There's no point in denying it. When it comes to sci-fi/fantasy flicks, its hard for me to hide the geek in me. From my ability to recite lines found in my favorite genre films, to attending my fair share of Star Trek conventions in the early 90's...Not being able to really say much while I was in the presence of Captain Kirk [William Shatner] himself, during an autograph signing session at one such gathering. I have been known to win a game or two of Star Wars-Trivial Pursuit...Heck, at one time, I could even speak fluent Klingon--if asked--Which I learned using The Klingon Dictionary by Marc Okrand...Ahem--sorry about that. I kinda got carried away there...
Anyway, the upcoming motion picture, Fanboys (February 2007) celebrates this very unique group of folks...Using the release of one of cinema's most anticipated events in history as its backdrop...the film looks really funny. Watching the trailer made me actually laugh out loud. If the rest of the movie is as good as the trailer is...
Fingers Firmly Crossed...
Starring Sam Huntington (Superman Returns), Chris Marquette (The Girl Next Door) and Kristen Bell (herself an actual fanboy favorite as TVs Veronica Mars) . Actor Kevin Spacey serves as one of the producers of the film.
I Blog About Movies So That You Do Not Have To...Posting industry news opinion our film reviews & trailers. Comments are always welcome and appreciated. Send them to thelastreel@comcast.net
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
"See" Cruise
Tom Cruise has only been at United Artists for 12 days and he's already "making waves". It was announced today that Cruise will team up with 2 industry icons for his next film...
Michael Fleming of Variety offers the details:
Cruise next will star in "Lions for Lambs", a Robert Redford-directed drama that will co-star Redford and Meryl Streep.
Pic will be his first outing for United Artists since he and C/W partner Paula Wagner agreed to revive the shingle for Harry Sloan's MGM.
"Lambs" is a Matthew Carnahan-scripted drama that consists of three interconnected storylines: Cruise as a congressman who interacts with a journalist (Streep); Redford as an idealistic professor who attempts to inspire a privileged student in his class; and a third storyline about a pair of American soldiers wounded in enemy territory, one of whom is Redford's former student.
United Artists is financing the film. Production will begin early next year.
Even before Cruise and Wagner made their UA alliance, "Lions for Lambs" was the favorite among three pics Cruise circled as a star vehicle. He also has been eyeing a Chuck Leavitt-scripted adaptation of Dave King's novel "The Ha-Ha" at Warner Bros. and the Spike Lee-directed "Selling Time" at Fox.
Given the UA development, "Lions for Lambs" is even more attractive, since it isn't tethered to a studio and can be distributed through MGM. If deals close and production begins early next year as expected, the studio could have its first C/W-generated film in time for fall 2007.
All the creative talent on the film so far is repped by CAA, which helped arrange Cruise's alliance with UA and a separate overhead pact with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. It's no secret that the agency has made it a priority to find a strong film for Cruise, who wants to prove his UA deal was more than a cosmetic announcement designed to repair his public image.
I guess Roger Friedman was a bit off the mark when he said in a recent edition of his 411 column that Cruise's next flick would be very Jerry Maguire-esque. Lions For Lambs certainly doesn't sound like a romantic dramedy to me...Does it? I have great respect for the film work of both Robert Redford and Meryl Streep so long as things go smoothly here--a solid film (at the very least) should come from this triad...
Michael Fleming of Variety offers the details:
Cruise next will star in "Lions for Lambs", a Robert Redford-directed drama that will co-star Redford and Meryl Streep.
Pic will be his first outing for United Artists since he and C/W partner Paula Wagner agreed to revive the shingle for Harry Sloan's MGM.
"Lambs" is a Matthew Carnahan-scripted drama that consists of three interconnected storylines: Cruise as a congressman who interacts with a journalist (Streep); Redford as an idealistic professor who attempts to inspire a privileged student in his class; and a third storyline about a pair of American soldiers wounded in enemy territory, one of whom is Redford's former student.
United Artists is financing the film. Production will begin early next year.
Even before Cruise and Wagner made their UA alliance, "Lions for Lambs" was the favorite among three pics Cruise circled as a star vehicle. He also has been eyeing a Chuck Leavitt-scripted adaptation of Dave King's novel "The Ha-Ha" at Warner Bros. and the Spike Lee-directed "Selling Time" at Fox.
Given the UA development, "Lions for Lambs" is even more attractive, since it isn't tethered to a studio and can be distributed through MGM. If deals close and production begins early next year as expected, the studio could have its first C/W-generated film in time for fall 2007.
All the creative talent on the film so far is repped by CAA, which helped arrange Cruise's alliance with UA and a separate overhead pact with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. It's no secret that the agency has made it a priority to find a strong film for Cruise, who wants to prove his UA deal was more than a cosmetic announcement designed to repair his public image.
I guess Roger Friedman was a bit off the mark when he said in a recent edition of his 411 column that Cruise's next flick would be very Jerry Maguire-esque. Lions For Lambs certainly doesn't sound like a romantic dramedy to me...Does it? I have great respect for the film work of both Robert Redford and Meryl Streep so long as things go smoothly here--a solid film (at the very least) should come from this triad...
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Keeping Time With The Watchmen
Now that the film version of Frank Miller's graphic novel 300 is just 4 short months away, (March 9th 2007-can't wait!!) director Zack Snyder is talking about his next project, a big screen version of Alan Moore's acclaimed The Watchmen comic book series. Talking exclusively to IGN-Filmforce reporter Scott Collura-- Snyder says that he expects that film to get underway very soon.
..."It's the only thing I'm really working on right now, so if I don't do that I've got to find something else!" he laughs, adding that once he completes 300 he will go directly into full gear on Watchmen. "There's no break, hopefully none, between 300 and Watchmen. They'll just roll us right over. We'll probably start Watchmen and then come back and do publicity for 300. Right now we're still finishing 300, so I'd say I've got another three weeks of shots waiting to come in. And then in the meantime I'm trying to maybe make a commercial, maybe make some money, which is cool!"
... Snyder believes that the key to the movie is to stay true to Moore's original vision, even if by necessity certain aspects of the story must be cut due to running time constraints. His Watchmen will not be stretched over a series of films with sequels and the like, despite the trend of other comic-to-film adaptations like Spider-Man and X-Men.
"It's a labor of love, and I've wanted to try to get back to the source material as much as I could without it being, of course, a six-hour long movie. And I would say the fans are probably going, 'What do you mean? You say that like it's a bad thing!'" he smiles. "I will tell you that the draft of the script is long. It's so long in fact that when we turned it in, we turned 'The Black Freighter' stuff in as a separate script so as not to scare them too much. We were like, 'Here's your script. Oh, here's your other script!' They were like, 'Oh, great!'"
"The Black Freighter" elements of Watchmen are one aspect that could be cut from the film if need be, though Snyder is already investigating avenues of release for an extended cut of the film.
"I want 'The Black Freighter' stuff in it," he says. "It will all depend on how [the studio] likes it. I feel like they don't really question it, like, 'Why, what is this?' But we've designed the movie so that it works without it. We have the places designed where that story would go and then if they want it, [they have it] for like extended theatrical or limited theatrical, or definitely for DVD. That's the one cool thing we have is DVD, and in my opinion it's not exploited nearly enough. [We could use that] to create the three-hour version of Watchmen. And [as a director] I'm totally fine with that, but I feel like that's a battle I haven't lost yet, so I'm not going to concede to it yet."
More...
As much as I think the intricate story would benefit from a multiple film plan....I like the idea that Snyder wants a self contained epic just the same--making the film even more "special". Of course, the one film mantra means that, a lot of good stuff will have to be left out. And as Snyder says--there's always the possibility of an extended cut somewhere down the road. I have a lot of confidence that Snyder will do right by the fans of the source material for the cinematic version...
Meanwhile, in another IGN exclusive, Collura also spoke with 300 author/artist Miller about the progress of Sin City 2 and beyond:
"We might be shooting [Sin City 2] as soon as this spring. Either that or The Spirit is my next project," he says, while adding that he will co-direct the Sin City sequel with Robert Rodriguez as he did the first film. He also says that rumors implying that the filmmakers are waiting for a certain high-profile actress' schedule (Angelina Jolie's, perhaps?) to clear up before getting started are greatly exaggerated.
"No, it's just that there's a million puzzle pieces that need to be put in place," he laughs. "Mostly it's that [Robert] needs to finish Grindhouse right now. And then we're gonna get rocking. It'll be A Dame to Kill For and several short stories. The script is ready, so we're up and running ...
Rumors of Angelina Jolie's involvement in SC 2 have been around for awhile...I am glad the script has been finalized. That means that shooting on the sequel will begin sooner rather than later.
..."It's the only thing I'm really working on right now, so if I don't do that I've got to find something else!" he laughs, adding that once he completes 300 he will go directly into full gear on Watchmen. "There's no break, hopefully none, between 300 and Watchmen. They'll just roll us right over. We'll probably start Watchmen and then come back and do publicity for 300. Right now we're still finishing 300, so I'd say I've got another three weeks of shots waiting to come in. And then in the meantime I'm trying to maybe make a commercial, maybe make some money, which is cool!"
... Snyder believes that the key to the movie is to stay true to Moore's original vision, even if by necessity certain aspects of the story must be cut due to running time constraints. His Watchmen will not be stretched over a series of films with sequels and the like, despite the trend of other comic-to-film adaptations like Spider-Man and X-Men.
