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: Great Exports from Down Underhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/cinematical-seven-great-exports-from-down-under/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/cinematical-seven-great-exports-from-down-under/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/cinematical-seven-great-exports-from-down-under/#comments

The upcoming release of Australia -- directed by Australian Baz Luhrmann, shot in Australia and starring Australian-born actor Hugh Jackman, and Australian-raised Nicole Kidman -- inspired me to take a look at the Australian film industry, thinking I could easily pick out seven highlights. Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for everyone else, Australian films are a much richer and more daunting prospect. I decided to stick to films shot in Australia by directors born there, thus eliminating things like Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout (1971). I also eliminated New Zealanders like Jane Campion and Peter Jackson, who deserve their own list. At the 11th hour, I had to eliminate such an obviously great film as Babe (1995); though it qualifies under my rule, the Hoggett's farm could actually be just about anywhere (it's more of a fairy tale world, and Australia is never mentioned). And no, Crocodile Dundee (1986) didn't make the cutoff, but here's what did:

The Road Warrior (1981, George Miller)
This movie represents everything that's badass about Australia. It opened there in 1981 as Mad Max 2, mainly because everyone had seen Mad Max (1979). Here, it opened a year later, in the summer of 1982, with the changed title, hoping that Americans could be tricked into thinking it wasn't a sequel. It didn't matter; this film is far starker, funnier and all-around better than the original. Rarely have the roar of engines mixed so well with the wide, empty, sun-baked dust of the outback. Miller was -- and still is -- one of the most interesting Down Under directors, but he works slowly and sporadically and stays out of the limelight. (In the thirty years since Mad Max, he has directed only seven feature films.) And Mel Gibson may have gone a little nuts lately, but we'll always love him for this.

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]]>australiaaustralian filmAustralianFilmcinematicalfeaturedfilmmovieJeffrey M. AndersonThu, 20 Nov 2008 22:02:00 ESTReview: Twilight -- Peter's Takehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/review-twilight/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/review-twilight/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/review-twilight/#commentsKristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in 'Twilight'

Remarkably faithful to the spirit of its source material, the film version of Twilight crams most of the key episodes from Stephenie Meyer's novel into its breathless, 122-minute running time. Under the direction of Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), Twilight gallops along handsomely, showcasing the cloudy, misty beauty of its gorgeous Pacific Northwest forest locations; you can practically smell the pine trees and feel the crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet. Using voice-over narration sparingly, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg trots out all the major (and most of the minor) characters from the book, recounting the story in abbreviated fashion while demonstrating respect for Meyer's novel and its huge, faithful audience.

Twilight may not add up to much more than the sum of its parts, but those parts can be mighty entertaining, especially when handsome Edward (Robert Pattinson, oozing uncertain charm) is whooshing through the woods with plucky Bella (Kristen Stewart, self-assured and determined) on his back. Still, the romance at the heart of the book has been shorn of some of its heart in the translation to the big screen, sacrificed on the altar of a broader demographic. Readers of the book could feel somewhat shortchanged by the relentless emphasis on forward momentum rather than romantic fantasy; the flip side is that newcomers can enjoy the whirlwind pace and the brooding, ominous atmosphere, and everyone can revel in the spectacle of flying vampires playing a pinball version of sandlot baseball.

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]]>billy burkeBillyBurkecatherine hardwickeCatherineHardwickekristen stewartKristenStewartpeter facinelliPeterFacinellirobert pattinsonRobertPattinsonstephenie meyerStephenieMeyertwilighttwilight movieTwilightMoviePeter MartinThu, 20 Nov 2008 21:03:00 ESTDiscuss: Hollywood's Most Annoying Manhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/discuss-hollywoods-most-annoying-man/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/discuss-hollywoods-most-annoying-man/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/discuss-hollywoods-most-annoying-man/#commentsBefore you start spewing out the names of Hollywood's most annoying men as if some sort of gag reflex has taken over your -- Rob Schneider! -- body, let me set this up for you: Variety tells us Disney has picked up a comedy script called The World's Most Annoying Man, written by Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert (those magicians behind Nick's Kenan and Kel), and so far no one has approached me to star ... which is good, I suppose. There's no director or cast attached yet, but Andy Fickman (director of upcoming Race to Witch Mountain) is producing.

