The news that screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris have "opted not to come back" for Man of Steel is surprising in one regard: up until now, I didn’t think Warner Brothers was serious about reinventing the failed re-whatever of D.C. Comics’ signature superhero. While I can’t speak to any schism between Bryan Singer and … Continue reading
Why, oh, why is Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are still a whole year away? His big screen take on Maurice Sendak’s Caldecott Medal-winning picture book wrapped principal photography last December, and, since then, we’ve been teased with one amazing still image (seen above). Other than that, all has been excruciating mystery. Until now. … Continue reading
The only surprising aspect to Matt Damon suggesting, during the Japan junket for Ocean’s Thirteen, that he could conceivably return to the Bourne franchise if, in a few years, Paul Greengrass comes calling is that it kinda diminishes the brave finality of this statement from the Cannes Ocean’s Thirteen press conference back in May: "We … Continue reading
Admit it. Once or twice in your life, you’ve asked yourself, "If it came down to it, if I had no other choice, if the fate of the world hung in the balance… how much Dern could I take?" Well, my friend, you’re about to find out. Bruce Dern, Laura Dern and Diane Ladd (who’s … Continue reading
Gone Baby Gone puts the film critic at a disadvantage. For most of its 114-minute runtime, it’s content to be an above average detective yarn distinguished by some deep Beantown atmosphere and an impressive array of carefully modulated performances from old pros (Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman and the underrated John Ashton) and actors on the … Continue reading
Timecop has acquired a reputation as the pinnacle of Peter Hyams’s oeuvre, which is a little like saying Bobby Hebert was the best quarterback in the history of the USFL. I’m not sure that analogy holds, but, in any event, both claims are spectacularly wrong: Jim Kelly was the best QB to lace ’em up … Continue reading
Lionsgate might be mimicking the Sin City key art with the lashing rain and red title, but, overall, that’s about all I need from a John Rambo: To Hell and Back poster. And since they’ve put the poster out there, I’m going to guess that Rambo is the final title. It’s for the best, really. … Continue reading
Now that Gavin Hood is almost free and clear of his Rendition duties (unlikely Oscar push notwithstanding), it’s time for the South African filmmaker to get serious about his next project, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. (Yes, they’re going with that dreadfully cumbersome subtitle, which is just Fox’s way of reaffirming their contempt for the intelligence of … Continue reading
The quickest way to go broke in Hollywood is to fret about artistic integrity. Conversely, the quickest way to lose one’s voice is to compromise. But without compromise, there is no tending to one’s artistic integrity; therefore, the only way to truly succeed in this business is to adulterate one’s voice to ensure maximum accessibility. … Continue reading
The Karate Kid remake has been Zabka’d. In a statement issued by his publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, Will Smith angrily dismissed rumors that he was intending to revamp the 1984 non-classic with his nine-year-old son, Jayden, in the lead role (and Jackie Chan as the Bonsai-tree trimming, adolescent boy ass-kicking Mr. Miyagi). "He’s certainly not," said … Continue reading