Movie News BBL

The Amazing Spider-Man's Origins

Sun, 06 May 2012 01:42:37 -0400

Spider-Man’s origin has been changed in The Amazing Spider-Man. The spider bite no longer gives Peter powers, it rather activates something already in his genetic structure. Something placed there by his father. Peter Parker is no longer super-powered by chance, but rather by design.

That is, thematically, a large change (if it’s true. These sources are trusted, and the trailer pretty much spells it all out anyway). Spider-Man’s appeal has always been his regular guy qualities; Peter got his powers through sheer dumb luck. What’s more, he misused them at first, something many of us might do in the same situation. Peter Parker never asked for these powers, and you or I could have just as easily have gotten the same powers had we been in the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time. Stuck with this, Peter must learn to be a hero.

How do you feel about it? Honestly, I’m so worn down by the entire reboot that I can’t muster a lot of energy to care either way. I hope for the best, but I’m looking to be happy with a movie that creates a platform for future Spider-Man adventures… ones which might or might not reference this element of his origin,

Other aspects of the origin have been changed as well, by the way. Peter no longer goes into wrestling, for one, and that change creates a small ripple effect of other changes - leading up to changes in Uncle Ben’s death. Good news: Uncle Ben’s death is well done in the new movie. I won’t spoil it any further, but Peter is still involved in the circumstances leading up to his death, and it’s a nicely streamlined, semi-modernized way of doing it.

There you have it. What do you think? Does the change in the origin bug you, or do you think it’s an interesting addition to the mythology?

Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Jeff Blake kicked off the...

Sun, 06 May 2012 01:15:45 -0400

Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Jeff Blake kicked off the discussion saying that 20 years ago “kids would come every week” to the movies. But no more. “I’m concerned that the moviegoing experience isn’t just for baby boomers.” Regal Entertainment CEO Amy Miles says that her chain currently discourages cell phone use “but if we had a movie that appealed to a younger demographic, we could test some of these concepts.” For example, she says the chain talked about being more flexible about cell phone use at some screens that showed 21 Jump Street. “You’re trying to figure out if there’s something you can offer in the theater that I would not find appealing but my 18-year-old son” might.
IMAX’s Greg Foster seemed to like the idea of relaxing the absolute ban on phone use in theaters. His 17-year-old son “constantly has his phone with him,” he says. “We want them to pay $12 to $14 to come into an auditorium and watch a movie. But they’ve become accustomed to controlling their own existence.” Banning cell phone use may make them “feel a little handcuffed.” That set off Tim League, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse — a small chain that makes a point of throwing out customers who talk or text during a film. “Over my dead body will I introduce texting into the movie theater,” he says. “I love the idea of playing around with a new concept. But that is the scourge of our industry. … It’s our job to understand that this is a sacred space and we have to teach manners.” He says it should be “magical” to come to the cinema. But Miles shot back that “one person’s opinion of magical isn’t the other’s.”

Execs had other pet peeves. For example, Foster decries ads for TV shows in movie theaters. “My tentacles go up,” he says. “How is this possible?” Blake says that moviemakers face “a real challenge” overseas where theaters often mix ads with trailers. The trailer “is the lifeblood of producers and the marketing department” — and one of the top three reasons why people go to the movies. “It’s so important to play those trailers properly, lights down at showtime.” League, whose chain serves meals, also said that there’s “kickback” among consumers on concession pricing — especially the core staples. “Those prices do seem high to me,” he says. “You can get a pint of beer for less than it costs to buy a large soda.”

The Dark Knight Rises Official Movie Trailer #3 Is Finally Here!...

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:16:00 -0400

The Dark Knight Rises Official Movie Trailer #3 Is Finally Here! :D You Can Also Watch This Trailer In The Big Screen Before The Avengers Screening.

Briefly: It’s been confirmed with a listing on Warner...