And what could a film called The World's Most Annoying Man possibly be about? Animated squirrel chess champions? Um, no. Actually, the film will tell of a man who must travel across the country with his really annoying brother en route to his own wedding. Kinda sounds like Tommy Boy (or any buddy road movie for that matter), except tack on a wedding to the end. Great. Got it. So here's where the discussion comes in: Who, may I ask, would you cast as the world's most annoying man? Do you cast a really annoying actor like Jack Black or Andy Dick or someone else who's really annoying. OR, do you cast a funny actor who's great at playing an annoying man? Once you decide all that, tell us: Who do you think is Hollywood's most annoying man?

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]]>andy dickandy fickmanAndyDickAndyFickmancinematicalheath seifertHeathSeifertjack blackJackBlackkevin kopelowKevinKopelowthe worlds most annoying manTheWorldsMostAnnoyingManErik DavisThu, 20 Nov 2008 20:32:00 ESTGrapple with This: the Trailer for 'The Wrestler'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/grapple-with-this-the-trailer-for-the-wrestler/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/grapple-with-this-the-trailer-for-the-wrestler/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/grapple-with-this-the-trailer-for-the-wrestler/#commentsThe Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky's new drama about a washed-up professional body-slammer played by Mickey Rourke. I vividly recall the press screening, where every seat in the fest's largest theater was occupied by eager journalists, many of whom had sworn they'd miss whatever other films they had to as long as they could see this one.

It paid off, too -- the acclaim for the film was nearly universal. (Read Cinematical's James Rocchi's rave review here.) Now, in advance of the film's limited release on Dec. 31 (just in time to qualify for Rourke's inevitable Oscar nomination), Fox Searchlight has released the first trailer. Variety has it, and we've got it here, at the end of this post.

The trailer is good in the sense that it accurately conveys the tone of the film: moody, reflective, and only partially set in the wrestling ring. Bruce Springsteen's theme song is a nice touch. We get a few glimpses of Marisa Tomei, who plays Rourke's stripper friend (you'll catch more than a glimpse of her in the movie itself, if you know what I mean), and Evan Rachel Wood as Rourke's estranged daughter. Their performances are terrific, too, as is Aronofsky's direction -- man, I really hope this gets the Oscar attention that everyone thinks it will. It deserves it.

What do you think of the trailer? Does it make you more or less interested in the film? Let us know in the comments.

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]]>darren aronofskyDarrenAronofskymickey rourkeMickeyRourkewrestlerEric D. SniderThu, 20 Nov 2008 19:51:00 EST400 Screens, 400 Blows - Rewinding 2006http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/400-screens-400-blows-rewinding-2006/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/400-screens-400-blows-rewinding-2006/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/400-screens-400-blows-rewinding-2006/#comments

I usually don't do this. Once I post or publish my year's ten best list, I try not to tamper with it. But 2006 has been gnawing at me. At the time, it didn't seem like such a good movie year, but the more I think about it, the more I realize there were gems right there in front of my nose. (It certainly seemed like a better bet than 2008.) Some of the films had to blossom a bit, to age a little. Some I had to see again. But now that a couple of years have gone by I feel the need to re-visit 2006 and once again sort through the best films of the year.

If I'm honest with myself, my favorite film from 2006 was Rian Johnson's Brick, which I included all the way down at #10 on my list. I've since seen it three times, and I'm continually astounded by just how delightfully perfect it is, from its language to its tone and plot. It even includes some emotionally devastating performances on top of its twisty crime story. Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential is another one I had to see three times, but it keeps getting better. Zwigoff is one of our singular American talents, absolutely incapable of making something impersonal. This was his darkest film, and I think it turned off most viewers upon initial viewings. But I've spoken with people lately who have been re-discovering it, and it may have a second life someday.

