Happy Birthday to
David Paymer
56 today
You know we like our obscure character actors here on RLAG, so lets give a quick round of applause to David, who've been popping up in great films for over 30 years. Not much on the horizon - unless you're a "Law and Order" fan - but I'm sure someone will cal him wth a great offer soon.
I didn't have a news section last week as I couldn't get to a computer, but that's probably a god thing as there hasn't exactly been much going on over the last few weeks. Mainly casting news on projects we've already talked to death here as well as the odd bit of unlikely rumours. Luckily we do have some good stories in the release date sections still to come with December becoming a lot more interesting... First up though is:
Toyer
Gadner McKay's novel is an interesting twist on the serial killer/gorno sub genre where the antagonist kidnaps girls in order to psychologically play with them but not murder or rape them, then once he has his fill releases them again. I can't quite see how - in the universe of the book - this isn't regarded as a major criminal act but apparently our hero is able to get away with it time and time again. If the set up sounds a little Hitchcockian then you won't be surprised to hear Brain De Palma is currently working on a big screen adaptation with the action transferred to the Carnevale di Venezia.
If anyone can make this sort of thing work I imagine it's De Palma (above, holding up a window) with his usual visual tricks and obsession with identity. It's not the first time Brian toyed (sorry) with the idea of adapting it but with nothing else on his plate I hope he finally gets a chance to go ahead with production.
Read on for OAPs, kidnap, terrorism, mass murder, spys, serial killers, the war on drugs and exhaustive gun battles. I'm thinking the OAPs may be out of place in this weeks post.
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Our first confirmed casting story is for Dame Judi Dench who has signed on to play one of the residents in the titular Indian retirement home. We're still waiting to hear which other major British stars of a certain age who will also be signing up.
Carjacked
It's been on the radar for a couple of years now, but Peter Medak's thriller set completely within the car of a mother and daughter who are kidnapped has picked up Maria Bello as the victim and Stephen Dorff as her captor. I suspect this will be more an exercise in style than a great movie - like Phone Booth - but I'll sill be there to see what intensity Bello can bring to the role. Example of carjacking to the left, in case you've spent your whole life in a cave.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Joining Sandra Bullock in Stephen Daldry's 9/11 picture will be Tom Hanks. I'm not sure what part he's going to play - the film revolves around a pre-teen whose father died in the terrorist attacks - but even a cameo role should do wonders for it's overall appeal. Expect it to win all the Oscars in 2012.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Following the announcement that Rooney Mara (Social Network, Nightmare on Elm Street) will be playing Lisbeth in the American remake comes the added rumour that Max von Sydow (looking a little confused on our right) will be the patriarch at the centre of the family who are haunted by the crime that forms the backbone of the plot. It's nice to see there will be some Swedish presence in the remake.
Salt 2
With Anjelina Jolie's spy vehicle passing $110m in it's US gross and with a deliberately ambiguous ending it comes as no surprise that everyone's signed on for a return including Jolie and director Philip Noyce. Whether there's enough plot to make it work remains to be seen but the first film was an enjoyable romp so I expect I'll be up for a sequel. 
Scream 4
Two more starlets, Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell, have been added to the cast of Wes Craven's return to the tongue in cheek franchise. Filming's been going on for some time so I wouldn't expect either actress to make it to the final credits intact.
Triple Frontier
A leaked memo from Paramount executives has announced a number of small and longer term projects currently under development, including within it notes about Kathryn Bigelow's next drug drama. Apparently she has been meeting with Will Smith, Javier Bardem, Christian Bale and Sean Penn which sounds like hell of a cast to me.
Untitled Gallipoli Project
Peter Jackson is remaining tight lipped about The Hobbit and Tintin sequels but he has been talking this week about his ambition to retell the Gallipoli story prior to the 100th anniversary in 2015. Unlike Peter Weir incredible 1981 film (DVD cover, right) Jackson intends to balance the politics and show the culpability from the ANZAC commanders as well as the incompetence of the British Generals in charge of the operation. It sounds controversial and with only 5 years to make it it's hard to think he can squeeze it in with both of the aforementioned blockbusters so one of them is likely to give...
Honorary Oscars
We've also learned this week that AMPAS will be bestowing honorary awards on to historian and preservationist Kevin Brownlow, director Jean-Luc Godard and actor Eli Wallach, as well as the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to producer-director Francis Ford Coppola. Some very good choices there. I'll be watching The Good, the Bad and The Ugly to celebrate Eli's award later. How will you be celebrating?
Release Dates
New York I Love You - Falling back a week - just a week this time - is the follow up to the acclaimed Paris, Je t'aime. I'm not sure but I may have mentioned before how much I'm looking forward to this. Find your love story on 08 October 2010.