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:31:16 -0400

Briefly: It’s been confirmed with a listing on Warner Bros’ exhibitor website (found via Nolan Fans) that a third, and presumably final, trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises will be attached to The Avengers in all formats starting on May 4th. This is similar to The Dark Knight, as the final trailer for that was attached to Iron Man back in 2008. We expect it to arrive online sometime that same weekend, if not sooner, but no other details are known, including if this trailer will be on the international Avengers releases starting April 25th. We will certainly keep you updated. The Dark Knight Rises stars Christian Bale as Batman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine. The Legend Ends.

The Dark Knight Rises is once again directed by Oscar nominated British filmmaker Christopher Nolan, of Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight and Inception previously. The script was co-written by Christopher & Jonathan Nolan (The Prestige, The Dark Knight), from a story by Chris Nolan & David S. Goyer (of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight). Warner Bros is bringing The Dark Knight Rises to regular and IMAX theaters everywhere on July 20th, 2012 this summer. The Fire Rises…

After crashing weddings and sweeping Isla Fisher and Rachel...

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:48:29 -0400

After crashing weddings and sweeping Isla Fisher and Rachel McAdams off their feet in Wedding Crashers, the dynamic comedy duo of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are back together for a new comedy. A short press release was sent to announced that Vaughn and Wilson would lead The Internship, a new comedy set up at 20th Century Fox with Shawn Levy (Real Steel) set to direct. Filming will begin this June, and this just might be the first time Levy ventures into R-rated comedy. The film could almost serve as an unofficial sequel, or even prequel to Wedding Crashers as it follows two old school salesmen who, finding themselves suddenly unemployed and passed-by in the digital world, try to reinvent themselves by becoming interns at a major tech company. Vaughn, who also wrote the script himself, is producing through his Wild West Picture Show Productions along with Levy and his 21 Laps Entertainment banner. Hopefully this isn’t simply a retread of the the same humor we saw in Wedding Crashers as Vaughn’s fast-talking, awkward conversations have gotten a little old, but I always have high hopes with comedies like this.

When The Hangover Part II brought in a quarter of a billion...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:39:50 -0400

When The Hangover Part II brought in a quarter of a billion dollars at the box office, we figured it was only a matter of time before director Todd Phillips got the gang back together for a third entry into the comedy series. That time has come, and Warner Bros. has made the inevitable announcement today (via Deadline) that Phillips is reuniting with his Wolfpack of Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis for The Hangover Part III, with production beginning in September 2012 this year, and a newly scheduled release date of May 24th, 2013. Plus, Phillips confirmed that Part III will be the final film in the franchise.

Phillips called the upcoming Part III “a fitting conclusion to our three-part opera of mayhem, despair and bad decisions,” but I have a bad feeling this series is going to keep going past a third one. It won’t be the first time a series has progressed past a natural end point - just look at the Saw franchise or the Final Destination series for examples, and the danger of this happening will only intensify if they could make even more at the box office than the second outing. Personally, I found The Hangover Part II to be essentially a less effective remake of the original movie. And while the first film was mostly harmless fun, there are things that happen in the sequel that should scar these characters for life. There’s no word on the plot or setting of The Hangover Part III yet, but we can assume the same antics are in store for Stu, Phil, and Alan.

From all accounts, Mike Meyers’ 2003 live-action...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:11:07 -0400

From all accounts, Mike Meyers’ 2003 live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic story The Cat in the Hat was an unmitigated disaster. Well, it looks like Universal and Illumination Entertainment are hoping you can put those memories out of your head, because they’re bringing the story back to the movies. This time, though, they’re taking the safe route. Deadline reports that this version will be a 3D CG animated feature. With the recent box office success of The Lorax, the film has been number one the past two weekends, beating John Carter, so another animated trip through the world of Dr. Seuss seems like a bingo.

Rob Lieber is writing the script, and he’s a bit of a mystery in the entertainment world. So far he has no produced writing credits, but back in May of last year, he was set to write The Kids Are All Right helmer Lisa Cholodenko’s adaptation of the children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Illumination Entertainment seems to be in the Seuss business these days, what with The Lorax and their live action biopic set to star Johnny Depp as the legendary author, so let’s hope this project is more in line with those than the Mike Myers misfire.