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]]>best films of 2006BestFilmsOf2006cinematicalfilmmovieJeffrey M. AndersonThu, 20 Nov 2008 19:15:00 ESTJosh Brolin Can't Decide Whether He's 'Jonah Hex' or Nothttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/josh-brolin-cant-decide-whether-hes-jonah-hex-or-not/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/josh-brolin-cant-decide-whether-hes-jonah-hex-or-not/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/josh-brolin-cant-decide-whether-hes-jonah-hex-or-not/#commentsPoor Jonah Hex. As William Goss reported earlier, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor have left the scarred cowboy behind due to creative differences. But does he still have Josh Brolin to play him, or not?

The truth is, Brolin can't decide if he is. He had a chat with MTV News that didn't decide the question, but did reveal his enthusiasm for the project: "When I first read it I thought, oh my God it's awful! And then I had a moment a week later and I thought why is it awful? Maybe the thing to do is to do the most awful movie I can find ... [I love] the absurdity of it. It almost allows you to create a new genre. I love going back into the spaghetti western idea and completely turning it around."

Will he ever make up his mind? "Soon. In the last couple months I've been going back and forth about it. I went back to my gut. Is it a sell out? What is it I like about this movie? ... It's so tongue in cheek. It's so ridiculous. But once I started putting people in my mind and saying what if I put Malkovich in this role then what does this movie become? Now let's put this producer and director on it and think about how it plays out. Then it becomes fun. Now I love that movie. If you have a great filmmaker come in then suddenly these gags and characters become interesting."

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]]>brian taylorBrianTaylorjonah hexJonahHexJosh BrolinJoshBrolinmark neveldineMarkNeveldineNeveldineTaylorWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeThu, 20 Nov 2008 18:32:00 ESTRidley Scott is Still Teasing Us with 'Blood Meridian'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/ridley-scott-is-still-teasing-us-with-blood-meridian/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/ridley-scott-is-still-teasing-us-with-blood-meridian/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/ridley-scott-is-still-teasing-us-with-blood-meridian/#commentsIt seems like every other day Ridley Scott is promising to make a movie (even when we wish he wouldn't). But, one project that he can't seem to get in motion is the feature film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's western, Blood Meridian. In an interview with Empire, Scott gave an update on the adaptation, and it sounds like it could be one heck of a movie, but you are left with the feeling that it isn't going to happen any time soon. Scott told Empire, "It's written. I think it's a really tricky one, and maybe it's something that should be left as a novel. If you're going to do Blood Meridian you've got to go the whole nine yards into the blood bath, and there's no answer to the blood bath, that's part of the story, just the way it is and the way it was."

McCarthy's novel centered on a teenage runaway referred to as "the kid" and his time with the Glanton gang, a historical group of scalp hunters who massacred pretty much everyone they came across on the United States-Mexico borderlands in 1849 and 1850. Back in August, it had been announced that Todd Field (Little Children) would be taking over for Scott on the project, but Scott made no mention of Field in Empire's interview. Leaving us with another unanswered question hanging over the project: if and when this movie ever gets going, just who is going to be directing it?

Since I haven't read the original novel, I leave it to you out there. Can anyone make a film version of McCarthy's brutal and violent novel? Or, is Scott right? Maybe Meridian should stay on the bookshelf where it belongs.

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]]>blood meridianBloodMeridianbookcormac mccarthyCormacMccarthymonopolyridley scottRidleyScottthe roadTheRoadJessica BarnesThu, 20 Nov 2008 17:45:00 ESTHey, Remember How 'Hancock' Was All Chopped Up?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/hey-remember-how-hancock-was-all-chopped-up/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/hey-remember-how-hancock-was-all-chopped-up/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/hey-remember-how-hancock-was-all-chopped-up/#comments...and yet still managed to be a damn good movie? Well I sure thought it was, anyway, even if the Tomato-meter doesn't seem to agree with me. I said lots of nice things about the flick back in my original review, but I also longed to see Peter Berg's original cut. The one that wasn't sacrificed at the altar of the demigod known as PeeGee-Thirteen.

So hey! Hancock comes out on DVD next week, and guess what? Two different versions! (Three if you count the Blu-Ray, which offers both versions in the same package.) OK, so according to this DVD cover, the theatrical cut runs 92 minutes, while this DVD cover clearly illustrates that the Unrated Cut goes about 102 minutes. And you don't need t snip a full ten minutes just to excise a few F-bombs. Needless to say, I'm very enthused about checking out the "unrated" cut -- but they don't actually call it a Director's Cut ... so could we be looking at another DVD somewhere down the line? (What a shocking assumption, I know.) For more on the Hancock DVD, check out this review that I'll read in about a week. But I trust the source.

