So the latest news on “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” casting?
Evidently director David Fincher will be testing “up to six” actresses for the title role tomorrow (Sunday). And while the final list of who exactly they will be is still somewhat speculative, the fact that these tests will be done in costume, make-up, piercings, and opposite the already-cast Daniel Craig, strongly suggests that these six are the finalists (though last we week it was thought there was five finalists).
So who are they, exactly? Well, Deadline hazards they’ll be six of this eight: Emily Browning ("Sucker Punch"), Sara Snook ("Sleeping Beauty"), Rooney Mara ("The Social Network"), Sophie Lowe ("Blame"), Lea Seydoux ("Robin Hood"), Ellen Page and Mia Wasikowska. There are a few relative surprises on that list for those of us who have been following this closely: firstly, apparently Deadline have either not heard of or have disregarded the Daily Beast’s contention that Browning is out of the running (which we reported here), and secondly, better-known names Ellen Page and Mia Wasikowska again show up on the shortlist, from which they had both been absent for a while, though we had our suspicions (and note, in case you were wondering, Die Antwoord South African rapper Yo-Landi Vi$$er apparently wasn't interested in acting or the role, so you can count her out too)
It should be noted, however that neither Browning nor Wasikowska made test deals initially, and while that hardly precludes them from being seen this Sunday, it might make sense of the question marks currently hovering over their names. Also, Ellen Page actually sent in her own test to Fincher, in a bid to be (re)considered for the role, and this on the back of the (admittedly somewhat shady) report that she had been asked to “continue working on her Swedish accent” during the casting process suggests that she may be being kept on as a back-up in case the more unknown actresses fail to float Fincher’s boat.
7/31/2010
David Fincher Tests Six Actresses For 'Dragon Tattoo'; Kate Jarvis Enters The Race; Ellen Page, Mia Wasikowska Potentially Back In
Talks Turn Into Negotiations For Robert Rodriguez To Direct 'Deadpool'
When we first reported that Robert Rodriguez was being offered the director's chair for "Deadpool" back in June, it felt like a longshot to us at the time. Rodriguez has a lot of irons in the fire and pet projects that seemed more likely as potential directing gigs, and our doubts seemed to be confirmed when at Comic-Con last weekend he seemed unsure if he would take the job saying, "They sent me a script to read, [but] I've been really swamped with this other stuff. I've not decided whether ... anything I do would be after 'Spy Kids' — that gives some breathing room. So whether or not I would help develop or not is the question right now."
Well, it seems that Rodriguez was being a little bit cagey as the LA Times now reports that 20th Century Fox and Rodriguez have gone from merely shooting the shit, into actual negotiations. Those talks are apparently in early stages, and a number of deal points need to be hashed out, but it would appear that if the contract ends up being to his liking, Rodriguez will ink a deal.
While we're not thrilled at Rodriguez directing a comic tentpole (how about "Nervewrackers" instead?) it seems clear that Fox have been pleased at his ability to deliver big action films on the cheap ("Predators" cost $40 million; the upcoming "Machete" is in the ballpark of $20 million) and are probably keen on boosting their spinoff franchise by hiring someone who has oodles of geek approval.
It remains to be seen if Rodriguez and the studio can find common ground to work on. If Rodriguez takes the helm, the film would come after he completes work on "Spy Kids 4: Armageddon." Enticingly, the movie has a script by Rhett Rheese and Paul Wernick ("Zombieland") and frankly, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool was only good thing to come out of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" so it could potentially be a fun antidote to the generally ponderous comic book genre.
7/30/2010
Guillermo Del Toro Walked Away From 'Van Helsing' With Tom Cruise For 'At The Mountains Of Madness'
After the madness that was the pre-pre-production of "The Hobbit," and endless speculation Guillermo Del Toro finally announced that his next project would be the adaptation of HP Lovecraft's "At The Mountain of Madness," backed by Universal and produced by World King James Cameron. But with Del Toro going up and down the mountain, did he have to leave some heavier things behind?
New York Magazine says yes. Apparently, Del Toro was on the bill for another Universal project, a new "Van Helsing" film that would not only be produced by Tom Cruise, but also possibly feature the former box office star. As you might recall, it was reported in June that Del Toro was developing his own spin on the Van Helsing tale but news on the project ran quiet shortly thereafter.
Who knows what Del Toro's take on the legend would have been (and we're sure if you ask him, he'll tell you) but certainly, he would've certainly brought more life to the character and mythology than hack Stephen Sommers did. And the fact that Tom Cruise, who is notoriously picky about potential projects, was producing and possibly considering going in front of the camera make us wonder what direction Del Toro would have gone in. Either way, Cruise is rumored to be remaining with the project, even with Del Toro recently gone. More on this one possibly soon.
As for 'Madness,' the book is about an Antarctic expedition and their encounter with an "untold menace in the ruins of a lost civilization" (thanks Amazon!). Sounds great, and with Del Toro's eye for visual detail, we should be in for a real treat. Sorry Cruise, but it looks like this one's for the best.
Bruce Willis Talks 'Looper,' Calls It "Really Dark" And Likens It To '12 Monkeys'
Ain't It Cool News sat down with Bruce Willis and managed to get some information out of him regarding the next Rian Johnson film, "Looper." As previously reported, the film will also star Joseph Gordon Levitt, who will play the young version of Bruce Willis's character. The story is about a gang that goes back in time to dispose of bodies of people they have murdered, and Willis' character will be contracted to kill his younger self (Levitt).