If anyone is going to steal something from me in the most...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:08:31 -0400

If anyone is going to steal something from me in the most elaborate way possible, I wouldn’t mind so much if it was Megan Fox and Zoe Saldana, especially if my security cameras caught them seductively snaking through a complicated laser field much like Catherine Zeta-Jones in Entrapment. That’s why I’m pleased to report Deadline’s news that the Avatar and Transformers actresses are teaming up for a new action heist film called Swindle from a spec script that Paramount Pictures just picked up. Moneyball producer Michael De Luca is behind the project and the two sultry stars will also be producing the film themselves.

As of now there aren’t any plot details, but really all we need to know is that it’s a heist film and two of Hollywood’s hottest stars are leading it. At least that’s all the teenage boys will need to know to get them in the seats. Each actress is pretty busy this year as Fox has both Friends with Kids and Judd Apatow’s This is Fortyhitting theaters this year. Meanwhile, Saldana is shooting J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek sequel as we speak, and she was also just added to Guillaume Canet’s 70’s crime thriller Blood Ties with Billy Crudup, Clive Owen, Mila Kunis and Marion Cotillard. Hopefully we’ll hear more on this project soon so stay tuned.

It’s time to tell the story about how video killed the...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:06:23 -0400

It’s time to tell the story about how video killed the radio star. The MTV network launched in August of 1981 and the first music video to hit the airwaves was The Buggles’ Video Killed the Radio Star. Now the cable channel that once championed music and helped launch the careers and controversy of such stars as Madonna, Britney Spears and more, barely plays music if it’s not on top of stupid New Jersey locals tanning or pregnant teens spouting off at the mouth. But that’s not stopping Brett Ratner and producer Jimmy Miller (Step Brothers, The Other Guys) from telling the network’s rich history and rise to prominence.

Ratner isn’t officially attached to direct the film, but Variety says he is producing with Miller. The story will be adapted from music journalists Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum’s book I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution. Described as an oral history of MTV, the story will chronicle the rise of the network during the 80’s and 90’s. Jody Lambert, who scripted Welcome to People (now Titled People Like Us) with Alex Kurtzman, will write the script, but it’s not clear how soon the project might get off the ground. As someone who didn’t come into MTV until the mid 90’s when its roots started to shrivel, I’ve always been wholly interested in the network’s story and glory years, so this sounds great to me.

Last month we learned that Battle Los Angeles director Jonathan...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:00:08 -0400

Last month we learned that Battle Los Angeles director Jonathan Liebesman would be behind Platinum Dunes new take on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the comic book that became a TV cartoon and live-action film phenomenon back in the 90’s. A resurgence of the heroes in a half-shell on the big screen came in the form of a less gritty computer animated film a few years ago, but it just wasn’t up to snuff. Now with a new film coming, everyone is wondering just what’s going to happen with our heroes this time. Well, apparently producer Michael Bay says that these teenage crimefighters won’t exactly be mutants this time.

In speaking at the 2012 Nickelodeon Upfront in New York (via ScreenRant), Bay said:

“These turtles are from an alien race, and they’re going to be tough, edgy, funny, and completely lovable. Kids will believe one day that these turtles do exist when we’re done with this movie.”

First of all, before anyone gets bent out of shape, let’s recall that TCRI, which is the name of the place where the mutation causing ooze originated (it was TGRI in the second film), was actually a secret base for the alien beings Utroms, which are the same race as Krang, the pink, brainish-looking villain from the comics and TV show. So this isn’t entirely against comic book canon or out of the ordinary, but another change does mix things up quite a bit.

Sources have told us that our turtles are actually four of an entire race of inter-dimensional beings. That’s right. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are actually from another dimension. I’m not sure how that’s going to make kids think that they exist, but we’ll just let it slide. In addition, we’ve also heard that this storyline is happening because Krang will indeed be a villain in the film, which will mark the first time he’s ever been incarnated on the big screen (and maybe along with that huge body suit and the Technodrome?). At the very least, I’m interested to see how this plays out, but until we get an idea of the style and tone, I’m going to just relax and not get bent out of shape or really excited.

