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New Behind the Scenes Image from TWILIGHT! Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other A new image emerged today from the set of TWILIGHT starring Robert Pattinson opening in theaters November 21! EMPIRE ONLINE had the exclusive image today, head over to the site for more details!
George Clooney in talks for Jason Reitman’s Up In The Air Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other Sometimes while I blog about the latest news, I think to myself about how much the last year has affected the story I’m working on. With some actors and directors, it doesn’t make much of a difference. For example, George Clooney’s Michael Clayton was days away from screening at the Toronto Film Festival, yet it already had Oscar buzz. Clooney is the kind of actor who will always have his pick of big projects with award appeal. On the other hand, Jason Reitman, who broke onto the scene with his 2005 adaptation of Thank You For Smoking, was still not a name director. Smoking, which was made for $6.5 million, grossed $24.8 million domestically, enough to be considered a big success in it’s own right. But not enough of a success that most of your friends probably still hadn’t heard of it, never mind seen it. Last year around this time, Reitman was busy finishing his second film, getting ready for the movie’s premiere at Telluride and Toronto. A movie written by a blogger and starring some small canadian girl that most of America didn’t even know existed. And we all know that that film, Juno, went on to gross over $227 million worldwide, receiving four Oscar nominations and one Academy Award win. It’s interesting what difference a year makes. Since the release of Juno, Reitman has produced a horror film for Fox Atomic and has already signed on to develop and direct Jim Carrey’s next comedy. And tonight it was announced that George Clooney is in talks to star in his next film, an adaptation of Walter Kirn’s novel Up in the Air. Clooney will play Ryan Bingham, a guy with a simple goal: to accumulate one million miles in his frequent flyer account. Here is more information from the book’s cover synopsis: “Bingham’s job as a Career Transition Counselor has kept him airborne for years. Although he has come to despise his line of work, he has come to love the culture of what he calls “Airworld,” finding contentment within pressurized cabins, anonymous hotel rooms, and a wardrobe of wrinkle-free slacks. With a letter of resignation sitting on his boss’s desk, and the hope of a job with a mysterious consulting firm, Ryan Bingham is agonizingly close to his ultimate goal, his Holy Grail: one million frequent flier miles. But before he achieves this long-desired freedom, conditions begin to deteriorate. With perception, wit, and wisdom, Up in the Air combines brilliant social observation with an acute sense of the psychic costs of our rootless existence, and confirms Walter Kirn as one of the most savvy chroniclers of American life.” What we already know: Dreamworks will distribute the film. Original estimated budget of around $12 to $15 million He wrote one of the roles for Reitman regular J.K. Simmons (who played Ellen Page’s father in Juno and Aaron Eckhart’s boss in Thank You For Smoking) Reitman took a break from adapting this book when he came across the script for Juno. Up in the Air was named one of Amazon.com’s Best of 2001. Time Out New York called Up in the Air “a hilarious, often ingenious ode to America.” The Washington Post called it “A dead-on, wry portrait of the life of the road warrior.” Another one of Walter Kirn’s novels, Thumbsucker, was adapted as a feature film back in 2005.
Promo Pilot for Buffy the Animated Series Leaked Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other For some time now, the idea of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer animated series has been something that has left Joss Whedon fans salivating with anticipation. According to Wikipedia, we know that Whedon and comic writer Jeph Loeb started working on the series around 2001–but various complications prevented any real development until 2004, when a 3 1/2 minute pilot was produced featuring most of the show’s original cast members. The role of Buffy was played by Giselle Loren, best known for voicing the character in the Buffy video games. The pilot was never picked up, and the project eventually died as Whedon and Loeb moved on to other projects. (Loeb is now a writer and executive producer for Heroes) Fans have been waiting eagerly since then to see this promo, but it never made its way to the Buffy DVDs as many wished. All hope was seemingly lost–that is, until somebody uploaded the pilot to Youtube earlier this month. As initially reported by Geeks of Doom, the pilot offers a quick glimpse into what Buffy the Animated Series could have been, and honestly, I think it works surprisingly well. Set in the middle of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the animated series would have offered a refreshing look back when things were simpler for the Scooby gang. Major characters would still be alive, and the presence of Buffy’s supernaturally-born sister Dawn would prove an interesting twist on the show’s first-season dynamic. It’s a shame that the animated series was never picked up, but I wouldn’t count the series out entirely yet. Whedon’s recent online experiment with Dr. Horrible shows that he’s looking at new business models for his projects, and I could easily see the Buffy Animated Series working as a series of web shorts, or even just a series of direct-to-DVD films.
The Towelhead Statements Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other When I first screened Alan Ball’s directorial debut at the Tonroto International Film Festival last year, it was titled Nothing is Private. In my review, I wondered why Ball had decided to change the title from that of the book it was based on - Towelhead. The obvious answer is political correctness. And a few months ago when it was announced that the film would be released under the same title of the book, I commended the Warner Bros for having the guts to be non-PC. But truth is, the name of the movie (and the book, for that matter) is so tightly connected to the story, and the struggle of the main character. If the story were to be released under any other name (Nothing is Private for instance), it just wouldn’t make sense. The film is being released in September, and the Council on American-Islam Relations (CAIR) has asked that Warner Bros. and Warner Independent Pictures to change the name of the film. Warner Bros is not backing down, and has announced that they have no plans to change the title. The studio has asked that Alicia Erian (author, Towelhead) and Alan Ball (writer/director, Towelhead) explain the reasoning behind their decisions to give the novel and film its name. You can find these statements below. ALICIA ERIAN - Author of Towelhead As an Arab-American woman, I am of course aware that the title of my book is an ethnic slur. Indeed, I selected the title to highlight one of the novel’s major themes: racism. In the tradition of Dick Gregory’s autobiography Nigger, the Jewish magazine Heeb, or the feminist magazine Bitch, the title is rude and shocking, but it is not gratuitous. Besides the fact that the main character must endure taunting about her ethnicity (including being called a towelhead), so much of the novel’s plot is fueled by the characters’ attitudes toward race. I was not contacted by any organization or group when my novel was released in 2005. I don’t know if this was because no one had heard about my book, or because they didn’t feel it would have as much of an impact as a film. Having lived in a world in which my book has existed without protest for the past three years, however, I feel I have at least some view onto what to expect from the public in terms of a response. The bottom line is, never once have I encountered anyone who didn’t understand the seriousness of the word “towelhead” and all its implications. This is not to say that I don’t find these concerns legitimate — I absolutely do. We live in a racist society, one in which people continue to use ethnic slurs to delineate those who are different than they are. Realistically speaking, though, these people are neither the audience for my book, nor for the film. They will continue to use whatever language they wish whether or not a movie called “Towelhead” is released. For this reason, I am pleased that Warner Bros. is standing by the title. Towelhead, like its many cousins — nigger, spic, gook, etc. — is an ugly word. The job of the artist, however, has been, and always will be, to highlight that which is ugly in the hopes of finding something beautiful. This charge, by necessity, will at times put the artist at odds with admirable groups such as CAIR. The solution, it seems to me, is not to force the artist to alter his or her work, but instead to use the occasion of that work as an entry point for meaningful debate and discussion ALAN BALL - “Towelhead” is written for the screen and directed by Alan Ball, Academy Award-winning writer of “American Beauty, ” and creator of “Six Feet Under” and “True Blood.” As a gay man, I know how it feels to be called hateful names simply because of who I am. Therefore, I felt it was important to retain the title of Alicia Erian’s novel, in which she