"(The) script is in a handful of scripts that I read and said yes to right away. I was like 'This is unbelieveable,'... It's really dark," said Willis. Though he isn't exactly an actor to trust given his recent choice of projects ("Cop Out," "Surrogates"), Rian Johnson is a more than apt director ("Brick" was a solid picture that could've been an off-tone mess, "The Brothers Bloom" was an energetic romp) and is likely to put out a product of impressive quality. Willis and AICN's Quint both liken the film to Terry Gilliam's near-brilliant film "12 Monkeys," with Willis saying "hopefully we can shoot it like that."
While neither of Johnson's films have pulled in much of a haul (together they've made somewhere around $10 million), Willis seems to believe this one will fill some seats. "A guy goes back to kill himself, his own younger self? How is that... I want to go see it right away." The idea could definitely entice certain audiences, and the inclusion of the bald bad-ass is sure to do some pulling. Levitt is certainly rising, he's been charming indie audiences as a lead since "Brick" and won himself mainstream appeal with "500 Days of Summer" and best blockbuster of this summer "Inception."
Those afraid of the film just being a high-concept science fiction film with no heart should think again. "It's not about time travel as much as it is about mistakes you have made and things you don't want to do and your little childhood self coming near your adult life going 'No, you're not going to do that. I've got to fucking kill me.'" We're glad to hear there's going to be more to the picture than a showdown between one person at different ages, it seems like the film will deal with having to relive the pains of the past and deciding whether or not to go through with certain things while knowing the outcome. Sure, essential time-travel stuff, but as Johnson proved with his take on noir, he can easily breathe life into things that have been tread and retread countless times.
"Looper" will hopefully shoot early next year.
MIFF 2010: 'Carlos,' 'Winter's Bone,' 'HaHaHa' & More
The cold July winter in Melbourne once again brings the illustrious international film festival to town and, along with it, a vast selection of films from all around the globe.
This year's line-up is a typically eclectic mix, including a healthy number of 2010 festival darlings that has us in revelry even if an apparent budget cut in guest recruitment has resulted in a significant drop in the caliber of guests from last year that included the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Carey Mulligan and Nicolas Winding Refn.
Nevertheless, it's the films that matter and until the festival's end, we hope to provide a taste of what's going on. Here's a handful of capsule-like reviews of what we've seen in our the first few days, which kicked off with sheer experience that was the 321 minute epic, "Carlos."
Virgin Produced Picks Up Massive R-Rated Comedy Omnibus With Segments Directed By Peter Farrelly, Mike Judge, Elizabeth Banks & More
The press release landed in our inbox and we almost missed the actual bit of news in the boring chatter about Sir Richard Branson's launch of Virgin Produced, a film and television development, packaging and production company, but it looks like the first film to find its way to theaters under the banner will be the still untitled R-rated comedy omnibus.
With 19 segments, the film has been compared to the vignette-styled "Kentucky Fried Movie" and features talent including directors Peter Farrelly, Brett Ratner, Elizabeth Banks, Mike Judge, Bob Odenkirk, Steve Baker, Damon Escot, and Griffin Dunne, and starring turns by Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Gerard Butler, Elizabeth Banks, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, Matt Walsh, Tony Shalhoub, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kieran Culkin, Chloe Moretz, Anton Yelchin, Patrick Warburton, Richard Gere, Julianne Moore, Jack McBrayer and Kristin Bell. The project has been quietly filming with the talent involved completing their segments when their schedules have allowed.
Virgin Produced have inked a distribution deal with Relativity to distribute their films, but no surprise here, as Relativity are also co-financing the project. Deadline reports that five segments are still left to be filmed so don't expect this in theaters just yet.
Danny Boyle's '127 Hours' Will Climb Into Theaters On November 5th
Fox Searchlight are going to be a force to reckon with this Oscar season. Already announcing earlier today that Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" will hit theaters on December 1st, the studio has announced that Danny Boyle's ambitious and highly anticipated based-on-true-story mountain climbing tale "127 Hours" has been slotted for a November 5th release.
Following the Oscar domination by "Slumdog Millionaire," Boyle's followup is a no-brainer as a strong horse in the awards season race. The film has been curiously absent from initial lineups at both the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals, but there is still time left for it to find entry. That said, the film has test screened in recent weeks and our guess is that whether or not it unspools on the festival circuit will depend on how much work Boyle has left to get the film in the can.
The film is based on the true story of mountain climber Aron's Ralston's extraordinary survival tale after he found himself trapped under a boulder and faced with the decision to amputate his own arm. James Franco stars in the lead role with a cast that includes Amber Tamblyn, Lizzy Caplan, Kate Mara and Clémence Poésy. Rather ambitiously, the film also features work from two cinematographers in Anthony Dod Mantle and Enrique Chediak and will predominantly follow Ralston through first-person POV dialogue, a narrative tool that should provide for a harrowing, claustrophobic cinematic experience.
You can read the official plot synopsis after the jump.
The Thing In 'Fantasic Four: Reborn' Will Be 100% CGI, Film Is On Hold Until 'X-Men: First Class' Is Done
After their first attempt to bring the franchise to the big screen fizzled out, 20th Century Fox is going to give their superhero quartet The Fantastic Four another shot at box office glory in the tentatively titled "Fantastic Four Reborn." Details have been quiet on the project so far, but Screen Rant (via Collider) are reporting a couple of intriguing pieces of info that have come to them from a source at Fox's SFX department.
