Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Jennifer Lopez is Back with 'The Back-up Plan'

Jennifer Lopez returns to the world of romantic comedy with The Back-up Plan.

After years of dating, Zoe has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. On the day of her artificial insemination, Zoe meets Stan - a man with real possibilities. Trying to nurture a budding relationship and hide the early signs of pregnancy becomes a comedy of errors for Zoe and creates confusing signals for Stan. When Zoe nervously reveals the reason for her unpredictable behavior, Stan commits fully and says he's in. Never before has love seen a courtship where a wild night of sex involves three in a bed - Stan, Zoe and the ever-present massive pregnancy pillow. Or, where 'date night' consists of being the 'focal point' at a near-stranger's water birth which does for kiddie pools what "Jaws" did for swimming in the ocean. The real pregnancy test comes when both of them realize they really don't know each other outside of hormonal chaos and birth preparations. With the nine month clock ticking, both begin to experience cold feet. Anyone can fall in love, get married and have a baby but doing it backwards in hyper-drive could be proof positive that they were made for each other.

Jennifer Lopez (Monster-In-Law, Shall We Dance) and Alex OLoughlin (August Rush, Three Rivers) star.

The Back Up Plan hits theaters April 23rd, 2010. Check out the trailer, a featurette and 4 cool clips after the jump.











Trailer and clips courtesy of ©CBS Films.

Links:
Official Site
IMDB:

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Monday, March 29, 2010

Viggo Signs on for Cronenberg's 'Eastern Promises 2' & Replaces Christoph Waltz in 'The Talking Cure'

Looks like Viggo Mortensen's retirement was more like just a little time off. He's saving the day for director David Cronenberg, replacing new Oscar® winner Christoph Waltz in the director's The Talking Cure, and that's the first new job he's accepted in well over a year, maybe two. And the news just got better.

According to Playlist Viggo and Cronenberg will be making a sequel to Eastern Promises, which will also mark a return to the scene of the crime for writer Steve Knight. Focus Features has already shown the project the green light and hopes to shoot it next winter. Though the news seems to be coming out of left field, the film has actually been in the works since the spring of 2009.

Naomi Watts's involvement in the sequel is unknown. The big reveal in the film (spoiler follows) is that Mortensen's thug named Nikolai Luzhin is an undercover agent in London, whose dedication to the gig is exemplified by a body painted heavily in esoteric gang tatts and a submersion in several homicides. The film’s graphic and bloody action sequence in a bath house is considered classic for the modern crime genre.

The Talking Cure

Christoph Waltz is playing another psychopath in Water For Elephants. In going for that role, he dropped out of playing one of the most influential Jews in history Sigmund Freud, in David Cronenberg’s The Talking Cure. The film starts lensing on May 17 for 10 weeks. Based on the play by Christopher Hampton, the pic is about the conflict between Freud and his pupil Jung.

Waltz’s departure left the producers scrabbling for a replacement. There were fears they would have to scrap the German/Canadian co-production completely. Happily, Viggo, who worked so memorably with Cronenberg on Eastern Promises, replaced Waltz. Mortensen will star as Freud opposite Michael Fassbender as Jung. Keira Knightley will play Sabina, a disturbed young woman brought to see Jung by her father. Jung and Sabina have an affair, and the producers are promising me “lots of spirited sex” like the sex scene with Maria Bello in Cronenberg's A History Of Violence. Knightly's steamy sex scene in Atonement provides a hint of what we may be in for... only "Cronenberg-style."

Any new collaboration between Mortensen and Cronenberg is always ground-breaking and unpredictable. The film will mark the duo's fourth straight film together; they are clearly relishing their working relationship. The pair are already hard at work prepping The Talking Cure.

Viggo is back in the saddle. Now that's an UberBingo!


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Source: ThePlaylist, Deadline, /Film

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Film Fans Honour Avatar, Christoph Waltz, Ian McKellen & Andy Serkis at 2010 Empire Awards

Sir Ian McKellan poses with the Icon award at the Winners Boards
Jameson Empire Film Awards, March 28, 2010

Grosvenor House Hotel
in London, England.

There was something for just about everyone at the 2010 Jameson Empire Awards held this Sunday evening, March 28, at London’s The Grosvenor House Hotel.

