Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gif Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Cinematical Seven: My Favorite Summertime Movieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/cinematical-seven-my-favorite-summertime-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/cinematical-seven-my-favorite-summertime-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/cinematical-seven-my-favorite-summertime-movies/#commentsFiled under: ,



It usually takes about a week after the kids get out of school for summer to kick in, and if there was ever an official starting line, it's Fourth of July weekend. Maybe you're hitting up a barbecue with some friends this weekend, relaxing by the pool or shooting off some fireworks -- and that's cool. Enjoy yourself. Me? I'll be doing a little of the BBQ, but I'll also enjoy a screening of at least one of the following seven films. See, what's summer without a memorable summertime flick ... or several?

This year's best summertime film (according to me), The Wackness, hits theaters in limited release tomorrow before rolling out to other cities. That film caters a bit more toward a specific time period (1994) and a specific location (NYC), but those summer-in-the-city flicks are rare, especially a good one. Instead of following all those kids who left town, went to camp, traveled abroad, what have you, The Wackness remains with the one dude who didn't leave town. The kid who was stuck spending his summer on hot pavement, dealing pot to his therapist while chasing the girl of his dreams.

But perhaps that's how you remember summer growing up. Or maybe you spent most of your summers in camp, or on the baseball field, or with a few of your best pals on another bizarre adventure. Those summer months hold a lot of memories for you, I'm sure, as they do for me. And what's up with summertime movies and awesome soundtracks? Ever notice that? Anyway, here are some of my favorites ... feel free to tell me yours.

Continue reading Cinematical Seven: My Favorite Summertime Movies

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]]>cinematicaldazed and confusedDazedAndConfuseddirty dancingDirtyDancinggreat summertime moviesGreatSummertimeMovieshot american summerjawsstand by meStandByMethe sandlotthe wacknessTheSandlotTheWacknesswetErik DavisThu, 03 Jul 2008 20:02:00 ESTDiscuss: Are Studios Ruining Older Films on Blu-ray?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/discuss-are-studios-ruining-older-films-on-blu-ray/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/discuss-are-studios-ruining-older-films-on-blu-ray/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/discuss-are-studios-ruining-older-films-on-blu-ray/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's a very interesting discussion going on over on Hollywood Elsewhere today about whether studios re-releasing older movies on Blu-ray are going too far in tweaking the originals to make them look "better." At the center of the discussion is the Dirty Harry Blu-ray DVD. Glenn Erickson, writing for film.com, points out that the Patton Blu-ray DVD was "enhanced to minimize the natural grain," but that in that case, the altering makes it look more like the theatrical 70mm presentation, so he doesn't take issue with that one. The Dirty Harry Blu-ray, however, Erickson considers "more complicated." He notes:

"The Blu-ray disc shows heavy tweaking to minimize grain, sharpen contrast and brighten colors. Sunny exteriors haven't changed much but heavy processing has given most night shots an almost unnatural look -- detail and bright color in what were once dimly lit areas, with everything else falling into inky blackness. "

Jeff Wells doesn't have a problem with this -- if it makes Dirty Harry look better, who cares? But in the discussion thread on the post, folks are getting down into the nitty-gritty of the issue: studios doing digital remastering for Blu-ray transfers, sometimes without consulting the cinematographer as to why scenes where shot as they were. HE commenter TheVicuna links to an excellent interview at cameraguild.com, the website for the International Cinematographer's Guild, with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond; in part of the interview, he talks about the DVD transfer of Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye, for which he was not called in to supervise the transfer; the resulting transfer, Zsigmond says in the interview, was "terrible."

Continue reading Discuss: Are Studios Ruining Older Films on Blu-ray?

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]]>blu-raydirty harrydirty harry blu-ray dvdDirtyHarryDirtyHarryBlu-rayDvdfeaturedpattonKim VoynarThu, 03 Jul 2008 18:15:00 ESTNew Photo From 'The Wolfman'!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/new-photo-from-the-wolfman/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/new-photo-from-the-wolfman/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/new-photo-from-the-wolfman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Empire has been given an exclusive new photo from the highly anticipated remake of The Wolf Man. Click the photo to the right to see the whole thing, and then feel free to begin eagerly anticipating April even more than you already are. (Woohoo, April!) The pic respresents the first official non-lupine look at Benicio del Toro as Lawrence Talbot. And, costume nerd that I am, I'm in love with his Gothic cloak. This movie promises to make me drunk on Victorian drapery.