Miral - December is beginning to fill up with prestige fare including this look at the Palestinian/Israel issue from avant-garde director Julian Schnabel and it's sure to pose far more questions than it answers. Find out which side of the wall you're on on 03 December 2010.
The Way Back - Peter Weir's part escape-movie part travelogue follows a group of fugitives from the Steppes in Siberia to the Indian subcontinent including Ed Harris and Colin Farrell. Escape from a gulag on 24 December 2010.
How do you Know - James L. Brooks doesn't make many films, but when he does they're usually minor hits critically and commercially, we'll see what happens with this Reese Witherspoon starring rom-com. Decide who you really love on 28 January 2011.
Morning Glory - Harrison Ford gets to play grumpy and Diane Keaton flighty in this warring anchors picture, don't expect much but it could be diverting. Read between the headlines on 28 January 2011.
Black Swan - It's certainly one of the most anticipated movies of the awards season but so far even having seen the trailer we still don't know if Darren Aronofsky's ballet drama is about a nervous breakdown or a malicious spirit. Practise your pirouette on 11 February 2011.
Restless - Gus van Sants low key follow up to Milk has moved out of the busy January schedules to find solace later in the year, it's always going to a tough sell for his more introspective work though. Find your one true love on 11 March 2011.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Who'd have thought the first film to break into the schedules for 2012 would be a remake of a Swedish breakthrough, saying that with it's prominence on the best-seller lists and one of the most publicised casting processes since Scarlett O'Hara it's not a huge surprise the studios thinking ahead. Fight your inner demons on 06 January 2012.
If last week was all about the action then this week is all about the desire to avoid ay action. Most of this weeks heros are trying to avoid fights rather than jump straight into them. It's difficult to try to estimate which film is due to take the box office gold or whether last weeks muscle fest will hold on to the top spot. I'm thinking my film of the week will just about edge the lead and that's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. 
Aashayein
Our first Bollywood release of the week is this fast paced chase drama starring John Abraham. (No, that's right he really is from Mumbai and is a genuine Bollywood leading actor.) It has amazingly taken over 8 months to come to Britain - usually Bollywood films have global day and date releases.
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Chak Jawana
Interminable long trailer invlving six friends and their wacky adventures did absolutely nothing for me. I hope someone sees it though.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The graphic novel this is based on is reasonably popular in the States but I can't see it translating well over here, especially as the middle school setting is an alien concept to the target age range.
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Dog Pound
Canadian adolescent detention centre drama that explores the usual cliches of inmate violence drugs and vicious screws. So indebted to Alan Clarke's Scum you should catch up with that instead.
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The Girl who Played with Fire
No we all know Noomi Replace's iconic Lisbeth Salander in the adaptation of the Swedish bestsellers the second film was bound to be a little anti-climatic. Our heroic non-couple from the first film return to solve another string of grisly murders.
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Grown Ups
Woeful looking "comedy" with Adam Sandler and his usual collection of unfunny mates reuntiting after the death of their former gym coach. Only the presence of Salma Hayek (and her hilarious reaction to a snake in the onset interviews - catch it on You tube) prevents this film from getting just one star.
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The Last Seven
British apocalytic horror thriller where seven people awake in London to find they are the only humans left in the city. The trailer rips off 28 days later but with less iconic streets to close from traffic.
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The Maid
Catalina Saavedra got a lot of awards attention for her titular servant in this Chilean drama, as well as exporing the mind of the main character the film delves into the complex relationship between staff who become not quite part of the family.
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Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Based on the cult graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O'Malley this sees Michael Cera's generation X(box) teen battle his latest squeezes seven evil ex-boyfriends. Director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) is revered enough over here for the box office to outperform the underwhelming response in the US. Chris Evans, Brandon Routh and Anna Kendrick are among the supporting cast.
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Wah Do Dem
Mumblecore goes on holiday to Jamaica as Sean Bones misses his cruise ship and must cross the island without money to get to the capital Kingston and make his way home. Has garnered some nice reviews on the festival circuit.
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And I missed three films from last weeks releases.
The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
How could I have missed this eh? Torture porn continues to develop into ever increasing levels of ickiness with a deranged German doctor connecting three lost tourists by opposing ends of the digestive system. Persoanlly I can't see that working as a method of maintaining health by I do't suppose that matters to the target audience.
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Lafangey Parindey
A bare knuckle fighter meets a blind rollerstaker in this Bollywood romance - she teaches him to love, he teach he to see with her ears. You couldn't make this up.
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Naan Mahaan Alla
Very well received crime drama from India focusing on the quest for revenge following he murder of the leads father.
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I apologise for no Danny in cinemas last week - but the good news is that he turns up this week as the Angl of Death in The Last Seven so tradition insists:
Happy Birthday to
Diana Scarwid
55 today
Diana's performance as the Mother Superior in "Pushing Daisies" may have been nothing more than an extended cameo but it was a perfect opportunity for a whole new generation to pick up on her delightful screen persona.
