that Spartacus is my code name because I'm always hoping that somewhere there is a man who will stand up at the announcement "Spartacus, part of two" and shout "NO! I AM SPARTACUS!" Apparently, this show, which is being developed by Starz, will not come from the page of Kubrick, who directed the 1960 film Spartacus. But that works in the show's favor because it could not keep a multi-season story working within that framework. I'd be really interested to watch this show -- simply because Spartacus is the ultimate underdog and I will always root for him.
Yet another Nicholas Sparks novel is being adapted for film. This time, it's Dear John. Let's see... it's about a soldier who falls in love with someone and then re-enlists after the 9/11 attacks. I don't even need to read the book, watch the movie, or heck, watch the trailer to know that someone dies -- most likely by self-sacrifice and for the good of the country. My friend was an extra on this film for a week, and he says that Channing Tatum, who plays the soldier, has done a good job... but I don't know if I can shake his Step Up persona. Regardless, I won't be seeing this movie.
Here's the trailer for Lord of the Rings and the Half-Blood Prince. Oh, wait, I'm sorry. This is the next Harry Potter installment. Excuse me while I roll my eyes.
Film School Rejects lists the 10 Hottest Sex Scenes on Film. The best part of the list is the commentaries. Who knew there were so many adjectives to use when describing sex? The commentaries are porn in their own right.
10. Damages Jeremy Irons lusts after Juliette Binoche and shows it by fucking her on every hard surface in his house. And make no mistake, the duo is not making love, they’re fucking. One scene starts on his desk before moving to a stand-up position against his counter top and, eventually, the floor. Binoche is on her back with her feet up around Irons’ neck, her thigh-high stockings rubbing against his face as he thrusts into her French patisserie, gently knocking her head against the floor each time. Her moans begin to match the impacts until finally they both stop happily and simultaneously… and then they move to the bed.
Film School Rejects also creates a list of 7 Rejected High School Musical Plotlines. It's hard to decide which one is my favorite, but it may very well be High School Nudical, solely for the musical number:
In an effort to widen their audience, High School Nudical begins with drama teacher Ms. Darbus’s retirement from the school system and a much-needed vacation to the Caribbean. However, her replacement is a young, Danish teacher (played by Charlize Theron) who corrupts the now-full drama club by forcing them to do a reprisal of Hair, complete with full frontal nudity. After seeing what Troy is packing, Sharpay finally loses interest in him, but sparks still fly when Kelsi comes out of the Disney closet and tries to pry Gabriella away from Troy. Meanwhile, Chad has become a full-fledged hippie, coming under the influence of the classic free-love musical. Eschewing the tenants of capitalism, Chad slowly builds an underground network, creates a commune and firebombs the school during, “Hoony-Boony-Lacka-Wacka-Die-Capitalist-Pig-Dogs (The Clap Hands Song)”. The crew is split by political association, but after the national guard is called in to quell the uprising, and most of the minor characters are killed, Troy, Gabriella, Chad and Sharpay mourn their brethren and celebrate their enduring friendship with some of Zeke’s Freedom Cupcakes as dawn breaks on a new morning.
And lastly, studios are apparently looking to remake Hitchcock's The Birds, which is just mind-boggling. Isn't this movie so great because it's ridiculously campy and absurd and filled with horrible special effects... and yet you still freak out by flocks of birds? How can they "update" or "reimagine" this movie without destroying the silliness of the original? Is Hollywood so unoriginal that they can't even make remakes of movies worth remaking -- like, say, Audrey Hepburn's Wait Until Dark?
Showtime has just ordered two more seasons of Dexter. I'm with Alan Sepinwall on this: the idea of Dexter should have been one-to-two seasons but two more seasons will be overkill for the character. This third season is not nearly as intriguing as the first nor as entertaining as the second. The first season dealt with the history of Dexter and an idolizing man-crush from his secret brother (who looks nothing like him), and the second season dealt with Dexter choosing the code of civilization over the code of Harry (he kills the one person who accepts him as he is!). This third season is not interesting in the realms of psychology or sociality, and they're taking Rita and Deb into boring territory. Side note: Part of the attraction of Rita and Dexter was that they didn't have sex, but now that they do, they do it all of the time. It's not so much a will-they/won't-they scenario, but there's no real conflict in that relationship anymore (and no, her pregnancy does not count).
Yet another Chuck Palahniuk novel is going to be adapted for screen. Seriously? This time it's Haunted. But again I ask, seriously?
A sequel to The Hulk has been announced. But there have been rumblings that Edward Norton doesn't want to do a sequel, so... what? Marvel will have three Hulk movies with three different Hulks? Who do they think the Hulk is -- Dr. Who or James Bond? He can't be reinvented three times in one decade.
