Moviefone News

'Smokey and the Bandit': 25 Things You Didn't Know About the Burt Reynolds Movie

Gary Susman — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:27:19 EDT

Of the two biggest franchise-launchers of 1977, one involved a pair of rebellious outlaws with a shaggy sidekick, a runaway heroine, a Mutt-and-Jeff pair of tall-short comic relief characters, epic-length chases, spectacular stunts, and endless vehicular mayhem. The other was "Star Wars." Yep, we're talkin' "Smokey and the Bandit," which opened 35 years ago this week (on May 27, 1977) and wound up grossing more money than any movie that year except for George Lucas' interstellar road adventure. It also launched a truckload of sequels on film and TV, gave Burt Reynolds his most iconic role, helped make movie stars out of country guitarist Jerry Reed and TV sitcom starlet Sally Field, provided a career comeback for Jackie Gleason, and sent Pontiac Trans Am sales soaring. Still, as popular as Reynolds and his muscle car were, there's plenty about "Smokey and the Bandit" that you may not know. Read on to learn Bandit's real name, the film's unlikely Oscar history, and the story of the real-life Buford T. Justice. 1. "Smokey and the Bandit" was one of several 1977-78 movies to capitalize on the CB radio fad; others included Sam Peckinpah's "Convoy," Chuck Norris vehicle "Breaker! Breaker!" and Jonathan Demme comedy "Handle With Care" (a.k.a. "Citizens Band"). Of course, after "Smokey," the car walkie-talkies became even more popular, with every suburban soccer dad in America pretending that uttering "10-4, good buddy" into the transmitter made him resemble Burt Reynolds. 2. Hal Needham, who once claimed to be the world's highest-paid stuntman and was an expert in car chases, made his directing debut with "Smokey." 3. Jerry Reed was one of country music's most innovative guitarists. After befriending Reynolds, he made his film debut opposite Burt in 1975's "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" and co-starred with him once again, in "Gator" (1976), before appearing in "Smokey." 4. Originally, Jerry Reed was supposed to play Bandit, and the movie would have been a low-budget B flick. But then Reynolds got interested. Instead, Reed landed the major supporting role of trucker Cletus Snow. Jerry would eventually be promoted to Bandit status in the third movie, in which Reynolds only had a walk-on. 5. "Buford T. Justice" sounds like a made-up name for a lawman, but "Smokey" lore has it that there really was such a person. The real-life Buford T. was supposedly a cop that Reynolds' father had known when he was a small-town Florida police chief. 6. The role of Sheriff Justice went to veteran comic Jackie Gleason, who hadn't made a movie in seven years. 7. Sally Field was cast as runaway bride Carrie, whom Bandit calls Frog (because she's restless and always hopping around). During the shoot, Reynolds and Field became a couple, dating for five years. 8. Pat McCormick ("Big Enos") was only 13 years older than Paul Williams, who played his son, Little Enos. 9. Jilted bridegroom Junior Justice was played by Mike Henry, a former NFL linebacker who had portrayed the title role in three Tarzan movies* in the 1960s and had worked with Reynolds in "Dan August" and "The Longest Yard." 10. The plot, in which Bandit and Cletus have 28 hours to drive from Georgia to Texarkana, Texas, and return with an illegal shipment of Coors beer, took a lot of liberties with reality. In truth, Texarkana was located in a dry county, so Coors wasn't legally sold there, either. Also, the round trip would have been only 1,260 miles, not 1,800, making the 28-hour feat a lot less impressive. 11. Bandit's real name? It's barely ever uttered in the movie, but it's Bo Danville. 12. Gleason reportedly based much of his character on Reynolds' recollections of his police chief father, including the way he reduced "son of a bitch" to "sumbitch." Gleason also claimed he came up with the scene in the diner (the "choke and puke") where Justice chats with a man he doesn't realize is the Bandit. 13. At least four Pontiac Trans Ams were used for the movie. The original Pontiac engine wasn't strong enough to power the car for the bridge jump sequence, however, so a Chevrolet engine was installed in the jump car. 14. Needham has said a deadly accident was narrowly averted during the scene on the football field. The film crew didn't know that the grass had just been watered, and the car nearly skidded into the crowd of extras. 15. The movie earned $127 million at the North American box office, making it the second highest grossing movie of 1977, following "Star Wars." 16. "Smokey" earned Oscar nominations for Walter Hannemann and Angelo Ross for their editing work on the film's thrilling action sequences. (It lost the prize to the editing team from "Star Wars.") 17. Field earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy. Reed was named favorite supporting actor at the 1979 People's Choice Awards, nearly two years after the film's release. 18. Needham directed six more movies and two TV projects starring Reynolds, including the "Cannonball Run" movies and "Stroker Ace." He also went on to serve as assistant director under action directing legend Don Siegel (of "Dirty Harry" fame) for the Reynolds caper "Rough Cut." 19. Field played Reynolds' love interest in three more movies ("Hooper," "Smokey and the Bandit II," and "The End"), all of them directed by Needham. She also co-starred with Reynolds in "The Rainmaker," the inaugural production at his Florida dinner theater. 20. Neither Needham nor Reynolds had much to do with "Smokey and the Bandit Part 3." An early rumor had it that Gleason would play both Justice and the Bandit in the film, and an urban legend suggests that such a version was shot, only to be scrapped and re-filmed with Justice chasing Reed's Snowman, who has become the bandit in Reynolds' absence. However, there's no evidence that a Gleason-only version was ever filmed. 21. "Smokey" was one of the inspirations for the popular TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard." In fact, three of its stars had had bit parts in "Smokey": John Schneider (Bo Duke) had been a cowboy extra, Ben Jones (Cooter) had played a trucker, and Sonny Shroyer (Deputy Enos) had served as a motorcycle cop. 22. Reed composed and performed three songs for the film: "The Legend," "The Bandit," and "East Bound and Down." The last became Reed's signature hit and lent its title to the recent HBO sitcom starring Danny McBride. 23. In 1994, Needham directed four "Bandit" TV movies, starring Brian Bloom as the chivalrous speed demon: "Bandit's Silver Angel," "Beauty and the Bandit," "Bandit Goes Country," and "Bandit Bandit" (also known as "Bandit: Bandit Bandit"). 24. Whenever "Smokey" aired on network TV, Gleason's "sumbitch" would be re-dubbed with the novelty phrase "scum bum." That became such a popular epithet among kids that, in 2007, Hot Wheels issued a Bandit-esque Pontiac with the phrase "Scum Bum" printed on the rear. 25. In 2009, there was talk of Craig Brewer ("Hustle & Flow") directing an updated version of "Smokey and the Bandit," though his movie, which would have been called "Mother Trucker," was actually based on a true story about a guy who stole a semi and led police on an interstate chase as he rushed home to see his dying mom. The movie was never made, and Brewer went on to direct the remake of "Footloose" instead. Still, rumors have persisted of a "Smokey" reboot. In a January 2012 interview, GQ magazine asked Reynolds what he thought of the idea. He replied that there were plenty of modern-day stars who could handle the job, such as George Clooney, "but I'm not sure there's something in them that wants to be that notoriously silly." *Henry quit the Tarzan franchise and turned down the TV series that would star Ron Ely after suffering injuries and maladies so severe (including dysentery, a liver ailment, an ear infection, and a chimp bite on his face requiring 20 stitches) that he sued the producers for maltreatment, abuse, and unsafe working conditions. Among the three films he made as the ape man was "Tarzan and the Valley of Gold" (1966), an absolutely insane movie with a ridiculously high body count; Henry's Tarzan alone is responsible for about 40 deaths, including one where he crushed a bad guy with a giant Coke bottle. Really must be seen to be believed. Netflix doesn't seem to have it, but Amazon does. Check it out and see why Henry decided it was safer to spend his movie career being insulted by an apoplectic Jackie Gleason.