Happy Birthday to
Sean Connery
80 today
More of an iconic performer than a great actor there are few that deny Sean's Bond defines the series to such an extent that all spies are compared against him. There's not much on the horizon for him - he's more satisfied living as a tax exile and playing golf.
Happy Birthday to
Ronee Blakley
65 today
Of course there are only two performances - as different in scope as chalk from cheese - that get remembered in Ronee back catalogue. For many people it's the doomed Marge in Nightmare on Elm Street, but for me it's her stunning turn as a country singer on the verge of a nervous breakdown in Robert Altman's Nashville. Here she is singing about her Idaho Home:
It's an action packed week of high octane entertainment whichever way you look. In fact there's little chance of making it to a cinema without geting involved in a gun fight or a massive chase sequence whether you're running from big muscles, big fish or big lips. I'm torn beween Jolie and Stallone for the box office campionship but I imagine the former has more cross appeal and will therefore get more couples could be a close one. In terms of my choice for film of the week be aware that I'm writing this one week in advance so the score for a certain fish film is yet to be finalised and I've heard rumours that the latest Danny Dyer pic (Basement) is to be rushed into screens but I've yet to get any official confirmation. That said it's highly unlikely that any of the films will look better than Salt.
The Expendables
Sylvester Stallone has assembled "the most awesome action cast ever" for this predicatable CIA backed drug lord revenge action flick and much has been made of the Planet Hollywood reunion - personally I'd be more interested in seeing Greenwich Village alumni Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke as snarling villian and wisecraking mechanic respectively.
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The Illusionist
Based on an unfilmed script by genius French comedian Jacques Tati, Sylvain Chomet follow-up to the madcap Triplets of Belleville uses the same animation style and is bound to pick upsome serious fans worldwide for it's sly visual humour.
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Marmaduke
The kind of talking animal pictue that makes Kitty Galorelook like a masterpiece in cinematic art. Run away and pray Owen Wilson can't sniff you out. Also starring William H. Macy.
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Mother
Joon-ho Bong's latest movie takes a long hard look at the relationship between Mother and Son following accusations of murder. Hye-ja Kim's performance as the titular matriach is rumoured to be excellent.
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Piranha 3D
It promises much in the way of bitey fish and many semi-naked women. I doubt there's much space for a coherent plot or "fleshed out" characters, but then why would any of the intended audience be looking for that. Richard Dreyfuss and Elisabeth Shue prove they can't get any other work.
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Salt
Anjelina Jolie is accused of being Russian agent and then goes on the run - now that just looks horribly guilty. I don't believe any amount of disguise would hide Jolie's beauty but I think I'll be going to the nearest multiplex to see.
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I know it's not confirmed - but I wouldn't want to miss the chance of taking a good look at Danny Dyer.
Happy Birthday to
Amy Adams
36 today
Last time we said Happy Birthday to Amy she was still relatively obscure wit a couple of indie hits and one breakout Disney picture to her name. Two years later with another Oscar nod and some high profile rom coms under her bet shes more of a known entity. Among her projects coming up are the Kerouac adaptation On the Road and Janis Joplin: Get it while you Can both of which are bound to capitalise on her current stature.
2010. Dir: James Mangold. Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Jordi Mollà and Viola Davis. ●●○○○
Oh, Tom. I wanted this to be good - I really wanted to enjoy this throwback to cheesy thrillers of the 60s. I as hoping to be able to jump on the couch with unbridled joy at your fun loving performance. Instead I can't help thinking what a wasted opportunity it was and how Knight and Day tried far too hard and ended up being loved by no-one.
The plot, such as it is, involves hapless classic car restorer Cameron Diaz (I know) getting caught up in rogue CIA operative Tom Cruise's plan to evade the spook community and transplant a convenient MacGuffin to nerdy scientist Paul Dano. (On a side issue does anyone remember when scientists stopped being older guys that are easily distracted and became younger guys who are perpetually nervy?) We then follow our mismatched duo from plane set piece to train set piece from New York to the Azores to the Alps. As I sit and type this I can't even remember all the locations or why...
Therein lies the problem. Hitchcock used to be able to take a flimsy excuse to set an Cary Grant sized everyman on a trip across the globe and it would all be so much fun that the reasons didn't matter. Did anyone really care why Cary was heading North by Northwest? Of course not, we just fell in love with the character and wanted to follow him all the way.
Neither of our leads here can even come close to matching Cary Grant (a tall order, I admit). Cameron comes off better, her natural comic timing aiding vastly with the continuous barrage of silly action scenes. Indeed her expressions when leaning over the back set and trying to drive a car or facing off against a hit man are the only moments of the film that made me stifle a giggle. Cruise comes off a lot worse, the fact that the character always appears to be in control is not endearing at all (and don't get me started on his habit of drugging Diaz) and whilst his overplaying of the off-the-wall elements come close to banishing the sofa-leaping Cruise from our sub-conscious the tongue in cheek feel of the part seems too calculated for that to really work.