so effectively dramatizes the pain inflicted by such language, something many people of non-minority descent never have to face. I believe one of the unintended consequences of forbidding such words to be spoken is imbuing those words with more power than they should ever have, and helping create the illusion that the bigotry and racism expressed by such cruel epithets is less prevalent than it actually is, which we all know is sadly not the case. WARNER INDEPENDENT PICTURES One of the ideas conveyed in the film is that we all make assumptions about each other, without knowing, based on racial stereotypes. It was our goal in releasing “Towelhead” to help make this point. Some of our past releases, like “Paradise Now, ” were extremely controversial and elicited demands that the film not be released; “Good Night, and Good Luck.” drew criticism from some as well. Warner Bros. supported the release of these films then, as they do now of “Towelhead,” as a medium to create dialogue and support the expression of ideas, as controversial or as unpopular as they may be. We apologize for any offense that is caused by this title but support Alan Ball and Alicia Erian in this effort. Dr. William Blizek, Founding Editor, Journal of Religion and Film; Professor of Philosophy and Religion, University of Nebraska at Omaha Dr. Amir Hussain, Associate Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles; Author of Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God (2006) Dr. John Lyden, Professor and Chair of Religion, Dana College; Chair of the Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group of the American Academy of Religion; Author of Film as Religion: Myth, Morals, Rituals (2003) Dr. Rubina Ramji, Film Editor, Journal of Religion and Film; Professor of Religious Studies (Islam and media), Cape Breton University Rev. Danny Fisher, Doctoral Candidate, University of the West The concept of cinema can be described as ‘the cultural transmission of symbolic forms’ which include actions, utterances, images and texts and are embedded in structured social contexts which involve relations of power. These forms are produced by subjects and are recognized as meaningful constructs. As a form of entertainment, it also plays ‘a leading role in shaping attitudes and ideas, including political ideas’. In-depth studies of Arabs and Muslims in Hollywood films over the past eighty years have found that out of the nine hundred films examined, only five percent of all the movies (approximately fifty movies) debunked the barbaric image of Islam. There are very few films that show Islam in a positive light. Dr. Rubina Ramji, Film Editor for the Journal of Religion and Film, is one the scholars who has researched the images of Islam in Hollywood films. Dr. Ramji screened Towelhead at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and found that this film is indeed one of those few that promote different faiths and the challenges faced by these groups in America, while offering a much more balanced representation. Using the derogatory term “towelhead” as the film’s title, in the context of this film, provides a different meaning to the term, one that encourages viewers to observe these challenges first-hand and to better understand how Muslim characters have been stereotypically displayed in previous films. By bringing forth the racist attitudes which have arisen about Muslims living in America, Towelhead openly reveals projected fears about difference and offers a constructive, yet difficult, approach to bring forth understanding. We, the undersigned scholars, have spent years researching and understanding the impact that cinema has had and continues to have on various religious groups in American culture. We hope that the true intentions of the semi-autobiographical novel, written by Alicia Erian, who has encountered such racism as an Arab-American, will continue to be accurately reflected in the film Towelhead, by leaving the title as is – a thought-provoking and difficult term that needs to be deconstructed. *** The above statements represent the personal views of the signatories and are not attributable to any particular organization.
Ghostbusters Tops Funny Films Poll Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other GHOSTBUSTERS has topped a new online poll of the Funniest Films of the Past 25 Years. The comedy beat out National Lampoon's Vacation and Beverly Hills Cop to land atop the new EW.com survey. But funnyman Christopher Guest is the most consistent player on the list; three of his films - This Is Spinal Tap, Waiting For Guffman and Best In Show make the top 20, while Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn make the top 25 twice each - Stiller for There's Something About Mary and new film Tropic Thunder, and Vaughn for Wedding Crashers and Old School. The top 10 is: 1. Ghostbusters 2. National Lampoon's Vacation 3. Beverly Hills Cop 4. This Is Spinal Tap 5. Office Space 6. South Park: Bigger, Longer + Uncut 7. There's Something About Mary 8. The Big Lebowski 9. A Fish Called Wanda 10. Dazed + Confused
Matthew McConaughey's Dad Died Having Sex Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Matthew McConaughey's mother has spoken for the first time about how her husband died during intercourse. The star's 78-year-old mother, Kay, reveals a string of personal details about her famous son in her new book, I Amaze Myself - including how the actor's father died during sex. She writes: "On Monday mornings, he and I often said goodbye by making love. One day, all of a sudden, it just happened. I knew that something was wrong, because I didn't hear anything from him. Just nothing. But it was just the best way to go!" Earlier this year (Apr08), McConaughey revealed he envisioned his own death in much the same way: "I can't think of a better way to go. I hope my own death is way down the line, but when it happens, that's my preferred exit strategy. But let's not rush it."
Griffiths Stumps Fans After 80-pound Weight Loss Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Heavyweight HARRY POTTER star RICHARD GRIFFITHS has shed 80 pounds (36.29 kilograms) in preparation for his Broadway appearance in EQUUS. The Tony Award-winning actor once tipped the scales at 300 pounds (136.08 kilograms). But the star has become almost unrecognisable after dropping the weight as he prepares for his role alongside Potter pal Daniel Radcliffe when the stage production they starred in in London's West End comes to New York this autumn (08). A source tells the New York Post the History Boys star was almost unrecognisable at a recent event: "He was telling stories of his early days at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, but some of the regulars didn't recognise him."
'Twilight' Tuesday: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart And Taylor Lautner Will Present At The VMAs Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Bella, Edward and Jacob get together on the small screen September 7. For months now, "Twilight" Tuesdays have been bringing you your weekly fix of news about Stephenie Meyer's vampire series and Catherine Hardwicke's movie adaptation. This week, we're also bringing news about our own little venture, the MTV Video Music Awards, where stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner will be presenting an award. (That won't be the first time the Edward/Bella/Jacob love triangle will reunite in coming weeks. Read about why the cast is back on the "Twilight" set here.) Back in May, Pattinson, Stewart and Cam Gigandet graced the MTV Movie Awards preshow before we debuted the first completed scene of the film. But it looks like their profiles have risen quite a bit in the past three months, because when the VMAs air live September 7, the actors will get the prime-time treatment. "I've watched the VMAs in the past, and the presenters are always, like, these mega-stars like Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner," Lautner, who plays werewolf-to-be Jacob in the movie, told MTV News. "And now, you know, for me to be doing that, I'm really lucky and excited and looking forward to it." The 16-year-old, whose only other big credit is 2005's "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D," is gradually getting used to the limelight. He said the cast has been going to a lot of magazine shoots recently (including one for Vanity Fair), and they're all ramping up the publicity now that the movie's release date has changed to November 21. And perhaps after facing the screaming hoards at Comic-Con, his "craziest experience" so far, the VMAs will be a piece of cake. The budding teen star is going to the show as a fan too. "I've watched some of the videos this year, and one of my favorites that's going to be up as a nominee is Chris Brown's 'Forever,' " he said. "It's a really, really cool video, and Chris Brown — he's like an acrobat, like me. I do a lot of flips and tricks, and he does too." This year's VMAs, hosted by British comic and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" co-star Russell Brand, will feature just-announced live performances from Rihanna, T.I., Pink and Paramore, alongside previously announced performers the Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne and Kid Rock. The big show will be broadcast live at 9 p.m. on September 7 from the legendary Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood.
