Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Leonardo DiCaprio Finally Voices an Animated Character: Jack Frosthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/03/leonardo-dicaprio-jack-frost/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/03/leonardo-dicaprio-jack-frost/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/03/leonardo-dicaprio-jack-frost/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's hard to believe that after so many years being one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars, Leonardo DiCaprio had never lent his voice for an animated film. Alas, in these times where studios still think A-list names sell tickets, even when you can't see their pretty faces, it was only a matter of time before Leo went before the microphone to speak for a cartoon character. He'll be heard as the voice of Jack Frost in DreamWorks Animation's The Guardians, based on the upcoming series of books by children's author William Joyce (A Day with Wilbur Robinson, source of Meet the Robinsons).

The computer-animated film will be directed by Peter Ramsey, whose only known credit is the recent Monsters vs. Aliens DVD spin-off Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space. Interestingly enough, The Guardians is also somewhat holiday-related. In addition to Jack Frost, characters include Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, as well as the Tooth Fairy and the Sandman. The plot follows the heroes as they band together to battle the Bogeyman. Why Cupid, Baby New Year and Punxatawney Phil didn't join the group is unclear, but they all seem like weaklings in most depictions, so their reputations may have been a factor.

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]]>david lindsay-abaireDavidLindsay-abairedreamworks animationDreamworksAnimationleonardo dicaprioLeonardoDicapriomonsters vs. aliensMonstersVs.Alienspeter ramseyPeterRamseythe guardiansTheGuardianswilliam joyceWilliamJoyceChristopher CampbellThu, 03 Dec 2009 19:15:00 ESTAnnie Nominations Announced, Still No 3D Categoryhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/annie-nominations-announced-still-no-3d-category/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/annie-nominations-announced-still-no-3d-category/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/annie-nominations-announced-still-no-3d-category/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This has been such a good year for animated films (maybe even the beginning of a golden age) that I've never been more excited or curious about the Annie Awards. The International Animated Film Society has just announced the nominees for their honors, and the fact that Pixar's Up is not necessarily a front-runner only goes to show that animation is in a good place.

Up came in second for number of nominations received, one short of Coraline's ten. Both movies are in contention for the top prize, Best Animated Feature, with slight competition coming from Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, The Secret of Kells and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

The last of those titles is the one that had me most impressed with the state of animation this year. Considering I went into it with some of the lowest expectations I've ever had for a film and came out in love with the very loose children's book adaptation, I've been relatively optimistic about animated films since.

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]]>3Dcloudy with a chance of meatballsCloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballscoralinefantastic mr. foxFantasticMr.Foxkung fu pandaKungFuPandapixarpixar upPixarUpthe princess and the frogthe secret of kellsThePrincessAndTheFrogTheSecretOfKellsupwall-eChristopher CampbellWed, 02 Dec 2009 15:28:00 ESTDreamWorks Puts 'Real Steel' In Their Ringhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/dreamworks-puts-real-steel-in-their-ring/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/dreamworks-puts-real-steel-in-their-ring/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/dreamworks-puts-real-steel-in-their-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

If you held out faint hope that Hugh Jackman wouldn't be helping Shawn Levy box robots, and would abandon it for a feature film adaptation of A Steady Rain, kiss it goodbye now. Variety reports that DreamWorks' Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider have green-lit Real Steel, making it the studio's first big financial project since it split with Paramount, and had to find its own money.

Spielberg was attached to the project as executive producer when it was first announced, and it seems that it's been a real passion project for him. DreamWorks bought the project back in 2005, and it was one of the films they held onto after splitting from Paramount. "When we took it with us, we really highlighted it as something we would put the pedal to metal on," said DreamWorks co-president of production Mark Sourian. "It's a project that Steven always wanted to do. It just came together rapidly after we left Paramount." The film will be made for the relatively low budget of $80 million, and will begin production next June.

With a low budget to avoid Transformers excess, perhaps the magic of Spielberg and Richard Matheson can overcome the kiddie tendencies of Shawn Levy, and turn it into something special. A lot of commenters mentioned that Matheson's story was adapted into an episode of the Twilight Zone called Steel. Happily, it's online and I've embedded it below the jump. It really is a good episode, and while Levy keeps stressing that his Real Steel is grounded in its "father-son relationship," I hope it can retain a bit of Matheson's grit. I could be happy with a robot version of Million Dollar Baby.


