Happy Birthday to
Stephen Rea
64 today
Irish actor of stage and screen best known for his collaborations with Neil Jordan, especially the "reveal" scene in The Crying Game. Nothing on the horizon that interests me, but he did have a nice role as a supportive, sardonic Priest in this years Ondine if you haven't yet seen it.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Stephen Rea
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Did George Lucas Murder my Childhood? (Film News - 30/10/10)
I've been catching up properly with the news since last week's minor update, unsurprisingly there's been loads of stuff out there with some amazing looking projects on the way, as well as some stories which are just a tiny bit more depressing. There's also a short update on the latest box office release dates, so here goes:
Star Wars 7 (and 8 and 9)
The title is obviously reaching for controversy, and this first story may just tip into caricature, but like many nerds on the net part of childhood and indeed my love of cinema is defined by George Lucas' 1977 masterpiece. Like many fans I went to see the prequel trilogy and was largely disappointed by the continuous milking of this particular cash cow.
That said the films have been OK. Whatever your gripes about the cardboard characterisations and the overdose of CGI, and certainly accepting they're lesser than the original trilogy, they were fairly enjoyable romps. In many ways I am therefore a milder version of some fans which berate the prequels as an insult to their childhood in that I would better classify them as a unnecessary afterthought.
The latest news from Lucasfilm is an inevitable 3D conversion of the 6 films already out there, so far so blah, I don't think it's terribly necessary but if George needs a few more Millions I can't say I blame him. What is interesting is that it's possible that a third trilogy is being prepped to follow these 3D conversions (potentially starting in 2018 ish) which harks back to the old rumour that Star Wars was originally conceived as a nine movie series with the third set concerning the rise of the Jedi following the destruction of the Empire.
Darth Vadar makes his very first appearance in 1977, unlikely to make it to the next trilogies.
I would personally rather see Lucas try something else, something closer to his heart rather than his wallet, but I have no doubts that if another Star Wars live action film was ever made I would be at the front of the queue to see it. What about you? Should George ever be allowed near a camera again or are his crimes too horrific for redemption?
Read on for more sci-fi sequels, 1970's pop groups, prison dramas, cyborgs, archers, zombies, prostitutes and the horror of Val Kilmer.
Friday, 29 October 2010
What is Family (Out this week - 29/10/10)
Soft release week with only 6 new titles hitting screens over the weekend, and oddly only two (maybe three) are horror movies even though Hallowe'en is upon us. I fully expect one of the scarier options to take the box office champ status but the film of the week has to be Lisa Cholodenko's modern family drama The Kids are All Right.
Burke and Hare
In spite of having a stellar cast of British comedic talent, led by Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis and Tom Wilkinson, John Landis' horror comedy about the eponymous serial killers suppling the medical trade with cadavers looks awfully short on laughs.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Richard Dreyfuss
Happy Birthday to
Richard Dreyfuss
63 today
I would say the mash scultor Dreyfuss is having a great year financially with fun cameos in both Piranha and last weeks Red. Nothing in the pipeline looks anything near as much fun though.
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Julia Roberts
Hapy Birthday to
Julia Roberts
43 today
Does Julia have the most recogniseable smile in Hollywood? I would've thought so, but I'm sure it's status is fading. Whilst her last few films have done reasonable box office it's fair to say there's nowhere near the love for her recent work as there was for Pretty Woman, say. Comeon Julia, I believe in you.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Ruby Dee
Happy Birthday to
Ruby Dee
86 today
Actress and Civil rights campaigner Dee only recently got Oscar love from her feisty turn as Denzel Washington's mum in 2007's American Gangster, but frankly they missed a trick by ignoring her and her late husband Ossie Davis in Spike Lee's masterpiece Do the Right Thing.
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Somewhere
Ever since Sofia Coppola annouced her next movie would be set in the L.A. infamous Chateau Marmont hotel it's been dogged with accusations that it will skirt to close to the feel of her 2003 smash Lost in Translation. That said a surprising Golion Lion win at Venice seems to indicate that any initial resemblence of plotlines is irrelvant when you are doing it so well.
Somewhere is released on 10 December 2010.