"It's a labor of love, and I've wanted to try to get back to the source material as much as I could without it being, of course, a six-hour long movie. And I would say the fans are probably going, 'What do you mean? You say that like it's a bad thing!'" he smiles. "I will tell you that the draft of the script is long. It's so long in fact that when we turned it in, we turned 'The Black Freighter' stuff in as a separate script so as not to scare them too much. We were like, 'Here's your script. Oh, here's your other script!' They were like, 'Oh, great!'"
"The Black Freighter" elements of Watchmen are one aspect that could be cut from the film if need be, though Snyder is already investigating avenues of release for an extended cut of the film.
"I want 'The Black Freighter' stuff in it," he says. "It will all depend on how [the studio] likes it. I feel like they don't really question it, like, 'Why, what is this?' But we've designed the movie so that it works without it. We have the places designed where that story would go and then if they want it, [they have it] for like extended theatrical or limited theatrical, or definitely for DVD. That's the one cool thing we have is DVD, and in my opinion it's not exploited nearly enough. [We could use that] to create the three-hour version of Watchmen. And [as a director] I'm totally fine with that, but I feel like that's a battle I haven't lost yet, so I'm not going to concede to it yet."
More...
As much as I think the intricate story would benefit from a multiple film plan....I like the idea that Snyder wants a self contained epic just the same--making the film even more "special". Of course, the one film mantra means that, a lot of good stuff will have to be left out. And as Snyder says--there's always the possibility of an extended cut somewhere down the road. I have a lot of confidence that Snyder will do right by the fans of the source material for the cinematic version...
Meanwhile, in another IGN exclusive, Collura also spoke with 300 author/artist Miller about the progress of Sin City 2 and beyond:
"We might be shooting [Sin City 2] as soon as this spring. Either that or The Spirit is my next project," he says, while adding that he will co-direct the Sin City sequel with Robert Rodriguez as he did the first film. He also says that rumors implying that the filmmakers are waiting for a certain high-profile actress' schedule (Angelina Jolie's, perhaps?) to clear up before getting started are greatly exaggerated.
"No, it's just that there's a million puzzle pieces that need to be put in place," he laughs. "Mostly it's that [Robert] needs to finish Grindhouse right now. And then we're gonna get rocking. It'll be A Dame to Kill For and several short stories. The script is ready, so we're up and running ...
Rumors of Angelina Jolie's involvement in SC 2 have been around for awhile...I am glad the script has been finalized. That means that shooting on the sequel will begin sooner rather than later.
Monday, November 13, 2006
"Uh...The Bunny's Not Breathing"
The second trailer for The Simpsons Movie aired during last night's all new episode of the the TV series:
I loved the riff on all of the CGI animated films of late...As for the plot of the film--Homer to the rescue...
The Simpsons movie is due in theaters July 2007.
I loved the riff on all of the CGI animated films of late...As for the plot of the film--Homer to the rescue...
The Simpsons movie is due in theaters July 2007.
Deja Vu All Over Again
In a scene right out of the 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, the top 3 films from a week ago stayed exactly the same for a second week...Wow! Increasing the number of theaters showing Borat certainly paid off for all concerned...But not everyone is happy about the film's success: Borat Star Attacked in NY
Meanwhile, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and Flushed Away had very little wiggle room between them over the second and third spots
Brandon Gray of Box Office Mojo:
Tripling its release pattern, 'Borat' bagged an estimated $29 million to top the weekend again, while 'Stranger Than Fiction' [in 4th place with $14.1 million] led a weak crop of new releases...
Gray has more to say...
Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) greets fans and celebrates a 2nd week at #1.Ian Mohr of Variety:
The B.O. weekend tally looked a lot like last week's as three pics -- led by Fox's "Borat" -- made strong holds and maintained the same rankings on the chart. Pocketing $29 million in its second frame, the politically incorrect comedy "Borat" actually topped its opening-weekend gross and likely will cross $100 million by Thanksgiving.
"Borat's" haul likely hurt Sony's debuting comedy "Stranger Than Fiction," which finished in the No. 4 slot. But Sony -- which has the latest James Bond pic bowing next frame -- believes "Stranger" can stick around and find additional [audiences].
Despite its "Borat" breakout, Fox execs didn't have all good news to celebrate: The studio's Russell Crowe vehicle "A Good Year" went sour. Upscale pic was roughed up by poor notices, Crowe's off screen antics and perhaps the expansion to 1,251 screens of Paramount Vantage's star ensemble drama "Babel," which moved into the No. 6 slot.
Focus Features' horror pic "The Return," meanwhile, was attacked by Lion's Gate holdover "Saw III," which was still skulking around the top five in its third frame to carve out further biz. Sarah Michelle Gellar-starring "Return" came in at No. 8 with $4.7 million from just under 2,000 [theaters]..
Continued...
In his weekend wrap-up fir Entertainment Weekly--Joshua Rich says: Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy makes $29 mil in wide release, while new movies from Will Ferrell and Russell Crowe underperform.
Meanwhile, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and Flushed Away had very little wiggle room between them over the second and third spots
Brandon Gray of Box Office Mojo:
Tripling its release pattern, 'Borat' bagged an estimated $29 million to top the weekend again, while 'Stranger Than Fiction' [in 4th place with $14.1 million] led a weak crop of new releases...
Gray has more to say...
Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) greets fans and celebrates a 2nd week at #1.The B.O. weekend tally looked a lot like last week's as three pics -- led by Fox's "Borat" -- made strong holds and maintained the same rankings on the chart. Pocketing $29 million in its second frame, the politically incorrect comedy "Borat" actually topped its opening-weekend gross and likely will cross $100 million by Thanksgiving.
"Borat's" haul likely hurt Sony's debuting comedy "Stranger Than Fiction," which finished in the No. 4 slot. But Sony -- which has the latest James Bond pic bowing next frame -- believes "Stranger" can stick around and find additional [audiences].
Despite its "Borat" breakout, Fox execs didn't have all good news to celebrate: The studio's Russell Crowe vehicle "A Good Year" went sour. Upscale pic was roughed up by poor notices, Crowe's off screen antics and perhaps the expansion to 1,251 screens of Paramount Vantage's star ensemble drama "Babel," which moved into the No. 6 slot.
Focus Features' horror pic "The Return," meanwhile, was attacked by Lion's Gate holdover "Saw III," which was still skulking around the top five in its third frame to carve out further biz. Sarah Michelle Gellar-starring "Return" came in at No. 8 with $4.7 million from just under 2,000 [theaters]..
Continued...
In his weekend wrap-up fir Entertainment Weekly--Joshua Rich says: Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy makes $29 mil in wide release, while new movies from Will Ferrell and Russell Crowe underperform.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Holiday Rush
As much as I would like to forget that the holidays are once again upon us...The November 17th issue of Entertainment Weekly, lays out what the movie studios have in store for movie-goers, as 2006 draws to a close. The suits are certainly hoping that any one of these 47 new flicks will lead to lots of cash and maybe even some Oscar gold.
The Holiday Movie Guide features the inside scoop on Dreamgirls. The movie musical staring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, and Eddie Murphy...The film hits theaters on December 15th.
Carry That Tune In "Dreamgirls"
The mag also takes readers on-the-set of five new movies with a series of photo essays:
The Holiday-a romantic comedy with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black...
The Good Shepherd-with Matt Damon and Robert De Niro (who also directed)...
The Nativity Story-a fresh look at the biblical tale...
The Curse of the Golden Flower-a martial arts epic...
Rocky Balboa-the fictional Philly fighter is back...
Other reports include Inside ''The Fountain'':
The Fountain is the latest from Darren Aronofsky and has had its share of problems...While actress Sienna Miller goes to work in ''Factory Girl'' ... and more...
Meanwhile: After that devastating loss last week to the Miami Dolphins--the Chicago Bears will try to battle back against a very injured New York Giants team in a prime time match-up...
The Holiday Movie Guide features the inside scoop on Dreamgirls. The movie musical staring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, and Eddie Murphy...The film hits theaters on December 15th.
Carry That Tune In "Dreamgirls"The mag also takes readers on-the-set of five new movies with a series of photo essays:
The Holiday-a romantic comedy with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black...
The Good Shepherd-with Matt Damon and Robert De Niro (who also directed)...
The Nativity Story-a fresh look at the biblical tale...
The Curse of the Golden Flower-a martial arts epic...
Rocky Balboa-the fictional Philly fighter is back...
Other reports include Inside ''The Fountain'':
The Fountain is the latest from Darren Aronofsky and has had its share of problems...While actress Sienna Miller goes to work in ''Factory Girl'' ... and more...
Meanwhile: After that devastating loss last week to the Miami Dolphins--the Chicago Bears will try to battle back against a very injured New York Giants team in a prime time match-up...
Saturday, November 11, 2006
RIP Jack Palance (1919-2006)
Another Hollywood great is gone....Actor Jack Palance died yesterday of natural causes at the age of 87. Palance played the heavy in many of his films. But to me, he'll always be Curly Washburn in the 19991 comedy City Slickers, for which he won an Academy Award. In fact, upon reaching the stage to accept his Best Supporting Actor statue, I'll never forget him doing a set of one handed push-ups....
He was also known to chew some scenery every now and again as he proved in the actioner Tango & Cash and the first Batman (1989) film. Playing crime boss Carl Grissom in the superhero blockbuster, with that low steady raspy delivery of his, he made the most of a very brief role. He also appeared in the "Brat Pack western Young Guns...Palance was great in The Professionals and Shane in which he played a total badass. That rasp I mentioned earlier also came in handy as the host of TV's first incarnation of "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" in the 80's
For more on Palance, and his very long career, read the Variety obituary by Richard Natale...
