Archive for January, 2008
Silverstar's Strategy First Signs Eccentric Major Leaguer, Bill 'Spaceman' Lee, for Baseball Mogul 2008
Thursday, January 31st, 2008Protocall's TitleMatch Hires Zable Fisher Public Relations
Thursday, January 31st, 2008Brett Ratner to Direct ‘The Wolfman?’
Thursday, January 31st, 2008Filed under: Drama, Thrillers, Deals, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom
I always love it when Brett Ratner's name gets tossed into the pot with regards to a new, hip fanboy-ish project, because the fanboys run out to cry foul. It hasn't seemed to hurt his career, though, since moviegoers still flock to his flicks because the studios tend to sell them well with flashy trailers and whatnot. The latest flurry of Ratner rage was brought on by a story over at AICN which claims the director is Universal's choice to replace Mark Romanek on The Wolfman. Harry Knowles, who broke the news (and says it comes from a very reliable source), makes a pretty good argument as to why the studio should let Ratner's name go in one ear and out the other.
Knowles says, "Brett Ratner makes watchable films. Movies that go through your system as if consumed off a soapy plate. They're empty - hollow works. He's a terrible ACTOR's director. His basement is a disco, and the Wolfman has no disco in his soul. This is a PERIOD film - to make a convincing period film you need a director for an eye for details... Someone that knows this world and period. X3 was a financial success - but that was based on an incredibly successful franchise by Singer. Ratner killed it." Although I'm not as attached to The Wolfman as others are, I completely agree with Knowles opinion of the guy. Ratner's a joke -- he'll make your film look pretty, like the last girl left in the bar after six hours worth of vodka shots. But when you wake up next to her the next morning, the guilt -- coupled with a massive hangover -- leads to regret. Why, exactly, did I pay $10 bucks to watch that piece of sh*t? Oh yeah, the trailer looked good.
While the news is not official yet, there's definitely enough here to hurt your ears. Here's hoping Universal listens to the cries and goes in a different direction. What do you think?
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Motormouth Gemma Arterton Reveals More ‘Bond’ Details!
Thursday, January 31st, 2008Filed under: Action, Romance, Casting, Sony, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, Newsstand, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels, Daniel Craig
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Is Gemma Arterton feeling the heat for having recently (apparently) blurted out a key plot point involving her character in Quantum of Solace? Seems that way. "You have to work out what you can say and cannot say," Arterton tells Reuters in a recent article. "It's quite hard for me who has a bit of a motor mouth. I've been learning for the last six months to think before I speak." As she continues to work on her problem, Arterton also continues to give away more plot details for the upcoming film, intimating in the same Reuters piece that oil -- "a lot of oil" -- is what the villains are after this time, and South America is apparently where they're looking for it. Arterton also tells IGN in another new interview that her character does become sexually involved with Bond -- there's a kiss, at least -- and that something happens to her in a "scene which is an homage to something iconic, but I cannot tell you what that is. But it will be remembered."
What is she talking about? Let's speculate. Given what Arterton has already let slip about her character's destiny and given that in this IGN interview she mentions Diana Rigg more than once -- noting her as one of her favorite Bond girls and saying "my hair is reminiscent of Diana Rigg's hair" the most obvious answer is that perhaps the "homage scene" is a climactic one for her and is something similar to the climactic scene in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. That would fit in with everything she's saying, but it wouldn't seemingly fit in with Bond's journey at this point, since it would be so similar to the ending of Casino Royale. Although, it might work if Arterton's Agent Fields is only a minor character, which she appears to be. A minor character could be resolved in such a way. Gemma, you're making my head hurt!