Deemed by many in the industry to be the most fun awards in the British movie calendar, the Jameson Empire Awards attract A-list star-studded movie talent from around the globe. In fact, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an awards ceremony featuring teen idols, Academy Award winners, 3D blockbusters, little-seen indies, festival favorites, and lots of vampires among its nominees. The Empire Awards is an eclectic, more upscale version of the People’s Choice Awards.

Held in London each March, the Jameson Empire Awards celebrate the film industry's success stories of the year with Empire Magazine readers voting for the winners, making them the ultimate film fan awards with international profile.

Empire Awards 2010 winners are:

Best Film presented by Sony
Avatar - WINNER!
Star Trek
District 9
Inglourious Basterds
The Hurt Locker

Best Actor presented by Citroën
Sir Michael Caine (Harry Brown)
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) - WINNER!
Robert Pattinson (New Moon)
Sam Worthington (Avatar)
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes)

Christoph Waltz poses with the award for Best Actor

Best Actress
Anne-Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy)
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Zoe Saldana (Avatar) - WINNER!
Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria)
Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds)

Best Director
James Cameron (Avatar) - WINNER!
Neil Blomkamp (District 9)
JJ Abrams (Star Trek)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)

Best British Film
Harry Brown - WINNER!
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus
An Education
Nowhere Boy
In The Loop

Best Comedy
In The Loop - WINNER!
A Serious Man
The Hangover
Up In The Air
The Men Who Stare At Goats

Best Horror
Let The Right One In - WINNER!
Paranormal Activity
Zombieland
Thirst
Drag Me To Hell

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Moon
Star Trek - WINNER!
Avatar
District 9
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus

Best Thriller
Harry Brown
Public Enemies
Inglourious Basterds
The Hurt Locker
Sherlock Holmes - WINNER!

Best Newcomer
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy) - WINNER!
Sharlto Copley (District 9)
Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air/New Moon)
Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank)

Outstanding Contribution To British Film
Ray Winstone


Empire Hero
Jude Law

Jude Law accepts his The Hero Award presented by Gwenyth Paltrow
(Photo by Handout/Jameson via Getty Images)


Naomie Harris and Andy Serkis pose with the Empire Inspiration award
(Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for Jameson)

Empire Inspiration
Andy Serkis

O'Briain: "Johnny Vegas, ladies and gentlemen, who unlike Christoph Waltz and the Let The Right One In kids, went to school here. Here's the inspiration award for someone who's an inspiration even if they only inspire us to see their films. And to present it here's a woman who doesn't even wait for the end of the introduction, she's already here: Naomie Harris"

Harris: "I love this man; I love him so much that I postponed my holiday to be here to present this award, then got sick and got out of my sickbed to present this award. He's enormously talented and one of the most versatile actors in the whole world. He can lay claim to having literally changed the face of cinema with his groundbreaking performance as Gollum in Lord of the Rings, which inspired James Cameron in creating Pandora. But we all know all this. What's less well known is how he combines all that talent with his humanity. Generous, humble and incredibly hard-working, it's this humanity combined with his skill that makes his performances so compelling. Even when playing a giant gorilla, that humanity shines through and touches our hearts." It's Andy Serkis!

Serkis: "I'm nearly having a fucking cardiac arrest, I had no idea. But, anyway, listen...I have no idea what to say. I didn't know I was up for this award or that it even existed. Naomie, thank you for saying those nice things and postponing your holiday and hope you feel better. It's been an incredible journey since I took part in Lord of the Rings, but I've got to say that performance capture is very important and we've got to acknowledge that. Performances should be judged by whether they transport, move and take you on a journey. Whether it's in costume or CG, that's what matters. I've got to thank my long-standing agent, Peter Jackson and everyone that worked on sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Yesterday it was 10 years since Ian Dury died, and he was a huge inspiration to me. Finally, I have to say, Lorraine, that I adore you with all my heart and soul. You and the children are everything to me." Awwww!

Sir Ian McKellan poses with the Icon award at the Winners Boards
(Photo by Claire R Greenway/Getty Images for Jameson)

Empire Icon
Ian McKellen


Sir Ian McKellen has been crowned the Empire Icon for his long and varied film career at the Jameson Empire Awards 2010.