Firstly, and it seems sort of obvious given how much technology has grown since the first film dropped in 2005, it is being reported that The Thing is going to be a 100% CGI creation. With Louis Leterrier's "Hulk" and Martin Campell's "Green Lantern" going that route for their titular heroes, we can't say we're all that surprised. Michael Chiklis' costume was never that great and kind of visibly fake, so it's no surprise that CGI will be used to add a sense of threat and realism to the character.
But it might be a while yet before we see "Fantastic Four Reborn" in any way, shape or form. Apparently the project is on hold until "X-Men: First Class" is completed. It would seem that Fox is putting all their energies on one high-profile project before getting onto another one, and the approach makes sense. Last fall, Akiva Goldsman was hired to produce the reboot and Michael Green ("Green Lantern") to pen the screenplay but with "Fantastic Four Reborn" presumably about a year away from gearing up, don't be surprised if the script and producing team changes.
Watch: 'The Social Network'-Esque Trailer For Sundance Sensation 'Catfish' Promises A Documentary Hitchcock Would Be Proud Of
It appears that the first rule of "Fight Club" should also be applied to "Catfish": don't talk about "Catfish." The documentary by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, seemingly about a budding online relationship, blew audiences away at Sundance thanks to a final act that is so astonishing the ad campaign warns potential viewers to make sure no one spoils the movie for them.
The films is already prepped for a Hollywood remake via Alicia Keys' Big Pita Little Pita Productions and as we didn't make it out to Park City this year, this trailer is all we have to go on and pardon the pun, but we are hooked. Relativity Media and Rogue Pictures will release the film on September 17th. The synopsis and trailer are below.
In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel’s brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, Catfish is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue.
As 'Dinner For Schmucks' Opens, We Run Down 15 Notable Hollywood Foreign Films Remakes
It's also seen some disasters and some timid reworking of great films. Below is a fairly random selection of all of the above; the good, the bad and the "Diabolique." It should prove that, while the translation process isn't necessarily something to be feared, it's also not one to be welcomed with open arms either.
"The Departed" (2006) from "Infernal Affairs" (2002)Post-handover Hong Kong cinema, having been through an extraordinary period in the late '80s and early '90s and bringing the world the likes of Wong Kar-Wai, Clara Law, Tsui Hark, John Woo, Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow, went into the doldrums. Box office receipts and the amount of films being produced both dropped by half, and with a handful of exceptions, the quality of films dropped significantly. Fortunately, along came “Infernal Affairs,” a crime epic with a brilliant conceit — a cop undercover as a criminal and a criminal undercover as a cop, who are both tasked with finding the moles in their respective organizations. While the two sequels led to diminishing returns, the original is relentlessly tense and brilliantly directed with great performances from Andy Lau and Tony Leung. Of course, it also famously led to Martin Scorsese’s long-awaited return to the gangster picture when the helmer remade it in 2006. Debate still rages as to which is superior, but the remake edges it for this writer; William Monahan’s script matches the original beat-for-beat, but adds texture and character missing from the original, while the performances are uniformly excellent (we’d still like to see a spin-off with Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg’s characters...). Di Caprio’s great in his part, but on rewatch it’s Matt Damon who stands out; America’s golden boy transformed into a sniveling sneak; by the end, you can see the deception and disgust eating him from the inside. [Original: B+ / Remake: A-]
"The Vanishing" (1993) from "Spoorloos" (1988)“The Vanishing” is not without strong, even recommendable elements. With a driven lead performance by Kiefer Sutherland, a memorably spooky, evil turn from Jeff Bridges and a few genuinely thrilling action sequences, it works as a satisfying suspense thriller that, admittedly peters out at the conclusion. It’s only when seeing the source material from the same director George Sluizer, a quiet, understated study in mystery and the origins of evil that you realize how American producers truly violated a very pure movie, a masterclass in suspense turned into a clownhouse of cheap thrills. The original is an enthralling work from start to finish but wouldn’t have its reputation had it not been for one of the most genuinely horrifying endings in film history. The remake keeps that ending, but the story continues almost as if were a parody of how an American studio would change that climax. It’s worth seeing both versions just to see the crimes against cinema that some producers can inflict on their source material. [Original: A / Remake: C]
Steven Spielberg Will Need To Find A New Abraham Lincoln, Liam Neeson Says He's Too Old For The Part Now
Steven Spielberg's long-gestating "Lincoln" biopic is now approaching the kind of status usually applied to Stanley Kubrick's endlessly developed and never made "Napolean." The project has been on Spielberg's slate for years with Liam Neeson consistently attached for the titular role, but now it looks like the director has waited too long.
Speaking with GMTV, Neeson revealed that he's no longer involved in the project: "I'm not actually playing Lincoln now. I was attached to it for a while, but it's now...I'm past my sell-by date," he said. It's a bit unclear whether he's tired of waiting or too old for the part, but considering Lincoln died at 56 and Neeson is now 58, we would guess age is a primary factor.
Obviously, with Spielberg imminently set to begin production on "War Horse" that will see a release on August 10, 2011, "Lincoln" isn't anywhere close to going into production. Last we heard, the script by Tony Kushner ("Angels In America") was still being revised. An early draft, focusing solely on four months of Lincoln's life, came in at 500 pages before it was whittled down. The film will apparently focus on the president's anguish over the length and toll of the Civil War, but that could change. The film was previously estimated as requiring a $50 million budget which would have been peanuts back in the day, but in the current climate of 3D movies and comic franchises, it might be difficult to pull financing together even for someone like Spielberg.