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]]>DreamWorkshugh jackmanHughJackmanparamountreal steelRealSteelRichard MathesonRichardMathesonShawn LevyShawnLevysteven spielbergStevenSpielbergTwilight ZoneTwilightZoneElisabeth RappeTue, 24 Nov 2009 09:03:00 ESTDreamWorks Shows Off 'How to Train Your Dragon'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/dreamworks-shows-off-how-to-train-your-dragon/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/dreamworks-shows-off-how-to-train-your-dragon/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/dreamworks-shows-off-how-to-train-your-dragon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon has been on my radar due to its literary roots (it's based on a 2003 book by Cressida Cowell) and its large and charming cast. But we all know that doesn't necessarily make a memorable animated movie. Too many kid flicks end up flimsy, and feel like extended fast food commercials. I figured Dragon would be one of them.

Happily, I might be wrong. A surprisingly charming trailer for Dragon has debuted at Yahoo! Movies. While I'm an easy mark thanks to a weakness for Scottish accents and Viking villages, the trailer is refreshingly free of Shrek's self-conscious hipness . Why, there's barely any snark to be found! It's all about a gentle lad (you'll recognize the voice of Jay Baruchel immediately) and the most adorable dragon you've ever seen. His limpid eyes and froggy mouth immediately makes the Viking-on-dragon violence rather horrific, and may cause you to feel hatred towards the brogue of Gerard Butler. (I know, I didn't think it was possible either.) Plus, there's a young Viking lass who wields an axe! If this could inspire a few girls to don Viking berserker costumes next Halloween, I will praise it no matter what its flaws and Burger King tie-ins.

The trailer is below the jump thanks to an embed from Yahoo! Movies. Watch it, share your thoughts, and squee over that squishy dragon. If there's a plush version that has that skeptical expression, I want it for my desk.

Continue reading DreamWorks Shows Off 'How to Train Your Dragon'

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]]>america ferreraAmericaFerrerachristopher mintz-plasseChristopherMintz-plassecraig fergusonCraigFergusonDreamWorksGerard ButlerGerardButlerHow to Train Your DragonHowToTrainYourDragonJay BaruchelJayBarucheljonah hillJonahHillPeter HastingsPeterHastingsElisabeth RappeTue, 03 Nov 2009 16:32:00 ESTWho Should Play The Major in The Live-Action 'Ghost in The Shell'?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/23/who-should-play-the-major-in-the-live-action-ghost-in-the-shell/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/23/who-should-play-the-major-in-the-live-action-ghost-in-the-shell/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/23/who-should-play-the-major-in-the-live-action-ghost-in-the-shell/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

There has been talk of a live action Ghost in The Shell for some time now, and while I knew that a US remake was probably inevitable, there was still a small part of me that thought that maybe this time, we would be spared another inferior North American 're-imagining' of a pretty spectacular anime. But I guess I'm not that lucky, because Variety is now reporting that Dreamworks has just hired Laeta Kalogridis (Shutter Island) to adapt the manga for a live action 3D film, bring the film that much closer to reality.

Street Kings writer, Jamie Moss, had originally been hired to write the story of "...the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime." But I guess Dreamworks wasn't thrilled with the final result, because now Moss is out and Kalogridis is in.

Details about the film are still pretty scarce, and there are plenty of things to decide on, but maybe the most important detail will be casting. The story of GITS is a strange and complicated one, but it all hinges on The Major. It will be crucial to find the right actress for the role if this film has a hope in hell of succeeding -- so I thought I would have a little fun and make a few suggestions to who I think could rock the Thermoptic Camouflage.

After the jump; Five ladies I think could be Major Motoko Kusanagi...

Continue reading Who Should Play The Major in The Live-Action 'Ghost in The Shell'?

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]]>animecharlize theronCharlizeTheronghost in the shellGhostInTheShelllaeta kalogridisLaetaKalogridisLena HeadeyLenaHeadeyMaggie QMaggieQmangaMilla JovovichMillaJovovichJessica BarnesFri, 23 Oct 2009 20:03:00 ESTHugh Jackman Has 'Real Steel'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/01/hugh-jackman-has-real-steel/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/01/hugh-jackman-has-real-steel/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/01/hugh-jackman-has-real-steel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

I would love to see Hugh Jackman in a boxing movie. It seems like he's long past due for one given his physical prowess, and he'd be a good fit for a Cinderella Man sort of tale. Unfortunately, he's decided to pursue the sport through robots and Shawn Levy, as Variety reports that he's in line for Real Steel.