Huston Hits Out At Use Of Apes In Film Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Actress ANJELICA HUSTON has called on showbusiness bosses to quit using young chimpanzees and orangutans in films. Huston, 57, has teamed up with animal rights activists People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to voice her plea, aimed at Hollywood producers and directors. In a video clip, she insists young apes are torn away from their mothers to perform in movies and TV shows, only to be kicked and abused by human trainers. She adds: "Having worked with actors for many years, I find it hard to believe that anyone would have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into showbusiness. "But the next time that you see a chimpanzee in a movie, on TV, or in an ad, chances are that's exactly what happened."
Is Nolan Done? Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other While the interweb runs rampant with outlandish casting rumours surrounding the follow up to Chris Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT (Rosie O'Donnell as Clayface?) most have chosen to ignore the fact that Nolan himself has not even signed on for the third installment. I guess it's just assumed that 500 million domestically and counting means "f*ck yeah let's do it again!" Apparently not. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nolan, who is on a much needed vacay, has yet to commit to the daunting task. In the article, THE DARK KNIGHT producer Charles Roven says: There are a lot of us who emotionally would love to do it, but it's really Chris' call. Chris is the kind of filmmaker who just doesn't think about the next movie before he has completely finished the movie he is working on. When he comes back, we will see how he feels. If Nolan does in fact decide not to return, may I suggest Joel Schumacher as a possible replacement? Something tells me he would do a fantastic job. Extra Tidbit: Batman 3 casting rumours! Which ones suck and which kick serious tail!?!
Jane gives em Hell Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other I think all of us at JoBlo.com are unabashed fans of Thomas Jane. That fact was hammered home last year at Comic-Con when we ran into him in the lobby of our hotel and...OK, maybe I shouldn't elaborate. Let's just say the mere mention of said encounter still tickles the JoBlo crew pink. Today we have news of Jane's next film GIVE 'EM HELL MALONE. Russell Mulcahy (THE SCORPION KING 2, RESIDENT EVIL 3) will direct the film with Jane co-starring alongside Ving Rhames and Michelle Rodriguez. The official synopsis of the film is as follows: A tough, feared private eye named Malone is hired to protect and deliver a valuable secret to a ruthless gangster named Whitmore. But what's valuable to Whitmore is valuable to an army of thugs, assassins, and hitmen, all of whom will do anything to get the secret from Malone. There are some rumors that the film is being set up to go direct-to-DVD but as I understanding it, nothing is set in stone yet. With a title change, I can certainly see it making a limited run in theaters (who doesn't love Thomas Jane giving people hell?!). Filming on MALONE is scheduled to begin next month in Washington.
JAMIE BELL WOULD JUMP BACK INTO JUMPER... ON ONE CONDITION Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other For those unfamiliar with the majestic Oh Don Piano: It's a term that refers to actors or directors making BS non-statements in regards to their future projects. The basics of it are this: Q: Would you make a billion dollar movie with Steven Spielberg? A: If the script was good! See, the interviewee doesn't want to close any doors, so they give a non-answer. The interviewer, looking for hits on their website, runs this non-answer as a story, despite the fact that the very nature of the non-answer indicates that there is no story. There is no script, there is no offer, etc etc etc. The phrase comes from this video of a cat that growls in a way that seems to be forming words. And now on to the Oh Don Piano: Yesterday I talked with Jamie Bell about his latest film, Mister Foe (known in the UK as Hallam Foe) as well as his career and some upcoming projects (like Defiance, the WWII movie he made with Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber. The best advice Craig gave him, Bell said, was to always keep his head up during action scenes), so I had to squeeze in a question about a possible Jumper 2. The original made some good money, and Fox has made some noise about a sequel. Bell's character was left alive,if immobilized, at the end of the first film, so I wondered if he'd be up for the sequel. "Only if it was with Doug Liman," he said. "I had a really good time with that character." Earlier in the interview I asked Bell about his penchant for working with unique and visionary directors (just check out his filmography - it makes an auterist wet his pants), and he said that he had many great experiences with these directors, and a couple of "crazy" ones as well. Bell confided that Liman was one of the crazy ones, which delights me to no end. I don't have to work with these guys, so I like it when I hear good stories about them. Meanwhile, Bell has no plans for a comedy in the near future, which is a bummer because I discovered that he's actually quite funny. We talked about how surprising it is that both he and his Undertow director David Gordon Green are so funny, and Bell said he'd love to do a comedy with David. So now you have twice the Oh Don Piano for your money.
VIDEO: First Look at TWILIGHT! Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other A "First Look" at the film TWILIGHT has been released! Access Hollywood had the video, click play below to view! The new film 'Twilight' based on the best-selling novels is poised to be the next 'Harry Potter', and Access has your first look at all the vampire intrigue.
Haley Joel Osment Making His Comeback on Broadway Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other We hadn't heard from child star extraordinaire Haley Joel Osment for a while -- at least not in any productive way. His last film (not counting the unreleased Home of the Giants) was the mediocre 2003 coming-of-ager Secondhand Lions; since then, news about him has mostly involved car accidents and drunk driving. But thankfully, things seem to be turning around. The actor, now 20 years old, will star in this fall's Broadway revival of David Mamet's challenging American Buffalo, alongside John Leguizamo and Cedric the Entertainer. I'm assuming that he'll be taking on the role of teenaged Bobby, played by Sean Nelson in the 1996 film. Not a huge part, but being one of a cast of three on Broadway certainly isn't trivial. So few child stars make a successful transition into adult careers, but an actor of Osment's caliber deserves one. (The Sixth Sense is all well and good, but A.I.'s "David" was a masterpiece.) Now that he's no longer an adorable moppet, he should probably aim for "character actor" rather than "star." If that's the goal, then American Buffalo seems like a step in the right direction; there are few things like a little Mamet to establish some thespian street cred. The play starts previews on October 31st and opens in November.
Fan Made: Living Green in a Hobbit House! Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other And I thought that Star Trek apartment was pretty insane. Our fellow Weblogs site Green Daily has posted about a fully-functional Hobbit house. Talk about uber fandom. I mean, it would've been a feat to just replicate a Hobbit house, but to make it an actual home? That's super-cool and environmentally friendly dedication. It seems that Wales resident Simon Dale wanted his family to live greener lifestyles and be closer to nature. What else is there to do but envelope yourself in bright green moss, and every little bit of nature? The new home is made from mud and rocks found right there. Solar panels store juice for computers and other electrical needs. Underground air keeps the fridge cool. Water is run, by gravity, from a nearby spring. Their loo contains a compost toilet. And it's damn beautiful inside. Check out the house's details here. Methinks Guillermo should get this guy to help with the new film. How cool would it be if they just made a real community of Hobbit homes for future residents, rather than making sets to strike down and waste?
DVD Peek: Slacker Indifference in 'Team Picture' Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Just last week I received the latest release from the critic-led Benten Films -- Kentucker Audley's mumblecore film Team Picture, which comes out on DVD today. Imagine a Slacker sort of world with everyday life and a collection of varied people, but without the rolling conversation of UFOs and Like a Virgin pap smears. Audley's style is to show a more realistic life without the allure of stars or irresistably charismatic actors. He leads the film as a slacker musician who really encapsulates the ideas of slackerdom in every area of life -- indifferent to his girlfriend's unhappiness, the need for a future path, and even the quirks of his roommate. While not for moviegoers looking for a fast-paced, tightly written story, Team Picture does have some charm as a sort of dead-pan voyeuristic look into modern slackers. Check out the video above to see what I mean. The DVD has a commentary, a new epilogue, a short film, music performances, deleted scenes, trailer, and an essay by Nick Dawson.
Mackenzie Phillips Arrested: Mackenzie Phillips Drugs Arrest Los Angeles International Airport Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Actress Mackenzie Phillips was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance at Los Angeles International Airport on WednesdayThe 48-year-old actress is currently being held in police custody at LAX. Cops says she was collared with heroin and cocaine on her person. Mackenzie gained fame playing Valerie Bertinelli’s big sister on the 1970s sitcom One Day at a Time. She was reportedly fired from the hit show for habitual drug abuse and spent years in and out of rehab facilities.
Cher Not In Batman And Neither Is Nolan Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other For all the old media types who actually bought into that crazy story which made the rounds on Monday, the one pegging Cher as the next Catwoman, consider this: Christopher Nolan hasn’t even decided if he’s going to make a third Batman movie, let alone start casting it. We heard last week that he wasn’t signed to direct and tonight Hollywood Reporter has yet another story (in which they quote my long ago reaction to the, at the time odd casting of Heath Ledger) re-iterating that fact. They’ve spoken with both Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros, and both told them they are “interested in doing a third in the series, but all involved say it will be up to Nolan to come to them with a story and a plan.” Does that sound like they’ve started casting? Producer Chuck Roven further re-iterates the non-existence of a third Batman movie saying, “it's really Chris' call. Chris is the kind of filmmaker who just doesn't think about the next movie before he has completely finished the movie he is working on.” Right now Christopher Nolan is on vacation, not surfing gay fan websites for pictures of Cher to Photoshop into a cat suit. Not only is Cher not involved with the film, the film doesn’t exist. Presumably, one way or another, a third Batman movie will be made. Right now though, there’s no way to know if Christopher Nolan will direct it, and certainly no way to know who will actually be in it.
Valkyrie Extras Sue United Artists Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Ever fall off the bed of a truck when you were riding in the back? Or, hell, ever fall off your bike? Turns out you could have gotten $1 million for your pain, so long as you could blame it on a major studio. Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that 11 extras from the set of Valkyrie are suing United Artists, asking for $1 million each due to injuries they received when they fell out of the back of a truck while filming. They claim that the studio knew the truck was unsafe due to rickety railings, saying they saw it all in an internal company memo. Even though Valkyrie seems to be back on track with its late-2008 release date, this may indicate that all is not well with Tom Cruise's weird Nazi-killing movie. Of course, it may just be 11 dudes trying to get attention and a piece of United Artists before the company goes belly-up, as some cynics expect. Either way, Cruise could probably sell about 20 of Suri's ridiculously expensive dresses and get this whole thing taken care of.
Highlander Helmer Directs Thomas Jane Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Russell Mulcahy was a pretty big deal director… for about five minutes. Then he followed up Highlander with the travesty of Highlander II, and he’s been directing Duran Duran videos and Resident Evil movies ever since. I don’t think the guy has gotten what he deserved. The first Highlander was brilliant the second one wasn’t entirely his fault. Besides, he’s also responsible for The Shadow, which is criminally underrated. With Highlander being remade, maybe it’s time for Russell Mulcahy to be remade too. He won’t be Quickening again, but he is up to something pretty interesting according to the guys over at Moviehole. They say Mulcahy has signed on to direct a movie called Give ‘Em Hell Malone. With a title like that, it really can’t go wrong. The film stars Thomas Jane as a private investigator named Malone who “goes through hell” to protect secret information from gangsters and thugs. Ving Rhames is also involved (thug?) and word is that Michelle Rodriguez may be in talks to join the cast. Could be an interesting project, and Mulcahy (Rodriguez and Jane too for that matter) certainly deserves a another chance. I’ve always sort of thought of Thomas Jane as a modern day Chistopher Lambert. Jane and Mulcahy is a perfect fit. Come on, Resident Evil: Extinction wasn’t that bad.
Continuing To Bring It On Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other What is wrong with you people? I mean, there is a lot of stuff out there in theaters and on DVD that you haven’t seen, why would you waste your time on these idiotic Bring it On sequels? Oh? Young girls in cheerleading outfits getting tossed around? You have a good point. I didn’t even realize there had been four Bring it On movies so far. The only reason I know it now is the next one, according to Moviehole, is called Bring it On Cinco is going to start filming. I don’t remember much about high school Spanish, but I’m 98% sure that cinco means five. The first movie, starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, and Gabrielle Union, was actually pretty good, but I’m thinking the rest have gone the American Pie route and failed to keep up the quality. The title should be a tip-off that the series has finally gotten past the black/white cheerleading conflict and moved on to the Hispanic/white cheerleading conflict. The movie will star pop singer Christina Milian as Lina. She moves from East LA to Malibu (what a fish out of water story!) when her mom gets remarried and has to turn her new school’s “second string” cheerleaders into champions. There is also a romance with a rich boy and conflict with his wench of a sister who is, you guessed it, a cheerleader. Even better is this will be directed by the same guy who put Mariah Carey through the paces in Honey. Something tells me DVD awaits.
Shoulda Been Bigger: Linda Hamilton Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Linda Hamilton is an icon of feminine ass-kicking. She ran like scared little girl in the first Terminator and played a monster-humping district attorney on television in Beauty and the Beast, but after Terminator 2 she became a symbol for real female action heroes. In fact she still is. Aside from Sigourney Weaver, no other actress has really managed to successfully pull off that kind of character. Others, like Angelina Jolie, have tried. But Jolie’s action characters are pure fantasy. They’re fetish queens in leather outfits or bouncy videogame babes without sweat glands. Linda Hamilton in T2 is tough as nails, bad to the bone, and frighteningly real. She gets dirty, disgusting, gritty, and she bathes in brute force. No one else has ever done the bad ass chick thing better. You’d think with that kind of reputation, Terminator 2 would have launched Linda Hamilton into a career as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Just imagine her in a female powered version of Die Hard, blowing up terrorists and battling snide, uppity Germans. That’s the kind of movie in which Linda Hamilton belonged. Unfortunately, that never happened. In fact if you ask most people where she is, they’ll probably tell you she retired from acting, or maybe wonder aloud if she might have been killed in some sort of tragic car accident. As it happens, neither of those things is true. Linda Hamilton is alive and well, and what’s more she’s working, churning out dozens and dozens of low-budget movies which nobody has ever heard of, and nobody ever will. The reasons for her career cliff dive may have less to do with whether she’s well liked by audiences than it does with Linda herself. In 2005 Linda revealed that she’s bipolar. In fact, she credits it with helping her pull off those rage-babe performances. Speaking to Larry King in 2005 she said, “I think it gave me a wonderful arena in which to act out some of my rage.” But after T2 was over, it wasn’t particularly good for her career. Sarah Connor’s paranoid fear for the safety of her son was soon mirrored in Linda who said she couldn’t leave the house because “I just did not feel that my kids were going to be OK if I wasn't in the house protecting them.” In light of her mental health problems, it’s amazing perhaps that she managed to do anything outside of Terminator, crap or otherwise. After Terminator was over, the closest she got to doing anything else worth watching was Dante’s Peak, but by then it was six years after Terminator 2 and the top billing on Dante’s poster was Pierce Brosnan. Now even the Terminator franchise is going on without Hamilton. On television Sarah Connor is played by Lena Headey and in the new movie Terminator Salvation, if Linda Hamilton shows up at all, it’ll only be in a cameo. It’s hard not to wonder what the action world might have been like if Linda Hamilton had been able to live up to her full potential as a proper ass-kicking female hero. Since 1991, we’ve had nothing but poor substitutes. Linda Hamilton shoulda been bigger.
