Sunday, December 27, 2009

FURRY VENGEANCE scratches up a trailer

No official description from ComingSoon.net or Slashfilm so here's the synopsis:

"In the Oregon wilderness, a real estate developer's new housing subdivision faces a unique group of protesters, local woodland creatures who don't want their homes disturbed."

The film stars Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields, Dick Van Dyke and Samantha Bee.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

More Updates on the Future of 3D: ROBIN HOOD, STAR WARS, T2?

From Slashfilm:

"We’ve heard rumors before that George Lucas is working up a 3D version of the original Star Wars films, and those rumors are back again. This time, though, they’ve brought some friends - new rumors of Terminator 2 getting dimensionalised, and a claim that Ridley Scott is 'breathing down the neck of executives at Universal to get them to approve making a 3D version of his new $200 million epic, Robin Hood'.

Studio Canal owns the rights to Terminator 2 and it’s reportedly their plan to have a re-release in 3D. It all depends on two factors...: how hungry the exhibitors are for 3D material, and how quickly home 3D systems are adopted. If there’s a 3D T2 but nowhere to screen it, because everybody is still ‘flat’ at home and the 3D screens are filled with new pictures, then it won’t matter how reasonably priced the process is.

According to a report in The Wrap, the T2 status is that “a deal is in the works… to fast-track making the 3D version”. They also put forward the claim that “George Lucas is exploring a 3D version of Star Wars“, thought they don’t even hint at a source for that claim.

It’s on the Robin Hood front that they have what might be more solid information.

One knowledgeable executive told me that it would cost only an additional $7 to $8 million to create a 3D version of Robin Hood. The question is - what will that add to the box-office total?

Well, a darn sight more than $7 to $8 million I can promise you.

Ridley Scott has gone on the record about his love for 3D and has promised already that his film of Forever War will be shot in stereovision. Indeed, here’s his quote after he’d seen some of Avatar way back at the start of the year:

'I’ve seen some of James Cameron’s work, and I’ve got to go 3D. It’s going to be phenomenal.'

Sharon Waxman’s article inevitably discusses Steven Spielberg and his excited reaction to Avatar. What she doesn’t mention, curiously, is that Spielberg’s first 3D picture, Tintin, is already into post production.

'And one can only imagine what Steven Spielberg - whose reported comment that Avatar was the best film he’d ever seen has been repeated to me by no fewer than four awestruck colleagues - has planned for Jurassic Park.'

Okay… except we don’t even know if he has any plans for Jurassic Park."

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Peter Jackson fixing up MORTAL ENGINES?

From ComingSoon.net:

"New Zealand's The Dominion Post is reporting that Peter Jackson may be adapting Philip Reeve's fantasy novels 'Mortal Engines' for the big screen.

The newspaper says that Weta Workshops is believed to be working on designs for the science fiction series, which features giant mobile cities.

A spokesman for Jackson did not deny the project was on the books yesterday, but said 'any comment should come from Peter'.

The books are set in a post-apocalyptic world where cities have become giant vehicles and must consume each other to survive. 'Mortal Engines' is the first book in the series."

Sounds neat. I just want him to do The Adventures of Tintin 2 and 3 (the third one co-directed by Steven Spielberg!)

Leonard Nimoy is Spock in Star Trek Online

From ComingSoon.net:

"Atari, Inc. and MMO developer Cryptic Studios announced today that Leonard Nimoy, the actor who originated the legendary and beloved Star Trek character of Spock more than 40 years ago, has joined the cast of 'Star Trek Online', the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) ever set in the Star Trek universe.

Nimoy, who recently reprised his role as Spock in 2009's Star Trek movie, will voice the introduction for 'Star Trek Online'. Nimoy's voice, known to millions of fans all over the world, will also be heard during key scenes and events in-game.

'I am happy to be involved with 'Star Trek Online'. In this game, the essence of Star Trek – exploration and adventure – lives long and prospers,' said Nimoy. 'I'm pleased that a whole new generation of fans will be able to discover new frontiers in the Star Trek universe.'

'Mr. Nimoy's participation in 'Star Trek Online' brings the game to a whole new level,' said Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Atari, Inc. 'When Star Trek fans hear his voice they will know that 'Star Trek Online' truly is part of the Star Trek universe."

Set in the year 2409, 'Star Trek Online' boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures. Offering space and ground game play, players will have the opportunity to become a high-ranking Starfleet officer and will participate in missions that will take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets, and even inside other starships. 'Star Trek Online' offers total customization where every ship player's command can be customized, from color to construction. Additionally, anyone can create their own species in 'Star Trek Online', as well as customize the look of their avatar's uniform."

Okay, technically it's not movie news. So sue me.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Brittany Murphy has passed...

From ComingSoon.net:

"Various news sites have picked up a report from the tabloid site TMZ that actress Brittany Murphy died early Sunday morning after going into full cardiac arrest and being declared dead on arrival after being rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The former child actress who first gained attention at the age of 18 with a key role in the comedy Clueless was only 32 years old.