The 70-year-old actor, who won an Oscar for his role as real-life filmmaker James Whale in Gods And Monsters and is loved by many for starring in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and The X-Men films.

Sir Ian said: "I couldn't be more surprised or delighted. Middle-earth rejoices!"


For a transcript of the award presentations and acceptances speeches visit the Jameson Empire Awards Live Blog.

Now in their 15th year, the Jameson Empire Awards are the only film awards to be voted for entirely by British film fans. Visit the EmpireOnline site for more details.

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Saturday, March 27, 2010

"U" for "UberBingo" | Hilarious Clapper Outtakes from 'Inglorious Basterds'

Inglorious Basterds clapboard used by Geraldine Brezca

The DVD/Blu-ray release of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds features a hilarious "clapper" special feature (see below). A clapboard is a device used to assist in the synchronizing of picture and sound; and to mark particular scenes and takes. A clapboard operator announces the scene numbers before each take on a film set . For the letters following the scene numbers, the clapboard operator usually employs the International Radio Operator Alphabet (example, scene 21a would be “scene twenty one alpha” and scene 140c would be “Scene One Forty Charlie”).

Most film sets are usually very stressful and tense. Every idle minute that passes can cost the production thousands of dollars. The video montage below shows a crazy fun vibe on the Inglorious Basterds set.



The foul-mouthed Italian clapboard operator Geraldine Brezca has been working with Tarantino since Jackie Brown, and has developed her own unique, awesome and crazy style, which is why she has become “Tarantino’s Camera Angel”.

Throughout all his acceptance speeches Christoph Waltz couldn't thank Tarantino enough for the privilege of working on the "unorthodox" Inglorious Basterds film set! Check out his Oscar® acceptance speech and Oscar® Nominees Luncheon press call comments.

Happy Birthday Quentin!

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Egoyan's Erotic Thriller 'Chloe' a Lipstick Lesbian Fatal Attraction

Director Atom Egoyan answers the question "If the one you love was lying to you, how far would you go to find out the truth?" in his latest film Chloe.



Catherine (Julianne Moore) is a doctor, David (Liam Neeson) is a professor. At first glance they are the perfect couple. Happily married with a talented teenage son, they appear to have an idyllic life. But when David misses a flight and his surprise birthday party, Catherine's long simmering suspicions rise to the surface. Suspecting infidelity, she decides to hire an escort named Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce her husband and test his loyalty. Catherine finds herself 'directing' Chloe's encounters with David, and Chloe's end of the bargain is to report back. The descriptions becoming increasingly graphic as the meetings multiply. Soon caught in a web of sexual desire, Catherine finds herself on a journey that places her family in great danger.

Starring: Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Max Thieriot, Nina Dobrev
Produced By: Jason Reitman, Daniel Dubiecki, Ron Halpern
A Sony Pictures Classics Release
In theaters March 26, 2010

Related Links:
Chloe Official Site
Facebook
IMDB

Chloe clips:









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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

'The Hobbit' News: WETA's Richard Taylor on 3D Hobbit | Time-Warner Tops MGM Bids

The Hobbit rumors abound while awaiting news of MGM's new owner and subsequent Hobbit "green light." Oh who will it be? Time-Warner? Will The Hobbit be in 3D?

Award-winning FX man Richard Taylor, the Weta Workshop co-founder recently filled us in on The Hobbit rumors and news. Why did Taylor's friend and colleague Peter Jackson step away from The Hobbit and its sequel after the Lord of the Rings trilogy instead handing the director's gauntlet to Guillermo del Toro? Taylor says it's "probably because he's spent so long in Middle Earth... and probably felt a director such as Guillermo could bring something passionate and unique and original and new to the content for the sake of the fans."

Taylor says there will be consistency for characters that appear in both LOTR and The Hobbit stories, but outside of that is anyone's guess. "It's an absolute delight to be working with Guillermo Del Toro," Taylor says. "We've all enjoyed his craft as seen in Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy movies. His unique aesthetic and storytelling style brings a lovely aesthetic to the world and one we're enjoying being part of."

And what about the current 3D rumors? Jackson himself is currently dabbling with 3D on Tintin? Taylor only says that "Like any film, there will be an effort to utilize the tools that are available to us today to achieve visual images that will excite and intrigue an audience as we did try 10 years ago."