If the leads are underwritten then the supporting characters really have problems with the two main baddies being particularly nonthreatening - at no point do you imagine anything other than a happy ending for out lead pair. Not that either of them really try. Spoiler alert Peter Sarsgaard barely can be bothered to phone his performance in - it's closer to having been e-mailed.
Apart from the initial battle on the plane none of the action sequences are even remotely heavy enough to work and it marks a major step back from James Mangold's last picture 3.10 to Yuma. The final five minutes of the film, set in Poploma during the bull run, are preposterous in terms of the carnage shown and offensively illogical when it comes to dispatching of Sarsgaard. All this without any ironic quips which would at least confirm the whole things meant to be a comedy.
It's not the worst film of the year, nor is it the most irritating, but it is a major mistake in just about everyone's CVs and will deservedly be found in supermarket bargain bins before long.
Happy Birthday to
Ed Norton
41 today
You might think I am celebrating the birthday of former Hulk (oops) the day after Robert De Niro as a way of pushing their next collaboration - Stone - out in cinemas later this year. Only it looks drivel so I won't be going to see it.
Happy Birthday to
Robert De Niro
67 today
In the news columns here at RLAG I like to big up Robert a lot, in fact I'm often interested in the projects that he may be attached to including Selma, Honeymoon with Harry and I heard you paint Houses - unfortunately he work hasn't been as good as we would hope for many years - you have to go back to 1997 for his last great performances (the three punch combo of Jackie Brown, Wag the Dog and Cop Land).
Happy Birthday to
Lesley Ann Warren
64 today
I love Clue. Funny funny funny. Especially Lesley's slutty Miss Scarlet. But like all great commediennes there are many great performances in her history whether you're a recent convert thanks to her "Will & Grace" cameo or a Victor/Victoria fan there's something for everyone. Talking of the latter here's Lesley belting out about Chicago, Illinois.
Not much of a week for breaking news, in fact half of the stories I'm running are additional casings to already announced projects. That said if this first item doesn't a) get to the top of the box office the week it opens and b) doesn't garner serious award consideration for the lead then I will be very surprised.
Untitled Peggy Lee Project
Pleased with the critical and commercial success from the real life of Kitchen queen Julia Child, Nora Ephron has decided to mine the biography of another 50's icon with her next film about singer and actress Peggy Lee. Best known for her interpretation of the Jazz standard Fever, Lee recorded over 50 albums and received 12 Grammy nominations. As well as an Oscar nod for her alcoholic singer in Pete Kelly's Blues.
It's still to be confirmed what aspect of Peggy's life will be the centrepoint of the biopic, there's certainly plenty to choose from either artistically or emotionally - Peggy married and divorced 4 times in 25 years. Saying that there's no great battle against addictions or family tragedy that often forms the backdrop for musical biopics so there are legitimate concerns that there will be a lack of conflict in the tale.
Reese Witherspoon is currently tipped to take the lead and there's a certain physical similarity to Peggy (above) that might just work.
Read on for an unlikely sci-fi, more roadside castings and the object of Charlize Theron's affections.
Isopod
The latest highly unlikely rumour - as picked up from a rogue tweet - is that Barry "Rain Man" Levinson is set to direct a indie sci-fi thriller Isopod in the Carolinas. It'll hardly be Levinson's usually oeuvre, but he has done sci-fi before (Sphere) and there's certainly been plenty of genre hopping in his career. In animal clasification the Isopoda are crustaceans with seven pairs of similar legs (from the latin iso ~ same and pod ~ foot) and are typically flattened. I am rather hoping the film will focus on a genetic abnormally which creates gigantic woodlice (left), essentially docile but capable of destroying entire forests in their rampant search for decomposing plant matter.
On the Road
Walter Salles has extended his cast once again, and there are even more interesting faces amongst the supporting characters including Alice Braga, Steve Buscemi and Terrence Howard.
Young Adult
I know it's only been a week since we first mentioned this Reitman/Cody collaboration with Charlize Theron setting off to reunite with her childhood sweetheart, and perhaps I should let the story lie low for a bit before updating but the news on the street is that Josh Brolin is set to play the jock that turns her down for a second time. Now I find Josh as sexy as the next guy but I'm still not convinced he'd be able to walk away from Charlize. Just saying.
Josh ponders his options.
Happy Birthday to
Tess Harper
60 today
Arkansas born actress who famously spent most of her formative acting years trying to work off her hillbilly accent only to then spend the rest of her career playing Southern grand dames. Nothing interesting coming up.
