Woody's new gig

Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni and Michael Sheen.

Sure it sounds like I am just spouting out the names of random gifted actors, but I am actually listing the cast of the latest Woody Allen film. Add to that the less known names of Nina Arianda, Tom Hiddleston, Corey Stoll, Kurt Fuller and the always brilliant Mimi Kennedy you have a cast that gets me kind of excited.

Now the ole Woodster is notoriously hush hush when it comes to plot details, but he is all blabber mouth lately issuing a statement:

"The film celebrates a young man's great love for Paris, and simultaneously explores the illusion people have that a life different from their own is better,".

What is even stranger than Allen giving plot details away is the fact that he has a title - 'Midnight in Paris'. No more 'Untitled Woody Allen Project' on Internet Movie Data Base searches then.

Reminder

To vote in the poll.

One of these women will emerge victorious, but you all need to vote for her.

The Lost Art of 'Inglourious Basterds'

Just when I thought I couldn't love the movie more

See there all here

3 Duh

With every film being made in 3D these days, it is refreshing when you hear film makers being a bit dubious about it.
Although Christopher Nolan is very tight lipped on the third Batman film, and his brother who is writing the screenplay is playing the hush hush game as well, there is one people who is sneaking out tid bits.
Director of Photography, Wally Pfister has reported that it will not play in three dimensions, with IMAX as a possibility.

The Reasons:

"I did it [IMAX] for one shot of The Dark Knight because Chris said, 'You have to say you did it,' and literally I had this strapped to my shoulder and I was carrying it," he told Cinematical. "But I think he is game for doing something interesting like that. Lord knows that the 3D fad might pass by the time that summer comes around."

I hope the fad passes. Although it makes things very interesting to look at, it can also be distracting. As much as I enjoyed 'Avatar', had I seen it in 2D my appreciation may have been somewhat diminished - without so much spectacle you are left with the story, and that is a special effect no fancy camera can change.

'Kisses' trailer

This little Irish film has been doing rather well on the festival circuit, being compared to 'Night of the Hunter' a few times as well.
This looks like the kid of movie that a small group of people will really love.
It has no real awards potential, subtitled films hardly ever do, especially when they are in English.
However in saying that, if handled correctly it could be a little surprise film that manages to be seen by more than a handful of people - that is if it find passionate support and is campaigned hard enough.
In that case anything can happen.
But to be realistic that scenario usually only happens with home grown (US) films.

Far From the Madding Link

Nathaniel Rogers really needs to sue me. I am now stealing his 'Links' post title ideas. It is the highest form of flattery though (or so they say)

Anywho.... gaze on the lovely picture below:


That is a sneak peak pic from Stephen Frears’ comic book adaptation,'Tamara Drewe'. It is based on Posy Simmonds’ comic strip, which was inspired by 'Far From The Madding Crowd', and which ran in the Guardian Newspaper from 2005-2007, before being collected into a graphic novel.
In the story, Tamara Drewe is a newspaper columnist who "causes a stir with her flirtatious ways in a small English village". It stars Gemma Arterton who is due for a big year with both 'Clash of the Titans' and 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' due for release this year, as well as this smaller film and indie horror 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed'. I like how she is mixing it up, but she is in danger of being completely overshadowed by herself, especially if 'Prince' is a flop.

Empire is reporting a few interesting stories today. Firstly that Kate Bosworth is joining 'Goodnight Moon'. Most notable because it is a drama and co-stars Leslie Mann.
They are also reporting that 'The Lincoln Lawyer' is in full casting mode. Namely the extremely talented punch-line Marisa Tomei is joining the project which also stars Matthew McConaughey - who although is kind of hot, has never interested me as an actor.

NY Magazine is reporting that Jack may be back. The man makes me smile, but I have never been fully impressed by a performance of him. Call me strange, but as an actor he seems kind of samey - 'About Schmidt' was an exception.