It doesn’t sound like we’ll be going back to Barsoom...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:57:32 -0400

It doesn’t sound like we’ll be going back to Barsoom anytime in the near future. Despite some strong praise and a hopeful fanbase, Disney just couldn’t figure out how to properly market John Carter (of Mars) to get theaters seats filled. Being up against Universal and Illumination Entertainment’s family film The Lorax didn’t help matters any as the film kicked Carter’s ass two weekends in a row. Now the chances of a sequel to a film that crafted a promising world and delivered some truly thrilling action and exciting adventure are slim as Disney has revealed they’re likely losing about $200 million because of the film’s poor performance.

Not only is this sad news for those of us that really enjoyed the epic space adventure, but it’s even worse for those who didn’t give the film a chance. They truly don’t know what they’re missing. While some have criticized the film for having elements of Star Wars, Avatar and plenty other sci-fi films, the fact is that the story on which the film is based inspired those stories. The film taking cues from the films that took notes from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ sci-fi classic is just going full circle. And it’s not as if there weren’t plenty of original characters and creatures in the film to keep audiences interested.

Lynn Collins’ is easily as much of a poster girl for teenage boys as Carrie Fisher became decades ago, especially after that metal bikini is Return of the Jedi. The alien races are interesting and there’s a slew of civilizations that make for a rich universe. Carter himself is no Han Solo, but he’s selfless hero, the kind that you love to see develop and come into their own, especially over multiple films. Finally, it’s a story that takes you to another world, but with all the familiarity of stories that take place right on our own planet. The film is derivative in a sense, but not so much that you know what’s going to happen and can’t get lost in the story.

While it may not be as innovative or mind-blowing in special effects as a film like Tron, I could easily see this generating enough of a cult classic status to generate a sequel in about 20 years. It’s truly disappointing that a much less entertaining and satisfying film as The Lorax, which seems to have been crafted to sell SUV’s and other such items more than anything, actually dominated the superior film at the box office. Actually i09 has a fantastic write-up that perfectly describes my rage and anger that John Carter has fallen so hard, and that we may never see a sequel come out of an exhilarating sci-fi adventure as this.

Sad news comes at the end of the weekend as a man who has...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:22:33 -0500

Sad news comes at the end of the weekend as a man who has influenced film for decades and is responsible for some of the most iconic cinematic science fiction creations of all-time has passed away. Geeks of Doom spread the news that concept designer Ralph McQuarrie, the man behind the breathtaking art that served as the inspiration for the look and style of the original Star Wars trilogy, has passed away at age 82. No cause of death is given, but McQuarrie had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for some time. In his wake, McQuarrie leaves a legacy of art behind that has and will influence storytelling for years to come.

Here’s the statement released from McQuarrie’s official website:

“It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Ralph McQuarrie. People say you should never meet your heroes. Ralph was the exception to that rule. We were all fans of his amazing art long before we were blessed with his friendship. But once you got to know Ralph it was impossible not to become a fan of Ralph the man.

Ralph was a very special person for many more reasons than his undeniable brilliance with a brush. He was an especially kind, sensitive, deep, modest, funny and fascinating gentleman. And as fine a role model as any one could have wished for.

His influence on design will be felt forever. There’s no doubt in our hearts that centuries from now amazing spaceships will soar, future cities will rise and someone, somewhere will say…

‘that looks like something Ralph McQuarrie painted.’”

Characters like Darth Vader and Chewbacca serve as some of the best examples of how McQuarrie’s work became a mainstay in George Lucas’ sci-fi saga. Much of his concept art is the reason that Fox decided to actually let Lucas make the film and the rest is history. Lucas himself eulogized McQuarrie on the official Star Wars website. Here’s what he had to say:

I am deeply saddened by the passing of such a visionary artist and such a humble man. Ralph McQuarrie was the first person I hired to help me envision Star Wars. His genial contribution, in the form of unequaled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original Star Wars trilogy. When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph’s fabulous illustrations and say, ‘Do it like this.’

Beyond the movies, his artwork has inspired at least two generations of younger artists—all of whom learned through Ralph that movies are designed. Like me, they were thrilled by his keen eye and creative imagination, which always brought concepts to their most ideal plateau. In many ways, he was a generous father to a conceptual art revolution that was born of his artwork, and which seized the imaginations of thousands and propelled them into the film industry. In that way, we will all be benefiting from his oeuvre for generations to come. Beyond that, I will always remember him as a kind and patient, and wonderfully talented, friend and collaborator.

