Some Thoughts On Avatar

HEY! I'm back here for a little post I just put together. I decided to post this here, because it does voice a political opinion of mine, so I figure a personal blog post would be a little better. HOWEVER, please go over to DVDSnapshot for my real work. Thanks, and enjoy!!!

In the current world of cinema, the new trend amongst film goers and/or critics is to simply justify a film as good, simply by following the idea that if you “shut off your brain,” the otherwise pointless, often big budget film is something worth your time.

However, when it comes to Avatar, the box office monster of the past couple of weeks, is both big budget actioner, as well as thought provoking conversation piece.

That said, not all political and religious thoughts are the most sane examples of cinematic criticsism.

First, the ludicrous.

Big Hollywood has released a little piece discussing the film in terms that believe that “the bad guys in the movie are the U.S. Marines:

The glee with which the American Marines participate in this massacre is appalling and does not show the true feelings and concerns of the real United States Military. James Cameron should apologize to the American Military and should make a statement that he does not truly feel this way about them. He should also apologize to the American public for painting our young men and women that defend this country as cold-blooded killers.

The reason that I feel as though this piece is quite ludicrous, is that the main thesis of the piece is off. Avatar posits the idea that these characters, ex-Marines, are hired by a private group/company, to simply force the natives of Pandora out of their homes, to attain monetary gains. Far more Blackwater than Marines, the film is at it’s most blatantly obvious, a poorly timed blast against the past presidential administration.

However, there is one bit of analysis that I think comes off loud and clear.

Via The AV Club:

The movie’s most seditious act is to evoke the specter of September 11, only with the terms reversed…Cameron’s willingness to question the sacred trauma of 9/11 is audacious, and his ability to do so in a $300 million tentpole movie is nothing short of shocking. If Avatar has a claim to revolution, that is where it lies.

This could not be more true.

Personally, the tone of the scene that I believe the excerpt was written about, is so starkly different from the rest of the film, and the shot and scene structure is a different take than throughout the film. It’s far more handheld, and the shots simply linger on the devastation caused by the films villains, the closest thing the film has to Blackwater soldiers, a.k.a. justified terrorists.

The idea of terrorism in this film isn’t a far fetched concept either. At it’s core, terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. Avatar’s main story follows a group of natives, who are forced to leave their native land, simply for the monetary gains of a group of privatized soldiers. Unsurprisingly, right-wing bloggers have had a bit of a field day with this idea.

Via The Movie Guide:

For hundreds of years, the pagan, communist ideas expressed in this movie circulated among a threadbare group of outcasts with dirty fingernails and greasy hair, who shared their obtuse, occult ideas amongst themselves with manic, alienated glee. Now James Cameron has made these insane views the major bulwark of a very spectacular movie, but the spectacle does not make the views any more coherent, rational, or uplifting.

Sure, the views are not uplifting, as they are distinctly anti-capitalistic, but to call them communist and pagan ideas are just as irrational and antagonistic as the concepts themselves. What makes them not uplifting isn’t the ideas themselves, it’s that we all, no matter political viewpoint, know that this both happens, and is true at it’s very core. We have seen people be slaughtered or forced to leave a general area for nothing more than dollar gains, and calling the film “anti-human” as The Movie Guide does is just as irrational as Cameron putting these quite obvious and poignant concepts in his film.

Then the guide goes truly off the deep end, saying the film has an “abhorrent New Age, pagan, anti-capitalist worldview that promotes goddess worship and the destruction of the human race.”

Well, we all aren’t sane when it comes to big budget action films that actually have a meaning. I'm as left wing as anyone can be, so I agree with much, actually all of what Cameron was saying here, but as left as I am, I'm equally open to legit critiques and questions that the film raises, or could be raised in discussion of the film. I just have yet to see a rational take from someone against the films main thesis, that capitalism is the root of evil.

Maybe it's just because it's true.

Go see something good!

OPINION: What Exactly Does NINE Have In Store For Itself?...

This is a question that I have been pondering for just about a week now.

Earlier this week, the cast of the upcoming musical Nine joined Oprah on the stage of her talk show, to talk about the film. However, what they also did was spark the idea in my head, that this film has all the makings for a huge Oscar run.

However, in what categories, and for whom?

First, here is the film's synopsis, for those who don't know:

Nine tells the story of Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis), a world famous film director as he confronts an epic mid-life crisis with both creative and personal problems. He must balance the many women of his life, including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Fergie) and his mother (Sophia Loren).

The film is a pseudo adaptation of the brilliant and legendary Fellini film, 8 1/2, and features one of the years most star studded casts. Featuring the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz and even Sophia Loren, the film is easily one of my most anticipated films yet to see, if not the most. It's also one of "the four" that critics have yet to see, in regards to Oscar talk (the other three being Avatar, The Lovely Bones and Invictus).

However, some critics finally got to see the film, and shockingly, to much much applause. Here's the scoop from In Contention:

One guy even said the film was better than “8 1/2” (make of that what you will) before asking a question about Fellini when the session was turned over to questions from the audience. And everyone was certainly in awe of the stars (or their careers, at the very least — gee, I’m cynical.) It seemed that nary an opportunity to applaud was missed.

The biggest closing credit ovations, by my ear, in order of, I don’t know, loudness: Sophia Loren, Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman.

So what to make of this, other than, this film is going to be huge come March of next year? Well, I have a few thoughts on this.

DISCLAIMER: I haven't seen the film. There. Now lets go.

First, I think Daniel Day-Lewis is a sure fire lock for Best Actor, for a few reasons. The biggest reason, being that, aside from being you know, Daniel Day-Lewis, the role looks to be really showy, and he does sing. It's like the performance of Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart, just a truly theatrical role, not a more naturalistic and raw performance like I think Bridges delivers. It's a true lead performance, in a film based on a classic film, that for all intents and purposes, is fantastic, being that that's just my hunch having DDL in that role.

So that category, Best Director, and Best Picture I think are three sure fire locks, and I think that they are prettmuch non-issues right now.

Then there are those pesky female categories, that are really often times hard to tell, as not only are there very few good meaty roles for females, even less being true lead turns, so these are often found from the indie realm.

That said, I think this film is chock full of possible Best Lead and Supporting Actress nods, with two truly sticking out to me.