Heat Vision Blog is reporting that Bryan Singer has another project looming. Just make X-Men films please. I miss them!

Arjan Writes reports some news that is making me jump up and down in joy. I am just so frikkin excited!

Entertainment Weekly is looking at the summer albums they cannot wait to hear. Just hearing the names Ladytron, Santigold and M.I.A, in conjunction with the new Christina Aguilera album has me foaming at the mouth.

My Territorial Bubble look at 'How to Train Your Dragon and gets me even more excited to see it. I just now need to drag myself to a movie theatre.

Madonnalicious has a GLEE recap. Go I love this show. Everything about it is so silly, moving, ridiculous and fun that you cannot help but get caught up in it, and even though they did Madonna, they did also kind of prove that no one can really do Madonna better than Madonna can.
I kind of wished she had agreed to come on board the show as a creative consultant, and really pushed the staging of the number out of the limited 'GLEE' box.
I guess you cannot have it all though and I am just thankful to have a celebration of the woman on a popular show, even if they did not dive too deeply into her catalogue.

Strange Culture embarrasses me by looking at the 'Oz' films much better that I did. Bastard.

I love Toni Collette. And I love 'United States of Tara' even if the new episodes are proving a little dull in comparison to last season (muff diving aside). This is probably due to the lack of Alice and Tee who certainly livened things up A LOT in the show, and showed Toni's comic timing and range. Until we see her again, enjoy Tee's blog which had me in hysterics. Sure they are just You Tube videos, but my word are they funny.

And finally Valley Dreaming looks at the craze that has slept my work place: Robot Unicorn

'Avatar 2 - I Sea You'

From the lips of James Cameron to our ears:

"Part of my focus in the second film is in creating a different environment – a different setting within Pandora. And I’m going to be focusing on the ocean, which will be equally rich and diverse and crazy and imaginative, but it just won’t be a rainforest. I’m not saying we won’t see what we’ve already seen; we’ll see more of that as well."

Here is hoping that not only does he do away with a lot of the "tree of souls" mumbo jumbo (it is their God/Heaven - no need to translate it from their native language, we are not that stupid). Here is also hoping that the tyrant will relinquish control, at least where the screenplay is involved.
Already I am picturing many many Na'vi plugging their pony tails into the tentacles of giant sea horses and squid.
Do you think when they plug them in, they can be fed oxygen?
Do you think they refer to their planet as "Pandora", one would think it would have a name not in the English language with such obvious associations.

Waco gets stoned

Well it was bound to happen. David Koresh and his Branch Davidians cult, and the FBI debacle that went with it was bound to get the big screen treatment eventually, I am just amazed it has taken this long to do.
Well the film is going ahead with Michael McNulty who made the documentary '
Waco: The Rules of Engagement' (trailer below) on hand for his experience. Also interesting is that investigative journalist, Lee Hibbard has written the script.
There is no director yet, but the most interesting thing is the cast.

Kurt Russell, Adrian Brody and:


Yes, that is Sharon Stone. They have all signed on to the film which starts shooting in the fall.

Could this be a comeback vehicle for all three, or will it end up being a respected, yet unrewarding film? The subject is a great one though and it has all the making of a very juicy (and accurate) bit of film making.

What is it with Oz.

There is all this interest surrounding the land of Oz of late.
There seem to be a lot of movies being planned that have something to do with the place.
First there was Todd McFarlane's version based on the 'Twisted' range of dolls. Also there is John Boorman's version in the works called ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'.
There is also a New Line Version called 'Oz' being planned for 2013, plus versions of 'Wicked' (one base don the musical and one based on the book)

And now there is a prequel, or rather and origin story about the Wizard himself.
Not only is it being written, but it also tentatively has a star in the form of Robert Downey Jr. and a possible director in Sam Mendes (especially since 'Preacher' and the next 'Bond' film have fallen through). The only down side is it is being produced by Disney, so do not expect it to be truly dark.

I am still hoping that HBO pick up the rights to do a serial based on 'Wicked' (novel). I loved the politics of the book, and the world that was painted, and although I loved the musical, the book has been my all time favourite story in the Oz mythology (yes, that includes the original film, which I am not a fan of).

'Get Low' Trailer

Well it looks already like Robert Duvall will be a 2011 Oscar nominee for Best Actor, perhaps along side Bill Murray for Best Supporting Actor (maybe we will even see Sissy Spacek)
Duvall was already being touted as a contender for the 2010 awards back in September 2009 after the premier of the film at the Toronto Film Festival.

I am not a big fan of the foregone conclusion this early in the year, so here is hoping we shall see a few surprises and a much closer race in all categories this year.

Faithless saves Dance Music

Faithless have constantly defined the sound of clubbing since the first hit the airwaves in 1995. That is 15 years of recording, and although they have never strayed too far from their formula for amazing dance music, it constantly sounds like a breath of fresh yet familiar air.

You want to dance the night away to the dawn. Listening to them evokes images of beaches, the sun rising and people just happy to dance. Now they have a new song and my word it is as good as anything they have done. The new album is out May 16th, until then, watch and listen (the video is a little rude, but I LOVE it)

My New Dish Washer

Cheap as shit, but doesn't scrub hard enough.

Jack Peñate

So another artist that completely passed my radar last year was Jack Peñate.
Not only is he talented and kind of sexy is a strange way, he is the grandson of Mervyn Peake who wrote 'Gormenghast'.

Although this song was released in August 2009, I am just getting around to discovering him (thank you iTunes recommendations!).

Five him a listen and see what you think!

Passion Pit

Ok, so they are not new, but a new discovery for me.
Passion Pit is an American electronic band from Cambridge, Massachusetts
On February 24, 2009, the American iTunes store released "Sleepyhead" as a discovery download song - so it is well old - and sadly I am just catching up. Their album 'Manners' is very good, with numerous tracks being used in various TV shows and advertisements, so it may all sound strangely familiar. But here it is in case anyone out there has not yet discovered them:

Raping the 80's

I am a child of the 80's. As a decade I look back and cringe until I remember the music and sometimes the movies. To use a word that as a gay man and 'Sex and the City' fan, I use too much I would have to say that decade was fabulous.
However it seems that Hollywood is counting on the fact that most cinema attendees are either 90's children or love nostalgia far too much.
If it is the latter then I am sure they will be completely disappointed.

Not only are the mining 80's TV (cartoons and prime time) they are also going back and stealing all the movies. It is as if original thought has died.

We have coming out this year:

'The A Team', 'Nightmare on Elm Street', 'The Karate Kid', 'Clash of the Titans', 'Tron 2'

And that does not include the films that are being planned for remake duties:'

Police Academy', 'Short Circuit', 'Private Benjamin', 'Poltergeist', 'Escape from New York', ''Footloose', 'Red Dawn', 'Robocop', 'Fright Night', 'The Thing', 'He Man' and many many more.

What about those films that could really benefit from a remake? Most of these are just being rehashed for quick bucks. I would like to see a remake of a film that didn't quite succeed the first time around - or could really use a visual effects update (there are rumours of a planned remake of 'The Never Ending Story' which does kind of excite me - that is a movie that although captured the imagination as a child could really benefit from a grittier remake - ie make it for an audience of adults not for children)
Or perhaps what I have already discussed back here - now that is a movie that was creepy and effective if also very flawed (mainly in the screenplay).

What is sad, at least for me, about remaking these films is that there is no real point to it - aside from moola.
People will always go to the movies, but making a film with an pre set audience just seems lazy. What is even more worrying is that most of these are remakes of the original. In another 20 years are we going to have remakes of the remake of the remake of the original?
Are our lives nothing but rehashing the ideas of others with no care for making it at least sound original?
With all these remakes, re-hashes and plagiary, I couldn't help but wonder... where have all the stories gone?