NEWS: Boyle's Next Film To Feature An Hour of No Dialouge?

I love silent films.

One thing I love even more, is when a modern film incorporates the idea of silent cinema, and brings it to modern audiences.

Triplets Of Belleville, my favorite animated film of all time, is a perfect example. The opening 20 minutes of Wall-E, or even the tear jerking 5 minute montage in the opening of Up (the best part of that film), are all great examples as well. However, it’s not often used, outside of There Will Be Blood (which may be the single best use of this idea), in the realm of live action films.

That said, Danny Boyle is about to throw his hat in the silent ring, and with more than one could have expected.

About a week ago, it was reported that Danny Boyle would not be doing sequels to 28 Weeks Later or Trainspotting as his next film, but instead, 127 Hours, the story of Aron Ralston. Who is Aron Ralston? Well, he’s more of a man than any of us could ever be, as he is a famous mountain climber who, after being trapped by a boulder for nearly five days, had to amputate his own arm to free himself. Balls? F*** yes.

Indiewire recently had a chance to talk to the film maker, who confirmed that Slumdog Millionaire scribe Simon Beaufoy is tapped to pen the screenplay, but has not yet started a draft, which will be adapted from Boyle’s treatment. However, that’s not really the news. The biggest chunk of news is that Boyle intends for the first hour to be completely dialogue free. In the actual story, Ralston WAS completely alone, and stuck in a canyon, so one could imagine that there wouldn’t be much talking. The film will rely solely on the acting ability of whatever actor is cast (Ryan Gosling has been rumoured).

Boyle continues and says the film has no green light or budget right now, but after winning an Oscar, that shouldn’t be too hard to attain.

This is beyond good news. The story itself is full of drama, and the idea of having a Castaway type story like this, without the horrible plot device that was the volleyball, is intriguing. I think Boyle is a brilliant film maker, as much as I didn’t like Slumdog, and I think if they get the right actor, this thing could be beyond fantastic. The story is inherently interesting and full of intensity and drama, and throw in the idea of being completely alone, the film could not only be a great piece of cinema, but a true horror film. Imagine the Decent, but featuring only one character, and no monsters.

This actually reminds me a lot of the upcoming Ryan Reynolds indie, Buried, which is a script that I still have to get through. In that film, he plays a man who was buried alive, with only a cell phone, and is allegedly getting a release sometime next year. Both of these films sound fantastic.

But what do YOU think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Paranormal Activity 2 Coming Soon?!?

It seems like one train that just can’t be stopped is the train driven by Oren Peli, and it consists of his $15,000 indie, Paranormal Activity. With the film reaching $85 million in domestic gross, his film is easily one of cinemas biggest stories from this year, and it may be one of the biggest stories of next year too, if the film maker has his way.

Shot in a week at Peli’s home, PA has been scaring the shit out of audiences for about two months now, in what has been called one of the most inventive and impactful release patterns in cinema. Now it looks like Paramount hopes to feed off of that huge buzz, and bring it over into the much rumored and talked about sequel. Here’s the scoop from The Hollywood Reporter, via The Playlist:

It appears that the success of the film - it has grossed $85 million to date and is Paramount's biggest profit maker this year - has earned the attention of Viacom (who own Paramount Pictures) CEO Philippe Dauman. In an earning's call on Tuesday, while smartly noting that the breakout success of the film can't be duplicated, Dauman said, "Our team will come up with the right creative and marketing approach to make sure that we benefit from a sequel."

Translation? You can probably bet on "Paranormal Activity 2" being ready in time for Hallowe'en 2010. The "right creative and marketing approach" probably boils down to: don't spend a lot of money, do a lot of low-cost viral marketing and advertise to the core audience. It's a process that Lionsgate already has down to a science with the "Saw" franchise.

So, as many of you know, I hate remakes, and in many cases, sequels are equally as bad. This is one of those cases in my eyes. Instead of coming off of the success of this film and say, getting his area 51 film done by next year, we will see a useless sequel, which will probably tread the same ground as the first film. I have had my respect for PA grow over time, but overall, I don’t see the need for a sequel, particularly with how the first film ended. If the ending was a bit more ambiguous, sure, but it seemed to close a bit more Hollywood and a bit more solid, that it really doesn’t leave much room for a sequel. Sure, the marketing is going to be great and fun, but really, take a look at the Saw franchise for why I don’t think this will work really at all.

The report continues and mentions that Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick are set to pitch Blair Witch 3, and it is an interesting comparison between PA and Blair Witch, one that I think, with the 10 year anniversary of BW here, I may have to revisit and do an editorial on. It’s also going to be interesting to see what other micro-budget horror films get pushed into production to play off of PA’s success. Could this be the new fad, taking the place of torture porn?