Years after her breakthrough in Clueless, Murphy got attention for her role in the 2001 thriller Don't Say a Word, leading to key roles in Eminem's 8 Mile and starring roles in the comedies Just Married with then-boyfriend Ashton Kutcher, Uptown Girls with Dakota Fanning and Little Black Book. In a tragic bit of irony, Murphy received the most critical praise for her role in the 2006 indie drama The Dead Girl, released the same year as her voice could be heard as the penguin Gloria in George Miller's Oscar-winning animated film Happy Feet. She also appeared in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's Sin City in 2005."

This is unbelievable. My parents just got through watching Little Black Book.

So this means that the sequels to Happy Feet and Sin City will have some tribute to her in some way.

I also want to post Ashton Kutcher's words on Twitter, "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon."

Alex Zamm Leads MARVIN THE MARTIAN

From ComingSoon.net:

"According to the L.A. Times, Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment have signed director Alex Zamm to helm Marvin the Martian, the big screen feature film based around the Bugs Bunny nemesis introduced in the 1948 cartoon short 'Haredevil Hare'. Television vets Paul Kaplan and Mark Tosgrove have also been signed to write the screenplay for the movie based around the premise that Marvin plans to destroy earth on Christmas Day but ends up being wrapped up as a Christmas present instead. Marvin will be CG but surrounded by live actors similar to Alvin and the Chipmunks, Stuart Little, Garfield and yes, Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

The piece speculates one of the voices we might hear as Marvin is none other than Shrek himself, comedian Mike Myers, and that the producers have already spoken to him and others for the role.

Zamm has also signed up to make a movie based on Hanna Barbera's cartoon character Hong Kong Phooey although presumably that won't happen until after the completion of Marvin. Currently, Marvin the Martian is on the release schedule for October 7, 2011, but one would expect this will move back a month or two to take advantage of the movie's holiday themes."

Well, let's hope Marvin the Martian doesn't blow Hong Kong Phooey's chances of getting his own movie. I'm more partial to Hong Kong Phooey.

Mike Myers playing Marvin the Martian. Doesn't surprise me. Sounds neat.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

IRON MAN 2 gets a trailer

From ComingSoon.net:

"Apple has posted the first trailer for the highly-anticipated Iron Man 2, opening in theaters on May 7. Directed by Jon Favreau, the sequel stars Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Garry Shandling, John Slattery, Kate Mara, Clark Gregg and Olivia Munn."



"Good to be back"? Good to have you back, Tony!

UPDATE:

NEW TRAILER -

SHREK FOREVER AFTER swings itself a trailer

From ComingSoon.net:

"Apple has posted the teaser trailer for DreamWorks Animation's Shrek Forever After, opening in 3D theaters and IMAX 3D on May 21.

In the fourth film, Shrek [(voiced by Mike Myers)] is feeling over-domesticated. He has lost his roar. It used to send villagers running away in terror. Now they run to him and ask him to sign their pitchforks and torches. To regain his ogre mojo, he strikes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin. The pact goes awry and Shrek must confront what life would be like in Far Far Away if he had never existed. That translates into Donkey [(voiced by Eddie Murphy)] being forced into cart-pulling duty, fat and lazy Puss in Boots [(voiced by Antonio Banderas)] trading his sword for a pink bow and the underhanded Rumpelstiltskin ruling the kingdom."



This actually doesn't look that bad. Getting back to the good ol' original Shrek days. And a fat Puss in Boots is hilarious!

UPDATE:

Mark Strong joins JOHN CARTER OF MARS

From ComingSoon.net:

"Cinema Blend got on the phone today with actor Mark Strong (upcoming Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood) and was able to learn more about his character in Andrew Stanton's John Carter of Mars.

It was previously announced that Strong would play Matai Shang, the ruler of the Thems with godlike status.

'There's some filming in Utah, but most of it is in a studio outside of London,' Strong said. My character doesn't actually get involved in any of the motion-capture stuff. All the stuff is live action. Although I can shift my shape, so I have to be photographed by a 360-degree camera. I can adapt into anything. That's going to be my particular talent.'

The site asked what he can transform into, and Strong said that it's mostly other human beings.

Scheduled for a summer 2012 release, the adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' 'A Princess of Mars' stars Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Dominic West, Polly Walker, Thomas Haden Church, James Purefoy and Strong."

Nicolas Cage will DRIVE ANGRY in 3D

From ComingSoon.net:

"According to The Hollywood Reporter, Summit Entertainment has picked up the North American distribution rights to the Patrick (My Bloody Valentine) Lussier-directed 3D revenge flick Drive Angry, setting February 11, 2011 as its release date.

Having already had success with Cage's sci-fi thriller Knowing earlier this year with a worldwide gross of $183 million, Summit has gotten on board the movie which is now in pre-production.

In the movie Cage plays a man chasing after the people responsible for killing his daughter and taking her baby, a rescue attempt that gets out of control and quite bloody as he leaves bodies in his trail.