Aside from his work on Star Wars, McQuarrie also worked on Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and the original “Battlestar Galactica” TV series. However, it was his work on the film Cocoon that landed him an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. For a whole gallery of his work on Star Wars, head to the official website that has a slideshow of some of his finest illustrations (like the artwork below). McQuarrie is an integral part of cinema’s history and his mark on film, television and pop culture will last forever. Rest in peace.

Last week we got the sad news that Jason Segel wouldn’t be...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:19:09 -0500

Last week we got the sad news that Jason Segel wouldn’t be joining his co-writer Nicholas Stoller to script the sequel to The Muppets even though the latter writer and director James Bobin just closed their deals with Disney to return. At the time, insiders said that Segel would likely still star in the film, but now we have word straight from the horse’s mouth. Segel himself recently spoke with Collider about the project, and the actor said that he would not even be starring in the film. It sounds like not only his schedule is keeping him from the project, but he seems a bit tired after putting five long, but rewarding, years into The Muppets.

On the recent reports, Segel confirmed, “It’s true but it’s totally amicable. My goal was to bring The Muppets back and I did that leaving them in very good hands, my writing partner and James Bobin the director. I did what I set out to do, and now I wanna pursue more human-related projects (laughs). All I wanted to do was to set the stage for them to do whatever they wanted.” However, despite the fact that he won’t lead the sequel, it sounds like he’s willing to make some sort of small appearance and offer his help a little bit, “I’m sure I’ll return in some capacity here and there, but that was half a decade of my life. Five years of hard work. I’m ready for a little puppet break.” After giving the Muppets a prime return, I think he deserves it. We’ll have to wait and see where the sequel takes us now.

It’s been eight years since Nickelodeon’s Pineapple...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:54:51 -0500

It’s been eight years since Nickelodeon’s Pineapple dwelling cash cow SpongeBob SquarePants hit the big screen, but after Paramount Pictures (the studio under Viacom, which also owns the aforementioned kid cable network) rocked the Oscars by winning Best Animated Film for Rango, it sounds like they’re eager to keep their animation sector going strong. THR has word from CEO Philippe Dauman that a new movie featuring SpongeBob, Patrick, Gary and the rest of the crew is heading to theaters by the end of 2014. Dauman says the film will, “serve to start off or be one of our films that starts off our new animation effort.”

As of now there are no plot details, but when it comes to someone as established as SpongeBob SquarePants, it’s really not necessary to get audiences interested. However, with eight years having gone by, I’m wondering if the kid audience for the cartoon is still as strong as it was back then. Many of the kids who watched the show and film back then are now in high school and college. While nostalgia is strong nowadays, it may not make as big of a splash this time around. Of course, since the cartoon does have subtle adult humor and still gives laughs to plenty stoners out there, there’s probably nothing to worry about :D

Paramount celebrates their 100th anniversary this year, and the...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:51:32 -0500

Paramount celebrates their 100th anniversary this year, and the studio is looking to its past to help usher in its future. They’ll be re-releasing James Cameron’s Titanic in 3D, and are also planning a re-release of their 1986 action classic Top Gun in the same format. There have been rumors of a Top Gun sequel since 2008, with The Usual Suspects writer Christopher McQuarrie and X-Men: First Class writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz hired to write at various points. However, none of these scribes actually wrote anything. Now, Variety reports that The Town co-writer Peter Craig will take us back to the danger zone for the sequel.

Plot details are being kept secret for now, but Tony Scott has already announced he’ll be returning to the director’s chair for the project. The story was once leaning toward the idea of modern day fighter pilots controlling remote drones and was said to “partially examine the end of the era of fighter pilots,” but now that Peter Craig is involved, he can thankfully start from scratch and hopefully come up with something a lot better for Maverick’s return to the skies. Tom Cruise has expressed interest in returning to the character, but that may end up as nothing more than a cameo. I’m a big fan of The Town, and I’m hoping Craig can bring some of those writing skills to the air with Top Gun 2.

