movies filter: Shooting Gallery

Nicole Gets Dusty

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:19:10 GMT

I'm a huge Dusty Springfield fan and a big Nicole Kidman booster and think the actress has shown brilliance in movies like "The Hours," "Dogville," and the oh-so-underrated "Birth."

But Nicole as the great Dusty Springfield? Nicole is super talented, can do just about anything but I dunno...

From New York Magazine:

"Writer Michael Cunningham knows from brilliant, troubled women...No wonder we were delighted when he told us last night, at the 2008 PEN gala at the Museum of Natural History, that he's writing the screenplay for a Fox 2000 biopic of brilliant, troubled sixties chanteuse Dusty Springfield, to be played by Nicole Kidman... So what was the essence of Dusty he was trying to get across?

"'She was a great artist who no one knew what to do with,' he said. "She was coming into her full powers at the same time the Beatles were,' he said, adding that she suddenly found herself the purveyor of a dying torchy genre. 'But she is clearly going into history with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.'"

He's right but again, I dunno...

--posted by Kim

Hulk Bulk

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:27:34 GMT

For all you anger management fetishists, here's some new "Incredible Hulk" film photos (via ComingSoon)! Big Bad Green is on the loose and demanding re-writes! Ugh.

As I've said before, I'm one of few lone writers who loved the Ang Lee/Eric Bana "Hulk". In fact, I placed it near the top of my favorite comic book movie adaptations (albeit a few years ago).

Here's what I wrote:

Ang Lee’s "Hulk" was not only criminally underrated, but unfairly maligned by critics who didn’t get the director’s serious (and seriously fun) musing on that green, mean fighting machine. Adapted from the Marvel comic, Lee took a repressed Eric Bana and turned him into a frightening vision of male rage and paternal alienation. Shooting with exaggerated close-ups that looked exactly like comic book panels and purposefully creating a CGI Hulk that ran through cement, sand and dirt with the agility of Shrek (Hulk trips around a lot) but with the strength of 100 ultimate fighters, Lee made one of the first truly artistic comic book adaptations. It was almost Shakespearean. Mark my words — "Hulk" will be better appreciated through the years.

Yes, mark my words...

--posted by Kim

'Hulk' Hullabaloo

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:08:21 GMT

Here's part of Edward Norton's official statement about The 'Hulk' movie skuttlebutt.

From Entertainment Weekly:

"I grew up reading Marvel Comics and always loved the mythic dimension and contemporary themes in the stories, and I’m proud of the script I wrote. In every phase of production, including the editing, working with Louis Leterrier has been wonderful...I've never had a better partner, and the collaboration with all the rest of the creative team has been terrific. Every good movie gets forged through collaboration, and different ideas among people who are all committed and respect the validity of each other's opinions is the heart of filmmaking.

"Regrettably, our healthy process, which is and should be a private matter, was misrepresented publicly as a 'dispute,' seized on by people looking for a good story, and has been distorted to such a degree that it risks distracting from the film itself, which Marvel, Universal and I refuse to let happen. It has always been my firm conviction that films should speak for themselves and that knowing too much about how they are made diminishes the magic of watching them. All of us believe The Incredible Hulk will excite old fans and create new ones and be a huge hit...our focus has always been to deliver the Hulk that people have been waiting for and keep the worldwide love affair with the big green guy going strong.''

Is it just me, or is this becoming a little silly? Also (and barely anyone agrees with me on this one) but...I liked, no, loved the first 'Hulk' -- Ang Lee, Eric Bana and a nutty Nick Nolte. Inspired! It'll take time, but that film will be appreciated one day...

--posted by Kim

Depp Doing Dillinger

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:33:51 GMT

I'm eagerly awaiting the newest Michael Mann picture, "Public Enemies" -- so how did I miss these first pictures from the movie?

The film looks at notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson as they go up against the F.B.I.'s rabid manhunt.

I'm fascinated by that hot genius John Dillinger (just look at him!) and have been waiting for a new version of the gangster/American folk hero's life on screen (the first, with the great Laurence Tierney and the second, with the also great Warren Oates are both worth watching, but I always feel more could be covered). Mann's version stars Johnny Depp (as Dillinger!), Christian Bale, Channing Tatum, and Marion Cotillard.

Dammit, this better be amazing.

Anyway, here's a sneak peak.

--posted by Kim

Jackman Going 'Nowhere'

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:09:34 GMT

Hugh Jackman's new franchise (via ComingSoon):

"Hugh Jackman (upcoming 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine') and 'Eli Stone' co-creator Marc Guggenheim are teaming with Virgin Comics to create 'Nowhere Man,' an original comic book series that is designed to be transferred to the big screen as a Jackman vehicle.

"Variety says the story was being kept under wraps, but Jackson's Seed Productions partner John Palermo said it features a protagonist reminiscent of the one Will Smith played in 'I Am Legend.' The concept is a futuristic world where mankind has traded privacy for safety, a premise that sprouted with Seed, Virgin CEO Sharad Devarajan and chief creative officer Gotham Chopra."

The sprouted premise feels like mankind trading privacy for safety. It's creepy. Even the movies discussing our brave new world feel Orwellian in their very creation. I need to stop reading about those Pellicano tapes...