Based on a story by Richard Matheson, Real Steel is probably best described as Rocky meets Wall-E and The Iron Giant. Jackman plays a professional boxer who has to hang up the gloves, and rearranges his life when human boxers are replaced by 2000 pound robots. Our obsolete fighter tries to go with the flow, and becomes a Robot Boxing promoter, but success constantly eludes him because all he can afford are crappy robot parts. Then one day, he discovers a discarded robot who has a distinct gift for winning. Wouldn't you know it, the ex-fighter also discovers he's the father of a 13 year old son, and they bond as their scrappy robot fights his way to the championship.

There's not going to be a lot of surprises with Real Steel (they'll be misfits who find each other, and build a family), and Levy's track record isn't particularly promising. Nor is Hollywood particularly good at adapting Matheson's work to the big screen. But with Steven Spielberg as executive producer (a job which reunites him distantly with Matheson), there might be some hope. Not much, but some. I really wish Jackman would take some time and pick another film like The Prestige or The Fountain, and steer clear of the goofy popcorn concepts.

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]]>DreamWorksfeaturedHugh JackmanHughJackmanReal SteelRealSteelRichard MathesonRichardMathesonShawn LevyShawnLevySteven SpielbergStevenSpielbergElisabeth RappeThu, 01 Oct 2009 10:45:00 ESTSteven Spielberg Is Broadway Boundhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/23/steven-spielberg-is-broadway-bound/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/23/steven-spielberg-is-broadway-bound/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/23/steven-spielberg-is-broadway-bound/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Famed director Steven Spielberg has made lots of different kinds of movies over the years. He's dabbled in sci-fi, comedy, period pieces, kid's flicks -- you name it, he's made it. But one genre he's never touched is maybe the hardest of them all: the musical. Well, that's about to change, because Variety reports the director is working with Showtime to develop a behind the scenes series about a musical Broadway show. Spielberg has reportedly been developing the series for years now, and has now handpicked his team for a deal with Showtime.

The series is still in development, but what is known is that the show will center on "a behind-the-scenes look at every aspect of launching a tuner, from penning the songs to recruiting investors." There are also plans to mount an actual Broadway show once the season finishes on Showtime.

According to Variety, Spielberg is counting on the series having the legs to go for at least a few seasons and center on different productions each season. Personally, I love pulling back the curtain on anything to do with the world of entertainment, and there is no shortage of stories to choose from considering the entertainment business is packed with some wild characters. So what do you think? I know I'm sold on the idea -- how about you?

After the jump: some of my favorite behind-the-scenes musicals...

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]]>BroadwaycableDreamworksfeaturedMarc ShaimanMarcShaimanmusicalShowtimeSteven SpielbergStevenSpielbergtvUnited States of TaraUnitedStatesOfTaraJessica BarnesWed, 23 Sep 2009 16:02:00 ESTMatt Damon and Clint Eastwood Visit 'Hereafter'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/18/matt-damon-and-clint-eastwood-visit-hereafter/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/18/matt-damon-and-clint-eastwood-visit-hereafter/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/18/matt-damon-and-clint-eastwood-visit-hereafter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Once Clint Eastwood casts you in a movie, you're his friend for life and you'll probably enjoy a steady supply of work until the terrible day he decides to retire. (If I was a young actor at Warner Bros, I would just happen to walk by his office with bagels and coffee, just in case he was hungry and casting.) Thus, it's almost no surprise that Eastwood's next film will share the same leading man as his last. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Matt Damon, soon to be seen in Eastwood's Invictus, will take the lead in Hereafter.

The plot of Hereafter is being kept under tight, tight wraps. All anyone knows about it is that it boasts a script by Peter Morgan and is "a supernatural thriller in the vein of The Sixth Sense." (Movieline, though, snagged a copy of the script and offered up some more details, including the following: "After two tense set pieces that leave its main characters changed forever, the film becomes a quiet drama about three people trying to figure out what, if anything, exists after death." Oh, and Matt Damon sees dead people.)

It's also being executive produced by DreamWorks and Steven Spielberg. They were the original owners of Morgan's spec script, but happily handed it to over to Eastwood and Warner Bros, with Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy staying on as executive producers. It'll be the fourth film Spielberg and Eastwood shared producing credits on. (The others are The Bridges of Madison County, Flags of Our Fathers, and Letters from Iwo Jima. You might need that for a trivia contest someday.)