First, Marion Cotillard, who is being pushed as a lead, I think fits perfectly as the 5th actress in the Lead category. Last week I posited the idea that there are 4 actresses that we can book in the category (Sidibe from Precious, Mirren from The Last Station, Mulligan from An Education, and Streep from Julie and Julia), and I think that we can maybe make that 5. From the footage I've seen, she looks amazing, and even, at least in one scene, out acts Lewis, which I have rarely if ever seen. She's a proven Oscar winner, so I think that it's fair to say, if she gives as strong of a performance as she seems to, I think she will round out that list.

Then there is the true reason I wanted to write this. The Best Supporting Actress category is going to be the most interesting to see where the academy goes with regards to this film, as there are 3 true roles where they could go.

In Contention has them going with Penelope Cruz, and I would have to second that notion. That said, the film, if the Weisteins just completely dump The Road's Oscar push, I think that two could fit that bill. So where would the second one come? My personal vote, I wouldn't be shocked if they went with Hudson. From all the footage I've seen, she seems great, as does Kidman, but I think that Kidman has her awards, and the academy may want to go a seperate way. That said, Kidman could easily steal her thunder. This is just a thought, as it would have to have a lot of things happen to get done (namely Susan Sarandon NOT be fantastic in The Lovely Bones which she is rumored to be), but who knows.

This is the academy we are talking about after all.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

VIDEO: Fight Club PSAs...

In honor of the 10th Anniversary Blu-Ray, here are some hilarious PSA's that ran before the film when it was in theatres. Enjoy!



Go see something good!

VIDEO: New Avatar Featurette...

IGN UK has a new featurette from Avatar, which looks at the hardware. Yeah. Giant f****** mech suits. Just watch it.

Avatar Movie Video - Exclusive Featurette: Human Hardware

Go see something good!

NEWS: Worthington Picks Up Last Days of American Crime...

When you hear about a big budget action film being produced, it seems like one can almost guarantee that certain things will come along with it, one of those things being the attachment of Sam Worthington. After Terminator 4 and Avatar, Worthington is not only a name in film circles, but he is also set to become a pretty big house hold name.

We can add another film to his long list.

Mania’s Comics2Film is now reporting that Worthington has been attached to appear in The Last Days of American Crime. The film is going to be a feature adaptation of the comic series of the same name, which was created by Rick Remender, who also leaked the news to the afformentioned site.

Here’s the plot synopsis:

In a near-future America, news has broken that, in a matter of weeks, the government is set to roll out mind-control technology that will kill the criminal impulse in all citizens. Chaos descend on America’s cities as the country braces for the new order. Career criminal Graham Brick is forced to accelerate the heist of his career with an untested new crew in order to beat the deadline.

I must say, I haven’ t read the comic book, but personally this sounds like a really interesting take on the heist genre. Also, it’s nice to know that, instead of say, having the criminal join up with some organization to help out the government, the criminal we are going to follow is just going to have this deadline as the setting for his heist. It should make for one hell of an interesting film, and one that I think should fit Worthington perfect. This guy is not only a bonafide action star, but he can out act Christian Bale. Seriously? The guy has skill, and given the right director (Louis Letterier anyone?), this could be one great piece of action cinema.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Remember Me...

So yeah, I am of the belief that Robert Pattinson is actually in some way, under all that diamond skin, there is somewhat of a good actor. Yeah, this doesn’t show it at all. I would come up with some really witty thing to say here, but it’s just kind of sad.

The film is called Remember Me, and while I love this cast, and the film visually looks at least watchable, not a single performance or shot in this trailer sparked my interest, and for a film that sounds this cliché, it needed to do something for me. I will see anything that has Chris Cooper in it though, so who knows. Could very well be a fine film, but this trailer doesn’t show any of that.


Remember Me in HD

Trailer Park | MySpace Video

Here's the synopsis:

Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler didn’t think anyone could possibly understand what he was going through until the day he met Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through an unusual twist of fate. Love was the last thing on his mind, but as her spirit unexpectedly heals and inspires him, he begins to fall for her. Through their love, he begins to find happiness and meaning in his life. But soon, hidden secrets are revealed, and the circumstances that brought them together slowly threaten to tear them apart. Remember Me is an unforgettable story about the power of love, the strength of family, and the importance of living passionately and treasuring every day of one’s life. Remember Me also stars Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper (Adaptation), and Academy Award® nominee Lena Olin (Chocolat).

Go see something good!

NEWS: Orphanage Remake Has A Problem...

It appears as though the U.S. remake of The Orphanage is in a little bit of turmoil, much to the appreciation of yours truly.

Arrow In The Head had a chance to talk to Larry Fessenden, who was as of August, attached to the project, but has since said that he has left:

THE ORPHANAGE was two years of waiting. Working on the script with Guillermo was a very exciting experience, but then I got into a casting miasma and that’s where the thing is; I think they’re gonna do it another way, actually. So I think I’m out of it. Hopefully they’ll still use my script, but I’m not sure I’m directing it anymore. That’s Hollywood for ya.

So back in August, Fessenden was attached, and casting had begun, searching for the female lead. However, it appears as all of that has been scrapped, at least as we all are aware. I’m sure the project is still looking to get made, but without Fessenden at the helm, it’s looking for a leader. Also worth noting, it will be kind of interesting to see just how much time del Toro has to give to this project, as he’s doing this little film called The Hobbit. I don’t know if you have heard of that one yet, but yeah, it’s going to suck up a bit of his time.

Personally, I want this film to die, but I know it won't. That said, if I had a choice of director, my hand would have to lay firmly on the shoulder of Ti West. I know he's not the type to do it, and I never want him too, but The Orphanage is a slow burn, and he is good at that. I've just seen an earlier film of his, Trigger Man, and while it's not a similar film to House of the Devil, it does have a similar sense of tension, which I think would be perfect for this film.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

FIRST LOOK: Paprika Director's Dream Machine...

One of the best modern animated films I’ve seen in the past 10 years, is sadly something that not many of you have seen, at least if the buzz around it is any statement. Hell, I can only find the thing at ONE local rental shop.

Paprika is the name of the stellar film that I am speaking of, and comes to us from the insane dome of Satoshi Kon. I’m not the biggest anime fan, at least it’s not something I’m to versed in, but this is what truly got me back into the mood of watching anime, when I first saw the film back in 2007. It’s basically an animated version of what David Lynch dreams of in one of his coke induced benders, so if you know me, that is something that I would dig. That said, I also think it’s weirdly accessible, so if you have a chance, see it.

So one can expect any news on Kon’s new film, The Dream Machine, to be something I write about. Well, make that a gaurentee, especially after seeing these stills from the films official website (via Twitch Film).