On this Veterans Day-2006---I would like to take a moment to honor all of our fighting men and women of the Armed Services, past and present, who have always fought to keep this nation strong.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, November 10, 2006
Crowd Control
This week brings an unusually large number of high profile releases into the box office mix:
Stranger Than Fiction (reviews) offers up the team of Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson; The film A Good Year (reviews) marks a lighter turn for Russell Crowe as he teams up once again with director Ridley Scott; It's another spook fest for Sarah Michelle Gellar in The Return (reviews); Hot off his success in The Prestige a few weeks ago, Christian Bale helps bring about Harsh Times (reviews) as both Executive Producer and star. Written and directed by David Ayer (Training Day-2001) it looks intense. Meanwhile, last week's champ, Borat (reviews) goes wider, as does possible Oscar contender Babel (reviews).
Ian Mohr of Variety sets the weekend cineplex table for us:
Fox is getting a do-over of sorts this weekend on its left-field hit "Borat."
After dramatically slashing the number of prints on the pic for its opening frame, Fox still wound up at No. 1. Now the studio will expand the R-rated pic to 2,566 engagements to try and mop up any B.O. bucks it missed by cutting its print count.
Studio, meanwhile, sends its "A Good Year" into a frame filled with arty pics, which include an expansion of "Babel" and the lit comedy "Stranger Than Fiction."
With "Borat" the frontrunner for the frame, Fox feels that, with word of mouth swelling, pic will play as well outside the primo urban centers where it raked in huge per-playdate numbers last frame. With "Borat" taking in over $3 million on Monday and Tuesday, pic should easily fend off any competish to land at No. 1 again.
"Borat" will also likely prevail on the foreign front after a socko international launch of $18.6 million at only 993 playdates in 17 markets last weekend, with U.K. auds accounting for nearly two-thirds of that total.
Fox, meanwhile, will be shooting for more urbane auds with Ridley Scott's "A Good Year," the story of a London trader who opts out of the fast lane for life at an inherited chateau.
Pic, starring Russell Crowe and going into 2,066, is tracking slightly better with females over 25. But it's one of a handful of pics heading into the fall fray this frame that will try to tempt upscale auds.
Paramount Vantage has "Babel," the starry ensemble pic that will move from 35 to 1,251 playdates.
Pic, which has taken in $5.2 million in two limited release frames, will roll out in fewer engagements than "Year" and Sony's "Stranger" but may be able to draw more interest with a cast that includes Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Gael Garcia Bernal.
Sony will bow "Stranger," starring Will Farrell as a man who finds his fate dictated by a novelist, on 2,264.
Studio previously handled a similarly arty litpic, "Adaptation," which it bowed in limited release in 2002. But Sony sees "Stranger" as having broader appeal.
"This film is far more accessible to a wider audience," Sony distribution [President] Rory Bruer said. "It's still smart and fresh, but in every screening, audiences have embraced the film."
MGM rolls out the gritty cop drama "Harsh Times" in 956 precincts. Pic played Sundance this year
Continued...
Despite all of the competition out there Joshua Rich of Entertainment Weekly had no problem also saying: "Borat" will repeat at the top...
The crowded and diverse) field sets up for an interesting mid-November weekend at the movies.
Stranger Than Fiction (reviews) offers up the team of Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson; The film A Good Year (reviews) marks a lighter turn for Russell Crowe as he teams up once again with director Ridley Scott; It's another spook fest for Sarah Michelle Gellar in The Return (reviews); Hot off his success in The Prestige a few weeks ago, Christian Bale helps bring about Harsh Times (reviews) as both Executive Producer and star. Written and directed by David Ayer (Training Day-2001) it looks intense. Meanwhile, last week's champ, Borat (reviews) goes wider, as does possible Oscar contender Babel (reviews).
Ian Mohr of Variety sets the weekend cineplex table for us:
Fox is getting a do-over of sorts this weekend on its left-field hit "Borat."
After dramatically slashing the number of prints on the pic for its opening frame, Fox still wound up at No. 1. Now the studio will expand the R-rated pic to 2,566 engagements to try and mop up any B.O. bucks it missed by cutting its print count.
Studio, meanwhile, sends its "A Good Year" into a frame filled with arty pics, which include an expansion of "Babel" and the lit comedy "Stranger Than Fiction."
With "Borat" the frontrunner for the frame, Fox feels that, with word of mouth swelling, pic will play as well outside the primo urban centers where it raked in huge per-playdate numbers last frame. With "Borat" taking in over $3 million on Monday and Tuesday, pic should easily fend off any competish to land at No. 1 again.
"Borat" will also likely prevail on the foreign front after a socko international launch of $18.6 million at only 993 playdates in 17 markets last weekend, with U.K. auds accounting for nearly two-thirds of that total.
Fox, meanwhile, will be shooting for more urbane auds with Ridley Scott's "A Good Year," the story of a London trader who opts out of the fast lane for life at an inherited chateau.
Pic, starring Russell Crowe and going into 2,066, is tracking slightly better with females over 25. But it's one of a handful of pics heading into the fall fray this frame that will try to tempt upscale auds.
Paramount Vantage has "Babel," the starry ensemble pic that will move from 35 to 1,251 playdates.
Pic, which has taken in $5.2 million in two limited release frames, will roll out in fewer engagements than "Year" and Sony's "Stranger" but may be able to draw more interest with a cast that includes Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Gael Garcia Bernal.
Sony will bow "Stranger," starring Will Farrell as a man who finds his fate dictated by a novelist, on 2,264.
Studio previously handled a similarly arty litpic, "Adaptation," which it bowed in limited release in 2002. But Sony sees "Stranger" as having broader appeal.
"This film is far more accessible to a wider audience," Sony distribution [President] Rory Bruer said. "It's still smart and fresh, but in every screening, audiences have embraced the film."
MGM rolls out the gritty cop drama "Harsh Times" in 956 precincts. Pic played Sundance this year
Continued...
Despite all of the competition out there Joshua Rich of Entertainment Weekly had no problem also saying: "Borat" will repeat at the top...
The crowded and diverse) field sets up for an interesting mid-November weekend at the movies.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Spinning A Web
Here's the first extended Spider-Man 3 trailer...Courtesy ifilm...
Wow! It looks like series director Sam Raimi has pulled out all of the stops for this latest adventure...Fingers Firmly Crossed.
The film opens May 4th, 2007
Wow! It looks like series director Sam Raimi has pulled out all of the stops for this latest adventure...Fingers Firmly Crossed.
The film opens May 4th, 2007
RIP Basil Poledouris (1945 - 2006)
Sadly, the film industry has lost one of its most creative individuals to cancer...Film composer Basil Poledouris died yesterday at the age of 61...The first time I was really wowed by the work of Poledouris was for 1987's RoboCop. 3 parts action film, one part satire and a memorable main title equals a winner. Truth be told, I had forgotten his work for the 1980 island romance The Blue Lagoon...Through his work on Conan the Barbarian and its sequel, Conan the Destroyer, his music was as much a voice for the character as Arnold Schwarzenegger was. Another favorite score of his that I will always treasure is 1990's The Hunt for Red October--with its Russian influences and dramatic flourishes...
He is also responsible for the score for Free Willy it's sequel Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, the sci-fi bug flick Starship Troopers and 1999's For Love of the Game.
For more on the life and career of this singular talent, read the Reuters obituary...
Going For Your Masters
Two of my favorite film directors are making news:
Martin Scorsese and the late Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980)
Pamela McClintock of Variety has news of a deal between Scorsese and Paramount Pictures
Wooed by Brad Grey and enjoying the biggest commercial success of his career, Martin Scorsese has inked a four-year first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to direct and produce films, TV, direct-to-DVD pics and digital content.
One unique twist: Par has the option to own half of any film the filmmaker directs elsewhere, as well as to co-distribute.
Deal marks the first time in years that Scorsese has aligned himself with a studio; among directors, only Steven Spielberg has a producing deal of relative heft.
Despite all the recent talk of studios trimming costs by refusing to support the upper reaches of the star caste system, Scorsese deal signals that studios still care a great deal about working with top talent -- and hiring the director who can lure that talent.
For Scorsese's first Paramount feature, idea is for him to direct a larger-scale commercial film like "The Departed."
Of the more than 40 films Scorsese's helmed, Warner Bros.' "Departed" has turned into his best B.O. performer. Pic has grossed more than $150 million worldwide since its bow five weeks ago and is considered an awards contender.
Under the terms of the pact, Scorsese will work on films for both Paramount proper and John Lesher's Par Vantage. Lesher was Scorsese's agent before Grey hired him to run the studio's specialty arm.
First-look deal was revealed just days after Paramount announced it would distribute Scorsese's untitled Rolling Stones doc.
Continued...
Sounds like quite the deal....I'm just glad someone as talented as Scorsese is still in the game. Looks like he and Paramount will be joined at the hip for some time...Thanks to that co-distribute option...
When I read the Hitchcock story, I was both intrigued and excited--not just that Hitch is the subject of a feature film, but also by who may be calling the shots on the project,
Stax of IGN-Filmforce picked up the TMZ.com exclusive:
Focus Features is reportedly developing a thriller called Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. John McLaughlin penned the screenplay.
Ryan Murphy, the creator of Nip/Tuck and the director of Running with Scissors, is Focus' pick to direct the project, according to TMZ.com (TMZ Story)
TMZ claims that the script "is being kept tightly under wraps, but we hear it blends both the actual and the not-so-factual events that lead up to the making of the classic thriller, a retelling wherein a killer outside the script becomes interested in Hitchcock's chilling masterpiece."