Go see something good!

FORUM: Who Would YOU Like To See Take Over Batman?

Okay, so this is a bit of a weird post, but really, everyone minus yours truly is in Telluride, waiting for the Toronto Film Festival, and then Fantastic Fest, so there is no news to talk about. Also, The Playlist had an interesting idea this afternoon. First, the news portion of this forum.

It appears as though the brilliant film maker Nicolas Winding Refn, most famous for the Pusher trilogy (A MUST SEE), and this years Bronson, a film I'm excited to check out, had signed on to write and direct a modern Bangkok-set Western titled, "Only God Forgives." It will center on a Thai police officer and a gangster who decide to settle their differences in the boxing ring. The director is also in talks to helm an as-of-yet titled heist film produced by Gore Verbinski.

This is all insanely good news, because getting this guy to work is always great to hear. Also, to hear that he's involved with a heist AND gangster picture is really music to my ears. HOWEVER, that's not really the interesting portion of the post over at The Playlist. Here's their idea:

Either way, it's apparent this Danish talent is in very high demand. Don't be surprised when some major studio tries to rope him into a major tentpole or a super-hero film. Hopefully he resists the temptation to do anything that inherently crap, but we'd actually love to see him take over "The Dark Knight" series if and when Christopher Nolan left. But that's if and when. We'd love for him to pursue all his original projects first.

Now, THAT is something I would love to see. Here's the deal. I love Chris Nolan. Like a child. He's a brilliant director, but if you have seen the trailer for his new film, Inception, he's also beyond creative. He has a lot of ideas up in his dome, and while I would love to see him go out with a trilogy, the idea of having the man behind The Pusher trilogy taking over the Batman franchise, has me freaking out like a pre-teen at a Jonas Brothers concert. Not only is Refn a fantastic film maker, but if you want a real and raw Batman film to come after the Dark Knight, there is NO ONE better. Even Nolan. Nolan may be a better film maker, but Refn's Batman film would be more than dark, if he was given the chance.

That said, I will guarantee that 99% of you haven't seen ANY of this guys films, so that's where you come in. Who WOULD you like to see take over the helm of Batman? Just wondering...

Go see something good!

NEWS: WTF Is Pixar's Brave?

So, while doing promotion for their upcoming release, Up, Pixar’s Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera had an interview with ComingSoon.net, and with the uttering of a single word, they have created a firestorm of rumors.

Once in a while, we’re at these meetings where we all look at Toy Story 3 or Brave or whatever and we all give comments and notes, but that’s just like a day here or there.

WTF is Brave?

Well, one look at UpcomingPixar's Twitter page, and you will see that this may not have been some random slip up. However, there are a few films that this could be a mention of.

The best bet is that it may be a new title, or working title, for the upcoming Pixar film, The Bear and The Bow. The title hints at a story that could be about bravery, so that is one way it could go.

Another way this could go, is that since it was mentioned with Toy Story 3, it could be some sort of sequel or remake. There has been much talk about what will probably be an inevitable Monster's Inc. sequel, so it could be a working title for that. Or could it be the title of a sequel to Pixar's best film in my eyes, The Incredibles? Insanely unlikely, but at this point, no one knows a thing about this. On the remake front, /Film has an interesting idea:

My own suspicion (though it is only a vague one and I definitely wouldn’t stack any chips on it yet) is that Brave is a new adaptation of Thomas M. Disch’s The Brave Little Toaster.

Already adapted into an animated film - and two sequels - the original novel was billed by the author as “a bedtime story for small appliances”. He set the novel up for an adaptation at Disney, though that never quite happened. Later, the deal shifted and Hyperion produced the film, though it was distributed by Disney in 1987.

With that films strong ties to Pixar and its family, it is not out of the realm of possiblity that this film could be a hint at a Pixar created remake/adaptation of the film/novella, Brave Little Toaster.

What do you think this could be about?

Go see something good!

NEWS: A Daredevil Reboot?

It appears as though the blind lawyer/superhero Daredevil may not be as dead as many of us thought, and some wanted.

Recently, a blog for the LA based comic book store, Golden Apple Comics, saw "Battlestar Gallactica" star Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck for those who watch the show), walk in and buy all comics that contained the character of Typhoid Mary, with "hopes of getting a part for a marvel movie."

So we got a little visit in our comic shop last week by Katee Sackhoff, also known as Starbuck for her role on BSG. She proceeded to grab all the Typhoid Mary
comics we had and has hopes to get a part for a Marvel movie
….

Now, this can mean a couple of things.

First off, die hard Marvel comics fans will remember that Mary is not only a lover, but a longstanding enemy of our masked handicapped hero. She is a mutant with a multiple personality disorder who comes to control various types of powers in relation to the personality that she is inhabiting at the time.