Director Ridley Scott is returning to science-fiction to direct The Forever War. From Film Junk, it's about "an intergalactic battle between Earth and an alien species known as the Taurans. Soldiers enter the fray by using something similar to wormholes, which allow them to cover massive amounts of space in a few seconds."
Everyone's been talking about Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, but let's be honest, she was underused and the jokes weren't that funny. What was funny, however, was Mark Wahlberg showing up to threaten Andy Samberg for doing an insulting impression of him the previous week. So what happens? With good heart, Wahlberg does a similar sketch. You can watch the original Andy Samberg impression over at the NBC website, and in case you don't understand why it's funny, it's because Wahlberg really does talk like that! It's a stupid sketch set up to display Samberg's impression.
Over at The Movie Blog, John has posted October predictions of the Oscars, and I have to say, his Best Picture list isn't bad: WALL-E (it's about time another animated film is up for Best Picture), In Bruges (as John writes, "tragically underrated"), Burn After Reading, The Dark Knight, and Son of Rambow. It's an interesting post that notes that The Soloist has been pushed back and The Changeling is getting mixed reviews, so maybe the Oscars might actually open up to include mainstream blockbusters and animation in their oft-stuffy Best Picture category. But... probably not.
2009: A Space Odysseus? Reportedly, Brad Pitt is in talks to play a sci-fi version of Odysseus. Considering my love for science-fiction and the Classics, this should be right up my alley. But considering how Hollywood destroys Classical stories and the way Pitt portrayed Achilles in one of my least favorite films, Troy, I just can't get behind this idea. And, oh yeah, this movie was already made, and it's called 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Kubrick made a parallel allegory to The Odyssey that, I guarantee, is far superior than anything Hollywood will make today. Of course, O, Brother Where Art Thou? comes in at a not-close-at-all second.
And lastly, to end on a good note, here's the most fabulous news I've heard in a while: Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, and Alec Baldwin will star in a Rom-Com. It's fabulous because, of course, the actors, but it's also fantastic because it bothers me that most rom-coms are targeted towards 13-25 year olds. What's funnier than these two actors vying for Streep's love and affection? It will be written and directed by Nancy Meyers, who wrote and directed Father of the Bride.
The Big Bang Theory: This is obviously not a review but my favorite quotes from Monday night's episode. From what I hear, Sara Gilbert's character will be getting romantically involved with her arch-nemesis, Sheldon. Normally I hate the despised cliché of two-people-hate-each-other-but-really-love-each-other (because really, sometimes different sexes really do just hate each other), but because this show is a comedy and because it's those two, this idea is really funny to me.
Penny: AFK? Sheldon: Away from keyboard. Penny: Oh, I see. Sheldon: And what does that stand for? Penny: Oh. I. See. Sheldon: Yes... but what does it mean?
That Awkward Guy: What the frak?
Cinematical brings you the funniest ladies of 2008. I definitely agree with #7 Elizabeth Banks (she was hilarious on Scrubs), #4 Amy Poehler (loved her in Blades of Glory -- she and her real-life husband Will Arnette are hysterical together), #2 Sarah Silverman (her politically incorrect political short film is hilarious), and of course, #1 Tiny Fey (she did just win her second consecutive Outstanding Actress for a Comedy Series Emmy).
I'm glad to see that other people love Chuck as much as I do. Both Film School Rejects and Alan Sepinwall loved Monday night's episode, which was apparently an allusion to My Favorite Year.
Lastly, I recently saw Raging Bull -- AFI's current #4 greatest film of all time. I hated it. It was two and a half hours of blatant misogyny and violence. I love violence don't me wrong, but the whole point behind sports movies is that we root for the underdog. Robert de Niro may have won an Oscar for his performance, but it doesn't make his character (based on a real boxer) any less of a douchebag. Seriously, how could Scorsese make a movie about a guy with zero redeeming qualities??
Will Smith is set to star as The Last Pharaoh. No, not Cleopatra. That would be too accurate. Rather, he will play Taharqa, the Egyptian pharaoh who battles Assyrian invaders. Now, I really like Will Smith, I do. He's charismatic and fun to watch. But I don't like action-star Will Smith. I don't like that persona. He should demand to bring more drama to his action roles because I really loved him in I Am Legend (he broke my heart) and The Pursuit of Happyness. So I hope this movie is less 300 (90% visuals, 10% history -- although it was 98% historically accurate, the history took a backseat to the graphic-novel visualization) and more I Am Legend. Or even Independence Day. He was emotional and dramatic in that movie and I took him seriously.