But again, this could end up being the dream project that never gets made. Spielberg has a host of other projects that could grab his attention following "War Horse," and he tends to alternate between sober dramas and popcorn munchers so it could be a while yet before he decides on what his next Oscar baiter will be.
Now that Neeson is out of the picture, let the speculation on who could fill his shoes begin. Any suggestions?
New Images From Mark Romanek's 'Never Let Me Go'
A trailer, a poster, an early look and apparently a cut that made Spike Jonze cry; needless to say we're looking forward to Mark Romanek's adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's celebrated novel "Never Let Me Go." And now, Fox Searchlight has released two more images to whet our appetites.
Boasting a strong cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield, Sally Hawkins, Charlotte Rampling, Nathalie Richard and Andrea Riseborough it's difficult to talk about the plot without giving up the entire film, but it's a sci-fi-ish romance that takes place at a boarding school where all is not quite what it seems. And we'll leave it at that. Even the trailer gives away far more than it should, but we're guessing Romanek's film will focus more on the romance than the intriguing hurdle that comes in the lovers' way.
The film is set for a not-so-exciting September 15th release. That means it will land in theaters when most critics and filmheads will still be paying attention to TIFF and it most certainly means that any awards season chances it may have had are going to be greatly minimized. It's very difficult for a film to maintain any kind of momentum from September all the way to the end of the year unless it's some kind of phenomenon. But really, those are minor complaints and we're just glad we're going to get to see what made Spike Jonze grab a box of Kleenex.
The Films Of Bill Murray: A Retrospective
Since his latest picture, "Get Low" comes out today (Friday, July 30) in limited release (read our review) we thought we'd take this opportunity to look at the best, the worst and the forgettable of Murray's eclectic career.
"Ghostbusters" (1984)Many of Murray's first roles have dated somewhat poorly, but "Ghostbusters"? It feels as fresh as a daisy, even now. The first stone-cold classic in the Murray oeuvre ("Tootsie" is worth a mention, but is something of a minor role for the star), and still, 25 years on, his biggest hit, it's the gold-standard of effects-driven comedies. As much as anything, this is down to the chemistry between the actors; Murray, Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd had been working together for years by this point, and they feel like the three essential parts in a machine (although having said that, the underwritten, token nature of Ernie Hudson's character is the film's major flaw). Murray is clearly the MVP, effortlessly swinging between bone-dry delivery and flat-out silliness, but when the time comes to step up and face the supernatural case, he's believable as an ass-kicker of the deceased. Of course, the question of a second sequel (the less said about "Ghostbusters II" the better, and thankfully Murray himself feels the same) is one that's haunted Murray for most of the last twenty years, and, while we share the actor's feelings about it potentially being a cash-in, we'd be lying if we said we didn't get a little thrill when he strapped on the backpack again in last year's "Zombieland." [A]
"Quick Change" (1990)Hell hath no fury like a Murray scorned. The comedian was so resentful that Ron Howard did not direct this New York comedic caper, that he recently said the filmmaker was dead to him (Murray was forced to co-direct with Howard Franklin; it's the only film the comedian has ever helmed). And while this love letter to the Big Apple has its nostalgic supporters, there's no denying it's a rather mediocre/OK effort at best with occasionally riotous laughs peppering a largely rote heist story. Murray plays a stoic-faced clown, who, with the help of his associates (Geena Davis and Randy Quaid) pulls off a bank robbery in Manhattan only to get lost in Brooklyn and Queens on the way to JFK (this being in the wayward '80s days when no one in New York apparently knew the city outside their own borough or limited five-block radius). Murray plays it straight throughout, delivering droll lines with a Sahara dry wit, but the real highlights of the films are all the supporting actors: Tony Shaloub as a clueless ethnic cab driver, Stanley Tucci in an early role as a gangster, and character actor Philip Bosco in a brilliant turn as a pathologically on-schedule bus driver who delivers the film's loudest laughs. [B-]
"Mad Dog & Glory" (1993)The brilliance of the subtle and mannered Martin Scorsese-produced, John McNaughton-directed film is in the casting twist (though the solid writing by Richard Price doesn't hurt). Robert DeNiro, playing against type, is a sad-sack, ineffectual police photographer (ironically nicknamed Mad Dog because he's so harmless) and Bill Murray is the charming, but unhinged mid-level wiseguy who really just wants to be a raconteur, tell jokes and make best buddies with everyone. Eventually their paths cross — DeNiro saves Murray's character's life and he's repaid with an on-loan call girl (Uma Thurman) that the meek cop soon falls head over heels for. The bemused heavy sees this as a betrayal of what he perceives to be a blossoming amity and soon they're headed for a showdown that gets ugly. The genius is also in the nuanced writing, but after years in broad comedies playing loud loonies, Murray finally gets to flex his chops in a role that is essentially an unstable, but lonely gangster in need of a friend. The line, "You're ruining our friendship!" as Murray pummels the poor DeNiro sap character into the ground is just priceless. While not flawless per se, it's just a few films away from "Rushmore" and a small, but potent augur of what's to come. [B]
Darren Aronofsky's 'Black Swan' Dances Into Theaters On December 1st
With Darren Aronofsky's highly anticipated "Black Swan" set to make its world premiere at the opening night of the Venice Film Festival, and then crossing the ocean to make its North American debut at TIFF, it was only a matter of time before Fox Searchlight slotted a release date for what will surely be a strong Oscar contender this year. Well, the date has been sealed, as "Black Swan" will open in limited release on December 1st and expand out from there in the following weeks.