However, Mary is also a character that has had her schizo hands in many story arcs within the life and times of the merc with a mouth, and upcoming spin-off foder, Deadpool.

I'm not insanely familiar with the Daredevil story and it's subsequent storylines, but this is an interesting idea. She is stunning to look at, and she's one hell of an actress to book. The character sounds interesting, and even though the character WAS in the Daredevil spin-off, Elektra, if they reboot the franchise, I will be more than happy to give it another shot. The idea of Daredevil as a character is intriguing, and if they get the right cast, this could be a great film.

That said, I don't have much of the same hope for the yet to really be discussed Deadpool spin off. It's a fine idea, with a PERFECT casting choice in Ryan Reynolds who portrayed him in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but unless Marvel takes complete control of the film (which has been talked about), it will almost dead on arrival, at least in my eyes.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Depp To Be Sinatra?

Earlier this morning, it was announced that Martin Scorsese had agreed to direct a biopic based on the life of Frank Sinatra for Universal Studios.

Well, there is an interesting back and fourth between Scorsese and the studio, on who the two parties would like to be in the lead. Deadline Hollywood is reporting that, as one may be able to guess, Scorsese is wanting his new DeNiro, Leonardo DiCaprio, while the studio is pushing towards having Johnny Depp. For those of you wondering, the lead in this film will NOT have to sing, which was confirmed along with the Scorsese story, as Frank Sinatra Enterprises has agreed to the film, allowing for the master versions of the songs to be used.

I personally think that this is a win win. While I think DiCaprio may look a bit more like Sinatra, I think Depp has more of the charisma that made Sinatra, well, Sinatra. Both are top 5 Best Actors working today, and this is going to be an exciting back and forth to see who wins the battle.

The film is going to be penned by Phil Alden Robinson.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Takashi Miike's Samurai Film Is Green Lit!

One of my favorite directors, Takashi Miike, has finally found the funding and gotten the support from producers, allowing him to finally getting his much anticipated samurai film Thirteen Assassins, off of the ground.

Based on the 1963 film of the same name, this film follows 13 different assassins that come together for a suicide mission to take the life of an evil lord.

With films like Dead Or Alive, Ichi The Killer, the original One Missed Call, Sukiyaki Western Django, and my personal favorite (and one of the best horror films ever madd) Audition, Miike is easily one of my favorite directors.

The film is set to be produced by Jeremy Thomas and Toshiaki Nakazawa. Nakazawa produced this year's foreign language film Oscar winner Departures, and Thomas produced Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, which also won Best Picture.

This director/producer group, along with what sounds like a great story makes this one of my most anticipated films for the next few years. It will be interesting to see when we get to see it state wide. What do YOU think?

Thanks to FirstShowing for the heads up!

Go see something good!

NEWS: Inglourious Basterds Prequel?

One of my most anticipated films coming up this summer, happens to be Quentin Tarantino's new film, Inglourious Basterds. Not only is the cast amazing, spearheaded by Brad Pitt, but it's a Tarantino film, so of course I'm going to look forward to it.

From Resivior Dogs to Death Proof, Tarantino has yet to make a bad film, and his sophomore film, Pulp Fiction, is my favorite film of all time.

However, what had me worried when the film was originally announced was how it would work, and how much this film had changed since he first began to work on it, during the production of Pulp Fiction. That said, when I got my hands on the script, all of my worries were wiped away.

Not only is the films script stunningly well written, but there is ample backstory for each of the characters. Well, that backstory may be set to get it's full telling.

“I have a half-written prequel ready to go if this movie’s a smash,” Tarantino tells the New York Times.

Well, to me, this is great news. I loved all of the characters, particularly Eli Roth's, and there is more than enough story in the lives of each of these people that they could do 8 separate films.

However, Tarantino is famous for talking about projects and then bailing on them, so I will keep you all updated on this project as more news comes out.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Sin City 2 To Shoot Next Year?

One of those projects that has been held in production hell happens to be the much anticipated sequel to the hit comic book adaptation, Sin City. One week, the original films director Robert Rodriguez says hes ready to go, then the next, we get news that no actors have even been contacted about the project. Oh, and the following week we get other actors and Frank Miller saying that it has been written and will shot in April, then here we are in May, and nothing has been done. It's a big seesaw of emotions, and honestly, after seeing The Spirit, I kind of have no want to see a sequel.

However, news has arose that something may be happening behind the scenes.

During promotion for th Blu-Ray release of Sin City, Robert Rodriguez has been doing some press, and in a recent interview with IGN, said that “next week we’re going to talk about it some more and get a timing on when we’d be doing it. But there’s a lot of people who are interested in it. … We are definitely going to do that one.”