Howl, an ensemble period movie about the banning and subsequent court trial of Allen Ginsberg's collection of poems (Howl) in 1956. James Franco will star as Ginsberg, and Mary-Louise Parker, Alan Alda, Jeff Daniels, David Straithairn, and Paul Rudd have also signed onto the cast. All will apparently play fictional of versions of real people. Parker, as a member of the prosecution, will play radio personality Gail Potter, and Daniels will play Prof. David Kirk. Staithairn adds to the prosecution as attorney Ralph McIntosh. Lovable Rudd will play literary critic Luther Nichols for the defense, and Alda will play Judge Clayton Horn.
In what may be the strangest pairing since Adam Sandler and Emily Watson in Punch-Drunk Love, Julie Andrews will be in a movie with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. They will star in Tooth Fairy about a minor league hockey player (Andrews -- no, just kidding, it's The Rock) who has a tendency to know out the teeth of his opponents. And then somehow, he's roped/punished into playing the role of the Tooth Fairy for a week, and Andrews plays a supervisor for the tooth fairies. (Apparently there are many of them.) The movie sounds horrible, but like Elisabeth Rappe at Cinematical, I also want to see " to see [Andrews] browbeat The Rock and force him into pink outfits." Plus, Stephen Merchant will play the Clarence Oddbody of tooth fairies. He's waiting for his wings and in the meantime must work as a case worker under Andrews. Stephen Merchant against Mary Poppins? That might be worth suffering through the silly plot.
In potential offensive casting news, Tom Cruise may star in a version of Douglas Preston's book The Monster of Florence (his company, United Artists, recently bought the rights) about Preston's real investigation into Italy's version of Jack the Ripper. Perhaps Cruise might star as the serial killer or as the protagonist. He could be Clarice or Hannibal. This is a Cruise rumor that I don't particularly like because whatever his next new project will be (after Valkyries) needs to be a starring vehicle to bring him into popular opinion with the public. And as far as I'm concerned, Tropic Thunder did not put him back in my good favor. And besides, why should Cruise get to run around Italy when I am much more deserving?
Edward Norton, everyone's favorite actor, is starring in Tim Blake Nelson's upcoming Leaves of Grass. Norton will play dual roles as twin brothers -- one is an Ivy League philosophy professor (sweet!), and the other is an intelligent marijuana grower. There's a drug scheme that unravels, entangling the two. It's billed as a "comedic thriller," which is interesting. Perhaps Marijuana-Ed is a slapstick character? And because Norton worked with Nelson before, I'm not too concerned that Norton will overthrow the director and re-edit the film to his liking (ahem, American History X).
From Variety: Guillermo del Toro is booked until 2017 some really potentially awesome projects. I think everyone's fairly aware of his attachment to The Hobbit, but he's also looking to make Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Frankenstein. I'm most excited about the last one, and I dearly hope he casts Doug Jones as Frankenstein's monster. (If you want to know more about him, you can watch this short interview about his two roles in Pan's Labyrinth.) Hopefully this adaptation will be more faithful than the previous ones, and I would love Doug Jones in the part because, as the novel describes the monster, he's oddly beautiful in a haunting and dangerous way. I could go on a whole rift about Shelley's Frankenstein, but I won't. I have a lot of faith in del Toro's ability to transfer the dualities of the novel (nature/science, Kantian/Burkian sublime, thought/action, community/isolation, human/inhuman) to the big screen. Also worth noting, del Toro plans on adapting H.P. Lovecraft's novella At the Mountains of Madness.
From Film Junk:Ghostbusters 3 is coming, and it is to be penned by writers from The Office. Sony is looking to reunite the cast, and... Zzzz. Sorry, I fell asleep. I couldn't care less about this franchise. I loved the original films, but only as nostalgia pieces. Don't we all get a little misty-eyed when remembering the good ol' days with Mr. Marshmallow Man? Man, gas was only a dollar back then. The sequel was ridiculous fun (and I prefer it to the first one), but I'll never forgive it for making kids think art galleries are creepy.
From Cinematical: Acting couple Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly have signed on to play Charles and Emma Darwin in Creation (hmm, a multi-layered title, I like). The film will be directed by Jon Amiel and the script, based on Randal Keynes' book Annie's Box, is by John Collee. The film will supposedly portray Darwin as a man torn between his love for his deeply religious wife and his growing belief in a world where God has no place. The book focuses on Charles and Emma's first daughter, Annie, who died in 1851 when she was just ten years old. From this review:
The Darwin of these pages is an almost saintly figure: patient, reasonable, freethinking, only angered by cruelty. His boundless intellectual curiosity was combined with a relentless honesty. He insisted on sharing his scepticism about salvation with his wife, the devoted but devout Emma Wedgewood. As his father had predicted, this made her fearful about his prospects in the afterlife, and the gulf between them deepened as they grew older together. It was never deeper than when they lost the girl whom Darwin described as "the joy of the household".