'Les Miserables' Movie: First Images Of Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman (PHOTOS)

Jessie Heyman — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:35:13 EDT

When it was announced that Tom Hooper, the famed "King's Speech" director, was doing a big-screen adaptation of "Les Miserables," you might have thought that you dreamed a dream. (Hey, a little theater humor!) However, now there's proof (and it's not in the form of a bootleg trailer, either): Universal has released the first stills from the anticipated flick. The revamped classic boasts an all-star cast -- Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier, Sacha Baron Cohen as Monsieur Thénardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, and newbie Samantha Barks as Eponine. The photos, which debuted in the USA Today, show the cast in all their Victor Hugo-glory. (Anne's hair is all gone!) You can take a look at a few of pictures below. For the entire collection, head here. PHOTOS:

[via USA Today]

Cannes Film Festival: A Look Back At This Year's Red Carpet (PHOTOS)

Jessie Heyman — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:08:54 EDT

Another year, another Cannes Film Festival ~~in the can~~ comes to an end. But it had a good run! The 65th annual event, which awarded the coveted Palme d'Or to Michael Haneke for his film, "Amour," had its faire share of priceless photo ops. With the films and their red-carpet moments fini, lets take a look back at the bazaar of stars and classic moments from this year's Cannes. From Brad Pitt to K-Stew to Bill Murray, below a gallery of Hollywood's best, posing in the South of France. PHOTOS:

DVD Blu-Ray: 'We Need to Talk About Kevin,' 'Man on a Ledge'

Eric Larnick — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:12:05 EDT

Moviefone's New Release Pick of the Week "We Need to Talk About Kevin" What's It About? Tilda Swinton stars as the mother of Kevin (Ezra Miller), a disturbed young man who commits a violent Columbine-like school massacre. The film chronicles Kevin's upbringing and attempts to answer whether his mother's parenting is at fault. See It Because: While it's not an easy movie to watch -- lesser films would have laid on the Lifetime TV movie melodrama or tried to wrap it up with a simple answer -- "Kevin" is buoyed by a fantastic set of performances from mother and son. Swinton's chameleon-like ability to convey any character makes her one of the best actors working today, and the 19-year-old Miller deserves all of the critical kudos for his creepy breakout performance. Watch an Exclusive Clip from "We Need to Talk About Kevin" - (Also Available on Redbox | Amazon Instant Video) Moviefone's Blu-ray Pick of the Week Ingmar Bergman's "Summer Interlude" and "Summer With Monika" (Criterion Collection) What's It About? In "Interlude," an emotionally closed-off ballerina tries to overcome the grief of losing her first love during a summer vacation as a youth; in "Monika," two working-class lovers leave their responsibilities behind for a carefree, nudity-filled summer before heading home and struggling to accept the grind of "adult life." See It Because: These are not "popcorn" movies, and only one of them has what you would call a "happy ending," but if you've ever wanted to get a lesson in film history (and the director that Woody Allen considers to be the greatest of all time), Criterion's Blu-ray releases give you the full story on each production and capture a 1950s Swedish summer in all its gorgeous detail. New on DVD & Blu-ray "Coriolanus" What's It About? Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in an adaptation of the Shakespeare play concerning a deposed Roman leader, who aligns himself with a former enemy (Gerard Butler) to get revenge. Fiennes gives his movie a bloody, visceral kick by updating the story to a modern war-torn country that resembles the former Yugoslavia. See It or Skip It: See it. (Also Available on Redbox | Amazon Instant Video) "Gone" What's It About? Amanda Seyfried tries -- and fails -- to be an action star in this lifeless thriller that's no different from a Jennifer Love Hewitt-starring made-for-TV movie. See It or Skip It: Skip it. (Also Available on Redbox DVD & Blu-ray) "Goon" What's It About? Seann William Scott stars as a minor league hockey enforcer who means well, but is just too good at brawling; the hard-hits and crass comedy make "Goon" a worthy successor to the classic "Slap Shot." See It or Skip It: See it (Also Available on Redbox | Amazon Instant Video) "Man on a Ledge" What's It About? It's like "The Negotiator" meets "Phone Booth": you can either predict every twist from a mile away or be flabbergasted by the lack of plausibility. See It or Skip It: Skip it. (Also Available on Redbox DVD & Blu-ray ) New to Blu-ray "Denver and Rio Grande" (1952) "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976) "Run for Cover" (1955) "Silver City" (1951) "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" (1946) New on Amazon Instant Video "Take This Waltz" (Pre-Theatrical Rental)

'Spider-Man' Fan Chat: Your Chance To Speak With Andrew Garfield And Emma Stone

Alex Suskind — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:33:23 EDT

Once a month, Moviefone unveils a new edition of Unscripted, a video series where actors sit down and answer questions that you, the fans, submit. Well, for "The Amazing Spider-Man," we've decided to do something a little different. This June, Moviefone is giving "Spider-Man" fans a chance to speak with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone directly. The stars of the upcoming superhero flick will be sitting down for a live chat with Spidey followers over Google Plus video hangout on June 8, meaning you'll get to ask Andrew and Emma your question face-to-face. In order to participate, all you have to do is this: Tell us what makes you the biggest Spider-Man -- or Andrew Garfield or Emma Stone -- fan. Those who are selected will have access to a live video chat with two of Hollywood's biggest stars. You can leave your answer in the comments below, on Twitter or on Facebook. You'll have until June 4 at 5:00 p.m. EST to submit your answers. (Only one answer per person, folks!) The final video will go live closer to the release date of the film. "The Amazing Spider-Man," starring Garfield, Stone, Dennis Leary, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen and Sally Field, hits theaters nationwide on July 3. PHOTOS: "The Amazing Spider-Man"

'Men In Black 3': What Did You Think Of The Will Smith Sequel?

Alex Suskind — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:54:51 EDT

Before "Men in Black 3" hit theaters this weekend, some speculated whether Will Smith had the ability pull in the same gargantuan box office numbers he normally does. After all, it had been four years since his last performance, in the critical bomb "Seven Pounds." While that film went on to gross a respectable $70 million in domestic ticket sales, it paled in comparison to Smith's usual take. (Also not helping: It had been 10 years since the last "Men in Black" flick, a movie that -- despite making a boatload of cash -- both fans and critics ended up disliking. Therefore, it's not like anyone had been clamoring for "MIB 3.") Nevertheless, "Men in Black 3" came out on top over the long holiday weekend, bringing in $70 million (along with a $133.2 million take in non-domestic theaters). The tally was enough to knock off the previous box-office behemoth, "The Avengers," which brought in $46.9 M. (It also helped devote attention away from Will Smith slapping journalists and director Barry Sonnenfeld complaining about the press.) Anyway, it appears all those "Is Will Smith still a big box-office draw?" queries can be put to rest -- at least for the time being. Who saw "Men in Black 3" this weekend? What do you guys think? Sound off in the comments below.