With this being said, The Hobbit more than likely will be in 3D in order to satiate rabid, obsessed 3D fans. Is there even a doubt? Not!

Big box retailers are currently rolling out 3D monitors. Avatar and Alice in Wonderland fans will be thrilled to learn that studios have shortened the DVD and Blu-ray release time from four to three months after theatrical release.

James Cameron has confirmed that the DVD and Blu-ray release of Avatar has been set for Earth Day, which is Thursday April 22nd. Cameron has also confirmed that another DVD and Blu-ray version will be rolling around in November. The April release will be extras-light, it seems, while a "value-added DVD" and "3-D Blu-ray" will be coming in November 2010.

Fox has since come along and said that the 3D Blu-ray won't be out then, because "3-D is in the conceptual stage". Fox hasn't confirmed those dates either, but we'd kind of assume that Cameron is the daddy on this one right now.


The Hobbit is scheduled to begin a 14 month production schedule this July in New Zealand.

Though with MGM up for sale the green light will be dependent on MGM getting their finances in order. The studio is being targeted by a series of rival firms following a bidding round, and needs an injection of $450m within weeks

If a buyer cannot be found it’s possible it will have to break up it’s assets and sell them off individually. Studio executives are still hoping to secure new funding to allow the company to continue to exist in its current form.

Six companies made nonbinding bids in January for MGM, which owns the rights to 4,100 movies and TV shows and has a stake in future James Bond and The Hobbit films.

News Corp., the owner of the 20th Century Fox studio, which backed Avatar, made a one-page proposal in January to provide an unspecified amount of cash to help MGM operate independently and restructure its debt, but didn't get a formal response. The offer valued MGM at $1.5 billion, said a person familiar with the offer who spoke on condition of anonymity because the bids are meant to be confidential.

It was confirmed yesterday that Time Warner Inc (TWX.N), Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (LGF.N) and billionaire Len Blavatnik's Access Industries put up rival bids of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion for studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Time Warner seen as top bidder with about $1.5 billion and is seen as most likely to walk away with MGM and its library of mostly classics, such as the James Bond franchise.

With the decline of the DVD market, and a lack of regular hits, MGM's library is worth far less now, and cash flow has been inadequate to support the debt load. Production slowed to a crawl.

The situation reflects the tough state of Hollywood economics: While mega-budget films like Avatar have broken box office records, the record of middle-budget dramas and comedies has been hit-or-miss for several studios.

Here's hoping the sale of MGM is settled quickly so that The Hobbit (Part 1) can start lensing in July as planned.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Miramax Plans to Release ‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’ Under a New Name

Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes in 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'

Despite being on the auction block, Miramax plans to release Troy Nixey and Guillermo del Toro’s remake of the TV horror classic Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark starring Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison and Katie Holmes.

DBAOTD is based on a 1973 ABC telefilm about a young girl who moves in with her father and his girlfriend and discovers they are sharing the house with demonic creatures.

Madison plays the girl, who discovers the creatures and is fascinated by them -- until they prove dangerous. Pearce plays the father, an author frustrated by his daughter's tales of monsters, not believing her even when his girlfriend (Holmes) backs her.

Disney is hinting that it may rename the Guillermo del Toro scripted and produced film. So, if it won’t be called Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, what might we see the film billed as in theaters?

Disney registered DBAOTD.com and DontBeAfraid-TheMovie.com. They also recently registered domain names for They Are Waiting (TheyAreWaiting.com), They Wait in the Dark (TheyWaitInTheDark.com) and What Lurks in the Dark (WhatLurksInTheDark.com).

Not sure why the marketing department finds the 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark' title challenging. Its not nearly as crazy as 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' (try spelling it) or 'Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan' (totally over-the-top).

Disney shouldn't mess with the "remake title" of a cult fav!

The original Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark is available on demand via Warner Archives. Watch the trailer from the original film after the jump.




What do you think? Should Disney change the title of the "remake" of this cult favorite?

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Related Links:
Disney Pulls the Plug on Miramax

'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark' Director Troy Nixey's First Film 'Latchkey's Lament' [watch] & Happy Birthday to Guillermo del Toro !