Continue reading Matt Damon and Clint Eastwood Visit 'Hereafter'

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]]>clint eastwoodClintEastwoodfeaturedHereaftermatt damonMattDamonpeter morganPeterMorganSteven SpielbergStevenSpielbergWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeFri, 18 Sep 2009 10:45:00 ESTSteven Spielberg Promises He Will Elect Lincolnhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/steven-spielberg-promises-he-will-elect-lincoln/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/steven-spielberg-promises-he-will-elect-lincoln/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/steven-spielberg-promises-he-will-elect-lincoln/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I didn't read a single story relaying Robert Redford's The Conspirator casting that didn't mention Steven Spielberg's long delayed Lincoln biopic. Apparently, Variety and Spielberg didn't either, because the director came out to assure everyone that the Civil War was still on.

As Spielberg and history buffs know, he's been trying to get a biopic off the ground for years, with Liam Neeson tapped to play the president. Neeson has supposedly spent years researching the part with every book he can get his hands on. It seemed close to happening last spring, but stalled due to budget and location problems. (That should put filmmaking into perspective a little bit. If Spielberg can't get a film financed, who can?) He's now focusing his energy on his reimagining of Harvey while Tony Kushner revises the Lincoln script.

But Redford's Lincoln-themed film doesn't daunt Spielberg, as well it shouldn't. It's not really a Lincoln film, as it deals with the aftermath of his assassination. That's a topic in and of itself, which is exactly how the director is shrugging off any hints of competition. "We are very happy that Redford will be doing this Lincoln movie. It is completely different from what our DreamWorks Lincoln movie will be, and we believe that it will add to the commercial potential of our film. Lincoln as a subject is inexhaustible." Just don't make us (or Neeson) wait too much longer, Mr. Spielberg. Please?




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]]>featuredLiam NeesonLiamNeesonLincoln biopicLincolnBiopicMary SurrattMarySurrattrobert redfordRobertRedfordsteven spielbergStevenSpielbergThe Civil Warthe conspiratorTheCivilWarTheConspiratorTony KushnerTonyKushnerElisabeth RappeTue, 15 Sep 2009 11:02:00 ESTJon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. Team Up For 'Cowboys & Aliens'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/01/jon-favreau-and-robert-downey-jr-team-up-for-cowboys-and-aliens/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/01/jon-favreau-and-robert-downey-jr-team-up-for-cowboys-and-aliens/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/01/jon-favreau-and-robert-downey-jr-team-up-for-cowboys-and-aliens/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I really believe this is the best geek news we'll have all month. Not only is Robert Downey Jr. officially on board Cowboys & Aliens, The Hollywood Reporter announced that he's bringing Jon Favreau along for the ride. Considering the original screenplay was penned by Iron Man screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, it's literally a dream team come true.

As if it wasn't touched by the movie gods enough, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, they-who-can-write-no-failures, are penning the script, and producer Damon Lindelof came aboard last fall. There's no way this can fail. Even if the movie was one big trick, and simply 2 hours of Robert Downey Jr. in a cowboy hat reading a phone book, it would succeed. We would just call it arthouse, and praise them all for subverting our expectations!

But there's no danger of arthouse here, Cowboys & Aliens really does promise to be pure fun with this team. The story takes place in 1880s Arizona, where a war is raging between settlers and Native Americans. Their war is interrupted by the arrival of a UFO, which promptly unleashes hell onto the plains of Silver City. The Native Americans and settlers must unite to fight a larger threat, and are led to battle by Zeke Jackson (Downey), a gunslinger and former member of the Union Army. You can read the entire graphic novel online, which should keep you satisfied until Cowboys & Aliens hits theaters in the summer of 2011.

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]]>Alex KurtzmanAlexKurtzmanCowboys AliensCowboys and AliensCowboysAliensCowboysAndAliensdamon lindelofDamonLindelofDreamWorkshawk ostbyHawkOstbyJon FavreauJonFavreauMark FergusMarkFergusrobert downey jr.RobertDowneyJr.Roberto OrciRobertoOrciElisabeth RappeTue, 01 Sep 2009 22:02:00 ESTGough and Millar Scripting 'I Am Number Four' for Michael Bayhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/al-gough-and-miles-millar-scripting-i-am-number-four-for-micha/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/al-gough-and-miles-millar-scripting-i-am-number-four-for-micha/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/al-gough-and-miles-millar-scripting-i-am-number-four-for-micha/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Even Michael Bay needs a break from explosions, robots, and Megan Fox. As Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was demolishing the box office, DreamWorks and Bay bought up the rights to James Frey's I Am Number 4. Variety now reports that they've secured the rights, and have now set Alfred Gough and Miles Millar to work on penning the script. Bay is attached as producer, but is still dancing around the idea of directing the film for DreamWorks.