The Darwin industry produces biographies regularly, but this one has a rare combination of emotional power and historical authority. Annie's death seems to have reinforced Darwin's doubts about religious consolation. As the author of a theory that relieved God of any responsibility for creating new species, Darwin found it hard to believe that he intervened in human life. And as a grieving parent, he found it impossible to see this death as part of any divine plan. It might have an explanation, even a cause, but no reason. Keynes's Darwin, in other words, is a thinker facing up to the realities of the secular world most of us now live in.
Also from Cinematical: Denzel Washington is set to star in the post-apocalyptic drama Book of Eli, and it will be directed by Albert and Allen. He will play "a lone hero in a not-too-distant apocalyptic future who must fight across America to bring society the knowledge that could be the key to its redemption." I hope this is the ideological opposite of Indy 4. This time, knowledge is power. (Thanks, Foucault!)
Also from Film Junk: Michael Cera says Arrested Development is in, well, arrested development. Actually, he says it's not happening, but I refuse to believe that. If there is anything good and true in this world, this beyond brilliant show will become a movie. Michael Cera is eventually going to grow out of his George Michael Bluth awkwardness (he's currently in his Michael Cera awkwardness phase), so this movie needs to be made pronto. I want more cousin-loving, dust-buster-sexing, Lucille/loose seal, Shemale, Steve Holt!, Fuck-Mountain goodness! Above is one of my favorite sequences... "If you're wondering why there're two sets of footprints in the sand, it's because I had to do another take."
And finally, the Dr. Horrible soundtrack is available on iTunes. If you've never seen the show (which should be a punishable crime), I recommend, in this order: "My Eyes" (NPH is so damn sexy in this song, a la his performance in Tick, Tick... BOOM!), "My Freeze Ray" (from Episode I, sets the tone of the Dr. Horrible-Penny relationship), and "Brand New Day" (from the funny Godzilla scene).
There you go, folks. Dr. Horrible in its entirety. Now you have no excuse to be lame.
With news that a Veronica Mars movie might be made (we're talking pre-preliminary talks), the fan community has a new nugget of hope to clutch on to. Now, my love for the show went down exponentially as the seasons continued, but Season 4 was going to jump five years into the future after Veronica graduated and joined the FBI. That would translate well to film, so creator Rob Thomas could just rewrite Season 4's mystery into a two-hour movie. Luckily for me (and other fans), they had already filmed some of the first episode and this footage leaked online (above). It looks absolutely fantastic, from Veronica's "you couldn't figure me out with an Idiot's Guide and the Rosetta Stone" to her "celebratory robot dance" lines. This movie could really showcase Kristen Bell's acting spectrum, since she seems to be so unbelievably dull in her other roles (Heroes, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Reefer Madness). Maybe if every fan chips in $5, we can get this movie made. We need our role model of spunk.
The following dates come from the latest Entertainment Weekly Fall Movie Preview issue. You know, the one with Daniel Radcliffe on the cover. These are the ones I'm at least interested in, but I've included the percentage chance that I will actually see it in the theater.
Sept. 12 Burn After Reading -- 5%. The latest Cohen brothers movie (who last directed No Country for Old Men) follows two idiot gym employees trying on CIA blackmail. It looks like dumb comedy posing as smart comedy but it's really dumb comedy.
Sept. 17 Appaloosa -- 85%. I don't like Westerns, persay, but I like loners and I like Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. Loses points for having Renée Zellweger as the love interest.
Sept. 19 Battle in Seattle -- 70%, trailer above. Anarchy. Humanism. The State vs. the people. As a bleeding heart liberal, this is right up my alley. Also, it's Stuart Townsend's first crack at writing and directing. The Duchess -- 5%. Looks at the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. The original trailer lacked information and confused rather than awed the audience. But I like period pieces. I'll wait for reviews or another trailer, whichever comes first.
Sept. 26 Blindness -- 95%, heck yes. Citywide blindness as allegory for the sight being the disadvantaged? Blindness as a metaphor for not really seeing the quotidian? Blindness as an excuse to examine how an "Other" civilization would survive? All interesting possibilities. Plus, it's by the director of City of God and The Constant Gardener. Choke -- 5%. Chuck Palahniuk. You either love him or think he's an overrated misogynist. Eagle Eye -- 50%. I couldn't care less about Shia LaBeouf's personal life. I enjoy his casual performances, and since finding out that Michelle Monaghan is in it, I'm even more interested. But Spielberg originally conceived of this idea before the days of iPhones and surveillance paranoia, so I don't know if there will be a pay off. It might come off kind of silly, like Phone Booth. The Lucky Ones -- 15%. Follows three soldiers returning from the Iraq War, including Tim Robbins and Rachel McAdams. I have avoided modern war movies on the Iraq War, but these two actors are very compelling. Nights in Rodanthe -- 15%. Richard Gere and Diane Lane fall in love again. For the third time. This is their third pairing after 1984's The Cotton Club and 2002's Unfaithful. I tend to prefer romantic films about older people falling in love. It seems more genuine and they have actual obstacles standing in their way.