Bob Hoskins
Happy Birthday to
Bob Hoskins
68 today
Born during the Blitz Bob's entire career is based on his extraordinary barrel boy physique and accent, perfectly encasulating the feel of working class London. Recently shone in Made in Dagenham but I'd like to refer American readers to The Street where Hoskins played pub Landlord Paddy Gargan in the third series. Probably the best British TV drama during it's three year run the episode focussed on Hoskins, riffing as it did on High Noon, was superb and you should look it up.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
F. Murray Abraham
Happy Birthday to
F. Murray Abraham
71 today
In the DVD commentry for 1984's Oscar winning Amadeus director Milos Forman famously said he cast F. Murray in the role of the bitter and jealous composer Salieri as he recognised the character within the actor. Ouch! I'm sure Abraham would have loved to have prove him wrong, but alas there hasn't been a great deal of quality in his subsequent films.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
It's not the Happening (Film News - 23/10/10)
I have done provisional posts for "out this week" before, second guessing critical reactions to films not yet released, but this is a first time provisional news post. This weekend I am unable to reach a computer for longer than an hour (a big thanks to Kirklees Library service even for that opportunity) so I have looked up the stories on my crappy mobile and written my post in long hand with the hope of typing it up before the hour dealine is over. It's honestly like watching the closing sequence of a Bond movie here in the Library. Wish me luck:
Day of the Triffids
John Wyndham's classic apocalytic sci-fi novel about a meteor shower that blinds the World and the strange carnivorous plants that take over at the top of the food chain is not as cinematic as you might immediately suppose. There have been a number of noble efforts to adapt the project over the years including a recent BBC miniseries but thay have all failed to highlight the horror implicit in man-eating shrubs from which we are unable to defend ourselves. In most cases the main let down has been the animatronics and puppetry of the Triffids themsleves.
Step forward Sam Raimi, the producer/director responsible for making trees scary in the Evil Dead trilogy, to work his magic. Unfortunatley whilst I love Raimi's excellent comic-horror hybrids (the aforementioned trilogy and Drag me to Hell come to mind) I persoanlly believe the parable in Triffids only works if the terror is undiluted. As viewers of The Happening will attest it's hard to believe flora fighting back, and to suggest that mankinds grip on planetary domination is weak and fleeting will be tough where there are lashings of gory guffaws.
Can Raimi adequately turn off the comedy of will this just be another disappointing adaptation? Are the plants really just watching and waiting forour downfall? Let me know in the comments.
Read on for Affleck's choice, the end of humanity and MacGuffins galore.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Penpals Forever (Out this week - 22/10/10)
Last weeks situation is about as far from this week as you could imagine - previously we had a small number of releases with a very clear film of the week, now we're facing an onslaught of movies with nothing standing out but lots in contention for the coveted title. Part of the reason for that is half-term so with all the little kiddiewinks taking a break from studies it's no wonder the studios are pushing out a variety of animation and teen-friendly products. Anyone's guess who's going to lead the box office, but my choice is Mary and Max.
Africa United
Not exactly timely release for this football World cup inspired road movie, as four Rwandan teens must make their way across the continent in order to use their cup final tickets. Interesting view of the cultural impact of sport in a fascinating and diverse continent.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Catherine Deneuve
Happy Birthday to
Catherine Deneuve
67 today
Iconic French Diva known for her many lovers, her impeccable style as well as her superb performances. Good notices from the festival crowd for her upcoming Potiche, right, look out for that red tracksuit to be labelled stylish soon.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
The Social Network
2010. Dir: David Fincher. Starring: Jessie Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rooney Mara and Armie Hammer. ●●●●●
One of reasons I love film is that as a medium it is as constantly surprising as it is beautiful, for every film you plan to see that comes up short there's another that blows you away unexpectedly. At the beginning of the year in my countdown for most anticipated movies for 2010 I included Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Robin Hood and Knight and Day, I did not include The Social Network. Shame on me.
Viggo Mortensen
Happy Birthday to
Viggo Mortensen
52 today
As I was choosing a picture for Viggo I was struck by how little he looks like himslef, or how little he looks like we think he looks like when he's not in the iconic Aragon role from Lord of the Rings. The talented and multi-ligual Viggo has a uniquely serene screen presence which has served him well over the years and should be a great fit for his Sigmund Freud in next years A Dangerous Method (his third collaboration with Canadian director David Cronenburg). He will also be seen in the upcoming On the Road adaptation.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Tuesday Trailers - The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Disney have a habit of removing trailers as soon as you try to embed them so I don't fully expect this to work (but please do comment anyway). I haven't seen Prince Caspian and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was surprisingly dull. That said I loved the book so I'll definitely be catching up on this installment of C.S. Lewis' childrens series.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is released on 10 December 2010.
Juanita Moore
Happy Birthday to
Juanita Moore
88 today
Now retired from acting, but still heavily involved with the touring circuit, Juanita entered the business at an exciting time for African American stars, from being typecast as domestic servants (see her oscar nommed turn in Douglas Sirk's Imitation of Life) through to the black political movies from the 1970's Moore was in there all the way.
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Infamy, Infamy, they've all got it infamy! (Film News - 16/10/10)
Yes, that's a quote from my favourite movie about the Queen of the Nile. He says, slightly spoiling the headline story for this weeks news. Maybe that in itself is a big surprise, after all I'm bypassing the biggest Hollywwod annoucement this week - you know the one about a certain red caped Krytonite. There's just something about the combination of Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder that just makes me worry it's going to be incredibly po-faced. Anyway on to the news that really got me salivating:
Cleopatra
The news that Anjelina Jolie was interested in playing Ancient Egypt's most notorious and written about leader in the big screen adaptation of Stacy Schiff biography has been bouncing about for weeks. Frankly I can't imagine any modern star more suited to the suited to the coveted role.