It's a strange week where the two big releases both look like dreadful prospects for a night at the cinema, needless to say it will either be cage or M. Night at number one and they'll claim a massive victory even if receipts of both end up bing disappointing. The film of the week on the other hand has be Oscar winner The Secret in their Eyes>.
Black Dynamite
It might not be timely - spoofing the blaxploitation subgenre which peaked over 30 years ago - but this all action comedy from Michale Jai White looks great in the trailers and hits all the right moves.
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The Final
Five kids getting bullied in small town America high school decide to deal with it through ultra violence and torture. This seems disproportionate to me, what do you think?
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Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal
It's impossible to find many details about this Tamil film starring the irrepressible Prakash Raj. The ramantic comedy follows the fortunes of 2 couples. IF anyone can post a link to a trailer then I will be eternally grateful - this is the only film that's foxed me so far this year.
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Last Airbender
The US critics went to town tearing down M. Night Shyalaman's latest cinmatic venture partly due to it's own incompetence and partly due to the drop in quality between the original cartoon series and this big screen remake. Reviews from this side of the pond have been kinder, but still generally negative.
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Le Refuge
Francois Ozon's (Time to Leave, 8 Women) latest about a pregnant woman coming to terms with the death of her lover and making an unlikely replacement family with his gay brother seems perfect for his sensitive filming style, that said the trailer and reviews make it seem like naval gazing is the order of the day.
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Secret in their Eyes
Very highly praised and oscar winning Argentinean movie that plays with time jumping back and forth between a an unsolved murder in the 1970's and the prosecuter writing his memoirs about the events surrounding it.
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Socerer's Apprentice
OK so I've rated this higher than the Last Airbender because the reviews have generally been kinder, but frankly this looks like the worse of the two and no amount of Nicolas Cage doing Nicolas Cage can prevent that.
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Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
Utterly pointless spin-off gets utterly pointless limited cinematic release. I can't imagine why anyone would want to go to see this, even the animation looks uninteresting.
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Happy Birthday to
Marcia Gay Harden
51 today
California girl Marcia continues to enliven otherwise middling films with her strong and prickly presence - The Mist was my first film to be reviewed here and her Mrs Carmody often haunts my darkest dreams - coming up will be the Tony Kaye directed Detachment where Marcia plays the principal to Adrein Brody's long term substitute teacher.
Happy Birthday to
Casey Affleck
35 today
Casey's been getting used to controversy these last few months, first there was the graphic violence of The Killer Inside Me and next up is th graphic excess of the Joaquim Pheonix documentary he's directed I'm Still Here. Looks like Casey will be taking the front page of the Daily Mail for many months to come.
Whatever you say about Ben Affleck as an actor you can't deny Gone Baby Gone was a finely crafted piece of cinema. His directorial follow-up (in which he also casts himself) is another Boston-set crime drama, although this time it concerns bank robberies rather than child abductions. Really nice supporting cast and solidy exciting trailer make this one to add to my calendar.
The Town opens on 24 September 2010.
Happy Birthday to
Martha Hyer
86 today
Best remembered for her supporting performance in the rat pack heavy Some Came Running Hyer was a committed and natural performer throughout her young career before retiring in the mid 70's. Was married to producer Hal B Wallis for 20 years.
Happy Birthday to
Anna Kendrick
25 today
Anna, who received her first Oscar nomination earlier this year, hadn't showed a great deal of promise prior to teaming up with George Clooney Up in the Air what with the majority of her work being in the Twilight series. Coming soon is (fairly obviously) the closing chaters of that epic serial.
Naturally with me not being here it's been an incredibly busy week with loads of new productions appearing on the periphery demanding my attention. I'm hoping that's a good sign that we're going to gets an increase on interesting movies - personally I've been generally disappointed by the overall quality of projects getting the green light.
Honeymoon with Harry
I won't pretend this piece of news is recent, or that I am desperate to see the adaptation of Bart Baker's unpublished novel, but the genesis of the production is quite unique. First optioned in 2004 Paul Haggis (Crash, Quantum of Solace) was due to write and direct this tale of a combative father and son-in-law as they recover from the sudden death of the woman they both love. The writers strike and other projects got in the way so this was shelved and has since gained the reputation of being one of the best unfilmed scripts in Hollywood.
Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper, having worked together on Neil Burger's Dark Fields (left - note Bobby's decidedly unsharp shoes), are anxious to reunite on the screen and have chosen this juicy concept as the vehicle for that. Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, Rachel Getting Married) has allegedly been approached to direct the piece.
Overall that's a fine team that few would argue with wanting to see on screen even if the first half of the spec comes close to the relationship in Meet the Parents.
Read on for sex education, American classics, superheroes, communing with the dead and literary dilemmas. As well as the latest production news.