It will be Cage's first 3D live action movie (not including Disney's G-Force in which he voiced a mole.)"

First Look at MARMADUKE

From ComingSoon.net:

"USA Today has posted a first look at the Great Dane in 20th Century Fox's Marmaduke, opening in theaters on June 4.


Directed by Tom Dey, the big screen adaptation stars Owen Wilson, Emma Stone, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Ron Perlman, Judy Greer, Anjelah Johnson, Lee Pace, Steve Coogan, William H. Macy, George Lopez, Stacy Ferguson, Damon Wayans Jr., David Walliams, Amanda Seyfried and Jeremy Piven.

Brad Anderson created the decades-running newspaper comic strip, about a mischievous Great Dane who lives with the Winslow family, in 1954."

WILD HOGS 2 rides off into the sunset

From ComingSoon.net:

"Variety reports that Wild Hogs 2: Bachelor Ride is the third high-profile that Disney has scrapped since Rich Ross took over at the studio, joining Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Wedding Banned on the halted list.

The trade says the sequel was targeting a production start next summer, with Walt Becker back as director, and John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy reprising their roles.

Original screenwriter Brad Copeland had written the sequel script, and new writers were in the process of being hired. That ended this week, when word came down that the picture wasn't going to get made."

Thank you Old Dogs, for killing a potential sequel. At least, Wedding Banned still has a potential pulse.

Here's the deal on Wedding Banned

"After halting Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea last month, new Walt Disney chief Rich Ross has also dropped the romantic comedy Wedding Banned from its slate. The film was to have starred Robin Williams, Anna Faris and Diane Keaton.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio has put the project into turnaround, and the production company, Mandevile Films, is free to shop it around town.

The movie centers on a long-divorced couple (Williams and Keaton) who kidnap their daughter (Faris) on her wedding day to prevent her from making the same mistakes they did. The parents rekindle their relationship as they elude cops and the angry groom.

The movie was in development for a shoot next year."

Bryan Singer IS returning to X-MEN

From ComingSoon.net:

"One of the people [at the Los Angeles premiere of Avatar] was director Bryan Singer, who directed X-Men and X2: X-Men United for Avatar distributor 20th Century Fox at the start of the decade. In recent interviews, Singer has been asked about possibly directing the planned prequel X-Men: First Class, and he always seemed interested, but earlier this evening he let slip that he has in fact just signed the deal with Fox to direct the next 'Origins' film, which will reportedly look at the early days of Cyclops, Jean Grey and others at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning.

He told the interviewers without any hesitation and complete seriousness: 'I'm ramping up to do a movie called Jack the Giant Killer at Warner Bros, and I just yesterday signed a deal to do an X-Men: First Class [Origins] picture, which is kind of cool. I'm very excited.'"

It's ALL FRIGHT tonight

From ComingSoon.net:

"DreamWorks Animation has hired Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris to write Gil's All Fright Diner, an adaptation of the A. Lee Martinez novel that has Barry Sonnenfeld attached to direct.

Gil's All Fright Diner revolves around a vampire and a werewolf. They are mismatched partners who battle zombies and try to save the world, after they stop in a diner in the desert that is a conduit for the supernatural.

Kirk De Micco was the first writer on the film.

Reiff and Voris' credits include Kung Fu Panda and the upcoming Robin Hood."

Huh. Seems like two movies with two different writing styles. If the vampire's name is Edward and the werewolf's name is Jacob, I'll pass.

Roy Disney has passed...

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Walt Disney Company has announced that Roy E. Disney has passed away at the age of 79 after a year-long battle with stomach cancer. The company released the following statement:

Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away [12/16/09] at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney's animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 - 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company's board of directors, and chairman of the Studio's Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.

As head of Disney Animation, Disney helped to guide the Studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes that included The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. He personally executive produced Fantasia/2000, a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts, including the 2004 Oscar®-nominated Destino, based on storyboards and original art by the iconic artist Salvador Dali. In the area of live-action films, Disney and his wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, most recently executive produced the 2008 feature documentary, Morning Light, which followed a group of young sailors as they competed in the grueling Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

His philanthropic activities included sponsorship of the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, part of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, is scheduled to open in spring, 2010.

Commenting on the announcement, Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, 'On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year Company veteran – Roy's true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle. Roy's commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney's past, present and future.'

John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, added, 'I first met Roy when I was still an animation student at CalArts. Not only did I consider him a personal friend, but he was a great man who believed deeply in the art of animation. He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney's legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology. Roy was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form, and he was all about quality. I was always impressed that he would make time for someone like me when I was fresh out of college, and he continued to support and encourage me throughout my career.'

Stanley Gold, president, Shamrock Holdings, said, 'Roy and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership that was simply special. We faced many business challenges together, had fun in the process, and enjoyed a wide variety of professional successes. Roy was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires. He carried the torch high and proud, and the world is a better place for his tireless efforts. I will miss him greatly.'