I Am Number 4 is the first book in a series of six. It's centered around a group of nine aliens who flee their destroyed planet, and crash on Earth. They disguise themselves as teenagers (of course -- why would you be a supermodel or a sports star when you could go back to high school?), and Number 4 realizes they are still being hunted by those who destroyed their homeworld. There's some dashes of the television show Roswell there, and probably a few dozen other sci-fi teen tales.

The teen-out-of-water story of Number 4 is familiar territory for Millar and Gough, who are probably best known for their stint on Smallville, though they also had a hand in Spider-Man 2. What I find the most remarkable about is the continued success of Frey. Who says lying about your memoirs will damage your writing career and option prospects? This is America, baby!

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]]>al goughAlGoughDreamWorksi am number fourIAmNumberFourJames FreyJamesFreyMichael BayMichaelBaymiles millarMilesMillarElisabeth RappeThu, 27 Aug 2009 11:45:00 ESTSteven Spielberg Setting Sail With Michael Crichton's 'Pirates'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/steven-spielberg-pirates/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/steven-spielberg-pirates/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/steven-spielberg-pirates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Steven Spielberg is going to need a bigger boat -- a much, much bigger boat. He's leaving this shore, sailing away to 17th century Jamaica for one last adventure with the late Michael Crichton. USA Today reports that DreamWorks has bought the rights to Crichton's posthumous novel, Pirate Latitudes, and has hired screenwriter David Koepp to develop it into a film. Spielberg is producing, but plans on directing, though nothing has been scheduled until the script is completed.

While it's a bittersweet reunion, it's one that's sheer luck and coincidence according to DreamWorks' co-chair and CEO Stacey Snider. "Anything that Michael wrote, Steven would be keenly interested to read. But without Michael knowing it, or even me knowing it, it turns out Steven always wanted to direct his own pirate film." Not surprisingly, Spielberg already is coolly confident in Pirate Latitudes. "Michael wrote a real page-turner that already seems suited for the big screen. Michael and I have had almost two decades of solid collaborations. Whenever I made a film from a Michael Crichton book or screenplay, I knew I was in good hands. Michael felt the same, and we like to think he still does."

Pirate Latitudes doesn't hit store shelves until November 24, so plot details are relatively scarce. But this isn't going to be a tale of undead pirates and squid-faced Davey Jones like Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. Latitudes is a semi-historical tale of piracy that takes place in 1665. Its star is the dashing Captain Edward Hunter, who infiltrates the notorious Port Royal, and plans to raid a Spanish galleon loaded with treasure. Cue the cannons and swashbuckling, though it sounds as though Spielberg plans to load it up with lots of grimy, historical details.

Continue reading Steven Spielberg Setting Sail With Michael Crichton's 'Pirates'

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]]>david koeppDavidKoeppDreamWorksfeaturedmichael crichtonMichaelCrichtonPirate LatitudesPirateLatitudesStacey SniderStaceySnidersteven spielbergStevenSpielbergElisabeth RappeThu, 27 Aug 2009 09:03:00 ESTRelease Date Shuffle: Scorsese Out, Zombies In, Mr. Fox Takes It Slowhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/23/release-date-shuffle-scorsese-out-zombies-in/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/23/release-date-shuffle-scorsese-out-zombies-in/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/23/release-date-shuffle-scorsese-out-zombies-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So in the midst of all the Avatar hullabaloo, we haven't yet addressed the major move on Friday of Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island from this October 2nd to next February. Considering the negative connotations that tend to come with most films pushed back, many were quick to defend the move as a savvy business strategy for a pulpy-looking film that wasn't a primary contender all along.

Fair enough. Plenty of studios made major shuffles to deal with post-strike gaps (Harry Potter, anyone?), and now they're concerned about being more fiscally responsible with what's to come. As THR's Steven Zeitchik pointed out, Paramount/Dreamworks already has two front-runners to work with between Up in the Air and The Lovely Bones, and somewhere between the reportedly sharp comedy and the prestige-heavy drama, a distinctly genre work like a Leonardo DiCaprio thriller does seem a bit like the odd man out.