This isn't the only Alfred Hitchcock-inspired pseudo-biopic, movie-within a-movie that is in the works. Number Thirteen, starring Dan Fogler as Hitch, focuses on the Master of Suspense's lost and unfinished first film, complete with a murder plot and love triangle involving the filmmaker. Ben Kingsley co-stars.
Focus' parent company, Universal Pictures, is also developing a remake of Hitchcock's The Birds (story) with Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes [production company]
The film about the making of Psycho (1960) has me locked in on so many levels. As a fan of Nip/Tuck--I'm glad that Ryan Murphy is being considered to direct. They need a strong hand for what's sure to be tricky material. Murphy has already proven that he's up to the challenge as far as I'm concerned, I hope he signs on the dotted line.
Martin Scorsese and the late Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980)
Pamela McClintock of Variety has news of a deal between Scorsese and Paramount Pictures
Wooed by Brad Grey and enjoying the biggest commercial success of his career, Martin Scorsese has inked a four-year first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to direct and produce films, TV, direct-to-DVD pics and digital content.
One unique twist: Par has the option to own half of any film the filmmaker directs elsewhere, as well as to co-distribute.
Deal marks the first time in years that Scorsese has aligned himself with a studio; among directors, only Steven Spielberg has a producing deal of relative heft.
Despite all the recent talk of studios trimming costs by refusing to support the upper reaches of the star caste system, Scorsese deal signals that studios still care a great deal about working with top talent -- and hiring the director who can lure that talent.
For Scorsese's first Paramount feature, idea is for him to direct a larger-scale commercial film like "The Departed."
Of the more than 40 films Scorsese's helmed, Warner Bros.' "Departed" has turned into his best B.O. performer. Pic has grossed more than $150 million worldwide since its bow five weeks ago and is considered an awards contender.
Under the terms of the pact, Scorsese will work on films for both Paramount proper and John Lesher's Par Vantage. Lesher was Scorsese's agent before Grey hired him to run the studio's specialty arm.
First-look deal was revealed just days after Paramount announced it would distribute Scorsese's untitled Rolling Stones doc.
Continued...
Sounds like quite the deal....I'm just glad someone as talented as Scorsese is still in the game. Looks like he and Paramount will be joined at the hip for some time...Thanks to that co-distribute option...
When I read the Hitchcock story, I was both intrigued and excited--not just that Hitch is the subject of a feature film, but also by who may be calling the shots on the project,
Stax of IGN-Filmforce picked up the TMZ.com exclusive:
Focus Features is reportedly developing a thriller called Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. John McLaughlin penned the screenplay.
Ryan Murphy, the creator of Nip/Tuck and the director of Running with Scissors, is Focus' pick to direct the project, according to TMZ.com (TMZ Story)
TMZ claims that the script "is being kept tightly under wraps, but we hear it blends both the actual and the not-so-factual events that lead up to the making of the classic thriller, a retelling wherein a killer outside the script becomes interested in Hitchcock's chilling masterpiece."
This isn't the only Alfred Hitchcock-inspired pseudo-biopic, movie-within a-movie that is in the works. Number Thirteen, starring Dan Fogler as Hitch, focuses on the Master of Suspense's lost and unfinished first film, complete with a murder plot and love triangle involving the filmmaker. Ben Kingsley co-stars.
Focus' parent company, Universal Pictures, is also developing a remake of Hitchcock's The Birds (story) with Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes [production company]
The film about the making of Psycho (1960) has me locked in on so many levels. As a fan of Nip/Tuck--I'm glad that Ryan Murphy is being considered to direct. They need a strong hand for what's sure to be tricky material. Murphy has already proven that he's up to the challenge as far as I'm concerned, I hope he signs on the dotted line.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
The long awaited DVD release of Richard Donner's cut of Superman II is now just a mere 20 days away...As the clock ticks toward that special day:
The film had its worldwide premiere last Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 at the Directors Guild Of America.
The invitation-only event was sponsored by Warner Home Video and attended by Donner, Producer Michael Thau, actors Margot Kidder, (Lois Lane) Sarah Douglas, (Ursa) Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen) Jack O'Halloran (Non), Creative Consultant (Writer) Tom Mankiewicz Noel Neill (Lois Lane in the 1950's), among others...
Once again, my invite must have gotten lost in the mail... At least that's what I'm telling myself anyway....Thankfully, CapedWonder.com has posted a one hour audio file, recorded inside the DGA's theater one during the screening. Listen for snippets of the actual movie and a lively panel discussion--it's worth your time--and there's no real spoilers!!
Kidder And Donner At The Supes II-DC Screening
It's safe to say the Internet and the rabid interest over Donner's vision of Supes II--helped to make this long shot dream a reality...I first found out about the "Restore Donner's Supes II" campaign after visiting the UK site Superman Cinema, led by GandalfDC and his team, they did a great job and deserve the lion's share of the credit for making this happen. From the Supes Cinema site coverage of the event includes:
Richard Donner thanks the fans
DGA screening reports
DGA Screening photos
Meanwhile, The New York Daily News recently posted an article/interview with Donner regarding his return to all things Superman... Here's an excerpt:
"It was very discouraging that it would never see the light of day, but I accepted it and that was it," said Donner. "The fact that they turned it around has taken a lot of the pain away and has brought a lot of joy back into it and a good feeling of fulfillment.
"I am immersed in Supey and it's a gas. It's really quite interesting, it's very provocative. It's brought back a lot of great nostalgia."
The full interview can be found here.
Clint Morris over at MovieHole.net managed to grab an advance copy of "Superman II: The Donner Cut" DVD (Lucky Dog!), and has published a review. Here's an excerpt from it:
I don't want to say too much more about Donner's film, it's too good to spoil. I'm inclined to say that if it had been completely finished - and it's not far from it - it would've been just as good a film as the original.
Director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz provide an insightful and very honest - Donner is understandably and obviously rather hurt still, by what happened way back when, and isn't afraid to let it rip. For instance, he refuses to name 'Richard Lester' by name but sours at watching one of "his" scenes - commentary for the film, that's worth listening to once you watch the film with its soundtrack.
Other extras include an introduction to the film by Donner, a featurette about how the restored version came about, and an option to view the 'new' scenes on their own.
This is one of the most joyous DVD releases of the year. "Superman II" will never be the same again - and for once, that's a good thing.
Read the complete review....
Sounds really cool! I can't wait for my already ordered Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition to get here---So that I can finally see The Donner Cut for myself!
The film had its worldwide premiere last Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 at the Directors Guild Of America.
The invitation-only event was sponsored by Warner Home Video and attended by Donner, Producer Michael Thau, actors Margot Kidder, (Lois Lane) Sarah Douglas, (Ursa) Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen) Jack O'Halloran (Non), Creative Consultant (Writer) Tom Mankiewicz Noel Neill (Lois Lane in the 1950's), among others...
Once again, my invite must have gotten lost in the mail... At least that's what I'm telling myself anyway....Thankfully, CapedWonder.com has posted a one hour audio file, recorded inside the DGA's theater one during the screening. Listen for snippets of the actual movie and a lively panel discussion--it's worth your time--and there's no real spoilers!!
Kidder And Donner At The Supes II-DC Screening
It's safe to say the Internet and the rabid interest over Donner's vision of Supes II--helped to make this long shot dream a reality...I first found out about the "Restore Donner's Supes II" campaign after visiting the UK site Superman Cinema, led by GandalfDC and his team, they did a great job and deserve the lion's share of the credit for making this happen. From the Supes Cinema site coverage of the event includes:
Richard Donner thanks the fans
DGA screening reports
DGA Screening photos
Meanwhile, The New York Daily News recently posted an article/interview with Donner regarding his return to all things Superman... Here's an excerpt:
"It was very discouraging that it would never see the light of day, but I accepted it and that was it," said Donner. "The fact that they turned it around has taken a lot of the pain away and has brought a lot of joy back into it and a good feeling of fulfillment.
"I am immersed in Supey and it's a gas. It's really quite interesting, it's very provocative. It's brought back a lot of great nostalgia."
The full interview can be found here.
Clint Morris over at MovieHole.net managed to grab an advance copy of "Superman II: The Donner Cut" DVD (Lucky Dog!), and has published a review. Here's an excerpt from it:
I don't want to say too much more about Donner's film, it's too good to spoil. I'm inclined to say that if it had been completely finished - and it's not far from it - it would've been just as good a film as the original.
Director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz provide an insightful and very honest - Donner is understandably and obviously rather hurt still, by what happened way back when, and isn't afraid to let it rip. For instance, he refuses to name 'Richard Lester' by name but sours at watching one of "his" scenes - commentary for the film, that's worth listening to once you watch the film with its soundtrack.
Other extras include an introduction to the film by Donner, a featurette about how the restored version came about, and an option to view the 'new' scenes on their own.
This is one of the most joyous DVD releases of the year. "Superman II" will never be the same again - and for once, that's a good thing.
Read the complete review....
Sounds really cool! I can't wait for my already ordered Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition to get here---So that I can finally see The Donner Cut for myself!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The Hall Of Heroes
Today's agenda concerns two comic book sequels...
Stax of IGN-Filmforce wrote yesterday:
Another day, another Dark Knight rumor. Now that The Joker has been cast, the rumor mill has been buzzing about who will portray D.A. Harvey Dent (a.k.a. the man who will be Two-Face) in The Dark Knight, the sequel to Batman Begins.
