The world is going crazy, there's so much news and previews it's enough to make your head spin. That's right it's Comic-Con, long since evolved from the origins of San Diego comic book geeks to packing in the screaming Twilight geeks. Whether it works as somewhere to showcase footage or to pump the audiences is another question, but whilst the stars and studios continue to swarm there the news will eventually bubble out. And for the non-Comic-Con news there's an interesting recurring theme of indecision but first:
Batman 3, or is it 7, or 8?
It's no surprise that after the astonishing success of The Dark Knight that a sequel would be made, although the proposed direction of Nolan's new/old trilogy may well have been massively altered by the untimely death of Joker Heath Ledger. However Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon) has let it slip - and I'll let you believe it wasn't planned if you want to - that filming starts next spring for a 2011 release. I personally think that 2011 is already a bit crowded with Spider-Man 4, Green Lantern and Thor but I expect Warner Bros know what their doing.
Cosmopolis
In our first indecisive director news David Cronenberg is developing Don DeLillo's novel about a multi-millionaire who starts hemorrhaging cash during a stock market rash and must dash across Manhattan to stop it. Whether this will be closer to Wall Street or Falling Down remains to be seen. Already this year Cronenberg has talked about The Matarese Circle with Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise, as well as a Eastern Promises sequel, so goodness knows which of the projects he'll run with first.
The Green Hornet
Stephen Chow has finally dropped out of The Green Hornet completely, leaving a Cato sized hole in the cast of this 2010 comic book adaptation. They're still planning on lensing later in the summer, and have even confirmed Nic Cage as the bad guy and Cameron Diaz as a love interest so expect a new martial-arts master to be installed soon.
Master and Commander 2
Master and Commader: Far Side of the World was a superb, film. Rightly selected by the Academy for a best picture nod, how it didn't get some notice for Russel Crowe is beyond me. After umming and ahhing for some time Crowe is interesting in getting back to the high seas, with a script nearing completeion. Let's hope that the notoriously picky Peter Weir, who directed the original and has already stated he thinks a sequel is unlikely, can be persuaded to helm (ho ho) it.
Red
Morgan Freeman has joined Bruce Willis in the comic book adaptation Red. Willis plays a black ops agent who returns to take on a high tech killer. Whether Freeman will be a collegue, a scheming politico or the killer himself remains to be seen.
Temeraire
Peter Jackson has been waxing lyrical about a number of projects he has involvement in at Comic-Con, but aside from Tintin, Lovely Bones and District 9 he had a brief synopsis about what is likely to be his next film to direct. It's set during the Napoleonic Wars, chronicling the bizzarely over-looked (cinematically) period in European history. Oh, and there will be dragons. I don't know whether to be completely psyched or shocked in disbelief.
Three Little Words
James Mangold has another project that means a lot to him, so much so that he wants to direct. It's not Wichita, or his Legal thriller, or Juliet, or Cyclops, but a totally new project based on one of these child abuse biographies that are clogging up book shops. By all means try holding your breath until James picks another film he wants to work on. It won't be that long.
Warcraft
The film adapataion of the popular World of Warcraft computer game has moved one step closer by appointing Sam Raimi as director. It's a complex internet community roleplay adventure so how that will translate into a three act structure is a mystery. Could be beautiful to look at, could be atrocious to watch!
Untitled Quentin Tarantino Western
Tarantino is another director who likes to keep ua all guessing what his next picture will be - after all Inglorious Basterds was first mooted some ten years ago. So at the UK premier of Basterds he tipped that his next picture will be a Western. I personally feel that its the sort of thing that Quentin could do very well if he tries to avoid all his stylistic twitches, after all what was Reservoir Dogs but a 90 minute Mexican stand off, and Kill Bill borrowed heavily from Western sensibilities. 
Box Office News
Release Date News
The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus - Falling back a week is Terry Gilliam's latest starring Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Heath Ledger as different versions of Heath Ledger. Artistically this looks like pure Gilliam, but it's fascinating to try to estimate how it will do financially. Make a deal with the devil on 16 October 2009.