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]]>hancockunrated dvdUnratedDvdScott WeinbergThu, 20 Nov 2008 17:03:00 ESTWatch Out Erin Brockovich, Collene Campbell is Heading for the Big Screenhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/watch-out-erin-brockovich-collene-campbell-is-heading-for-the-b/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/watch-out-erin-brockovich-collene-campbell-is-heading-for-the-b/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/watch-out-erin-brockovich-collene-campbell-is-heading-for-the-b/#commentsWhen "Erin Brockovich-style movie" gets thrown around in a news piece, you know sights are set on big leads, a big story, and of course, big critical success, or at least, an Oscar in the mix. The Hollywood Reporter posts that Collene Campbell's fight for the Victims' Bill of Rights is about to become a feature film.

But this story is a heck of a lot eerier than Brokovich's. In 1982, Campbell's son was murdered after getting involved in drugs. In 1988, her brother (an off-road racing legend named Mickey Thompson) was murdered as well, with his wife. They go through years of trials, and Campbell becomes an advocate for victims' rights, ultimately getting Proposition 9 passed this month. To top off all that, her grandson also dies in a freak accident. (This will give you more details.)

The Collective and Three Friends Prods. are working with Campbell and her husband to produce the film, and they're currently in talks with writers and directors to get moving on the adaptation of her story. Will it garner the sucess of Erin Brockovich? Only time will tell, but I hope that if it does, there's a stunning performance that fuels it, rather than a decent one that pulls out the upset. (Roberts over Burstyn)

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]]>CinematicalCollene CampbellColleneCampbellVictims Bill of RightsVictimsBillOfRightsMonika BartyzelThu, 20 Nov 2008 16:15:00 ESTBryan Singer Talks 'Superman' Sequel and 'Valkyrie' http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/bryan-singer-talks-superman-sequel-and-valkyrie/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/bryan-singer-talks-superman-sequel-and-valkyrie/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/bryan-singer-talks-superman-sequel-and-valkyrie/#comments

It's a bird, it's a plane ... no wait, it's Bryan Singer dodging more Superman sequel questions!

Pretty soon Bryan Singer will be doing a big publicity push for Valkyrie, and when that time comes look for folks to be bombarding him with Superman sequel scenarios ("Well what if you half-produced it and starred as a villainous mutant Hitler who wears an eye patch -- is that an option?"). After all, things are still way up in the air regarding further installments for a franchise that's ... let's just say stalled at the moment. MTV managed to snag a quick chat with Singer regarding Valkyrie and you betcha they snuck a Supes question in there. On whether he'll be directing, Singer says, "At the moment, I can't really talk about that. I wish I could. From my perspective, I'm going to take a brief pause. This movie has taken a long time, so I'm going to take a pause. A movie like that takes some time to do right. That's all I can say about that."

The good news? Singer "can't" talk about it, which means something is brewing and he'd love to share his opinion. Most likely the studio has him on "shut the hell up" watch, which probably means we won't get anything more with regards to Superman until a decision on where exactly they're going with this sucker is made. Interestingly enough, he does admit to having dinner with The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan. Says Singer, "We had dinner, and [Marvel Studios founder] Avi Arad ran into us. Isn't that strange? It was such a moment. The three of us were just sitting there thinking, "Isn't this bizarre?" I should have called ["Spider-Man" director Sam] Raimi up and said, "We've got sushi. Get over here!"

Tom Cruise meets Hitler after the jump!

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]]>bryan singerBryanSingercinematicalfeaturedhitlersupermantom cruiseTomCruisevalkyrieErik DavisThu, 20 Nov 2008 15:32:00 EST'Color City' Goes "Woof, Woof, Woof!"http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/color-city-goes-woof-woof-woof/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/color-city-goes-woof-woof-woof/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/color-city-goes-woof-woof-woof/#commentsI might be dating myself with this title, but I couldn't help it. (The Arsenio Hall Show, get it!?)