Just weeks after Ryan Phillippe dismissed talk that he was up for the role, Batman-on-Film.com claims that a new, heretofore unreported actor may be a contender to portray Dent.
According to a longtime "friend" of Batman-on-Film.com, Ethan Hawke (Assault on Precinct 13, Training Day) is up for the role of "a lawyer" in the Warner Bros. project. At 36, Hawke is about the right age for the young, doomed D.A.
Hawke's credits include Lord of War, Before Sunrise, Gattaca, Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites and Hamlet. He will next be seen in Richard Linklater's Fast Food Nation.
The Dark Knight is slated to begin filming early next year for a 2008 release
Wow! Ethan Hawke is a name that I never even thought of. But you know what? He would make a great choice for the complicated role...Like his rumored predeceesor, Ryan Phillippe, Hawke has played both good guys and bad guys over the years. Hawke definately has the acting chops. I hope that Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan will let the world know soon, which actor will fill the role, so that the casting rumor mill on the film can quiet down a bit
The second story of the day also comes by way of Filmforce:
Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures have officially announced the big-screen return of The Incredible Hulk. Undaunted by the ho-hum 2003 film adaptation starring Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly, the studios are plotting a new installment that's now set for a Summer 2008 release. Marvel announced today that The Incredible Hulk, as the sequel is called, will hit theaters on June 27th, 2008.
The Incredible Hulk, billed as an "action-packed adventure," is being independently produced by Marvel Studios through its $525 million, non-recourse film finance facility and will be distributed domestically and in several international territories by Universal Pictures.
Kevin Feige, President of Production for Marvel Studios, commented, "The Incredible Hulk will be the type of fun, high-octane event film people have come to expect from Marvel. We could not be more excited about this project and our summer 2008 prospects now that we have both our green goliath and our highly-anticipated Iron Man set for release."
Louis Leterrier (Transporter 2, Unleashed) is directing the movie which will supposedly take the franchise back to its roots. Marvel makes their case for the flick saying it will feature a "well-developed storyline with incredible action and fun."
X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand screenwriter Zak Penn is writing the screenplay.
There's no word yet on what actors might appear in the movie, but the press release circulated today mentions that casting is currently underway...
The Hulk (2003) wasn't a bad movie... but it was too "internalized" concentrating on the dysfunctional family angle as the catalyst. By the time the climax came along--I thought I watching some daytime talk show---rather than a comic book adaptation. Great CGI can only get you so far...
Louis Leterrier certainly knows his way around an action film...I just hope Zak Penn can give the sequel/prequel/reboot what it needs most to work--a solid screenplay.
Stax of IGN-Filmforce wrote yesterday:
Another day, another Dark Knight rumor. Now that The Joker has been cast, the rumor mill has been buzzing about who will portray D.A. Harvey Dent (a.k.a. the man who will be Two-Face) in The Dark Knight, the sequel to Batman Begins.
Just weeks after Ryan Phillippe dismissed talk that he was up for the role, Batman-on-Film.com claims that a new, heretofore unreported actor may be a contender to portray Dent.
According to a longtime "friend" of Batman-on-Film.com, Ethan Hawke (Assault on Precinct 13, Training Day) is up for the role of "a lawyer" in the Warner Bros. project. At 36, Hawke is about the right age for the young, doomed D.A.
Hawke's credits include Lord of War, Before Sunrise, Gattaca, Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites and Hamlet. He will next be seen in Richard Linklater's Fast Food Nation.
The Dark Knight is slated to begin filming early next year for a 2008 release
Can Hawke Make A "Dent" In The Dark Knight Casting Quandry?
Wow! Ethan Hawke is a name that I never even thought of. But you know what? He would make a great choice for the complicated role...Like his rumored predeceesor, Ryan Phillippe, Hawke has played both good guys and bad guys over the years. Hawke definately has the acting chops. I hope that Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan will let the world know soon, which actor will fill the role, so that the casting rumor mill on the film can quiet down a bit
The second story of the day also comes by way of Filmforce:
Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures have officially announced the big-screen return of The Incredible Hulk. Undaunted by the ho-hum 2003 film adaptation starring Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly, the studios are plotting a new installment that's now set for a Summer 2008 release. Marvel announced today that The Incredible Hulk, as the sequel is called, will hit theaters on June 27th, 2008.
The Incredible Hulk, billed as an "action-packed adventure," is being independently produced by Marvel Studios through its $525 million, non-recourse film finance facility and will be distributed domestically and in several international territories by Universal Pictures.
Kevin Feige, President of Production for Marvel Studios, commented, "The Incredible Hulk will be the type of fun, high-octane event film people have come to expect from Marvel. We could not be more excited about this project and our summer 2008 prospects now that we have both our green goliath and our highly-anticipated Iron Man set for release."
Louis Leterrier (Transporter 2, Unleashed) is directing the movie which will supposedly take the franchise back to its roots. Marvel makes their case for the flick saying it will feature a "well-developed storyline with incredible action and fun."
X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand screenwriter Zak Penn is writing the screenplay.
There's no word yet on what actors might appear in the movie, but the press release circulated today mentions that casting is currently underway...
The Big Green Guy Is Set To Return To The Cineplex In 2008
The Hulk (2003) wasn't a bad movie... but it was too "internalized" concentrating on the dysfunctional family angle as the catalyst. By the time the climax came along--I thought I watching some daytime talk show---rather than a comic book adaptation. Great CGI can only get you so far...
Louis Leterrier certainly knows his way around an action film...I just hope Zak Penn can give the sequel/prequel/reboot what it needs most to work--a solid screenplay.
Monday, November 06, 2006
To The Victor Goes The Spoils
What a surprise! The Borat movie may have played in far less theaters than family friendly rivals, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and Flushed Away, but that didn't stop the character comedy from taking the top spot...Wow!
Brandon Gray of Box Office Mojo writes in his Weekend Report:
'Borat' raked in an estimated $26.3 million, among the biggest openings ever for a modestly wide release, while 'The Santa Clause 3' [taking the second spot with $20 million in tix sold] and 'Flushed Away' [in 3rd with $19.1 million] duked it out over family crumbs....
Continued...
Brandon Gray of Box Office Mojo writes in his Weekend Report:
'Borat' raked in an estimated $26.3 million, among the biggest openings ever for a modestly wide release, while 'The Santa Clause 3' [taking the second spot with $20 million in tix sold] and 'Flushed Away' [in 3rd with $19.1 million] duked it out over family crumbs....
Continued...
Ian Mohr of Variety:
After broad speculation that Internet buzz could turn Fox comedy "Borat" into "Snakes on a Plane 2," the Sacha Baron Cohen vehicle behaved more like "Fahrenheit 9/11" over the frame, coming in at No. 1 with $26.3 million.
Left-field hit won the weekend handily against all odds, playing on just 837 screens. "Borat" drew a whopping per-engagement average of $31,511, as the pic brought in an aud that was almost half over 25 as well as the expected college crowd.
Monday morning quarterbacks will wonder whether Fox could have captured even more B.O. dough had the studio rolled out "Borat" more widely.
But the studio's execs say that the movie plays best in a packed house, and that the initial run built the word of mouth that a pic such as this would need to expand.
Disney's "The Santa Clause 3," the No. 2 finisher, unspooled on 3,458 to hit $20 million. Disney said it had been expecting to finish at somewhere between $19 million and $21 million.
"Borat" won the day, in part, because "Clause" and Paramount/DreamWorks Animation's "Flushed Away" -- which washed in at No. 3 with $19.1 million -- split the family aud, while the fictional Kazakh TV commentator brought in adults and teens.
"This was not a conventional sell," said Fox production topper Hutch Parker of the "Borat" perf. "It's not a conventional anything. But it has had such unbelievable playability.
"We're not selling 'Wedding Crashers,' " he added. "This is not a TV-friendly sell. Rather than shotgunning it, we made people aware of it."
Comedy also was an international sensation for the studio, which will now ratchet up the pic's domestic play dates to 2,500 next frame. That move makes an already overcrowded fall that much more swamped with pics vying for attention...
Frame's other new wide opener, "Flushed," produced the highest-ever bow for a project produced via Brit banner Aardman. But Sony's "Open Season," which opened at $23 million in September, is still stealing animated biz: Pic finished at No. 9 after six frames and has taken in more than $81 million to date.
"Borat" helped boost B.O. overall from last weekend: Top 10 pics drew more than $111 million vs. $83.3 million last frame, when "Saw III" ruled the roost.
"Saw" this weekend lost more than half of its aud, taking in $15.5 million to bring cume to more than $60 million in just two frames.
Also notable on the weekend was "The Departed," which crossed $102 million to become Martin Scorsese's highest-grossing film ever. Pic slipped just 19% in its fifth frame...
Article Continues...
Joshua Rich of Entertainment Weekly, says in his weekend wrap-up:
"Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" bags the No. 1 spot...
Yeah, I know Borat won the weekend....but how 'bout Scorsese's The Departed passing the $100 million dollar mark...Hooray for him!!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
A Resurrection And A Few Returns
Inside this week's Cinema Stew:
A film based on idea from maverick director Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) is coming soon to a theater near you; A sequel to Spike Lee's intense thriller Inside Man (2006) seems likely; An even sooner than expected look at the second trailer for Spider-Man 3?--among other webhead rumors... And finally former man on the run Wesley Snipes makes nice with the Feds for tax evasion...