Christopher Lee 90th Birthday: 90 Reasons The Horror Icon is Awesome

Eric Larnick — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:58:52 EDT

On May 27, British film icon Christopher Lee turns 90 years old. In his long and storied career, he's delivered countless fantastic performances in everything from medieval adventures to gothic scary stories. (You may know him as Saruman, Count Dooku, the Man with the Golden Gun or even Count Dracula.) And he has no plans to slow down, as indicated by recent roles in the Oscar-winning"Hugo" and this month's "Dark Shadows" -- not to mention an upcoming return to Middle Earth with this December's "Hobbit." Lee is not just an actor, but a decorated military man and bombastic heavy metal singer, with a crazy family lineage to boot. To celebrate the legend's 90th birthday, we present 90 reasons why Christopher Lee is awesome. 1. He's the step-cousin of "James Bond" creator Ian Fleming, and was the author's first choice to play Dr. No in the film adaptation. 2. He's in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Tallest Leading Actor. (He's 6'5") 3. He's the tallest movie Dracula ever. 4. He agreed to star in "The Wicker Man" for free; he considers it one of his greatest roles. 5. With the exceptions of 1995 and 2006, he has appeared in at least one movie every year since 1948. 6. He starred in nine films in both 1955 and 1970. 7. He holds the record of "actor with the most profitable movies," boasting a filmography that has raked in over $4 billion (and we're not just counting his "Star Wars" and "LOTR" work). 8. So far, he's the only movie star to be a "Star Wars" villain, a "Bond" villain and a movie monster. 9. He has a marked interest in public executions and knows the names of every official public executioner employed by England, dating all the way back to the mid-15th century. 10. He played Charles Henri Sanson, the Royal Executioner of France under King Louis XVI, in the French-British co-production "La Revolution Francaise: Les Annees Terribles." 11. In addition to starring in "Rasputin: The Mad Monk," Lee met the actual assassins of the real-life mystic when he was a small child. 12. He suffered a dislocated shoulder, injured back and bruised knees/shins while filming 1959's "The Mummy"... and used them to enhance his lurching Mummy-walk. 13. During the filming of "The Hound of Baskervilles," Lee had a real tarantula crawl on him -- despite a deadly fear of spiders. 14. He was also really attacked and bitten in the arm by the dog used for the film. 15. For his character's death scene in "Airport '77" -- getting crushed in a cargo hatch -- Lee did the stunt himself, and earned the Stuntmen's Union belt buckle. 16. At the age of 78, he did the majority of the sword-fighting work for his lightsaber duels in "Attack of the Clones." 17. After hurting his back, he had to pull out of "The Wicker Tree," the 2010 sequel to "The Wicker Man." Like a trooper, he still managed to shoot a cameo role for the film. 18. He can speak German, French, Italian and Spanish (with some Swedish, Russian and Greek to boot.) 19. He learned German by listening to Richard Wagner records. 20. He recorded the German dubbing of his part in "The Last Unicorn" for free -- because he loved the film. 21. When recording his voicework for the "The Last Unicorn," he arrived with his own copy of the book, which contained several marked passages that he did not want to see get cut from the adaptation. 22. At the beginning of his career, he dubbed foreign films into English and on many occasions would do all the voices -- including the women. 23. He was one of Bryan Singer's first choices for Magneto in the "X-Men" series. 23. He was also one of John Carpenter's first choices for Dr. Loomis in "Halloween." 24. Has played Dracula ten times. - 25. The cape he wore in his first appearance as Dracula is reportedly valued at $50,000. 26. He thought all of his lines in "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" were so bad, that he just decided to play the part silent instead. 27. When he was cast in "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," one of the first things he did was apologize to director Joe Dante for starring in "The Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf," the poorly-received sequel to Dante's 1980 werewolf hit. 28. During the press for "Howling II," he revealed that he took the part because he had already done movies involving Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and the Mummy, and he needed to do a werewolf film. 29. He had his own book series: a horror anthology, featuring works from Ray Bradbury, H.P. Lovecraft and Bram Stoker. 30. He has starred in two different film versions of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." 31. His very first acting performance, a school production, was as a demonic Rumpelstiltskin. 32. He just happened to be next-door neighbors with another famous Frankenstein monster: Boris Karloff. 33. He has played Dr. Fu Manchu five times. 34. He doesn't consider the work he did to be known as horror; he prefers to call it "the theater of the fantastique." 35. Has played not just Sherlock Holmes (in three on-screen appearances), but also the detective's brother Mycroft ("The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes") and Sir Henry Baskerville (1959's "The Hound of Baskerville"). 36. He's the only member of the "Lords of the Ring" film production to actually meet J.R.R. Tolkien. 37. He has read the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy once a year since it was published. 38. He received Tolkien's blessing to play Gandalf if there was ever a film adaptation. 39. He was always Peter Jackson's first choice for the role of Saruman, and was the first actor cast in the trilogy. 40. He helped give tips to the make-up team on how to design the monsters of Middle Earth. 41. He shot "The Fellowship of the Ring" with a broken hand. 42. He first bonded with Peter Cushing, his long-time friend and co-star, by quoting "Looney Tunes" with each other during the filming of "The Curse of Frankenstein." 43. Lee and Peter Cushing were contracted to star in 1972's "Horror Express," but the death of Cushing's wife the year before left him despondent with grief. Lee and his family helped Cushing get through the December shoot and kept him company during the Christmas season. 44. For his final collaboration with Peter Cushing in 1983's "House of the Long Shadows," they brought along fellow horror icons Vincent Price and John Carradine as co-stars. 45. To play Rochefort in Richard Lester's "Three Musketeers" series, he chose to depict the character with an eye-patch; his rendition was so influential that the '90s Disney version and last year's 3D update kept the eye-patch -- despite it never actually appearing in the original book. 46. Patrick Macnee (who was an uncredited extra) and Lee are the only surviving cast members of Laurence Olivier's Oscar-winning production of "Hamlet"; Lee played an uncredited Spear Carrier. 47. Throughout his career, he has starred as, Mephistopheles, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, the founder of Pakistan and voiced both the Jabberwocky dragon and Death itself. 48. His movie "The City of the Dead" a.k.a. "Horror Hotel" has had clips and dialogue sampled by Iron Maiden, King Diamond, the Misfits and Rob Zombie. 49. He made an uncredited voice cameo in the 1965 version of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians." 50. He served as host of "Mystery Theater," a 2009 nightly radio series that presented classic mystery shows. 51. In addition to reprising his iconic characters in video game adaptations of "Lord of the Rings" and "Bond," he also served as narrator of "The Rocky Interactive Horror Show" computer game. 52. Earned more video game cred with voice work in the "EverQuest" and "Kingdom Hearts" series. 53. He's a classically trained singer. 54. He appears as a soloist on "The Lord of the Rings: Complete Songs and Poems" box set which compiled all of the songs from Tolkien's book series. 55. In 2006, he released the solo album "Revelation," performing classics like "Little Drummer Boy," "Silent Night" and "My Way." 56. In 2010, he released "Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross," a symphonic metal concept album where he performs as the Roman Emperor. 57. The album featured two metal bands, a collection of guest vocalists and a 100 piece orchestra. 58. "Charlemagne" earned him the "Spirit of the Hammer" award from Metal Hammer Magazine; he had the award presented to him by Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. 59. He's a fan of American metal band Manowar and provided narration on the re-recording of their song "Dark Avenger." (A narration originally done by Orson Welles.) 60. He suffered a permanent hand injury thanks to a drunken Errol Flynn during a sword fight in "The Dark Avenger" -- and he continued filming. 61. He recorded a video for the Earthshaker heavy metal festival in 2005, proclaiming "Heavy metal will never die." 62. He is also a fan of Italian metal band Rhapsody, and recorded an introduction to their song "Unholy Warcry." 63. Then he teamed up with them on the single "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream." 64. This video exists: 65. He has also recorded French, German and Italian versions of "Wizard's Dream." 66. He provided guest vocals on the Euro-disco single "Little Witch." 67. He received an Academy Fellowship, the BAFTA lifetime achievement award, in 2011. 68. For his contributions to the film and television industry, he received a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2001. 69. Then in 2009, he was honored as Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire ,for his artistic and charitable efforts. 70. Additionally, he is a Commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and was also named an Officier des arts et lettres by the French cultural minister. 71. Way back in 1979 -- before his "Star Wars" and "Lord of the Rings" work -- he had been rewarded with the Life Career Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. 72. Oh yeah, he's also received lifetime achievement awards from SFX Magazine, Empire Magazine, Italy's Fantafestival, Portugal's Festróia International Film Festival, the Evening Standard British Film Awards and the Seattle Film Critics Awards. 73. In 2004, he was made an honorary citizen of Casina, Italy, the home of his ancestors. 74. Those ancestors just happen to be nobility who resided in the castle Sarzano. 75. His great-grandparents were the founders of the first opera company of Australia. 76. His mother was regarded as a subject of beauty and painted and sculpted by several artists during the Edwardian era. 77. He has been happily married to Danish model Birgit "Gitte" Kroencke since 1961. 78. He was friends with billionaire industrialist Jean Paul Getty, and got to use Getty's residence at the Sutton Place estate for his honeymoon. 79. Plus, he's served as a judge for the Miss World Beauty Pageant. 80. He is such an avid golfer that he became the first actor to become a member of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the oldest golf club in the world. 81. You can't forget about his hosting stint in the third season of "SNL" -- with musical guest Meat Loaf! 82. He was in "Police Academy: Mission to Moscow." That is all. 83. He's on the album cover to Wings' "Band on the Run" because why not? 84. This scene: (The less context, the better) 85. He served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves during WWII. 86. Then he served as an intelligence officer in the Long Range Desert Group. 87. According to Peter Jackson, he knew the exact sound a man makes while being stabbed, and used it for "Lord of the Rings." 88. His thoughts on vampires: "There are many vampires in the world today... you only have to think of the film business." 89. His view on life: "One should try anything he can in his career, except folkdance and incest" 90. He likes to garden in his pastime.

Will Smith's 'Men In Black 3' Tops 'Avengers' At Box Office

Alex Suskind — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:59:27 EDT

LOS ANGELES — The suits have knocked off the superheroes at the box office. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones' sequel "Men in Black 3" debuted as the No. 1 movie over Memorial Day weekend with $55 million domestically from Friday to Sunday.

Wes Anderson Movie Art: 'Rushmore,' 'Moonrise Kingdom,' 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' (PHOTOS)

Eric Larnick — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:33:32 EDT

"Moonrise Kingdom," the newest film from Wes Anderson, offers up another visual cornucopia from one of the most unique directors working today. Across seven movies, we've been treated to everything from memorably distinct characters ("The Royal Tenenbaums") to imaginative landscapes ("Fantastic Mr. Fox"). Anderson's instantly recognizable style has inspired countless young filmmakers and fashionistas, along with a bevy of talented artists; whether professional or amateur, they've immortalized characters such as Steve Zissou, Max Fischer and Margot Tenenbaum, with watercolors, pen and pad, and even glitchy video game art. With "Moonrise" hitting theaters this week, let's take a look at some of the Internet's best Wes Anderson-inspired art. PHOTOS:

Our sister site, ComicsAlliance, makes a habit of spotlighting particular artists and/or specific bodies of work. For more awesome fan art, check out their feature Best Art Ever (This Week).