The Hollywood Reporter posts that Arsenio Hall, Craig Ferguson, and Rosie Perez are lending their voices to the upcoming animated feature, The Hero of Color City. This is the project that Magnolia picked up back in 2006, and that signed Christina Ricci in June of this year. And now we've got two talk show titans and the tough cop from Pineapple Express added to the mix of color.

The film focuses on crayons who try and save Color City from an "evil tyrant," whilst living between two worlds -- the magical city itself and the "real world" preschool where they work. Now, I could understand markers, but how exactly do these crayons get used and still live? If there's one thing I remember from my preschool days was that crayons got massacred and it was close to impossible to find one with a point. Most were worn into nothing.

But I guess if crayons are already talking and saving their world and facing a tyrant, little tykes won't kill 'em. Magnola plans to release this color-filled feature in 2010.

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]]>Arsenio HallArsenioHallCinematicalCraig FergusonCraigFergusonRosie PerezRosiePerezThe Hero of Color CityTheHeroOfColorCityMonika BartyzelThu, 20 Nov 2008 14:45:00 ESTTeaser and Photo Premiere: 'Astro Boy'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/teaser-and-photo-premiere-astro-boy/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/teaser-and-photo-premiere-astro-boy/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/teaser-and-photo-premiere-astro-boy/#comments
Click image to enlarge

Cinematical has been given an exclusive look at the first official still for Astro Boy (see above), while our very good looking cohorts over at Moviefone have just debuted the first teaser (see below or over on Moviefone in glorious HD). Based on the popular Japanese manga and television series, this computer-animated 3-D version of Astro Boy is being produced by those wizards over at Imagi Animation Studios, and stars the voices of Freddy Highmore, Kristen Bell, Nicolas Cage, Bill Nighy, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane and Eugene Levy.

From the synopsis: "Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers. Powered by pure positive "blue" energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly-not to mention the purest spirit on the planet. Embarking on a journey across the planet to discover his powers, Astro Boy encounters a netherworld of robot gladiators and other comic characters, and learns the joys and emotions of being human. When he learns his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals all his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City, in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to embrace his place in the world."

Astro Boy will soar into theaters on October 23, 2009.

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]]>astro boyastro boy movie photosastro boy trailerAstroBoyAstroBoyMoviePhotosAstroBoyTrailercinematicaldonald sutherlandDonaldSutherlandeugene levyEugeneLevyfeaturedfreddy highmoreFreddyHighmorekristen bellKristenBellnathan laneNathanLanenicolas cageNicolasCageErik DavisThu, 20 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST'Twilight' Watch: Reviews, Box Office and More!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/twilight-watch-reviews-box-office-and-more/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/twilight-watch-reviews-box-office-and-more/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/twilight-watch-reviews-box-office-and-more/#comments

It's beginning to look a lot like Twilight ... everywhere you go. Remember the other day when I told you about that so-called review embargo on Twilight? Yeah, well ... nice try. Seems most of the major outlets (mainly newspapers) have published reviews, and they're quite positive, with Entertainment Weekly giving the film a B and Roger Ebert giving it 2.5 out of 4 stars (I imagine that's a sideways thumb?). Cinematical will publish our first review (out of two) later on tonight, but in the meantime here's a whole bunch of Twilight stuff to keep you busy:

  • Moviefone has up a Twilight Beginner's Guide (written by our own Elisabeth Rappe) for those who haven't a clue what Twilight is or was or is about to become. Additionally, this week's Unscripted installment features a candid chat between Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Twilight author Stephanie Meyer. Oh, and feel free to vote in their poll for the sexiest vampire, male and female (um, Becks!).
  • 2000 shows are already sold out this weekend for Twilight, and folks are currently projecting an opening of $45-65 million. Did Summit Entertainment step in sh*t, or what? Here's an entertaining article from the LA Times' Patrick Goldstein on "How the big studios missed the boat on Twilight."
  • Despite what appears to be positive feedback, Twilight is only running at 39% over at Rotten Tomatoes, though it's still early. Here's a quote from Variety's negative review: "A disappointingly anemic tale of forbidden love that should satiate the pre-converted but will bewilder and underwhelm viewers who haven't devoured Stephenie Meyer's bestselling juvie chick-lit franchise."
  • And finally, check out an interview with Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart from this morning's Today Show below.


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]]>cinematicalkristen stewartKristenStewartrobert pattinsonRobertPattinsontwilighttwilight movie reviewsTwilightMovieReviewsErik DavisThu, 20 Nov 2008 13:15:00 ESTXbox and Netflix Taste Great Togetherhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/xbox-and-netflix-taste-great-together/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/xbox-and-netflix-taste-great-together/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/xbox-and-netflix-taste-great-together/#commentsI've ranted once or twice about some of the geekier goodies I've found through Netflix, but somehow this one got by me. It'd been a while since I'd visited Hacking Netflix, which is an excellent blog by the way, and it was there that I read ... huh, what's this? I can now view ALL* my "Watch Instantly" titles through my Xbox 360? Really? Well I just had to check that out.

My system needed to update to the jazzy new 360 dashboard, but introducing my Xbox to my Netflix queue was remarkably easy. Now, you can't exactly browse through the Netflix website -- in fact the 360 system only accesses your WI queue. But I watched two episodes of Heroes (Season 3) and the whole of Sam Peckinpah's The Killer Elite (starring James Caan AND Robert Duvall!) in one enjoyable sitting. (Yeah, I'm a good sitter.) Just another reason that Xbox is cooler than Playstation ... says the guy who plays games with his console maybe five times a year.

In other Netflix news, I've discovered a few more obscurities that might be worthy of note: In addition to the aforementioned Peckinpah film, I recently watched a few Gene Hackman ones from 1977: March or Die and The Domino Principle. Both uneven, but dang I love Gene Hackman. Other recent flicks include George C. Scott in The Hindenburg (meh), Marooned (more Hackman!), and THX 1138 (more Duvall!) And I finally saw the mega-weird Spider Baby. Sheesh. Frankly the Netflix Watch Insantly service has improved exponentially since they partnered up with Starz. Now there's NO excuse for me not to have a movie on at all times.

(* Nope, not all. Some of your queued titles will NOT be available via your 360. According to the HN blog, looks like it's all the Sony-owned titles.)

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]]>netflixstarzwatch instantlyWatchInstantlyxbox 360Xbox360Scott WeinbergThu, 20 Nov 2008 12:30:00 ESTFirst Look: 'Night at the Museum 2'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/first-look-night-at-the-museum-2/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/first-look-night-at-the-museum-2/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/first-look-night-at-the-museum-2/#comments

In anticipation of what's sure to be the first trailer (or teaser) for Night at the Museum 2, USA Today has unloaded the first official batch of photos -- most of which show off a few of the new characters, a couple of returning characters and a cameo from Jonah Hill (who plays a security guard). Above, you'll see Ben Stiller, returning as the bumbling guard, and Bill Hader, who's playing General George Custer. Director Shawn Levy and Stiller both chat up the film, claiming it's definitely better than the first one. And with a cast that includes Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais (all of whom are returning), Christopher Guest, Hank Azaria, Craig Robinson, Ed Helms, Eugene Levy, Bill Hader and Amy Adams, you can't really go wrong.

In the sequel, Stiller's Larry Daley goes in search of his friends (and museum pieces) Octavius (Coogan) and Jedediah (Wilson) after they're mistakenly shipped to the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. On whether this will turn into a franchise for the studio, Levy says, "There are rumblings of another installment. We would love to take this premise (further). But even to say there's a likely third film is premature. We're not going to jinx things." We've included a few more images below, then feel free to hop on over to USA Today for the rest.

Night at the Museum 2 hits theaters on May 22.

Gallery: Night at the Museum 2

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]]>amy adamsAmyAdamsben stillerBenStillerchristopher guestChristopherGuestcinematicalcraig robinsonCraigRobinsoneugene levyEugeneLevyjonah hillJonahHillnight at the museum 2night at the museum 2 movie photosNightAtTheMuseum2NightAtTheMuseum2MoviePhotosowen wilsonOwenWilsonricky gervaisRickyGervaisshawn levyShawnLevysteve cooganSteveCooganErik DavisThu, 20 Nov 2008 11:45:00 ESTAre Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston 'Goree Girls'?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/are-gerard-butler-and-jennifer-aniston-goree-girls/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/are-gerard-butler-and-jennifer-aniston-goree-girls/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/are-gerard-butler-and-jennifer-aniston-goree-girls/#commentsGerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston are going to prison, according to Just Jared --
admittedly not the most accurate source for film news. But considering that tabloids have obsessively documented the meetings, it's probably close to being a done deal.