Charles McGrath of The New York Times has the info on Kubrick's "return":
Stanley Kubrick never threw anything away. On the other hand, he didn’t have much of a filing system, and when he moved — permanently, it turned out — from Hollywood to London in 1962, a great many things went astray. Among them was the sole copy of a film treatment called “Lunatic at Large,” which Mr. Kubrick had commissioned in the late ’50s from the noir pulp novelist Jim Thompson, with whom he had worked on “The Killing,” a 1956 bank-heist story that became his first successful feature, and then on 1957’s “Paths of Glory.”
The manuscript remained lost until after Mr. Kubrick’s death, in 1999, when his son-in-law, Philip Hobbs, working with an archivist, turned it up, along with a couple of other scripts, and set about trying to make it into a movie.
There were a couple of false starts. Mr. Hobbs originally approached the French company Pathé — partly because the French hold Jim Thompson in the same esteem as Edgar Allan Poe and Mickey Rourke — and after that arrangement fell through, he formed a partnership with Edward R. Pressman, a New York-based producer, and the London producers Finch & Partners. Mr. Pressman, who is expected to announce the completion of the deal..., said the film would be directed by Chris Palmer, from a finished script by Stephen R. Clarke.
“When Stanley died, he left behind lots of paperwork,” Mr. Hobbs said in a telephone interview.
“We ended up going through trunks of it, and one day we came across ‘Lunatic at Large.’ I knew what it was right away, because I remember Stanley talking about ‘Lunatic.’ He was always saying he wished he knew where it was, because it was such a great idea.”
Speaking from her home in Britain, Mr. Kubrick’s widow, Christiane, said: “My husband always had a drawerful of ideas. There were always a lot of stories on the go, things he started, things he left lying around. It was like being in a waterfall. I remember he was very excited at the time about ‘Lunatic at Large,’ but then other things happened.” First, she explained, Mr. Kubrick was forced off “One-Eyed Jacks,” with Marlon Brando, and then he was hired to replace Anthony Mann on “Spartacus.”
“ ‘Spartacus’ changed his life,” she said. “And after that his imagination was held by ‘Lolita,’ which gave him the opportunity to film in England, where making movies cost so much less.”
The loss of his manuscript was a bitter disappointment to Mr. Thompson, who had a long and mostly hard-luck relationship with Hollywood. Like a lot of writers who seek their fortune there, he eventually drank too much and became his own worst enemy. He died in 1977, much too soon for the revival of interest that made him a cult writer in the ’90s, when four of his novels were made into films: “The Grifters,” “The Getaway,” “Hit Me” and “After Dark, My Sweet.”
Despite its title, “Lunatic at Large” is not a horror story. It’s a dark and surprising mystery of sorts, in which the greatest puzzle is who, among several plausible candidates, is the true escapee from a nearby mental hospital...
Continued...
The premise sounds interesting enough...Kubrick had a very unique way of telling a story that is still unmatched...I hope the film avoids the pitfalls and problems of another unfinished Kubrick project turned movie--2001's Artificial Intelligence: AI from Steven Spielberg.
Variety reports:
Spike Lee and Brian Grazer are developing a sequel to "Inside Man" for Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment.
Lee is still in negotiations on a helming deal for the project, but he's already working with the original's writer, Russell Gewirtz, on a script.
For now, the pair are keeping their sequel concept under wraps, including whether it would involve the return of the original's main characters, played by Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster.
Bank heist thriller became the biggest-grossing pic in Lee's helming career, earning $184 million at the worldwide box office earlier this year.
Sequel is now on a list of several projects Lee is considering for his next helming gig.
In addition to "Man," this year Lee also directed Hurricane Katrina docu "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" for HBO.
I loved the original flick...Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, and Jodie Foster were an amazing trio in this movie...If the sequel moves ahead--I wish 'em luck--Catching lighting in a bottle twice in Hollywood is a tricky thing...
IGN-Filmforce via Superhero Hype! (and 2 blogs) posted the Spidey stuff...
The new trailer for Spider-Man 3 hits theaters later this month attached to prints of the new James Bond flick, Casino Royale. But fans may not have to wait that long to check it out.
The Superhero Hype website has received reader emails indicating that the trailer will make its debut on TV [this] Thursday between 10-10:30PM during MTV's The Duel. A Sony spokesperson was not immediately available to conform or deny the reports...
In other news, the Film Ick blog is passing along a rumor they've heard about Bruce Campbell's cameo in the new movie... They've heard that Campbell will make a brief appearance as a villain in the film (that brings the total to 4!), the fish bowl-headed Mysterio.
Finally, a making-of Spidey 3 book will be published by Chronicle Books prior to the film's May 4th 2007 [release]. Grant Curtis, who is writing the book, revealed this recently on his official blog and says the book will be a comprehensive look behind the scenes
If the rumor is true about Bruce Campbell's cameo this time out--it makes me absolutely giddy about the way things are coming together. Up until now, his appearances in the Spidey saga have been played for yucks...Of course Campbell's so good--he could be playing a head of lettuce in the film, and I would feel the same way...
Variety has the terms of the Snipes settlement. Given the circumstances and the state of Snipes career--making this "go away" is the only thing he could to avoid jail. I wonder if a regular guy like me does the same thing...what the chances would be for me to stay out of jail?
That's the Stew for now...
Later this afternoon...
The Miami Dolphins take on my Chicago Bears in Miami...
A film based on idea from maverick director Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) is coming soon to a theater near you; A sequel to Spike Lee's intense thriller Inside Man (2006) seems likely; An even sooner than expected look at the second trailer for Spider-Man 3?--among other webhead rumors... And finally former man on the run Wesley Snipes makes nice with the Feds for tax evasion...
Charles McGrath of The New York Times has the info on Kubrick's "return":
Stanley Kubrick never threw anything away. On the other hand, he didn’t have much of a filing system, and when he moved — permanently, it turned out — from Hollywood to London in 1962, a great many things went astray. Among them was the sole copy of a film treatment called “Lunatic at Large,” which Mr. Kubrick had commissioned in the late ’50s from the noir pulp novelist Jim Thompson, with whom he had worked on “The Killing,” a 1956 bank-heist story that became his first successful feature, and then on 1957’s “Paths of Glory.”
The manuscript remained lost until after Mr. Kubrick’s death, in 1999, when his son-in-law, Philip Hobbs, working with an archivist, turned it up, along with a couple of other scripts, and set about trying to make it into a movie.
There were a couple of false starts. Mr. Hobbs originally approached the French company Pathé — partly because the French hold Jim Thompson in the same esteem as Edgar Allan Poe and Mickey Rourke — and after that arrangement fell through, he formed a partnership with Edward R. Pressman, a New York-based producer, and the London producers Finch & Partners. Mr. Pressman, who is expected to announce the completion of the deal..., said the film would be directed by Chris Palmer, from a finished script by Stephen R. Clarke.
“When Stanley died, he left behind lots of paperwork,” Mr. Hobbs said in a telephone interview.
“We ended up going through trunks of it, and one day we came across ‘Lunatic at Large.’ I knew what it was right away, because I remember Stanley talking about ‘Lunatic.’ He was always saying he wished he knew where it was, because it was such a great idea.”
Speaking from her home in Britain, Mr. Kubrick’s widow, Christiane, said: “My husband always had a drawerful of ideas. There were always a lot of stories on the go, things he started, things he left lying around. It was like being in a waterfall. I remember he was very excited at the time about ‘Lunatic at Large,’ but then other things happened.” First, she explained, Mr. Kubrick was forced off “One-Eyed Jacks,” with Marlon Brando, and then he was hired to replace Anthony Mann on “Spartacus.”
“ ‘Spartacus’ changed his life,” she said. “And after that his imagination was held by ‘Lolita,’ which gave him the opportunity to film in England, where making movies cost so much less.”
The loss of his manuscript was a bitter disappointment to Mr. Thompson, who had a long and mostly hard-luck relationship with Hollywood. Like a lot of writers who seek their fortune there, he eventually drank too much and became his own worst enemy. He died in 1977, much too soon for the revival of interest that made him a cult writer in the ’90s, when four of his novels were made into films: “The Grifters,” “The Getaway,” “Hit Me” and “After Dark, My Sweet.”
Despite its title, “Lunatic at Large” is not a horror story. It’s a dark and surprising mystery of sorts, in which the greatest puzzle is who, among several plausible candidates, is the true escapee from a nearby mental hospital...
Continued...
The premise sounds interesting enough...Kubrick had a very unique way of telling a story that is still unmatched...I hope the film avoids the pitfalls and problems of another unfinished Kubrick project turned movie--2001's Artificial Intelligence: AI from Steven Spielberg.
Variety reports:
Spike Lee and Brian Grazer are developing a sequel to "Inside Man" for Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment.
Lee is still in negotiations on a helming deal for the project, but he's already working with the original's writer, Russell Gewirtz, on a script.
For now, the pair are keeping their sequel concept under wraps, including whether it would involve the return of the original's main characters, played by Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster.
Bank heist thriller became the biggest-grossing pic in Lee's helming career, earning $184 million at the worldwide box office earlier this year.
Sequel is now on a list of several projects Lee is considering for his next helming gig.
In addition to "Man," this year Lee also directed Hurricane Katrina docu "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" for HBO.
I loved the original flick...Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, and Jodie Foster were an amazing trio in this movie...If the sequel moves ahead--I wish 'em luck--Catching lighting in a bottle twice in Hollywood is a tricky thing...
IGN-Filmforce via Superhero Hype! (and 2 blogs) posted the Spidey stuff...
The new trailer for Spider-Man 3 hits theaters later this month attached to prints of the new James Bond flick, Casino Royale. But fans may not have to wait that long to check it out.