--posted by Kim

Actor Walks Off Natalie Portman Movie

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:10:21 GMT

Hasidic actor Abe Karpen walked from his role as Natalie Portman's husband while shooting their movie "New York I Love You."

His reasons are religious as his rabbi pressured him to quit:

"First he couldn't hold Natalie Portman's hand - and now a Williamsburg Hasidic Jew-turned-actor has to give up his chance to hit it big in a Hollywood movie. Abe Karpen, 25, a married father of three, was cast as Portman's husband in 'New York I Love You,' a film composed of 12 short stories about love in the five boroughs.

"'I am backing out of the movie'said Karpen, a kitchen cabinet salesman. 'It's not acceptable in my community. It's a lot of pressure I am getting. They [the rabbis] didn't like the idea of a Hasidic guy playing in Hollywood. 'I have my kids in religious schools and the rabbi called me over yesterday and said in order for me to keep my kids in the school I have to do what they tell me and back out,' Karpen said."

Wonder if Christopher Hichens has anything to say about this?

--posted by Kim

Heath Ledger's Final Role Continues

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:20:52 GMT

Since everything Terry Gilliam does is interesting, even his stumbles, this news of his work in progress, "The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus," is exciting.

The director's half-completed picture starring the late Heath Ledger will continue in a very cool, unique way:

"Producers working on Heath Ledger's final film have vowed not to alter the tragic star's last performance, even though the actor never got the chance to complete the project before his untimely death. 'Work on The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus' resumed on Monday after the 'Brokeback Mountain' star's death halted filming on the project earlier this year. In his honor, Hollywood superstars Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law have signed up to feature in the film, which is due for release next year. However, the film's director Terry Gilliam and its producers have promised to preserve every detail of Ledger's final performance, and that the hiring of the three new stars will not affect his work.

"However, the film's director Terry Gilliam and its producers have promised to preserve every detail of Ledger's final performance, and that the hiring of the three new stars will not affect his work. A statement released by the movie's producers reads, 'Since the format of the story allows for the preservation of his entire performance, at no point will Heath's work be modified or altered through the use of digital technology. Each of the parts played by Johnny, Colin and Jude is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing.' Gilliam adds, 'I am delighted that Heath's brilliant performance can be shared with the world. We are looking forward to finishing the movie and, through the film, with a modicum of humility, being able to touch people's hearts and souls as Heath was able to do.'"

--posted by Kim

Monster Mash And Mash Ups

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:42:55 GMT

That was fast. In case you didn't get enough of the shaking camera, there's already talks for a "Cloverfield" sequel:

"Matt Reeves is in early talks with Paramount to direct a 'Cloverfield' sequel, and, as was previously announced, he has also made a deal with GreeneStreet Films to direct 'The Invisible Woman.'

"Variety says the timing of the projects will depend on how quickly Paramount can complete discussions with Reeves, producer J.J. Abrams and writer Drew Goddard to come up with another monster story for the 'Cloverfield' sequel. There's a good chance the sequel will be Reeves' next film, in which case he will direct 'The Invisible Woman' afterward."

Meanwhile, Freddy might return, yet again:

"New Line is in talks with horror production company Platinum Dunes to relaunch the 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' movie series, the franchise that helped establish the studio. Partners Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form will produce the remake."

And since Bay did such a tremendous job with the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" relaunches, we're all just so excited, right? Ugh. Isn't it enough for him to be messing with Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"? Can't he just stay away from the boiler room?

--posted by Kim

No Chicken For Old Men

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:58:45 GMT

They had me at Spaghetti western and then...the Coen's had to go and say something about a scene with "one particular chicken." In short, can't wait for this one.

From IMDB:

"Filmmaking siblings Joel and Ethan Coen are set to make their goriest film ever - a Spaghetti Western featuring scenes of primitive torture methods. The brothers, whose notoriously gory new film No Country for Old Men has been tipped for Oscar glory, are desperate to make a film about the days of cowboys and Indians battling it out in the Wild West of America. But - as Joel warns - it won't be one for the faint-hearted. He says, 'We've written a western with a lot of violence in it. There's scalping and hanging ... it's good. Indians torturing people with ants, cutting their eyelids off.' Ethan adds, 'It's a proper western, a real western, set in the 1870s. It's got a scene that no one will ever forget because of one particular chicken.'"

--posted by Kim

Brolin's Got 'Milk' (I Hope)

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:13:22 GMT

Yes! Josh Brolin and Gus Van Sant.

According to Variety:

"Josh Brolin is negotiating to star alongside Sean Penn in 'Milk,' Focus Features' biopic about late gay-rights activist Harvey Milk.

"Brolin would play Dan White, the San Francisco county supervisor who killed Milk (Penn) and Mayor George Moscone in 1978.

"Gus Van Sant is directing the project, which will begin lensing next month."

--posted by Kim

Polanski To Direct A Good Movie Called 'Ghost'

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:47:48 GMT

This is pretty exciting. Roman Polanski is making another movie. According to Variety (by way of ComingSoon) legendary auteur Polanski is set to direct the the political thriller "Ghost":

"Robert Harris will team with Polanski to adapt Harris' novel of the same name, published last month by Simon & Schuster, for the bigscreen. The story centers on a ghostwriter who is hired to complete the memoirs of a former British prime minister. He uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy. Most of the story takes place in an oceanfront house during the middle of winter. Robert Benmussa and Alain Sarde will produce the film, slated to begin shooting in Europe next fall."

