Film News (31/10/2009)

I may have mentioned that I've been on tour and not been able to get to a computer recently. Or at least not enough to be able to read up on the news and report back. I am therefore writing this in the middle of half term with over three pages of notes regarding news stories that have come and gone over the last month and a half. I'm binning all updates on stories we've already reported on and just looking at the completely original incidents. With no further ado let's get on...

Gucci Biopic

There are few families from the 20th century which seem to be ripped out of a soap opera more than the fashion giants Gucci. There have been boardroom fist fights, celebrity hangers on, tax evasion claims and even murder. It's such a mad story it's going to need a barmy cast to bring it off... Anjelina Jolie as Patrizia Reggiano and Leonardo DiCaprio as her superflous husband Maurizio Gucci. Never mind the Dallas picture bring on the Gucci's.

Shoes are apparently not related to this post in any way...



American Rust

Described as a modern retelling of the underclass stories written by John Steinbeck in the pre-war years American Rust concerns two agricultural workers who leave their home town to find better jobs only to be caught in a maelstrom of violence and misunderstanding. Walter Salles has signed on to direct.

The Fly

I won't link to the 1986 version of the classic sci-fi about a scientist finding his DNA altered irreperably. Although perhaps I should because although there have rumours about a remake David Cronenberg has publicly stated that he will be behind the camera for any remakes. With advances in technology over the last 25 years the body horror elements will almost certainly be digusting beyond belief.

It's a Kind of Funny Story

Apparently it's a well-loved young adult story by Ned Vizzini about a suicidal teenager checking into an adult mental health facility. I don't know if the book is any good but I love the concept, and with Viola Davis signing up for a pivotal role you can count me in.

Melancholia

Lars von Trier is fed up with making deep arthouse pictures that divide audiences, so he's decided to make a blockbuster - a sci-fi disaster movie no less. Early plot details indicate another planet collides with the Earth. Don't expect a happy ending.

My Fair Lady

I love the original My Fair Lady, as a kid I was sat in front of it on almost every visit to my Grandparents. As such it is with trepidation that I approach the remake with Keira Knightly. The good news is that Emma Thompson is working on a script, which could make it very humourous. In unlikely casting Daniel Craig is being mooted for Henry Higgins.

Red Riding

To recap David Pearce wrote a quadrilogy of novels about corruption in the Yorkshire police forces during the late 70's and early 80's. Looking at the investigation into some teenagers murdered against the rise and fall of the trade unions. This was made into a TV miniseries, which was released in the states as 3 films - can anyone verify this, please? It looks like Columbia and Scott Free entertainment have picked it up to create one big movie. Could be a horrible mess.

Robert Capa Biopic

Michael Mann will be returning to the biopic arena for his next film, by looking at the famed photographer Robert Capa. The film wil focus on his early romances during the Spanish Civil War, so expect plenty of opportunity for Mann's sound editors to shine.

Securitas Robbery picture

Here in the UK we're just coming to the end of reports about the Tonbridge Securitas robbery. In essence it's a common story where the robbers kidnap the managers family and use that a leverage to get into the bank or, in this case depot. Only this time it's the largest haul in a robbery of all time with over 50m sterling taken. To make the story even more bizarre the ring leaders were mostly high profile cage fighters. It hasn't taken long for the studios to take an interest and I'm sure they're be parts for Danny Dyer in it.

X-Movies

The future of the X-Men franchise rumbles on. Like many of you I refused to cough up a fiver to see Wolverine, however lots of people did so expect a second installement of that offshoot as well as individual films for Magneto and Deadpool. Pruducer Lauren Schuler-Donner has also blurted out that we're likely to see an X-Men early years movie, like a mutant One Tree Hill. Can't wait? Personally I think the whole X franchise may have had it's day but we'll see. At what point do falling returns mean you stop production...


Box Office News

Release Date News

Taking Woodstock - Making November slightly easier to manage Ang Lee's 1960s set homocomedy has been moved back a week. Trip out with the flower generation on 13 November 2009.

The Girlfriend Experience - Steven Soderbergh's lo-fi experiment about the escort industry has slipped back another week into December. You can see the trailer this week. Pay over the odds on 04 December 2009.

The Boys are Back - Clive Owen's Oscar bid, based on Simon Carr's true story will still be showing in January next year but it is now a dirrent week. Learn to say yes on 22 January 2010.

Dear John - If the idea of watching a Nicolas Saprks novel adapted by Lasse Hallstrom makes you gag then you should seriously consider taking May as holiday. On the other hand we see an awful lot of Channing Tatum in the trailer. Write a love letter to Channing on 07 May 2010.

The Green Hornet - I'm hoping this is the last time Michel Gondry's comic book tome will be shifted back as the talent involved really intrigues me. Crime fight using a mysterious identity on 31 December 2010.

Untitled James L. Brooks Movie - It may be called How do you Know, it might not, but Brooks' return to the silver screen with Reese Witherspoon and lucky charm Jack Nicholson has chosen a prime date for the 2010 Oscar season. Have two men fight over you on 14 January 2011.

Straw Dogs - Two months ago I was concerned that the release date for Rod Lurie's retelling of the classic revenge thriller had disappeared into the ether, well it's back. Execute your wife's rapists on 11 March 2011.

Rango - It's not often I get interested in animated movies, however this reunites the Pirates trilogy director Gore Verbinski with star Johnny Depp. Plus it's about dogs. Fetch a bone on 08 April 2011.

Town Creek - They shifted it back further and further until ti completed disappeared. I can't say I'm sorry that I probably won't see the latest film from Joel Schumacher, but I'll keep an eye out in case it makes a limited release before it's inevitable appearance in DVD bargain bins.


Box Office Report

August and September both minor shocks in the top of the box office statistics, with a horror sequel conquering August and a South African actioners the champ in September. Although with the general lack of quality around in the late summer perhaps these two were positioned well.

August

1. The Final Destination
2. The Proposal
3. Inglorious Basterds
4. The Time Traveler's Wife
5. Aliens in the Attic

September

1. District 9
2. Fame
3. Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs
4. (500) Days of Summer
5. Surrogates



I thought I'd end this post with a picture of a prawn. Well done for persevering.