Roy Edward Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930 to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney. His father and his uncle, Walt Disney, co-founded the Disney entertainment business in 1923.

After attending Harvard School and Pomona College, Disney launched his entertainment industry career in 1952, working as an assistant film editor on the 'Dragnet' TV series.

He joined The Walt Disney Studios in 1953 as an assistant film editor, where his credits included the landmark Academy Award®-winning True-Life Adventures features, The Living Desert and The Vanishing Prairie. As a writer and production associate, he received Oscar® nominations for his work on the short subject, Mysteries of the Deep in 1959, and in 2003 for his work as executive producer for Destino.

Disney produced and directed some 35 other TV and theatrical production, including the landmark 1968 documentary, 'Varda, the Peregrine Falcon', before leaving in 1977 to become an independent producer and investor.

In 1978, Disney founded Shamrock Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned family enterprise headquartered in Burbank, California, which specializes in private equity, real estate, and public equities investing. He served as chairman of the company, which has approximately $1.5 billion of capital committed to funds.

An avid competitive sailor, Disney holds several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the 2,225-mile Transpac.

Among his many professional and philanthropic activities, Disney served on the board of trustees of California Institute of the Arts, the advisory board of St. Joseph Medical Center, and the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. Additionally, he was an advisory member of the board of directors of the United States Committee for UNICEF, chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Peregrine Fund, a member of the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald House charities, and a member of the board of trustees of the American Ireland Fund.

In 1993, he received the Winsor McCay Award (a special 'Annie Award') from ASIFA-Hollywood (The International Animated Film Society). The McCay Award is for lifetime achievement in animation. In 1997, Disney was awarded the first 'Mort Walker Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cartoon Industry,' by the Boca Raton International Museum of Cartoon Art.

Disney received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from his alma mater Pomona College in 1998. In 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Mercy College in New York. The following year, he was presented with the Trustees' Award and honorary Doctor of the Arts degree from CalArts.

Among his other honors, Disney was named a recipient of the 1999 National Catholic Education Association Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to children and education. In April 1999, Disney received the Henry Bergh Humane Award from the ASPCA, and in spring 2000, he was awarded the Inaugural Environmental Leadership Award from the Audubon Society.

Disney is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney – Tim Disney, Roy Patrick Disney, Abigail Disney, and Susan Disney Lord. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren."

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

ROBIN HOOD strings up a trailer

From ComingSoon.net:

"The trailer for director Ridley Scott's Robin Hood is now online. The action-adventure, coming to theaters on May 14, stars Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Matthew Macfadyen, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac, Lea Seydoux, Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, Alan Doyle, Danny Huston and Max von Sydow."



Robin Hood chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard's army against the French. Upon Richard's death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion, a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.

J.J. Abrams' Next Movie?

From Slashfilm:

"We’ve known that Paramount would be making new Star Trek and Mission: Impossible movies at some point, and that JJ Abrams, director of the last installment in each franchise, would likely be involved as producer, though possibly not as director. We also knew that the studio had picked up a couple of other options for Abrams to produce and possibly direct. Now a cryptic statement by Paramount chief Brad Grey suggests that the next film for Abrams will indeed not be Trek or M:I, but something else altogether.

The New York Times has a small profile on Grey and his vision for Paramount, which boils down to: 'make fewer movies that make more money'. Grey describes the mood at the studio as ‘wildly ambitious’, which to me doesn’t jibe at all with shutting down Paramount Vantage and focusing entirely on a smaller slate of films that all have tentpole potential.

Regardless, Abrams has been a big part of Paramount’s recent success, though a much greater share of the load has been shouldered by DreamWorks projects like the two Transformers movies. But after Trek opened huge this year, no doubt the studio is giving Abrams another big movie to play with. As the NYT reports:

'As for J. J. Abrams, a producer and the director of Star Trek, Mr. Grey is looking for Star Trek 2. And Mission: Impossible IV. And possibly before either, what he called another 'tentpole' film to be directed by Mr. Abrams, and yet to be announced.'

So what is the film? There are a couple of easy guesses to make. With the studio happy to hand the reigns of old franchises to Abrams, one possibility is the new Jack Ryan film. That’s also an obvious guess based on the fact that Star Trek’s Chris Pine has been cast as Ryan. Grey says the film is an unannounced tentpole. The Ryan film fits the latter condition, and as it currently has no title or formal green light, it could fit the former as well.

Abrams has talked up his possible producing gig with Micronauts, and hopeful fans might want that to be his next diretorial project, but that’s now a Hasbro property and therefore could end up Universal, which signed a six-year, four-picture deal with the toy company. So while that would be a lot of fun, it’s not the most likely.

What about Mystery on Fifth Avenue, based on the NYT article Paramount optioned for Abrams to produce that told of a Manhattan house reworked to be packed full of wild puzzles? It seems like an unlikely tentpole, but position the film as basically a cross between Home Alone and Night at the Museum and it could be as close to a family hit as Paramount and Abrams are likely to come up with."