They had me at "taking place in an oceanfront house." Polanski is the master of domestic claustrophobia, horror and insanity -- look how many of his pictures are relegated to apartments or houses: "Cul De Sac," "Repulsion," "Rosemary's Baby," "The Tenant," "Death and the Maiden" and so on. He's perfect for this.

--posted by Kim

Meryl Finds Her Inner Child

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:04:23 GMT

This will either be some kind of accidental insane masterpiece or as bad as...lima beans (wait, I like lima beans).

Meryl Streep IS Julia Child:

"Columbia Pictures is developing 'Julie & Julia,' starring Streep as the famous chef and Amy Adams as a mastercook wannabe.

Variety says the project centers on a frustrated temp secretary who embarks on a yearlong culinary quest to cook all 524 recipes in Child's 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking.' She chronicles her trials and tribulations in a blog that catches on with the food crowd.

"Nora Ephron, who is adapting the screenplay from Julie Powell's book 'Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen,' is attached to direct."

And, as if I need to remind anyone, Julia Child, who once said "The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook” rules.

--posted by Kim

Something For The Birds

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:41:57 GMT

From the moment I heard one peep (or squack) about this redo, I've been complaining about the Michael Bay remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (starring Naomi Watts and directed by Martin Campbell). Now that I've learned a bit more, the whole thing just gets extra stupid.

Bright Lights After Dark has a little more information on the picture, making the project all the more worrisome. According to C. Jerry Kutner (who is all kinds of right):

"On the other hand, some of the changes from the original that I’ve heard the filmmakers are contemplating sound equally disastrous. Where Hitchcock deliberately withheld any explanation of why the birds were attacking, I understand the present filmmakers are considering blaming it all on the degradation of the environment, climate change, and so on. While this might have the advantage of political correctness, I believe it would seriously diminish the power of the story. It would be like grafting a science fictional explanation onto Kafka’s Metamorphosis - 'Because scientists had injected him with cockroach DNA, Gregor Samsa awoke one morning to find himself transformed into a giant beetle ...'

"If Universal really wants to make more money off of their property, they should reissue the 1963 original in digitalized 3-D. Can you imagine seeing all those birds flying around you in the movie theater? Awesome."

That is such a great idea. And of course it will never happen.

--posted by Kim

Look At Drew As Little Edie!

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:05:17 GMT

Oh my goodness...it's Drew Barrymore as Little Edie.

I'm assuming (I hope!) she's playing a younger Edie here before she appeared in the documentary "Grey Gardens" (that's Edith Beale at left) and she looks, as Edie did, very pretty but I'm having a hard time processing this.

How does she sound? Can she handle the specifically Edie mannerisms? Is she going to pull off the revolutionary costumes? Can she do the dances properly? Will she possibly not overact? Oh my God...does Drew understand the huge responsibilty she has on her hands? Does she realize that she's not dealing with just any kind of fan, she's dealing with "Grey Garden" fans -- people who fancy themselves like Edie, as "staunch characters"?

Don't mess this up Barrymore!

And, as always, if you haven't seen "Grey Gardens" by David and Albert Maysles, do yourself a favor and track it down.

You'll understand the great concern over Drew discussing "Marble Fauns" and finding "that Scorpio Man." And yes, I need a valium.

--posted by Kim

'Lovely' New Lead

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:47:28 GMT

Since both Ryan Gosling and Mark Wahlberg are talented this seems like an equal trade. And thinking further, Wahlberg is the right age for the role. From MSN:

"One day before shooting began, Mark Wahlberg stepped in to replace Ryan Gosling in 'The Lovely Bones,' the Peter Jackson-directed adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel for DreamWorks.

"Wahlberg has taken the role of Jack Salmon, the grieving father of a young girl. That role was vacated Friday by 'Lars and the Real Girl' star Ryan Gosling, who stepped out after gaining 20 pounds and growing a beard for the job. Sources attributed the exit to creative differences.

"After reading the script, Wahlberg quickly committed Sunday. He joins Rachel Weisz as a couple whose world is shattered after their daughter is murdered. The girl watches over her family and her killer from heaven. Jackson wrote the script with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens."

If there actually were any, I wonder what the creative differences were about?

--posted by Kim

A Tad Bit Lame

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:26:17 GMT

We all knew this was going to happen and we'll have to find our way of dealing with it:

"Universal Pictures has snapped up the rights to 'Heavier Than Heaven,' Charles Cross' 2001 biography of late Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain. The film will be scripted by 'Troy'/'25th Hour' screenwriter David Benioff, and co-executive-produced by Cobain's widow Courtney Love."

But that title.

I know it has something to do with Nirvana's UK tour with the band Tad but it still sounds like the alternate title to "Walk Hard." And that movie is, as you know, a joke.

--posted by Kim

Anna Gets Deep

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:34:32 GMT

I guess Anna Faris (a comic actress I like quite a bit) wants to be taken seriously. This is the kind of ultra depressing story to either make that happen, or keep audiences away in droves.