'Cosmopolis' Premiere: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart On The Red Carpert

Jessie Heyman — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:35:24 EDT

On the shores of the French Rivera, glittering celebs are taking to the red carpet for the premiere of David Cronnerberg's "Cosmopolis." And since -- chances are -- you are not attending the event, you can enjoy the glamor of Cannes ~~while sitting on your can!~~ from the shores of wherever you are. Based on the novel by Don DeLillo, "Cosmopolis" follows a billionaire (played by Robert Pattinson) who travels across Manhattan in a stretch limo to get a haircut. On the way his day devolves into a sea of sex and corruption, which begins to destroy his world. The film is in competition for the prestigious Palme d'Or. Take a look at RPatz, his ladies (Kristen Stewart, duh) and the rest of the gang on the red carpet. PHOTOS:

'Star Wars' Anniversary: Posters From All The Episodes (PHOTOS)

Jessie Heyman — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:36:06 EDT

In 1977, fans -- some dressed as Chewy or Luke Skywalker -- wrapped around their local cinema to see the release of George Lucas's "Star Wars." And now, 35 years (and five additional films) later, the force has remained strong. The series, of course, has gone through many changes in the past three decades. The original film is famously set "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" and follows Luke Skywalker's journey to become a Jedi master and aid the Rebel Alliance in defeating Darth Vader. Since then, we've been introduced to a whole host of memorable characters -- some better than others. (Looking at you, Jar Jar). In honor of the 35th anniversary of "Star Wars," here are all the posters from the series, along with a few special behind-the-scenes photos. PHOTOS:

'Star Wars' Unscripted: A Look Back At George Lucas And Hayden Christensen's Very Awkward Interview

Alex Suskind — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:14:23 EDT

One of the best things about working online all day is the ability to watch an infinite amount of strange/hilarious/bizarre videos. For the 35th anniversary of "Star Wars" (which is today!), Moviefone has decided to unearth such a clip. Back in 2005, George Lucas and Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) sat down for an early edition of Moviefone's Unscripted. (The video was done for the promotion of "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.") Their taped discussion is perhaps one of the most awkward "Jedi"-related videos in existence. Whereas the prequels came across as straight up awful, this video is so awful it's good. For your enjoyment, the full video has been posted above. Below are the seven most awkward moments from their discussion. 1. Hayden reading off the teleprompter. (0:27) 2. When George asks Hayden whether Darth Vader wears briefs or shorts. (Uh, we think you mean boxers, George.) Somehow, the answer is more cringe-worthy than the actual question (1:15) 3. Why did George Lucas not start the franchise with Episode I? "I don't like beginnings." Well, that explains a lot about the prequels. (2:19) 4. How did Hayden feel to be edited into the end of "Return of the Jedi"? -- "I got a real kick out of it" (7:25) 5. Lucas's (really) awful explanation of why he edited Hayden into the end of "Return of the Jedi." "It was added in because it's a way of finishing off the entire series. The idea was that your inner person would go back to where we left it off, when it turned to the dark side -- when you got burned up and everything. But before you got burned up, so when you come back to the good side of the force, it's your former persona that survies, not the Darth Vader persona." (7:50) 6. "Well, I look forward to it." -- Hayden trying to sound interested in George Lucas's next project. (9:21) 7. Hayden admitted he was sick of being asked how he would deal with typecasting after the "Star Wars" prequels. Luckily, Lucas has some words of advice: "Just say I am going to spend the rest of my life making blockbuster movies and billions of dollars. Somebody's got to do it [Laughs]" (10:05)

On The Scene: Where Did The Bike Sequence From 'E.T' Take Place?

Jessie Heyman — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:08:05 EDT

This summer, "E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial" turns 30 years old. One of the most iconic films in history, Steven Spielberg's 1982 classic tells the story of a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas) and an alien who's been stranded on Earth. Eventually, he and his little sister, Gertie (played by the cherubic Drew Barrymore), befriend the creature and name him E.T., hiding him from their mother and returning him home. While the famous flick has its fair share of iconic scenes, none is more recognizable than the moment Elliott bikes through the park with E.T., launching into the air and flying across the night sky. While it's (sadly) not possible to experience this type of travel, you can visit the park -- Porter Ranch, located in Northridge Los Angeles -- where that scene, along with several of the movie's other famous moments, were filmed. Location as Character: The 1982 classic owes many of its famous shots to Porter Ranch. There are several shots above the grounds -- including the bike-across-the-moon moment -- which show off the hillside of Palisades Park. The various bicycle chases, as well as the Halloween scenes, were filmed on many of the neighborhood's streets (Brasília Dr., Killimore Ave. and Granada Circle). The northern end of Porter Ridge Park, was used during film's famous ending, when E.T. returns home. Historical Significance: The land was originally purchased in the late 19th century by Benjamin Porter. For the first couple decades, wheat fields covered the land, surviving all the way into the 1980s. Soon the park became slightly more glamourous as many movie stars had their horse ranches at Porter Ridge. Eventually, suburban homes began springing up, stretching all the way to Porter. The area was one of the last sections within the San Fernando Valley to be developed. Fun Fact: The first time Elliott's bike takes flight, E.T.'s sheet is not consistently open or closed. In close-ups, the sheet is open and in broader shots, it is closed. Directions: By car from California's Whiteman Airport (approximately 11 miles): Merge onto CA-118 W; take exit 38 toward Reseda Blvd; turn right onto Rinaldi St; take the 1st left onto Reseda Blvd; turn right onto Sesnon Blvd. Porter Ridge will be on the left. Visitor Info: The park is open to the public; for more information, head over to Porter Ranch's neighborhood council. This is the first in the newly relaunched series, On the Scene, where we take a look at famous movie locations around the world.

New Releases: 'Men In Black III,' 'Chernobyl Diaries,' 'Moonrise Kingdom'

Jessie Heyman — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:32:32 EDT

This weekend, it's a face-off between intergalactic crime fighters and earth's mightiest (box-office) heroes. Friday sees the release of "Men in Black III," which reunites Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as the alien-besting duo. While the series has historically brought in big box office numbers, does it have enough power behind it to potentially knock the superhero flick from its top spot? Let's take a look at the box-office predictions, in Moviefone's Weekend Movie Preview. NATIONWIDE RELEASES "Men in Black III" What's the story? The third chapter of the extraterrestrial-policing series sees Agent J (Will Smith) traveling back in time in order to right history and save the life of his partner, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). Box-office prediction: The first two "MIB" films brought in a boatload of cash -- over $1 billion worldwide -- however, the newest film comes a decade after its predecessor. "MIB III" has the benefit of being released during a holiday weekend, coupled with some pretty strong reviews. Opening in over 4,000 theaters including 278 IMAX, the film could gross $77 million. [Showtimes and Tickets]

"Chernobyl Diaries" What's the story? The thriller imagines six tourists who decide -- for fun -- to visit the home of Chernobyl nuclear reactor workers. Despite the area being deserted for over 25 years, the group soon realizes that they are not alone. Box-office prediction: Typically, audiences are lining up in droves for summer horror flicks, unless they're targeted to a back-to-school audience. "Chernobyl," which is rated R, is angling for the young-adult audiences and is relying on its found footage buzz. Screening in over 2,400 theaters, "Chernobyl Diaries" could earn $12 million this weekend. [Showtimes and Tickets] LIMITED RELEASES While there aren't a ton of national releases hitting theaters this weekend, there's enough on the limited side to tickle your fancy. Wes Anderson continues his twee-takeover with "Moonrise Kingdom"; the animated feature, "Arjun," tells the tale of a young price who took on an entire army for peace; James Cromwell stars in the heartwarming story, "Cowgirls N Angels" about a girl in search of her father; SXSW favorite, "Hide Away," tells a story of a businessman who tries to restore his life via fixing up an old sailboat; "The Intouchables" is about a wealthy widower whose unlikely caretaker helps restart his life; in the 1970s-set "Mighty Fine," a family moves from Brooklyn to New Orleans, in hopes of a better life; the documentary "OC87" follows a man struggling with mental illness while continuing his filmmaking aspirations; and in "Oslo, August 31," a man deals with his drug-addictive past.

'Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2': Edward, Bella And Jacob Character Posters (PHOTOS)

Alex Suskind — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:55:48 EDT

Woo, new "Twilight" character posters! The new images feature your favorite characters -- Bella (with vampire eyes!) Edward and Jacob -- staring ahead, with the cryptic word, "Forever" written next to them. (The first photos from the film premiered last month.) "Breaking Dawn, Part 2" is the final movie in the billion-dollar franchise, which is based on the books by Stephenie Meyer. Take a look at the posters from the film below. "Breaking Dawn Part 2," starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning and Cameron Bright, hits theaters November 16.

'Men In Black 3' Unscripted: Josh Brolin Doesn't Know Will Smith's Song 'Summertime'

Jessie Heyman — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:18:54 EDT

This shouldn't come as a surprise, but Will Smith really loves the '90s. After singing the "Fresh Prince" theme song on the "Graham Norton" show last week, then telling fans what he missed most about the decade, Will's now touting the importance of his hit 1991 song "Summertime" During Moviefone's "Men in Black III" Unscripted session, "MIB" co-star Josh Brolin asked Smith, if he were to come into contact with aliens on earth, where's the first place he would take them? (Will first explained that because he has acted in so many extraterrestrial flicks, he is genuinely concerned that aliens would specifically approach him for intel.) His answer? He'd go to "Fresh Prince" co-star and former collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff's house, where they would perform the song "Summertime." This took Brolin by surprise, who ~~clearly doesn't know what the song "Summertime" is~~ momentarily forgot about his favorite song. (Hey, he just hasn't listened to DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince in while!) Anyway, cue the "High-five, point-back, snap. "Pssh!" Take a look at the video above and check back this week for more "MIB III" Unscripted clips. "Men in Black III" hits theaters this Friday. PHOTOS:

Will Smith's Strangest Moments: Guest Starring On 'Blossom,' Eating Sushi And Getting Slimed

Alex Suskind — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:16:42 EDT

Last week, at the Moscow premiere of "Men in Black 3," a red-carpet reporter tried to kiss Will Smith. In return, Smith gave the man a nice little slap on the face. A week later, the actor was on "Letterman," where he -- in typically smooth Will Smith fashion -- joked about the situation. "It was just awkward, Dave... They were like, 'Oh, no, we're sorry, you know. It's just his 'schtick,' you know. And I said, 'Well, that's why his a** got schtuck.'" Yes, only Will could completely diffuse a journalist-slapping incident. To paraphrase his character from the first "Men in Black" movie, Smith can make anything look good. Since 1985, he's seamlessly moved from rap star to TV star to movie star, without breaking a sweat. Now one of the most bankable celebrities on the planet, Will Smith is synonymous with smooth -- at least when it comes to the stuff mainstream audiences know about. Unfortunately, having been in the business for almost three decades, Will's managed to rack up a variety of very un-Will Smith moments. From slurping down sushi on a Japanese game show to rapping about cross-dressers to playing video games with Bill Gates, the actor's done his fair share of the unexpected, strange and downright bizarre. With "Men in Black 3" opening this weekend, let's take a look back at some of Will Smith's most surprising moments.