The picture centers on the relationship between a veteran ballet dancer (Natalie Portman) and a rival, played by Mila Kunis who may or may not be a figment of the dancer's imagination and it also stars Winona Ryder, Vincent Cassel, Sebastian Stan (Bucky In "Captain America") and Barbara Hershey. The intriguing film draws upon a fascinating well of influences including Roman Polanski's "The Tenant," "All About Eve" and of course granddaddy of all dance films, Powell & Pressburger's dazzling "The Red Shoes." So yeah, we're excited.
So now that we have some images and a release date....how about a trailer?
Lee Daniels Signs On To Direct 'The Butler' Talks to Denzel Washington For Lead; 'Selma' Still Needs Funding, Might Not Get Made
For the better part of the year, "Precious" director Lee Daniels has been trying to bring his civil rights drama "Selma" to the big screen. With a cast lined up that included Hugh Jackman, Liam Neeson, David Oyelowo, Ray Winstone, Robert De Niro, Cedric the Entertainer it seemed like a no brainer that financing would get in place to get the film in front of cameras. The talent involved all took pay cuts and kept schedules open, but such is the moviemaking world where "Selma" can't get someone to write a check to get it made while "Cats And Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore" goes into wide release.
Well, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, Daniels has signed on to rewrite and direct "The Butler" and has already approached Denzel Washington for the lead role. The film is based on the true story of White House servant Eugene Allen who worked in the most important house in the land for 34 years, watching "eight presidents he worked for wrestle with and finally stem the tide of segregation." The film is using Wil Haygood's articles on Allen and has a draft penned by Danny Strong ("Recount").
Daniels is still hoping to get "Selma" made, but time is running out. Most of the cast are ready to make the film if financing comes into place, but it's said that realistically, funding would need to firmed up within in the next couple of weeks or the project -- at least in its current incarnation -- would be a no go.
We can't say we were too impressed with "Precious," but Daniels is trying to use his Oscar goodwill to try and get off the ground material that studios are typically wary of, so more power to him.
Tom Harper To Direct 'Lost For Words' Penned By 'Love Actually' Writer Richard Curtis; Tom Cruise & Hugh Grant Previously Linked To Lead Role
Say what you will about Richard Curtis, but the writer behind "Love Actually," "Notting Hill" and "Bridget's Jones Diary" knows his way around a rom-com and audiences have definitely agreed. So, it's no surprise then that the gestating "Lost For Words" at one time attracted the interest of Tom Cruise and Hugh Grant for the lead role.
Well, they are no longer involved, but the project continues to move forward landing Tom Harper in the director's chair (interestingly, Susanne Bier was once circling as well). While not yet a name on this side of the ocean, Harper has earned plaudits for his 2009 film "The Scouting Book For Boys" (which is still yet to find a release in the U.S.) and has co-directed with Shane Meadows on the highly anticipated "This Is England '86," hitting Brit television sets later this fall.
The story for the film sounds very typically Curtis-esque, as it "follows a movie star approached to star in a film by a Chinese director; after flirting with her translator, he falls for her director." The film is apparently being re-tooled for a younger cast which sort of makes us less interested in this, but given the caliber of talent that has been attracted to his so far, we're definitely curious.
'Helvetica' & 'Objectified' Director Gary Hustwit Readies 'Urbanized'
Not everyone can decide to make a documentary about a font and turn into something truly compelling, but filmmaker Gary Hustwit did just that with his debut film "Helvetica" in 2007. He followed it up two years later with "Objectified" about the world of industrial design and the director has announced a brand new project that should hit screens next year.
"Urbanized" will complete the trilogy of Hustwit's design based films, and as you might guess from the title, it will focus on urban design. Production is already underway and the film will premiere in 2011. Huswit will work once again with cinematographer Luke Geissbuhler and expect the big names of the urban design world to appear on camera. Yeah, we're not familiar with that scene at all, but considering Hustwit managed to wrangle Apple's designers for "Objectified" there should be no worry that his latest film will be lacking in influential voices.
Hustwit announced the project on his website where he will continue to provide updates as the film nears completion. After the jump, read an excerpt of Hustwit's details on what viewers can expect from his newest film:
Josh Hutcherson & Dane Cook To Star In The Horror Comedy 'Detention'
Certainly Josh Hutcherson must be bummed after not getting chosen to play Peter Parker in Marc Webb's forthcoming "Spider-Man" reboot (his audition tape leaked online) but certainly he could be doing something better than rolling with Dane Cook.
Hutcherson is set to co-star with everybody's favorite frat comic in the upcoming horror-comedy "Detention." The tired concept "centers on teens who must survive their final year of high school. Standing in their way is a slasher-movie killer who has seemingly come to life." Sigh. It sounds tedious already. And the talent behind it isn't much better. Music video director Joseph Kahn, who also helmed "Torque" will direct from a script he wrote along with Mark Palermo.
The project will shoot next month after which Hutcherson will then begin work on the "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" sequel. We hope this isn't a sign of things to come for Hutcherson because his talents deserve better than this. If you haven't do so, get thee to a theater quickly and watch him in the excellent "The Kids Are All Right."
In Theaters: 'Dinner For Schmucks,' 'The Extra Man,' 'Get Low'
As the blockbuster action rush of the summer starts to wane (at least until next month's "The Expendables") several films open wide this weekend hoping to unseat two-week all-star #1 "Inception" at the box office. Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd team up for "Dinner For Schmucks" which should do reliable mid-summer comedy business alongside strong performers like "Despicable Me" and "Grown Ups" both of which showing remarkable lasting power. Zac Efron hopes to lure the young ladies who were too old for last week's "Ramona and Beezus," while the younger set will have to make due with "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore." At least we have some good picks this week at the art-house this week. Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, and Sissy Spacek star in the charming "Get Low," while Kevin Kline and Paul Dano headline "The Extra Man."