A screenplay HAS been allegedly written awhile ago, featuring the story "A Dame To Kill For" along with some original Miller material, and in other interviews, the duo of Rodriguez and Miller have said that they would love to cap the series as a trilogy with "Hell And Back".

That all said, this is still probably a long way off. Rodriguez is a busy guy, especially with the upcoming Predator reboot, his sci-fi flick Neverackers, AND his much talked about live action Jetson's adaptation. When a press release gets sent out, THEN I will believe it.

What do you think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: The Coen's Blood Simple To Be Remade?

Well, possibly.

Variety is reporting that Chinese director, Zhang Yimou, who directed not only Jet Li's Hero and Curse Of The Golden Flower, but also created the stunning Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Bejing Olympics, is working on a new film, entitled Amazing Tales - Three Guns.

However, that may not be the interesting piece of news. Slashfilm, in all of their investigative brilliance, is stating that it may very well be a veiled remake of the classic Coen Brother's film, their debut, Blood Simple. Here's what they had to say.

The Monkey Peaches report makes it sound like the new project has taken the Blood Simple plot and relocated it in both space and time. It seems that they’re hoping for some martial arts in there too, which the Coens certainly didn’t include. The site appears to have contacted Zhang Welping, the film’s producer, but he wouldn’t commit to either a full denial or confirmation. Instead, the best Monkey Peaches could attribute to him is that it was “possible” that the film was based upon “a Hollywood movie

First off, let me get into just how great Blood Simple, the Coen's best film in my eyes, really is. Here's the plot synopsis:

A rich but jealous man hires a private investigator to kill his cheating wife and her new man. But, when blood is involved, nothing is simple.

There are double crosses, affairs, and some brilliant film noir tropes, that make this easily one of the, if not the best, modern film noir piece to come out. It's just a really great film, and one I hold close to my heart.

That said, there is nothing truly sacred. All, or at least the majority, of films can be redone, and with better results, if in the right hands. That last part seems to never happen, but with this, it may work. We will just have to wait and see.

What do you think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Duncan Jones Feels Like Doing Blade Runner...

Not EXACTLY Blade Runner, but a Blade Runner-esque Sci-Fi Mystery story is in the cards for Mr. Jones' next project. Here is what he had to say in a recent Popular Mechanics interview.

"It looks like I'm going to be doing another science-fiction film next. I love Blade Runner, it's one of my favorite films, and I've always been really… depressed that there was never—not a sequel, because I don't think it's right to make a sequel about Blade Runner, but no one's really tried to make a film which was set in the same kind of world or had that same kind of feel. So that's what I'm doing, a big-city mystery story that takes place in a future Berlin."

All I know is that early reviews out of Sundance for Moon have been more than good for his new film, Moon, and knowing that he can handle a sci-fi film of that style, makes me think that he can pretty much do no wrong. I love me some good science fiction, so if someone can give that genre a big reboot (ever since Battlestar Galactica went off the air), it's pefect news in my eyes.

What do you think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Singer's Next Project Is...?

There has been little news to report this weekend, but there is one story that I think has gone under reported...

EW reports...

After the success of Taken and Gran Torino, Hollywood has been on a vigilante kick. And right now, Bryan Singer (along with studio execs all over town) has been seriously considering getting his revenge on with The Prisoners, a much-sought-after thriller script to which Mark Wahlberg is attached to star as a Boston dad who takes the law into his own hands when his young daughter is kidnapped. The screenplay, which has been compared to The Silence of the Lambs and Seven, has been buzzed about as a calling card for its unknown writer, Aaron Guzikowski, and as a rare project targeted at adult audiences but with real commercial potential. When asked whether The Prisoners will be his next movie, Singer told EW: "I don't know yet. But I'm definitely intrigued. It's a great script. And I'd love to work with Mark."

Besides the horribly cliche frame of Silence of the Lambs and Se7en, the big news may not have to do with what he is doing, but what he ISN'T instead.

About 3 months ago, the working title for the Superman Returns sequel was released via the Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures website. Superman Unleashed was called a sequel, and it was assumed that Singer would come back. However, along with Joel Silver's Logan's Run and Technolody vs. Horse, two films he's also allegedly attatched to, it looks like Singer may not end up getting to it.

So here's the deal. Who SHOULD take the helm of the Superman franchise? Should it be rebooted or just have a sequel? What do you think of the franchise/Superman Returns?

Go see something good!