The Abstinence Teacher
You wait a year for a Sandra Bullock story then two come along at once as she has is now in talks to Star in Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton's Little Miss Sunshine follow-up with Steve Carell. In it Bullock will play a free-spirited sex education teacher with liberal views facing backlash in a generally conservative small town. Sounds like it will do wonders for her image.
On the Road
I had been fairly ambivalent about the big screen adaptation of Jack Karouac's (right) ground breaking beat novel, it seem to me not that it's unfilmable but it does raise the question of why you would want to film it. That said Viggo Mortensen and Amy Adams have now been added to the supporting cast so I am beginning to waver.
The Shadow
Earlier in the year there were the stirrings of rumours that The Shadow is due a remake now the stench of the Alec Baldwin original has cleared away and the comic book receipts keep coming in. Latest twist is that Quentin Tarantino may end up directing, and whilst I'm not the greatest fan of Inglorious Basterds this would be the perfect opportunity for Quentin to indulge in all his ultra-violent fantasies and for it to fit in the universe. 
Skippy Dies
It is deeply disappointing that this will not be a final chapter to the long running Aussie children's drama about a bush Kangaroo that rescues idiots in National Parks (left). Instead it's from Paul Murray's boarding school set novel about a student who tries to commune with his dead roomie. Whether it's a celebration of innocence, an paean to hope or just downright depressing this could be a project to look out for and might just be a major career starter for two teenage boys out there.
Young Adult
This might take a bit of suspension of disbelief but in this Diablo Cody scripted Jason Reitman directed piece Charlize Theron will play a writer of "young adult" fiction who seeks out an old high school love interest who then scorns her having no wish to revisit his time as a teenager. Whether this leads to bunny boiler type actions from Charlize or a long hard look at how her life has turned out is unclear but there is sure to be ultra-hip dialogue and a nicely ironic look at society. I look forward to finding out why anyone would say no to getting back with Charlize though (I'm gay and I'd totally be up for making a go of a relationship...)
Production News
Every month I trawl though old news stories to identify which rumours have become reality and whether anything I missed is suddenly underway, and every month I am pleasantly surprised by some of the revelations. Over the last 5 weeks the you tube documentary project Life in a Day has filmed so we await to see if there is anything decent to come out of that, work has begun on the Disney fantasy The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Sam Mendes has decided for On Chesil Beach to be his next film in the absence of Bond and the above Young Adult has already begun the pre-production process, becoming only the second 2013 film that I'm interested in - look out for it in a 20 for 2013 countdown.
The films have also appeared with no fanfare:
Me.
Adaptation of a 1971 darkly comic play ("Untold Damage") which looks at the changing dynamics within a family following a tragic little league baseball injury. Was filmed for television with Richard Dreyfuss and Geraldine Fitzgerald which makes it an interesting cast to beat in this remake.
Detachment
The inspirational teacher sub genre of movies is a perennial favourite so it's no surprise to see another version roll into production, even if this seems more Half Nelson than Dead Poets Society as the substitute teacher is inspired by his students into becoming a better person. Adrien Brody will be taking the central role with a supporting cast including Marcia Gay Harden as the head and James Caan, Lucy Liu and Blythe Danner as other teachers. The big surprise is they've entrusted this to the directorial hands of barking mad Tony Kaye (American History X) - stand by for rows in the editorial suite and long protracted legal battles before it ever gets released.
I'm not sure when this pic was taken but I think Mr. Brody is enjoying his post-Predators buffness.
Tricky week to assess (and not just because I've been away from the computer for five days). I would imagine that Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz will be able to score the box office lead, but both the dance obsessed teenagers and the talking animal loving tweenies have their own counter-programming. It doesn't matter because film of the week is the limited release of Undertow.
Aisha
Quite nice looking bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, with the social structures of medern Delhi backing the matchmaking antics of the titular heroine. As ever the lack of mainstream press support hinders my anticipation for the Bollywood product.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Cats and Dogs; The revenge of Kitty Galore
Sequel to the 2002 kids film where cats and dogs talk and are at continuous war. Why has it taken so long for the sequel to be made? Because it looks dreadful and no-one should go near it. Nick Nolte, Bette Midler and Michael Clarke Duncan are amongst those who should be ashamed.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky
I doubt you need me to tell you this but it's a biopic about the relationship between the classic fashion designer and the avant garde composer. Less starry than last years straightfoward Coco Chanel picture but should make a nice counterpoint
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Eccentrities of a Blonde Haired girl
101 year old Portuguese director shows no sign of stopping with his latst highly regarded parable based on the 19th century short story by Eca de Queiros about a love story recounted to a fellow train passenger.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Knight and Day
Tom Cruise's latest bid to resurrect his action credentials has only managed middling reviews and looks eminently missable. That said I'm probably going to watch it tonight.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Step Up 3D
There's dancing. There's an unlikely relationship between a boy and girl from opposite sides of the tracks/different dance crews. It's in 3D. Is there anything else to say other than "Ugh" (see comments).