Oct. 3 How to Lose Friends & Alienate People -- 5%, sorry Simon Pegg. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist -- 95%. This could be a modern teenage take on Before Sunrise, but without Vienna and stealing wine. Well, there could be wine-stealing... they are underage, you know. Religulous -- 70%, trailer above. At first, the trailer for Bill Maher's film on world religion looks to be mocking and at times insulting, but as you continue to watch, you realize there's something to be learned about acceptance of differences. A lot of those interviewed tell Maher he's limiting his understanding, presumably by summarizing their faith in neat ten-word sentences. But still, this film will not be lacking crazy people.
Oct. 10 City of Ember -- 50%. Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) finds herself on a journey to save her dying city from a failing power generator. The trailer looks quite inventive and aesthetically pleasing. Happy-Go-Lucky -- 85%, trailer above. What a find. Sally Hawkins stars as an infectiously optimistic primary school teacher. Normally this is a secondary character, a sidekick, an annoying Molly Shannon role, but here, Hawkins's Poppy is front and center. It's refreshing to have a happy person as the lead.
Oct. 24 Changeling -- 15%. Clint Eastwood is like the Meryl Streep of directors. He just gets nominated for all sorts of things. This star Angelina Jolie as a mother whose son is kidnapped. High School Musical 3: Senior Year -- 100%. Ha. Dollar theater, folks. I certainly can't miss out the guaranteed cheese-fest of the year! Did you see the second one? Zac Efron prances like a pixie through a golf course during a song. So ridiculously bad. Passengers -- I haven't seen a trailer for this yet (not in English, anyway), so I don't know. Anne Hathway stars as a grief counselor for plane crash survivors and ends up falling for one of them, played by Patrick Wilson. I like both leads, but I'm not a fan of crime thrillers. I tend to figure out the ending early on. It's not the studio's fault. It's mine for being, you know, attentive. Synecdoche, New York -- 100%. Two words: Charlie Kaufman. The most innovative screenwriter is now a first-time director, bringing to life his script about a theater director, Philip Seymour Hoffman, who attempts to create a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse as part of his new play. It was not well received as some festivals, but I read that he has retweaked it. No trailer is out yet, but I don't need to see one.
Oct. 31 Zach and Miri Make a Porno -- 20%. I dislike Kevin Smith and most of his movies, but I really love Mallrats and Chasing Amy, and I'm hoping this movie is closer to those than Clerks or Jersey Girl. Less profanity, more content. Oh, and it's about Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks making a porno. So yeah. What the title says.
Nov. 7 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa -- 20%. I can't help it. I liked the first one; the penguins were hilarious. I won't go out of my way to see this, but if I'm looking to avoid doing work or if someone asks me to go, I will gladly go. Quantum of Solace -- 100%. Casino Royale was such an intelligent film, and I've never been interested in James Bond. (The character's a bit outdated, admit it.) But Daniel Craig revitalized the character and I'm hoping that this next script will be just as character-driven as the first. And please, give us another strong female character like Vespar. Repo! The Genetic Opera -- 65%. Can't pay the organ-financing company for that organ you have? They'll repossess it. Sounds disgusting, but it's a musical. I'm game. And I'm crossing my fingers that Paris Hilton will die in the movie, even if for her to wear her "See Paris Die" shirt again.
Nov. 14 Australia -- 100%, trailer above. Australian epic. Baz Luhrman. Hugh Jackman. Please, this movie was made for me. And look at that cinematography! This one'll sweep up every award. Role Models -- 30%. I've had crushes on Paul Rudd and Sean Williams Scott ever since Clueless and The Rundown, respectively, although Mr. Woodcock was unforgivable. Still, these boys made me laugh in the trailer, and the "you white, then you Ben Affleck" line makes me so unbelievably happy.
Nov. 21 Twilight -- Less than 0%. Moved up from a Dec. 12 release because Half-Blood Prince moved from Nov. 21st to July 2009. This is only on here as a note to avoid the theater that God-forsaken weekend. The Soloist -- 25%. Joe Wright's (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement) latest film about a schizophrenic homeless man, Jamie Foxx, who dreams of playing at the Disney Concert Hall. Robert Downey Jr. also stars (he's really capitalizing on his comeback, who knows how long it'll last). Trailer's not out yet, but I trust Joe Wright and the cast includes two strong leads.