NEWS: MORE Batman 3 Bullsh**

Okay, now the proverbial shit has hit the fan. The European newspaper, The Sun is now reporting that Eddie Murphy and Shia Lebouf have officially been cast in the sequel to this year's hit, The Dark Knight, as The Riddler and Robin respectively. Peter Sciretta over at /film put it best, "it looks like the rumor mongers aren't even putting an effort into these things anymore." Honestly guys?

Truthfully, I HOPE that Christopher Nolan doesn't come back to the franchise. All of this casting bull has really left a sour taste in my mouth, and I pray that the people at Warner Brothers don't force another film down his throat, and it looks like they aren't. To me, and a friend of mine said this last night at a poker game, there's really nowhere that Nolan can go with one film to really make an impact on the overall franchise. Do I want' the films to continue, most definitely, but with a guy as brilliant as Christopher Nolan and a group of actors and crew as great as the one they've got for this thing, I think it's time for them all to move on and do other work. Now, Bale WILL be back for a third film, but this is where my question to you all comes in...

I was watching an episode of the great TV series, The Directors, on Reelz Channel, about the work of the brilliant filmmaker, Darren Aronofsky. At one point and time, right before he went into pre production on The Fountain, he was set to take on the Dark Knight, in Batman: Year One. However, that fell through, and he went on to make a vastly superior film to both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, in the Fountain, and the rest is history, but that brings me to my question. Of all of the film makers working today, who would YOU like to see take the reigns of this franchise for a third film. My personal pick is Frank Darabont, the writer/director behind The Shawshank Redemption. I would say Aronofsky, but he's been working on Robocop and I hope he pushes EVERYTHING aside for his 4 hour Noah's Ark Epic, so, who would YOU guys like to take the helm?

Come back later for more news and notes!

Go see something good!

NEWS: Delgo, H2, and Sequels Galore...

Hello faithful readers. Today's been a pretty busy day, so here are your headlines...

- As I briefly mentioned in my last news post, it looks like the people over in Terminator land have begun work on Terminator 5, the inevitable sequel to NEXT YEARS Terminator Salvation. No word as to who will direct it, but McG has had his hands in the pre-pre-production, so it looks like he will be holding on as director. Bonus, Christian Bale has three Terminator films in his contract! Here's to hoping Salvation is quality...

- In other sequel news, it looks like rumors were indeed true, as it is now confirmed that Rob Zombie will take back the reigns of the Halloween franchise and will direct the sequel to his much maligned 2007 reboot.

- In MORE sequel news, release dates for Transformers 3 and the Twilight sequel New Moon have been set, with Transformers 3 looking at a July 29th, 2011 release date, and New Moon set to head out on November 20th, of 2009. I'm not to surprised, except for New Moon. They play to get into production roughly around March, so that's a pretty fast turn around. Plus, I thought they would definitely move to a summer date, but they did make 71 Million bones in the middle of Oscar season.

- It looks like people can't get the Dark Knight out of their heads, as ANOTHER casting rumor has been talked about for the inevitable sequel. It looks like E! Online in all of their Ryan Seacrest glory, are reporting, against all others, that Christopher Nolan "will for sure be back" and that he and Warner Brothers are considering Rachel Weisz for the role of Catwoman. While I think it would be brilliant casting (more on that in a second), I know for almost a fact that this rumor, along with all others are bull. I know, through various web sources, that Nolan has yet to even sign up for a third film, let alone started writing a story. Until Warner Brothers and Nolan himself say that he will be back for a third one, all Batman 3 rumors are not true. Sorry to burst everyones preverbial bat shaped bubble, but it's the hard truth.

NOW, when Nolan does sign (becuase I really think he will), I hope he goes this kind of route instead of the Johnny Depp route. The thing with this new Batman franchise, is that all of the cast, at the time of their casting, were not really well known, aside from Morgan Freeman. Bale was just a beloved indie actor, Gary Oldman was and still is very much on that indie fringe, Michael Caine was a well known actor, but not to the younger generation, and even Cillian Murphy was really only known for 28 Days Later. Then you have Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart, both well known, but not truly stars yet, and it just wouldn't seem like the right fit for Johnny Depp and Phillip Seymour Hoffman to take over their respective roles. I honestly think they would both be good, but it would be to overwhelming and honestly, I think there are better people out their. However, with Rachel Weisz, you get a brilliant actress, along with the small name, at least in major circles. Honestly, I don't know of a better pick for Catwoman. She's gorgeous, sexy, smart, and an amazing actress to boot. Nolan, if you are reading and I know you do, please, make this the one rumor that ends up being true. Oh, and take my advice, Crsipin Glover for Riddler and Bob Hoskins for Penguin...GOLD...