As the actress told MTV, she's signed on to star in a biopic about "Deep Throat" porn star Linda Lovelace:

"'There's a project about Linda Lovelace, the porn star, that we're really hoping to put together soon,' Faris said of a dramatic biopic that will cast her as the infamous 'Deep Throat' actress who dragged the X-rated movie into mainstream culture. 'It's a really deep, dark drama — and it would be cool for me to do.'

"For those who aren't versed in filthy '70s cinema, Lovelace was the stage name Linda Susan Boreman adopted before starring in 'Throat,' the 1972 flick about a frustrated woman exploring (and exploring, and exploring again) her sexuality.

"Lovelace became a household name after 'Deep Throat' became a pop-culture phenomenon that had stars like Johnny Carson and Jack Nicholson attending showings. Porn became chic, and the film has to date grossed more than $600 million worldwide (some believe it is still be the most profitable movie ever made).

"In the years that followed, however, Lovelace reinvented herself as an anti-porn crusader, toiled in poverty and insisted that she had a gun held to her head off-camera during those infamous 'Throat' scenes, blaming the experience largely on her manager/husband Chuck Traynor.

"'This would be incredibly intense," Faris said of the script about Lovelace, who died in 2002 following a car accident and several weeks on life support. "It would be the most difficult thing I've done, and I'm really nervous.'"

--posted by Kim

13 Women And Counting

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:25:03 GMT

I was against the re-make of George Cukor's catty, witty 1939 classic "The Women" but it's become so heaped with stars, I'm officially curious. Chiefly, why are there now so many women this time around? Seven more stars have recently been added to the cast.

According to ComingSoon:

"Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, Carrie Fisher, Lynn Whitfield, Joanna Gleason, Ana Gasteyer and Debi Mazar have joined The Women, the Diane English-directed remake of the 1939 comedy.

"They join Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Candice Bergen, who play friends who discover the pal they envied most is being cheated on by her husband. As in the George Cukor-directed original, English's film has an entirely female cast."

How many more women are they going to add? And, what happened to the days when Bette Davis could simply carry a woman's movie without having to call the picture "The Women"?

--posted by Kim

Is Drew A Staunch Enough Character?

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:00:02 GMT

I reported last year on the murmurs concerning the big screen biopic adapted from one of my favorite documentaries, the unforgettable "Grey Gardens" by David and Albert Maysles. Well, not surprisingly it's become a fleshed out reality.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

"HBO Films has greenlighted 'Grey Gardens,' a movie starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange that's based on the 1975 documentary about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' eccentric cousin and aunt.

"The movie is based on the documentary by Albert and David Maysles. It follows the relationship between the mother-daughter duo of "Big Edie" (Lange) and 'Little Edie' Beale (Barrymore) who spent most of their lives living in a decaying mansion on New York's Long Island... Along with Barrymore and Lange, other original auspices on board are commercials helmer Michael Sucsy, who is directing and wrote the script with Patricia Rozema ('This Might Be Good'), and executive producers Rachel Horowitz ('Little Black Book') and Lucy Barzun Donnelly ("The Go-Getter"). David Coatsworth (HBO's 'John Adams') is producing."

I'm still not sold on Barrymore tackling Little Edie. The accent is highly important and I fear she's not fit to say "the relatives didn't know that they were dealing with a staunch character...S-T-A-U-N-C-H." If you've never seen or heard of "Grey Gardens," get on the ball (and check out my review here). Once you watch it, you'll understand my concern with Barrymore. I hope she pulls it off. That's a major "revolutionary costume" to try on.

--posted by Kim

Shooting Gallery

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:41:26 GMT

--I'm not into this idea at all: A re-make of Robert Wise's "The Day The Earth Stood Still" starring Keanu Reeves and directed by Scott Derickson, helmer behind "The Excorcism of Emily Rose." Bleh.

--If you want people to understand the beauty of nature without ever leaving their house, having "Badlands," "Days of Heaven," "Thin Red Line" and "The New World" director Terrence Malick exec produce your environmental documentary is a good idea.

--Military trained, mad Rehesus monkeys vs. a janitor. That's a movie.

--posted by Kim

He's Only Seventeen

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:25:09 GMT

Stating Hollywood doesn't have an original thought in its head is such a tired, easy proclamation (Really? No?!) that people making the statement as some kind of newsflash also appear to lack originality. That being said, sometimes ever-predictable Hollywood still surprises me with just how recycled and lame some of its "ideas" are. So then, wait. On second thought--it's not necessarily a tired proclamation, it simply needs to be said in trickier ways so Hollywood understands.

With that, I'll just complain a little here.

Take, for instance, Zac Efron's first shot at leading mandom. From Coming Soon:

"Entertainment Weekly reports that 'High School Musical,' 'Hairspray' and 'High School Musical 2' star Zac Efron has signed for his first leading-man role in New Line's fast-tracked love story, 'Seventeen.'

"The magazine says Efron finalized negotiations on Thursday to headline the 'Big'-like comedy-drama in which a 36-year-old man, in need of a major life do-over, wakes up in the body of a studly high school senior (Efron). Efron had been in talks to make the film since February.