Dec. 12 The Day the Earth Stood Still (remake) -- 75%. I really, really liked the original. This movie would be right up my alley had I not seen or heard or known about the original, but it loses points for having Klaatu warn earth of environmental issues. We remember how well the The Happening did... oh yeah, no one saw it. My sixth sense is telling me that this will not be a good remake (are they ever?), but I think it will be intolerably bad. But as a cinephile, I will do my duty to see this film. Doubt -- 10%. Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman isn't a bad cast. It follows a nun who confronts a priest about sexually abusing a black student. Despite the obvious Oscar-bait themes, I'm more interested in the quick-fire dialogue between the two feuding stars, hoping there will be a strong commentary on morality, authority, and religion. Seven Pounds -- 15%, trailer above. Judging by the trailer, Will Smith's character is in a car accident and is buried under guilt until he decides to take action and find redemption, likely in the arms of Rosario Dawson's character. I prefer Will Smith in his dramatic roles (The Pursuit of Happyness and I Am Legend showcased solid heart-tugging performances), so this movie is in my peripheral vision.
Dec. 25 Bedtime Stories -- 1%. Two words: Adam Sandler. Translation: Avoid at all costs. Still, the plot is cute enough, and it will do extremely well as a Christmas movie. National Treasure was only a box office success because it was a family friendly affair, and people want happy light movies during the holidays. (God knows it wasn't Nicolas Cage's performance...) Sandler plays a father whose bedtime stories to his niece and nephew start to come true, but then things start to go wrong when the children start introducing scenes. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -- 95%, trailer above. Like Brokeback Mountain, this film is based off of a very short story, so I'm hoping a majority of the movie is about recreating the eras and settings. Brad Pitt stars in the title role as a man who was born old and grows to be a child. He falls in love with Cate Blanchett who ages normally. It's like The Time Traveller's Wife but better. Can you imagine being eighty years old and holding the baby-version of a man you love(d)? It's haunting. Another reason to see it: David Fincher is directing. He's my favorite current director, and I'll follow him anywhere. Need another reason? Brad Pitt's face is used for every single age of his character. This technology will be interesting to see. The Spirit -- 1%. Looks horrible and the campaigns were so postfeminist that they came right back around to sexist again. But the "Frank Miller style" is interesting.
Dec. 26 Revolutionary Road -- 75%. I heart director Sam Mendes for giving me American Beauty and I heart his real-life wife Kate Winslet for being amazing in just about everything. Hippes-turned-hipsters, Winslet and Leo DiCaprio play a married couple who deal with trials in their marriage regarding their choices to settle in suburbia. Winslet repeatedly refers to DiCaprio as her best friend, which is amazing. They kept a strong friendship from Titanic eleven years ago.
You've probably heard that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince's release has been pushed back a full year and will be released on July 17, 2009. Every spring, summer, and fall, Entertainment Weekly distributes a movie preview that is packed with two and three times the regular amount of pages. It's a highlight for EW subscribers, myself included, and this fall, Daniel Radcliffe graces the cover. But it's not just that the Half-Blood coverage is premature; it's that EW and Harry Potter share a parent company, Warner Bros.. Needless to say, they're a wee bit annoyed that no one cared to tell them about the switch. (Best part of that link: "EW readers now in possession of a 'Dewey Beats Truman' collectible.")
Films get moved around all of the time -- Valkyrie has had, what, ten different release dates? -- so why am I posting on this? Well, I take great issue with Warner Bros.'s excuse. They're blaming the writer's stike, of all things. What does the writer's strike have to do with this movie? The script was already written. Production had already gone underway, and unless those pint-sized leads decided to picket with the writers over in England, I really don't understand why the writer's strike would have any effect on them since Harry Potter takes years to plan/make. I don't know what the real reason is, perhaps intimidation from The Dark Knight? I know that this studio is really banking on the financial success of Half-Blood, and now that they have second dibs (Terminator Salvation already has their date fixed) on next year's summer blockbuster schedule, they can manipulate the release of any other film coming out next year.
But the teaser trailer's already out. They're in (or near) post-production. They just want more time... but the question is why? And stop blaming the writers!
Update, 8/19:Cinematical is debunking the Half-Blood Prince rumors, including Warner Bros.'s silly fear of Twilight's release, Radcliffe being in Equus, and that they were aiming to duplicate Dark Knight's box office success by releasing it on the one-year anniversary.