- Finally, the animated film, Delgo, had the worst opening weekend box office gross in the history of film. It grossed roughly $511,920, and here's the kicker, ON 2,160 SCREENS. That's a per screen average of $237 per screen, or, if tickets are $8 and there are 5 showings a day, two people per showing...The production behind it is really a sad story and shows the difficulties of independent film making, show read more about it here...


Come back later for more news and notes!

Go see something good!

FORUM: Tarantino is Getting A Composer for Basterds?

*Yes, that is how you spell it when talking about Tarantino's film

Hey guys! So today was a pretty busy day in the land of movies, but I have just gotten wind of this little diddy. Thanks to /film for the update...

Rumor has it that Quentin Tarantino has enlisted legendary film composer Ennio Morricone to compose the score for his upcoming WWII film Inglourious Basterds, this according to Italy Global Nation. Tarantino is notoriously a fan of Morrisone, having used a a bunch of his Spaghetti Western themes in the Kill Bill films and even his latest, Death Proof.

Tarantino Archives says the story isn’t 100% confirmed. I personally remember Tarantino saying that he wouldn’t be hiring a composer on this film because he likes picking his own soundtracks (and to be fair, he’s really good at that). You might remember that a cool remix of Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold” from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly was recently used in David Fincher’s Nike commercial.

Now, the article goes on to bring up a good point, that I must agree with 100%. I have totally mixed feelings about this piece of news. First, there is the side of me that is for this all the way, because I mean come on, it's Ennio Morricone, one of the most influential composers in history, and one who has shaped the music of Kill Bill and even Death Proof with his Spaghetti Western themes.

Then there is the other side of me that wants this to just be a rumor, because with Tarantino's compilations, which are THE BEST of any soundtracks ever, and I'll take anyone to the mat who disagrees, and I want more of that. I get so much out of his films, especially when it comes to finding great songs from years past, that have been lost in the shuffle.

So this is where you come in. What are your thoughts? Should Tarantino try to get Morricone to compose this film, or should he stick to compilations?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Halloween Sequel, Tin Tin, and Phoenix...

Hey guys! So, it's the eve of the '08 Election, and surprisingly, there is quite a bit of movie news. Here are your headlines!

- It looks like Joaquin Phoenix wasn't lying after all. Thanks to Yahoo! for this information...

The words “Good Bye” were penned on the actor’s knuckles at a premiere Saturday night for his latest film, “Two Lovers,” and Phoenix confirmed a surprise announcement he made last week: He’s giving up movies.

“I think it’s just moving on. It’s rediscovering something else,” said Phoenix, 34, said in an interview with Associated Press Television News before Saturday’s American Film Institute festival, which also premiered “Che,” starring Benicio Del Toro. “Two Lovers” is his last film, he said. His publicist had disclosed Friday that the actor intended to focus on music.

What do you guys think? I'm sad to see him leave film, but the guy does have some musical chops, so who knows, it may work out. Best of wishes...

- Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen has wrapped principal photography...

- The upcoming sequel to Rob Zombies Halloween reboot is getting a theatrical release. The film will not have Rob Zombie at the helm, and actually, Zombie will have nothing to do with this sequel.

- Steven Speilberg and Peter Jackson have obtained financing for TWO Tin Tin Films, instead of the projected three...

- Heroes co writers/producers Jesse Alexander and Jeph Lobe have been fired by NBC...

- Here's an update from a story I wrote about at the end of last week. It looks as though Universal has won the alleged biding war over the EA Games video-game, that has yet to even be announced, tentatively called Dante's Inferno.

- Fox Studios is CONSIDERING rebooting the now dead franchise, Planet of The Apes...

- Finally, Max Allan Collins has been signed on to write two new sequels for the Sam Mendes directed, critic favorite, Road to Perdition. The man behind the original Road to Perdition comics will pen the scripts for the upcoming Road To Purgatory and Road to Paradise...

I lied yesterday when I said I would be seeing Rachel Getting Married, and while that may still happen, it looks like I'll get the pleasure to review Role Models for you all. Now, I said it would never get this money, and it won't, because at Grand Valley State University, they like to give away free tickets for advanced screenings. Expect a review on Thursday night...

Go see something good!

NEWS: Kurosawa, Farting Dogs, and a retirement...

Hey guys! Here are your headlines for this Wednesday, the 29th of October...

- Martin Scorcese, David Mamet, and Mike Nichols are set to remake the classic Akira Kurosawa film, High and Low...thanks to /film for the information...

Mike Nichols (Closer, Charlie Wilson’s War) will direct a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low.

Based loosely on Evan Hunter’s King’s Ransom, the original 1963 detective thriller that tells the story of an executive named Kingo Gondo, who learns that his son has been kidnapped. He is prepared to pay the ransom amount until he discovers that the kidnappers mistakenly abducted the child of his chauffeur. Gondo must decide between using the money he has saved up for a critical corporate buyout, or to use the cash to save his drivers son.

