Feb 25 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning to the big screen, but not in a way that will embarrass California.
The Associated Press reports he will play the governor in Sylvester Stallone's movie, "The Expendables," that will start shooting March 28 in Brazil and move to New Orleans for two months. The former Terminator will film his scene in Los Angeles.
Stallone writes, directs and stars in the movie, a film about a group of mercenaries trying to overthrow a South American dictator. It also stars Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker.
I see an AARP award for grown-ups who love action written all over this one. And wouldn't you like to hear the stories these guys swap over the snack table.
Feb 24 2009
Michel Gondry is negotiating to direct "The Green Hornet," starring Seth Rogen and Stephen Chow and written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
"I'm very excited about ‘The Green Hornet' and all that I hope to bring to it," Gondry said in a press release. "This story has always been close to me and now Seth and Evan have written a script that is both funny and real - the best of both worlds. I cannot wait to further collaborate with them on it."
The film will begin shooting this summer and is set for release June 25, 2010. The announcement about "Green Hornet" came from Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Columbia Pictures.
Neal H. Moritz will produce the film through his Original Film production company.
"From the very beginning, Seth, Evan, and Neal wanted this film to stand out from the pack with its originality. You couldn't ask for a better director than Michel Gondry to bring that to life," Tolmach said.
Moritz added in a press release: "We're huge fans of Michel Gondry. ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and all his films are as daring as they are extraordinary, fueled by creative ideas that spring from his unique worldview. Our first rule, always, is to make the movie that we want to see, and that couldn't be truer than with Michel bringing his stylish and original touch to the helm."
Gondry recently teamed with Jack Black for "Be Kind Rewind," made "The Science of Sleep" and the wonderful "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."
Feb 24 2009
Sean Penn's next project will be appearing on a cable channel near you.
It's a documentary called "Witch Hunt," and the two-time Oscar winner served as narrator and executive producer. It will have its world premiere April 12 (Easter Sunday) at 10 p.m. on MSNBC.
It tells the story of dozens of parents in Bakersfield, Calif., in 1984 who were falsely accused and convicted of child molestation. Almost all of the children now say they were coerced to lie.
"Witch Hunt" premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. Dana Nachman and Don Hardy, broadcast journalists in the San Francisco Bay area, make their feature film directorial debut with the film.
Check your cable listings for MSNBC, since it was stripped from many systems and tiers - including mine.
Shown below: Directors Don Hardy Jr. (left) and Dana Nachman at the AFI Fest 2008 at Arclight Hollywood. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI. Above photo of Penn and Christopher Walken courtesy of AMPAS.
Feb 24 2009
Pittsburghers should be able to spend Thanksgiving at a Rob Marshall movie if a date for "Nine" holds true (and, as we learned with "The Road," dates are subject to change).
"Nine" is scheduled to come out Nov. 25 although Variety reports that a battle over titles might be brewing with an apocalyptic animated fantasy called "9" opening on Sept. 9 and Marshall's "Nine" arriving a couple of months later.
"Nine" was adapted from the original 1982 Broadway production and will star Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson.
If Hugh Jackman is right that the musical is back (and I think he may have been a little too enthusiastic on that front), Marshall will be poised to take advantage. And Pittsburgh could have a horse in the 2009 Oscar race. Throw in "The Road," and it will be a show to watch, even more than usual.
Feb 16 2009
The Kodak Theatre is getting ready for its close-up on Sunday when the whole world will be watching the 81st Academy Awards.
The front of the theater that is part of the Hollywood & Highland Center is dressed with a gold curtain which gives the venue a glamorous look and resin Oscars will soon sprout nearby and along the legendary red carpet, once it's rolled out.
ABC's Oscar preshow will start at 8 p.m., with the ceremony itself at 8:30 p.m. If you tune into ABC at 7 p.m., Barbara Walters will be interviewing Academy Award nominees Anne Hathaway and Mickey Rourke, along with Oscar host Hugh Jackman and the Jonas Brothers. (Photo below from the AMPAS)
Feb 16 2009
"Slumdog Millionaire" has not lost its Big Mo.
It won awards over the weekend for production design of a contemporary film ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" won for period films and "The Dark Knight" for fantasy) along with cinematography and editing.
Feb 16 2009
Now that Kevin James has mastered the mall, he's ready to play "The Zookeeper."
MGM describes the plot this way: The animals at the zoo adore their caretaker Andrew (James), an amiable but lonely guy who's never quite fit in. Finding himself more comfortable with a lion than a lady, Andrew decides he should leave the zoo and get a life. When the zoo animals discover his plan, they decide to break their code of silence and reveal their biggest secret: they can talk. They teach Andrew about nature's mating rituals.
The movie will be directed by Frank Coraci ("Click," "The Waterboy," "The Wedding Singer"). Screenplay is by Jay Scherick and David Ronn.
Feb 15 2009
The "Twilight" train roars on, with an Entertainment Weekly cover photo of Kristen Stewart and a bearded Robert Pattinson and an interview with director Catherine Hardwicke.
She, of course, declined to direct the sequel (which now has a bigger budget than what Summit offered her) but has "Twilight: Director's Notebook" coming out on March 17, the magazine reports. It's her on-set journal, complete with sketches, diagrams and tidbits.
Among them: Hardwicke thought Edward should have long hair so Pattinson spent eight hours having extensions added to his now-famous locks. He hated them and the same stylist removed them the next day.
As previously announced, the DVD of "Twilight" is due in stores March 21. Video Business reports that Wal-Mart will be the exclusive seller of the single-disc version and also offer the two-disc edition that will be widely sold elsewhere.
Feb 15 2009
If there were any doubt about a sequel to "Friday the 13th," it likely was erased this afternoon when its weekend box office came in at $42.4 million. That was a record for the horror genre, the Associated Press reports, although technically "The Grudge" sold a few more tickets.
On opening day, it made $19.4 million, just about what the movie cost to make. The film, starring Derek Mears as Jason and Jared Padalecki as the young man on his trail, ends with the doors wide open for a sequel.
The first "Friday" came out on May 9, 1980, and the second movie on May 1, 1981. That means you can pencil in a sequel for next January (the 13th is a Wednesday) or February (closest date would be Friday the 12th) or August, when there is an actual Friday the 13th.
I can hardly wait.
Feb 13 2009
Dimensions Films is developing a high school thriller in the vein of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" that involves a teen social networking site.
It's based on an original idea from actress Sara Rue ("Less Than Perfect") and producing partner Robert Green ("Spaced"). Rue and Green will produce and T.S. Faull ("Butterfly: A Grimm Love Story") will write the script, The Weinstein Co. announced.
"Social networking is alluring but one always takes a risk when engaging on these sites," said Faull. "Online identities can be deceptive and the script will center on a social networking situation with truly dangerous consequences."
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