The role reunites Zac with 'Hairspray' director Adam Shankman, who is producing (but not directing) along with his sister, Jennifer Gibgot."

"Big" like comedy? What about "Freaky Friday," "Vice Versa," or "18 Again"? And then there's "Dream a Little Dream" which has the strange distinction of using the format for the potentially touching scenario involving Jason Robarbs and his quest for perpetual youth via dream experimentation. But it just had to insert that damn Corey Feldman bleacher dance sequence. Still, it sounds more promising than some childhish 30-something living the life of Zac Efron. Is that 36-year-old actually a 12-year-old girl?

--posted by Kim

Aniston Allows 'Art' To Imitate Life

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:32:28 GMT

Oh Ms. Aniston! This is just too painfully meta of you.

As I reported earlier (and with much skepticism), a movie adaptation of the "self help/annoying catch phrase" bestseller "He's Just Not That Into You" is in the works starring Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Justin Long, Ginnifer Goodwin and Drew Barrymore. Ken Kwapis of "License to Wed" (ugh) is set to direct.

And now...Jennifer Aniston is in final negotiations to join the cast. To give Aniston a break, perhaps the film is actually an interesting project and one can't fault her for probably relating to the material. And when an actress truly feels her role that can sometimes elicit powerful, complex performances but...I don't know.

That being said, I thought she was impressive in "Friends With Money," "The Break-Up" and "The Good Girl" so perhaps this is what she's destined to do best.

--posted by Kim

Shooting Gallery

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:32:46 GMT

--Another downer junkie movie like last year's "Candy." This one will star Heather Graham and Jeremy Sisto as two really pretty heroin addicts. I'm sure they'll dirty up for the movie and there is such a thing as a beautiful junkie but I'm already seeing Graham nervously smoking a cigarette while standing outside a seedy apartment building as she waits for Sisto to score. And like everyone, I'm just wondering what she'll be wearing.

--Rosario Dawson has signed on to join Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan in D.J. Caruso's "Eagle Eye." Unless Shia loses any of his sheen (by the seashore) expect the picture to inexplicably debut at number one.

--If they're going to continue making movies for fratboys, producer Mike Karz might as well snatch up a script on spec for a movie entitled "Fratboy." After all, previous Karz produced pictures including "Malibu's Most Wanted" and the upcoming Dane Cook comedy "Good Luck Chuck" might have confused those seeking such entertainment.

--posted by Kim

Self Help Cinema

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:49:47 GMT

I'm going to be a tad unfair right now since I've never actually read the self help/annoying catch phrase bestseller, "He's Just Not That Into You," but come on. A movie adaptation? And with Jennifer Connelly? The woman's been through enough relationship torment via
"A Beautiful Mind," "Hulk" "Little Children" and "Requiem For a Dream." Do we need to watch her swallow dimestore wisdom like (and I quote, from an Amazon excerpt) "that whole '/I don't want to ruin the friendship' excuse is a racket"?

I am curious how they'll make the picture. Will a sassy Drew Barrymore inform her that "taking it slow" is a bunch of straight-up bullsh*t? Will they come to terms with their "no excuses guide to understanding guys" while scarfing down a tub of Haagen Dazs and singing Aretha's "Respect" in a hairbrush? Will Justin Long trick one of them into asking him out? The mind reels.

This is probably a trend. Next up will be the big screen adaptation of "The Rules" ("He's Just Not That Into You's" opposing philosophy). Actually, based on the book's psycho, mind game playing, control-freak message and its sure fire steps to make a man "obssessed with you," "The Rules" would make for a far better movie. Add Anne Heche and we've got ourselves a future classic.

--posted by Kim

'Dark' Depp

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:22:38 GMT

Given that the actor appears to have evaded that little pesky fact of life mere mortals must endure (it's called aging) this role is pretty much perfect for him: Johnny Depp as vampire.

According to Variety:

"Warner Bros. is teaming with [Johnny] Depp's Infinitum-Nihil and Graham King's GK Films to develop a feature based on the '60s daytime supernatural sudser 'Dark Shadows.'

"Depp has said in interviews that he has always been obsessed with 'Dark Shadows' and had, as a child, wanted to be Barnabas Collins, the vampire patriarch of the series. The role was originated by Jonathan Frid."

Unless I'm missing something, I can't believe Depp hasn't played a vampire until now. He will, of course, be excellent.

--posted by Kim

Shooting Gallery

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:36:54 GMT

--Richard Roundtree joins the cast of "Speed Racer." Very cool.

--Tom Cruise will be able to shoot "Valkyrie" in Germany. Wonder what changed the German Defense Ministry's mind? No really, I wonder.

--Jessica Simpson's "Blonde Ambition" has been pulled from its August release date. No word on whether the picture will ever be released to theaters. We're all trying to keep it together here.

--posted by Kim

Shouldn't He Be Worth At Least A Dollar By Now?

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:52:39 GMT

Over at ScreenGrab, Brian Whitefield reveals that he really doesn't like 50 Cent so much. For all you old folks, 50 Cent is the rapper turned actor, not the coin George Raft stylishly flips in "Scarface" (though Raft is much, much cooler).