In the wake of the move, two comedies -- Zombieland and Whip It -- have moved up their own October release dates to fill the void, and if there's any justice, we'll see Woody Harrelson accept a blood-splattered Oscar in DiCaprio's stead. And if Coming Soon and Box Office Mojo are to be believed, Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox will now get a limited release on November 13th before going wide on the 25th, where I suspect it will still get crushed by the likes of Old Dogs across the Thanksgiving stretch. Pity.

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]]>leonardo dicaprioLeonardoDicapriomartin scorseseMartinScorseseshutter islandShutterIslandthe lovely bonesTheLovelyBonesup in the airUpInTheAirwhip itWhipItzombielandWilliam GossSun, 23 Aug 2009 15:02:00 ESTMovies I Will Never See: 'Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/11/movies-i-will-never-see-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/11/movies-i-will-never-see-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/11/movies-i-will-never-see-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



(Welcome to a brand new feature here on Cinematical, where members of our staff will write about films that, for one reason or another, they'll never watch. Which movies do you refuse to see? Here's Jessica with her reasons why she'll never watch Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.)

I've got an open mind when it comes to going to the movies. If I have a hankering to watch a movie, there's very little that a critic or fan can do to dissuade me from shelling out my hard earned dollars. But every once in a while there's a film that even I can't bring myself to watch, and Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen is one of those movies. Now, usually when I avoid watching a film, it's because I'm just not that interested in the actual movie (you know, things like story, genre, stars, etc.). But my reluctance to watch Revenge of The Fallen went way beyond indifference and into a whole new realm of 'taking a stand'.

Just to be clear, I saw the first Transformers flick and it was forgettable, but it wasn't all bad. Cut to two years later, and the new trailers for Fallen had me thinking: "Well, this certainly looks better than the last time" and I had every intention of spending an afternoon with giant robots kicking the crap out of each other. But then I saw Bay's ShoWest footage, which consisted of a crying Bumblebee living in Sam's garage while Fox stripped for no reason whatsoever ... and that was only the beginning. By the time Fallen had hit theaters I knew there was no way in hell this movie was going to get my money or my time.

After the jump: the top three reasons I will never see Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen...

Continue reading Movies I Will Never See: 'Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen'

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]]>Megan FoxMeganFoxMichael BayMichaelBayMovies I Will Never SeeMoviesIWillNeverSeeracismsexistshia labeoufShiaLabeouftransformerstransformers 2Transformers2Jessica BarnesTue, 11 Aug 2009 20:32:00 ESTTrailer for Peter Jackson's 'Lovely Bones' Looks Lovely Indeedhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/05/trailer-for-peter-jacksons-lovely-bones-looks-lovely-indeed/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/05/trailer-for-peter-jacksons-lovely-bones-looks-lovely-indeed/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/05/trailer-for-peter-jacksons-lovely-bones-looks-lovely-indeed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Okay, so I might've just knocked Sandra Bullock for going after the Oscar gold, but here's The Lovely Bones, with a story I can get behind (Alice Sebold's best-selling tale of a young girl murdered and the aftermath she observes from the afterlife), a filmmaker I can get behind (Peter Jackson, scaling things back post-Lord of the Rings), an ensemble* I can get behind (Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, and the critically-cast Saoirse Ronan), and now a trailer I can get behind.

Reading the novel earlier this year, I was struck by the simplest moments that captures almost too precisely how grief can change loved ones most unexpectedly, and while it seems that Jackson has certainly created a visually luscious realm for Ronan's character to inhabit and has retained the thrust of a somewhat supernatural murder mystery, part of what won me over was how Sebold's mystery took years to unfold, as the whole family comes to terms with the closure (or lack thereof) in their own personal ways.

If Jackson and company can balance the sprawling drama with the inherent whodunit (whydunit?) come December 11th, then The Lovely Bones could be lingering above all of the other contenders this coming awards season.

*I must confess a certain gratitude that Wahlberg replaced Ryan Gosling here. It's enough of an age difference to matter, let alone general temperament.

