Jay's Holidaze: It's A Wonderful Life

Even as I continue to frustrate Nobody Gets Out Alive director Jason Christopher via email today--he is here again  to talk about another Holiday film where you will discover he has a "Crazy" relative who doesn't like the movie in question.

 I was going to do a review of A Nightmare Before Christmas, I watched it the other day and was like – I really don’t enjoy this movie as much as I enjoy the soundtrack. I used to really enjoy the movie when I was younger but the only thing that stays with me from that movie nowadays is Danny Elfman’s amazing soundtrack! So, if I’m not reviewing that movie, what am I reviewing? The step-mother of Christmas, flicks It's a Wonderful Life. I would say A Christmas Story is the mother of all Christmas movies.

In 1946 Frank Capra released a movie that wasn’t really favored by critics or the audience. In my opinion the movie picked up it’s following throughout the years. Although - my grandfather - disagrees with me and don’t really care for this movie. I told him he’s crazy!

Ever since George Bailey was young he wanted to explore the world! Now that he’s grown up and actually can explore the world, his father passes and now he is in charge to run the Building and Loan. George gives the money to his brother and everyone is merry. Not until later when George’s uncle loses an abundant amount of money and now George is petrified he could be facing prison and other things, so he wishes he was never born. It’s not until an angel named Clarence takes him around a town if he was never born.

I love this movie. It’s A Wonderful Life is probably in my top favorite movies of all time. It’s fun, it’s funny, it makes you think, it makes you thankful! It’s a bummer just like my favorite horror movie; I only watch them around Christmas time!

I bought the blu ray of It’s A Wonderful Life and it’s pretty cool, has a making of, and the original trailer. The pack also comes with the black and white version as well as the colorized version. The colorized version is a little weird. I’m so used to watching the movie in black and white. Once I popped the colorized version in, I took it out.

If I could remake ANY Christmas movie it would probably be It’s A Wonderful Life. I would cast Anthony Hopkins as Clarence Odbody, Jason Lee as George Bailey, Scarlett Johansson as Mary Hatch, and maybe Mickey Rourke as Mr. Potter. Wishful thinking, right?

So, all in all, this is a great family movie, a great holiday movie. If you have not checked it out, I’m sure you’ll catch it on TV within a few days. If you want to see this movie now…get your booty up and get to the store and purchase it!

-Jay

Nobody Gets Out Alive (still Punishment overseas). will be released via stores, Redbox, Amazon.com, etc. on 2/26/13---please go LIKE the new Facebook Page and help spread the word!

Black Lister McClaren Has A Clear "Line Of Sight"

Black List writer Brooks McClaren will rewrite the action thriller "Line of Sight" says THR

The story follows an elite commando squad transporting cargo while dealing with a global threat. The film will be shot almost entirely in the first person, giving the viewer a point of view akin to the many Fps games.

F. Scott Frazier wrote the spec script which then was polished by Halo: Reach scribe Peter O'Brien.

Ben Affleck was attached to direct some time ago

One of the Bandito Brothers Mike McCoy will direct. He and his partner Scott Waugh helmed the real Navy SEAL Team thriller "Act of Valor", and will work on this. One of the big reasons they were hired to do this film was the fact that they could deliver both polish and realism on a modest budget.

Joel Silver and Andrew Rona will produce.

Groff Is "Frozen" Mountain Man

Stage and Glee star Jonathan Groff will voice the character of Kristoff in the upcoming animated comedy-adventure "Frozen" says Broadway World

When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, fearless optimist Anna (Kristen Bell) teams up with extreme mountain man Kristoff (Groff) and his sidekick reindeer Sven on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa (Idina Menzel), the Snow Queen, and put an end to her icy spell.

Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee helm the film which features music by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

The film will be produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Winnie the Pooh,” “The Princess and the Frog”)

The film is slated for a November 27th 2013 release.

Efron Will Try To Save JFK In "Parkland"

Zac Efron and Marcia Gay Harden will join "Parkland"--about President John F. Kennedy's assassination says THR.

The title refers to the hospital where JFK was pronounced dead, his assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, died two days later, and Oswald's killer Jack Ruby died several years after that.

Efron will play a Doctor who was working in the ER Whle Harden plays a Nurse.

James Badge Dale was cast to play Robert Edward Lee Oswald, Jr., the brother of the killer. earlier this month. Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton and Jacki Weaver also star.

Writer Peter Landesman is set to make his directorial debut on the film which chronicles the fateful day and private citizen Abraham Zapruder's famous film of the event. Landesman also penned the adapted screenplay from a book by the famed Vincent Bugliosi

Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman are set to produce the pic.