Russell Crowe, Elvis Costello, Sing Elvis Presley And Johnny Cash In London

Alex Suskind — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:01:08 EDT

Perhaps this is a taste of what's to come from Russell Crowe? Last night in London, the Oscar winner -- who is set to appear in the big-screen adaptation of the musical, "Les Miserables" -- got on stage and performed with Elvis Costello. Crowe was a surprise guest at the Royal Albert Hall show, where he sang "Trouble" by Elvis Presley, than strapped on a guitar and played Johnny Cash's famous "Folsom Prison Blues." Crowe confirmed his appearance in a tweet this morning:

It is true, sang with Elvis Costello and the Imposters at Royal Albert Hall last night. What a privilege.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) May 24, 2012

Russell is set to use his pipes once again when he portrays Inspector Javert in "Les Miserables," which hits theaters this Christmas. You can watch the video of Crowe performing above (the fun starts at around the seven-minute mark). [via YouTube]

Zero Dark Thirty: Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Given Secret Access By CIA For bin Laden Film

Alex Suskind — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:55:26 EDT

Apparently Rep. Peter King was on to something when he raised concerns back in January about director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Marl Boal potentially being leaked classified material to make their upcoming Osama bin Laden movie. According to a report from Judicial Watch, Bigelow and Boal were given unprecedented access by the CIA to make "Zero Dark Thirty," a film that tells the story of the hunt for the world's most wanted man. Documents obtained by the foundation through the Freedom of Information Act show that the filmmakers were allowed to meet with -- and learn the identity of -- a "planner, Operator and Commander of SEAL Team Six,” the team responsible for the capture and killing of bin Laden. A meeting transcription states that Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers told Boal and Bigelow, “The only thing we ask is that you not reveal his name in any way as a consultant because . . . he shouldn't be talking out of school," adding that "this gives him one step removed and he knows what he can and can't say, but this way at least he can be as open as he can with you and it ought to meet your needs.” The two were also given access to "the Vault," which Judicial Watch describes as "the CIA building where some of the tactical planning for the bin Laden raid took place." Emails also state that the Obama administration had a hand in providing access to Bigelow and Boal. In a statement provided to HuffPost Politics, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor denied any wrongdoing:

“When people, including press, authors, filmmakers, documentarians, who are working on projects that involve the President ask to speak with administration officials, we do our best to accommodate them to make sure the facts are correct.," he said. "That's hardly a novel approach to the media. We do not discuss classified information. The information that the White House provided about the bin Laden raid was focused on the President's role in that decision making process. The same information was given to the White House press corps.”

This isn't the only trouble "Zero Dark Thirty" has had since its inception. While filming in India, Bigelow and her team faced backlash from local Hindus over making the set area appear Pakistani. "Zero Dark Thirty," starring Chris Pratt, Jessica Chastain and Joel Edgerton, is currently slated for a December 19 release date. [via Judicial Watch b/w THR]

'Transformers 3' Extra Receives $18.5 Million Settlement For Injury

Alex Suskind — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:42:29 EDT

It appears producers are going to have to cough up some of the $1.1 billion that "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" made. According to NBC Chicago, Gabriella Cedillo, an extra on the film, will receive $18.5 million from filmmakers after being injured on set. The 26-year-old had originally sued Paramount and DreamWorks' Studios after suffering a head injury during filming in 2010. The accident occurred while Cedillo was behind the wheel of a stunt car, which was attached to the cable of another vehicle. However, the cable eventually snapped, slicing through the windshield and hitting her head. Despite being airlifted to a nearby hospital to undergo surgery, Cedillo ended up with permanent brain damage. Gabriella's attorney stated that a "completely inadequate superficial weld had been applied in a failed effort to secure the bracket to the [stunt] car." According to the lawsuit, the movie studios "did everything they could to avoid payment," even after saying that they would take care of the medical bills. "Dark of the Moon," which hit theaters back in 2010, ended up grossing the most money of the "Transformers" trilogy. [via NBC Chicago b/w TMZ]

'Men in Black 3': Pros And Cons

Eric Larnick — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:50:34 EDT

This weekend, "Men in Black 3" finds Will Smith donning the Ray Bans once again for another intergalactic adventure as Agent J. In the threequel, J must travel back to the year 1969 to prevent the assassination of his partner, Agent K. With the Apollo 11 mission looming in the background, J works alongside a much younger -- but still surly -- K (Josh Brolin) to ensure that the timeline remains unchanged. It's been ten years since we last saw the MIB, and that cinematic outing was poorly received. Despite the new installment's well-documented script problems can the new flick follow suit? Let's find out in this week's Pro-Con. (MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW) PRO: It's better than "Men in Black II" The second movie was one of the most unnecessary, forgettable and humorless viewing experiences ever. This is a much more harmless attempt at a sequel. CON: That's not saying much Number three isn't awful, but it isn't very good either. It would be a perfectly acceptable way to waste an afternoon on TV, but you expect something more momentous from a Memorial Day blockbuster. PRO: If you love Will Smith, you'll be in heaven This isn't a buddy team-up so much as it is a chance for the Fresh Prince to spend 90 minutes cracking wise at aliens, '60s culture and his partner (to be fair, he does have a few good jokes). CON: Will Smith's acting It appears as if Big Willie Style either had no direction or "didn't need it," because he's in two modes for the entire movie: For comedic scenes he riffs on everything to the point of distraction, and for dramatic scenes he's locked in that teary-eyed moment right before he said "How come he don't want me man?" PRO: Josh Brolin His Tommy Lee Jones impression is spot-on and he gives the movie's best performance, delivering a lively and charismatic depiction of a young Agent K. CON: Tommy Lee Jones He's in the movie for about ten minutes and has never looked more glower. PRO: The villain's first scene The movie opens with a hokey -- in a fun way -- prison breakout involving the movie's time-traveling, one-armed bandit Boris the Animal. "Flight of the Conchords" star Jemaine Clement brings a Tim Curry-like energy to his villainy, and the make-up effects from Rick Baker give Boris a uniquely disgusting presence. CON: Every other scene with the villain While Clement is worlds better than "2's" Lara Flynn Boyle/Johnny Knoxville combo, he still pales in comparison to the first movie's Edgar (played by Vincent D'Onofrio). It's not Clement's fault, but the story fails to make the villain anything more than a background character that pops up occasionally. PRO: Cameos If you're a fan of "Arrested Development" or "SNL," you'll be happy to see some familiar faces. CON: Michael Stuhlbarg as Griffin The "Boardwalk Empire" star is not a bad actor by any means, but his character -- the last of an alien species whose time-warping abilities are pivotal to J and K's mission -- is an anchor that weighs everything down. Griffin conveniently delivers all the important plot info but doesn't actually do anything to move the story forward; plus his character's hook is too annoyingly similar to Robin Williams in family-film mode. PRO: The movie's alien design One thing the "MIB" series has never gotten wrong is creature design: Rick Baker's imagination is on full display with memorable-looking extraterrestrials that can't help but catch your eye (even if they're just walking in the background). CON: The movie's use of time-travel When K is killed in the past and history is altered, J is the only one who remembers how it was supposed to be. Why does he still remember? Because he's caught in a "temporal warp." How did he get caught in a temporal warp? Because... (Crickets chirp) The script does a half-hearted job at explaining how the time shenanigans work -- which only raises more questions -- and then they break their own rules in the final action scene. PRO: The idea of Emma Thompson in this movie Thompson takes over for the departed Rip Torn as the new leader of the MIBs, and she's as entertaining as always. CON: The use of Emma Thompson in this movie As the movie's main female character(?), she's pointless in the grand scheme. PRO: The idea of added backstory We learn a lot about who J and K were, before they became a bickering earth-saving duo. CON: The use of added backstory It contradicts things that happened in the first movie, and like the time-travel rules, the moment you think about the implications, it just creates more questions. PRO: The 3D doesn't look bad Remarkably, it didn't hurt our eyes. And this is one of the first movies in the new 3D wave to actually use brightly-lit scenes that don't get muted by the gimmicky effect. CON: You do not need to see this in 3D It doesn't add to the experience at all. It's just lucky it wasn't headache-inducing. CON: Pitbull's song for the soundtrack, "Back in Time" It's no "Men in Black" theme. PRO: That gives us an excuse to listen to the "Men in Black" theme right now. "Men in Black 3" opens nationwide on Friday.

Samuel L. Jackson As Darth Vader In Hilarious 'Star Wars' Spoof

Alex Suskind — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:09:29 EDT

Here's a change to the "Star Wars" universe George Lucas wishes he could take credit for: Motherf*ckin' Darth Motherf*ckin' Jackson ... motherf*cker. BuzzFeed recently unearthed an awesome YouTube compilation of Darth Vader clips from "Star Wars IV: A New Hope," where Vader's sinister dialogue has been replaced with famous Samuel L. Jackson quotes from "Pulp Fiction," "Jurassic Park" and more. Jackson played Mace Windu in the prequel "Star Wars" films, and was [SPOILER ALERT] killed by Anakin Skywalker in "Revenge of the Sith." However, this video allows us to imagine a galaxy far, far away, where Windu, in a remarkable twist, becomes the Dark Lord. Not that drastic changes are foreign to the "Star Wars" franchise: Lucas, who created the series, has made numerous alterations to the original movies, from the digitally inserted tacky hologram of Hayden Christensen's Anakin at the end of "Return of the Jedi," to the "Who Shot First" debacle between Han and Greedo. Then again, with the rest of the "Star Wars" films coming out in 3D over the next five years, you never know what Lucas will do -- or do not -- next. [via BuzzFeed]

Kristen Stewart's 'Snow White' Message To Girls: 'Don't Be A Vain Idiot'

Jessie Heyman — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:36:49 EDT

"Snow White and the Huntsman" is a modernized version of the fairytale classic -- and now it appears co-stars Kristen Stewart and Sam Claflin are similarly updating their press tour. The "SWATH" leads recently took to the magic of the Internet, answering questions about their upcoming movie via Google+ group chat. While Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth and Stewart previously regaled us with their explicative-laden Moviefone Unscripted sessions, here, Stewart gets a little more family-friendly, discussing how physically taxing the film was to make. "I was excited to challenge myself physically. I knew I would hurt myself every day. I pulled every muscle below my waist. I destroyed my thumb," Stewart said. And while Claflin plays Pince William, Snow White's knight in shining armor, the actor said that the thought of riding a horse made him "cry inside." As for what girls will take away from the new tough look for "SWATH," K-Stew says the message is clear: "Don't be a vain idiot." Take a look at the whole chat over on Cambio. "Snow White and the Huntsman" hits theaters June 1. [via Cambio]

'Anchorman 2': Why Will Ferrell Made The Announcement On 'Conan'

Alex Suskind — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:26:27 EDT

Two months ago, Will Ferrell set the movie world on fire when he showed up on "Conan" -- in full Ron Burgundy attire -- to announce the long-awaited sequel to "Anchorman." Despite several failed attempts to get the project off the ground, "Anchorman 2" came together fairly quickly, as did the announcement on Conan O'Brien's show. As Ferrell reveals in this week's Hollywood Reporter cover story on O'Brien: "We had 24 hours to do something before the news leaked... Conan was our first call." Unsurprisingly, the video of Will showing up and surprising the audience went super viral. (It was posted on the "Conan" site ahead of the show's normal 11 p.m. slot.) According to THR, the clip "generated 3 million Internet views within 24 hours on 700 unique sites." Ferrell added that "Conan's show had the perfect vibe for that kind of announcement... We were really happy for him to reap the benefits." O'Brien also discussed the decision of uploading the video onto the web beforehand:

"At TBS, we're masters of our own pirate ship. It's about so much more than who watches the show at 11 p.m. Who watches it at 1 a.m.? Who watches the clip online the next day? Who sees the ad with that clip? This is where it's all going, so let's get ahead of it rather than pretend it's still about America gathering around the TV to watch Roots or Ed Sullivan. That simply isn't the case anymore."

As for "Anchorman 2," the film's teaser premiered last week in front of "The Dictator." According to David Koechner -- who will reprise his role as Champ -- it was filmed right after the announcement. You can check out the full Conan O'Brien profile over on THR. [via THR]

'That's My Boy': Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg Sit Down For Next Unscripted; Ask Them A Question!

Jessie Heyman — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:51:43 EDT

SNL fans new and old rejoice! Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, who've teamed up as the very unlikely father-son duo in "That's My Boy," are set to participate in an upcoming session of Moviefone's Unscripted next month, meaning you get to ask them anything you want. "Sandberg" (that may be the best nickname out there) fans will have until Thursday, May 31 at 8 p.m. EST to ask whatever they'd like. (Perhaps it's whether Samberg knows the "Hanukkah Song" by heart, or what Sandler's favorite Digital Short is?) You can leave your queries in the comments below, on our Facebook page or on Twitter. Head back to Moviefone closer to the "That's My Boy" release date in June to see the whole thing. "That's My Boy,"starring Sandler, Samberg and Leighton Meester, hits theaters on June 15.

'Ishtar': Seven Myths Regarding The Legendary Flop

Gary Susman — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:49:12 EDT

"If all of the people who hate 'Ishtar' had seen it, I would be a rich woman today." So said Elaine May in 2006, two decades after the Warren Beatty-Dustin Hoffman comedy she wrote and directed had become synonymous with "extravagant flop." (The film grossed $14.4 million on a $55 million budget.) Up until May 22, 1987 (the day it opened in theaters, 25 years ago), advance buzz on "Ishtar" was contentious; it was either a brilliant comic masterpiece or a textbook case of overreach on the part of two giant Hollywood egos to whom no one could say, "No." After the film's release... same thing. To this day, the movie is roundly mocked for its alleged awfulness (often by people who've never seen it), while a passionate cult of fans insists it's a lost work of misunderstood genius that never got its proper due from critics or moviegoers. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. The movie is far from being unwatchable, as its detractors complain; nor is it as unrelentingly funny as its supporters claim. Seen today, "Ishtar" contains some inspired gags, from the hilariously bad songs performed by Beatty and Hoffman's inept lounge duo to the prescient satire of America's ham-fisted foreign policy blunders throughout the Middle East. But it also doesn't really hang together as a film; rather, it lurches along in fits and starts like the movie's fabled blind camel. One thing is certain, however: May was punished for its failure, in a way that Beatty and Hoffman were not -- both of their careers continued to flourish, while she's never directed another film. "You'd have to be offered a movie that's worth your time and your struggle, and I haven't been," she said at a rare screening last year of her director's cut of "Ishtar." As one searches for the truth behind the myths surrounding "Ishtar"'s production -- many of which have to do with how in-over-her-head May was -- it's clear that she made an all-too-convenient scapegoat for the excesses of an entire industry, not just her own. Myth No. 1: May was incapable of working within the studio system. Before "Ishtar," May had directed three movies in the 1970s: the brilliant and underrated "A New Leaf" (1971), a romantic farce in which she also served as writer and star; the classic "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972), a hit Neil Simon comedy that effectively launched Charles Grodin's career; and "Mikey and Nicky" (1976), a largely improvised crime drama starring John Cassavetes and Peter Falk that mimicked the similarly improvisational, acquired-taste movies that Cassavetes had been making with Falk for years. The last of these had cemented May's reputation as a perfectionist, one who ordered take after take and shot hundreds of hours of film, only to spend months or years in the editing room in order to come up with a two-hour movie. But May had also received little support from the studios she worked for. "Every movie I made except for 'The Heartbreak Kid,' the studio changed regimes in the middle of the movie," she said in a 2006 conversation with Mike Nichols (her former sketch comedy partner, who went on to a much more successful directing career). It's not uncommon that, after such a regime change, the new studio chief will disown the movies in production that his or her predecessor greenlit, so as not to be held responsible if they fail. In the cases of "New Leaf" and "Mikey and Nicky," the studios ultimately wrested the films away from May, recut them, and released them without her approval. Myth No. 2: Beatty stabbed May in the back. Given Beatty's involvement 15 years later with "Town & Country" -- another costly comedy flop that he starred in, and whose endless pre-release tinkering seemed to have Beatty's fingerprints all over it -- it's easy to wonder if Beatty's micromanagement of his director wasn't also a source of woe for "Ishtar." For one thing, Beatty (who also produced the film) was the highest paid person on the set (he and Hoffman both earned about $5.5 million for their acting, plus another half mil to Beatty for producing, while May's salary was $1 million), and the salaries of the three principals comprised nearly half of the film's initial $27.5 million budget. (Actually, Beatty and Hoffman had offered to defer their salaries, but Columbia declined.) Plus, Beatty's heavy-handedness seemed evident in his refusal to allow journalists on the set and his reluctance to do interviews to promote its release. Finally, he'd cast his then-girlfriend, Isabelle Adjani, as the movie's female lead. All of this led the press to be skeptical that Beatty was the one really holding the reins and driving up the budget. Beatty and May did clash on the set, often leading to paralysis during the expensive shoot in Morocco. According to Peter Biskind's biography "Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America," the actor/producer and the director differed on staging and setups, particularly when it came to the climactic battle sequence, a bigger spectacle than anything May had ever shot before. But Biskind writes that Beatty didn't want to undermine her authority by contradicting her, lest he tarnish his liberal-feminist credentials. Beatty also refused to let the studio fire her, threatening to walk if they did. Where Beatty and May differed most strongly was in the endless editing process. Their contracts guaranteed a measure of final cut authority to May, Beatty, and Hoffman -- which meant, really, that none of them had final cut. Each of them was working on his or her own cut of the movie at the same time. In the end, Hollywood superlawyer Bert Fields, who represented all three of them, wound up overseeing the editing. Myth No. 3: May didn't know where to place the camera. May has acknowledged, more than once, that, on her first film, she knew so little about directing that she hardly knew what to do with the camera or even to shoot coverage (that is, the same scene from multiple camera positions) so that she'd have alternate footage to build a sequence within the editing room. But it seems unlikely that, four movies and hundreds of hours of footage later, she'd still be as naive. Nonetheless, she clashed frequently over camera placement with the master cinematographer Beatty had hired, Vittorio Storaro. Storaro told Biskind that May would do the opposite of whatever he recommended, to the extent that he learned to use reverse psychology and recommend the opposite of what he wanted. But May's friend, editor Philip Schopper, suggested that May knew exactly what she was doing. Storaro's painterly eye had framed such dramatic masterpieces as "Reds" and "Last Tango in Paris," but he'd never shot a comedy before, and May was aiming for funny, not pretty. Myth No. 4: May wasted untold amounts of money casting the right camel. The oft-told camel anecdote is justly famous. May's animal trainers searched for a camel with blue eyes (a rarity) to suggest its blindness. They found one priced at $700 but thought they could do better. After days of searching, they couldn't find another camel that fit the bill, so they returned to the dealer who owned the first camel, only to be told, "Sorry, we ate it." Less famous is the denouement: They found a camel, they shot the scenes, and they generated some of the movie's biggest laughs. Recalled May last year, "It was a great actor! We tried camels out; a lot of camels came. But this camel had it, and we cast him." Myth No. 5: May wasted untold amounts of money and time bulldozing dunes. Production designer Paul Sylbert told Biskind that he had spent a lot of time scouting several countries for the perfect dunes that May had requested, only to have her change her mind and decide she wanted the desert to be flat. So he took a union crew and 11 bulldozers and spent 10 days flattening a square mile of desert. A variant of Sylbert's dune-flattening story appears in a New York magazine article published shortly before the film's release. But his story is disputed by "Ishtar" editors Schopper and Billy Scharf, who said there was no bulldozing. "Elaine was too smart to do stupid things like that," Scharf told Biskind, attributing Sylbert's account to his enmity of May. Other crew members echoed Sylbert in suggesting that May frequently changed her mind or seemed unwilling to make decisions. One worker told Biskind, "Directors control in different ways, and she controlled by creating mass confusion." May herself downplayed the obstacles of the desert shoot, saying, "It was a very hard shoot, but I really liked it. I actually have an affinity for the desert." Myth No. 6: The movie had bad buzz well before anyone had seen it. Actually, the three preview screenings went very well. One of them went so well that May took off for Bali, unaware of what was about to happen back home. What happened was a poisoning of the well with bad press about the movie's cost overruns, which ultimately ballooned its budget to $51 million. That, and a delayed release date, due to the lengthy editing process, from December 1986 to May 1987. The press saw both as signs of trouble. Certainly, "Ishtar" was one of the most expensive comedies ever made, and the secrecy surrounding the shoot made reporters wonder what was being hidden from them. But who leaked the budget of the movie? The filmmakers, to this day, blame David Puttnam, who took over Columbia from McElwaine ("Ishtar"'s first casualty) after the shoot finally wrapped. Puttnam had had a longstanding grudge against May, Beatty, and Hoffman for their reputed budget-busting ways; he'd been a producer on "Agatha" and had blamed Hoffman for inflating his own role in the movie to a lead; and he'd been producer of the modestly-budgeted "Chariots of Fire" when it was up against Beatty and May's expensive "Reds" in the 1981 Oscar race. At the time, he'd written an essay criticizing Hollywood for its expensive ways, and now he would be able to put his philosophy into practice. Once in office, he had effectively given "Ishtar" a vote of no-confidence by publicly distancing himself from the supposed boondoggle approved by his predecessor. When articles about "Ishtar"'s expenses began to appear, the three principals felt they were being undermined by their own studio. As a result, Beatty belived, even critics who might have been predisposed to like the movie felt compelled to mention how expensive it was. "There was almost no review that didn't in the first paragraph deal with the cost of the movie," Beatty told Entertainment Weekly in 1991. "That was an eye-opener — about the business, and the relationship of the entertainment press to business. 'Ishtar' is a very good, not very big, comedy, made by a brilliant woman. And I think it's funny." Myth No. 7: "Ishtar" was an instant flop. Actually, it opened at No.1 on the box office chart and stayed there for three weeks. But its opening weekend take was just $4.3 million, only $100,000 ahead of the $4.2 million earned by no-budget, star-free horror flick "The Gate." Ultimately, it earned only about $14 million in theaters, well short of its cost. It was a big enough flop to shake Columbia to its core. Within months, Puttnam followed McElwaine out the door. Within two years, parent company Coca-Cola got out of the movie business and sold the studio to Sony. Nonetheless, Hoffman and Beatty prospered. Hoffman's next role was his Oscar-winning turn in "Rain Man." Since then, the still-busy actor has made about 30 more movies, or about twice as many as he did in the quarter-century beofre "Ishtar." Meanwhile, Beatty turned around and produced, directed, and starred in 1990's lavish comic-strip fantasy "Dick Tracy" (co-starring Hoffman). That turned out to be a huge hit, but it's remarkable that, so soon after "Ishtar," he was able to get another studio (Disney) to spend $46 million on his vision. Beatty went on to make four more movies over the next decade, and not until 2001's "Town & Country," a star-heavy comedy that cost $90 million but earned back just $10 million worldwide, did his career hit a brick wall the way May's did. Since "Ishtar," May has acted in two movies -- the 1990 indie "In the Spirit" (co-written by her daughter, Jeannie Berlin) and Woody Allen's 2000 comedy "Small Time Crooks." She's written two screenplays (1996's "The Birdcage" and 1998's "Primary Colors"), both sparkling and witty, both commissioned by her old pal Nichols. She's also written for Broadway; last year, she and Allen and Ethan Coen collaborated on an evening of three one-act plays called "Relatively Speaking." But she hasn't directed another movie and, having turned 80 last month, probably never will again.

Kristen Stewart 'On The Road' Sex Scenes: Topless More Than Taylor Lautner

Jessie Heyman — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:11:56 EDT

While Kristen Stewart plays an armor-clad heroine in "Snow White and the Huntsman," her role in the upcoming "On the Road" is apparently far more, ahem, revealing. The Walter Salles-directed film, which premiered at Cannes, casts the star in a slightly different light than "Twilight's" Bella Swan. Here, according to Vulture, "Stewart takes her top off so many times that even the perennially shirtless Taylor Lautner would be impressed." As you probably know, the film is the big screen adaptation of the iconic beat novel by Jack Kerouac, which chronicles the tales of three young friends' -- Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund) and his young femme, Marylou (Stewart) -- road trip. What you didn't know is the film's level of unbridled raunchiness. "Twlight" purists, shield your eyes. Vulture writes: "Stewart later takes part in a ménage à trois, initiates road head, and jerks off both Hedlund and Sam Riley while all three are naked in a moving car. She's so horny and curious that when another couple excuses themselves to have sex, a nosy Stewart follows them into the doorway and asks, 'Can I watch you guys screw?'" Apparently, Bella and Edward's bed-ruining consummation was just a warm up. [via Vulture]

'Men in Black 3' Director, Barry Sonnenfeld, Talks Script Problems And 'Men in Black 4'

