Film News (29/08/2009)

I'm pretty ambivalent about most of the stories this week, we either already knew about it, or it's just another cast member in what is already shaping to be a fantastic film or I suspect the film will be ropey anyway. But here goes with the news.

The Town

Do you think Ben Affleck looks anything like Chris Cooper? Be honest...



No, I can't see it either.

That isn't stopping Ben from chasing Chris for his bank robbers in Boston movie, with a view Him playing the actor-directors Dad. It doesn't really matter because whenever you put Cooper in a film it automatically improves by 15%.



Pirate Latitudes

It was obviously terrible personal news to Michale Crichton's family and friends when he lost his fight to cancer last year. However let's not over state his achievements in film. Most of the work he did was pretty risable. It's therefore with mixed feelings that we hear his last published novel - Pirate Latitudes - about a daring raid on a Spanish Galleon is due to be adapted by Dreamworks. Saying that at least it's not full of dodgy technobabble so perhaps it may just work.

Restless

Bryce Dallas Howard may have a somewhat spotty acting career - not her fault she's usually very good only in dreadful films - but if she ever decided to become an agent for writers she'd probably make a fortune. Earlier this year we heard she showed her dad the Originals, written by a friend, and now Ron going to produce. She's only gone and down it again - this time Restless has been passed to good friend Gus van Sant to direct. I wonder if i should send her my great unfilmed script?

There be Dragons

It's not strictly speaking news - the camera's have been whirling for Roland Joffe's Sapnish Civil war picture for over a month - but the papers got hold of some background this week and there have been questions aout the objectivity of the piece. You see it's about Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, founder of the powerful Catholic sect Opus Dei, and it's funded by Opus Dei. Will the film therefore be prepared to divulge the more controversial elements of the group, or Josemaria's pro-Franco statements? Or will it be a whitewashed recruitment video. Odds on if Opus Dei spend too much time meddling with historical fact it will go the way of other religion funded films like Inchon and Battlefield Earth, so I guess it won't matter either way.

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps

Susan Sarandon has been drafted in to play Shia LaBeouf's mum. I wonder what her character's stance on corporate greed will be? Perhaps it will be as surprising, and require as much "acting" as Michael Sheen had to do in the original.

Box Office News

Release Date News

Creek - Delaying my horrible dilemma with the trailers, look back at Tuesday's post for an explanation, Joel Schumacher's Nazi-Occult experiment film has fallen back by nearly a month. Still looks dreadful. Search for your brother's abducters on 09 October 2009.

The Girlfriend Experience - The low key look at high class protitution has been put back back one week, I guess so there aren't 2 Soderbergh films opening on the same day. Personally I'd still be interested in these as a double bill. Blow your rent on 27 November 2009.

The Boys are Back - It's a very fine line between quality drama and smaltz, especially where cancer and becoming a single parent fire the plot. Still the trailer doesn't lay it on too much so maybe this is one to watch. Let Clive Owen be your daddy on 15 January 2010.

Up in the Air - The internet buzz for George Clooney's satirical turn in this black comedy about corporate practices has been pretty loud, with may pundits suggesting the quality here may be the main factor in shunting Shutter Island back into 2010. Notch up some frequet flyer miles on 15 January 2010.

Brothers - US remake of Susanne Bier's melodrama about Men returning from war may have some powerhouse performances from Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal and, especially, Tobey Maguire. If Maguire has to deal with half the trauma that Ulrich Thomsen faced in the original then he'd batter start clearing space for that Oscar. Romance your in lwas on 22 January 2010.

Shutter Island - Following the announcement of a 5 month delay in the States last week it was only a matter of time before Shutter Island was also pushed back internationally. Paramount's excuse is to reduce costs by opening it in the new year (where at least all it's revenue will come in the right fiscal period). Why is accountancy still boring when related to films? Go mad for Leo on 19 February 2010.

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps - Forget the clunky title, Stone's follow up to the classic tale of 80's greed has amassed an impressive cast (see above) and in the dark days of the current recession may show a much needed warning of how society is developing. Find out whether greed is good on 23 April 2010.

Wichita - That's might not be the name it finishes up with, I just hate using untitled ... Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise go on a date, so far so standard rom-com, but when part of his day job as a secret service agent interrupts them she's coming along for the ride. I hope Cruise plays it deadly seriously and Diaz is allowed to be funny. Get airlifted into the multiplex on 02 July 2010.

Straw Dogs - It's not all good news this month. The remake (which is actually going to be closer to the source material) has lost it's UK release. It's not huge surprise considering it's not opening in the States until 2011, but for now no-one has any idea how long we're going to wait for it.




Box Office Report

July was the second month in a row with the top film being a no-brainer. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is currently at the top of the chart this year, the same position as the Goblet of Fire and Order of the Pheonix. It still has a way to go to hit the grosses of the previous chapters though which may mean bad news for the two-parter final chapter. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is also having a fantastic run, outpacing Transformers and Slumdog. Gay fashionistas, CIA Guinea Pigs and American Gangsters round our July's top 5. The last one of which I actually saw in the cinema - I'm suddenly almost with the zeitgeist.

1. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
2. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
3. Bruno
4. G-Force
5. Public Enemies



Michael Gambon wonders what he's going to do now...