The project will film in Austin, Texas soon for release next year in time for the 50th anniversary of the shooting.

Affleck Out Of "Focus"

A scheduling snafu has forced Ben Affleck to drop out of the comedy "Focus" says Vulture.  

The story follows a veteran con man (Affleck) who gets romantically involved with a newcomer (Kristen Stewart) to the grifter business. They get involved which becomes perilous in a business where you lie and cheat for a living.

Glenn Ficarra and John Requa ("Crazy, Stupid, Love") wrote the script and will direct.

Denise Dinovi is producing the film.

Stewart remains involved.

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were previously linked to the project in the lead roles. A shame that Ryan and Emma had moved on. They are so great together...Stewart and Affleck seem like they would have had no spark and zero chemistry Since production was to begin in the Spring --I hope Emma and Ryan will hop back in somehow

Voight Poised To Track "Reagan"

Jon Voight is in talks to play a pivotal role in the indie biopic "Reagan" says THR.

The story unfolds as a young Russian leader visits a retired KGB agent named Viktor (Voight) so that he may learn of the demise of the Soviet Union . Viktor's job was to track President Ronald Reagan during his term in office.

The film is based on two books by author Paul Kengor including The Crusader.

The film is being penned by Jonas McCord and Howie Klausner.

Ralph Winter and Mark Joseph will produce the film

Walk Of Shame Rounds Out Its Cast

Bill Burr, Liz Carey, Ken Davitian, Willie Garson, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Oliver Hudson, Alphonso McAuley, Kevin Nealon, Tig Notaro, and Sarah Wright have all joined the comedy Walk of Shame says Digital Spy.

The story centers on a high-strung news anchor (Elizabeth Banks) who, after a wild night out, finds herself locked out on the street with no phone, money, ID or car, and embarks on a series of misadventures as she finds her way to the most important job interview of her life.

Community cutie Gillian Jacobs James Marsden co-stars as does Ethan Suplee

Steven Brill will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote.

Tom Rosenberg Gary Lucchesi and Sidney Kimmel will produce the pic.

It isn't known when production will begin.

"Smoke And Bone" Headed To Big Screen

Joe Roth ("Alice in Wonderland") will produce the young adult fantasy film adaptation of author Laini Taylor’s trilogy "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" says Heat Vision.

The story follows a 17-year-old art student whose father occasionally sends her on errands around the world collecting human teeth for a mysterious purpose. She gradually becomes aware that she is part of an ancient struggle between devils and angels and finds herself in a forbidden romance with a warrior angel.

Rugan Raids "Genius Files"

Commercials director Robert Rugan has been hired to write the script for the film adaptation of  author Dan Gutman's book series "The Genius Files" according to THR.

The story revolves around twelve-year-old twins who are recruited to be part of a secret government experiment that uses young geniuses to solve complex national problems. The pair must fight for their lives while on a road trip with their family.

Mike Karz is producing the film.

Radio Silence Takes On Found Footage Film

The directing team of Radio Silence will call action on an untitled found footage film says Heat Vision.

Lindsay Devlin wrote the script for the film that it is being described as a female-driven having horror elements.

Radio Silence is made up of four people - Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Chad Villella and Justin Martinez.

 John Davis is producing the film.

Jolie Is "Unbroken"

Angelina Jolie is in talks to direct the World War II drama "Unbroken" says THR.

Based on author Laura Hillenbrand's 2010 bestselling biography, that chronicles the life of Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini . He was captured by the Japanese navy and detained at a P.O.W. camp. That came AFTER he survived both a near-fatal plane crash and being stuck on a raft for 47 days.

"Les Miserables" writer William Nicholson penned the latest script draft for the pic.

Matthew Baer ("The Replacement Killers") and Erwin Stoff ("The Blind Side") are producing.

Jolie made her directorial debut with last year's war drama "In the Land of Blood and Honey."

Oz Poster: Which Witch Are You?

Disney has released a new character one-sheet of the Wicked Witch Of The West from Sam Raimi's The Wizard of Oz prequel Oz: The Great and Powerful.," this one showcasing the Wicked Witch of the West.

The true identity of just who she is, is being kept secret for now.

The story has The Wizard (James Franco) as a “snake-oil salesman” who enters the Technicolor world of Oz after escaping the vengeful husband of his latest sexual conquest. Once in Oz, he lies to the natives, claiming to be a wizard. This deceitful Casanova soon falls for Glinda the Good Witch (Michelle Williams), and spurns Theodora (Mila Kunis) prompting her to becomes a bad witch and team up with the downright evil Evanora (Rachel Weisz) to destroy Oz.

