Saturday, 14 February 2009

Film News (14/02/09)

February must be a good time for butering up studio execs, or at least making the press teams work overtime as there's been another 7 stories worth mentioning this week.



The Matarese Circle

Robert Ludlum was a reasonably successful writer during his lifetime, but in the a5 years since his death his books have really taken off cinematically. The Bourne trilogy is as obvious example. This week two of his books have been the subject of news. The Parsifal Mosiac, which has been optioned by Universal, and The Matarese Circle which is going into production later this year. The film will star the incredible pairing of Denzel Washington and Tom Crise as enemy spies who have to join forces, and if that wasn't enough to get me going David Cronenberg is set to direct. Now I don't know much about action thriller franchises, but starting with the director of Scanners and Crash is certainly going to be fascinating.



Gemini Man

The script of Gemini Man has been drifting around Hollywood for over ten years and it looks like it's finally going to start production soon under the guidance of L.A. Confidential director Curtis Hanson. I like Curtis, his direction is usually assured, but he's an unusual choice for this clone assassin starts trailing his "father". His only action film to date, The River Wild, is hardly a great barometer of his suitability.

Inception

Christopher Nolan has annouced his next pic is the self-penned contemporary adult sci-fi Inception. Nolan will have a lot to prove after The Dark Knights massive success, so let's hope this isn't a Fountain.


Leap Year

I feel a bit bad about my anti-Amy tirade in the Doubt review. I actually love Miss Adams to bits - her performance in Enchanted was divine - so any chance I get to see her in a romantic comedy I will jump at. In Leap Year she will enlist the help of newly cast Matthew Goode to cross Ireland in order to propose to her beau. Somehow I think they'll fall in love on the way. Ahhh.

Nottingham

Apparenly Cate Blanchett has signed up to play Maid Marian in Scott's revisionist tale of men in green. No, I can't see that casting work either.

Untitled James Mangold picture

Another month another rumour about James Mangold. His next film is now based on a true stroy where a pair lawyers from New Orleans faced off against a Multinational Petrolium Giant in order to get compensation for families who lost their loved ones overseas. As with all James Mangold stories including my recent story of Juliet, I will wait until the camera starts rolling before I believe it.

Untitled Woody Allen Picture

I already slipped in the news on Josh Brolin's birthday buit just to reiterate Brolin and Anthony Hopkins have signed up to star in Woody's next UK based film which will shot later this year. Could be brilliant, could be pants - you never really know with Woody. (By the way picture is proof you can never have too much Brolin)

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