Permalink | Email this | CommentsStop-Loss – Trailer 1
Thursday, January 31st, 2008 | Stop-Loss - Trailer 1 Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind with the help and support of his family and his best friend, Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum), who served with him in Iraq. Along with their other war buddies, Brandon and Steve try to make peace with civilian life. Then, against Brandon’s will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor. Directed by: Kimberly Peirce Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ciaran Hinds |
The Year My Parents Went On Vacation – Trailer
Thursday, January 31st, 2008 | The Year My Parents Went On Vacation - Trailer Set in the turbulent year of 1970, this poignant and humorous coming of age story thrusts twelve year-old Mauro (Michel Joelsas) into a maelstrom of political and personal upheaval. When his left-wing militant parents are forced to go underground, Mauro is left in the care of his Jewish grandfather’s neighbor in Sao Paulo. Suddenly finding himself an exile in his own country, he is forced to create an ersatz family from the religiously diverse and colorful population of his new neighborhood. Mauro befriends tomboyish, street smart Hanna (Daniela Piepszyk) and develops a crush on Irene (Liliana Castro,) a pretty waitress in a local bar where everyone, including Mauro, an ardent soccer fan, gathers to watch iconic star Pelé in the 1970 World Cup championship which Mauro hopes to watch with his parents if they return to Brazil in time. Directed by: Cao Hamburger Starring: Michel Joelsas, Germano Haiut, Paulo Autran, Simone Spoladore, Eduardo Moreira |
Backseat – Trailer
Thursday, January 31st, 2008 | Backseat - Trailer A ‘coming of age late’ story about prolonged adolescence, two old friends flee New York City on a three-day road trip to Montreal to escape their problems and meet the great Donald Sutherland. Between running drugs and meeting a man who only communicates through instant messaging, they run head-on into the always lingering problem of real life. Directed by: Bruce Van Dusen Starring: Rob Bogue, Josh Alexander, Will Janowitz, Aubrey Dollar, Mark Rosenthal |
Son of Rambow – Trailer
Thursday, January 31st, 2008 | Son of Rambow - Trailer A runaway audience smash at the Sundance Film Festival, SON OF RAMBOW is a hilariously fresh and visually inventive take on friendship, family, film heroes and the death-defying adventures of growing up in the video age. It all begins in 1980s Britain, when young Will Proudfoot, raised in isolation among The Brethren, a puritanical religious sect in which music and TV are strictly forbidden, encounters something beyond his wildest fantasies: a pirated copy of RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD. His virgin viewing of the iconic thriller blows his mind – and rapidly expanding imagination – wide open. Now, Will sets out to join forces with the seemingly diabolical school bully, Lee Carter, to make their own action epic, devising wildly creative, on-the-fly stunts, not to mention equally elaborate schemes for creating a movie of total commitment and non-stop thrills while hiding out from The Brethren. But when school popularity finally descends on Will and Lee in the form of, oui, the super-cool French exchange student, Didier Revol, their remarkable new friendship and precious film are pushed, quite literally, to the breaking point … Directed by: Garth Jennings Starring: Bill Milner, Will Poulter, Jules Sitruk, Jessica Stevenson, Neil Dudgeon |
Max Hattler’s new director’s reel is full of his unique blend of styles
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008Fuck Death
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
Fuck Death is Graydon’s Sheppard’s way of helping the Fuck Death Foundation spread its message and achieve its goal of the “elimination of death through the generation and distribution of funds to strategically selected causes and initiatives worldwide.”
Yeah, the animation is purposefully cruddy, but the writing and some of the ideas are pretty clever, all of which Graydon handled on his own. (My favorite bit is the Haley’s Comet to Game Boy transition.)
This post was originally a Quickie, but I’ve got a soft-spot in my heart for post-human (or transhuman, depending on your take) messages. I was introduced to the whole concept of living forever when I read Ray Kurzweil’s The Age of Spiritual Machines a while back. That flipped a few switches for me, and eventually led me to Aubrey de Grey and his bullet-proof defense of anti-aging research.
For those interested, here’s Aubrey de Grey at TED. Yes, he looks like a rejected member of ZZ Top, but he’s a pretty damn interesting guy.
Fuck Death Federation’s approach to the issue is refreshingly wry and, for lack of a better word, cool. Graydon’s animation style fits nicely with their “fuck this shit” tone.
Via Glossy
Post from: Motionographer