Paul Giamatti To Play Nikita Khrushchev In HBO Film 'K Blows Top'
The logic seems pretty simple: Paul Giamatti won all kinds of acclaim playing the titular "John Adams" mini so why not have him cross the pond (figuratively) to play another historical figure?
Giamatti is set to play the famed Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev in the upcoming HBO cable movie "K Blows Top." Based on the book by Peter Carlson, the comedy will focus on Khrushchev's somewhat surreal 1959 visit to America. Paul Bernbaum ("Next," "Hollywoodland") will write the script.
Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman will executive produce the project with KippSter Entertainment's Perri Kipperman and David Stern co-executive producing.
Sony Acquires 'Mommy & Me' Starring Meryl Streep & Tina Fey, To Be Directed By Stanley Tucci
Just a couple of weeks ago it was reported that CAA were shopping a package around town for a comedy entitled "Mommy & Me," that would see Stanley Tucci direct Meryl Streep and Tina Fey in a comedy/drama focusing on a mother/daughter relationship. It was a powder keg of star power and talent so it's no surprise that before July is out, it has found a home.
Sony has picked up the film, and details are still being kept under wraps. Joby Harold (the terrible medical thriller "Awake") wrote the treatment, but given the talent involved, the scripting duties will probably fall to some seasoned, respected names.
Tucci has previously worked opposite Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Julie & Julia" and while he's set to direct, it's unknown if he take a role in the film as well. No production timetables have been set, but expect the wheels on this one to movie quickly.
Henry Cavill Joins 'JCVD' Director's 'The Cold Light Of Day'
First announced the spring, Mabrouk El Mechri is getting the pieces in place for this forthcoming thriller "The Cold Light Of Day" for Summit Entertainment and Intrepid Pictures.
Henry Cavill ("The Tudors" and Tarsem's upcoming "Immortals") will star in the film that "centers on a cocky young Wall Street trader who reluctantly vacations with his family in Spain. When his family is kidnapped, he is thrust into a government conspiracy and must unravel his father's darkest secret in order to save his loved ones." The film has a script by Scott Wiper ("The Wire," "Ransom") and John Petro will be given another by pass by Richard Price ("Clockers," "Ransom").
El Mechri broke out in a big way with his meta action/comedy "JCVD" starring the titular Jean-Claude Van Damme and "The Cold Light Of Day" will mark the director's first American production. Filming begins in September.
'I Don't Care About Your Band' Says Lizzy Caplan, Will Ferrell & Adam McKay (For HBO)
HBO is once again betting on the ladies. Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Lizzy Caplan has teamed up with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez to develop Julie Klausner's hilarious memoir, "I Don't Care About Your Band," into a comedy series for the network.
Caplan, whose series "Party Down" was just canceled by Starz after its second season, is also producing and looking to star in the comedic exploration of sex, dating and stand up material. The memoir, which was published earlier this year through Gotham, is a frank, refreshing and hilarious take on what it's like for single, educated women to date in New York City with men trying to make it in bands, as comedians, writers or worse, actors. The story weaves through Klausner's Scarsdale-musical-theater-loving upbringing to her stints at finding production work, while sleeping with awful stand up comedians.
Caplan received rave reviews from her small arc on HBO's "True Blood" last season and for her work on the critically acclaimed, but ratings challenged "Party Down." Caplan and Burke will produce, with Gary Sanchez' Ferrell, McKay and Chris Henchy executive producing, extending the company's dealings with HBO, who is a part owner of Sanchez's FunnyorDie.com. This writer is a massive fan of Klausner's self deprecating, yet self-embracing style, and only someone with the sardonic wit of Caplan can do the role justice. And now all of us ladies can rejoice in the exploration of "dating" so-called thespians and pulling overnights in loft beds in Astoria, Queens, as opposed to drinking cosmopolitans and worshiping at the altar of doable vampires in Manolo Blahniks.
Chloe Moretz In Talks To Star In Karyn Kusama's Hunting/Survival Pic, 'The Rut'
Karyn Kusama's career kicked off auspiciously with the indie drama, "Girlfight" which made a nice breakout star out of Michelle Rodriguez, but it's been slim pickings ever since.
Producers seemed to focus on the boxing aspect of the film rather than the dramatic relationships and next thing she knew she was offered and taking forgettable gigs like "Jennifer's Body " and "Æon Flux." Considering she's wanted to make a Cronenberg-esque "body-horror" called, "Invisible X," maybe Kusama is a genre-ist at heart, but it appears she's making a slight left turn to direct a hunting drama called, "The Rut."
The L.A. Times says rising star Chloe Moretz ("Kick-Ass," "Let Me In," Scorsese's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret") is in talks to star and it centers on a father-daughter relationship and focuses on "a daughter must learn the tricks of hunting and archery taught to her by her father after said father goes missing."
If there's actually a relationship in this film -- like "Hanna" by Joe Wright; a father-daughter spy flick starring Eric Bana and Saoirse Ronan that has a killer script -- and it's not just an empty genre exercise/action survival picture, we could have something interesting on our hands, but honestly, Kusama really tested our patience with the soulless and empty "Jennifer's Body" (botching a pretty funny Diablo Cody script), so she's on "we'll believe it when we see it" watch until further notice.
Bruce Robinson's 'The Rum Diary' Starring Johnny Depp Headed For 2011?