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Undertow
A bisexual love triangle drives the plot forward in this latest magical-realist movie from Latin America. Moving look at the nature of love and the idea of letting go as Christian Mercado must come out to his homophobic fishing community in order to allow his deceased lover to rest in peace.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest
Part documentary on Conrad Anker and Leo Houlding's attempt to solve the riddle of Mallory's disappearance and part biopic on the extraordinary attempt by George Mallory to reach the summit of Everest. Totally stunning cinematography with Lima Neeson and Ralph Fiennes among the voice cast.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Happy Birthday to
Charlize Theron
35 today
Easily one of the most beautiful women on the planet Charlize only seems to get any attention for her performances when she uglies up (or at least dowdies down). Taking a break at the moment Charlize looks like she next hit our screens in the Jason Reitman/Diablo Cody project Young Adults or the on-off Mad Max:Fury Road (currently off but I expect it'll be back).
Happy Birthday to
Vera Farmiga
37 today
Vera has a talent to be reckoned with, still flitting between indie and mainstream dramas she has proven time and time again that she can leave her co-stars in the shade, even making George Clooney seem uncomfortable in Up in the Air. It's a real shame that some of her more interesting efforts don't seem to be making it to the UK; both Nothing but the Truth and The Vintner's Luck have yet to see a UK cinema.
Happy Birthday to
Billy Bob Thornton
55 today
The former Mr Jolie passes another birthday where we're not really sure what his next moves as a performer should be. Unfortunatelky he's been taking the paycheck and running now for so long it's easy to forget what an electric actor he was.
September is a funny month for film releases, the blockbuster season is over but the prestige rush of award seeking movies have yet to arrive, and whilst there are some interesting films to be seen they're usually forgettable fare. I'm thinking this modern day retelling of Far from the Maddening Crowd may be one of those but I'll still be popping to the multiplex, if only witness the sexy couple of Dominci Cooper and Gemma Arterton on a big screen.
Tamara Drewe is released on 10 September 2010.
Baby Jesus Freak is now over, or at least over for now there are rumours that it will resurface in the spring. I have shaved and cut my hair and now look less like a homeless accountant and more like my old self. (It's an odd thing acting when you try to look as different as possible from yourself).
Today I am off to start my Theatre& contract. I'm a little excited and nervous as I really don't know anything about the job, but I will keep you informed of what's going on.
That said posting here will go to pot over the next 6 months. I have weekends off so I should get a chance to do the news and out this week posts even if they're a day late, birthdays and Tuesday trailers will of course continue and I'll let you know how the marathon goes, but personal posts will probably stop until something major happens I can't make any promises about reviewing films (we'll see next week if I get a chance to talkk about Tom and Cameron) and replying to comments will almost certainly be delayed - please accept my humble apologies and I hope you enjoy what does appear here.
Love to all
Ben
Summer must be here. I say that because it's been another slow week for film news with very few headlines appealling to me. That said we have a bumper collection of release date changes with 9 new ones that I fancy watching as well as 4 changes. You will also have noticed that this post is a day late. I'm afraid I'm going to have to settle into a new routine over the coming months now that I'm about to start my corporate work, looks like Sundays are the new Saturdays, but more on that on my personal post which may arrive tomorrow. Instead we'll go straight to the headlines:
The Butler
What does it take to finance and greenlight a film with adult themes in todays Hollywood? It seems more than talent and stories based on major political upheavals in 20th century America are needed with the news that Lee Precious Daniels (below) is set to abandon his civil rights epic Selma due to lack of funding. In spite of the notable and talented cast Daniels may have to change priorities and postpone. This surprises because Daniels latest film was so well received, picking up 2 Oscars and 4 more nominations, that you would have thought he would be free to choose his own project next.
If he does it's looking likely that his next film will be the biopic of Eugene Allen the maitre'd of the White House who started as pantry man in 1952 (under Harry S. Truman) and worked up the chain of command until his retirement in 1986 (Reagan) - passing through a total of 8 Presidents. Denzel Washington is rumoured to be taking the role should the film end up going ahead.
As much as we can admire Allen's efforts I very much doubt his story is as compelling as that of the civil rights struggle on the streets of Alabama. (Please feel free to contradict in the comments.) It worries me that Hollywood moguls would still rather put forward a film about a loyal employee of the White House than one that looks at the complex and violent history of segregation and racial intolerance in the US.
Read on for sci-fi rewrites, poaching singers and Sandra Bullock's next role.
Alien Prequel
The "Lost" writer Damon Lindelof is giving the Alien prequel script a re-write. "So what", I hear you say. Admittdly it's not uncommon for this sort of high concept movie to go through several iterations and I certainly wouldn't think it was worth mentioning if it hadn't said of his meeing with Ridley Scott "the exchange of ideas between them sparked a take that could well turn out to be a free-standing science fiction film." (from Deadline) If that's true it brings up the total number of film projects on Ridley Scott's directorial list to 11:
2 * Alien Prequels
Brave New World
The Forever War
Monopoly
The Passage
Red Riding
Wolf of Wall Street
The Gucci family biopic
Larry McMurty's Western
and this new sci-fi.
If Ridley takes the same time to make these films as he took to make the last 11 features he will finish them around 2025 when he'll be 88. My advice to Mr. Scott (left, from the last time he directed an Alien picture) is to please stop saying yes to new films.
Dirt Music
Tim Winton's Booker prize winning novel (right) has been rumoured to be heading into production for some time with stars like Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz all attached at some point. It's looking like Russell Crowe is the latest actor in the frame as a country singer turned poacher in the Aussie outback building up a relationship with a neighbour and the world in general. Philip Noyce, who can shoot his native Oz like few others (see Rabbit-Proof Fence), is set to helm with Crowe also providing some of the music.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
When Sandra Bullock celebrated her birthday earlier in the week I stated my surprise that she has yet to find a suitable follow-up to her Academy Award winning turn in The Blind Side. Good news for her fans and perhaps galling news for her doubters - Sandra's been talking with Stephen Daldry about the role of the mother in his next project. As the parent of a precocious New Yorker coming to terms with his fathers death in September 11 it could be a good chance to flex some actorly muscle.
Release Date News
As I said earlier it's been a very busy month for changes in release dates. Here are just the films that caught my eye.
New York, I love You - It has a release date again! I have been looking forward to this collection of shorts themed aroung love in the Big Apple for over 2 years and I'm hoping this (third) release date is written in stone. Walk hand in hand through Central Park on 01 October 2010.
Hereafter - Clint Eastwood's forst foray into the supernatural focussing on three different ghosts stories in three cities seems like an interesting diversion for the veteran director and given his auteurial themes of guilt and redemption it could be a worthwhile piece. Get spooked on 28 January 2011.
Restless - Competing against the above is Gus van Sant latest teen romance concerning terminally ill teenagers and Kamikaze ghosts, I'm thinking this may be high on the navel gazing scale of van Sant pictures. Attend a funeral for someone you don't know on 28 January 2011.
The Debt - Shifting back into 2011 UK release is standard procedure for prestige films on the road to Oscar so few surprises to see this Mossad action/Drama make the move. Hunt for ex-Nazis on 11 February 2011.
Rango - the surreal trailers for Johnny Depp's animated lizard movie has certainly piqued my interest and even if it turns out to just be a light-hearted pastiche of Western tropes I think it could be worth a gander. Chase the clockwork goldfish on 04 March 2011.
Red Riding Hood - I'm still unsure how this fairy tale with adult overtones will position itself in the market and a March release indicates the studio are unsure too - will it be a disaster? Check out the size of grandma's teeth on 11 March 2011.
Hanna - shifting just a couple of weeks is Joe Wright's new murderous child movie - I just want this to go as quickly as possible so we can move on to Indian Summer. Rediscover your past on 08 April 2011.
Footloose - The original has to be a guilty pleasure for most people who grew up in the 80's - average quality but immensely enjoyable and hit the zeitgeist - the remake has a lot to live up to. Dance like there's no tomorrow on 15 April 2011.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - As awful as the 90 second teaser released thi week was I've not been put off yet and will still be seeing the 4th episode of the popular pirate franchise. Shiver me timbers on 20 May 2011.
Contagion - Rumour has it Steven Soderbergh will be using 3D technology for his virus action thriller, which leads me to ask how is that going to work and what sort of film will this be? Can't wait to find out. Avoid a cold on 21 October 2011.
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - The Twilight saga reaches it's emotional climax (the first half of it anyway) with frightening pregnancies and decisions to be made - more than just a metaphor for itself. Finally pick Team Edward on 18 November 2011.
New Years Eve - I don't know why I'm writing about the style follow-up to Valentine's Day as I slated that on it's release. I suppose I'm just being drawn to the car crash. Find relationships predictable on 09 December 2011.
All these new releases are great to hear but we must remember the dates can be pulled away as easily as moss from a stone and this month we are especially sad to see Gavin O'Connor UFC movie Warrior disappear from the schedules. Given recent revelations about star Tom Hardy's youthful daliiances I'm sure he won't mind if we stare at this pic and imagine what we're missing.
Happy Birthday to
Giancarlo Giannini
68 today
Italian ator who's made just enough American and British films (including the last two Bond films) to be recognised outside of his own country. Bizarrely he's also a top class dubber, including a very highly regarding dubbing of Jack Nicholson's performance in The Shining.