I like the sound of Mystery on Fifth Avenue.

Golden Globes 2010 Nominations

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the nominations for 'The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards' this morning which you can view below. The awards presentation, hosted by Ricky Gervais, will be broadcast live on Sunday, January 17 at 8pm ET on NBC.

BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Avatar (20th Century Fox)
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company)
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (Lionsgate)
Up in the Air (Paramount Pictures)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Emily Blunt - The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Helen Mirren - The Last Station
Carey Mulligan - An Education
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Colin Firth - A Single Man
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Tobey Maguire - Brothers

BEST MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
(500) Days of Summer (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
The Hangover (Warner Bros. Pictures)
It's Complicated (Universal Pictures)
Julie & Julia (Columbia Pictures)
Nine (The Weinstein Company)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Sandra Bullock - The Proposal
Marion Cotillard - Nine
Julia Roberts - Duplicity
Meryl Streep - It's Complicated
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Matt Damon - The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis - Nine
Robert Downey Jr. - Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg - A Serious Man

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Sony Pictures Animation)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Coraline (Focus Features)
The Princess and the Frog (Walt Disney Pictures)
Up (Disney•Pixar)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Baaria (Italy)
Broken Embraces (Spain)
The Maid (Chile)
A Prophet (France)
The White Ribbon (Germany)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Penelope Cruz - Nine
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Julianne Moore - A Single Man

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Matt Damon - Invictus
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
James Cameron - Avatar
Clint Eastwood - Invictus
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds

BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE
Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell - District 9
Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker
Nancy Meyers - It's Complicated
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
Michael Giacchino - Up
Marvin Hamlisch - The Informant!
James Horner - Avatar
Abel Korzeniowski - A Single Man
Karen O and Carter Burwell - Where the Wild Things Are

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE
'Cinema Italiano'; Mysic & Lyrics by Mary Yeston - Nine
'I Want to Come Home'; Music & Lyrics by Paul McCartney - Everybody's Fine
'I See You'; Music by James Horner and Simon Franglen, Lyrics by James Horner, Sion Franglen and Kuk Harrell - Avatar
'The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart)'; Music & Lyrics by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett - Crazy Heart
'Winter'; Music by U2, Lyrics by Bono - Brothers"

Okay, here's the rundown -

My Picks

BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

Avatar (20th Century Fox)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

BEST MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

The Hangover (Warner Bros. Pictures)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Sandra Bullock - The Proposal

(is it fair to have Meryl Streep nominated twice in the same category?)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Robert Downey Jr. - Sherlock Holmes

(good to hear Sherlock Holmes is a true blue comedy)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Up (Disney•Pixar)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Penelope Cruz - Nine

(she's the only one I've heard of and she won an Oscar this year)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones

(even though he plays a creepy child molester and murderer)

BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE

James Cameron - Avatar

BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE

Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell - District 9

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE

Michael Giacchino - Up

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE

'I See You'; Music by James Horner and Simon Franglen, Lyrics by James Horner, Sion Franglen and Kuk Harrell - Avatar

Friday, December 11, 2009

The Visual Effects Are...

From Hitflix:

"The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 15 semi-finalists for the Achievement in Visual Effects for the 82nd Academy Awards today. The contenders are as follows:

Angels & Demons
Avatar
Coraline
Disney’s A Christmas Carol
District 9
G-Force
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Sherlock Holmes

Star Trek
Terminator Salvation

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
2012
Watchmen
Where the Wild Things Are


According to the Academy, the members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee, who selected the semifinalists, will narrow the list to seven early next month. At that point, all members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films on Thursday, January 21. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration. "

Okay, three? As painful as it is, here goes -

Avatar
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Follow-ups?

Disney's A Christmas Carol
District 9

Sherlock Holmes
Terminator Salvation
2012
Watchmen
Where the Wild Things Are


UPDATE:

Here's the seven finalists:

Avatar
District 9
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
2012

Sigourney Weaver talks GHOSTBUSTERS III?

From ComingSoon.net:

"We're not sure just how big these possible spoilers for Ghostbusters III are, but we wanted to caution readers that they might not want to know the following yet.

In an interview with Channel 4, Avatar star Sigourney Weaver was asked about possibly appearing in Ghostbusters III.

'I'm afraid to say that it *is* happening, I hope people are excited about that,' she said. 'I don't know if I'm going to be in it, I have gotten a couple of calls asking 'would you read the script?'.

'I know that my little son, Oscar – who was kidnapped from me – I think he has grown up to be a Ghostbuster,' she added before spilling another, even bigger bit...

'I might be in it and I see nothing wrong with being in it, although I don't think I will have a big part in it. I think Bill Murray has a little more to do with it - he might be a ghost.'

'The Office' co-executive producers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky are writing the screenplay.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! BILL MURRAY CAN'T BE A GHOST!!! HE HAS TO BE PETER VENKMAN, ALIVE AND WELL!!

Otherwise, I'm still fine with Sigourney Weaver being in the movie.