Red Band Rant: Nerds Are Ruining Hollywood Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other You know what I loved? High School. Sure, it sucks in almost every conceivable, totalitarian way, but it’s four years of chaotic, beautiful turbulence: you get a driver’s license, you play sports, you get thrown out of class for swearing, you get A’s, you get F’s, you crash your car into fire hydrants, you smoke pot for the first time, you binge drink, you make out with sophomore girls in a shady hotel room showers, you read The Great Gatsby like ninety-two times, and you get to see your best friends every single day for six-and-a-half hours. Wait. Nevermind. I forgot--admitting you enjoyed high school at all is tantamount to excluding every twenty-something white douche bag who still harbors a grudge because someone somewhere called him a pussy a few times during those formative years. Well, grow a ****** ****, you pussy. High School wasn’t that bad, and it’s because of whiny-ass, overly P.C. sad sacks of **** that I’ve had to endure this deluge of high school movies and TV shows from a goddamn nerd point of view. Superbad. Freaks And Geeks. Mr. Woodcock. Is anyone else sick of dweeb protagonists complaining about getting hit with dodge balls? I am. Picking off the fat kid isn’t even mean--it’s Natural SelectionWhy is it that every single goddamn high school movie now is about unathletic, unpopular, undesirables weaseling their way into a roll in the hay with the most beautiful girl at school? That’s not even an admirable goal. Most of the cheerleader types are vapid vortexes of slutiness and stupid opinions. Always go for the Brittany Murphy--she’s ascending--not the Alicia Silverstone--she’s at her apex. So, why is this happening? I think most people just prefer remembering themselves as the underdog, which is categorically hilarious since everyone’s goal in high school is too vault their way atop the social podium. Selective memory, baby. When you were fourteen, you would have stolen a Bunsen Burner to be universally liked, and that is closer to an understatement than an overstatement. Sure, retroactively we smile and root for Sam Weir to kiss Cindy Sanders in between fourth and fifth period, but back in the day, most of us were probably closer to Romy White or Slater from Dazed And Confused--not the coolest kid on the block but not a walking punch line either. We need more Mallrats and less Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist. And that’s not going to happen until most people look in themirror and remember what high school was truly like--a roller coast of ups and downs, cries and smiles, and times of both popularity and unpopularity.
Big Ben's Gettin' Big Honor Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Looks like funnyman Ben Stiller is going to have to ditch the commando gear and suit up black-tie-style. The Tropic Thunder star is set to be honored at the Museum of the Moving Image’s 24th annual black-tie salute. The event benefits the MOMI’s education department, which offers students a curriculum which includes workshops, exhibit tours and screenings. Unfortunately I doubt any of those screenings come from Stiller’s collection of hilarity. According to MOMI director Rochelle Slovin, “Ben Stiller is one of the great talents of American entertainment: a memorable actor, an accomplished director and writer, an Emmy Award winner and an innovative producer." Stiller certainly seems to be determined to prove Slovin right. To follow up his jack-of-all-trades position on the set of Tropic Thunder, he is set to star in the sequels of both Madagascar and Night at the Museum, each being released in November of 2008 and in the summer of 2009, respectively. He’s producing the film Master Mind, which pokes fun at superhero movies, set to be released in 2010. It seems the only thing missing from his resume is a film in which he plays himself. But then there’s more – In Search of Ted Demme, a documentary in which Stiller is set to credited as, yes, himself. With such a busy schedule ahead of him, how could anyone expect Stiller to even attend a bash in his honor? Well, if Tom Cruise, last year’s honoree and Stiller’s Tropic Thunder co-star, could clear his busy schedule to attend in the midst of the Cruise craze, I’m sure Ben will make time too. The party is set for the 21st of November at Cipriani in Midtown, Manhattan.
Buy a Role in Spider-Man 4 Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other Common sense would have you believe that Sony wouldn’t auction off a walk-on role in a movie which hasn’t even been given a greenlight… or would they? /Film reader Chuck W sends along word that the studio is doing exactly that. Sony is auctioning off a visit to the set of Spider-Man 4 (Location of visit will be determined by Sony Pictures based on scheduling of visit) that would include a meet and greet with the cast (this is where I expected the disclaimer “Cast will be determined by Sony Pictures based on who is willing to come back after we finish the script”) , a walk-on/extra role in the film, a trip to the New York premiere and more. The proceeds go to the Stand Up To Cancer charity. You can see the ebay auction here. Let’s not kid ourselves. Obviously a fourth Spider-Man film is going to happen, with or without Raimi or any of the original cast, and this is just further confirmation of such. Even so, I do find it hillarious that Sony would put this up for auction when a final screenplay hasn’t even been turned into the studio, and no cast and crew have yet to sign on to the project. Slyly, included in the fine print is “If experience cannot be fulfilled, Sony Pictures will provide alternative set visits/premieres based on the provider’s availability”. How pissed would you be if you spent tens of thousands of dollars and they changed the film to the Goosebumps movie? The current high bid (as of this writing) is $5,000 and the auction ends on September 5th
Crank 2 Photo: High Voltage Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other Lionsgate has released a new production photo from Crank 2: High Voltage. Click on the image below to enlarge. Official Plot Synopsis: In this high-octane sequel, hitman Chev Chelios’ (Statham) launches himself on an electrifying chase through Los Angeles in pursuit of the Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart. CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE is written and directed by Neveldine/Taylor, the duo behind the 2006 hit film CRANK, and the upcoming GAME starring Gerard Butler. Jason Statham (THE TRANSPORTER, THE BANK JOB) returns to star as hitman Chev Chelios. Reprising their roles from the 2006 original are Amy Smart (ROAD TRIP, MIRRORS) as Eve, Dwight Yoakam (SLING BLADE) as Doc Miles, and Efren Ramirez (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE) as Venus. Rounding out the cast are Clifton Collins Jr. (CAPOTE, the upcoming STAR TREK prequel) and Bai Ling (RED CORNER, LOVE RANCH). Crank 2: High Voltage hits theaters on April 17th 2009.
Screenwriter Dishes Some Early Tidbits on 'Transformers 2'280 Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other I'm not one of those waiting for Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen with a whole lot of anticipation. I feel bad about saying that, but let's face it, Transformers passed me right by as I was playing with Strawberry Shortcake. Many have tried to re-educate me on the awesomeness of Optimus Prime, and failed. Nevertheless, even I have to admit it's pretty cool when a screenwriter drops in among their fans for a good sequel chat. That's what Robert Orci, one of the scriptwriters for Transformers 1 and 2, has done over at Transformer World 2005. The dedicated can sift through what is currently 82(!) pages of script Q&A, by the time you read this, it will probably be 182. Much of it is hints as to which robots might factor into the sequel -- including a tease that Arcee, the girl Transformer, might appear. On the other hand, he's careful to remind fans that anything you hear about the film is probably careful disinformation, but well meant. "It is fun to 'play' with fandom, not to toy with fandom -- I do not hand out disinformation." But there's a few reliable sounding bits in here. According to Orci, the sequel will be more "global" in scale, and that there won't a lot of re-introductions. "The first movie is all about the mystery and reveal of the Transformers as a concept and a species, which means we had to hide them a lot in the first hour. In the second movie, now that everyone believes in the universe, we can jump right into the world of the Transformers." The movie will be firmly rooted in Transformers mythology, but will also maintain the "liberties" taken with it in the first film. He insists they're listening to fan input, so anything you want to see, now's the time to demand it. I'm going to go ahead and demand Arcee, if only to ponder how Transformers can have gender, and whether she will be pink.