Goree Girls is a 1940s musical to be produced by Aniston. MSN describes the plot as a semi-true story inspired by Skip Hollandsworth's article "O Sister Where Art Thou." It's actually a pretty cool story of the first female country-and-western musicians who just happened to be prison inmates. Hollandsworth's article is definitely worth reading for the whole story, which is a pretty heartbreaking one, despite the relatively happy ending.

And that's kind of my problem with the concept .I love the story, but ... Jennifer Aniston as an inmate? As a singing inmate? Already, it looks like this is getting the slick and shiny Hollywood treatment rather than something truthful. I want to see Walk the Line, not Chicago. The article convinces me there's a brilliant movie here, the MSN description initially just made wince and wonder where Gerard Butler's promise went.

By now, you're probably wondering what part Butler does play in a women's prison movie. From the article, I'm guessing he plays the "strapping Paul Mitchell," an inmate who narrowly escaped death row (literally -- he was strapped to the electric car when his pardon came in) and drove the Goree Girls to their shows. He eventually married one of them, so for once, the Hollywood love angle is actually part of the true story.

Now, Butler I can believe as a prison inmate (it's the hard knock school of Glasgow), but Aniston as his prison paramour stretches the realm of belivability. However, a lot of grit could be added by whoever lands the directing job and the rest of the cast. So, keep this one on your radar, and watch for it all to be made official.

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]]>gerard butlerGerardButlerGoree GirlsGoreeGirlsjennifer anistonJenniferAnistonO Sister Where Art ThouOSisterWhereArtThouSkip HollandsworthSkipHollandsworthElisabeth RappeThu, 20 Nov 2008 11:03:00 ESTNeveldine and Taylor Leave 'Jonah Hex'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/neveldine-and-taylor-leave-jonah-hex/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/neveldine-and-taylor-leave-jonah-hex/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/neveldine-and-taylor-leave-jonah-hex/#commentsWith only two features to their credit -- they co-wrote and co-directed 2006's Crank, and together scripted this past spring's Pathology -- maybe it's a bit premature to declare myself a fan of the duo known as Neveldine/Taylor. (Even if that's the case, Eugene's got my back.) Yes, I'm the guy psyched for Crank 2: High Voltage, and I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for other upcoming projects, such as the Gerard Butler actioner Game and the comic book adaptation Jonah Hex...

Well, now, the latter's lost maybe only a fraction of what precious little interest it had, as Neveldine/Taylor has reportedly walked away from directing the project, citing (and say it with me now) "creative differences." However, the implication from this Variety brief is that their script is already done and will be the same one that Josh Brolin is still tapped to star in (to Thomas Jane's probable dismay).

Something tells me that a film that's gathered this much attention to date won't go unmade, but it's now a matter of who will helm it. 2009 will remain the year of N/T regardless, with Crank 2 scheduled to open in April and Game in September.

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]]>brian taylorBrianTaylorcrankcrank 2crank 2 high voltageCrank2Crank2HighVoltagefeaturedgamejonah hexJonahHexjosh brolinJoshBrolinmark neveldineMarkNeveldinethomas janeThomasJaneWilliam GossThu, 20 Nov 2008 10:20:00 ESTWatch This: Even 'South Park' is Doing Vampire Shtickhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/watch-this-even-south-park-is-doing-vampire-shtick/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/watch-this-even-south-park-is-doing-vampire-shtick/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/watch-this-even-south-park-is-doing-vampire-shtick/#comments

Those of you who caught last night's South Park episode would have noticed a pretty familiar and topical theme: vampires. We're not sure whether the boys intentionally made sure this episode aired the week Twilight was to arrive in theaters or if they just got lucky, but it was all pretty funny nonetheless. And while they didn't reference Twilight (the one thing the episode was missing)*, they did take a few jabs at Hot Topic and the difference between goth kids and vampire kids. In the episode, the character Butters mistakes some vampire-themed kids at school for real vampires, and when his friends and parents all reject him, he turns to this new group for acceptance. Check out the scene below which shows Butters' transformation into a vampire, and you can catch the rest of the episode over at South Park Studios.