James Cameron takes audiences on a FANTASTIC VOYAGE

No, not Avatar. He's done with that. I think.

From Slashfilm:
"Yesterday there was news that James Cameron is developing 'a Shane Salerno-scripted sci-fi action script for Fox, described as an ‘event’ film set in the future.' At the time no one knew anything else about the picture, but Salerno’s involvement led some to speculate that this was Doomsday Protocol, a script Salerno sold to Fox, announced last year.

That isn’t the case, however, based on a red carpet interview given by Cameron last night at the London premiere of Avatar. The film is actually a 3D remake of Fantastic Voyage, and Cameron is only producing, not directing. MTV talked to Cameron and his producer Jon Landau, and they reportedly gave up the details.

The original film was released in 1966 and featured a Soviet scientist who discovers the key to miniaturizing things without danger of them reverting to their original size after a period of time. But an assassination attempt leaves him in a coma with a blood clot engangering his brain. A US team is miniaturized and sent into his bloodstream to destroy the clot and save his life. But they’re relying upon outmoded technology, and only have an hour to work before they begin to revert to original size, and are targeted by his immune system.

Because Cameron is reportedly producing this film, that leaves the gates open for speculation about his next directorial effort. It could still be the long-gestating Battle Angel, oceanic drama The Dive, or a segment for Heavy Metal, for which he’s been said to be a contributor. Or it could be something else entirely."

Natalie Portman kills ZOMBIES while staying prim and proper

From ComingSoon.net:

"Natalie Portman will star in and produce Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a film that is based on the best-selling book written by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen.... Lionsgate will finance and distribute.

Described as an expanded version of the Austen classic, the book tells the timeless story of a woman's quest for love and independence amid the outbreak of a deadly virus that turns the undead into vicious killers.

Portman will play feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet, who is distracted from her quest to eradicate the zombie menace by the arrival of the arrogant Mr. Darcy."

*softly crying* Shut up. You had me at Natalie Portman and zombies. You had me at Natalie Portman and zombies.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Josh Brolin is the next Man IN BLACK?

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Columbia Pictures is considering bringing on Josh Brolin for Men in Black III.

Who he will play is not known:

'He could play a new single-monikered government agent, with Tommy Lee Jones' Agent K passing the baton to Brolin's character. Or he could play Agent K as a young man. Or something else entirely.'

Will Smith is expected to return for the third installment, written by Etan Cohen, but will Jones? Barry Sonnenfeld may also come back to direct.

Brolin's upcoming projects include Jonah Hex and Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps."

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE conjures up a trailer!

From ComingSoon.net:

"[Disney] has debuted the first trailer for The Sorcerer's Apprentice, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Jon Turteltaub. Opening in theaters on July 16, the adventure film stars Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Monica Bellucci and Toby Kebbell.

In The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Balthazar Blake (Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Molina). Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It'll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'".



UPDATE:

New trailer!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Man, HANCOCK 2 ain't happening... yet.

From CinemaBlend:

"After tons of buzz, it looks like Hancock 2 isn’t happening after all. Just two months ago director Peter Berg expressed his excitement to reunite with the cast of Hancock to make a sequel. Well, that was before we got word that Berg was hired to direct Battleship.

Apparently Will Smith is keeping out of the spotlight, hanging out with his family and watching his kids’ film careers grow. On top of that, producers James Lassiter, Akiva Goldsmith and Michael Mann are busy with projects of their own. 'To get us all in the same room where we can talk and then agree on anything? You'll never meet a group of people who will have a harder time agreeing on anything. It's like the Israeli peace process times a thousand in how tough it is for us all. But I think it will happen, we just all have to get in the same room with some consistency.'

Yes, Berg, expresses a glimmer of hope, but when asked if Hancock 2 could be next in line after Battleship, he says he plans to work on the adaptation of Marcus Luttrell’s fiction novel Lone Survivor next, which Berg explains is about '17 SEALs that were killed in one gunfight in Afghanistan. One survived.' Then there’s Berg’s everlasting hope to reunite with Dwayne Johnson to make The Rundown 2. “I love The Rundown. I don't know if the audience was quite ready to accept Dwayne [at the time]. We had a certain amount of resistance.' As for Johnson, Berg says 'He'd love it' and that 'We always joke 'When are we gonna do it?' But sometimes it's just a question of timing and getting all the stars to line up. There is no reason why we wouldn’t.'"

Well, good! It'd give a chance for Johnson to stop doing so many family movies and get back to action. A few are okay, but he's doing too much! I, personally, like The Rundown better than Hancock. It's funnier, and doesn't delve down into drama.

Excelsior! Stan Lee's in THOR!

From ComingSoon.net:

"Stan Lee confirmed today via his Twitter account that he will have a cameo role in Thor. You can read his amusing tweets below...

'Hey, I got an email from the multu-talented director of Thor, Kenneth Branagh. Not enough space left to tell what he said-- stay tuned--'

'Kenneth Branagh (of course I call him 'Ken!') said my cameo's set for the upcoming Thor movie. --To him, it's a cameo, to me-- it's a ROLE!'