It also provides the first look at Emily Blunt and Anthony Hopkins, both of whom are nearly unrecognizable. Blunt is so stripped of make-up that she looks straight out of a tintype. She plays Gwen Conliffe, the fiancee of Talbot's recently deceased brother, whom the werewolf-to-be begins developing an affection for her. Hopefully, it's for her personality, and not as a late night snack. Wait, that didn't sound right.

Hopkins, of course, plays the senior Talbot, who is estranged from Lawrence long before he turns lycanthropic. If Empire and IMDB didn't tell me otherwise, I would argue that it was Richard Briers in the photo and not Sir Anthony. Really, everyone but del Toro is unrecognizable in this photo, so kudos to the make-up and hair department.

The Wolf Man is set to be released April 3rd, 2009. I still wish they would release this in the fall, but perhaps a copious amount of bloodshed is just what springtime needs.




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]]>Elisabeth RappeThu, 03 Jul 2008 17:33:00 ESTOriginal Script for 'Hancock' Leaks Onlinehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/original-script-for-hancock-leaks-online/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/original-script-for-hancock-leaks-online/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/original-script-for-hancock-leaks-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Okay, so we went through something similar with Frank Darabont's unused draft of the latest Indiana Jones installment, which managed to be a bit better (read: Mutt-less) compared to the still entertaining end result. Now, it appears that the original draft for Hancock -- long titled Tonight, He Comes -- has popped up by way of Jeff Wells over at Hollywood Elsewhere (read it here). Oh, and if it's authentic, it happens to be missing the next-to-last page.

I've found the behind-the-scenes hearsay -- conveniently summed up in this NY Times piece -- on this film to be fairly fascinating. First, as scripted by Vy Vincent Ngo, Tonight had made the rounds as a reportedly hard-R superhero drama that capitalized on the somewhat sexual nature of the title. However, it seems once Will Smith was brought on board, Sony saw fit to tame things down considerably.

Even as recently as April, the MPAA had twice handed them an R instead of the sought-after PG-13, and now the finished result runs a choppy 92 minutes -- distinctly shorter than indicated in AICN test screening reports which made particular mention of a subplot involving statutory rape. Of course, as Wells brings up, it's hard to ignore the involvement of producer/screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, whose recent work on Smith's last hit, I Am Legend, had a similarly slapdash second half at the compromise of the original material.

I've yet to get more than a couple of pages into this thing, but do you guys think this is the real deal, and if so, do you guys think that this is the real film compared to what's on thousands of screens this week?

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]]>actionhancockpeter bergPeterBergsuperherotonight he comesTonightHeComeswill smithWillSmithWilliam GossThu, 03 Jul 2008 16:45:00 ESTThe Underwhelming 'Mutant Chronicles' Teaserhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/the-underwhelming-mutant-chronicles-teaser/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/the-underwhelming-mutant-chronicles-teaser/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/the-underwhelming-mutant-chronicles-teaser/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This may sound paranoid, but I am convinced that Thomas Jane must have made some enemies in Hollywood. The guy is talented, he has great screen presence, he's awfully easy on the eyes; and still he ends up flicks like Mutant Chronicles. If you don't believe me, take a look at the new teaser for the sci-fi thriller over on the actor's personal site, and tell me this movie doesn't look destined for obscurity.

Chronicles is loosely based on the successful role-playing game of the same name from Target Games. In Philip Eisner's (Event Horizon) script, the world has been divided into four corporations who are constantly at war. When a new plague of mutants are unleashed unto the world, an ancient society recruits a battle-hardened soldier (Jane) as humanity's last chance for survival. Joining Jane are Ron Perlman as the mystic Brother Samuel, Devon Aoki as a fellow bad-ass, and John Malkovich as the political leader Constantine.

On paper, the whole thing sounds fine; mutants, elite military squads, and pseudo-mysticism -- what could go wrong? After watching the trailer, the answer would appear to be ... everything. The film was originally announced back in 2006, but other than a quick poster release and a website, there hasn't been much attention paid to the film...and now I'm starting to understand why.

Mutant Chronicles is scheduled for release later this year.