Zach Braff will play the role of Frank, the loyal but under-appreciated assistant to Oz. Abigail Spencer will play a young woman who is a willing subject of Oz’s magic tricks while Joey King will play China Girl in the pic.

Oz is written by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire, and will be produced by Joe Roth.

A release date is set for March 8th, 2013.

My Gut Reaction To Elias' Gut

A few weeks ago film producer Anna Ganster contacted me asking if I wouldn't mind taking a look at the 2012 horror thriller Gut--I agreed--here now my review:

Gut follows lifelong pals and co-workers Tom (Jason Vail) and Dan (Nicholas Wilder) – who grew up together sharing a passion for horror films.

Tom is a devoted family man – he has a loving wife and a cute as a  button daughter - Even with all of that stability he still finds himself bored, going through the motions, looking for something, anything, to snap him out of his funk

Dan, the bachelor that lives in his own small apartment alone, notices this in his pal, and suggests that Tom watch these new underground Horror films he found on a ransom website, hoping it would take them back to days of their youth when they used to spend hours together doing what they loved.

The films in question are snuff flicks featuring one simple shot of a stomach while a woman sobs her torso is cut open – gutting her– Tom and we in the audience--are left to wonder is the film real or is it fake?

We watch as Tom watches, we see him reinvigorated. His marriage and his sex life, his friendship with Dan.

But viewing this material film has an effect on him, yet we also see that it is at once haunting and disturbing Tom in his daily life.

Written, directed, and edited by Elias--Gut seeks to thrill the viewer at a slow simmer with most of the tension laying just below the surface ready to boil over at any second. The pace of the film--save for the opening minute and its frantic climax never really kicks into high gear. Scenes linger. Shots linger. Almost everything is understated--even when characters get upset or mad. Genre fans may be disappointed that Gut is 90 percent build-up and little thrill--Still the film does somehow mange to draw you in--making you want to see where it goes.

The relationship between Tom and Dan is odd in that, at no time, did I get why either of these men stayed friends with the other--since all they seemed to do throughout most of the film was annoy each other. The story does allow for an interesting subtext between the two men to be wondered about on Dan's part but it is never stated just hinted at by way of his reaction.

It seemed like with Gut Elias--who make no mistake is a talented filmmaker-wanted to break the mold of the genre. Try something a bit different. More Psychological mind gamey then actual thriller While I commend the effort--the end product was a bit of a disappointment---given the build up

Rapace Mounts An "Animal Rescue"

Noomi Rapace ("Prometheus") has been offered the female lead in Michael R. Roskam's film adaptation of author Dennis Lehane's short story "Animal Rescue" says Deadline.

The crime thriller follows a lonely Boston bartender (Tom Hardy) who rescues a puppy from a garbage can and becomes the target of the dog's abusive and mentally unstable former owner. At the same time he becomes caught up in the middle of a criminal conspiracy playing out in his mob-controlled bar.

 Neil Burger was previously attached to direct but dropped out to helm "Divergent" instead

Lehane adapted the script from his own short story.

Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Jenno Topping and Mike Larocca are producing the film.

Production hoprs to begin next year since Hardy's just wrapped on a six month shoot for "Mad Max: Fury Road" in Namibia.

Diesel Better Like Lollipops!

Former James Bond film scribes Neal Purvis & Robert Wade have been hired to pen a movie version of the classic 1970s TV series "Kojak" says THR

Vin Diesel is reportedly set to both produce and star as the iconic bald cop, a role made famous by actor Telly Savalas from 1973-78. A poor television redo was launched in 2005 with Ving Rhames in the title role

Samantha Vincent will also produce the film which will have a contemporary setting.

Hutcherson Finds "Paradise Lost"

Josh Hutcherson has joined the cast of the romantic thriller "Paradise Lost" says Deadline.

Inspired by true events, the story follows a young surfer (Hutcherson) who visits his brother in Colombia and falls madly in love with a beautiful local girl. Their romance seems idyllic until he meets her uncle, Pablo Escobar (Benicio del Toro).

The film is NOT an Escobar biopic,  but rather something closer to the way Idi Amin was the dominant but not the central character in "The Last King of Scotland."

Italian actor turned filmmaker Andrea di Stefano ("Life of Pi") wrote the script and will make his directorial debut.

Dimitri Rassam will produce the movie

 An eleven-week shoot kicks off in March in Panama.

Franco NOT In Apes Sequel?

James Franco told MTV News that he doesn't think he'll be back for the sequel "Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes.