Now, I know, you are saying, what the hell? Well, here’s a little insight from Kon himself, from an interview he gave last year:

On the surface, it’s going to be a fantasy-adventure targeted at younger audiences. However, it will also be a film that people who have seen our films up to this point will be able to enjoy. So it will be an adventure that even older audiences can appreciate. There will be no human characters in the film; only robots. It’ll be like a “robot movie” for robots.

This film, while being one of the most anticipated of yours truly, looks rather underwhelming. Sure, the pictures themselves are beyond gorgeous, but personally, when a director has made a film like Paprika, and then to do something this seemingly gentle as /Film put it, really looses a bit of the intrigue. Sure, these are simply photos, and outside of that I don’t have much information, but it still leaves me wanting more.

However, I don’t that Kon will make something as light and soft as these pictures hint at. Don’t be surprised if my thoughts on this change. I know I won’t be.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Oscar Doc Short List Down To 15...

Last week, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences released their short list of Animated films that would be up for the five spots. Well, now the Documentary side of the Academy have gotten there list up, and it’s quite the list, that has sparked quite the discussion.

It appears as though, while locks like Food, Inc and The Cove have gotten their spots, other highly talked about documentaries have been left off. Casualties like Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story, Tyson, and Anvil! The Story of Anvil, have been left off, as well as my personal favorite so far this year, It Might Get Loud.

Now, what did get nominated you may be asking? Well, here’s your list:

• The Beaches of Agnes

• Burma VJ

• The Cove

• Every Little Step

• Facing Ali

• Food, Inc.

• Garbage Dreams

• Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders

• The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and The Pentagon Papers

• Mugabe and the White African

• Sergio

• Soundtrack for a Revolution

• Under Our Skin

• Valentino The Last Emperor

• Which Way Home

However, the story here isn’t who DID get nominated, it’s who didn’t. I have seen more than a few documentaries this year, and all of which have been snubbed, along side hyped fair like We Live In Public. I thought for sure Tyson, Anvil, and Capitalism would not only make the 15, but make the final five when it was all said and done, along with The Cove and Food, Inc.

All I know now is that I guess I need to get on the ball.

Go see something good!

POSTER: Gorgeous Poster For Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond Comes Out Of Nowhere...

Well this is a shocker.

The first poster for the upcoming Jodie Markell film, The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond has been released, and it’s one of the most stunning one-sheets I’ve seen in a long, long time. I had not even heard of the film about 30 minutes ago, and I must lean on The Playlist for a little description of how this poster lives up to the film. I must say, it sounds amazing:

The one-sheet for Jodie Markell's "The Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond" is out and it's stylish, gorgeous and perfectly captures the aesthetics in the film which are almost equally beatific.

The look, costumes, cinematography and music in the film are quite beautiful and gorgeous.

The film is set to release in December (the 30th to be exact), and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Evans, and Ellen Burstyn. It’s also based on a play by Tennessee Williams. Here’s the synopsis:

THE LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND is a new drama based on a recently rediscovered original screenplay by legendary writer Tennessee Williams. Starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Evans, the Paladin release will open in New York and Los Angeles in late December, with expansion to major markets following in early 2010. Academy Award-winner Ellen Burstyn, Academy Award-nominee Ann-Margret, Mamie Gummer, and Will Patton co-star in the film which was directed by award-winning short filmmaker and stage and screen actress Jodie Markell, in her feature debut.

The poster looks absolutely stunning, and while word hasn’t been too kind to then film as a whole, the poster and trailer (embedded below) look amazing.



What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

NEWS/POSTER: French Avatar Poster, And The Soundtrack Listing Spoils The Film...

I love film scores/soundtracks. I love them long time.

However, many times a films plot can be spoiled, almost completely, by simply revealing the titles of the tracks. Many times, a composer will list a song with some sort of thematic title, that instead of revealing plot points, simply posits the films theme/style. Take The Dark Knight’s Joker Theme, “Why So Serious?” for example. Instead of being called “The Joker Takes Control of Two Boats For A Social Experiment”, it simple plays off the films theme and style. That said, James Horner, composer of the score for Avatar, didn’t decide to do that, and instead decided to ruin much of the films plot.

But first, some unspoilery news.

First, a new poster has been released, and looks beyond gorgeous. Sure, it’s a split head poster, something that I have never really been a fan of, but honestly, there has yet to be something released about this film that has hindered my anticipation for this thing. Sure, it has been curbed a bit, particularly when seeing the human aspects of the film (which are beyond lackluster), but I’m still really excited to see what Cameron can do with this pet project of his.

Here’s the poster. Enjoy!



Also, in a ReelzChannel interview, Horner confirmed that the film would clock in right at three hours.

Now, for those who don't mind Avatar slightly spoiled for them, check out the following score track listing.

1. “You Don’t Dream in Cryo…”
2. Jake Enters His Avatar World
3. Pure Spirits of the Forest
4. The Bioluminescence of the Night
5. Becoming One of “The People”
Becoming One With Neytiri
6. Climbing Up – “Iknimaya – The Path to Heaven”
7. Jake’s First Flight
8. Scorched Earth
9. Quaritch
10. The Destruction of “Hometree”
11. Shutting Down Grace’s Lab
12. Gathering All the Na’vi Clans for Battle
13. War
14. I See You (Theme from "Avatar")

(VIA THE PLAYLIST)

It was also recently announced that, I See You, the theme from the film, was set to be sung by Leonna Lewis, so expect a big Oscar push for that track.

What do YOU think about all of this news?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Justin Theroux To Pen Space Invaders...

This week has been a week full of WTF moments. Hell, the past few months have left me uttering those three words more than I would like to admit.

Well, add another instance of the famous three letter acronym to the book, and this time, it may actually end up being the rare instance where a project may ultimately make a well made film.

It appears as though Justin Theroux, Tropic Thunder and Iron Man 2 scribe, has been hired to pen a new draft of the astronaut rom-com, Space Invader. The actor-turned-screenwriter is taking over the project which had the original draft penned by Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger, for 20th Century Fox. According to sources, the concept is actually interesting and sounds pretty decent.

Here’s the concept from an early scriptshadow review of the first draft:

Doug, the space shuttle janitor, watches helplessly as his astronaut girlfriend heads off on a 3 month International Space Station mission with Stamp Majors, all-American astronaut superstar and philanthropist (think a cross between a real life version of Buzz Lightyear, and the character Owen Wilson plays in Meet The Parents ). He begins to think that the two are getting it on and decides to…um…intervene. Really liked this one. It’s pretty broad but there are some great touches. We’ve all been in that position where our boyfriend/girlfriend is going to be in close quarters with some attractive dude/chick for a weekend trip or something and in the back of our minds are thinking, “Should I go there?” Of course we never do (well, ahem, most of the time we don’t) but in this case Doug takes it to the extreme, and decides to actually fly his way up to the International Space Station to make sure his girlfriend doesn’t bang Stamp.