'I went easy on Ken Branagh when we discussed my role in Thor. Told him I wouldn't insist on my name above the title, I think he was grateful'

'Yeah, I mentioned Ken Banagh a few times, but I warned you I was a name driopper. Seriously tho', with him directing, Thor's a sure winner.'

'Of course, my previous tweet revealed the extent of my innate modesty. I really wanted to add 'With me doing a cameo, Thor's a sure winner.''

'Can't tweet anymore. Due to Thor, I must start rehearsing my thee's and thou's. So, if thou objecteth not, I wish thee well! 'Nuff saideth.'

Auditions are starting this week for the movie, with filming to start in January. Opening in theaters on May 20, 2011, the adaptation stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore, Samuel L. Jackson, Stellan Skarsgard, Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba and Kat Dennings."

PICTURES OF YOU developing

From ComingSoon.net:

"David Permut (Youth in Revolt), Dave Gross and Jesse Shapira will produce the romantic teen comedy Pictures of You, written by Joshua Friedlander.

The story, set in a Florida resort town, centers on a teenage boy who finds a lost camera on the beach. After developing the film, he ends up on a quest to find the girl of his dreams, whose picture was discovered inside the camera.

Variety says that Pictures of You was on the 2007 Black List of top unproduced screenplays."

Ah, man! That sounds like something I'd write. I'd see it though.

McG says, "I'll be back."

From ComingSoon.net:

"Director McG participated in a BD-Live chat for the Terminator Salvation Blu-ray yesterday and said that he is still planning on directing the fifth and sixth Terminator movies.

We're not sure how he knows this considering that the Halcyon group just this week said that they expect their auction for the franchise rights to conclude by February 1st, which means that the current owners of Terminator won't have any say in upcoming films.

'Over the past few weeks, Halcyon and its professionals have engaged in in-depth discussions and negotiations with numerous serious potential buyers, including several major movie studios,' Halcyon said.

Also, Salvation didn't exactly earn big numbers at the box office. The movie carried a production budget of about $200 million, not counting advertising, and made only $371.4 million worldwide. That's $125.3 million domestically and $246 million internationally."

Better have some form of humor (ala T2)

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Steven Spielberg no longer sees HARVEY

From ComingSoon.net:

"Steven Spielberg will no longer direct the Harvey remake at 20th Century Fox, reports Variety.

The studio was preparing an early 2010 start for the film, an adaptation of Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a man who befriends a six and a half foot tall invisible rabbit.

The trade says the project has been a challenge to pull together since Spielberg committed last August. One of the biggest challenges has been setting a star to play Elwood P. Dowd, the character played by James Stewart in the 1950 film. Spielberg's first choice was Tom Hanks, but he didn't want to take over a role played by Stewart. Spielberg and Fox also courted Robert Downey Jr. who never committed but did make suggestions on rewrites.

It it unknown what Spielberg may direct instead."

Well, here's a few options -

Interstellar (A space travel story about a group of explorers who travel through a wormhole into another dimension.)
Abraham Lincoln (a biopic of the 16th President of the United States, played by Liam Neeson)
The 39 Clues (The story revolves around the Cahills - the most powerful family the world has ever known - the source of whose power is a mystery that can only be unraveled by assembling 39 clues hidden around the world throughout history.)
The Adventures of Tintin 3 (somebody please convince Spielberg and Peter Jackson to do this movie TOGETHER!)
Indiana Jones V (the fifth adventure of the most famous adventurer in film history)
Jurassic Park IV (anything's possible, right?)

Taylor Lautner is MAX STEEL

From ComingSoon.net:

"Variety has confirmed that Twilight franchise star Taylor Lautner may be the frontrunner to play the title role in Paramount's Max Steel, based on Mattel's action figure toy line.

The 17-year-old will play a 19-year-old extreme sports junkie recruited by a secret agency after an experiment infects his body with nanobots, making him superhuman.

Mattel introduced the character in the U.S. in 1999 as an action figure, and soon after in an animated series that ran from 2000-2002.

The newspaper adds that J.P. Lavin and Chad Damiani are writing the script for the film."





UPDATE:

From ComingSoon.net:

"Vulture is reporting that The Twilight Saga star Taylor Lautner has dropped out of Mattel's Max Steel so that he can concentrate on Hasbro's Stretch Armstrong instead.

He had originally been signed to do both projects, but according to the site, 'in the weeks after signing on to play Steel, Lautner became increasingly convinced that Hasbro was playing its hand better than Mattel. Thanks to WME, Hasbro was moving with far greater speed through Hollywood's development maze than Mattel, not only setting up projects, but quickly moving them forward.'

Vulture adds that Universal began conversations earlier this month with Rob Letterman (Monsters vs. Aliens, upcoming Gulliver's Travels) about directing Stretch Armstrong for a 2012 release."