If the names involved thus far don’t get you excited, then read on. Originally commissioned by Martin Scorsese in 1999, the screenplay is written by David Mamet. The film has yet to begin casting, but it sounds like the ball is now rolling after years of being stalled due to rights issues. Scott Rudin will produce, and its likely that Scorsese will executive produce.

What do you guys think? Have any of you seen this film? If not, do it right away...

- It looks as though Joaquin Phoenix may be retiring from film to pursue an acting career...take it for what it is, but watch the interview...



What do you make of this? I think he sounds like he's serious, and if so, that really sucks...

- Check out the new poster for The International


- A Utah Theatre chain is refusing to show this weeks upcoming release, Zack And Miri Make A Porno, as the owner believes it is "very close to NC-17 with it's graphic nudity and graphic sex." Why does this country have no problem with violence, but as soon as some nudity is shown, the people begin running to the hills...I like what cinematical had to say on the issue...

I will never understand why we're so afraid of sex in this country. It boggles my mind. Not only are we deathly afraid of sex, but we're also afraid of words. Combine a scary word and a film that carries a sex scene or two and you have what some would argue was an act of terrorism. Seriously. Ask Utah Jazz and Megaplex Theatres owner Larry Miller, who is refusing to screen Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno because he feels "it's very close to an NC-17 with its graphic nudity and graphic sex."

Could not agree with them more...

- It looks like a remake of The Attack of The Killer Tomatoes is in the works...

- Everyone can rejoice, as the Jonas Brothers are coming to a theatre near you...thanks to Movieweb for the info...

20th Century Fox has signed on the Jonas Brothers for their feature starring debut in Walter the Farting Dog, based on a bestselling series of books by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray.

The title character in the “Walter” books is a fat dog with severe flatulence. The brothers play musicians whose parents are asked to care for the dog by an aunt just before she passes away.

Wow...I can't even come up with a joke, and for those of you who know me, it takes a lot to leave me that speachless...Wow...I not only have a problem with the whole idea of the film, but the fact that THIS is getting a film, and I would go bankrupt if I attempted to make a full length film is some bullshit. This is why I think we as a culture suck. No, knowing that this will be number 1 in the box office for sure, is why we as a culture suck.

- Finally, The American Pie series may be heading back to theatres for a fourth film in the original series...

That's all I've got for now, so come back later for more movie news and reviews...

Go see something good!

NEWS: Gran Torino, Ben Stiller, and Terminator 4...

Hey guys! Here are your headlines for this Thursday, the 23rd of October...

- It looks as though Speilberg has dropped out of the film, The Trial of The Chicago 7, a film about the 1968 riots outside of the Democratic Convention...However, a director has been found to take over, and it is none other than Ben Stiller. Paul Greengrass, director of United 93 and the last two Bourne films, was originally tapped for the project, but it seems like Stiller will take over the film. Thoughts?

- Brilliant actor Javier Bardem, has signed on to star in the upcoming film from 21 Grams/Babel/Amores Perros director Alejandro Gonzalez Inaritu, called Biutiful...Thanks to the guys over at /film for the info...

Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men) will star in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s (21 Grams, Babel) Biutiful, which begins shooting in Barcelona next week. Inarritu wrote the script himself, his first stand alone effort after much-publicized break-up with screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga.

According to Variety, Spanish-language film is about “a man embroiled in shady dealings who is confronted by a childhood friend, now a policeman.” Argentine actress Maricel Álvarez is also rumored to be involved with the project. Rodrigo Prieto will return as director of photography. Prieto was the cinematographer on all Inarritu’s films, Brokeback Mountain, 25th Hour, 8 Mile and Frida. The music will be composed by Gustavo Santaolalla, Academy Award Winner for Brokeback Mountain and Babel.


This actually may be more interesting to me than any film, outside of Watchmen, that should be released next year. It's a Spanish language film, starring one of the best actors working today, from one of the best directors working today, and scored by the brilliant composer, Gustavo Santaolalla. What are your thoughts?

- Seth Green is set to direct an adaptation of the comic book Freshmen...

- Here is the first poster from the new Clint Eastwood film, Gran Torino...



Wow, when I'm that old, I only dream to be that badass...

- McG has written a few interesting quotes on the Terminator Salvation website about the hotly anticipated film...Thanks to /film again for being brililant and posting the noteworthy ones...
McG has posted a new blog on the Terminator Salvation website. Here are the major take-aways:

Principal Photography has wrapped
Christian Bale and Sam Worthington have been sown early cuts and “they seem pleased with where the film is headed.”