The Superhero Hype website has received reader emails indicating that the trailer will make its debut on TV [this] Thursday between 10-10:30PM during MTV's The Duel. A Sony spokesperson was not immediately available to conform or deny the reports...
In other news, the Film Ick blog is passing along a rumor they've heard about Bruce Campbell's cameo in the new movie... They've heard that Campbell will make a brief appearance as a villain in the film (that brings the total to 4!), the fish bowl-headed Mysterio.
Finally, a making-of Spidey 3 book will be published by Chronicle Books prior to the film's May 4th 2007 [release]. Grant Curtis, who is writing the book, revealed this recently on his official blog and says the book will be a comprehensive look behind the scenes
If the rumor is true about Bruce Campbell's cameo this time out--it makes me absolutely giddy about the way things are coming together. Up until now, his appearances in the Spidey saga have been played for yucks...Of course Campbell's so good--he could be playing a head of lettuce in the film, and I would feel the same way...
Variety has the terms of the Snipes settlement. Given the circumstances and the state of Snipes career--making this "go away" is the only thing he could to avoid jail. I wonder if a regular guy like me does the same thing...what the chances would be for me to stay out of jail?
That's the Stew for now...
Later this afternoon...
The Miami Dolphins take on my Chicago Bears in Miami...
Saturday, November 04, 2006
When The Shark Sings...
Goldentusk is at again...Putting clever lyrics to yet another classic movie theme song. This time the crooner takes aim at 1975's Jaws--a film that put both composer John Williams and director Steven Spielberg onn the Hollywood map. The collaboration also marked the start of one of cinema's best known professional relationships the medium has ever seen.
Clearly, this YouTube Music Video is meant as a tribute to a movie that, some credit as the first "Summer Blockbuster"...while at the same time poking some serious fun at it.
Enjoy!
Jaws Theme Song
Clearly, this YouTube Music Video is meant as a tribute to a movie that, some credit as the first "Summer Blockbuster"...while at the same time poking some serious fun at it.
Enjoy!
Jaws Theme Song
Friday, November 03, 2006
"Hype"-er Active
Two family friendly flicks are set to do battle for box office supremacy over the weekend. While The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (reviews) and Flushed Away (reviews) duke it out-- a dark horse called Borat (reviews) is getting all the attention.
Variety's Ian Mohr gives us the lowdown:
The weekend looks like a winner for Disney's "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause" as the Mouse House takes early first dibs in the holiday derby for family [audiences]
But the real B.O. intrigue lies with Fox's "Borat," the outrageous Sacha Baron Cohen comedy that Hollywood has termed everything from another "Snakes on a Plane" to a modern-day, left-field hit along the lines of "Blazing Saddles" or "There's Something About Mary."
After an initial raft of crackling Internet and Hollywood buzz for "Borat," pic's potential potency was so feared that distrib heads all over town said they weren't going anywhere near it with compettit[ion] that would angle for young males.
But when the film's initially low tracking numbers hit -- reflecting the fact that auds outside the MySpace sphere had little interest in the kamikaze Kazakh TV commentator -- the debate became hit vs. hype. As a result, Fox ratcheted down the number of play dates to just 837. With so few screens, "Borat" has no chance of wining the frame.
However, it now seems that media reports of the pic's possible overhyping has actually spiked awareness, as Cohen, in character all along, has also pumped the pic's promotion.
Animated "Flushed Away" will, meanwhile, try and siphon off some of the kiddie crowd from "Santa."
Emerging as a perennial brand, the Tim Allen "Santa Clause" franchise has so far unwrapped more than $284 million domestically -- and shouldn't have too much trouble adding up to $30 million to its stocking.
Pic will play 3,458 engagements in the frame's widest new release by far; "Flushed Away" hits 3,707.
Par is expecting an opening "Flushed" frame in line with that of the $16 million-plus bow for 2005's "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," another animated project from Brit banner Aardman.
Also angling for teen[s] will be last weekend's big winner, "Saw III," which slashed its way to a bow of $33.6 million, distrib Lions Gate's biggest opening of all time.
But with Halloween over, auds' attention should be divided.
Continued...
Meantime, Joshua Rich, over at Entertainment Weekly agrees that Santa Clause 3" will sleigh "Flushed," "Borat" adding: Two kids' flicks will serve to make less benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan
Cohen's indeed been all over the place pimping Borat...I may be in the minority here, but I really don't see why everyone is going ga ga over Cohen. Sure some of his bits are very funny indeed...But after awhile his routine stars to wear a little thin. That said, he must be doing something right... I just think the whole thing has been way over exposed. I shouldn't be surprised one bit--This is Hollywood after all. You gotta admit, comparing the Borat movie (on its opening day no less) to comedy classics like Blazing Saddles and There's Something About Mary seems a bit much, if you ask me.
Also:
Jeez! Just 3 days after Halloween and we get our first "holiday" flick...Already? Sheesh!
Variety's Ian Mohr gives us the lowdown:
The weekend looks like a winner for Disney's "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause" as the Mouse House takes early first dibs in the holiday derby for family [audiences]
But the real B.O. intrigue lies with Fox's "Borat," the outrageous Sacha Baron Cohen comedy that Hollywood has termed everything from another "Snakes on a Plane" to a modern-day, left-field hit along the lines of "Blazing Saddles" or "There's Something About Mary."
After an initial raft of crackling Internet and Hollywood buzz for "Borat," pic's potential potency was so feared that distrib heads all over town said they weren't going anywhere near it with compettit[ion] that would angle for young males.
But when the film's initially low tracking numbers hit -- reflecting the fact that auds outside the MySpace sphere had little interest in the kamikaze Kazakh TV commentator -- the debate became hit vs. hype. As a result, Fox ratcheted down the number of play dates to just 837. With so few screens, "Borat" has no chance of wining the frame.
However, it now seems that media reports of the pic's possible overhyping has actually spiked awareness, as Cohen, in character all along, has also pumped the pic's promotion.
Animated "Flushed Away" will, meanwhile, try and siphon off some of the kiddie crowd from "Santa."
Emerging as a perennial brand, the Tim Allen "Santa Clause" franchise has so far unwrapped more than $284 million domestically -- and shouldn't have too much trouble adding up to $30 million to its stocking.
Pic will play 3,458 engagements in the frame's widest new release by far; "Flushed Away" hits 3,707.
Par is expecting an opening "Flushed" frame in line with that of the $16 million-plus bow for 2005's "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," another animated project from Brit banner Aardman.
Also angling for teen[s] will be last weekend's big winner, "Saw III," which slashed its way to a bow of $33.6 million, distrib Lions Gate's biggest opening of all time.
But with Halloween over, auds' attention should be divided.
Continued...
Meantime, Joshua Rich, over at Entertainment Weekly agrees that Santa Clause 3" will sleigh "Flushed," "Borat" adding: Two kids' flicks will serve to make less benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan
Cohen's indeed been all over the place pimping Borat...I may be in the minority here, but I really don't see why everyone is going ga ga over Cohen. Sure some of his bits are very funny indeed...But after awhile his routine stars to wear a little thin. That said, he must be doing something right... I just think the whole thing has been way over exposed. I shouldn't be surprised one bit--This is Hollywood after all. You gotta admit, comparing the Borat movie (on its opening day no less) to comedy classics like Blazing Saddles and There's Something About Mary seems a bit much, if you ask me.
Also:
Jeez! Just 3 days after Halloween and we get our first "holiday" flick...Already? Sheesh!
Cruise Control
Cruise And Wagner Are The New Faces Of United Artists
Just when I thought actor Tom Cruise was keeping himself out of the media spotlight-after being dumped by Paramount last summer--he makes an odd career move. One that, when it was announced late Thursday afternoon, had the industry buzzing--He and longtime business partner Paula Wagner are set to bring back movie studio United Artists from the brink of deathNicole LaPorte of Variety explains how it all went down:
Nearly a century after United Artists was founded by Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks as a studio run by and for artists, it's in for an auspicious rebirth.
Tom Cruise and his producing partner Paula Wagner are reviving UA, with Wagner to serve as CEO and Cruise to star in and produce pics for the MGM-owned label.
Cruise's arrangement with UA is not exclusive -- he will still be able to star in films at other studios.
No UA titles have yet been determined, but MGM is expected to announce the company's first release within the next several weeks.
Deal is a coup for Cruise, who was recently lambasted by Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone for his "inappropriate behavior" and rich salary as he and Wagner were exiting their long-standing production deal at Paramount, as well as for MGM chairman-CEO Harry Sloan.
Since he took over the reins last year, Sloan has been aggressively reviving the Lion, which many had believed to be somnolent, or at least under the grips of 20% stakeholder Sony.
Cruise offers MGM -- which under Sloan has operated as a distributor and marketer of low- to mid-budget indie pics -- more content, as well as an A-list property with major box office appeal. Cruise also fits into MGM's plans to get into the tentpole biz; studio recently announced plans for "Terminator 4."
Though dubbed a disappointment, Cruise's last pic, "Mission: Impossible 3" grossed $395 million worldwide.
In turn, UA offers Cruise an opportunity to rebrand with an historical name that stands for artist-driven filmmaking. His alliance with UA also answers the question on many minds of late: Does Tom Cruise still have the appeal to land at a studio? The answer, evidently, is yes.
With Wagner overseeing day-to-day operations, UA will develop and produce pics in the $40 million-$50 million range -- though some will have higher budgets -- with the goal of releasing four films a year. The movies will be distribbed and marketed by MGM. In some cases, UA will partner with other studios, including MGM.
