Skip to main content

Gibson Charged

By Martha Fischer (Subscribe to Martha Fischer's posts), Posted Aug 3rd 2006 10:32AM
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand, Movie News, Cinematical
Now that the initial uproar following his drunken exploits has (somewhat) died down, Mel Gibson must turn from dealing with public accusations to those of the legal variety. According to press reports, the actor has now been officially charged with three violations: "Driving under the influence of alcohol, having an elevated blood-alcohol level and an open container of liquor in his car." Though a guilty finding could theoretically result in up to six months in prison, first-time DUI offenders rarely find themselves in prison, at least not for very long. A more likely punishment for the offenses -- given Gibson's apologies, it's unlikely he'll suddenly deny his guilt -- is a fine, possibly accompanied by community service.

Gibson's arraignment is scheduled for September 28.

Beemer to the Big Screen

By Martha Fischer (Subscribe to Martha Fischer's posts), Posted Aug 2nd 2006 5:03PM
Filed under: Comedy, Deals, Scripts, Newsstand, Movie News, Cinematical
Here's an interesting pair: Music video director/graphic designer Adam Levite (AKA Associates in Science, or AiS) is teaming up with The Hebrew Hammer (tagline: "Part man. Part street. 100% kosher.") writer-director Jonathan Kesselman to pen the screen version of Glenn Gaslin's Beemer. Levite himself owns the movie rights to the book, which sounds more than a little bit insane. Somewhat dismissively described by Publisher's Weekly as providing "empty calories [and] a modest rush but little else," the book tells the story of Beemer Minutia, a child of the 80s whose dreams of "his name mass-marketed on everything from 'motion pictures to action figures'" are interrupted by his girlfriend's demand that he get an actual job. Beemer eventually goes to work at an advertising agency, which sounds deceptively normal. Not to worry, though: The book also features "domestic terrorists, a boy band comprised of eunuchs, a crafty teen nemesis and a crazed suburban mom running a homeowners association militia." Among other things.

Man alive. Has anyone read the book? Is it even possible to adapt it for the screen? it's unclear from the Hollywood Reporter article if Levite (who's both designed the posters for Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Happiness and directed videos for Beck, Interpol and Queens of the Stone Age) or Kesselman will even be involved in directing the film, so we can't draw stylistic conclusions based on their names or previous work. If this ever happens, though, it'll doubtless be something to keep an eye on.

Good Prayers from Wang

By Martha Fischer (Subscribe to Martha Fischer's posts), Posted Aug 2nd 2006 4:05PM
Filed under: Comedy, Drama, Independent, Romance, Deals, Newsstand, Cinematical Indie, Movie News, Cinematical
Either Wayne Wang is about to get, like, Joss Whedon-busy, or somebody is lying to the trades on his behalf on a regular basis. Back in February, it was announced that he was going to direct a "caper-comedy" called Lowlifes, about a housewife who "discovers she has a talent for burglary." That film, however, is nowhere to be found on his IMDb page. In its place are two dramas: New York Confidential, the Jason Itzer biopic we told you about last fall (though back then it was called Rocket Fuel for Winners), and a new one called Good Cook, Likes Music, about "a trailer-park slacker [who] sends away for a mail order bride -- a woman who turns out to be a musical prodigy who changes his life." Gotta love those mail order prodigies.

And now, in addition to those three projects, Production Weekly reported this morning that Wang is also going to direct a screen version of A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, a collection of stories by Yiyun Li "about life in modern China and the United States." The screenplay focuses on a Chinese man who travels to the Pacific Northwest to fix his relationship with his recently-divorced daughter. When the man arrives in the States, "he meets an older, Farsi-speaking Iranian woman. Even though they are total strangers, with the inability to communicate with a common language, they forge a bond with each other." Man, I'm such a sucker -- as cheesy as that sounds, I've been sucked in already. I bet there's going to be lots of pretty, fog-shrouded scenery, too.

If Production Weekly is to be trusted, from Wang's list of four (possible) projects, Good Prayers is going to be done first: It's expected to start shooting in Washington state this fall.

Casino Royale Podcasts

By Martha Fischer (Subscribe to Martha Fischer's posts), Posted Aug 2nd 2006 3:31PM
Filed under: Action, Drama, Sony, Movie Marketing, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels, Movie News, Cinematical
I have no idea how all of us managed to miss them, but the people behind Casino Royale have been throwing up slick, short "podcasts" every once in a while, detailing either the current stage of the film's production, or focusing on a small element of the shoot, like filming flight scenes. Apart from the disconcertingly porn-y (or so I hear) soundtracks, they're not bad for studio-made promo pieces -- very short, but you get actual glimpses of footage from the film, as well as brief chats with director Martin Campbell, a rather frisky Judi Dench and Daniel Craig (in lots of different outfits), as well as other Casino Royale personnel. And did I mention Daniel Craig?