[via Coming Soon]

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]]>devon aokiDevonAokijohn malkovichJohnMalkovichmutant chroniclesMutantChroniclesprasron perlmanRonPerlmanSimon HunterSimonHunterthomas janeThomasJaneJessica BarnesThu, 03 Jul 2008 16:03:00 ESTVal Kilmer and Xzibit Join Werner Herzog's 'Bad Lieutenant'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/val-kilmer-and-xzibit-join-werner-herzogs-bad-lieutenant/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/val-kilmer-and-xzibit-join-werner-herzogs-bad-lieutenant/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/val-kilmer-and-xzibit-join-werner-herzogs-bad-lieutenant/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant cast just became a whole lot crazier. Variety is reporting that Val Kilmer and Xzibit are joining Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes in the much-maligned remake / re-imagining / re-something of Abel Ferrara's cult classic.

Kilmer will be playing Cage's police partner, presumably the straight arrow to complement Cage's cop-on-the-edge. This comes right on the heels of Kilmer being cast in Silver Cord, so I think it's safe to say someone's trying to make a comeback. (Am I the only one who laments the passing of years, and what it has done to one of my biggest crushes? Has it really been so long since The Saint?)

Xzibit, fresh off The X-Files: I Want to Believe, will be playing their nemesis, Big Fade.
Remember, folks, it's a re-imagining, which is why you don't remember any of these characters from the original.

If there aren't shockingly hilarious tales of egos and fistfights from the Lieutenant set, I'll be among the bitterly disappointed. While I suspect Kilmer has chilled with the passing of years, I'm thinking that combining him with Herzog is bound to be tempestuous. Is it too much to ask that Herzog just goes even further, and hires Sean Young and Gary Busey? Perhaps even Mike Myers? Throw the script out the window, and just film the production. I think it would be far more fun than any re-imagining.







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]]>bad lieutenantbad lieutenant remakeBadLieutenantBadLieutenantRemakeeva mendesEvaMendesnicolas cageNicolasCageval kilmerValKilmerwerner herzogWernerHerzogxzibitElisabeth RappeThu, 03 Jul 2008 15:15:00 ESTFinally! A Look at John C. Reilly's Freaky Vampirehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/finally-a-look-at-john-c-reillys-freaky-vampire/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/finally-a-look-at-john-c-reillys-freaky-vampire/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/finally-a-look-at-john-c-reillys-freaky-vampire/#commentsFiled under: ,

Way back in November, John C. Reilly signed on to play Larten Crepsley in the adaptation of Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak. Since then, we've gotten a sneak peek at Salma Hayek's bearded lady, but nothing of the sharp-toothed Crepsley -- until now! Empire has posted a first look at Reilly's character, which you can see cropped on the right. (It's a little bigger over at Empire, but unfortunately, not much.)

The film focuses on a 14-year-old kid, Darren Shan (Chris Kelly), who visits an illegal freak show, sneaks in after hours, and gets thrust into a life of freak shows and vampiric servitude. The photo shows Shan and Crepsley, so maybe this is when the poor kid getting pulled into the freakish life. Although really, I think Crepsley's outfit is the most freakish thing. That, and the darkly rouged cheeks.

The flick should hit US shores in 2008, before the scheduled UK release in February of 2009.

*Note: Both the real Darren Shan and the kid who plays the fictional Darren Shan use two names. To clear up confusion between the Empire report, here, and IMDb: The young actor goes by Chris Kelly and Chris Massoglia, while Darren Shan is also known as Darren O'Shaughnessy.

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]]>Chris KellyChrisKellyCinematicalCirque du FreakCirqueDuFreakJohn C. ReillyJohnC.ReillyMonika BartyzelThu, 03 Jul 2008 14:32:00 ESTTrailer for 'The Day The Earth Went Whoa'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/trailer-for-the-day-the-earth-went-whoa/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/trailer-for-the-day-the-earth-went-whoa/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/trailer-for-the-day-the-earth-went-whoa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The rule of thumb in this film blogging world of ours is, what goes up must come down. In other words, any trailer that finds itself premiering on YouTube can only find itself taken down from YouTube. So, for now, let us offer you what appears to be the teaser for this winter's big-budget remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still, in which an alien visitor (Keanu Reeves) gives us Earth denizens a hefty heads-up that if we don't straighten up our act, he and his giant robot friend will do it for us ...

Now, I may or may not be entering spoiler territory with this following paragraph, so feel free to skip it (in that case, long story short: also stars Jennifer Connelly and due in theaters on December 12th) -- BUT, from what I can recall reading at one point, our main man's angle this time around is not concerns of nuclear warfare (that's SO 1951!), but rather more environmentally-fixated priorities. Who knew that between this, WALL-E, and The Happening that the big H'wood cared so much about the state of our planet.

On the other hand, pitched properly, green can only equal more green in their eyes.

[thanks to Film Web]

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]]>jennifer connellyJenniferConnellykeanu reevesKeanuReevesremakesci-fithe day the earth st...TheDayTheEarthSt...William GossThu, 03 Jul 2008 13:45:00 ESTReview: Diminished Capacityhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/review-diminished-capacity/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/review-diminished-capacity/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/review-diminished-capacity/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Some of cinema's most iconic shots of Chicago appear in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and the film is certainly Matthew Broderick's most iconic role. So, it's hard to watch the actor in the Chicago-set Diminished Capacity and not ask yourself, "is this what's happened to Ferris?" He is now relatively passive, paunchy and pitiful in the role of Cooper, a newspaper editor who has recently suffered a mildly debilitating concussion. And the character could be classified as yet another sad sack, one of three such parts he can be seen playing at present (Then She Found Me opened in April and is still in theaters; Finding Amanda debuted last week).

But is it fair that we most associate Broderick with Ferris, thereby continuing our disappointment in seeing him play one nebbish nobody after another? Couldn't we redirect our memories and accept that Broderick's modern roles are more like grown-up versions of Eugene Jerome, of Neil Simon's plays Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues, who he portrayed on Broadway as well as in the film adaptation of Biloxi? Were Eugene not the fictional incarnation of Simon and had he not therefore become a famous writer (and were he not from an earlier time period), the character surely could have gone on to be the pathetic teacher of Election or Then She Found Me or the absentminded editor of Diminished Capacity.

Continue reading Review: Diminished Capacity

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]]>biloxi bluesBiloxiBluesbobby cannavaleBobbyCannavalediminished capacityDiminishedCapacityelectionferris buellerferris buellers day offFerrisBuellerFerrisBuellersDayOfffinding amandaFindingAmandajohn cusackJohnCusackmatthew broderickMatthewBroderickneil simonNeilSimonout on a limbOutOnALimbproject xProjectXterry kinneyTerryKinneythen she found meThenSheFoundMevirginia madsenVirginiaMadsenChristopher CampbellThu, 03 Jul 2008 13:02:00 ESTFan Rant: No One Can Hear You Screenhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/fan-rant-no-one-can-hear-you-screen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/fan-rant-no-one-can-hear-you-screen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/fan-rant-no-one-can-hear-you-screen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

"If a film fell in the multiplex, and no one was there to see it..."

Limited release: such a simple phrase, and yet two words that all but indicate to a majority of moviegoers that whatever it is they want to see may or may not escape the confines of a NY/LA run before the film in question comes to them by way of Netflix mere months later.

Meanwhile, screens upon screens across the nation are filled by the likes of the same stars and the same stories, with the same special effects and the same happy endings, leaving the smaller films, the different films, the better films to slip through the distribution cracks, as it were.

Among their number falls The Promotion, a film which we've admittedly supported ad nauseum to the oh-so-ironic tune of $365,928 on a grand total of 81 screens. It opened just this past weekend in my market, Orlando, Fla., on a single screen, for a whopping four days, with a grand total of eight showings, before being shuffled off to make room for that other Jason Bateman co-starring comedy-drama hybrid.

It was the first day of July, and the last night for the film. Having enjoyed it twice before and driven by - I don't know - a sense of romantic futility, I turned out for that final showing. Lo and behold, I wasn't alone...

Continue reading Fan Rant: No One Can Hear You Screen

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]]>bagheadcinematicaldistributionfan rantFanRantfeaturedindie filmIndieFilmkablueythe promotionThePromotionWilliam GossThu, 03 Jul 2008 12:02:00 ESTRandy Quaid to Meet the Press?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/randy-quaid-to-meet-the-press/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/randy-quaid-to-meet-the-press/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/randy-quaid-to-meet-the-press/#commentsFiled under: ,

And we thought that the shrinking gap was only between theatrical and DVD releases. Now it's how soon a project can get off the ground after someone passes away. Anna Nicole Smith had barely been gone a month when projects started to cook up on her life and death. Now Defamer has spotted that a super-respectful NINETEEN DAYS after Tim Russert dies of a heart attack, a telepic is already in the works with a casting notice up on Craigslist. The notice even says that Randy Quaid has already signed on to star.

When the news broke, did someone reach over for their phone, call up Quaid, and get this set up? Or, maybe they, you know, waited a few days so they wouldn't seem eager to capitalize on the man's death (and spent that time throwing together a script). So, this ad says that a New York-based film company is looking to cast an unknown actress in the role of Maureen Orth, Russert's wife, and that the film will follow the last 24 hours of his life. So, not only can they not wait a bit to get this going, but it's also centered on the man's death?

The casting is certainly appropriate, but that's about the only nice thing I can say about this news.

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]]>CinematicalMaureen OrthMaureenOrthRandy QuaidRandyQuaidTim RussertTimRussertMonika BartyzelThu, 03 Jul 2008 11:32:00 ESTBunch More 'Harry Potter 6' Photos Hithttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/bunch-more-harry-potter-6-photos-hit/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/bunch-more-harry-potter-6-photos-hit/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/bunch-more-harry-potter-6-photos-hit/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



November 21 is slowly inching closer, and Potter Mania is starting to heat up. Just in time for the Fourth of July, we've got a whole slew of new Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince pics to enjoy. There are seven tasty shots over at USA Today, including the one above, plus another two over at Moviefone.

You're not going to see many drug and sex paralells in these pics, but there is the obligatory trio discussing some important fact (in this case, the potions book), the wonderful Dumbledore, Draco looking much tougher and ticked off, and well, hit the jump to see my favorite one of all.

Continue reading Bunch More 'Harry Potter 6' Photos Hit

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]]>Monika BartyzelThu, 03 Jul 2008 11:02:00 ESTAll's Well For Rose McGowan, Robert Rodriguez and Their Movies?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/alls-well-for-rose-mcgowan-robert-rodriguez-and-their-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/alls-well-for-rose-mcgowan-robert-rodriguez-and-their-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/alls-well-for-rose-mcgowan-robert-rodriguez-and-their-movies/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apparently, Hollywood (and all watching) cheered too soon -- a representative for Rose McGowan has hit back at the reports that she has split with Robert Rodriguez, or scrapped their movies. McGowan's rep told People Magazine that "the production of all three films is moving forward with Rose to star." And one of those mysterious sources "close" to the actress insisted their relationship was fine.

Now, naturally we here at Cinematical could really care less about the status of their engagement -- we just wanted to know what was going to happen to those movies. And that all depends which dubious glossy you believe -- the New York Post, who broke the story, or the damage controlling People. We all know those official statements and mysterious sources can mean nothing in six months.

But even if this was all tabloid fiction, it really should serve as a wake-up call for Rodriguez and McGowan. What must it be like to turn on your television, laptop, or radio and hear people rejoicing over your break-up in the hopes that, now, Red Sonja would not be remade? They've even gone so far as to "officially" recast Barbarella with Jessica Alba on many news sites. That has to hurt. So, maybe it's time for you crazy kids to scale it back a bit. Pick one of your three love projects to make (we can give you that much), and then devote your time and talents to a movie that doesn't involve your other half. I can't really speak for McGowan, but might I humbly suggest A Dame to Kill For to Rodriguez?

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]]>barbarellared sonjaRedSonjarobert rodriguezRobertRodriguezrose mcgowanRoseMcgowanwomen in chainsWomenInChainsElisabeth RappeThu, 03 Jul 2008 10:32:00 ESTMore Big Toronto Premieres: 'Miracle at St. Anna,' 'Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/more-big-toronto-premieres-miracle-at-st-anna-nick-and-norah/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/more-big-toronto-premieres-miracle-at-st-anna-nick-and-norah/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/more-big-toronto-premieres-miracle-at-st-anna-nick-and-norah/#commentsFiled under:

I would like to punch Variety in the face for writing "preem" instead of "premiere," as in "Spike Lee's WWII pic Miracle at St. Anna will world preem at the Toronto Film Festival." Yeah, I know, they use this sort of cutesy Hollywood "inside baseball" terminology left and right -- I find all of it irritating, but preem? Seriously? That is nothing if not horrible. And it's all of three letters shorter than the whole word.

Anyway, the unnecessary slang obfuscates what I want to write about: Miracle at St. Anna will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September. The other big get Toronto announced yesterday is the world premiere of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, the indie kid romantic comedy starring Michael Cera. I'm much more excited about that one, to be honest. Prestige war movies are a dime a dozen; Michael Cera playing "a member of the queercore band 'The Jerk Offs'" is something special.

Also announced: Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq actioner The Hurt Locker, a drama called Disgrace with John Malkovich, and a few others. This is in addition to the 27 films announced last week.

This will be my first year attending Toronto (back-to-back with Telluride, where I've gone four times now), so needless to say I am aquiver with anticipation.



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]]>disgracejohn malkovichJohnMalkovichkathryn bigelowKathrynBigelowmichael ceraMichaelCeramiracle at st. annaMiracleAtSt.Annanick and norahs infinite playlistNickAndNorahsInfinitePlaylistspike leeSpikeLeethe hurt lockerTheHurtLockerToronto international film festivalTorontoInternationalFilmFestivalEugene NovikovThu, 03 Jul 2008 10:02:00 ESTDavid Fincher Teams Up with 'The Goon'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/david-fincher-teams-up-with-the-goon/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/david-fincher-teams-up-with-the-goon/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/david-fincher-teams-up-with-the-goon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

According to TheGoon.com, Eric Powell's endlessly inventive series has just been optioned by David Fincher, who plans to turn it into a CGI movie. (Is this the first movie to be announced via its character's official domain instead of the trades? I'm sure it isn't, but I find it awesome and worth mentioning nonetheless.)

The Goon is a everything-but-the-kitchen-sink (and probably that too) comic that draws comparisons to (and appearances by) Hellboy. I'm ashamed to say I haven't read it, though I don't seem to be alone in that. The series follows the deformed brawler of the title, who claims to be the enforcer for a mobster named Labrazio. The Goon and his sidekick, Franky, are frequently trading punches with all manner of otherworldly creatures, from zombie armies to aliens -- and from what I'm looking at on Dark Horse, it never gets boring. And it's hilarious. Check out the preview of issue #8, and tell me I'm wrong. (There's lots of Goon previews up on Dark Horse's page, spend the holiday weekend checking them out! I'm going to. Fireworks are overrated.)

While CGI would be the best way to capture the top-notch art, I can't help but wish this was in live action. I would love nothing more than to see a real live Goon beat down some lame vampires, or get omens interpreted by a psychic seal. But already, this is gearing up to be one of the best comic adaptations this side of The Dark Knight -- a top notch director in Fincher, and hilarious source material.

[via CHUD]

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]]>dark horsedark horse comicsDarkHorseDarkHorseComicsDavid FincherDavidFincherEric PowellEricPowellThe GoonTheGoonElisabeth RappeThu, 03 Jul 2008 09:32:00 ESTNew 'Blindness' Trailer Onlinehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/new-blindness-trailer-online/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/new-blindness-trailer-online/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/03/new-blindness-trailer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Of all the films I'm looking forward to this fall, Blindness ranks fairly high up there. Canadian distributor Alliance has just made available a full trailer that proves to be fairly intriguing, as an optometrist (Mark Ruffalo) and his seemingly immune wife (Julianne Moore) cope with an inexplicable epidemic of sight loss.

I'm a sucker for most anything vaguely apocalyptic, and while this very well could turn out to be akin to watching the first act of Children of Men through a milk-filled mask (which I've done, mind you), the prestige behind the project* says otherwise. We have acclaimed screenwriter Don McKellar adapting Nobel-Laureate José Saramago's novel, with Academy Award nominee Fernando Meirelles directing a cast that also includes Danny Glover, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alice Braga, and Sandra Oh.

I must say, going off that taste and last spring's teaser, I still like the look, sound, and feel of this one, especially Moore's little retort (you know the one), and that's not to mention that any trailer which employs John Murphy's underrated score from last year's Sunshine to set a rightfully ominous tone is always fine by me. We'll get to see (sorry) what trials and tribulations await the world on September 19th.

*Not to mention Rocchi's review of the film from its Cannes world premiere.

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]]>blindnesscannescannes film festivalcannes2008CannesFilmFestivaldanny gloverDannyGloverdon mckellarDonMckellardramafernando meirellesFernandoMeirellesgael garcia bernalGaelGarciaBernaljose saramagoJoseSaramagojulianne mooreJulianneMooremark ruffaloMarkRuffalotrailerWilliam GossThu, 03 Jul 2008 09:02:00 ESTCinematical Visits MOMA's "Dali: Painting and Film" Exhibithttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/cinematical-visits-momas-dali-painting-and-film-exhibit/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/cinematical-visits-momas-dali-painting-and-film-exhibit/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/cinematical-visits-momas-dali-painting-and-film-exhibit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Even the weirder artists of the twentieth century have been attracted to the allure of Hollywood filmmaking, and Salvador Dali was no exception. In the fall of 1941, the surrealist painter hosted a masquerade party at Pebble Beach during one of his regular visits to the town. Called "Surrealism Night in An Enchanted Forest," the fundraising event, intended to assist European refugee artists, brought out a number of stars, including Bob Hope and Ginger Rogers. It was here, the story goes, that Dali became attached to a major studio production called Moontide. The great German emigre Fritz Lang was hired to direct the movie, and asked Dali to create a three-minute nightmare sequence for the film. Unfortunately, after the incident at Pearl Harbor later that year, Twentieth Century Fox deemed the project too bleak. Lang was replaced, and Dali's nightmare sequence went with him.

Although inspired by the movies, Dali didn't always have the easiest time making them. He would get another chance to inject his hallucinatory vision into American cinema with the hypnosis scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound, but it's his unrealized projects that truly indicate the scope of the painter's ambition. So many ideas, such little time. Dali: Painting and Film, a breathtakingly unique exhibit currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, surveys Dali's completed cinematic works in addition to tidbits from the ones that never came to fruition. Marvelously structured to show how his paintings were intentionally cinematic, the exhibit contains all the obvious highlights from Dali's movie career alongside lesser-known productions. The importance in film history of his collaborations with Luis Bunuel remain uncontested; two large screens in separate rooms showing Un Chien Andalou (where the opening eye splicing retains its original gross-out impact) and L'Age D'Or attest to that. Fewer visitors, however, might know about Dali's collaboration with the Marx Brothers on a deliriously strange movie that sounded too good to be true.

Gallery: Dali: Painting and Film

EntranceUn Chien AndalouThe lobster phone. Portrait of Jack Warner

Continue reading Cinematical Visits MOMA's "Dali: Painting and Film" Exhibit

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]]>1932filmadolf hitlerAdolfHitlerafter hoursAfterHoursalfred hitchcockAlfredHitchcockandy warholAndyWarholanimal crackersAnimalCrackersbabaouobob hopeBobHopechaos and creationChaosAndCreationdalidali fascismdali painting and filmdaliandithesurrealis...DaliFascismDaliPaintingAndFilmdestinodisney animationDisneyAnimationfeaturedfritz langFritzLangginger rogersGingerRogersgiraffes on horseback saladGiraffesOnHorsebackSaladharpo marxHarpoMarximpressions from upper mongoliaImpressionsFromUpperMongolialage dorLageDorluis bunuelLuisBunuelmartin scorseseMartinScorsesemomamomastoremoontidemuseum of modern artMuseumOfModernArtpearl harborPearlHarborpersistence of visionPersistenceOfVisionsalvador daliSalvadorDalispainspellboundsurrealismsurrealist womanSurrealistWomanthe age of innocencethe marx brothersthe surrealist womanTheAgeOfInnocenceTheMarxBrothersTheSurrealistWomantwentieth century foxTwentiethCenturyFoxun chiean andalouun chien andalouUnChieanAndalouUnChienAndalouwalt disneyWaltDisneyEric KohnWed, 02 Jul 2008 22:02:00 ESTFrom Page to Screen: 'Revolutionary Road'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/from-page-to-screen-revolutionary-road/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/from-page-to-screen-revolutionary-road/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/from-page-to-screen-revolutionary-road/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Have you read Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates? Huh? You have? Then why the hell haven't you told me about it? What's your problem, anyway? And where has this book been all my life?

There's a movie version of Revolutionary Road on the way, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, and directed by Sam Mendes. It's set to be released at Christmastime, and is widely expected to be a major player in the Oscar race. But here I have to betray this column's reason for being. F*** the movie. Read the book.