With Will Arnet still attached, the project seems to still be on the ground, but instead of being a Fox Atomic production, it’s shifted to the father studio, which could be a good sign. I do like the premise, and like ScriptShadow points out, the story seems pretty relateable.

This is what makes projects like this, Risk, and Battleship intriguing. NO ONE thought of this style of story when playing the original game. This lack of any basic story allows the screenwriters, Theroux being a favorite of mine, to really just go off into any tangents that they want, and while this one just sounds like a rather broad rom-com, it also sounds rather interesting.

At least it’s not off the deep end like Battleship, and not completely crazy stupid like Monopoly, so this is easily my most anticipated board game/old video game adaptation announced yet.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Wolfman Getting New Editing Crew...

Talk about a film that just can’t get an honest shake in this world.

It appears that the long-troubled Wolfman remake that Universal is set to release, is broken in more ways than one. The film, a big-budget remake of Universal’s classic monster staple has gone through director changes (Mark Romanek leaving weeks before the start of principal photography), composer changes (Danny Elfman leaving due to delays) and release date shifts (I can’t even come up with a legit number to describe how many release dates this film has had), and now it looks like it hasn’t been edited to the level of quality that the studio would like.

According to an article from Variety, editors Mark Goldblatt and Walter Murch have been picked up by Universal to replace original editor Dennis Virkler, in hopes that they will “recut” the film.

This does not bode well for the already floundering project, one that no matter how interesting the trailers look, and they do, I just can’t get fully behind. Through all of the reshoots and delays, I have somewhat stayed open minded about this film, but honestly, I’m losing more and more hope as the days pass. Not only that, but while the trailers are interesting, it doesn’t look like they are doing anything particularly new with the project.

The Playlist also posits the idea that this may, if the film bombs as I think it will, be the death blow, at least for the time being, for all of Universal’s upcoming monster slate:

"The Wolfman" is supposed to kick-start another cycle of Universal Horror movies, with remakes of "The Bride of Frankenstein" (to be directed by "The Illusionist's" Neil Burger), "The Invisible Man" (courtesy of "Dark Knight" co-screenwriter David S. Goyer) and "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" (for "Sahara's" Breck Eisner).

If "The Wolfman" bombs as bad as it looks like it will, then all of these movies will be stalled indefinitely, for sure, and the studio will find itself in the same place it was in 2004, when the lackluster commercial performance of Stephen Sommers' "Van Helsing" cancelled similar plans for its all-star monster line-up.

I could not agree more. That said, the two editors that they brought in, do hold their own.

Murch has edited such great pieces as Apocalypse Now and The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Goldblatt has done films like The Howling and T2, so you know that these two men can hold their own in an editing room. That said, this whole film just doesn’t seem like it was truly meant to be. Not all of my hope is gone, but honestly, I just don’t see this film making much of a splash critically or monetarily. Where am I proved wrong? Nothing has gone right for this film so far, and while I hope it does come out of that and gives us something worth while, but it looks less and less likely.

That said, who knows.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Young @ Heart Remake?

So we all know that remakes are here to stay, and have not yet stopped to make their way into cinemas across the planet.

Now even the elderly are getting the remake treatment.

Earlier this week, trade sources reported that the Fox Searchlight documentary, the fantastic film Young @ Heart, was going to be remade into a feature length, narrative feature. Yeah, I’ll let the wave of WTF’s come over you. It’s not the only piece of news here that will leave you with that feeling.

The doc itself was a deep look into a group of senior citizens who formed a choir, and performed versions of contemporary songs from bands ranging from Coldplay to The Talking Heads. The doc was a fantastic film, and one that really tugged at the heartstrings, leaving yours truly inspired, while also being a beyond uplifting piece of cinema.

So you would think that this would be a great film to you know, simply watch on DVD? It’s in English, it’s uplifting, and it’s a quick and brisk viewing, so why remake it? Well it is, so here’s the story.

“I’m With Cancer” scribe Will Reiser is in talks to pen the screenplay for Working Title, and there has not been a director named yet. However, that doesn’t stop having a director be “attached” to the project. Who is that director?

It appears that Stephen Daldry, yeah, the director of The Hours and The Reader, is attached to direct the film. Also, the studio, Working Title, is hoping that Daldry will join, as well as Steve Carell, as the lead. I know you all must be saying that this is just a rumor, but that may not be the case.

The news today comes from Pajiba, who have recently had two of their reports, Peter Berg off Dune and Chris Pin starring in The Blade Itself, confirmed. So taken at face value, this appears as though Working Title may just be shooting for stars right now, with a list of actors that would fit if Carrel is out, but it sounds like this may indeed be happening.

I have two different feelings about this film, personally.

First, I hate remakes, so the fact that not only is this film going to be a remake, but a remake of a fantastic and really recent film, that is available at any and all rental stores. It’s beyond excessable, so really, everyone ranging from tween to geriatric can enjoy Young @ Heart without much worry.

That said, I do like Daldry in the directors chair, if it does happen. The Playlist brings up a fantastic point, in that he has had great experience with mixing in inspirational material without going into complete sentimentality, especially with his 2000 film, Billy Elliot, a film I do truly love. However, as much as I love Daldry, the idea of this film, along with the possibility of Carell in the lead leaves me wondering that, instead of a heartwarming look at this group, it’s going to be a Hollywood remake, and that I really can’t get into. Hopefully I will be wrong, but this is on my no hope list.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

POSTER: Full Alice In Wonderland Character Banner...

Thanks to The Disloyal Subjects of The Mad Hatter, we now have the full Alice in Wonderland Character Banner to gawk at, which is basically the three released posters, just in one full banner. Pretty sweet actually.



Go see something good!

POSTER: Second And Third Alice In Wonderland Poster...

Last week the first new Alice in Wonderland poster was released, and now two new posters have followed suit. Enjoy!




Go see something good!

NEWS: Richard Linklater's Liars (A-E) Officially Dead...

This has not been the best of years for Mr. Slacker, Richard Linklater.