Katie Holmes on the Set of 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'

Source: StitchKingdom.com

Sunday, March 21, 2010

"Riddle Me This" | Doug Jones as Edward Nygma 'The Riddler' in 'Batman 3'?


Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, Batman TV series (left)
Doug Jones Photo Credit: Albert L. Ortega/WireImage

Yesterday we ran a story about Warner Bros adapting the DC Comics Library. According to IMDB actor Doug Jones is reportedly going to be part of the next Batman installment playing Edward Nygma 'The Riddler' in the Batman 3 (Untitled Batman Project).

Christopher Nolan's brother Jonathan Nolan is penning the Batman 3 (Untitled Batman Project). The cast includes Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne), Morgan Freeman (Lucious Fox), Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon), and Michael Caine (Alfred). According to IMDB Christopher Nolan is "rumored" to be at the helm. Looks like we'll have to wait until San Diego Comic-Con for all the announcements.

Doug Jones' official website denies the Batman 3 casting rumour despite the fact that Jones is listed on the IMDB Batman project page under the casting information in the role of Edward Nygma 'The Riddler' and with no (rumored) tag attached.

According to his official website here is what Dougie had to say after he saw his IMDB page:

"This was the first I'd heard about it, and even though I have not been offered the role, nor met Christopher Nolan yet, I wouldn't hate the idea of playing the Riddler ...not even a little."
-- Doug Jones, March 19, 2010

Well then ... we think its just a matter of time before the production contacts Jones with the 'Riddler' offer.

The very versatile and talented Jones is best known for his scary and memorable fantasy creature character roles. Below are photos of a few of these characters.

'Abe Sapien'/'Angel of Death'/'The Chamberlain'
Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army
and Hellboy (2004)

Norrin Radd, 'The Silver Surfer'
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)


'The Faun'/'The Pale Man' in Guillermo del Toro's
Multi Academy Award
® winner Pan's Labyrinth (2006)


Jones recently portrayed the scary and grotesque 'IceCream Man' in 'Legion' and stole the show.

Check out his performance in the very cool clip (above).


Jones is rumored to be cast in Guillermo del Toro's latest project The Hobbit. No news as to what character(s) he will play. Del Toro himself had stated that Jones will be working on the project. GDT's fantasy characters are very secretive and fantastical, right up to the last minute.
We eagerly await any casting news which involves Jones!

Of course rumors will continue to fly about what will transpire in the next Batman film. The fact that Doug Jones' name has popped up on the casting dream list of two epic productions speaks volumes about his diverse talent. Check out the Doug Jones official website for the latest news.

We think Doug Jones would make an awesome 'Riddler' in the Batman 3 (Untitled Batman Project)!

What do you think???

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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Warner Bros to Adapt DC Comics Library After Harry Potter Franchise

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II hits theaters in July 2011. /Film reports from ShoWest that Warners Bros plans to fill the hole left by the biggest box office franchise in cinema history with film adaptations of the DC [Comics] Library. “As we ease out of Harry Potter, we hope to bring you the excitement of the DC [Comics] Library!” states Warner Bros head Alan Horn.


2010

Jonah Hex - “In the Wild West, a scarred bounty hunter (Josh Brolin) tracks a voodoo practitioner (John Malkovich) bent on liberating the South by raising an army of the undead.”
Opens June 18th.

2011

Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan

Green Lantern - Production began just this week. This adaptation of Green Lantern has big names attached to it. Joining Ryan Reynolds would be Blake Lively as his love interest, Peter Sarsgaard as the villain Dr. Hector Hammond, and Tim Robbins as the villain's father Senator Hammond.

Mark Strong will play Sinestro, the main villain of the series.

IN DEVELOPMENT

The Flash - Director and casting news should be available this summer at the San Diego Comic-Con. Who should play The Flash? Barry Allen?


Batman 3 - Christopher Nolan's brother Jonathan Nolan is penning the script yet Nolan hasn't officially announced himself as the director. Looks like we'll have to wait until San Diego Comic-Con for the announcement.

Killer cast to date includes Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne), Morgan Freeman (Lucious Fox), Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon), Michael Caine (Alfred), and Doug Jones (Edward Nygma 'The Riddler).

Superman: Man of Steel - With David Goyer writing the latest rendition, there is hope for a darker, meaner Superman. Not to mention Christopher Nolan’s involvement.