Michael Phelps to Host SNL Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other Beijing Games hero Michael Phelps will host the upcoming season premiere of Saturday Night Live! In front of a live audience, the 23-year-old super swimmer will help kick off the 34th season of the long-running NBC comedy show. The SNL season premiere kicks off four live shows in a row. The musical guest for the night will be hip-hop superstar Lil Wayne. The season premiere of Saturday Night Live will air on Sept 13. @ 11:30PM ET/PT on NBC. Phelps will also be dropping by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday, Sept. 8.
Kay McConaughey Book “I Amaze Myself!” Matthew McConaughey Dad Sex Death Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other This explains alot about Matthew McConaughey. The actor’s mother, Kay McConaughey, tells-all about killer sex life with Matt’s late father in her new autobiography, called I Amaze Myself! “On Monday mornings, he and I often said goodbye by making love,” Kay tells Us Weekly. “But one day, all of a sudden, it just happened. I knew that something was wrong, because I didn’t hear anything from him. Just nothing,” she says. “But it was just the best way to go!” Well that was a TMI Moment-as if the thought of old people getting it on wasn’t traumatizing enough. Kay says she made sure he was taken from the house naked. “I was just so proud to show off my big old Jim McConaughey — and his gift.”
Raven-Symone Hollywood Records Split Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other Former Cosby Kid Raven-Symone has parted ways with Disney-owned Hollywood Records and is charting a new career as an independent recording artist after her 2008 album, Raven-Symone, peaked at just No. 159 on the Billboard 200. “When you’re an independent you really do get full control. You get to do it how you want to do it and promote it how I want to promote it and sell it how I want to sell it….” “I did it on my second album [1999's "Undeniable"] and like it,” the 22-year-old former child star said in an interview with Billboard.com this week. Although she is disappointed with her slack record sales, Raven stopped short of blaming her plight on her former label. “No one really dropped the ball….I just think it didn’t get enough publicity so people would know it’s coming out.”
"Dragonball" Trailer Coming in October Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other ComingSoon has learned that 20th Century Fox will debut the trailer for the upcoming "Dragonball" movie in front of "Max Payne," which will appear in theaters on October 17th. Whether the studio will release the trailer online before that is still unknown. In the movie, a young boy named Goku seeks out upon his grandfather's dying request to find the great Master Roshi and gather all seven Dragon Balls (of which he has one) in order to prevent Piccolo from succeeding in his desire to use the Dragon Balls to take over the world. "Dragonball" stars Justin Chatwin as Goku, Emmy Rossum as Bulma, Chow Yun-Fat as Roshi and James Marsters as the nefarious Piccolo. "Dragonball" hits theaters on April 3rd, 2009.
What's Holding Up "The Dark Knight" Sequel? Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other "The Dark Knight" has broken lots of records and reached some amazing goals. It took the film 18 days to reach the $400 million domestic benchmark, fastest ever. It had a worldwide IMAX gross of $49.8 million, highest ever. It earned $158.4 million during its opening weekend, best ever. And it has currently grossed $489.4 million in domestic box office, second highest ever. Now, the movie is moving on to a new challenge, as Heath Ledger is being pushed by Warner Bros for year-end awards. He is almost certain to win a Golden Globe nomination -- and might well be up for an Oscar. A DVD release of the film is said to be planned for the holidays (the studio won't confirm a date). And Warners and Legendary are both interested in doing a third in the series, but all involved say it will be up to director Christopher Nolan to come to them with a story and a plan. "There are a lot of us who emotionally would love to do it," said producer Chuck Roven. "But it's really Chris' call. Chris is the kind of filmmaker who just doesn't think about the next movie before he has completely finished the movie he is working on." For now, Nolan is taking a well-earned vacation. "When he comes back, we will see how he feels," said Roven.
"Johnny Depp / The Riddler" Aug 27, 2008 gc2000ad Other Theres serious rumours that Johnny Depp is first choice for the next villain part in The Dark Knight sequel... "The Riddler" - but the question is, will Nolan direct one more Batman...Offcourse! - Even better Philip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin! - but remeber this is rumours!
Will Chris Nolan Return For Batman 3? Aug 27, 2008 stopitgoaway Other That is the question on everyone’s lips. The man behind the second highest grossing film of all time (unadjusted) hasn’t signed on to direct a third installment yet, and The Dark Knight’s producer Charles Roven has said that nobody has even talked to Nolan yet because he is on vacation. You bet a lot of people want to make a third film - especially after the amount of coin that That Dark Knight has taken in ($871 million and counting!). So how will Chris Nolan feel, and will he want to make another film in the series? And if he doesn’t, what would stop him from making Batman 3?
Interview with "Year of the Fish" Filmmaker, David Kaplan Aug 27, 2008 jr139 Other David Kaplan has always been attracted to the world fairy tales. When his script, Year of the Fish was accepted into the 2007 Sundance Labs, his fairy tale came true. In those labs David laid the groundwork for his feature film debut in which he updates an ancient Chinese variation of the Cinderella story to New York City’s modern-day Chinatown. To enhance the dream-like quality of the story, the entire low-budget digital film was rotoscoped, enveloping the entire film in a surreal fog. Zoom In Online’s Jim Rohner spoke to David about his attraction to the rags to riches story, the benefits of the Sundance Labs, and much more.
Please, No: Aaron Sorkin and Scott Rudin Making FACEBOOK: THE MOVIE Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Okay, let’s make this quick because I’m logging off, going outside and sitting quietly under a tree for the rest of eternity. Writer Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson’s War, Studio 60) has joined Facebook. More importantly, he’s created a Facebook group where it’s announced he’s penning Facebook: The Movie (our title) for mega-producer Scott Rudin (NCFOM, TWBB)… “I’ve just agreed to write a movie for Sony and producer Scott Rudin about how Facebook was invented. I figured a good first step in my preparation would be finding out what Facebook is, so I’ve started this page. (Actually it was started by my researcher, Ian Reichbach, because my grandmother has more Internet savvy than I do and she’s been dead for 33 years.) I honestly don’t know how this works, which is why I’m here. If anyone has any questions I’d be happy to answer them as best I can. If anyone has any comments I’m glad to listen. And if anyone has any Facebook stories I think they might be helpful.” This is not a joke (prank is probably a better word). Vulture confirmed the film via Rudin just seconds ago. Never thought I’d say this, but I’d rather see Emily Gould’s Talking Tattoo Biopic realized on the big screen. Okay, it’s Twittered and Tumblr’d, to the forest I go. Per the “insider drama” and Rolling Stone piece warranting a film, we did fine without Netscape: The Movie. Hayden Christensen for Zuckerberg I say!
Screenwriter Dishes Some Early Tidbits on 'Transformers 2' Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other I'm not one of those waiting for Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen with a whole lot of anticipation. I feel bad about saying that, but let's face it, Transformers passed me right by as I was playing with Strawberry Shortcake. Many have tried to re-educate me on the awesomeness of Optimus Prime, and failed. Nevertheless, even I have to admit it's pretty cool when a screenwriter drops in among their fans for a good sequel chat. That's what Robert Orci, one of the scriptwriters for Transformers 1 and 2, has done over at Transformer World 2005. The dedicated can sift through what is currently 82(!) pages of script Q&A, by the time you read this, it will probably be 182. Much of it is hints as to which robots might factor into the sequel -- including a tease that Arcee, the girl Transformer, might appear. On the other hand, he's careful to remind fans that anything you hear about the film is probably careful disinformation, but well meant. "It is fun to 'play' with fandom, not to toy with fandom -- I do not hand out disinformation." But there's a few reliable sounding bits in here. According to Orci, the sequel will be more "global" in scale, and that there won't a lot of re-introductions. "The first movie is all about the mystery and reveal of the Transformers as a concept and a species, which means we had to hide them a lot in the first hour. In the second movie, now that everyone believes in the universe, we can jump right into the world of the Transformers." The movie will be firmly rooted in Transformers mythology, but will also maintain the "liberties" taken with it in the first film. He insists they're listening to fan input, so anything you want to see, now's the time to demand it. I'm going to go ahead and demand Arcee, if only to ponder how Transformers can have gender, and whether she will be pink.