Taking Woodstock - The Woodstock film, which only includes Woodstock as a backdrop to one families development in the late 60's, has also shifted back a week into the incredibly crowded November. Honestly - you won't be able to turn around for decent films in November. Grow your hair and put some flowers in it on 6 November 2009.
A Serious Man - The Coen Brothers have been keeping their latest film carefully under wraps with no shots or trailers yet. It's a dark comedy so it's hard to know which of their eclectic back catalogue to except it will emanate, especially as there doesn't seem to be an excessive body count this time round. Sleep on your brother-in-laws sofa on 20 November 2009.
Invictus - Whether this is a complete Nelson Mandela biopic, or whether it solely focuses on the Rugby World Cup, you can guarantee that Clint and Morgan will be getting Oscar nods for their efforts. Catch an odd-shaped ball on 05 February 2010.
Valentine's Day - In the least surprising release date news of the year it's been announced that the mishmash of intertwining love stories set around Valentines will open around Valentines. Smooch on the back row on 12 February 2009.
Alice in Wonderland - The teaser trailer came out this week, complete with angry red queen, soporific white queen, scary Cheshire Cat grin and what is set to be an immensely quotable "Alice! You're terribly late, you know. Naughty." from Depp's Mad Hatter. Go through the looking glass on 05 March 2010.
The Green Hornet - It seems impossible that this light comic adaptation will be finished in less than a year, considering the casting news above, but the gods of release dates are spoken. Have your sidekick do a kung fu chop on 23 July 2010.
Inception - Christopher Nolan is floating on a tide of good will right now following the monster returns for The Dark Knight, whether the tills will ring as much for a original property remains to be seen. Escape the barriers of your mind on 13 August 2010.
The Last Airbender - I don't think putting this against Inception is a good idea (even if there's is little crossover appeal), so expect another shift later in the year. For now try to control the elements on 13 August 2010.
Box Office Report
There's no surprise that Transformers has confidently taken the top spot over the June openers, as predicted right here (no points for that I know). It's bounded straight up to the second highest grossing film in the UK this year; although a certain boy wizard will be overtaking it before it surpasses Slumdog Millionaire. The rest of the top five are a mixed bag with a couple of comedies, an underwhelming Terminator film and a heartwarming tale about terminal cancer. We have very odd tastes here in the UK. Naturally I neither saw, nor recommended any of these films.
1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
2. The Hangover
3. Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins
4. My Sister's Keeper
5. Year One
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Film News (25/07/09)
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Film News (02/05/09 - and previous week)
Bumper news report this week, as I wasn't able to catch up last week. There's also box office news and the Cannes line-up. So lets not mess around any more and just dive straight in:
Wall Street 2
The most shocking story of the last couple of weeks must be the resurrection of long-mooted sequel to Wall Street, Oliver Stone's film about the brutal power players of the eponymous financial district. Back in the Reagan Boom years Michael Douglas's Gordon Gekko was cock-of-the-wall, tossing aside the rule books and the needs of the common workers in order to make money. Of course in the end protege Charlie Sheen squeals on his nefarious activities and we can only assume Gekko gets his just deserts. Nearly 25 years later, with the money markets in freefall it will be interesting to see how Gekko moved on. Of course the issue with the original is even though Gekko is clearly a villian he was such a strongly written character the public, especially the traders and wheeler dealers he was parodying, felt inspired by his example.
Just read through the Greed is good speech, and tell me you don't want to clap at the sheer balls of it:
"The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
The End of Eternity
Kevin MacDonald is obviously an ambitious man. State of Play is just out, Eagle of the Ninth is in development and he's also signed on to direct an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's sci-fi classic. The plot concerns a race of beings (Eternity) who exist outside normal rules of time and space. Only one of them falls in love with a human causing their destruction. Sounds cheery, or like an extended episode of Star Trek. We'll see.
Inception
Unsurprisingly Michael Caine has joined Nolan's sci-fi for next year. This marks the 4th film in a row they've worked on together. Also joining the cast is Joseph Gordon-Levitt who continues to build an impressive CV.