Lobo - Lobo is an intergalactic bounty hunter who basically always gets his man or woman, and does so in violent fashion. In some ways he’s DC Comics’ version of Wolverine, and the two fought each other in 1996’s DC vs. Marvel comic book mini-series.

In a recent interview with Collider, super-producer Joel Silver (The Matrix) let it be known that a screen test has been filmed for Guy Ritchie’s upcoming adaptation of DC Comics’ Lobo, currently has in the pipeline.

Silver states “I was looking at a test we made [for Lobo] and I was seeing it through the eyes of [the San Diego] Comic-Con — through the eyes of that audience. It’s important to know that that audience is the biggest in the world. That’s the audience that you want to get.”

Actor names being tossed around include fantasy casting pick Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen, The Losers), Kevin Durand (Smokin' Aces) and Clancy Brown (A Nightmare on Elm Street).

By the time the 2010 San-Diego Comic Con International rolls around, Silver, Guy Ritchie the director and Warner Bros. may have some promo footage ready. Below is Collider's interview with producer Joel Silver.




Deadman - Guillermo del Toro is set to produce the film which is being tagged as “Crow-esque.”

In the DC Universe, Deadman is a circus trapeze artist named Boston Brand, who dresses up in a red suit and white makeup to perform under the stage name (you guessed it) Deadman. When Brand is murdered while performing his act, his spirit is held over by the Hindu goddess Rama Kushna, who endows Brand’s ghost with the ability to possess living bodies. Rama Kushna’s decree: for Brand to use his new powers to hunt down his murderer(s) and obtain justice.

Will it be horror? The usual super hero origin? Or will we likely get the sort of scary/funny, visually stylized, supernatural action fare that Guillermo del Toro has made famous with his Hellboy films? Del Toro being attached to this project is pretty much the only thing giving it any buzz right now.

Wonder Woman (2011) - Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures were trying to get the project moved along (finally), looking for a good spec script and the “right” director to bring the female superhero to the big-screen. Hollywood hottie-of-the-minute Megan Fox has ben rumored to play Wonder Woman in the movie version, and this was only further sparked when a fan-made image of her in the outfit made its way online (shown below). Not only does Fox deny she’s been approached, but she flat-out disses the character and the idea of a movie featuring her:

“Wonder Woman is a lame superhero… She flies around in her invisible jet and her weaponry is a lasso that makes you tell the truth. I just don’t get it. Somebody has a big challenge on their hands whoever takes that role but I don’t want to do it.”

There is no official news yet as to which creative direction the Wonder Woman movie will go – with neither a writer nor director in tow – but at least we know now who most likely will not be donning that outfit. "WonderDiva from Movie Hell" should feel honored to even be mentioned for the role.

Aquaman - Reportedly Aquaman is “in production” over at Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way production company. This second-tier hero is listed as being out on the big-screens in 2013. Seeing is believing.

Green Arrow - Super Max (2012) the DC comics-based film which would center around the character of Green Arrow stuck in a prison made for supervillains for a crime he did not commit, is still a work in progress with a new writer to help on the screenplay. No news to date but then there's always San Diego Comic-Con 2010.

Justice League - With the latest announcement of Warner Bros' future in comic films Justice League is an inevitable project.

DCE’s mission statement has been clear: to develop all future DC and/or WB superhero projects under a united banner with multimedia development as the ultimate goal (book, movie, cartoon, video game, and merchandising).

The plethora of characters in DC Comics is bountiful. Innovation and creativity at DC Entertainment will have to be more than just the pretty wrapping on the outside to keep up with Disney's Marvel roster of 5,000 plus characters.

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Source: SlashFilm.com, ScreenRant.com

Friday, March 19, 2010

Noah Baumbach's 'Greenberg': Exclusive LA & NY Engagement March 19, 2010

In Greenberg, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) brings us the funny, touching and poignant story of two souls adrift in Los Angeles, trying to forge a connection.

Florence Marr (Greta Gerwig), an aspiring singer, is struggling to find her place in the world. She works as a personal assistant to the Greenberg family, beginning and ending each day tending to other people’s needs. In sharp contrast to the Greenbergs’ bustling life in their elegant Hollywood Hills home, Florence lives alone in a tiny studio apartment and sings at open-mike nights.