Eric Larnick — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:41:30 EDT

This weekend, "Men in Black 3," starring Will Smith, hits theaters nationwide. Unfortunately, what should be regarded as a light summer popcorn flick has turned into an entertainment gossip storm. The sequel reportedly went into production before the script was finished, and ended up receiving multiple rewrites. (Filmmakers even took a break from shooting to try and fix the story's problems.) Earlier this month, the L.A. Times reported that the film's budget was -- including marketing -- a whopping $375 million. Obviously, this movie has a lot riding on it -- it can't afford to be a Memorial Day weekend distraction, it needs to be a global phenomenon on par with its two predecessors. Moviefone recently spoke with series director Barry Sonnenfeld about the film's well-documented problems. However, according to him, they aren't problems at all: After all the media attention regarding rewrites and rumored script changes demanded by Will Smith, Sonnenfeld steadfastly explained that it's all been an over-exaggeration that the audience shouldn't be concerned with. The big story surrounding this release is the craziness of the production. Your quote about filming without a complete script was: "If this movie does as well as I think it will, it was genius. If it's a total failure, then it was a really stupid idea." Is that a risk you would feel confident taking again on a future project? I cannot believe that that's what I said because there was never not a finished script. It is impossible to make a movie without a finished script. Within the script there were going to be changes made in some scenes and locations, but we always had a script. We shut down after Christmas -- which we intended to do -- to continue to hone the second act and the first half of the third act. We always had a first act and an ending. But my question to you is: A) What difference does it make in terms of the story and the moviegoers' experience? And B) On every movie that you've seen, can you tell me what their experience was? I've worked on ten movies as a cinematographer and ten as a director, and out of those twenty movies I've only had, what reporters would call, finished scripts on three of them. On the first "Men in Black" -- which is a beloved movie -- we changed the entire plot and ending after we were done shooting with dubbing and subtitles. But who cares? If you can explain to me why the filmgoers need to know it, or why it's different than any movie from "Avatar" to the movies coming out this summer, then I think it's an interesting story. But for some reason, and I think it's because Will Smith hasn't been in a movie in four years, what really is the norm has become a story. So help me understand what your readers need more information about. Well this production came together so fast to accommodate a very tight window with Will Smith's availability. Was there ever a moment where you just thought “This isn't going to happen"? Not really. In every movie there are moments when you realize you are over budget and have to lose some of your favorite scenes, or there's a problem because the availability of the actor you want isn't there. Up until two weeks before we shot "Addams Family Values," [they were] threatening to pull the plug. Right before we started to shoot "Get Shorty," MGM told me we had to lose $320,000 by Monday or we weren't making the movie. It's the nature of the business, but because this one was bigger, expensive and complicated, you had a few times where you thought, “I wonder if maybe they shouldn't make the movie.” It usually happens early in production and you figure it out. I just can't convince people enough of this, so I'm not going to try anymore. The people involved in making the movie felt their version of stress, and that version of stress was just the stress that every filmmaker has every day. It doesn't matter if it's big-budget or small-budget; they're equally stressful, equally important. You don't say, “I better do a better job on this one because it cost more, or because it's got Will Smith.” You all go out there, do your best work and ultimately it comes down to script and casting -- and I think we got it right. When the first movie came out in 1997 the movie industry was very different; Hollywood is now telling stories for a global audience. "MIB 3" is being promoted not only in America, but around the world. What's the biggest challenges you see in making a movie that has to appeal to a global audience but still takes storytelling risks? All the "Men In Black's" have done better globally then in the U.S., but we were never conscious of dumbing down or making it more universal. Universal stories come out of small things, not big things, and they come out of emotion and some sort of comedy. We haven't changed the films based on the globalization of the market. In the second film we made the mistake in thinking that what worked about the first film was comedy; we went to the comedy place too often in the second film, and forgot that our guys needed to be heroes and our villains had to be villainous and strong. I think that "Men in Black 3" to me, is much more like "Men in Black 1." I was on "Men In Black 1" for two years and when I started none of the scenes took place in New York. They were underground in Lawrence, Kansas, they were in Nevada, they were in Las Vegas, they were in Washington, D.C., they were about pheromones. I left the movie after two years cause the script still wasn't right, directed "Get Shorty," came back, got the script right, hired Tommy and Will and made the movie. I didn't read anything about “Four years of script work finally delivers Men In Black 1”. I don't know why this one became about the script so much. We haven't changed the tone or style based on international [audiences]. Although if there was ever a "Men In Black 4," I would suggest that we open up the environment, shoot some of it or make part of the plot take place in China, Russia, Germany. Because the Men In Black protect all of earth and not just the northeast corridor. It'd be nice to do that, but not necessarily for marketing reasons. Although, there's nothing wrong with that either. How serious have discussions gotten about developing the "Men In Black" franchise beyond Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones? There's been no talk about "Men In Black 4" at all, except occasionally Will Smith will come up with an idea while we're flying somewhere. I don't know what goes on within the corporate meetings but I have heard no talk about changing the franchise, doing another one or opening it up to others. If "Men In Black 3" does well, I'm sure there will need to be some strategic discussions about it. I do think that as cool an idea as "Men In Black" is, what makes it work really well is not the big stuff, but the small stuff. That chemistry between Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin is really important. It'd be like deciding to do "48 Hrs." without Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy. I think that the relationships in this movie are the single biggest success.

'Great Gatsby' Trailer: Leo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire And Jay-Z

Alex Suskind — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:13:01 EDT

You know what the best part of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby" is? When Jay-Z and Kanye's "No Church in the Wild" plays in the background at a party on West Egg. Wait, that never happened? That can't be true -- according to the trailer for Baz Lurhmann's "Gatsby" movie, it did! Yes, the first footage from the upcoming Fitzgerald adaptation has just hit the web, and it's full of dancing, drinking and hip-hop, all set in the colorful, stylized New York community you probably don't remember from the books. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, the film is a (very) updated take on the classic Fitzgerald novel. Looks aside, the movie appears to follow the same iconic story of the wealthy Jay Gatsby and his curious neighbor, Carraway. (Then again, this thing is in 3D, so who knows?) You can check out the full trailer above. (Watch at your own risk, Fitzgerald, fans!) "The Great Gatsby" hits theaters Christmas Day.

DVD Blu-Ray: 'The Secret World of Arrietty,' 'Lethal Weapon' Collection

Eric Larnick — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:07:50 EDT

Moviefone's New Release Pick of the Week "The Secret World of Arrietty" What's It About? This adaptation of the beloved fantasy series "The Borrowers" deals with a young sick boy named Sho, who befriends Arrietty, a member of a secret race of little people that live underneath the floorboards. Sho and Arrietty must preserve their friendship while also protecting the family of Borrowers from suspicious humans. See It Because: Studio Ghibli, the world renowned Japanese animation studio behind "Arrietty," have never made a bad movie. Seriously. "Arrietty" is an adorably cute modern fairy tale that never feels saccharine, and features lush atmospheric animation. Moviefone's Blu-ray Pick of the Week The "Lethal Weapon" Collection What's It About? The entire Riggs-Murtaugh saga is packaged together in one convenient box set, bringing "I'm getting too old for this sh*t," Jet Li's kicks, "It's just been revoked" and Gary Busey into the world of glorious high definition. See It Because: In addition to all four movies, the collection comes with loads of bonus content: deleted scenes, outtakes, behind-the-scenes features and commentary on all films by series director, Richard Donner. Watch an Exclusive Clip from the "Lethal Weapon" Collection - New on DVD & Blu-ray "Certified Copy" (Criterion Collection) What's It About? Juliette Binoche stars as a French antiques dealer who meets a British writer in Tuscany and decides to spend the day with him. During the course of their date, their conversations change so much, that you're not sure if this was really their first date after all. See It or Skip It: See it, if you're up for philosophical discussions about what's real and what's fake. (Also Available on Amazon Instant Video) "Mutant Girls Squad" What's It About? A mutant girl joins up with a band of rebel mutants (a squad if you will) to fight back against the humans that abused them. Be prepared for splatterific levels of over-the-top gore involving chainsaws, weird body appendages and bodily fluids. See It or Skip It: See it, if you already dig the craziness of J-Horror. "Perfect Sense" What's It About? Ewan McGregor and Eva Green star as two lovers living in a world where a strange virus is robbing people of their senses, and they must learn to go on without sight, sound or touch. The film may not perfectly balance the love story in the wake of impending disaster, but it's a well-acted exploration of the premise. See It or Skip It: See it. (Also Available on Redbox | Amazon Instant Video) "Red Tails" What's It About? George Lucas' passion project, an action-adventure take on the Tuskegee Airmen, has the same flaws as his other projects (corny dialogue, stilted performances) but it's loads better than the "Star Wars" prequels and shows that he still has some fire, when working on something he cares about. See It or Skip It: See it. (Also Available on Amazon Instant Video ) "This Means War" What's It About? This action-romance about a love triangle between Reese Witherspoon and CIA agents Chris Pine and Tom Hardy tried to appeal to men and women, but misfired completely. See It or Skip It: Skip it. Watch an Exclusive Clip from "This Means War" - (Also Available on Amazon Instant Video) "The Woman in Black" What's It About? It's nothing revolutionary -- and not without its eye-rolling cliches -- but the old-school British haunted house movie starring Daniel Radcliffe is enough of a crowd pleaser. See It or Skip It: See it. (Also Available on Redbox DVD & Blu-ray | Amazon Instant Video ) New to Blu-ray In addition, to "Arrietty," two Studio Ghibli films are released on Blu-ray for the first time. "Castle in the Sky" is a dazzling fantasy adventure, involving pirates, magic crystals and young heroes, set in a sky-bound world. "Whisper of the Heart" is a sweet summer romance concerning an adorable bookworm who gets separated from the object of her affection and vows to write a grand fantasy novel before he returns. New to Redbox "Contraband" DVD & Blu-ray "Pariah"