Mid-Day Short Cuts: Besson, Coen Brothers, Todd Solondz, Rambo, Joker, More

- Luc Besson (influential action film auteur "La Femme Nikita" and "The Profesional") is revered in North America, but his "Cinéma du Blockbuster" is reviled in his native France. Without him there is no "Alias," nor is there elements of "cleaner" characters and girl spy heroines for Tarantino to appropriate, but the egg-headed French are not budging. [New York Times]
- Coen Brothers "shrouded in mystery" "Burn After Reading" script, not so shrouded in mystery? [Vulture]
- Cannes-ing it up with his Angelina Jolie film, "A Mighty Heart," Micheal Winterbottom has signed up for the film "7 Days." The numerical happy director has already helmed "24 Hour Party People" and "9 Songs." [Hollywood Reporter]
- Werner Herzog praises Borat during New York visit. "I like [Borat] for its political boldness. To wear that style of bikini, I wish I had it in me." He also affectionately calls Michael Moore as having "a wild-boar presence," and labeled Fahrenheit 911 "a fine propaganda film." [Vulture]
- Our Herzog report tomorrow. It was ready, but Blogger fucking didn't save it, the piece of shit. [Blogger Sucks]
-Candian indie-actress turned director Sarah Polley is confoundedly level-headed and well-adjusted which makes for an innocuous and pullquote-unfriendly interview [The Onion AV Club]
- "Pirates 3" actor Bill Nighy earns respect through 'Sleazebag of the Year' award at last year's Teen Choice awards [Yahoo]
- Amiable "Mr. Show" comedian Bob Odenkirk's directorial feature film debut, "The Brothers Solomon" is due later this summer. It stars the devlish Will Arnett of "Arrested Development" fame. [A/V Club]
- Paul Reubens (formerly known as Pee Wee Herman) has been cast alongside Demi Moore and Emma Thompson in Todd Solondz's new Talking Heads' titled film, "Life During Wartime" (which apparently is a sort-of sequel or "riff" of "Happiness" [New York Times]
- C-list celebrity Victoria Beckham uses recently relocated L.A. status to muscle into A-List movie awards ceremony. [Yahoo]
- His lipstick is really smeared: Heath Ledger as the Joker revealed. Also Anthony Michael Hall has joined the cast? [Coming Soon]
- Sylvester Stallone punches some dude's head off in the new "extra-psychotic" Rambo Trailer. [AICN]