When Phillip Greenberg (Chris Messina) takes his wife and children on an extended trip abroad, Florence is suddenly left more to her own devices. She makes the occasional visit to their home to check up on the family’s dog Mahler, and look in on Phillip’s brother Roger (Ben Stiller), who has come to L.A. to housesit.

Single and fortyish, Greenberg is intelligent, witty, sharp-tongued – and, like Florence, something of a lost soul; he is at a crossroads in his life. He has been working as a carpenter in New York after an early career as a musician in L.A. petered out. Greenberg claims to be “doing nothing” and his most tangible projects include drafting letters of complaint and building a doghouse for Mahler. Roger tries to reconnect with friend and former bandmate Ivan (Rhys Ifans) and old flame Beth (Jennifer Jason Leigh), but they’ve moved on with their lives while Greenberg has been stuck treading water. In trying to restart his life, Greenberg finds that times have changed and old friends aren’t necessarily still best friends.

After years of living in New York City, Greenberg doesn’t drive and finds himself stranded at his brother’s house. His vulnerability immediately endears him to Florence, who helps him navigate Los Angeles and take care of Mahler. What begins as a courtesy to her employer develops into a charmingly eccentric and unexpectedly significant connection. As Greenberg discovers there is only so much “nothing” you can do, the awkward beauty of what he builds with Florence starts to look more and more like a reason to be happy.

Greenberg is a Focus Features presentation of a Scott Rudin production.

Exclusive New York and Los Angeles engagements starts today, March 19, 2010. In theatres nationally beginning March 26th.




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Christoph Waltz is "Up, Up and Away" as Helmer of German Rom-Com

Photo credit: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.

From Nazi Col. Hans Landa to movie director, Oscar winner Christoph Waltz will soon make his feature filmmaking debut, stepping behind the cameras in Fox International Productions’ German-language Up, Up and Away.

The 53-year-old actor, who was born in Austria and lives in London and Berlin, says he had considered making Up, Up and Away years ago. “But I never had time to do something else” besides acting, Waltz says.

Waltz, who co-wrote the film’s script and may play a supporting role in the romantic comedy, previously has directed for German television. The German movie audience is the fifth biggest in the world.

Before he makes the Fox movie, loosely adapted from Meike Winnemuth and Peter Praschl’s novel “Auf und Davon,” Waltz will appear in December’s The Green Hornet. He is set to star in Water for Elephants, which goes into production this summer. Afterwards he is choosing among three different acting roles which means he may not direct the German film until 2011.

Up, Up and Away is set in and around a dating game show. Through a series of events, the woman who runs and hosts the show must confront her callous feelings about romance, which place a greater emphasis on its marketability than emotion. “When you make feelings a commodity, it’s not a feeling anymore,” Waltz says.

Waltz says he hopes to be an easy director for his cast. “I want to be the kind of director that I as an actor would want to work with,” he says.

Even though there’s a part for him in the film, he’s still uncertain about directing himself. “I think it will be physically hard to be on both sides of the camera.”

Up, Up and Away. . . UberBingo!

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Source: LA Times


Thursday, March 18, 2010

'Free Willy 4' | Sammy Freed! | 'Free Tilly' Tilikunundrum



Free Tilly: Escape from SeaWorld

Tilly and trainer Dawn Brancheau

The timing of the release of Free Willy 4 and the tragic death of Tilikum or "Tilly's" trainer Dawn Brancheau at Sea World on February 24th, 2010 is eerie.

Jean-Michel Cousteau comments on the tragedy onwhen trainer Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the water and killed by Tilikum, an orca at Sea World’s Orlando park. This is the third death associated with Tilikum while in captivity.

"The tragic death of the trainer suggests that maybe we have outgrown the need to keep such wild, enormous, complex, intelligent and free-ranging animals in captivity, where their behavior is not only unnatural, it can become pathological." – Jean-Michel Cousteau



“...building a tank the size of Rhode Island wouldn’t be large enough for a six-ton male such as Tilikum, an animal capable of swimming 100 miles in a day.” - Whale Expert

The trainer who died last month in an attack by Tilikum (aka "Tilly") would be alive today if SeaWorld had heeded animal rights advocates’ advice to transfer all its dolphins—including orcas—to transitional coastal sanctuaries and to stop confining oceangoing mammals to an enclosure that to them is like a bathtub.