In a disappointing but not altogether surprising move considering the lack of news, the release of Bruce Robinson's Hunter S. Thompson adaptation "The Rum Diary" starring Johnny Depp is reportedly set to be held back until the new year.
“I heard next year, that’s [when] it’s going to come out," co-star Aaron Eckhart told FilmSchoolRejects. "Johnny is making 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and I think that he’s too busy to promote something right now. He’s working in Hawaii. I think they’re going to wait to put it out next year.”
Keep in mind though that last we heard Eckhart thought the film was headed to Cannes so he's not exactly the most informed party from the production but a source nonetheless. The film also co-stars Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins, Michael Rispoli and the gorgeous Amber Heard and follows Depp's Paul Kemp, a freelance journalist who finds himself drawn to the Caribbean at a critical turning point in his life. Next year's Cannes then?
First Look: The Titular Seth Rogen-Voiced Alien In Greg Mottola's 'Paul'
This dark, blurry image is reported to be our first look at the titular Seth Rogen voice and mo-capped alien in Greg Mottola's sci-fi road trip comedy "Paul" though there's seems to be no discerning evidence suggesting it's validity or word of a source for the image from BleedingCool.
That said, we wouldn't be adverse to what we're looking at if it, in fact, is the real thing. Comparisons to the alien character in the Seth MacFarlane's "American Dad" are pretty close but we're sure in motion and with Rogen personality behind it, it'll be a totally different beast.
"Paul" follows the story of two nerds, played by Edgar Wright regulars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, who stumble upon the titular alien on their sci-fi pilgrimage across the United States and begin a road trip described by Pegg as "the craziest adventure they could possibly imagine. It's like their dream come true. "
With a stellar supporting cast including the likes of Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Sigourney Weaver, Blythe Danner, Jane Lynch, Jeffrey Tambor, Joe Lo Truglio and David Koechner, the film will hit theaters on March 18, 2011.
J.J. Abrams Going Steampunk With Graphic Novel Adaptation 'Boilerplate'
My god, where does J.J. Abrams find the time? This fall alone, he's gearing up to direct "Super 8", his latest TV show "Undercovers" will debut, and he's producing "Mission Impossible 4" for Brad Bird and Tom Cruise, not to mention work on "Star Trek 2," which will film sometime next year (although it seems that Abrams may not direct). He's also got a fistful of projects in development, and he's just added one more to the slate of his production company, Bad Robot.
Paramount and Abrams' shingle have picked up the rights to the graphic novel "Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel," by Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett. The book, which was ten years in the making, follows the titular robot, created in 1893, who over the next 25 years, goes on a variety of adventures, from the South Pole and the Klondike Gold Rush to fighting in World War I. From looking at the book's website (which predated the finished product, leading some, presumably idiots, to believe it was true) and trailer, embedded below thanks to HitFix, it's clearly a well-researched alternative history, although we can't speak to the quality of the book.
It's an intriguing prospect for Abrams -- the scope appears to be enormous, but the tone of the source material suggests that it's not going to be some action-filled blockbuster, but something a little more high-minded, at least in part. But it could also turn out to be somewhere between "Forrest Gump" and "Bicentennial Man." Either way, there's no writer or director attached yet, so this is probably a little way off yet. [Heat Vision]
'No One Man Should Have All That Power': New TV Spot For David Fincher's 'The Social Network' Features Kanye West's New Single
Yet another trailer has debuted for David Fincher's "The Social Network," this time in the form of ashort television spot appropriately backed with Kanye West's new single, 'Power."
Following from the haunting original trailer and it's slight re-tweak, the new trailer features some unseen footage for Fincher's highly anticipated follow up to 'Benjamin Button.' The coming of age/legal drama is based on Ben Mezrich's non-fiction novel "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal," and follows the drama behind the creation of the modern age's most popular social networking website.
Jesse Eisenberg stars as the website's creator, protagonist Mark Zuckerberg; Andrew Garfield as co-founder Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker the co-founder of Napster and Plaxo, and the likes of Rashida Jones, Max Minghella, Rooney Mara, Dakota Johnson, Brenda Song and Joseph Mazzello in supporting roles.
"The Social Network" opens October 1st and will premiere at the New York Film Festival in late September.
Rachel Weisz Set To Lead Terence Davies' 'The Deep Blue Sea', Playlist Involuntarily Squeals With Joy
With the grim news hitting at the beginning of this week about the closure of the UK Film Council, it's nice to hear a bit of good news about British film. We got a bit excited at the end of May with the news that underrated auteur Terence Davies was working on an adaptation of Terrence Rattigan's classic post-war play "The Deep Blue Sea," and now it seems he's found about the perfect choice to fill the lead role.
The drama follows Hester Collyer, the wife of a High Court Judge, who's caught in a self-destructive affair with an R.A.F. pilot, and now the ever-on-the-money Baz Bamigboye at the Daily Mail, who broke the original story, has revealed that Rachel Weisz is in 'advanced talks' to play the central role. Schedules apparently need to be worked out -- the actress is set to play Jackie Kennedy for partner Darren Aronofsky in the near future -- but it seems that the actress is all but a done deal.
Frankly, it's a spectacularly good casting choice -- Weisz couldn't be better suited for the role, and we're dying to see the pair team up. Apparently, Davies sees a kinship in the part with Blanche in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Vivien Leigh played both roles on film), and we can see why; we saw Weisz in "Streetcar" last year in London, and it was one of the most astounding performances we've ever seen on stage. There's no word on a start date or financing yet, but we dearly hope that they can work something out.