A limited portion of the slate will be films produced by Cruise and Wagner; the rest will be produced by outside producers. Funding is close to being finalized -- the source is a high-profile investment fund.
Wagner says that the pics will not be "genre specific" and that tentpoles will be included in the mix.
"The whole concept is to make movies, and we have a company that is artist-friendly," she said. "We're going to do a wide variety of films. We are producers, and we know how to make economically sound choices."
Wagner and Cruise's relationship with UA is separate from the $3 million financing deal they recently signed with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. That deal continues to exist under the Cruise/Wagner Prods. banner and is not exclusive to any studio. Pics produced by Cruise and Wagner at UA and other studios will go out under the C/W banner...
...(It is not coincidental that when Cruise and Wagner set up new offices after leaving Paramount in August, they were in the MGM tower in Century City.)
Cruise and Wagner are substantial minority owners in UA and will have ownership of all forthcoming UA pics.
"What we needed to do was create a communication and dialogue between the studio-financing side and the talent side of the business," Sloan said. "By creating UA run by artists, and by having artists and top talent owning a nice, big piece of the studio and being involved in the financing, they have the opportunity to benefit from the success of the studio."
In UA's early stages, MGM will fund the company's overhead, production and development costs, but it will ultimately set up an independent financing structure for the label from outside sources.
"As the other studios do, it's a matter of managing portfolios, and we will be going out to the markets in order to set up co-financing structures, whether hedge funds or equities," said MGM chief operating officer Rick Sands.
Sloan said that "ultimately, UA will be able to stand on its own and have its own financing, credit lines, production funds: That's the goal."...
...Of the UA deal, Redstone said through a spokesman, "I wish Tom and his associates the greatest good fortune in their new venture."
UA was founded in 1919 by Chaplin, Pickford, Douglas and Griffith as the first independent studio run by artists. Later, UA flourished as a haven for filmmakers such as Woody Allen, Robert Altman and Milos Forman in the 1970s. In more recent decades, the company lost some of its luster, and when MGM was sold to a consortium of investors, including Sony and Comcast, in 2004, the label went quiet.
Cruise and Wagner's task will be to breathe life back into the label, just as the new MGM is getting the Lion to roar again.
In a statement Cruise said: "Paula and I are very respectful of the rich history and tradition of United Artists, and we welcome the opportunity to contribute to that legacy by providing a wide range of releases that appeal to all audiences. It's our desire to create an environment where filmmakers can thrive and see their visions realized."
The full story can be found right here...
The reason I call the move by Cruise/Wagner "odd" has more to do with the fact the pair already inked that deal with Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder than anything else....Running a studio on top of that seems like a lot...Since Wagner gets to steer the ship while Tom is out having fun on deck and he can also work for any studio that wants him--I wonder how involved he will really be with the business side of things...I think the real winner here is studio partner MGM which can now kick its own comeback plans into even higher gear with a marquee team on its side.
As for Cruise's next acting gig, Roger Friedman of Fox News says it's very Jerry Maguire-esque. Considering most of his female fans abandoned him over the last year or so--that's a wise move--making a romantic dramedy. As it is in politics, you gotta appeal to your base at some point in the campaign, the same holds true for "disgraced" mega-stars as well.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
The Need For Speed
The long gestating film adaptation of the classic animated series Speed Racer-- is now officially a reality...The men behind The Matrix Trilogy have inked a deal to bring the Mach 5 to the big screen.
Michael Fleming and Pamela McClintock of Variety have the details:
In their first directing effort since "The Matrix" trilogy, Larry and Andy Wachowski will helm "Speed Racer" for Warner Bros.
The brothers, who are penning the script, reteam with producer Joel Silver, their accomplice in "The Matrix" films.
Production will begin in Europe next summer, and WB will release the pic in summer 2008. Warner will co-finance with Village Roadshow Pictures.
Japanese cartoon series "Speed Racer," created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, focused on Speed, his tricked-out Mach 5 race car and the adventures he got into with his family. He was often bailed out of danger by Racer X, a rival with a mysterious connection to Speed.
Silver most recently collaborated with the Wachowskis when they produced the James McTeigue-directed "V for Vendetta." Silver spent several months tying down the details with the siblings. After working in the pits with a number of filmmakers for over a decade, Silver was understandably revved up over finally locking in directors and a start date.
"I've struggled with this movie for a long time, but when Larry and Andy came across with their ideas and vision, it was so fresh and original that you wonder why nobody else thought of it," Silver said.
Michael Fleming and Pamela McClintock of Variety have the details:
The brothers, who are penning the script, reteam with producer Joel Silver, their accomplice in "The Matrix" films.
Production will begin in Europe next summer, and WB will release the pic in summer 2008. Warner will co-finance with Village Roadshow Pictures.
Japanese cartoon series "Speed Racer," created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, focused on Speed, his tricked-out Mach 5 race car and the adventures he got into with his family. He was often bailed out of danger by Racer X, a rival with a mysterious connection to Speed.
Silver most recently collaborated with the Wachowskis when they produced the James McTeigue-directed "V for Vendetta." Silver spent several months tying down the details with the siblings. After working in the pits with a number of filmmakers for over a decade, Silver was understandably revved up over finally locking in directors and a start date.
"I've struggled with this movie for a long time, but when Larry and Andy came across with their ideas and vision, it was so fresh and original that you wonder why nobody else thought of it," Silver said.
Silver said they're doing the movie out of a desire to reach out to a broader audience than they did with the R-rated "Matrix" series.
While the Wachowskis are still writing the screenplay, they've begun reassembling the "Matrix" team. Grant Hill will be exec producer and John Gaeta will be visual-effects supervisor, having won an Oscar for his "Matrix" work.
The logistics of the film haven't yet been worked out, but it is likely that shooting will be done in European locations.
"We shot 'V for Vendetta' in Germany and had a great experience," Silver said.
"We'll probably go in Europe, but these guys are so talented in visual effects, we don't know how much of this will be done in cars on a track. I am confident they will deal with car racing in a way you haven't seen before."
I loved watching the cartoon as a kid--So I'm kinda jazzed about the project... Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski know how to make good looking films. Even though the last 2 Matrix flicks were disappointing in terms of story--I'm hoping that they can pull off a winner here. At one time. Matrix star Keanu Reeves was rumored to be in the running for the role of Speed--I wonder if he'll reteam with the Matrix crew for the project?
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Common Bonds
With 2 and a half weeks to go before the release of the latest James Bond film--Casino Royale, the last guy who had the coveted role Pierce Brosnan talked exclusively to Dark Horizons about Bond and life after playing the superspy:
Paul Fischer writes:
... former Bond star 007, Pierce Brosnan is reflective of his post-007 career. In Toronto for the world premiere of his latest film, Seraphim Falls, a tired looking Brosnan admits to being disappointed that he didn't get one last chance to don the famous tux in this adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel.
"I always wanted to go back, because it's the blueprint of Bond's character," Brosnan says of the first Fleming novel that is the basis for the upcoming film. "It's the one where Fleming really painted in the details of what Bond was about, so I was disappointed that it didn't happen but, you can't go around with that in your heart. It's all such a game really, and you win some, you lose some, you're there, you're not there."
The affable Irishman admits, now that he has had time to reflect on the character that would change his life, that "getting the part of Bond and playing the part of Bond was a blessing and a curse, which I think Connery has spoken about, and I'm sure Daniel is just getting the full taste of right now. So, you know, one can really only look at the blessings in life."
Those blessings include taking a chance and playing an assortment of characters in both independent and mainstream films, from the assassin in The Matador, through an-ex Civil War soldier in the gritty new western Seraphim Falls, in which he stars opposite Liam Neeson.
Continued...
I was also disappointed that Brosnan would not be back...at first. But then, I began to think of the casting change as a positive thing. After 20 films and nearly 45 years on the big screen a back to basics approach was necessary. And doing such a thing would be impossible if the established guy was still in the front seat of the Aston Martin.
Fingers Firmly Crossed.
Is it just me, or has Brosnan gotten more work post-Bond, then he got in between 007 adventures?
Paul Fischer writes:... former Bond star 007, Pierce Brosnan is reflective of his post-007 career. In Toronto for the world premiere of his latest film, Seraphim Falls, a tired looking Brosnan admits to being disappointed that he didn't get one last chance to don the famous tux in this adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel.
"I always wanted to go back, because it's the blueprint of Bond's character," Brosnan says of the first Fleming novel that is the basis for the upcoming film. "It's the one where Fleming really painted in the details of what Bond was about, so I was disappointed that it didn't happen but, you can't go around with that in your heart. It's all such a game really, and you win some, you lose some, you're there, you're not there."
The affable Irishman admits, now that he has had time to reflect on the character that would change his life, that "getting the part of Bond and playing the part of Bond was a blessing and a curse, which I think Connery has spoken about, and I'm sure Daniel is just getting the full taste of right now. So, you know, one can really only look at the blessings in life."
Those blessings include taking a chance and playing an assortment of characters in both independent and mainstream films, from the assassin in The Matador, through an-ex Civil War soldier in the gritty new western Seraphim Falls, in which he stars opposite Liam Neeson.
Continued...
I was also disappointed that Brosnan would not be back...at first. But then, I began to think of the casting change as a positive thing. After 20 films and nearly 45 years on the big screen a back to basics approach was necessary. And doing such a thing would be impossible if the established guy was still in the front seat of the Aston Martin.
Fingers Firmly Crossed.
Is it just me, or has Brosnan gotten more work post-Bond, then he got in between 007 adventures?
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