The trainer who died last month will not be the last victim as long as these animals remain frustrated by their cruel captivity. Orcas are intelligent predators who work cooperatively in search of food. They share intricate relationships and swim for as many as 100 miles every day. At SeaWorld, orcas are forced to perform circus tricks for food; swim endless circles in small, barren concrete tanks; and live far short of the 60-year maximum life span that orcas enjoy in the wild. In fact, 21 orcas died in U.S. SeaWorld facilities between 1986 and 2008—and not one died of old age.


A growing number of global demonstrations are being staged to facilitate Tilly's release. Here are two noteworthy events.

New Yorker Edda Ness organized a Demonstration to "Free Tilly" today. Local NY activists assembled outside of the Blackstone Group's offices to protest the captivity of marine mammals.


Brian Feldman will endure 18 hours of confinement in a stranger’s bathtub, one hour for each year* Tilikum the orca has been held captive in a space of comparative size at SeaWorld® Orlando. *since January 9, 1992. The event takes place on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 6am-11:59pm (18 hours) at SeaHouse® Orlando, 1132 Edgewater Court in Orlando Florida.

This is not on SeaWorld® property. It is a private residence near Downtown Orlando. You can observe this event for free, live in its entirety, online at http://ustream.tv/BrianFeldman

For more information visit the Tilikunundrum FaceBook Event page.



Free Sammy: Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah Aquarium

Sammy the whale shark freed in Dubai

Sammy, the whale shark that had been held in captivity in the Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah aquarium for the past eighteen months, is freed.

The release comes almost a year after a popular Gulf News led campaign had thousands of Dubai residents calling for the hotel to release Sammy. The campaign involved badges, bumper stickers, jingles and a Facebook group that attracted several thousand members.

Atlantis issued a press release stating that the mammal had already been released.

"After several months of planning, Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai has returned a female whale shark to the waters of the Arabian Gulf from where she was rescued. The Atlantis Fish Husbandry Team utilised their experience and skill to save the animal in compliance with all CITIES regulations."

For more information on Sammy the whale shark visit GulfNews.com



BINDI IRWIN as Kirra Cooper with Willy
"Free Willy: Escape From Pirates Cove."
Photo credit: Joe Alblas

Real life events often inspire movies that move people to tears and action like the Oscar® winning documentary The Cove. Free Willy 4 is a conservation movie with a message for the entire family.

Warner Home Video's Free Willy: Escape from Pirates Cove stars Bindi Irwin, Beau Bridges, Mike Falkow, Bongolethu Mbutuma, Siyabulela Ramb. Also known as "Free Willy: South Africa" and "Free Willy 4," the film is helmed by Will Geiger from the screenplay by Keith Walker, Cindy McCreery and Geiger. Fans of the Free Willy series will cheer this exciting family film about a baby orca who needs a friend and a girl who finds the courage to help him.



Synopsis

Eleven-year-old Kirra (Bindi Irwin) has a great love for all animals as the daughter of a widowed zoo veterinarian in Australia. But when her father is injured and must be hospitalized for several months, Kirra is forced to go stay with her estranged grandfather, Gus (Beau Bridges), in South Africa. Kirra doesn't want to leave her father's side, especially to stay with a grandfather she barely knows in a strange country. Arriving in South Africa, Kirra is even more disheartened to discover that Gus is the owner of a dilapidated seaside theme park, which is quickly losing its few customers to rival park owner, Rolf (Stephen Jennings).

Gus's business is given a miraculous boost, though, when a fierce storm traps a baby orca in his lagoon, turning his park into the area's main attraction. The growing orca, which Kira names Willy, has an inhibited sense of echolocation--the process by which whales hunt and navigate their ocean home--making his survival in the wild apart from his pod impossible. But Kirra also realizes that the orca will outgrow the lagoon very quickly. Gus thinks his only choice is to sell Willy to Rolf's successful park, where the orca will be safe...but forever captive.

With time running out before Rolf claims him, Kirra must not only locate Willy's pod, but also find a way to teach the young whale to survive and be free in the open sea.






Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on March 23, 2010, Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove has been rated PG for mild thematic elements. Visit the official site for more
information.



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