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]]>alice seboldAliceSeboldfeaturedmark wahlbergMarkWahlbergpeter jacksonPeterJacksonrachel weiszRachelWeiszsaoirse ronanSaoirseRonanstanley tucciStanleyTuccisusan sarandonSusanSarandonthe lovely bonesTheLovelyBonesWilliam GossWed, 05 Aug 2009 09:02:00 ESTSpielberg's Next: 'Harvey.' Yes, That Onehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/02/spielbergs-next-harvey-yes-that-one/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/02/spielbergs-next-harvey-yes-that-one/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/02/spielbergs-next-harvey-yes-that-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Steven SpielbergNext stop for the world's greatest director: another remake. Steven Spielberg may or may not be the world's "greatest" director, but he is arguably the most influential filmmaker of his generation, so when he commits to make a movie, attention must be paid. Spielberg's next film will not be Matt Helm or any of the other ones that Elisabeth listed for us just a couple of days ago. No it will be ... Harvey, according to Variety. Yes, the one about the invisible rabbit.

The article describes the project as an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1944 play by Mary Chase, but we all know the story better from the 1950 film starring James Stewart and his constant companion, a very tall rabbit named Harvey that no one else can see. Casting and pre-production will begin immediately, and filming is expected to begin in early 2010. Harvey will be a co-production between 20th Century and Dreamworks, with 50% financing provided by Reliance, the new financial backer of Dreamworks. With that kind of schedule, it sounds like the film may be aiming for theaters in Christmas 2010, though no release date has been announced.

The original film was charming almost despite itself, in large measure due to James Stewart's amiable personality and a heartwarming message well-suited for the time. Novelist Jonathan Tropper (This is Where I Leave You) has written the new adaptation. My concern for the project is Spielberg's past tendency to drip too much sentiment on certain sequences (i.e. the ending of War of the Worlds), to the detriment of the material. The other concern: who is this generation's James Stewart? What do you think of the project, and who do you think could play the part?

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]]>featuredharveyjames stewartJamesStewartjonathan tropperJonathanTroppermary chaseMaryChasesteven spielbergStevenSpielbergPeter MartinSun, 02 Aug 2009 17:33:00 ESTSteven Spielberg Might Make 'Matt Helm' Nexthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/30/steven-spielberg-might-make-matt-helm-next/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/30/steven-spielberg-might-make-matt-helm-next/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/30/steven-spielberg-might-make-matt-helm-next/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The pre-production plate of Steven Spielberg grows ever larger, and as we wait for him to tackle that long delayed Abraham Lincoln biopic, he's cracking a fifth Indiana Jones,
looking for 39 Clues, pondering a Martin Luther King Jr. biopic, and annoying people with his Oldboy remake. Now he's lined up yet another possible directing gig as Variety reports that he might just go good and undercover with Matt Helm.

Now, you can't get any classier than Matt Helm. He's the leading man of Donald Hamilton's novels, and starred in 27 books of sheer badassery. A U.S. counter-agent, Helm didn't bother too much with the spying and espionage stuff, but just put himself into the right situations to kill people. He's grim and ruthless, with no time for love, and gives Bond and Bourne a run for their money. He's ripe for cinematic reinvention too, as Helm came to the big screen as a goofy, campy, wisecracking spy played by Dean Martin.

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]]>Dean MartinDeanMartinDonald HamiltonDonaldHamiltonDreamWorksfeaturedMatt HelmMattHelmparamountsteven spielbergStevenSpielbergElisabeth RappeThu, 30 Jul 2009 09:03:00 ESTCinematical Seven: Creepy Kids on Filmhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/23/cinematical-seven-creepy-kids-on-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/23/cinematical-seven-creepy-kids-on-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/23/cinematical-seven-creepy-kids-on-film/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



Okay, so I've never been much for the company of kids. which may make me extra-susceptible when it comes to the evil deeds and manipulations of a perfectly precious child on-screen. It's an easy button to push, though -- after all, who would ever suspect, let alone harm a vengeful little moppet?

None of that appeal escapes tomorrow's release, Orphan, and it certainly isn't the first time that horror and horseplay have mixed on film. While I'm tempted to include that little girl from [REC] (and also Quarantine, I suppose) for giving me the willies, I won't because she wasn't the chief antagonist, and the only reason I'm leaving Children of the Corn off the list is, well, I haven't actually seen that yet. And although it doesn't hit Stateside shelves until this October, keep an eye out for the very tense import, The Children.

But worry not: even with the exceptions, there's certainly no shortage of other brats to choose from.

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]]>adrian pasdarAdrianPasdarbirthcameron brightCameronBrightchildren of the cornChildrenOfTheCornchristopher denhamChristopherDenhamcreepy kidsCreepyKidseden lakeEdenLakeelijah woodElijahWoodevil childrenevil kidsEvilChildrenEvilKidsgodsendhome movieHomeMoviejacob koganJacobKoganjoshuamacaulay culkinMacaulayCulkinorphanpatty mccormackPattyMccormackquarantinerec dvdRecDvdsam rockwellSamRockwellscary movie 3ScaryMovie3the bad seedthe good sonthe omenthe ringTheBadSeedTheGoodSonTheOmenTheRingvera farmigaVeraFarmigavillage of the damnedVillageOfTheDamnedWilliam GossThu, 23 Jul 2009 23:02:00 EST'The Lovely Bones' Has a Blank Posterhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/08/the-lovely-bones-has-a-blank-poster/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/08/the-lovely-bones-has-a-blank-poster/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/08/the-lovely-bones-has-a-blank-poster/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,



A bland teaser poster for The Lovely Bones has appeared on Film1 and, well, it's just not that exciting. No worries, though, this was only used to tease the film during an international trade show (CinemaExpo to be exact) -- hence the 2010 release date (it arrives stateside on December 11, 2009). But with the film due out this winter it's surprising that there's still so very little to go on.

Bones has been dogged by bad rumors from day one. Mark Wahlberg replaced Ryan Gosling in very short order, and Susan Sarandon had issues with her role as Grandma Lynn. Flicks.co.nz reported that production shut down as Peter Jackson and art director disagreed over how to best portray Heaven, a story that was later denied by DreamWorks and Paramount. The rumor machine really went into overdrive when the release date of the film was delayed by six months, but the studio also brushed off any concerns, assuring the world they had always intended to release the film December 11, 2009 ... just in time for awards consideration.

But hey, now you have a poster to go with those initial images, and it's the kind of marketing you can project all your wishes onto. You can read its blankness as a sign of a disorganized production that doesn't have its poster art sorted. You can read it as a sign that they're keeping it under wraps because it's something very special. Maybe you see your own version of heaven there. (Mine is a really good film.) It's all things to all people. Really!

[via Dread Central]

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]]>alice seboldAliceSeboldDreamWorksmark wahlbergMarkWahlbergparamountPeter JacksonPeterJacksonrachel weiszRachelWeiszsaoirse ronanSaoirseRonanstanley tucciStanleyTuccisusan sarandonSusanSarandonThe Lovely BonesTheLovelyBonesElisabeth RappeWed, 08 Jul 2009 11:02:00 ESTSo the View Master Movie Wasn't Just a Twitter Joke...http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/07/the-viewmaster-movie-wasnt-just-a-twitter-joke/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/07/the-viewmaster-movie-wasnt-just-a-twitter-joke/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/07/the-viewmaster-movie-wasnt-just-a-twitter-joke/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Tales of a Viewmaster movie have been floating around for a few days now, and I thought it was just the fevered imagination of Twitter. But no. Now it's in The Hollywood Reporter. DreamWorks is talking to Mattel to acquire the rights to the toy, and has asked Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci "to do some Transformers-style magic on it."

The reason I thought it was a Twitter joke is that Brad Caleb Kane announced via 140 characters that he was penning the script. "It'll be like the old '80s Amblin movies: Goonies, Young Sherlock ... in that vein." The Tweet was subsequently deleted, though the plan is still in the works. DreamWorks really wants to make a family friendly film out of the ViewMaster, and is trying to get everything signed and official. Let's stress that -- it's not signed, and Kurtzman and Orci seem to be the deciding factor. One can hope that if they declare it to be ridiculous, DreamWorks will come to its senses and realize you cannot make a film out of an inanimate object. I mean hey, I loved the ViewMaster too, and I felt like I was transported into a magic film cell world, but it doesn't mean it can actually be a movie.

Besides, the ViewMaster already tried to make it onscreen in the 1980s, and failed. Go below the jump and remind the toy it's just not ready to be a feature after this performance.

Continue reading So the View Master Movie Wasn't Just a Twitter Joke...

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]]>alex kurtzmanAlexKurtzmanBrad Caleb KaneBradCalebKaneDreamWorksMattelroberto orciRobertoOrciViewMasterElisabeth RappeTue, 07 Jul 2009 09:03:00 EST