After the success of The Muppets last year, it’s no...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:49:03 -0500

After the success of The Muppets last year, it’s no surprise that Disney is already commissioning a sequel. However, while a deal has just been finalized with the film’s director James Bobin and co-writer Nicholas Stoller, it appears that Jason Segel will not be involved on the writing side of things this time. Vulture has learned that Segel’s schedule with “How I Met Your Mother” along with other writing obligations and his promotional work for the forthcoming releases of The Five-Year Engagement and This is Forty means that he won’t have time to work on scripting the sequel this time around. That’s really disappointing news.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he won’t have input on the script, he just won’t be working full time to write it with Stoller and Bobin. I’m hoping that the sequel’s musical portions won’t suffer from his loss, but as long as Bret McKenzie comes back, fresh off his Oscar win for Man or Muppet, the music should be in good hands. But what does this mean for Segel starring in the film? Well since we don’t have a script yet, there’s no telling whether or not the film would even focus on his character again, but Disney insiders say that there’s still a chance that he will star in the film, even if he’s not writing it. We’ll just have to be manly Muppets (or a Muppet of a man) and accept however his involvement comes together.

With most of the major comics already turned into feature...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:46:37 -0500

With most of the major comics already turned into feature films or with their rights already bought for potential feature films, some much lesser known comic books are now getting their day in the sun. Deadline has word that Sony Pictures has just acquired the rights to the Valiant Comics series Bloodshot from 1992. An adaptation with Matthew Vaughn involved had been rumored some time ago, but now Sony is developing the project without him using a script written on spec from Jeff Wadlow (writer and director of such films as Cry Wolf and Never Back Down) with super producer Neal Moritz producing the film. More info below!

The character has seen two different volumes tackle the story each with different elements and locations, but with the same core story. Volume One (via Wikipedia) plays out like this: Angelo Mortalli has become the ultimate killing machine. His memories were erased and his blood was infused with microscopic computers called nanites. These nanites allow him to heal wounds quickly, dominate electronic devices, and fully control every aspect of his body to maximize his physical capabilities. A modern-day Frankenstein, he wages a one man war — taking out the mob, the police and his covert government creators — in his struggle to find out who he was and what he has become.

In the second volume, the story goes like this: Angelo Mortalli has been been subjected against his will to a scientific experiment that has remade him into the ultimate killing machine—an engine of destruction code named: Bloodshot. But, in the process, his memories were lost and maybe his soul as well. His makers meant to use him as a weapon—an unstoppable assassin. But they made him too well. Too powerful to be contained, and he breaks free and escapes. However, in this version the nanites are more like sentient beings which see hi as a God and provoke him to self induce a trance like state using a mixture of substances in order to communicate with him directly. Deadly operatives of the super-secret government agency that sponsored his creation hunt him down forcing him to take them out as he struggles to figure out who he was, plowing through the mob and police in his way.

There are plenty of similarities in either version, but it’s not clear if one informed the script more than the other. Either way, it’s easy to see how this could be turned into a feature film that would be something akin to The Bourne Identity, but with superpowers. There’s the potential for at least one big movie here, and with over 70 issues from the comic’s library, probably the potential for a franchise, which is what any studio really wants from a comic book. Of course, the project is still in its early stages, so it will likely be some time before we hear any real development on it.

The year 2011 was a good time for Alfred Hitchcock and the...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:43:04 -0500

The year 2011 was a good time for Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, a film that has drawn comparisons to My Week with Marilyn. Not only was Anthony Hopkins said to play the legendary filmmaker (after being rumored to play Hitchcock in a project the actor was developing called Alfred Hitchcock Presnts), but Helen Mirren joined the project as his wife Alma and Anvil! The Story of Anvil director was lined up to direct. Now the cast is getting even better as Variety reports Scarlett Johansson and James D’Arcy are set to play Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, the stars of the classic horror film.

