No opportunity for smaller projects getting the limelight this week. We're now deeply into the awards season (apparently 274 films are eligible for the Oscars) so it's only directors currently selling their competing projects who are able to hit the non-award headlines. Unless you're involved with a massive comic book franchise (after the cut). So, here goes...
Battle Angel
So, Jim Cameron is changing cinema forever, returning once again to being the King of the World. What's next? Well, he's confirmed that he's seriously working on the film adaptation of Battle Angel Alita, Yukito Kishiro's renowned Manga novel. It's about a female cyborg and will certainly be an opportunity for Cameron to build on the technology advances he's made with Avatar, as well as referencing he's back catalgue of Terminator movies.
The Man who Killed Don Quixote
Terry Gilliam's second attempt to tilt at windmills seems to be going in the right direction with the news of casting Robert Duvall as the titular knight. It's an inspired choice, Duvall continues to be at the top of his game and it should also bring in some punters and investment. After all who doesn't want to see the great actors take on one of the most infamous literary characters.
Peter Jackson's Untitled Gallipoli project
Peter Jackson has stated a vague interest in making a movie about the ANZAC troops and the suicidal mission at the Dardanelles during the first World War ready for the centenary in 1915. It's an incredible piece of Australian and New Zealand history as thousands of troops attempted to cut off the Ottoman Empire from the rest of the central European axis. The story has already been told in Peter Weir's excellent Gallipoli as well as in the exhaustive 1985 TV mini series "ANZACs". Nevertheless it will be interesting to see how Jackson handles the material.
X-Men: First Class
The origin collection of the X-Men franchise will be continuing with the beginnings of the Xavier school for the gifted. For all the collective doubt we may have about prequels where you know the fate of the characters this could be interesting as Bryan Singer, director of the first 2 installments has signed on. This could mean that he will explore the themes of isolation and discrimination that were the central point for the second film, and one which could ultimately give a heart to this venture.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Film News (18/12/09)
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Johnny Depp
Happy Birthday to
Johnny Depp
46 today
I've been dreading this morning for the last month or so, not because I'm a Deppophile - I quite like the guy - but because his slate is so full of films I want to see this might be the longest birthday celebration/advert for forthcoming pics I've done.
First up is Public Enemies, which I showed you the trailer for last Tuesday. Then later this year we'll see Depp channelling Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. In 2010 he'll grace the screens only once, for old pal Tim Burton, as the Mad Hatter in the Alice in Wonderland live action pic. In 2011 we'll him voice a dog in the animated Rango, so there's another box office topper (animated dogs virtually guarantees it). He's also potentially back in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote when Terry Gilliam resurrects that project. Finally (and we're really talking the long game here) Depp will be Tonto to the yet to be cast Lone Ranger.
All in all that's a really impressive slate of films, I'm sure you'll agree.
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Film News (16/05/09)
It's only a day late. OK, sorry, it's a good job I don't do this for a living... A few interesting stories this week, some of which have been rumoured before but now finally are selling trades, others are completely new. By the way I only report on good news, so Nicole Kidman leaving Woody Allen's next film will not get a mention. Oops.
Valentine's Day
2011's version of He's Just not Into You is picking up an impressive, if female centric cast with Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway and Shirley Maclaine all signing up. I'm on two minds about this film - I know rom com isn't really my thing, however some details of the plot are intriguing Roberts as a Army Sargeant returning home, MacLaine admitting to her husband about a long finished affair, even a gay romance with Bradley Cooper. Plus Garry Marshall can do this sort of thing well - films like Pretty Woman and Beaches litter his resume.
Blink
I still believe that Al Pacino has a good performance in him, if he picks the right project. Will this story of Wall Street traders and Al's philosophy that the best desicions can be made in split seconds (the time it takes to blink) rather than by researching the subject. As an analyst at heart it's my livelihood he's insulting there, but the premise is intriguing and Al as an aging guru might be worth a try.
Inglorious Basterds Prequel
Put this one down as a Tarantino boast - all idea no backbone - but he's told MTV that there's plenty of scope for a Inglorious Basterds prequel involving an Afro-American army battalion that were "left behind". Apparently it's a subplot exorcised from the film and it may just be enough for him to use. I very much doubt this will happen.
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
Yes, Terry Gilliam has definitely returned to the script of Don Quixote and is prepping to film once more. Hi first attempt, gloriously recorded in the documentary Lost in La Mancha is legendary. Hopefully he'll have more luck this time round.
Sinatra
Martin Scorcese is set to direct a Frank Sinatra biopic. Nothing else to say about it now, but already on the edge of my seat, and hoping it'll be better than The Aviator.
Woman in Black
Bruce Beresford directs this rom-com based on a novel by Madeline St. John. The featured cast includes Monica Bellucci, Guy Pearce and Miranda Otto. Doesn't that sounds like a fascinating combination?
It's a random Woman in Black - like what I did there?