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Jeff Bridges talks TRON LEGACY

From SciFiWire.com:

"Jeff Bridges likened playing Kevin Flynn in the original 1982 Tron to being a kid again, playing pretend, so it's appropriate that he literally becomes a kid again in the upcoming 3D sequel film, Tron Legacy, in which he plays dual roles.


Though the movie's storyline is closely held, we know that Bridges will play an older version of his original character, Kevin Flynn, as well as [Flynn's digital alter-ego, Clu] whose appearance is that of Bridges 27 years ago.


The film will use of the same computer technology employed to age and de-age Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

'It was challenging, in that I got a little taste of this new technology of acting what they call 'in the volume' and making movies without cameras,' Bridges said in a group interview Wednesday in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he was promoting the drama Crazy Heart. 'It's a completely different deal. That was kind of a challenge. It was great getting back with my old buddy, [original Tron director] Steven Lisberger, and Bruce Boxleitner." Boxleitner, who played the dual roles of Alan Bradley and Tron in the original film, will appear in the sequel as an age-appropriate Bradley.

Fans got a taste of Bridges' mysterious dual role in the original teaser for Tron Legacy, which screened two Comic-Cons ago. The teaser gives a sense of how they've updated familiar Tron effects, such as the light cycles and flying discs, but Bridges said that's only the beginning of what's in store for Tron Legacy.

'All that technology that we were going to use in the movie itself is used in the trailer,' Bridges continued. 'It wasn't as highly polished as the movie is going to be, but it gives you a little peek into what you might find. That teaser was something they do kind of often with movies, and I think it's a good idea. The Coen brothers told me they did it with making Blood Simple. Before they even shoot the movie at all, they shoot the trailer of the movie, as if it was already made, and then they use that to entice the financiers. So, even though it was a Disney property, Disney wanted them to shoot this pretty expensive trailer. I don't know how much it cost, but it was pretty expensive.' The teaser footage was actually test footage that won't likely appear in the finished movie.

In Tron Legacy, Kevin Flynn's son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund), goes back into the digital world to find his lost father. Olivia Wilde and Michael Sheen co-star as programs living in the world of computer programs. Boxleitner also reprises his role from the original Tron. Lisberger collaborates as a producer. Joseph Kosinski directs the new vision of Tron.

'I used to love to pretend when I was a kid,' Bridges said. 'Here's a movie that they say, 'You get to play a guy who gets sucked inside a computer.' Ooh, yeah. Use all the modern technology that's available today, [and] the same goes with the sequel, except all the technology that we're using in that makes the old one look like an old black-and-white TV show or something. Gosh, it's amazing what they've got going on this. I can't wait to see it all pasted together.'

Tron Legacy has completed principal photography but will not be finished with post-production effects until its release, currently slated for December 2010."

Good to see Jeff still holds a place in his heart for Tron.

Speaking of Jeff Bridges news, here's one that's not being covered by major movie news but here!

From GoMemphis.com:
"The Coen brothers -- the Academy Award-winning filmmakers responsible for such modern classics as No Country for Old Men, Fargo and The Big Lebowski -- are looking for a Memphis girl with 'steely nerves,' a 'straightforward manner' and, yes, true grit.

An open casting call will be held from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the East Memphis Hilton at 939 Ridge Lake Blvd., for the potentially star-making role of spunky young Mattie Ross, a lead character in the Coens' upcoming remake of the famous 1969 western, True Grit.

According to a release from the casting office, the filmmakers are looking for 'a 12 to 16-year-old Caucasian girl who is tough, strong and tells it like it is. They are open to all looks, so come give it a try. No acting experience is necessary.'

Writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen 'would love, love, love to find somebody unknown,' said casting director Rachel Tenner, who worked with the Coens on A Serious Man, Burn After Reading and No Country for Old Men, which won the Best Picture Oscar in 2008. 'Any girls with an instinct to try should come and give it a shot.'"

Wish they were shooting the movie in Memphis!!

Leonardo DiCaprio is Jack Frost

From ComingSoon.net:

"DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. announced today that Leonardo DiCaprio will make his animated feature film debut when he headlines the cast of the studio's November 2, 2012 release, The Guardians (working title) as Jack Frost.

DiCaprio is the first actor announced for The Guardians, which is produced by Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein, and directed by Peter Ramsey.

When an evil spirit called Pitch becomes bent upon taking over the world by inspiring fear in the hearts of kids everywhere, a group of our greatest heroes -- Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman and Jack Frost -- band together for the first time, determined to stand in Pitch's way. More than a collection of storybook subjects, 'The Guardians' are also a band of superheroes, who possess their own special powers. Now joined in opposition of a common foe, the Guardians heed the call and combine their powers to defeat Pitch and protect the world from his campaign of fear.

The film is based on 'The Guardians of Childhood,' a series of highly anticipated books by William Joyce."

I guess I can buy this. Bout time Leo decided to do something funny. Let's hope his Jack Frost doesn't come out looking like Martin Short in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause: