In The Dog House?

Legal matters lead off the first edition of Cinema Stew of 2007.

The Associated Press is up first with item #1:

On the big screen, "Alpha Dog" focuses on the kidnapping and murder of a Southern California teen that were inspired by actual events.

Off-screen, the movie is creating some drama of its own.

Not only is the film facing a legal challenge that could block its Jan. 12 release, but an appeals court chided a deputy district attorney for turning over confidential files to the movie's producers.

"Alpha Dog" stars Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake, and premiered Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Attorneys for Jesse James Hollywood are trying to block its distribution because Hollywood is awaiting trial for events depicted in the movie.

Despite having the characters' names changed, Hollywood is shown in a bad light throughout the film, attorney James Blatt said, and a jury pool could be tainted, infringing on Hollywood's right to a fair trial.

Universal Studios argued that prohibiting the public from seeing the movie would violate the First Amendment.

Last month, a federal judge refused to stop the film's release but Hollywood appealed the decision. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule in the coming days.

"Alpha Dog" is based on the kidnapping and slaying of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz seven years ago. Prosecutors believe Hollywood, portrayed in the movie by Emile Hirsch, was the mastermind behind the murder plot. The teen's body was later found in a remote Santa Barbara County camping area.

Markowitz was killed as part of a feud Hollywood had with the victim's older half brother over a $1,200 drug debt, prosecutors said. Four others have been convicted in connection with the murder.

Hollywood fled after being charged with murder and was captured in Brazil in 2005. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and could face the death penalty if convicted.

Also pending is a decision by the California Supreme Court, which could reverse a lower court's ruling to remove Santa Barbara County Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen from handling Hollywood's trial.

In October, the 2nd District Court of Appeal ordered Zonen removed from the case because he shared probation reports, police files and other materials with "Alpha Dog" producers. He also served as an unpaid consultant on the film.

Zonen's "actions allowed `show business' to cast an unseemly shadow over this case," Presiding Judge Arthur Gilbert wrote in the court's Oct. 5 decision.

Blatt, who has seen the film, said that Zonen's involvement in "Alpha Dog" gives the public a slanted view of what happened.

Alpha Dog has been on Universal Pictures slate for a quite some time. The First Amendment may be their legal argument in court...Let's face it though--The suits also want to see a return on what's turned out to be a very long term investment.

The best person to play super spy James Bond, actor Sean Connery goes up against his New York City neighbor in court...The story courtesy World Entertainment News Network

A New York city judge has dismissed a $30 million lawsuit filed against actor Sean Connery alleging he was a rude and noisy neighbor.

State Supreme Court Justice Debra James threw the case out of court... on a technicality after the plaintiff failed to rewrite the petition in the case.

Dr Burton Sultan complained that Connery blasted loud music in his Upper East Side apartment and carried out a poor renovation job that attracted rats.

The lawsuit called the 76-year-old star a "rude, foul-mouthed, fat old man," which led the judge to order that the petition be rewritten in a more professional manner. Connery and his wife, Micheline, denied the allegations and contended that Sultan was a "tyrant" who had tried to block them from making much needed repairs and who was trying to evict them from their apartment. Sultan's lawyer said his client intended to appeal the judge's decision.

Looks like Doctor Evil is willing to go the distance...Why not just rewrite the petition in the first place? Sheesh! I thought Docs were supposed to be smart...

Stax of Filmforce has the latest casting news for that Halloween remake

Director Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween is shaping up fast. Casting is currently under way with Zombie making announcements via The Official Rob Zombie Halloween Page.

"I'm very, very excited about this bit of casting news. Dee Wallace Stone has joined the cast of Halloween as Cynthia Strode. Laurie Strode's mother," Zombie revealed. Pat Skipper has already been cast as Laurie's dad Mason. Stone is perhaps remembered for her role as the mom in Steven Spielberg's E.T.

The cast includes Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) as Dr. Loomis and Tyler Mane (Sabretooth in X-Men) as serial killer Michael Myers. Mane previously played Rufus in Zombie's The Devil's Rejects. Daeg Faerch plays Michael Myers at age 10.

Zombie also recently revealed that Myers will wear the classic mask in the remake. "I've just seen Wayne Toth's finished mask for Michael and all I can say is [expletive]. It looks perfect. Exactly like the original. Not since 1978 has the shape looked so good. Wayne worked this sucker to death and boy did it pay off."

Dee Wallace-Stone is no stranger to the horror genre with memorable turns in the The Howling (1981) and Cujo (1983) It looks like Zombie is delving more into the backstory of the characters...to make the mew film different enough from the '78 classic. I'm glad that the filmmakers took the time to get the William Shatner/Captain Kirk-style mask that Myers wears in "shape" as well

Writer/director Kevin Smith's latest job has him acting in a high profile action sequel... IGN has the story:

Kevin Smith in Die Hard 4!?

That's right. In a recent blog entry on his website, Smith professes his love for Willis, a fellow Jersey native, and explains how he's parlayed that man-crush into an appearance in Live Free or Die Hard.

He says: "So last week, after I wrapped the Manchild pilot (which went phenomenally), the very next morning, I reported to work on a flick that'd reveal a heretofore unrealized dream I'd unwittingly harbored since I first watched David Addison limbo in the Moonlighting Detective Agency offices, twenty years prior... For five days, I acted opposite Bruce Willis in this summer's Live Free or Die Hard."

The fourth installment in the action franchise tracks John McClane and a young hacker team as they try to stop an Internet terrorist organization from crippling the U.S. infrastructure.

The film stars Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, Maggie Q and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Underworld director Len Wiseman is helming the 20th Century Fox flick which is shooting now in Los Angeles.

Live Free or Die Hard opens on June 29

5 days worth of work on Live Free or Die Hard...Hmm. Sounds like Smith's role is a little more meaty than your average 2 second " let's see if you can spot the famous person cameo.

...The NFL playoffs begin later today..The Chicago Bears have the week off. I hope the team and coaching staff are putting this additional prep time to good use...