For those just joining us, the film, based on the book of the same name, follows tracks how Hitchcock, at the height of his game as a director, decided to make a “lowly” horror movie. No studio wanted to touch it initially so Hitchcock scrounged for financing by himself. And the rest is history. The relationship between Hitchcock and his wife is also integral to the script by Black Swan writer John McLaughlin. Knowing the outcome of the story and how the film has gone on to become one of the greatest horror films of all-time and generally a cinematic classic, this is one of those stories that should really dig into the details.

Johansson is pretty much the perfect choice to play Janet Leigh, though it’s interesting that this film is said to be akin to My Week with Marilyn because Michelle Williams also would’ve been a stellar choice. Meanwhile, D’arcy, who has plenty of experience in films like Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and most recently W.E., but isn’t a household name just yet, also seems like a great casting choice as well. This will most certainly be a film that will get a lot of Academy Awards attention when the time comes and I’m already excited to see how it turns out.

2012 Academy Award Winners Winners are highlighted...

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:37:37 -0500

2012 Academy Award Winners

Winners are highlighted in BOLD below.

PICTURE:
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
War Horse

DIRECTOR:
Alexander Payne - The Descendants
Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life

ACTOR:
Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
George Clooney - The Descendants
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
Demián Bichir - A Better Life

ACTRESS:
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Viola Davis - The Help
Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn
Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn
Nick Nolte - Warrior
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Max Von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Berenice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo - Bridesmaids
J.C. Chandor - Margin Call
Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Asghar Farhadi - A Separation

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash - The Descendants
John Logan - Hugo
Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillian - Moneyball
George Clooney - The Ides of March
Peter Straughan & Bridget O’Connor - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

ANIMATED FEATURE:
A Cat in Paris (dirs. Jean-Loup Felicioli & Alain Gagnol)
Chico & Rita (dirs. Tono Errando & Javier Mariscal & Fernando Trueba)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (dir. Jennifer Yuh)
Puss in Boots (dir. Chris Miller)
Rango (dir. Gore Verbsinki)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Bullhead (dir. Michael R. Roskam - Belgium)
Monsieur Lazhar (dir. Philippe Falardeau - Canada)
A Separation (dir. Asghar Farhadi - Iran)
Footnote (dir. Joseph Cedar - Israel)
In Darkness (dir. Agnieszka Holland - Poland)

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Guillaume Schiffman - The Artist
Jeff Cronenweth - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Robert Richardson - Hugo
Emmanuel Lubezki - The Tree of Life
Janusz Kaminski - War Horse

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Pina
Hell and Back Again
If A Tree Falls: The Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3
Undefeated

DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
The Barber of Birmingham (dirs. Gail Dolgin & Robin Fryday)
God Is the Bigger Elvis (dir. Rebecca Cammisa)
Incident in New Baghdad (dir. James Spione)
Saving Face (dir. Daniel Junge)
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom (dir. Lucy Walker)

ANIMATED SHORT:
Dimanche/Sunday (dir. Patrick Doyon)
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (dirs. William Joyce & Brandon Oldenburg)
La Luna (dir. Enrico Casarosa)
A Morning Stroll (dir. Grant Orchard)
Wild Life (dirs. Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby)

LIVE-ACTION SHORT:
Pentecost (dir. Peter McDonald)
Raju (dir. Max Zähle)
The Shore (dir. Terry George)
Time Freak (dir. Andrew Bowler)
Tuba Atlantic (dir. Hallvar Witzø)

VISUAL EFFECTS:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

ART DIRECTION

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse

COSTUME DESIGN:
Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.

MAKEUP:
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
The Iron Lady

FILM EDITING:
The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball

SOUND MIXING:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Moneyball
Hugo
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse

SOUND EDITING:
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse

ORIGINAL SCORE:
John Williams - The Adventures of Tintin
Ludovic Bource - The Artist
Howard Shore - Hugo
Alberto Iglesias - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
John Williams - War Horse

ORIGINAL SONG:
“Man or Muppet” from The Muppets
“Real in Rio” from Rio

HONORARY OSCARS:
Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones, Dick Smith

All those kids who get iPhones, iPads, Cars, etc from their...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:18:00 -0500

All those kids who get iPhones, iPads, Cars, etc from their parents and Im just like…. O: