“I read everything, which is unfortunate because it’s probably corrosive to my brain and to my spirit. If you spend all day ready screenplays, something happens that’s profound and regrettable. Sometimes I want to do something that they don’t want me to; they’d rather have somebody who means more at the box office. My taste is without category. I don’t judge a script because it’s coming from a studio. I read it openly, hoping that there will be something in there galvanizing for me.”
– Holly Hunter
Nine Lives is a fascinating movie broken up into nine scenes that seem unrelated at first but as you continue to watch you will find that they are all connected sometimes by certain characters and always by themes of isolation and regret. Writer/director Rodrigo García makes it even more powerful by shooting each of these scenes all in one take. This is Holly Hunter’s second collaboration with Rodrigo García after the film Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her.
The Avengers is just over a week away, and the last batch of promotional material has hit. A new scene from the movie was released, as well as a behind the scenes video. Director Joss Whedon gave more insight to the movie and why you should see it during an interview with some collegiate newspapers this past week.
During an MTV interview with Samuel L. Jackson, the actor described his vision of a S.H.I.E.L.D movie. His casting leaves out Agent Coulson which has again given rise to the rumor that he will die in The Avengers, and even possibly be recreated as Vision. Whedon previously went as far to say they would change his background so he was created by Tony Stark. Could Coulson become Vision? Could Vision be Marvel’s secret unnamed movie for 2013? Guess we have to wait till May 4 to know for sure.
The Dark Knight Rises has been all but forgotten in the wake of excitement for The Avengers. Now, they plan to capitalize on that by releasing their trailer before The Avengers. Christopher Nolan is really pushing the IMAX release with over an hour of IMAX footage. A ‘reliable source’ at Cosmic Booknews who saw the first showing says it is better than The Dark Knight. In a similar vein, Tom Hardy recently compared Bane to the Joker to show why he was worthy to come after the Clown Prince.
While the superhero movies are fighting it out for the summer box office crown, Peter Jackson is using The Hobbit to advance film production everywhere. Jackson has shot the first half of The Hobbit: An Enexpected Journey at 48 fps (frames per second). Current industry standard is 24 fps. Because Hobbit is looking to be such a major movie event, many theaters will be forced to upgrade their equipment to show the film. This paves the way for other filmmakers, who will be able to shoot movies at 48 fps without fear of the theatres not having the equipment to show them.
Before Watchmen will hit comic stands everywhere in June. You don’t have to wait till then to get an idea of what’s in store however. Twenty-one illustrations and concept art pieces were leaked this past week. The leaked images include costume designs for most of the characters, including some you wouldn’t expect like Hooded Justice. There are also a few full page sketches.
Premiering on April 27th on EPIX is With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story. Just before its release, a sneak peek was let out to show fans what’s in store. The documentary covers the life of comic book legend, Generalissimo Stan Lee.
New photos have landed on the Ender’s Game production blog. The pics now include: Ender’s room, the neck implants, and a simulator. The Ender’s Game movie is scheduled for release in November 2013.
Would you like a new Star Trek series? Well whether you get one is apparently up to J.J. Abrams. The creator of Pushing Daisies, Brain Fuller, was really gung-ho about pitching the idea. Now Fuller says that if a Star Trek series were to happen, it would be after the next movie and Abrams would be in command. J.J. Abrams has apparently become ‘the guardian of Trek’ and nothing will happen without his input.
“When I started in the 1970s I was only into music recorded before 1935. So I was a freak. I’m closer to some weird film/music nerd than like some punk or Goth.”
– Danny Elfman
When one talks about the greats in movie music composing the name Danny Elfman invariably comes up. His collaborations with Sam Raimi, Gus Van Sant and the creation of The Simpsons unmistakable theme song have made his name synonymous with great works.
However, it’s his collaborations with visionary director Tim Burton that has brought him his most acclaim. From his starring role in The Nightmare Before Christmas to his Oscar nominated score for Big Fish, their names have been eternally linked.
Now they have collaborated again on the score and original songs for Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. Not only did Elfman create a wonderful and romantic score but he wrote and sang one of the best songs in the film, “Remains of the Day,” as the skeleton man Bonejangles.
“Don’t come near me with a knife!”
– Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley is one of the hottest actors in Hollywood. Her most popular roles haven’t given her much of a chance to prove her talent. When the latest film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice is released, Knightley in the role of Elizabeth Bennet, is going to surprise everyone who saw her as an action star in Pirates of the Caribbean and King Arthur.
“I feel like for some of the girls that I’m their voice.”
– Evan Rachel Wood
At the young age of 18 Evan Rachel Wood already has a resume most actors would die for. Since her breakout role in the movie Thirteen she’s worked with James Woods, Cate Blanchett and Vanessa Redgrave.
Her latest role is the evil and manipulative Kimberly Joyce in the Heathers-like Pretty Persuasion. Kimberley will stop at nothing to become famous. She convinces her two best friends to join her in a sex scandal campaign against their befuddled teacher, Mr. Anderson. She entangles the entire Beverly Hills community in her carefully woven web of seduction and deceit.
“I was a very crazy sick little kid when I was 11 and 12.”
– Whit Stillman
The ‘90s were a vital decade for independent film. That’s when unique voices discovered at the Sundance Film Festival started finding their way into movie theaters nationwide. It was the decade of Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith and Ed Burns, filmmakers who emphasized the dialogue their characters would speak. One of the most respected artists of that era was Whit Stillman.
His debut film Metropolitan was a comedy about wealthy New Yorkers discussing their lifestyle with a stranger. His follow-up Barcelona took that sensibility to Spain. But 1998’s The Last Days of Disco was the last we’ve seen of Whit Stillman. He calls the 10 subsequent years his “lost decade,” a more highbrow way of saying “development hell.”
Stillman is back with a new movie. Damsels in Distress still has the unique dialogue found in ‘90s independent cinema, so it may seem even more special in today’s world. The film stars Greta Gerwig as Violet, a college student who leads a suicide prevention center. She and her fellow gals are so committed to helping the student body, she creates a new dance called the Sambola. She thinks if people dance they’ll be too happy to kill themselves.
The film is full of whimsical tangents and concepts. Some of the Seven Oaks college boys practice the Cathar religion, and some of the traffic lights are blue. Stillman took as mellow an approach to discussing the film as his characters seem to have living it. He had some deep thoughts but only in the spirit of having fun and not taking oneself too seriously.
“This sounds cheesy, but I respect a man who’s trying to meet and commit with someone out there.”
– Jason Schwartzman
I am so damn jealous of Jason Schwartzman. He’s gotten to act alongside two of my comedy idols, Bill Murray and now Steve Martin in the film adaptation of Martin’s own book, Showgirl.
Shopgirl stars Claire Danes as Mirabelle, a plain young girl in the middle of Hollywood who is romanced by two men. One is an older wealthy man played by Steve Martin; Schwartzman plays Jeremy, an awkward schlub who borrows money from her on their dates.