“Our focus is on story and character, but it’s fun diving into the world of visual effects.”

“We want the patina of the machines to be dirty and heavy and perfectly realistic - that’s why we built so much practically with Stan Winston.”

On producing revolutionary effects like Terminator 2: “There’s one sequence in particular where we’re trying to achieve something that’s never been done before. I don’t want to talk about it because we haven’t been successful yet…”

Terminator 2 editor Conrad Buff is cutting the film: “It feels great to have his confidence in the movie. I take his opinion very seriously, he provides a daily litmus test for what is worthy of a Terminator film.”

About the story: “This is a story of two destinies colliding. Connor is part of a resistance comprised of the ethnicities that make up the globe. This film is so much more that just Los Angeles. It reflects the global crisis of man, all of man versus machine.”

Well, this is all good news I guess, but I really want to SEE something from it. The teaser before The Dark Knight was interesting, but only because it was released so quick after the film had wrapped. I'm not really looking forward to the film, but it's on my radar, and these notes help. What about you guys?

- Finally, as many of you may have heard, rumor has it that Zac Effron will star alongside Johnny Depp in Pirates 4...Sources have heard that the rumor is indeed true, so more on this as it develops, as this may just ruin any hope I had for the film...

That's all I've got for now! Come back later for more news and notes!

Go see something good!

NEWS: Thor, Sex Drive, and Star Trek...

Hey guys. Now, I've got a great bit of news to let you all check out, so lets get into it...

- It looks as though Kenneth Branagh is bailing on his adaptation of Hamlet to get to work on the next Marvel film, Thor...FINALLY! Now, who would you like to see as the Norse Badass?
- Big news! It looks like Jason Bourne WILL return to the big screen. Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon have both signed on, with Bourne Ultimatum co-writer Greg Nofi is penning the script for a possible summer 2010 release!!!
- The long talked about He Man live action film Greyskull: Masters of The Universe, looks to be dead and is currently staying off of the books...
- Big time news! Thanks to EW for all of the following information! In the upcoming issue of Entertainment Weekly features the upcoming film, Star Trek, and features the full plot synopsis. Check it out!

Star Trek’s time-travel plot is set in motion when a Federation starship, the USS Kelvin, is attacked by a vicious Romulan (Eric Bana) desperately seeking one of the film’s heroes. From there, the film then brings Kirk and Spock center stage and tracks the origins of their friendship and how they became officers aboard the Enterprise. In fact, the movie shows how the whole original series crew came together: McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoë Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). The adventure stretches from Earth to Vulcan, and yes, it does find a way to have Nimoy appearing in scenes with at least one of the actors on our cover — and maybe both. The storytelling is newbie-friendly, but it slyly assimilates a wide range of Trek arcana, from doomed Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) to Sulu’s swordsmanship to classic lines like, ”I have been, and always shall be, your friend.” More ambitiously, the movie subversively plays with Trek lore — and those who know it. The opening sequence, for example, is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling ”Heresy!” But revisionism anxiety is the point. ”The movie,” Lindelof says, ”is about the act of changing what you know.”

Not only do I have that goody, but I've got a few EW exclusive photos to share!







Wow. What do you guys think about the photos?

- Finally, if you didn't get to read my review of Sex Drive about a month ago and actually want to see it, check out the first 10 minutes of it, and then check out my review, I'm reposting it in a few minutes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azdhrLRvMpk

That's all I've got for now. I'm checking out either Max Payne or W tomorrow, I'm leaning towards W, so expect a review of either of those tomorrow sometime...

Go see something good!

NEWS: Watchmen, Avatar, and a Political PSA

Hey guys! Here are your headlines for today, the 15th of October...

- Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson, is helming a new Muppet film, called Happytime Murders, a Muppet Noir...thoughts?
- Atari WILL be releasing the long awaited Ghostbuster's video game in 2009...
- I'm a big fan of SpikeTV, so it is no suprise that they will be airing some new and exclusive footage from Watchmen at the 2008 Scream Awards on October 21st at 9:00 pm...Also, they will air footage from the Friday the 13th reboot due next year...
- So, with the election right around the corner, celebrities are trying to get everyone out to vote. Now, whatever you all say, some of them have been funny, but none funnier than this one...

See more Hayden Panettiere videos at Funny or Die

Perfection...
- It looks as though James Cameron long awaited film, Avatar, may be in a little trouble. The official website has moved the release date from December 18th 2009, to "undecided"...thoughts?
- Billy Ray is in talks to helm an adaptation of the ctically lauded book, How To Rig An Election...
- Finally, I have the great pleasure of bringing you the first poster for Quentin Tarantino's next film, Inglourious Bastards...Enjoy!

Come back later for more news and notes!

Go see something good!