Bryce Dallas Howard Looks Sultry in 'Loss of a Teardrop Diamond' Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other It's been almost two years since I first wrote about The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond. The forgotten Tennessee Williams screenplay started cooking up in November 2006, with a stellar cast of Ellen Burstyn, David Strathairn, Ann-Margret, Chris Evans, and ... Lindsay Lohan? This was, however, before her personal demons took center stage and made a complete mess of her career. Bryce Dallas Howard starting circling the project in 2007, and now, finally, you can get a peek of her in the film above (courtesy of Rope of Silicon). Can you imagine Lohan up there? Methinks her struggles will be a blessing for the film, which centers on Fisher Willow (Howard) -- a 1920s debutant who makes waves because of her "distaste for narrow-minded people and a penchant for shocking and insulting those around her." When she falls for a lower-class young man (Evans), she has to trick her family into thinking that he's upper class. But when she loses a diamond (like the title suggests), you can imagine what happens. The film will finally begin to hit our eager eyes at TIFF next month.
Box Office: Traitorous Babylon Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Tropic Thunder held onto the top spot for two weeks in a row, followed by The House Bunny and Death Race. Last week's two other newbies The Longshots and The Rocker took the number 10 and 13th spots respectively. Here's what the top five looked like: 1. Tropic Thunder: $16.2 million 2. The House Bunny: $14.5 million 3. Death Race: $12.6 million 4. The Dark Knight: $10.5 million 5. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: $5.6 million Babylon A.D. What's It All About: Vin Diesel stars in this futuristic actioner as a bodyguard charged with delivering a young woman from Russia to the U.S. Little does he realize that she is hosting an organism that a cult hopes to use to create a new messiah. Why It Might Do Well: While not on a par with this Summer's biggest flicks, Babylon A.D. represents the last gasp of the season's eye candy movies and it's getting a really wide release. Why It Might Not Do Well: Those thinking this might be a big screen version of Babylon 5 may be in for a disappointment. Also, with five reviews in, Rottentomatoes.com is giving this 0% rotten as of this writing. Number of Theaters: 3,200 Prediction: $23 million College What's It All About: Drake Bell from Nikolodeon's Drake and Josh plays one of several high school kids on a college visit looking to party. Hijinks and projectile vomiting ensue. Why It Might Do Well: Someone must feel nostalgic for those bowl-hugging college days. Why It Might Not Do Well: Because part of me wants to believe there is justice in the universe. Number of Theaters: 2,000 Prediction: $5 million Disaster Movie What's It All About: Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the writer/director team behind Meet the Spartans, Epic Movie and the Scary Movie franchise go to the well once again with a flick that parodies disaster movies, super hero flicks and various pop culture icons. Why It Might Do Well: Like them or not, Friedberg and Seltzer's movies tend to make a respectable if not stellar profit. Why It Might Not Do Well: Maybe the public has had enough of these things. I can dream, can't I? Number of Theaters: 2,500 Prediction: $11 million Traitor (opens Wednesday) What's It All About: Don Cheadle stars in this tale of international intrigue as a deep cover CIA agent under investigation by the FBI as a possible terrorist. Why It Might Do Well: In addition to Cheadle the impressive cast includes Guy Pearce and Jeff Daniels. Why It Might Not Do Well: Fresh off the Summer blockbuster season, will audiences want a film about such weighty matters? Number of Theaters: 2,054 Prediction: $9 million Box office predictions become a much wilder and woolier proposition once blockbuster season ends, making it all the more exciting if you ask me. Here's what I think next week's top five will be: 1. Babylon A.D. 2. Disaster Movie 3. Traitor 4. Tropic Thunder 5. Death Race Last week's top five took us all by surprise. Most didn't think Tropic Thunder would take another week at number one, and many expected The Rocker to do better. Here's how we all did: 1. LostinaFog: 7 2. I Eat Robots: 6 2. Romel: 6 2. Smiggy: 6 2. Victor de la torre: 6 2. Mike: 6 2. Adam P: 6 2. Vera: 6 3. Matt: 4 3. Chris: 4 3. Alex: 4 3. Liz: 4 3. Vega: 4 3. Zctop: 4 3. NP: 4 3. Ray: 4 3. VP: 4 3. AJ Wiley: 4 3. Greatone: 4 Post your predictions for the top five movies in the comments section below before 5:00PM Eastern Time on Friday. One point for every top five movie correctly named, two points for every correct placement, and one extra point for the top movie.
Jessica Biel is Retro and has 'Easy Virtue' Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other While it stars some great names in the world of film, we haven't heard too much about Easy Virtue. But now, as it gears up for that spanky Canadian festival known as TIFF, CinEmpire has published a whole slew of pictures -- a retro Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas, and more. The film focuses on an American divorcee (Biel) who has to meet the parents (but hopefully without the cat milking). But unlike Stiller's version, she's already tied the knot with a sexy young Englishman (Barnes), so Mom (Scott Thomas) and Dad (Firth) can't stop the wedding. But I'm sure there'll be lots of dirty looks, and more than one smirk, like the one above. Virtue is yet another romcom, but at least it heads back in time a little, and originally comes from a Noel Coward play that Alfred Hitchcock adapted years ago as a dramatic silent film. Good or bad, we'll find out soon enough.
Rain of Madness on iTunes Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Paramount has released Rain of Madness, the entire 30-minute documentary about the movie within the movie (” I’m the dude playin’ the dude, disguised as another dude! “), for free on iTunes. “German born documentarian, Jan Jürgen blows the lid off Hollywood, exposing the frenzy, the insanity and the madness surrounding the filming of ” Tropic Thunder”. One of the most ambitious war films ever made.”