Joss Whedon's version of Batman: Whedon told MTV that once upon a time, he pitched a Batman reboot to Warner Bros when Batman Begins was in early development. "It wasn't what they did but the vibe was very similar. Mine was a bit less epic. It was more about the progression of him and it was more in Gotham City. He didn't go to Tibet and meet cool people, but it was very similar in vibe." But most interesting of all was the idea that he didn't plan on using any villains from the comic book canon. "In my version, there was actually a new [villain], it wasn't one of the classics - which is probably why they didn't use it. It was more of a 'Hannibal Lector' type - he was somebody already in Arkham Asylum that Bruce went and sort of studied with. It was a whole thing - I get very emotional about it, I still love the story. Maybe I'll get to do it as a comic one day."
Pheobe in Wonderland trailer
From Film School Rejects: "The film stars Elle, little sister of Dakota Fanning, as Pheobe, a creative-minded little girl whose wild imagination and often temperamental nature cast her out in school and with her family at home. She finds refuge though, in the company of an eccentric teacher, played by Patricia Clarkson. It is a whimsical little film that starts out as an often funny, quirky family film, but turns sharply toward a dark, heavy-hearted story of a troubled child." The trailer sparks my curiosity, but I wish they wouldn't have used Lennon's "Imagine" and used a more instrumental (and less recognizable) version instead.
Is Twilight anti-feminist? I don't know what upsets me more -- people saying "I'm not a feminist" (which means they don't think women are equal to men, even women say it!) or the insults hurled at feminists. "You didn't take your husband's last name? Very feminist of you. That'll help prevent abuse and secure equal rights for men and women everywhere." If I knew who this "Joe" guy was, I'd kick him the balls and watch him cry. Some of the comments are intelligent, most are not. But the ones that are intelligent are worth reading. (For the record, I am anti-Twilight.)
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People trailer
Truth be told, this movie really doesn't interest me. I love Simon Pegg and will watch anything he's in (even Big Nothing, his pre-Run Fatboy Run collaboration with David Schwimmer), but this has a bad plot, a dull trailer, and Kirsten Dunst and Megan Fox. On imdb.com, it has an 8.8 rating, but that could just be based off 5 votes of ten-year-olds.
Robert Downey Jr. talks about Sherlock Holmes on The Movie Blog: I didn't know Sherlock Holmes was a martial artist (apparently it's true to his original character)... but do we really need another action-packed movie? Sherlock is amazing for his brilliance, his ability of deduction, not his fists. So I'm a little concerned about this upcoming movie. I think CSI and Monk and all those other crime shows prove that you don't need action to create suspense. You need mystery and good writing. I'm looking for to Downey's performance (and his mustache!), but I'll wait until a trailer is released before I pass any judgement.
Dorian Gray rounds out its cast: Dorian Gray, based of course on Oscar Wilde's "Picture of Dorian Gray," has a full cast joining Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian, Stardust) and Colin Firth (Moody Sexy Man, which doesn't exist but should). This cast includes Rebecca Hall, Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Fiona Shaw, Maryam D’Abo, Pip Torrens, Douglas Henshall, Caroline Goodall, Michael Culkin, Johnny Harris and Max Irons. It wil be directed by Oliver Parker (An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest). I like a majority of the cast and I enjoy the director but, as usual in the fantasy genre, I'll wait until the trailer.
Boycotting Tropic Thunder?: There's been controversy surrounding Tropic Thunder and their overuse of the word "retard" in a negative way. There're boycotts and requests for apologies, and some are wondering if this is a case of political correctness gone too far. Situations like this always remind me of a conversation I had with a classmate in ninth grade:
Him: That's gay. Me: You shouldn't say that. It's offensive to gay people. Him: Fine, then it's retarded. Me: And that's offensive to mentally challenged people. Him: Fine, what should I say then? Me: I don't know. That's it's stupid. Him: But that's offensive to stupid people.
On the one hand, I absolutely disagree with using any classification in a negative way, especially in terms of race, gender, or sexuality. On the other hand, sometimes political correctness goes to far. Eventually we'll have to censor everything. And as Ben Stiller has noted, the movie is actually mocking the actors who overuse retard. So is it the movie's fault if stupider audiences walk away quoting the movie's offensive language, or is it the audience's fault for being stupid and not understanding the subtextual context? Hmm, tough call... but I'm not one for censorship of the arts. So my vote goes for Tropic Thunder.