The film will continue the action from last year's Rise of the Planet of the Apes. As human society contiues collapsing after a viral outbreak and the highly intelligent simians now free, the story will follow the apes on their path to emerge as society’s new rulers.

"Rise" helmer Rupert Wyatt chose not to return reportedly due to the fact that the director wasn't comfortable with making the May 23rd 2014 release date the studio had announced. "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves takes over.

Franco says "I was going to be a small part of the next one. There was a moment when Rupert Wyatt was going to direct the second one. A lot of the human characters that were in the first movie were dead in the sequel that Rupert was going to direct. But there was one scene, between Caesar and my character, maybe even just like on a video that was left behind. But then a lot of things happened, like [former studio co-chairman] Tom Rothman who was a big part of the first movie, left. Now Rupert's not a part of it so I don't know. My guess is I won't be in it. Nobody's talked to me since Rupert left."

Mark Bomback ("Live Free or Die Hard," "Unstoppable") is set to rework Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa's script. Bombeck is expected to turn in something more suited to the new director's style. This is Deja Vu On 'Rise' Silver & Jaffa wrote the initial script and then Bomback did an uncredited script rewrite.

"Contagion" scribe Scott Z. Burns took a crack at the "Dawn" script as well

Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark will produce.

Foxx Talks Electro In Spidey 2

While on the stump for next week's Django Unchained actor Jamie Foxx talked about playing bad guy Electro in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" to Blackfilm.

Asked about his costume, which is fine for the book but perhaps would be a bit over the top on screen:

"It won’t be green and yellow. It will be a different colour. [The producers] want something for the future. They want to have it more grounded and not as comic book-y, so it won’t be green and yellow. They want to try new things, like a liquid rubber and things like that, and there are all these bolts and stuff in my arms when they are hanging me upside down... How did he become this way? So, it will be some new stuff."

Foxx also says the origin for the character will be quite detailed and slightly different from the comic:

"What you'll see is that, for his whole life, no one is talking to him. People have stolen his ideas at the big company [Oscorp]. He's a nobody. At a certain point, Spider-Man bumps into him and says, 'You're my guy. You're my ears and eyes on the street.'Then he says his name [Max Dillon], and no one has ever said Dillon's name. He goes, 'Wow!' and, when Spider-Man leaves, he sort of thinks 'I am Spider-Man's partner!'. He's cutting out Spider-Man's face and pasting it on all his boards...everything goes bad with his mom. She doesn't remember his birthday. He has something tragic happen and, when it turns on, he lights it up."

Meantime a recent casting call for the film seems to fortell the fate of one of the key characters

Andrew Garfield is already set to return as Peter Parker and Emma Stone is in talks to reprise her role as Gwen Stacy.

Shailene Woodley has won the role of Mary Jane Watson, the perennial red-headed love interest of Pater Parker in the Spidey comics. The role was previously played by Kirsten Dunst in director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy. Dane DeHaan ("Chronicle") has won the role of Harry Osborn Osborn of course is Peter Parker's best friend and eventual enemy who was played by James Franco previously.

Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner are writing the script based on a previous draft by James Vanderbilt.

The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb will be back calling action.

Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach will produce.

The new film is due to begin productnion in Febuary to meet its May 2nd 2014 release date

Redmayne Orbits Wachowski's "Jupiter Ascending"

Eddie Redmayne is in talks to join the cast of The Wachowski's Lana and Andy's next sci-film
"Jupiter Ascending" says THR.

The plot is said to involve higher forms of life on other planets watching us. These beings have some human and animal DNA in them.

Mila Kunis will play a Russian immigrant and toilet cleaner who unknowingly carries "the same perfect genetic makeup as the Queen of the Universe and is therefore a threat to her otherwise immortal rule." A bounty hunter (Channing Tatum) is dispatched to kill her, but they fall in love.

No details were released for Eddie Redmayne's character.

The Wachowski's will write, direct and produce the film.

Production is scheduled to begin in early 2013.

Redmayne will next be on screens Christmas Day in Les Miserables

Gervais Tapped For Muppets 2

Ricky Gervais is in talks to join the the Europe-set Muppets Sequel as character with questionable intentions says THR.

The part is one of three key human roles in the film--Modern Family star Ty Burrell will play the key role of an Interpol official--Christoph Waltz was originally in talks for that part--the other a Russian femme fatale has not been cast. There's also likely going to be a number of celebrity cameos.

It sounds like this film will take some of its story beats from "The Great Muppet Caper".

The Muppets human star/co-writer Jason Segel, will not be returning for the follow-up, but director James Bobin is coming back. Bobin co-wrote the script with Nicholas Stoller.

David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing the pic.

The production slated to start this winter in London.