*Yes, they do reference Twilight once early on. Thanks for pointing it out.

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]]>butterscinematicalsouth parkSouthParktwilightvampiresErik DavisThu, 20 Nov 2008 09:40:00 ESTNew 'Coraline' Trailer Hits the Nethttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/new-coraline-trailer-hits-the-net/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/new-coraline-trailer-hits-the-net/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/new-coraline-trailer-hits-the-net/#comments

Thank you, Henry Selick. I now feel like one of the wimpiest women on Earth. An awesome, new, full-length trailer for Coraline has popped up online. You can see it above, or head over to Yahoo to see it crisp, bigger, and HD (which is so totally worth it). Anyway, why do I feel so wimpy?

After starting out just like an episode of Pushing Daisies, the trailer shows the cute blue-headed girl named Coraline walking into a bathroom, getting annoyed by a frickin' colony of millipede-like things (large silverfish, seamonkeys?!) and ... crushes them with her hand. The things are the size of her pinky. I once called for mallet reinforcements when I found a slithering millipede the size of my pinkie. Her hand work is very impressive (and gory -- they do show the gelled remains smushed against the tiles ... yum!). I think she just might be the toughest kid, or woman, to grace the movies. At the very least, she could out-tough Willie Scott with both arms tied behind her back!

If Coraline is right up your alley (and it should, because the film looks amazing), head through the jump for some featurettes about the girl who finds herself in the land of button-eyes.

[via Ace Showbiz]

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]]>CinematicalCoralineHenry SelickHenrySelickMonika BartyzelThu, 20 Nov 2008 08:44:00 ESTInterview: 'Twilight' Star Kristen Stewarthttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/19/interview-twilight-star-kristen-stewart/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/19/interview-twilight-star-kristen-stewart/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/19/interview-twilight-star-kristen-stewart/#comments

At the end of a long day of interviews promoting Twilight, it might be exhaustion -- or high spirits -- that makes Kristen Stewart so blunt; asked if she's thought about walking away from the series just to mess with people's heads, she laughs: " Oh, God, yeah. I've totally had the thought; it would be so easy for me to send so many hundreds of girls into such a frenzy. It took a long time for me to admit that I was too bogged down by the first book, to admit to these girls that I wasn't as ... I'm just as obsessed as they are; I read it from an entirely different perspective and had to live it for three months. I can't start the next book unless I have the job to do, or I'm just gonna drive myself insane -- and even this, they don't get that. They're like "What? How could you not read the book ...?" Yeah, I have thought, many times. "What could I do?" It'd be so easy. ..."

Stewart spoke about coming to grips with a dedicated group of fans, getting into character, changing Bella's wardrobe, how she kept the natural in Twilight's supernatural story and much more in Los Angeles.

Cinematical: There's this great moment in Twilight where Bella's driving by the diner as her friends are walking out, and she's running for her life from vampires, and her friends are happy and she's sad ... Was it hard building a naturalistic character in this film, or was it a good place to retreat to, from all the special effects and supernatural stuff?

Kristen Stewart: It's funny; when we were doing the film, it didn't feel like a big effects movie. They were never around; we didn't have the money to pull it off; everything was in-camera. It always felt like a character-driven movie; it always felt like I may as well just be doing an indie, except there's like fifteen thousand more people sitting behind the monitor with opinions. In this case it was ... I feel like it's a very real world; the only little minor detail is that (Edward's) a vampire. And that could be very representative of any problem that a guy you're with may have, any sort of hang-up he may have; this is just a really sort of glorified extreme version of that. So, it was always so rooted in reality that no, that doesn't really apply.

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]]>catherine hardwickeCatherineHardwickeKristen StewartKristenStewartrobert pattinsonRobertPattinsonstephenie meyerStephenieMeyerTwilightJames RocchiWed, 19 Nov 2008 22:02:00 EST