The Lone Ranger
More details of the Lone Ranger movie are coming out, based on the wildly popular TV series from the 40s, which was in turn based on the pre-war radio serial. The film, will be an origins story, of sorts. As our hero (rumoured to be George Clooney) is ambushed with his troop of Texas Rangers, rescued and nursed by Native American Tonto (Johnny Depp) they then seek vengence. I'm either way of this adaptation - I'm not sure we need an origin story and whilst I love Depp as much as the next man I'd like to think there are some actors with Native American roots who could do the part just as well. I'll be keeping a close eye on details though.
Passing Strange
PBS have picked up Spike Lee's filmed version of the hit stage musical "Passing Strange". Early indications are that they'll aim to release it in cinemas. Filming stage productions is always a risky business, you act in a different way and static cameras can feel awfully dull. Nevertheless the story of a middle class blak man from the US who goes all "street" when he goes to Europe may be enough to keep the interest.
Red/Scarpa
Bruce Willis is having a hard time selecting his next project. Among the options are the biopic of Mafia mole Gregory Scarpa Sr. (left, looking much like Bruce...) and Red, a graphic novel adapatation about a former black ops (what is that?) soldier who is targetted by an assassin. We all know that in either film Bruce will play Bruce Willis the action star, but that's always good fun.
Straw Dogs
For years it was just a rumour, and then it was a release date, but now it seems the Straw Dogs remake is picking up steam with James Marsden picked up for the lead and a relocation of the action back to the US. This is a good move; over reverentially sticking to the original will have caused unnecessary comparisons, and no-one could honestly compare Marsden to Dustin Hoffman.
Untitled Mike Leigh Film
Focus features have signed a deal funding Mike Leigh's next project with Film4 and the UK Film Council. No plot or title yet, although I very much doubt it has a plot at this early stage knowing how Leigh works. We do know that Jim Broadbent and Imelda Staunton are filling up the cast list.
Jack Cardiff
Our thoughts are with the family of Jack Cardiff, the incredibly talented cinematographer who passed away on 22 April aged 94. His greatest work was with Powell and Pressburger so please spend some time this month to reaquaint yourself with one of his highlights. I'm off to see Black Narcissus right now.
Cannes Film Festival
The main lineup for Cannes has been annouced and includes such films as Antichrist, Bright Star, Broken Embraces, Inglorious Basterds and Taking Woodstock in competition. That's 5 established arthouse favourites (von Trier, Campion, Almodovar, Tarantino and Lee). Now I want to see all these films too, but surely a film festival with as much influence as Cannes should be mixing it up a little. The vast majority of the films in competition are from recognisable auteurs, often with previous invitations to the Croisette. I'll do a more thorough Cannes preview just before it opens on 13 May.
Box Office News
Release Date News
Everlasting Moments - I've already let this particular cat out of the bag with the trailers but Jan Troell's film about a photographer atthe turn of the 20th century has a new release date of 22 May 2009.
Where the Wild Things Are - Over the last month or so the Where the Wild Things are trailer and posters have been whetting my appetite for the film, and now they've moved the release date forward a month, so we only have to wait until 23 October 2009.
Salt - Also moving the release date, this time by only a week, is Anjelina Jolie's spy thriller Salt. I say spy thirller, the set pictures released so far sem mor like a wig catalogue. See it on 20 August 2010.
Morning Glory - Now the cast for Roger Michell's anchors at war comedy is completed it's been given a release of 10 September 2010. (It's OK the US release is in July so it's not looking like their throwing it in the September graveyard already.)
Box Office Report
The top five from March really has no surprises at all. Of course we should never underestimate the British public's love for dogs, hence Marley & Me annihilating the competition at the top. It's followed by two action hits (snark snark) a breakout comedy and a period drama. Perhaps the Young Victoria may appear to be the odd one out, but period always has a following over here and the advertising we pretty thorough. Once again I have only seen one of these, although embarassingly it's the one at the top.
1. Marley & Me
2. Watchmen
3. Knowing
4. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
5. The Young Victoria
A puppy - could be Marley, but honestly who care's it's so cute...