The Incredible Hulk DVD/Blu-Ray Specs Announced Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Universal Studios Home Entertainment has officially announced the specs for the DVD/Blu-ray release of The Incredible Hulk. Both the Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray releases include over two hours of bonus extras, including an exclusive, never-before-seen alternate opening and a digital copy of the film that is iPod, PC or MAC compatible. Gotta love it when they include the Apple users in on the fun. The Blu-ray set will include a new feature called My Chat, which would allow you to communicate with friends and family while watching the film. And you can also share your favorite clips with your friends though the BD Live Internet connection, but what is that point? I love how they made the top part of the case green instead of the usual blue. The single-disc edition includes the film and deleted scenes. The Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray releases will also include the following: Alternate Opening The Making of THE INCREDIBLE HULK: An in-depth look at the making of the blockbuster film, featuring interviews with Edward Norton, director Louis Leterrier, and producers Avi Arad, Kevin Feige and Gale Anne Hurd and the entire cast and crew. The documentary covers the film’s innovative take on the character, look and storyline, as well as the casting process, production and profile of director Louis Leterrier. Becoming The Hulk: This featurette focuses on Edward Norton’s approach to the iconic role and the incredible visual effects employed by award®-winning studio Rhythm & Hues to create the character on screen. Becoming The Abomination: From the first motion-capture session to the visual effects at Rhythm & Hues, viewers go behind the scenes with actor Tim Roth and watch as he transforms both his mind and body into the super villain known as The Abomination. Anatomy of a Hulk Out: Behind-the-scenes looks at three of the movie’s most exciting action sequences: Hulking Out in the Bottling Plant – Go inside the first action sequence of the film where both viewers and the army are given a glimpse of the Hulk to come. Hulking Out on Campus – A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a Hulk action sequence, featuring airplanes, guns, and even a sound machine. Hulking Out in Harlem – From pre-visualization animatics to visual effects, this featurette shows how filmmakers created one of the largest action sequences in Marvel film history. From Comic Book to Screen: See the incredible comic books come to life courtesy of narration, sound effects and “living” panels of action. Feature Commentary With Director Louis Leterrier And Cast Digital Copy: Compatible with PC, Mac or iPod. Deleted Scenes Blu-Ray Exclusive Features: U Control: Universal’s exclusive signature feature, U Control puts viewers one click away from going deeper into the making of the film without ever interrupting the movie, through animated comic book panels, storyboards, early renderings of the visual effects, interactive cast and crew interviews and exclusive information about the characters, back story, and THE INCREDIBLE HULK physics. Thunderbolt Files – Explore the top-secret files of the forces hunting The Hulk with this interactive feature that takes you deeper into the movie – without ever leaving the film. Scene Explorer – Discover the secrets behind the special effects! Explore all the individual layers that go into an effects-intensive scene with this unique Blu-ray feature. Comic Book Gallery – Enjoy a Hi-Def experience of the classic comic book images that inspired key shots in the movie. BD-LIVE FEATURES – Blu-ray and Playstation3 players with an Internet connection can access exclusive interactive applications that allow viewers to communicate with friends and family while watching the film: My Chat – Just plug your player into your Internet connection and connect to BD-Live to chat with friends while watching the movie and conduct your very own private screening discussions. My Scenes Sharing – Share your favorite clips with your buddies through the BD Live Internet connection The Incredible Hulk will be available on October 21st 2008.
Interview with "I.O.U.S.A." Filmmaker and Subjects Aug 27, 2008 jr139 Other Zoom In Online's "On the Circuit" podcast series brings you an interview with Patrick Creadon, director of the buzz-worthy documentary "I.O.U.S.A.," and some of the subjects of the film including U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, Robert Bixby of the Concord Coalition, and Executive Producer Addison Wiggin.
Babylon AD New International Trailer Aug 27, 2008 lovevixxen Other Babylon AD New International Trailer at: http://babylon-ad-trailer.blogspot.com/2008/08/babylon-ad-new-international-trailer.html
Director Gives "Ant-Man" Update Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other We've been hearing buzz about every announced Marvel film, except for "Ant-Man." So, what's currently going on with it? Wizard got to chat with director Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), who explained that he is "absolutely" still involved in the big-screen adaptation of the Marvel comic book. "I wrote the first draft of the script which, to be honest, kind of took two years to deliver because I did Hot Fuzz in the middle of it," said Wright. "But I did my first draft of it just before the [writers'] strike last year and I think it's one of my favorite things I've ever written. It was a real blast to write." He added, "I know that [Marvel's] very pleased with what we've done and, really, really, the appeal to that for me is the fact that like, Ant-Man is considered slightly D-list. The whole raison d'etre of the piece for me and my thing has always been to take something that would seem to be uncool and make it really cool." Wright recalled: "As a little kid I had a reprint of 'The Man in the Ant Hill,' the very first Ant-Man kind of story and it's something that always struck me. Most shrinking films are about in somebody in jeopardy and this is something where the shrinker has the power. Rather than it being something that's a terrible thing to happen, it's actually making your character into the most bad ass sort of action hero/spy possible."
Warner Bros Boards Coco Chanel Biopic Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other Warner Bros is coming aboard to finance and produce the Coco Chanel biopic "Coco Avant Chanel," starring Audrey Tautou, with production starting September 15th in Paris and is set to go on for 12 weeks. Anne Fontaine will helm the pic, which is scheduled to be released next year. Plot summary: In an orphanage, silently standing next to a perfectly made bed, is a frail and slender ten year old girl with thick black hair. Gabrielle Chanel, known as Coco, and her many lives. The story of the path taken by Coco from her obscure beginnings to the blinding lights of Paris. Screenplay's penned by Anne Fontaine and Camille Fontaine, along with script consultant Christopher Hampton. It's based on the Chanel biography "L'Irreguliere" (The Nonconformist) by Edmonde Charles-Roux. The film will feature dresses from the Chanel collection. Karl Lagerfeld, art director of the House of Chanel, will supervise the re-creation of costumes and accessories.
"No End is Sight" will Appear on YouTube Aug 27, 2008 Petes1234567 Other YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the internet, where many go to share their work, lives and lots of copyrighted content. Now, filmmaker Charles Ferguson is bringing his documentary "No End in Sight" to YouTube, completely legally and free of charge. Ferguson's movie was an Oscar nominee for best feature-length documentary and winner of a special jury prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. "Sight" is a comprehensive look at the Bush Administration's conduct of the Iraq war and its occupation of the country. So if you wanted to see the movie, but haven't had a chance, you can check it out on YouTube between September 1st and November 4th. This makes "Sight" the first widely released feature film to play in full on the site. I just hope the quality is not as poor as most of the YouTube videos. This is obviously an attempt to sway American votes before the Presidential election in November.
Ron Jeremy Time Magazine Interview September 2008 “The Hardest (Working) Man In Showbiz” Book Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other Porn legend Ron Jeremy chronicles his 2,000-title career in the adult film industry on the pages of a humorous new autobiography, titled The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz: Horny Women, Hollywood Nights & The Rise of the Hedgehog! This might sound corny or cheesy, but I just loved acting, doing dialogue. All my friends were still doing theater off-off-Broadway and I was doing film. Yes it’s porn, but it still goes into theaters.
Justin Timberlake “It’s Painful To Listen To Myself Sing” Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other Justin Timberlake is his own toughest critic. The multiplatinum-selling singer admits he finds watching or listening to his own work “painful.” (Finally we agree on something.) “It’s painful for me to either watch or listen to myself,” Justin says. “But even when you’re not fully satisfied with the outcome, that’s what makes you hungry…There is gratification in the fact that you a. make people smile, b. make people dance, c. make people laugh or d. make people make babies.”
Marvel to Turn Characters into Anime Aug 27, 2008 SexiVixxEN Other The superheroes of Marvel Entertainment have been turned into toys, cartoons and, perhaps most profitably, live action films like "Iron Man" and the "Spider-Man" series. NY Times now reports that they are being adapted again — this time specifically for the Japanese market. Marvel is teaming up with Madhouse, a renowned Japanese animation studio, to develop new versions of its characters for four anime series that will premiere in spring 2010 in Japan. Rather than simply importing American characters and concepts, said Simon Philips, president of Marvel International, the goal is to create "something that is part of the fabric of society." This means reimagining the back stories and redesigning the look of Marvel's stable of characters to reflect Japanese culture. "It will create an entire parallel universe for Marvel," he said. Madhouse was founded in 1972 and its talent pool includes Yoshiaki Kawajiri, the director of "Vampire Hunter D;" Santa Inoue, who created the "Tokyo Tribes" manga series; and Satoshi Kon, the director of "Paprika," a critically acclaimed animated film about a therapeutic device that allows patients' dreams to be experienced. The parent company of Madhouse is Index, a content provider for mobile phones, which is another area Marvel is interested in pursuing. The anime series will be adapted into comics and will be available for downloading on cellphones, Philips said, a popular way teenagers in Japan tap into media.