That said filming her story has always been fraught with difficulties. Both of the most well known versions, the 1934 take with Claudette Colbert and Elizabeth Taylor (below) in 1963, ran over the shooting schedule and over budget nearly taking down the studios with them. So naturally Sony and uber-producer Scott Rudin have been wary about giving the final greenlight, putting the right production team and director in place will be vital to ensure this version doesn't suffer from the same curse.
This week it surfaced that they've called in James Cameron to helm the project. No stranger to massive budgets Cameron also has a unique track record of box office success. Avatar and Titanic both currently sit atop record breaking box office hauls. And as the first draft of the script is being written by Brian Helgeland this might be a Cameron movie that desn't suffer from horrendous dialogue. Result all round.
Read on for mysterious spacecraft, wayward parents and more casting rumours.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
So many friends, so few movies (Out this week - 15/10/10)
It is both an unusually quiet week this week with just five new films opening in the UK, that's the lowest since Robin Hood opened against 4 acclaimed foreign language pics in May. This time we're don't have such an interesting back up to the main event, with two half-arsed Bollywood entries, a ho-hum looking animation and a rotting pile of garbage - more on that later. Film of the week, with no reservations at all though, is The Social Network.
Aakrosh
Solid looking Bollywood police procedural which has clearly learnt from the techniques of the Bourne trilogy whilst developing a cast based investigation wich is truly Indian.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Tim Robbins
Happy Birthday to
Tim Robbins
52 today
Actor/Director Robbins is as well known for his left leaning politics and his long-term (now finished) relationship with Susan Sarandon. He came from an avant-garde theatre background, delightfully unexpected given the grounding he gives his characters on screen. Will next be seen in The Green Lantern comic book adaptation.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
2010. Dir: Oliver Stone. Starring: Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan and Eli Wallach. ●●○○○
When the producers first considering a belated sequel to 1987's Wall Street the probably envisioned a searing look at both the insatiable greed and the obscene politics that created the financial meltdown of 2008. By resurrecting the anti-hero of the previous film - yuppie iconoclast Gordon Gekko as performed to oscar winning effect by Michael Douglas - they had a ready made sneering villain all they needed was Oliver Stone to bring back his righteous anger. Unfortunately Allan Loeb and Stephen Schiff's screenplay humanises Gekko and muzzles Stone leaving Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps a pale (even dull) imitation of it's predecessor.
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Miral
Julian Schnabels latest film is apparently the most straight forward of his pictures, taking a look at the Isreali/Palestinian conflict through the eyes of a girl in a Jersalem orphanage. Hiam Abbas is the headmistress, Freida Pint plays the girl as a grown up. Reviews from the festivals haven't been great, but it's rare to see a film tackle this subject from the outside so I'll certainly be going.
Miral opens on 03 December 2010.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Joan Cusack
Happy Birthday to
Joan Cusack
48 today
There was a time when you could count on Joan (sister of John) for classy comedic supporting in quality products, now unfortunately she works mainly in animation and when she does make a live-action return the choices are less good - My Sister's Keeper, Confessions of a Shopoholic anyone?
Sunday, 10 October 2010
It all comes back to me now (Film News - 09/10/10)
It's all virtually back to normal now. I've been able to look up the news for three weeks in a row and the total stories for this week are manageable - even if it's still been on the busy side. There's been some interesting revelations this week although it's been mainly casting news on projects I've already mentioned. If you don't mind I will continue to use the format of a casting news section after the new projects underway.
The Bourne Legacy
The most celebrated story of the week was the news that the most interesting and successful action series in many years, the one that effectively reinvigorated Bond and rewrote the book on spy thrillers, is not finished. Yes Bourne is back with The Legacy currently being prepped for a 2012 release.
In the past the star Matt Damon has very clearly stated that he wouldn't go back to the franchise unless Paul Greengrass (director of Supremacy and Ultimatum) was on board. Obviously that would be a major loss to the series. It's hard to imagine anyone else playing Bourne and Greengrass has made a unique stamp on his films with the handheld cinematography and closeness to the brutal action. That said the man behind the camera will be Bourne writer Tony Gilroy and Damon is beginning to falter on the issue.
What say you? I love Gilroy's output as a director and would be delighted to see him taking on this project, but that said - in spite of the ambiguity of the title - I see little point on carrying on without Damon (below - see what I did two pics of Matt in one week).
I've just read that Gilroy's firmly stated Damon won't be returning as Bourne. Very upset. Please feel free to comment.
Read on for murders in the Holy land and loads of casting news...
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Is Greed Good (Out this week - 08/10/10)
Surprisingly quiet week with just 7 films jostling it out for the top spot. It's highly likely that the return of Gordon Gekko will take the lead, even though it's far from the best reviewed of the releases and there is plenty of counter programming going on. My film of the week is actually reflecting the box office though and remains Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Crook: It's good to be Bad
From the producers and director of Raaz: The mystery continues comes another colon using Bollywood drama, this time about a crime spree in Australia and it's racism hating anti-hero.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Friday, 8 October 2010
Matt Damon
Happy Birthday to
Matt Damon
40 today
There are few actors today who are consistent and hard working as Bostonian Damon. Frankly he is a delight to watch even in the most stodgy of films. I'm currently looking forward to five films that he's signed up to. Eastwood's Hereafter as a retired medium, playing a cowboy in True Grit, as a dancing penguin (probably) in Happy Feet 2, reuniting with Steven Soderbergh for Contagion and - should it ever be seen - there's also a role in Kenneth Lonergan's much delayed Margaret.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
The Town
2010. Dir: Ben Affleck. Starring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner and Blake Lively. ●●●●○
I shall start this review with a small confession. Earlier this year I read an American blog that noted the US cinematic release of the Red Riding trilogy had subtitles for the audience who couldn't decipher Yorkshire accents. I laughed at the time but now I have to confess there were moments in Ben Affleck's stunning The Town where subtitles for the Boston accents would have been useful. Not that understanding the intention of the scenes is at all hard, the actors providing enough non-verbal communication to fully compensate for any difficulties in the language.
Elisabeth Shue
Happy Birthday to
Elisabeth Shue
47 today
It was always going to b a hard act to follow, so I imagine part of the reason for lowering the age of the protagonists in the Karate Kid remake was to avoid comparisons for the girl against Shue perfect performance as the object of many teenage desires.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Flipped
They don't make films like this anymore. OK, that's a bit of a hoary cliche but I think it may just be the case with Rob Reiner's latest look at small town Americana in the 1950's and the awakening of love between two teenagers living in the same neighbourhood. The trailer looks like it has a dreamy youthful feel, and the soundtrack (whilst utterly obvious) is charming.
Flipped is released on 12 November 2010.
Diane Cilento
Happy Birthday to
Diane Cilento
77 today
Diane's career is probably best remembered in the way she's a footnote in cinematic history. Both as the ex Mrs Sean Connery during the early Bond years and for being one of the record breaking set of three supporting actresses oscar nominated for Tom Jones in 1964.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Christoph Waltz
Happy Birthday to
Christoph Waltz
54 today
Christoph managed to waltz (sorry) out of nowhere last year to steal Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds from his more well known co-stars and nab an oscar for his multi-faceted multi-lingual performance as Col. Hans Landa, The Jew Hunter. Since then he's been signing up for an interesting mix of Hollywood projects, including villian roles in The Green Hornet and major stage adaptation God of Carnage.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Recovery time (Film News - 02/10/10)
It has been an extraordinarily busy week for news. If I were to be perfectly honest with you I thought that missing the release schedules last week and postponing to today would be easy as a single week of headlines in the back end of September wouldn't cause too much to wade through. How wrong can I be. We've got additional casting news, some long dead projects getting resurrected, some very interesting rumours circulating and the odd new story bubbling up. Let's not delay:
My Stroke of Insight
Gone are the days when rehabilitation from life threatening illnesses was the domain of made for television movies. Aleandro Amenabar and Julian Schabel have added an arthouse sensibility to the subject which allowed The Sea Inside and The Divingbell and the Butterfly to break out from the traditional format of these subjects. As both of these movies flirted with awards but didn't quite breakout it was only a matter of time before an American protagonist would be inserted into a US version.
So when a film adaptation of Jo Bolte Taylor's memoir about recovering from a stroke, and the additional understanding she could use (being a bona fide neuro-anatomist), was in the works with Jodie Foster potentially up for the lead role I was super excited.
Unfortunately the man behind the camera will be saccharine magnet Ron Howard. Now don't get me wrong there are some films Howard's made which have reasonably enjoyable (see Parenthood or Apollo 13) but generally he's a bit of a hack with a penchant for making people cry. Obviously if the films made I will still go see it, and in spite of my concerns I expect Foster to run off with her third Oscar, but I am deeply fearful of the overall quality of the piece.
Read on for comic books, aliens, cops, cowboys, time travel and maybe a classic novel. Plus the latest production and release date news.
Clive Owen
Happy Birthday to
Clive Owen
46 today
I don't care how sexy Clive looks holding a whisky glass, I still haven't forgiven him for the abomination that was The Boys are Back. Let's just hope the films he's currently working on aren't so bland.
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