Film News (26/12/09)

It's another last for 2009; the last film news report. Needless to say it's pretty dull - even Hollywood takes time off at Christmas. At first all I though I had was release date changes (I'm dumping the box office statistics) and the second story I'm running. Luckily we had a great piece of casting news on Tuesday - more of that below.

By the way, did you know I've featured 161 projects in the news over the year, that's over 3 times the number I've seen in the year. Although it's worth noting that only 40% are currently in production - the rest remain rumours and longer term developments. 15 of the films I've mentioned will turn up in my top 20 anticipated films for 2010 - countdown coming in January. I won't drop any clues as there will be a prize for guessing the top film...

The Talking Cure



Christopher Hampton knows how to write about sexual politics and intrigue; Dangerous Liaisons and Atonement being just two fine examples. His latest play to be developed into a movie is The Talking Cure. Based on the development of psychoanalysis the story revolves around a (fictional) shared patient of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung as they form thier own ideas about therapy and the contruction of the human psyche. Keira Knightley will be playing the confused go-between and Inglorious alumni Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbinder will step into the shoes of the pioneers of therapy.



My Soul to Take

Wes Craven's latest slasher flick revealed details of it's supernaturally powerful killer this week. I told you it washn't a great story. He had a name, and a photo and everything. I didn't make any notes.

RELEASE DATE NEWS

Leap Year - Amy Adams aims for rom-com stardom with her Ireland based road movie about a bride to be attempting to propose on 29th February. Unfortunately she's got to cross Ireland to get to him. I don't know why this film is being released in 2010. Ask your man to marry you on 26 February 2010.

Ondine - Colin Farrell finds a girl in his fishing net who may or may not be a mermaid; and has to decide what to do about it. A grown up Splash! if you will. Sing with the Merfolk on 12 March 2010.

The Ghost - Roman Polanski's latest thriller is likely to hit the headlines more because of his current house arrest and probable extradition to the States, than for the quality of this Robert Harris adaptation. Read the truth on 19 March 2010.

Dear John - The big screen adaptation of Nicolas Sparks' war torn lovers hanky fest has moved it's release date again. Judging by the trailer I doubt anyone cares. Write love letters to our boys on the front on 16 April 2010.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time - There's always a lot of jostling over the summer release schedule, so the falling back of this video game property is hardly surprising and probably only means the studio thinks it will open better one week later. Rescue your princess on 21 May 2010.

Warrior - If the Cage-fighting movie is essentially a subset of the boxing movie do you think this will be more about the family dramas outside of the "cage" or will be just see grown men beating the crap out of each other? Watch sweaty men in shorts on 17 September 2010.

Social Network - The official facebook movie has sprung up pretty quickly, focusing on the development of the web-site the film will concentrate on young men with no social skills invent whole new ways to not take to each other. Poke your local cinema on 22 October 2010.

How do You Know? - Slight change of release date for James L. Brooks latest venture. Reese Witherspoon will have to choose between her two unlikely suiters; gien that it's a comedy I expect she'll go for the lovable schlub. Follow your heart on 21 January 2011.

Spider-Man 4 - The web-slinger will be returning to the big screens for his fourth outing in 2011. The quality of the whole production may depend on the villian casting, so lets just hope they think long and hard about it. Get caught in a web on 06 May 2011.

Thor - I'm a little behind the curve on this one, but the latest marvel to screen adaptation has been moved back to 2011 for some time, but it's only this week the UK schedules were changed. Attack like a viking on 20 May 2011.