Review: The Mostly Charming, 'The Extra Man' Features An Essential Performance From Kevin Kline
Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's "The Extra Man" would feel like a forced study in quirk; that is, if it weren't based on a book from the wonderfully weird Jonathan Ames (whose oddness seems a little toned down for the HBO series "Bored to Death"). Ames's protagonist (and proxy) here is Louis Ives, a young aspiring (and socially awkward) playwright played by the well-cast Paul Dano who longs to fulfill his dream of moving to New York. Having just lost his teaching position at a prestigious prep school after the principal caught him in a compromising position snooping at ladies' lingerie (a proclivity that will soon bloom), Louis uses this bad break as an opportunity to finally move to Manhattan. And while the character has a love of lace, Louis is a human anachronism; he imagines himself to be a holdover from an earlier, more civilized age of lawn parties, ascots and cloche hats.
Seizing the opportunity to begin his writing career, his meager funds force him to seek shared accommodations and he finds a roommate im the much older, much wiser (in his own mind) Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), another vieux jeu and rakish gentleman who gets by as an "extra man." For this position, Henry accompanies a number of New York's aging rich women to social events, providing companionship and the presence of a man. The women might bear a striking resemblance to Miss Havisham, but life as an extra man affords Henry a way to experience luxury and the life of the upper class, while living on the cheap; Henry is so pauperized he is forced to paint on a pair of socks for his outings.
7/29/2010
Ten Minutes Of New Daft Punk 'Tron Legacy' Music Is More Exciting Than All The Light Cycles In The World
Yes, "Tron Legacy" sure does look pretty. But even more exciting than light cycles zipping around a synthetic world and the inevitable climactic battle between Young Bridges and Old Bridges, the thing we've been most pumped about is French electro duo Daft Punk's pulse-pounding original score.Last week in the Comic-Con milieu, a few minutes of mostly orchestral music popped up on the movie's official website. The music was pretty stunning and involved some big "movie music" moments but not much in the way of the slinky beats that Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Cristo are known for. Well, all that's changed. Ten minutes of new "Tron Legacy" music from the duo has leaked onto the interweb (Vulture via Pretty Much Amazing).
Review: 'Enemies Of The People' Is A Fascinating Documentary About A Dark Chapter In Cambodia's Past
Much can be said about both America and Vietnam when speaking of the Vietnam War, but few would go as far as to bring up how the war affected Vietnam's unfortunate neighbor, Cambodia. With bombing and soldiers from both sides spilling into the area, things were not pretty for the country. In an effort to protect themselves from being taken over from either country, a communist party took control.
Deemed the Khmer Rogue, the party came into power around 1974 and led one of the most brutal regimes in recent times. Known for the "Killing Fields of Cambodia," where the regime would often times bring members of the society and brutally murder them for acting against them, no matter how slight their rebellion was. Filmmaker Thet Sambath lost nearly his entire family to this regime before he escaped to a refugee camp in Thailand. Now working as a journalist, he started meeting with ex-members in order to find the truth on why so many were killed. Working for years and building relationships with these people (including Nuon Chea, second to Pol Pot in the ruling party), he is able to get real confessions from those who would normally remain silent, or not expect to be questioned at all. The result is "Enemies of the People," a historical document and investigation into the Khmer Rogue and the Cambodian genocide, not to mention the winner of the Sundance Special Jury Prize in Documentary Films.
First Look: Rainn Wilson As Crimson Bolt In James Gunn's 'Super'
Led by a cast that includes Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Kevin Bacon, Liv Tyler, Nathan Fillion, Linda Cardellini, Gregg Henry, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, Stephen Blackehart, Lloyd Kaufman, Valentine Miele, Mikaela Hoover, Andre Royo and Steve Agee, James Gunn's forthcoming take on the superhero generation certainly isn't lacking talent, but it remains to be seen if his vision can break from the pack of similarly minded films.
The film follows Frank (Wilson), an average guy who is married and madly in love with the troubled Sarah (Tyler). But when Sarah leaves Frank for Jacques (Bacon), a smooth-talking drug dealer, Frank transforms into pseudo-superhero The Crimson Bolt, stakes out Jacques' sleazy hideaway, and wages a one-man war on crime. Libby (Page), a cute sociopathic teen working at the local comic book store joins him as his sidekick, Boltie, and together they plot to bring Jacques down. Outside that high concept is a core that is very familiar: regular guy decides to become superhero. We've seen the idea many times before, but hitting his blog, Gunn assures fans his film will be different.
"Yes, I know, there have been other films that are superficially the same as ours, movies about real people becoming superheroes – including some very good ones. But ours is the first that, although funny, focuses first and foremost on the emotions of the characters involved. It is a dark, gritty, violent, no-hold-barred independent film that is, I promise you, not at all what you expect." He also adds that the project is close to the hearts of everyone involved as the cast and crew are taking the lowest possible paychecks they can, "SUPER is a VERY low-budget film made as a labor of love by all involved – as I said at the panel, everyone on the film, from me, to all of the actors, to the composer Tyler Bates, are all working on the film for the lowest amount the guilds allow."
While disappointingly Gunn "won’t be releasing a trailer or footage onto the internet for a long while," we get our first look at Rainn Wilson as Crimson Bolt and Liv Tyler as his wife Sarah. Can't say we're blown away, but the vision is certainly unique.
No word yet on a distributor, but from the sounds of it Gunn, who shot the the film earlier this year, is still putting the finishing touches on the film before getting it out there.
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