The podcasts are up at iTunes; the most recent is installment seven, which is the one about the fighting. (And if this clip gives a true indication of Campbell's directorial approach, he's very much of the George Lucas-style "FASTER!", "LOUDER!" school).

[via JoBlo]

Blood For Dano

By Martha Fischer (Subscribe to Martha Fischer's posts), Posted Aug 2nd 2006 1:32PM
Filed under: Drama, Casting, Newsstand, Movie News, Cinematical
It's been almost impossible to get information about There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson's epic next film, but it's finally been confirmed that someone other than Daniel Day-Lewis will actually be appearing in the movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Little Miss Sunshine's Paul Dano (who Erik recently interviewed) will star alongside Lewis as "a gifted, charismatic young preacher who captivates churchgoers." The film, which is "loosely based" on Upton Sinclair's Oil!, has been grandly described as "an ambitious ... and ... compelling, relevant story about family, greed, religion and oil." What, you want specifics? Oh. Well, Day-Lewis plays "a tycoon who strikes it rich after gaining oil rights to a family's ranch, turning the small town where Dano's character preaches into a boomtown." Which I'm sure leads to lots of conflicts, and epic suffering by Day-Lewis. Because, really -- who would cast that man and NOT ask him to suffer?

Until the other day, I had no feelings about Dano one way or another -- but then I stumbled across the shockingly great The Girl Next Door on cable. As a result, I'm now officially a fan of his (and of everyone else in the movie), and am really excited to see someone of his ability joining what was already an unusual, exciting project.

The movie is currently filming in Texas and California.

Yes, it Was Inevitable: Jackman in Carousel

By Martha Fischer (Subscribe to Martha Fischer's posts), Posted Aug 2nd 2006 12:31PM
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Casting, Disney, 20th Century Fox, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels, Movie News, Cinematical
Given the combination of Hugh Jackman's stardom and his musical/stage background, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood mixed him into its new, we're-less-scared-of-musicals-now trend. Though the actor actually has a deal with Disney to develop musicals for the screen, his first singin' and dancin' appearance in Hollywood will apparently be for Fox 2000, which has struck a deal with Jackman to star in a remake of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, Carousel. (Fox already owns the rights to the original film, so getting the remake going shouldn't be a problem -- assuming they get the OK for the music.) According to Variety, Wolverine will play Billy Bigelow (a role originated on-screen by Gordon MacRae), the grumpy carnival barker who ends up dead because of his temper. Luckily, however, he's allowed "to return [for a day] and fix the problems he left behind -- namely a teenager who has a lot of his rebellious traits."

I'm a fan of both Jackman (I own Swordfish. AND Someone Like You. Shhh.) and musicals, but for some reason I just cannot stomach Carousel -- I hate all the characters, and find the story incredibly tiresome. Clearly, I'm a bad person. Still, though, I do wonder if Jackman's star power will be enough to bring audiences to this one.

Howard to Iron Man?

By Martha Fischer (Subscribe to Martha Fischer's posts), Posted Aug 1st 2006 9:02PM
Filed under: Action, Drama, Casting, RumorMonger, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Cinematical
Jon Favreau may be putting the kibosh on those Tom-Cruise-is-Tony-Stark rumors, but not to worry: The kids at AICN have worked up another Iron Man rumor to take its place. Based on a series of secret "inside" sources and conclusions from fairly vague clues, AICN's Quint decided that Terrence Howard has been offered the role of James Rhodes, Stark's Viet Nam buddy, confidant and pilot (not to mention the man who takes over the Iron Man suit when Stark fakes his own death, and eventually becomes War Machine). There's really no way to know if this is true, short of Favreau or Howard themselves weighing in -- after all, even if someone else ends up in the role, it's easy to just say that Howard turned it down.

From what I've read on the web (Which, by the way, is making me want to read all of the damn Iron Man comics -- is the series as cool as it sounds?), Rhodes is major player in Stark's life, and therefore is likely to be heavily featured in the movie. So, Iron Man fans, is Howard right for the role? (And do you even care at this point, as long as someone other than Cruise plays Stark?)
Advertisement

Hot Topics

From Our Partners