Film News (25/07/09)

The world is going crazy, there's so much news and previews it's enough to make your head spin. That's right it's Comic-Con, long since evolved from the origins of San Diego comic book geeks to packing in the screaming Twilight geeks. Whether it works as somewhere to showcase footage or to pump the audiences is another question, but whilst the stars and studios continue to swarm there the news will eventually bubble out. And for the non-Comic-Con news there's an interesting recurring theme of indecision but first:



Batman 3, or is it 7, or 8?

It's no surprise that after the astonishing success of The Dark Knight that a sequel would be made, although the proposed direction of Nolan's new/old trilogy may well have been massively altered by the untimely death of Joker Heath Ledger. However Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon) has let it slip - and I'll let you believe it wasn't planned if you want to - that filming starts next spring for a 2011 release. I personally think that 2011 is already a bit crowded with Spider-Man 4, Green Lantern and Thor but I expect Warner Bros know what their doing.



Cosmopolis

In our first indecisive director news David Cronenberg is developing Don DeLillo's novel about a multi-millionaire who starts hemorrhaging cash during a stock market rash and must dash across Manhattan to stop it. Whether this will be closer to Wall Street or Falling Down remains to be seen. Already this year Cronenberg has talked about The Matarese Circle with Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise, as well as a Eastern Promises sequel, so goodness knows which of the projects he'll run with first.

The Green Hornet

Stephen Chow has finally dropped out of The Green Hornet completely, leaving a Cato sized hole in the cast of this 2010 comic book adaptation. They're still planning on lensing later in the summer, and have even confirmed Nic Cage as the bad guy and Cameron Diaz as a love interest so expect a new martial-arts master to be installed soon.

Master and Commander 2

Master and Commader: Far Side of the World was a superb, film. Rightly selected by the Academy for a best picture nod, how it didn't get some notice for Russel Crowe is beyond me. After umming and ahhing for some time Crowe is interesting in getting back to the high seas, with a script nearing completeion. Let's hope that the notoriously picky Peter Weir, who directed the original and has already stated he thinks a sequel is unlikely, can be persuaded to helm (ho ho) it.

Red

Morgan Freeman has joined Bruce Willis in the comic book adaptation Red. Willis plays a black ops agent who returns to take on a high tech killer. Whether Freeman will be a collegue, a scheming politico or the killer himself remains to be seen.


Temeraire

Peter Jackson has been waxing lyrical about a number of projects he has involvement in at Comic-Con, but aside from Tintin, Lovely Bones and District 9 he had a brief synopsis about what is likely to be his next film to direct. It's set during the Napoleonic Wars, chronicling the bizzarely over-looked (cinematically) period in European history. Oh, and there will be dragons. I don't know whether to be completely psyched or shocked in disbelief.


Three Little Words

James Mangold has another project that means a lot to him, so much so that he wants to direct. It's not Wichita, or his Legal thriller, or Juliet, or Cyclops, but a totally new project based on one of these child abuse biographies that are clogging up book shops. By all means try holding your breath until James picks another film he wants to work on. It won't be that long.

Warcraft

The film adapataion of the popular World of Warcraft computer game has moved one step closer by appointing Sam Raimi as director. It's a complex internet community roleplay adventure so how that will translate into a three act structure is a mystery. Could be beautiful to look at, could be atrocious to watch!

Untitled Quentin Tarantino Western

Tarantino is another director who likes to keep ua all guessing what his next picture will be - after all Inglorious Basterds was first mooted some ten years ago. So at the UK premier of Basterds he tipped that his next picture will be a Western. I personally feel that its the sort of thing that Quentin could do very well if he tries to avoid all his stylistic twitches, after all what was Reservoir Dogs but a 90 minute Mexican stand off, and Kill Bill borrowed heavily from Western sensibilities.

Box Office News

Release Date News

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus - Falling back a week is Terry Gilliam's latest starring Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Heath Ledger as different versions of Heath Ledger. Artistically this looks like pure Gilliam, but it's fascinating to try to estimate how it will do financially. Make a deal with the devil on 16 October 2009.

Taking Woodstock - The Woodstock film, which only includes Woodstock as a backdrop to one families development in the late 60's, has also shifted back a week into the incredibly crowded November. Honestly - you won't be able to turn around for decent films in November. Grow your hair and put some flowers in it on 6 November 2009.

A Serious Man - The Coen Brothers have been keeping their latest film carefully under wraps with no shots or trailers yet. It's a dark comedy so it's hard to know which of their eclectic back catalogue to except it will emanate, especially as there doesn't seem to be an excessive body count this time round. Sleep on your brother-in-laws sofa on 20 November 2009.

Invictus - Whether this is a complete Nelson Mandela biopic, or whether it solely focuses on the Rugby World Cup, you can guarantee that Clint and Morgan will be getting Oscar nods for their efforts. Catch an odd-shaped ball on 05 February 2010.

Valentine's Day - In the least surprising release date news of the year it's been announced that the mishmash of intertwining love stories set around Valentines will open around Valentines. Smooch on the back row on 12 February 2009.

Alice in Wonderland - The teaser trailer came out this week, complete with angry red queen, soporific white queen, scary Cheshire Cat grin and what is set to be an immensely quotable "Alice! You're terribly late, you know. Naughty." from Depp's Mad Hatter. Go through the looking glass on 05 March 2010.

The Green Hornet - It seems impossible that this light comic adaptation will be finished in less than a year, considering the casting news above, but the gods of release dates are spoken. Have your sidekick do a kung fu chop on 23 July 2010.

Inception - Christopher Nolan is floating on a tide of good will right now following the monster returns for The Dark Knight, whether the tills will ring as much for a original property remains to be seen. Escape the barriers of your mind on 13 August 2010.

The Last Airbender - I don't think putting this against Inception is a good idea (even if there's is little crossover appeal), so expect another shift later in the year. For now try to control the elements on 13 August 2010.

Box Office Report

There's no surprise that Transformers has confidently taken the top spot over the June openers, as predicted right here (no points for that I know). It's bounded straight up to the second highest grossing film in the UK this year; although a certain boy wizard will be overtaking it before it surpasses Slumdog Millionaire. The rest of the top five are a mixed bag with a couple of comedies, an underwhelming Terminator film and a heartwarming tale about terminal cancer. We have very odd tastes here in the UK. Naturally I neither saw, nor recommended any of these films.

1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
2. The Hangover
3. Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins
4. My Sister's Keeper
5. Year One