First, his new film Me and Orson Welles has now FINALLY found some sort of distribution, albeit limited, and has been taking blows from critics, who have not been too fond of the Zac Effron starrer. The semi-sequel to Dazed and Confused, That’s What I’m Talking About, never left the ground, and now his new Miramax project, Liars (A-E), has become one of the new Miramax casualties.

Hell, even School of Rock 2 has gone nowhere.

Movieline now reports that Liars (A-E) has become a new victim of the much publicized downsizing of Miramax. Here’s the synopsis for that film via /Film:

Announced in July, the film quickly attached Rebecca Hall and Kat Dennings to a story that would have seen the two on a road trip to retrieve stuff from Hall’s ex-boyfriends, with Obama’s inauguration in the background. The picture seemed ready to go at Miramax, with the mighty Scott Rudin producing. Now it isn’t going anywhere.

So here’s the scoop. First, the good news.

Recently, Collider has had the chance to talk to Linklater about his spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, TWITA. According to their interview, Linklater does hope to bring that film back to life somewhere down the line:

I carefully called it a spiritual sequel to Dazed cause it’s not the same characters. If Dazed was my High School, this is my college . It’s about a weekend in college in that time period. It’s funny…I think it’s the funniest thing I ever wrote.

This is easily the biggest piece of news, personally, that has risen from the ashes known as Linklater’s 2009. I love Dazed, and hearing this premise, while a bit cliché, does sound like perfect stomping ground for Linklater and his distinct and esoteric style. Sure, there is some lack of interest amongst distributors, but when names get attached to the project, there shouldn’t be much problem finding some sort of funding.

Now the bad.

First, in the Movieline interview, he confirms that there have been no movement on School of Rock 2, which all in all, I think is a good thing. Linklater hasn’t been to up on the project, so the death of this, at least at the moment, is a bit inspiring, particularly when taken in the context of Linklater’s upcoming slate. More time on TWITA is always a good thing.

However, the overall story here is the death of Liars (A-E), which in and of itself is quite saddening. The project sounding interesting, and starred Kat Dennings, an actress I think could burst off the screen within the environment of a Linklater film.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Rob Marshall Confirmed For Pirates 4...

Singing Pirates? I think that sounds like a great idea, don't you?

All the way back in July, rumors began circulating that Chicago director Rob Marshall was at the top of the list of directors to take over the vacant directors chair for the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which had been left by original trilogy director, Gore Verbinski.

Well, it appears those rumors have been verified, and we can now say that Pirates 4 will be directed by Rob Marshall. At the recent DGA screening of Nine, Marshall indeed confirmed that he is now slated to direct Pirates 4. Here’s what he had to say:

“ya’know, it’s something that I was offered and never in the world thought I would do but then I was like ‘why not?’… I’m doing ‘Pirates of the Caribbean….”.

This is all according to a report from AICN, which also states that Johnny Depp, rumored to be out of the project, was excited to get to work with Marshall. Interesting news indeed.

Now, aside from this news, the only other thing that we truly know is that the film will be based on a pirate novel written by Tim Powers, called, you guessed it, On Stranger Tides, which had been picked up by Disney a few years back. Here’s the synopsis:

Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy’s struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he’s going and what’s at stake.

Most people may shake their heads at this idea, but personally, I love the choice. While I’m not the biggest fan of Chicago, I think Marshall has a very distinct style, one that could be interesting when put in context of a pirate film. He also has made his money in costume/style heavy fair, which this is definitely a part of. Sure, it won’t be a musical, but I think Verbinski, while a fantastic director, was beginning to feel stale in the directors chair of that film, and I’m very excited to see that Disney is set to shift to a very different style. It at least gives me hope that Disney is going to try to do something interesting with this film, which about a month ago, I would never have thought.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: The Fox From Antichrist...

THIS is an award push I can get behind.

Go see something good!

OPINION: Twilight From Virgin Eyes...

I love lazy Monday nights.

I love redundant, over asked questions even more.

For about a month now, I have a certain tradition, that must be met, or else it’s just not a legit Monday. First, I get back from my Media Literacy class (tonight’s discussion was on Fringe, so yeah, I was in a pretty good mood). Then, I hop in my car, get some Chinese food (Honey Chicken combo from China 1, like you all care), and then I feast upon some television. However, tonight has been different. Tonight has been awful. Tonight has featured Twilight.

I hear the screams of all of my readers (yeah, Mom and Dad, I’m looking at you), all the way back here.

What I found on TV tonight was an MTV Special, entitled Twilight: Love Bites.
Have you ever sat there and picked at something on your body, even though it hurt you to the bone. Yeah, that’s about the feeling that I felt during my viewing of this retardation inducing piece of television this evening.

Twilight: Love Bites basically covers the life and times of “Robstin”. I can’t believe I just f***** said that. Hold on one sec.

Alright. The bleach that I just drank is now fully in my body, so I’m going to make this fast.

T:LB takes a look at, instead of you know, Twilight, or even the on-screen romance between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart’s characters in the film, but instead focuses on Pattinson and Stewart’s off-screen emo-fest (although I would love to say that Stewart is looking ever so foxy in that black hair. Just saying.) This brings me to my major thought coming out of this Twilight inducing coma.

What the f*** is going on with Twilight?

I love me some romantic films. Before Sunrise/Sunset, Casablanca, or even Pillow Talk are all fantastic films, which stand wholly on their own. Seriously, does it get any better than Bogart and Bergman? This kid says not. However, it’s not Bogart and Bergman’s relationship off-screen that makes me want to watch that film. I want to sit through Casablanca because their onscreen chemistry is so brilliant, that it’s just a compelling watch.

I am sitting here, just a mere 10 minutes post viewing, and I am still wondering, why do people love these films? Well, here are the positives that I think are coming from these films.

First, the soundtracks are amazing. That is a given. When you put a group together that consist of St. Vincent, Bon Iver, and Grizzly Bear, you have my heart, and my soul. Summit has created the epitome of a soundtrack in their two Twilight discs.

Second, they have talent behind the camera. I have a soft spot in my heart for both Catherine Hardwick and Chris Weitz, and think that David Slade is one of the best up and coming directors, particularly when involving female leads (Hard Candy anyone?), so they do have cinematic talent working on the projects. That said, the first film was garbage, and the second one doesn’t look much better. Here’s why.

The fans don’t like this book, or really any of them for that matter.

This is ultimately the most puzzling thing about the film and book series in my eyes. I have not met a single person, male or female, who say that the books are truly well written pieces of literature. I’ve actually heard damn near the opposite, with some fans calling them down right shit. So why the hoopla? Sure, the guys are hot, the girls ooze sex (seriously, Kristen Stewart, hot), but only if you are like me and like your girls freshly squeezed out of your local boutique shop like little hipster infused oranges. However, they can’t act, minus Stewart. Not only that, but the source material is not worth its weight in pulp. I haven’t read the book, so I can’t personally talk about it, but from people who think it’s the Hot Topic Bible, it’s not as hot as the rabid fans would have us think.

The female lead is the antithesis of a modern female. This is personally the most troubling. I cannot tell you how many conversations I have had about this subject, and about my personally outrage about this aspect. Sure, I understand the reasoning behind it. Stephanie Meyer is a Mormon woman, and in that faith, a man is nearly worshipped. Therefore, in Twilight, Bella is willing to not only do anything, but jump off a f****** cliff to get the attention of a man who would kill her if he had the chance. Yeah, I love my girlfriend, but if I knew that she deep down wanted to kill me, I would probably not stick around to get my penis destroyed by a piece of wood (Antichrist reference anyone?), and I damn sure hope that my daughter(s) don’t think that this is what they should strive to be. People have said that I’m taking this far to serious, and that it’s just a female wish fulfillment, like a Prince Charming, but that in and of itself is a bit screwed up. I’m not knocking fans, I’m basically writing this in hopes for some clarity.

Really, if you think about it, not only is the relationship between the three lovers a bit screwy, but it’s horribly cliché. You have the standard trope of girl who must choose between the reliable, sweet dude, and the badass, effeminate, and super creepy douche who runs away when the heat turns up. Oh, and what does she choose, yeah, the guy who sits in her room while she sleeps, before even meeting her. Yeah, that’s the ideal guy. THAT is who I want my children dating.

In conclusion, I guess I just don’t get why Twilight fans put themselves out there, by supporting a show that is about the film that they are a fan of, but instead, spends 30 minutes on interviews with 50 year old crew members talking about how the two leads were caught cuddling off-screen one afternoon when it was cold. Not only is that slightly disturbing on an overall level, but really, being a film guy, I would hope that others would get behind a film that they can you know, get behind, instead of getting behind gossip brought on by the film. You know, now that I think of it, I may have to go see 2012 just so I know what to expect this Friday, when New Moon hits theatres.

That all said, you may just see me snapping photos of Twilight moms come this Friday. Who knows.

Now excuse me, I have to get back to watching my Criterion copy of Godard’s Made in the U.S.A. Yeah, I’m a pretentious film snob, f****** deal with it.

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Crazy Heart...

Wow, talk about coming out of nowhere!

About two weeks, Fox Searchlight boosted their Oscar weight by pumping up their film, Crazy Heart, by giving it an early December release date. The film, directed by Scott Cooper, stars Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal, and has been a much talked about contender in the Best Male Lead Oscar category for Bridges, as well as a few rumblings that Gyllenhaal may be able to sneak her way into either female acting category.

Now, not many people have seen the film, but it is already garnering comparisons to The Wrestler (for the strong and physical male lead and the overall look of the film) or Once (for the look and take on music), and is a perfect storm for Fox Searchlight. No more than a month ago, no one had even heard of the film, outside of CMT fans (it was originally created by the channel).

Well, now we have a trailer for it. Late last week a stunning poster was released, and now Searchlight has one upped themselves, by pumping out a fantastic trailer. It’s poetic, warm, and yet gives you a stark look into what looks like the core story of the film, and is exactly everything that a trailer should be, particularly for an independent film. It’s not brilliant, but for a small film, this definitely makes me want to get my ass in a seat when this hits December 11th. And I HATE country music. Go figure. Here’s the trailer:



Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who's had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician.

Go see something good!

NEWS: What Will Wes Anderson Do Next?

With the limited release of Wes Anderson’s newest film, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, now under way, two things are happening. People are starting to sing the films praises (currently a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes), an people are also starting to ask “what’s next?” for the film’s director.

Well, a light has been shined on that exact subject.

Over a year ago, word came out that Anderson was going to work on a remake of the French film, My Best Friend. It looks like that project hasn’t been scrapped (like some rumors were proclaiming), but instead, was going to be his next film. A script has been drafted, and is now titled The Rosenthaler Suite. Here’s the scoop from /Film (via The Playlist, who attained a draft of the script):

The Playlist got a copy of the script and runs down some of the differences between it and the original film. The French My Best Friend is a comic meditation on the nature of friendship. It follows François (Daniel Auteuil), an arrogant and unpleasant antique dealer who was challenged by his business partner, Catherine (Julie Gayet), to produce his best friend (not believing that he had one). If he succeeds, he will be able to retain possession of a valuable Greek vase he purchased using company money. François sets out to look for a best friend and finds Bruno (Dany Boon), a gregarious cabbie, who will hopefully help him win the bet.

In Anderson’s version, transplanted to New York, the primary character is Nicolas, an art dealer. The plot is kicked into motion by rival art dealer Lucinda, and Bruno becomes a Polish cab driver named Zbigniew. (The Playlist notes that George Clooney seems like a lock for Nicolas, that Angelica Huston or Meryl Streep would be ideal Lucindas, and that Adrien Brody could be Zbigniew. For the latter, I’m envisioning Eugene Hutz, were it not for his similar role in Everything is Illuminated.)

Could this be his next project? My hunches are no, as he has been reported as saying that he wants to simply do something wholly original, so while it’s not out of the question, I highly doubt it. A rumored Fantastic Mr. Fox comic book could be on the horizon, but honestly, I don’t even think Anderson knows what his next project is, but I think that’s a good thing. I haven’t seen Fox, but it looks similar to his previous films, and I think doing something, even script wise, wholly original, could be good for him. I’m with The Playlist in hoping that Roman Coppola could pick up Suite, but who knows.

What would YOU like to see Anderson do next?

Go see something good!

NEWS: The Road To Move Release Dates...Again...

So, the bastard son of John Hillcoat and the Weinstein Company (or as the latter makes it seem like), The Road continues to have a tumultuous release, even though it has garnered quite a bit of buzz coming out of Toronto, and fellow festivals.

A few months ago, the dystopian-end-of-the-world drama was set to hit theatres across the country on November 25, the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving. However, it appears as though those plans have once again changed, and not for the better.

The Playlist is reporting that “according to a email we received about local theater chain markets, the film has reverted back to a limited release roll-out plan.” It looks as though the November 25th release date is now simply a New York/L.A. release, instead of a wide one, at it would appear that, hopefully at least, the film would expand in the following weeks.

Sure, it’s gotten mostly mixed reviews, but with Oscar support behind star Viggo Mortensen, those chances are slowly shrinking, especially with fellow TWC film, Nine, hitting wide on the 25th, and getting much of TWC’s Oscar bank.

The Playlist also points out that TWC has been having some/ much publicized money problems, so with the brunt of marketing going to the big time musical, Nine, look for The Road to get the short end of the already minute TWC Oscar stick.

What do YOU think? Does The Road still have a shot, even though Rob Marshall, director of the Academy Award winning Chicago is also hitting theatres with Nine, another TWC film?

Go see something good!

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Up For Best Picture...

Pixar recently purchased the front cover of Variety for a full cover ad asking Academy members to nominate Up for Best Picture. Check out the ad below.

(Via Awards Daily)



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NEWS: 20 Films Chosen For Animated Film Oscar Consideration...

So, I was a little bit late on this one, but I'm still trying to wrap my skull around some of these nominations.

First, the news.

It appears as though the list of animated features that will be up for consideration at this years Academy Awards, for Best Animated Feature, has grown from the rumored 15, to a giant total of 20. Here's the list:

9
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Astro Boy
Battle for Terra
A Christmas Carol
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
The Dolphin -- Story of a Dreamer
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Mary and Max
The Missing Lynx
Monsters vs. Aliens
Planet 51
Ponyo
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
A Town Called Panic
Up

Just a few things, that are still bugging me, and some that make me happy.

First, what in the HELL is Alvin and The Chipmunks 2 doing in the animated film list? Sure, I get that some of the film, well, only the Chipmunks, are animated, but really now? A live action hybrid being nominated for best animated feature leaves a horrible taste in my mouth, and one that the Academy needs to explain away.

If Alvin and The Chipmunks can get nominated, why not Avatar? I haven't heard much about this amongst the websphere, so maybe I'm just dumb, but I think that this is an interesting statement by the studio, Fox.

Could this lack of a nomination be Fox's f*** you to the Academy, in that they think that if it comes up on an animated list, that it will have less of a chance to be nominated for Best Picture? This critic thinks yes. Not only is the film going to be vastly superior to AatC2, but I think it's far more animated. I mean, just look at the trailer!

That said, it IS something nice to see, as with their help, the list is now up to 20 films, and therefor leaves the list of nominees from the expected 3, to a full category, of 5. However, that's a gift and a curse, at least for us film journalist/bloggers, as it was tough to come up with three nominees, and now we need five.

Here are my expected nominees:

Coraline
Up
Ponyo
Princess and The Frog
Fantastic Mr. Fox

Now, the only real stretch that I think I am making here, and the only real spot where I think the Academy may go another way, is in the case of Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox. I haven't seen the film, but just the idea of a director who really isn't part of the animators club (as opposed to Miyazaki, Sellick, Disney and Pixar), and the massive rumor that Wes Anderson was directing the film from Paris, while it was being shot and animated in London. While I do think that this has been a stacked year (you could easily replace Fox with say, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs or any of the indies, like Mary and Max, a film I'm seeing this week), I do believe that this may be as close to "the five" as anyone will get.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

POSTER/BUZZ: Crazy Heart...

Originally built with the help of the CMT network, Crazy Heart is a film that has burst out of nowhere (set for a spring 2010 release originally), and has gathered MASSIVE buzz for both the film as a whole, as well as the films male lead. Well, add a poster to that buzz.



What the hell is Crazy Heart you all may be asking? Here's the films synopsis:

Bad Blake is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean, a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. Bad also becomes the mentor to a contemporary country star, Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), while simultaneously struggling in the rising young crooner’s shadow.

The film stars Jeff Bridges, who is getting Mickey Rourke size buzz for his performance as the lead, Bad Blake. Bridges isn't only a strong performer in the film, according to those who have seen it, but he also sings in the film, a bonus that the Academy truly loves. It's not a super strong year for male leads, so so far this year, it looks like Bridges and Colin Firth, for A Single Man, look like the Rourke/Penn double team for this year.

Along with buzz from critics, Bridges is going to get not only nominated, but be put right in the forefront, because the man has been pumping out performance after performance for 40 years now. Seriously, this a performance the Academy jerks itself off to in their golden coked out daze.

Just saying, watch out for this film come Oscar time.

Go see something good!

VIDEO: Watch Wes Anderson Direct Fantastic Mr. Fox...

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NEWS: Thor To Go Into Production in January...

Oh Twitter, how easily you break news.

So, basically, over on their Twitter, Production Weekly said that Marvel Studios is set to begin principal photography on Thor, sometime in January. Hopefully, in the run up leading up to principal photography starting, we may be able to get a hold of some production materials, and maybe even a script. However, all we know now is this.

- Kenneth Branagh is helming the project

- Script is written by Mark Protosevich (with alleged revisions by Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz

- The movies plot is basically this: The movie’s story sees the god of thunder Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions re-ignite an ancient war. As punishment, Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans. Once here, he learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends dark forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

- Chris Hemworth is starring in the titular role

- Odin will be played by Anthony Hopkins

- Natalie Portman is Jane Foster, nurse to Thor’s alter-ego, Donald Blake

- Loki will be played by Tom Hiddleston

- Jaimie Alexander and Stellan Skarsgard are also in the cast.

- Production will kick off in L.A. in January, and then will move to New Mexico in March, and should be in the can by April, if all goes well. Expect SOMETHING to be seen at Comic Con, if not earlier.

What are YOUR thoughts on this project?

Go see something good…

VIDEO: Making Of The Box...

Here's a special little video from Making Of, that shows a bit of behind-the-scenes footage from the recent Richard Kelly film, The Box. Enjoy!



Go see something good!

NEWS: Release Dates Galore..

Early this week, we all got our first look at what will be Noah Baumbach’s new comedy, Greenberg, which stars Ben Stiller, Rhys Ifans, and Greta Gerwig. Well, today, we have officially found a new release date for the film as well.

The film, which was created by Baumbach and his wifey, Jennifer Jason Leigh, stars Ben Stiller as Roger Greenberg, who is a man in his 40’s at the crossroads in his life. Here’s the synopsis from The Playlist:

The film is about a man in his 40s at a crossroads in his life, Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) ends up housesitting at his brother’s home in Los Angeles. There, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with his brother’s assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig), an aspiring singer. Florence and Greenberg’s encounters lead to an uncertain and wonderfully vulnerable courtship. Rhys Ifans plays one of Stiller's old best friends. The film also co-stars Brie Larson, Juno Temple, Chris Messina and Mark Duplass.

The release date you ask? How does March 12th, 2010 sound to you all?

I’m not the biggest fan of Margot at the Wedding, although I do see merits below that films sort of mumble-core surface. However, with his two previous films, Kicking and Screaming and The Squid and the Whale, Baumbach is a truly fantastic film maker. Full of fantastic music and some of the most true to heart moments on screen in recent memory, Baumbach is a film maker who is willing to go out on a limb, and take chances. With Stiller in the lead, this will hopefully work on a better and higher clip than Margot, as Jack Black was that films true weak link. Stiller is a far better actor, and has proven that he can do something a bit more serious, or at least something a bit more dry, as is a staple in Baumbach’s films.

We also found out that Focus Films will also be releasing the Jamie Bell vehicle, The Eagle of the Ninth in the third quarter of next year, the new Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck film, It’s Kind of a Funny Story in November, and finally, Sofia Coppola’s new film, Somewhere, arriving sometime, most likely fall, of 2010.

Finally, The Playlist also reports that Anton Corbijn, who hit the film scene with the brilliant Joy Division film, Control, will have his new George Clooney star-er, The American, on September 1st. Interesting spot, for an interesting film.
What are your thoughts on these films?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Richard Ayoade Goes Underwater With Submarine...

So, I am a big time fan of music video directors becoming film makers. Just look at some of the best like Mark Romanek, Spike Jones, and of course, Michel Gondry. Now, one of the hottest young music video creators is looking to take that jump to the big screen, and is joined by one hell of a lead cast.

Richard Ayoade, director of such music masterworks like the videos for Vampire Weekends “Oxford Comma”, The Last Shadow Puppets “Standing Next to Me” as well as the video for Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Heads Will Roll”, which I think may be his best, and is embedded below, is that director. His debut feature, an adaptation of Joe Dunthorne’s novel, Submarine, has begun filming about a month ago, and with a cast that includes Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine, and newcomer Craig Roberts in the lead.

Here’s the scoop from The Playlist, who had this story a while ago, I just happened to miss it, and this is too good of a story to skip:

The novel, published when author Dunthorne was only 25, is a coming-of-age story, following 15-year-old Oliver Tate, as he tries to save his parent's marriage, and lose his virginity to his pyromaniac girlfriend Jordana. Other than Roberts, there's no official news on who's playing who, but, taking an educated guess, we'd say that Taylor and Hawkins will play Tate's parents (Taylor replaces Michael Sheen, who was previously attached to the project), and Considine will probably be Hawkins' Capoeira teacher, who Tate is convinced his mother is having an affair with. Doing a little digging, we've also found information suggesting that Yasmin Paige, star of the "Doctor Who" spin off "The Sarah Jane Adventures," is playing Jordana.

I haven’t read the book, but after seeing his work in the above videos, as well as with buddies The Mighty Boosh, I can’t help but be overly interested in this project. He’s a fantastic director, with a distinct style, and one that I think will translate well to the big screen.

Here’s his video for the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Heads Will Roll”. Enjoy!



Go see something good!

VIDEO: Oren Moverman Talks The Messenger...

One film that has gotten huge buzz, that I haven't seen yet, is Oren Moverman's new film, The Messenger, which stars Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster. Below is a special video with Moverman, taken by MakingOf (via Incontention), in which he discusses his film. Find the film and synopsis below!



A US soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.

The Messenger is directed by first-time filmmaker Oren Moverman, who previously wrote the screenplays for I'm Not There and Married Life. The screenplay was actually co-written by Moverman and producer Alessandro Camon. This first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and was eventually bought by Oscilloscope. The Messenger will open in limited theaters starting on November 13th this fall.

Go see something good!

VIDEO: South Park Avatar Spoof...

This video is taken from the newest episode of South Park, entitled Dancing With Smurfs. During the episode, as /Film (who had the heads up on this video, as I don't readily watch South Park) puts it, Cartman becomes a Glenn Beck /Bill O’reilly like character, and at one point recalls a tale about spending time with the Smurfs. He became “one of them,” falling in love with Smurfette, and leading a revolt against the humans (led by Wendy) who have come to pillage and ruin smurfland.

I'm not the biggest fan of the show, but it IS a slow news day after all, so enjoy!



Go see somhing good!

VIDEO: James Franco On General Hospital...

Uh, this is kind of brilliant. Just enjoy. The title of this post says it all.

Thanks to Collider for the heads up.



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NEWS: The Monopoly Film Is Exactly What We Thought It Would Be...

One would hope that, with Ridley Scott at the help, the upcoming Monopoly film would at least sound a tad bit interesting, and could somehow be solid, but nothing, and I mean nothing, could have led anyone to believe that the film would be as George-Lucas-esque bad as the recently discussed premise is. Here’s what Frank Beddor, the man behind the mustache (well, at least the film and its concept), had to say.

[H]e’s in this very vibrant place, Monopoly City, and he’s just come out of a Chance Shop. As it goes on, he takes on the evil Parker Brothers in the game of Monolopy. He has to defeat them. It tries to incorporate all the iconic imageries - a sports car pulls up, there’s someone on a horse, someone pushing a wheelbarrow - and rich Uncle Pennybags, you’re going to see him as the maître d’ at the restaurant and he’s the buggy driver and the local eccentric and the doorman at the opera. There’s all these sight gags.

Uhh, yeah. I honestly have no idea what to say.

Hero Complex, who had the scoop on all of Beddor’s verbal vomit, goes on to discuss the character who we will follow, who happens to be a “comedic, loveable loser, who’s not so hot at his job in Real Estate.” Comparisons to Jumanji and Zathura have run rampant throughout the web, and honestly, those comparisons are for the hopeful. This thing sounds beyond “Indiana Jones 4” style stupidity.

That said, /Film brings up a good point, that this guy, Beddor, is NOT penning the final screenplay, and Pamela Pettler is. Throughout a films production, screenplays change, stories shift, and movies grow and change equally. This needs that to happen, and fast. We don’t know what will be the final story, but how awful the story sounds, and how corny all of the iconography is, just leaves me even more worried about the project than I previously was.

All in all, this is not a project that I have too high of hopes for. Ridley Scott is showing that he may (doubtfully) be losing a step, at least with Body of Lies, but overall, I still have faith in him. But only when the source material works, and this is the polar opposite of that. Chance Shop? That should kind of spell out what the f*** for those out of the 1st grade.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!