Published in 1961, Yates's first novel was more acclaimed than popular. It is a merciless, intense and pitch-black social satire - funny only in the most uncomfortable way, like being cleverly mocked by someone who sees clean through to your soul. The jacket pitches it as being about "the opulent desolation of the American suburbs," but Revolutionary Road is not another of those books that merely mocks the empty lives of well-to-do suburbanites. It's about our attitudes toward life and love and each other. Almost a half-century after it was published, it contains as much devastating insight into human nature as just about anything else I've ever read.

Continue reading From Page to Screen: 'Revolutionary Road'

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]]>featuredkate winsletyKateWinsletyleonardo dicaprioLeonardoDicapriorevolutionary roadRevolutionaryRoadsam mendesSamMendesEugene NovikovWed, 02 Jul 2008 21:02:00 EST'Harry Potter 6' Has "Sexual Energy and Drug Parallels"http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/harry-potter-6-has-sexual-energy-and-drug-parallels/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/harry-potter-6-has-sexual-energy-and-drug-parallels/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/harry-potter-6-has-sexual-energy-and-drug-parallels/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I didn't get beyond the fifth Harry Potter novel, so I'm not familiar with what goes on in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I never would have thought, however, that it features an adorable version of Voldemort (which reminded our own Kim Voynar of the young Anakin of The Phantom Menace), nor would I have ever imagined, in my wildest years, that it is anything like Trainspotting. Yet that's what Daniel "Harry Potter" Radcliffe told Empire regarding the upcoming movie adaptation. He specifically likened Half-Blood Prince to the heroin-heavy movie, admitting that it is indeed strange to mention those two films in the same sentence. He also stated that in his movie, "there's a fair amount of sexual energy and drug parallels."

Now, of course, that doesn't mean there's actual sex and drugs featured in the movie. And this wouldn't be the first time the Harry Potter films included suggestive imagery or content. One of the early installments (I think it was the original, Sorcerer's Stone) features a scene in which Harry experiments with his wand under the covers late at night. Like with a similar scene from Spider-Man, in which Peter Parker wakes up in his own sticky web, it's pretty obvious what real-world experience the scene is meant to parallel. So, I'm not surprised that as the Harry Potter movies get darker and the cast grows up that we'll be seeing other kinds of innuendo. And knowing the franchise so far, even if the suggestive imagery or content is easily deciphered, there's sure to be good messages tied in. It's not like Warner Bros. would permit improper subliminal encouragements.

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]]>daniel radcliffeDanielRadcliffeharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeharry potter and the sorcerers stoneHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceHarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStonespider-manthe phantom menaceThePhantomMenacetrainspottingChristopher CampbellWed, 02 Jul 2008 20:34:00 ESTReview: Hancock -- Scott's Takehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/review-hancock-scotts-take/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/review-hancock-scotts-take/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/review-hancock-scotts-take/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Well here's something you don't see every day: A big, flashy summertime "tentpole" movie that A) takes chances, B) bucks convention, and C) takes some real risks with its subject material. Obviously the safe approach is for Will Smith to do (yet another) easily-digestible (if somewhat mindless) blockbuster like I, Robot or I Am Legend or Independence Day -- but this time the endlessly profitable Will Smith is working with a rather distinctive director who refuses to cater to formula. That director would be Peter Berg, and this guy has yet to make a bad film.

Unfortunately the production history on Hancock is not a fantastic one. There was a revolving door of directors and script polishers before Columbia finally started production -- but there were still marketing issues, last-minute reshoots, and MPAA miseries to deal with. And yet, despite all that, Hancock arrives like a breath of weirdly fresh air for moviegoers who like a little heart and soul mixed in with their hyper-kinetic action mayhem. Toss some sharp wit and an impressive display of edge into the mix, and I think you may have one of my favorite movies of the summer. (Although one can plainly tell that there was some late cutting done to the flick, all in the name of the almighty PG-13 rating, of course.)

Continue reading Review: Hancock -- Scott's Take

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]]>charlize theronCharlizeTheronfeaturedhancockjason batemanJasonBatemanpeter bergPeterBergreviewwill smithWillSmithScott WeinbergWed, 02 Jul 2008 20:02:00 EST