Anyway, here's Whitefield on the actor's newest casting coup:

"From the WTF? department comes news that rapper 50 Cent is in negotiations to appear in the upcoming film 'Righteous Kill,' starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro as a pair of cops chasing a serial killer. In a role sure to stretch his limits as an actor, Mr. Cent will play 'a drug dealer who helps the detectives with their investigation.'"

Read his entire rant here.

And I have to say I agree with him. I also agree with the weirdnes that is DeNiro and Pacino brought to you by the director of "Fried Green Tomatoes." Will the film contain the inspiring moment in which Pacino slams his car into a couple of arrogant young punks who took his parking space? And will he stand up to his husband and stop eating all those candy bars? And...alright, stopping.

--posted by Kim

Germany Says Nein Way

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:17:36 GMT

Germany has never been down with Scientology. The country will not recognize the religion as a church, claiming the belief system founded by L. Ron Hubbard is only a "money making cult."

Now a lot of people think this, but Germany isn't messing around, especially when it comes to depictions of their national heroes. So with Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie" currently shooting, they say no way in Germany. The picture stars promiment Scientologist Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a man who led an unsuccessful plot to kill Adolf Hitler during World War II. Germany's Defense Military finds the casting of Cruise unacceptable.

This, from Variety:

"Due to Tom Cruise's affiliation with the Church of Scientology, the Teutonic governmental body has prohibited shooting the WWII thriller at German military sites. Decision was based on Germany's longstanding contention that Scientology is not a religion but an exploitative, profit-based business concern.

"It's not the first time Cruise has butted heads with the German government. In 1996, German politicians called for a boycott of 'Mission: Impossible' and other Cruise films (the first in the franchise earned $24.2 million in Germany; volumes two and three brought in $27.7 million and $10.4 million. respectively). In 2004, the star was told that he could not film scenes for 'Mission: Impossible III' in Berlin's historic Reichstag, a site strictly off-limits for any lensing, though Scientology was apparently not part of the equation.

"Cruise met with U.S. Ambassador to Germany Dan Coats in 2002 in an attempt to get German officials to soften their views on the Church of Scientology, which has been officially monitored there since 1997.

"For years Cruise has been outspoken in his enthusiasm for science-fiction author and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's alleged faith, claiming that it cured his dyslexia, among other benefits. During the filming of Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds," Cruise had a tent on set offering counseling from Scientology ministers. In 2005 Cruise referred to psychiatry -- which Scientology rejects -- as a 'Nazi science.'"

Read the entire piece, including response at Variety.

--posted by Kim

On The Road, On The Big Screen

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:24:28 GMT

Books to movies. It's always a debate. And it's always something avid readers hope filmmakers won't royally screw up.

With this in mind and thinking of Peter Jackson taking on "The Lovely Bones" LAist looks at five book-to-film projects possibly underway in Hollywood.

Here's one they mull over:

"'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay' by Michael Chabon.

"This Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel could be easily botched. Big time. While we loved our comic book artists in print, we can't imagine who might play them properly in film. Or how film might accurately and not-cheesily capture the fantastical comic story they write about the lovely Luna Moth. We were excited when we read that Scott Rudin would produce, Stephen Daldry would direct and both Natalie Portman & Tobey Maguire were on board. Natalie as Luna? Yum. Yet, after some swithcheroos at Paramount, it's all on hold.

"Botch Factor: Medium to high."

Read the rest including "On the Road," "A Confederacy of Dunces," "Choke" and "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" here.

And I, for one, am highly worried about "Dunces." As much as I love him, and the casting is still in rumor stage, I just can't get on board with Will Ferrell in a fat suit. Why not find a fat actor to play Ignatius J. Riley? I realize there are very few left (and so does Fred White) and Horatio Sanz probably doesn't have the chops but maybe Jack Black? With a little more lb's? Think of Black saying:

"A frozen orange juice can came flying out of one of the windows and barely missed me. I stooped over and picked it up in order to inspect the empty tin cylinder for a communication of some sort, but only a viscous residue on concentrated juice trickled out on my hand. Was this some obscene message? While I was pondering the matter and staring up at the window from which the can had been hurled, an old vagrant approached the wagon and pleaded for a frankfurter. Grudgingly I sold him one, ruefully concluding that, as always, work was interfering at a crucial moment."

Hmm...maybe not. Maybe we should leave that great book alone.

--posted by Kim

About A Playboy

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:01:20 GMT

"Rush Hour" auteur Brett Ratner is set to direct "Playboy" about, not surprisingly, the life of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner. The ubiquitous Brian Grazer is producing, and John Hoffman is writing the screenplay.

Variety covered the long road the project has taken:

"Grazer optioned Hefner's life rights several years ago. The producer's '8 Mile' scribe Scott Silver tried it as a musical, and Oliver Stone developed several drafts. Making a film of Hefner's long life as icon of the sexual revolution has proven difficult, but Ratner and Hoffman found a way to do it that pleased Grazer and the 81-year-old Hefner, who approved the take late last week in a meeting at the Playboy Mansion."

A musical? And, damn. Oliver Stone? He would have been perfect (remember he wrote "Scarface") though, most likely not in ways Hefner would have approved of.

So who's going to play Hefner? My friend, writer D.K. Holm cited the perfect person, Bruce Campbell. Based on this ad alone, he should be the choice. He's like twenty times hotter than Hef but, still, it's Hollywood. Are you listening Ratner?

--posted by Kim

Hogs, Dogs And...?

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:30:23 GMT

Will this become a trilogy? The balding, paunchy, but we've still got it going on and no we're not homosexuals!, middle aged men trilogy?

After the massive success of "Wild Hogs," director Walt Becker is now crafting the more blatantly titled "Old Dogs" which will star Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston and possibly, Matt Dillon (who is in final talks regarding the picture).

Here's the skinny:

"Written by David Diamond and David Weissman, the story revolves around a divorced father of 6-year-old twins and his womanizing best friend/business partner who have their hands full when they're forced to care for the kids for two weeks. Dillon will play Barry, the overzealous leader of the summer camp where they take the kids. He is ultraconservative and thinks the two men (Williams, Travolta) are actually gay lovers who have adopted the twins. He keeps a sharp eye on the two at all times."

And...hilarity will ensue. Jeez. Man movies are becoming the new chick flicks.

--posted by Kim

Shooting Gallery

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:15:14 GMT

--This sounds like a movie Sam Weir would have written.

--Marc Forester has signed on to direct the next James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig. No word yet if Halle Berry will offer her services as the bikini clad, sobbing, uncomfortable sex having Jinx. Yeah, it's one of those days.

--Michael Apted will direct the next installment in the big screen Narnia series (entitled "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"). No word yet on whether Sissy Spacek will show up to declare she's proud to be a coal miner's...OK, I'll stop.

--posted by Kim

Shooting Shorts

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:31:40 GMT

--The lovely Rachel Weisz joins Jackson's "Lovely Bones."

--One of my favorite modern action movies, "The Long Kiss Goodnight" will probably have a sequel. Samuel L. Jackson and Renny Harlin are developing it. But no Geena Davis? Just not the same without Geena...

--Stop motion horror. Guillermo Del Toro producing. Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany starring. Clive Barker exec producing. I'm trying to not get my hopes up.

--posted by Kim

Shooting Shorts

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:04:13 GMT

--I love Sammy Davis Jr. but someone needs to choose one biopic and stick with it.

--"Thundercats." Big screen. You'd think this would have already happened. But who will record that insanity inducing catchy theme song?

--The charmingly simple story (as in, no hook so far) of a depressed man falling for a woman in London is set to star Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. We'll wait and see if she turns out to be an alien or a mermaid or a ghost. Going by trends, I'm going to say she's secretly a Thundercat.

--posted by Kim

Reel Russians

Tue, 22 May 2007 17:51:08 GMT

Leo Tolstoy had a rocky marriage? No way!

To showcase this past, real life, literary drama, Anthony Hopkins and Meryl Streep are set to play Mr. and Mrs. Tolstoy in "The Last Station."

As much of an intriguing life Tolstoy led (and "Anna Karenina" is a page-turner--it really is), I'd like to see the story of my favorite Russian writer, Fyodor Dostoyevsky put to screen. There's lots to cover. Epilepsy, near death via firing squad while exiled in Siberia, money problems, the whole influencing modernist writing and existential philosophy...

And come on, how many other Russian writers are considered a "Problem Gambling Pioneer" by the American Gambling Association?

--posted by Kim

Diaz Does Vegas

Wed, 16 May 2007 18:44:17 GMT

Remember "There's Something About Mary" Cameron Diaz? "Being John Malkovich" Cameron Diaz? Hell, even "My Best Friend's Wedding" Cameron Diaz?

What has happened to her? Why is she doing this?

"Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher are teaming up for a Las Vegas-based romantic comedy. The duo is in negotiations to topline 'What Happens in Vegas ...,' which Julian Farino is directing for 20th Century Fox. Dean Georgaris is producing via his Penn Station shingle, as is Mosaic's Michael Aguilar. The story is set in motion following a night of debauchery in Vegas, when two strangers (Diaz and Kutcher) discover they have gotten married and one of them wins a huge jackpot with the other's quarter. In trying to determine the rightful beneficiary of the winnings, the duo embarks on a series of plots to undermine the other, falling in love along the way."

Of course.

And of course it's not surprising Diaz is making this Vegas romp. And OK, it might actually work out (doubt it) and I certainly hope it does but I don't like where my mind is taking me. I see high heels tripping over slot machines, a wacky, wide-eyed post wedding wake up tizzy and lots and lots of product placement. And oh yes, a cameo by Demi Moore.

--posted by Kim

Shooting Shorts

Tue, 15 May 2007 18:35:15 GMT

--Spielberg, Jackson team for "Tintin."

--A suicidal ex-priest and a stripper walk into a bar...

--James Toback is directing a Mike Tyson documentary. Perfect.

--posted by Kim

Costner's 'Swing'

Tue, 08 May 2007 03:22:41 GMT

The latest on Kevin Costner's newest endeavor (via Variety) sounds promising:

"Kevin Costner's next film will be indie election comedy 'Swing Vote,' directed by Joshua Michael Stern. Story revolves around a single father thrust into the national spotlight when the presidential election comes down to his vote. Pic begins lensing in July.

"'Swing Vote' will be the first project to come from Costner and producing partner Jim Wilson's new shingle, Treehouse Films. An offshoot of their Tig Prods., Treehouse will produce film, television and online content produced fully by Costner. Tig will still exist for development of more studio-based projects.

"'Treehouse will give me (the) opportunity to shepherd projects from the ground up, with the goal of aligning partners of a like mind... 'Kevin wants to make sure he can control projects that are dear to him and may not fit within the traditional studio system,' said Wilson. 'And he wants to make sure there is a model for that which makes sense.'"

Let's just hope Jennifer Aniston doesn't show up as the single father's long lost daughter, the single father has not evolved the mutation of gills and the single father refrains from non-stop mail delivery after the apocalypse. Actually, I have a soft spot for the last scenario.

--posted by Kim

Mann, DiCaprio, Noir

Thu, 03 May 2007 03:52:36 GMT

Old Hollywood murder mysteries have been a bit tepid of late ("Hollywoodland," "The Black Dahlia") but this sounds like (to use the parlance of the times) just the ticket. Michael Mann as director, Leonardo Di Caprio as 1930's LA private dick, Hollywood noir as backdrop.

According to Variety:

"Scripted by John Logan, the project is an untitled noir drama that takes place on the old MGM lot in the 1930s. DiCaprio is poised to play the kind of private detective studios once relied on to clean up the scandals created by its stars. He's hired to investigate whether a starlet murdered her husband. The script was delivered by CAA to studios late last week, and sources said that a deal was expected to happen quickly. New Line made a bid of around $100 million, said sources, which falls below a projected pricetag of around $120 million.

Sources said the script is strong and the film has a period feel reminiscent of 'L.A. Confidential.' Studios were weighing that and DiCaprio's heat against the large budget, but other bids were expected before a deal is closed. Aside from a budget, the film has a February start date. It will shoot mostly on soundstages, and it works in classic figures like Judy Garland and Bugsy Siegel. The latter is the centerpiece of a shootout scene that unfolds in the Trocadero nightclub on Sunset Boulevard."

So which starlet provided inspiration for the script? The first actress who comes to mind is Jean Harlow whose husband, Paul Bern (right hand man to Irving Thalberg) commited suicide. Though I highly doubt Harlow offed Bern, the death was surrounded by salacious scandal. Bern's suicide note (possibly not penned by Bern) ended with "You understand that last night was only a comedy." Ahhh, Old Hollywood! Read all about it here.

--posted by Kim

Just Lovely

Tue, 01 May 2007 18:32:32 GMT

As a fan of Peter Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures," I'm eager for the director's adaptation of the novel "Lovely Bones." If you've seen "Heavenly Creatures" you know he can do this material justice.

According to Cinematical:

"Peter Jackson's next film won't involve elves, talking trees, or giant gorillas. He's working on a much smaller scale (he'd almost have to go smaller at this point) with his upcoming film The Lovely Bones. He adapted Alice Sebold's much-loved novel with his writing partners Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh - Mrs. Peter Jackson. They started shopping the script to studios this week. With Oscar-winning director Jackson at the helm, and a much smaller financial risk than his past few outings, I don't think he should have any trouble finding a partner. Unsurprisingly, the only major studio Jackson and his crew didn't pay a visit to was New Line. Jackson has been publicly feuding with New Line chief Bob Shaye over royalties on the Lord of the Rings films, which led to Jackson pulling out of The Hobbit. The Lovely Bones tells the story of Susie Salmon, a 14 year-old dead girl whose spirit keeps watch from Heaven. She watches how her death affects her family, friends, and even the man who raped and murdered her. It's pretty heavy stuff, but Jackson insists he'll be carrying over a lot of the humor in the book as well."

Read the rest here.

--posted by Kim

Casting Notices

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:34:28 GMT

--Rainn Wilson makes it possible for one young, hungry actress to play a prostitute, become beloved in the process.

--Previous beloved prostitute character's brother, Eric Roberts (aka the troubled, talented one) will play a mafia kingpin in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight."

--Julia Stiles headlines "The Bell Jar" based on Sylvia Plath's famous, autobiographical novel. This will be the second adaptation since 1979 and I can't believe it took this freaking long. Shouldn't there be something like ten "Bell Jar's" out there? And, no, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" doesn't count.

--posted by Kim

Bates On Board

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 21:06:51 GMT

More "Titanic" casting injected into the Sam Mendes picture "Revolutionary Road." After re-teaming Leonardo DiCaprio with Kate Winslet, the movie now has "Titanic" alum Kathy Bates who played the "unsinkable" Molly Brown in James Cameron's popular romance on (yes) board.

Guess they can't spin the story (adapted from a critically acclaimed 1961 novel by Richard Yates) of a young couple living in a 1950's suburb with any other pizazz other than, "it's like 'Titanic,' only it's not on a ship and has nothing to do with any of those characters and Billy Zane does not appear. Well, not yet. Maybe he could play the rich, evil, handsome neighbor. Does that happen in the novel? Is there a rich, evil, handsome neighbor? You don't know? Well I didn't read the book."

Anyway, it's movie news. Maybe they'll think outside the box and next cast James Caan as Bates' husband to create a super fantastic "Titanic/Misery" merging. Or maybe they'll just cast Shia LeBeouf. That sounds about right.

--posted by Kim