Entries from June 2008 ↓

Bag the trailer here.

This is a movie that excites me - it could be very good or very bad - there’s no middle ground here. Even the poster is arresting for its mundanity, repulsion, eeriness and quirkiness. I’ve always found paperbags to be rather ominous.

What gives me hope is that the premise of a half-naked man with a eye-holed paperbag over his head will not be delivered as a straight-up horror film. No, the Duplass Brothers are too smart for that. Baghead is described by the filmmakers as being “funny, truthful, (and) endearing”, which makes it much scarier. Usually the combination of comedy and horror looks good on paper but is a trial to execute successfully as a film. It requires a deft touch like a Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, 1999) or a Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001).

Here’s the skinny: A bunch of would-be actors retreat to a cabin in the Necronomicon-filled woods to write an indie film over the weekend. The film has a light-touch when focused on the comradery and the wavering prospect of romance between friends. The proverbial bag-headed boogeyman that is penned by our heroes in their script materializes as a very human and intimate threat. This reminds me of the urban legend turned real in the underrated Bernard Rose (Paperhouse, 1988) film Candyman (1992).

From Mark and Larry Duplass, Baghead comes right after their whimsical The Puffy Chair (2005), which is on my To-See List after Jane Champion’s An Angel At My Table (1990).

Baghead will be shown in Austin, Texas June 13th. A limited release is still pending.

“The Smurfs” are coming to life in a new live-action/animated movie.

Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third writers David Stem and David Weiss are set to pen the screenplay after bosses at Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures bought the rights to the classic kids cartoon franchise.

The Smurfs first appeared in 1958, when they were created by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford.

They later starred in a U.S.-made Hannah Barbera cartoon, which ran from 1981 to 1990.

Columbia co-president Doug Belgrad dells industry publication Variety, “The Smurfs are one of the best-known franchises, and among the most beloved collection of characters in the world.

“We’re very excited to introduce a new generation to (characters) Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the other Smurftastic Smurfs in all their glory.” Link

The one thing I am noticing about all the new movies is that there’s a lot of digging up from past… I agree that nostalgia will get people to fill seats, but so will some original ideas once in a while. Where are all the scriptwriters and movie producers which actually create new characters, new worlds and new story lines?

Columbia Pictures has released the teaser trailer for Steve Martin’s The Pink Panther 2 online. Opening February 6, 2009, the Harald Zwart-directed comedy co-stars Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, Andy Garcia, John Cleese, Alfred Molina, Molly Sims, Aishwarya Rai and Yuki Matsuzaki.

You can watch the teaser at the official site.

from ComingSoon

Garth Jennings’ Son of Rambow could have sustained itself on its cinematography alone, but the brilliant actors lend depth, humor, and credibility  to the film. The characters, reminiscent of Mark Twain’s beloved Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, dedicate their summer to producing a film for a BBC contest. Lee Carter, played by Will Poulter, is the domineering trickster who manipulates Will (Bill Milner) into helping him finish the film using scenes and lines from Rambo movies.

But soon Lee Carter begins to rely on Will for much more than completing the film. The result is a touching story of two friends working through inner conflict and disputes between one another, demonstrating everyone’s inherent need for companionship and a sense of importance.

Set in England during the 1980’s, Son of Rambow displays British pop culture with humor and precision.

Columbia Pictures is in the process of casting their remake of the film My Fair Lady, and Keira Knightley is in talks to star as Eliza Dolittle, the flower girl who is turned into a lady. The project is being produced by Duncan Kenworthy (Love Actually) and Cameron Mackintosh.

 This version is intended to be shot entirely on location, wheras the 1964 version was shot on soundstages in California.

The original version starred Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins, and Audrey Hepburn as Elize Doolittle.

My only question about this, is can Keira sing? It seems more and more popular to put non-singers in singing roles, and usually they turn out well (Walk Hard…you know you liked it). There is nothing worse though then a lip synched song in a film. Even the black plague isn’t as bad.

Do you think Keira Knightley will be able to sing?

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Wow, that doesn’t give anything away, does it?

It does have a certain ring to it. I think it was a wise choice to give the movie a sub-title, because Transformers 2…ahh…not very ringy.

What do you think about the name?

Sam Raimi has announced that he is eager to read the newest draft of Spiderman 4, due in a few months from James Vanderbilt (Zodiac). After which he will decide whether he wants to become involved in the project or not.

“I’m excited to read it,” said Raimi, “I’m hoping it’s as great as our discussions were about it and hoping it feels right for me, because I love Spider-Man, and I’m hoping I’m well-enough rested to, like, really embrace it and hoping that Sony wants me at that time to direct it. So if all those things come together, I would love, love to do it. But this is a lot of unknowns about the future.”

Just a few months ago, Raimi seemed very hesitant about the idea of being involved in the 4th film, so before you get too eager (or depressed) remember that nothing is final. I would imagine that if he does return, the story will be less convoluted then 3 which wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of his career. Cross your fingers that he will be able to retain a slight amount of creative control over the direction of the film.

Would you like to see Raimi return for the 4th film?

The typographer in me is jumping for joy over this Bell-font teaser poster for Oliver Stone’s W. I hope to see them lined up across the marquee walls soon. The Bushisms are also a great send up of the commander in thief.

Do you think this type of all-type movie advertisement sheet could set a trend for future movie posters? No pictures, but with more font-laced words dedicated to more than just the film’s title and a tag line.

Fun Extra: You can download the font regularly used for movie poster credits here.

Distributed by QED International and Lionsgate Films, Oliver Stone’s W. starring Josh Brolin - George W. Bush (In the Valley of Elah, 2007), Elizabeth Banks - Laura Bush (Catch Me If You Can, 2002), James Cromwell - Bush Sr. (The General’s Daughter, 1999), Ellen Burstyn - Barbara Bush (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, 1974), Thandie Newton - Condoleezza Rice (Flirting, 1991), Jeffrey Wright - Colin Powell (Syriana, 2005), Scott Glenn - Donald Rumsfeld (The Silence of the Lambs, 1991), Toby Jones - Karl Rove (Nightwatching, 2007) Ioan Gruffud - Tony Blair (Black Hawk Down, 2001), and Richard Dreyfuss - Dick Cheney (Jaws, 1975) will be released this October.

Universal has hired the Iron Man screenwriters, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway to pen the screenplay based Robert Ludlum’s Novel, The Sigma Protocol, published in 2001.

Universal also has brought in Strike Entertainment partners Marc Abraham and Eric Newman to produce the film with Paul L. Sandberg.

“The Sigma Protocol” revolves around a young investment banker who discovers a secret organization that has been manipulating the global economy. When the banker tries to expose the scheme, he’s targeted for death.

The writers will adapt “The Sigma Protocol” before they begin writing a remake of Highlander. They also scripted Paramount’s upcoming Convoy.

Source

The cast of the Simpsons have signed another four-year deal which sets in stone the 20th season of the animated hit TV show.

Production was delayed as all the relevant stakeholders knocked out a deal including the most important element for cast members… salaries, which were bumped up to $400,000 an episode.

Key “Simpsons” cast members went back to work on the morning of 2 June 2008– Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe) and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns)

As part of his deal, Castellaneta has been named consulting producer on the series. He’ll now serve as a writer in addition to continuing as a voice performer.

Although the voice actors are now locked through the next four years, it doesn’t necessarily mean “The Simpsons” will be back beyond season 20. Gracie Films’ deal with 20th expires at the end of this season, and Fox hasn’t renewed the show beyond this upcoming year.

Source