The following are some recent trailers that have popped up that look interesting to me. The first one, Role Models, may not be on par with the Apatow flicks, but the cast has impeccable comedic timing. And McLovin' plays a caped geek. I'm more excited about these shenanigans because, unlike the Apatow flicks, I think this might actually have a developed story arc. The second movie, Appaloosa, is an Ed Harris directed western. Oddly enough, I don't like older westerns but newer westerns appeal to me. There's really no logical reason for it, but this trailer really intrigues me. I like no-nonsense asshole heroes, what can I say? And the third trailer, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, is 200 Cigarettes - New Year's Eve + George Michael Bluth. It's apparently a book adaptation and I don't know if it will appeal to anyone over the age of eighteen, but I really like the two leads so I'm rooting for this one.
Role Models Starring Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, and Sean Williams Scott
"You're white, then you Ben Affleck."
Appaloosa Starring Ed Harris (who also directed), Viggo Mortensen, and Renée Zellweger
"Matter of fact, I only shot two. Mr. Hitch shot the other one."
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist Starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings
"I found Jesus. Jesus! He's much taller in person."
Cinematical has posted a new Cinematical 7: actors who should play siblings. I used to confuse Frances O'Connor with Embeth Davidtz (in Mansfield Park I couldn't tell them apart), but lately I think the former has more similarities with Mary-Louise Parker, namely the eyes and nose. While I tend to agree with its author, Jeff Anderson -- Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts would make fantastic sisters -- I just can't see Christian Bale and Samantha Morton being related. I do agree that there are celebs who look alike (Brad Pitt and Benecio del Toro) but wouldn't necessarily have good sibling chemistry and that mannerisms should count as much as looks (Jack Nicholson and Christian Slater could be a father-son duo). Anderson's bit at the end about the "Dermots" is hilarious and I will have to adopt that term into my vernacular.
I found the trailer for the BSG-prequel Caprica over at Film Junk, but I've embedded it below. Truth be told, I'm a little disappointed in it. How many times does Eric Stoltz talk about creating a clone of a dead daughter? Umm, too many. This idea has been covered before, most notably in Spielberg's A.I., so I wanted to see more about character relations (apparently the cast is going to be as big as BSG's, which is certainly a plus) and plot. I don't mind being grounded and out of space battle, and I'm looking forward to finding out about the creation and evolution of the Cylons. But I just wish there was more to the trailer. There wasn't even a good teaser to bring me back wanting more. I'm not sure Caprica will bring in viewers other than previous BSG fans...
I saw The Dark Knight on Tuesday afternoon (with a surprisingly well-behaved theater), but I won't have my review (re: interpretation, analysis) of it until Thursday. But if you're looking for some reviews and you're not entirely exhausted by all the reviews floating around in cyberspace, you can head over to Row Three because everyone over there reviewed it. And the reviews are all condensed to one page! How convenient.
So here's my most recent WTF? moment: Fergie (aka Black Eyed Peas chick, aka strangest looking woman with the hottest boyfriend, aka peed her pants on stage, aka why is she famous again?) has joined Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson for The Nine. (Yeah, I don't know about Kate Hudson either.) Other than these last two additions, the film sounded amazing. It's a film adaptation of the musical inspired by Fellini's 8 1/2 (Otto e Mezzo). But now the cast is just getting silly. Daniel Day-Lewis is enough of a draw, as is Marion Cotillard (so beautiful, so talented) who won Best Actress last year. So why all of the additional big names? Why can't they hire theatre actors? People who don't need to be taught how to sing.
Last but certainly not least, there're talks of making a Top Gun sequel. I have odd mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, a sequel could be refreshing since it's been 22 years since the first one and Maverick is such an iconic character that it could be turned into a franchise. But on the other hand, I'm sick of remakes and sequels, and do we really need another franchise? I think summer superheroes have that covered. Oh, and I think the sequel would taint the homosexual goodness of the original.
• Cinematical has this to say about the upcoming Cold Souls, which has perhaps one of the creepier posters I've seen in a while: "Paul Giamatti [stars] as an actor (appropriately named Paul Giamatti) who decides he wants to put some of his soul in storage in order to help better tackle a new role. [...] Cold Souls is a beautifully shot film, and it also becomes more than a little bit moving, as Giamatti struggles with a question we've all asked ourselves: Is it possible to remove the burden of our soul without taking away the benefit of it? Is it the very weight we struggle under that makes us strong? Deep questions, but Cold Souls is also funny; there are fast, laugh-out-loud gags like Giamatti's compensation anxiety over the small size of his extracted soul ("It looks like a chickpea!") or the Russian trophy wife obsessed with getting an American actor's extracted soul so she can implant it and do better Soap Opera work."
• While we're on the topic of science fiction, here's an awesome timeline by Dan Meth detailing when the movies were made (to the left of the vertical line) and how far into the future they take place (to the right of the vertical line). Click to enlarge.
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