Features
A double feature this morning and afternoon will keep me away from the computer for a spell, but stay tuned for an interview with Sharlto Copley either later today or tomorrow. I got a few minutes with the “District 9” star yesterday and am anxious to dig into the quotes. Sharp guy, caught in the […]
Entries from July 2009
Sharlto at the Four Seasons
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:11 am · July 29th, 2009
Filed in: Daily
Sandler grows up in ‘Funny People’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:32 am · July 29th, 2009
I caught up with Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” last night, and the knee-jerk reaction was that the writer/director was close…oh so close. The film isn’t a failure but is an intriguing miss nonetheless, a reminder that while Apatow seems quite qualified to tell a story with these particular layers, he might have better served the […]
Filed in: Daily
‘The Burning Plain’ poster
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:29 am · July 29th, 2009
(Courtesy: Collider)
Filed in: Daily
‘Toy Story’ and ‘Toy Story 2’ 3D re-release trailers
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:25 am · July 29th, 2009
Filed in: Daily
7/29 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:23 am · July 29th, 2009
• Quentin Tarantino set to raise funds with special Chi-town screening of “Inglourious Basterds.” [Chicago Tribune] • Andrew O’Hehir on the lawsuit that could derailed the “Hobbit” adaptation. [Beyond the Multiplex] • In a tight economy, how do you decide what films deserve your hard-earned cash? [The Guardian]
Filed in: Daily
‘Green Zone’ also pushed to 2010
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:22 pm · July 28th, 2009
This Universal announcement isn’t as unexpected as the last one, since it’s been somewhat in the air for a while now, but Chad reminds us that Paul Greengrass’s “Green Zone” has landed a March 2010 release date, taking it out of this year’s Oscar race and leaving the studio with two summer hopefuls: Michael Mann’s […]
Filed in: Daily
‘The Wolf Man’ moves to 2010
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:45 pm · July 28th, 2009
This is kind of a bummer. I was actually really looking forward to “The Wolf Man,” starring Benicio Del Toro in the classic monster role and sure to be a showcase for makeup artist Rick Baker (not to mention design heads Rick Heinrichs and Milena Canonero. Today we get this, courtesy of ShockTillYouDrop.com: You’ll have […]
Filed in: Daily
Focus’s ‘Boat’ gets a new title: ‘Pirate Radio’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:11 am · July 28th, 2009
A few weeks ago we learned that the folks at Focus Features would be re-editing Richard Curtis’s “The Boat That Rocked” for U.S. shores in an effort to whip the project, which didn’t fare well with critics across the pond, into more profitable shape. Now I’m hearing the title is also getting a change, to […]
Filed in: Daily
Herzog, Moore, Coens plan a stop at TIFF
Posted by John Foote · 11:05 am · July 28th, 2009
Some exciting announcements out of Toronto today (still no “Road”). The festival is shaping up to be very, very cool this year. The film I am most excited about, announced today, is Werner Herzog’s remake “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” with Nicolas Cage in the role that Harvey Keitel made legendary. No in […]
Filed in: Daily
Sony Classics to distribute Yimou’s ‘Blood Simple’ remake
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:12 am · July 28th, 2009
Director Zhang Yimou’s decision to remake the Coen brothers’ neo-noir modern classic “Blood Simple” is one of the more captivating film-related announcements in recent years. Today we learn that Sony Pictures Classics, which has been in the Yimou business since 1991’s “Raise the Red Lantern,” will distribute the currently untitled film. The press release, in […]
Filed in: Daily
SHORT TAKE: “Julie & Julia” (***1/2)
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:14 am · July 28th, 2009
It’s probably a little cliche to lead a review of Nora Ephron’s “Julie & Julia” with a phrase like “I’m not wired for movies like this.” It ends up being a back-handed compliment to the film and doesn’t exactly illuminate why it’s a successful piece of work, but that is, nevertheless, the first thought that […]
Filed in: Reviews
7/28 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:56 am · July 28th, 2009
• Whoa. Remember Anna Chlumsky? [CNN] • Do “Antichrist” and “The Proposal” peddle outdated views of women? [The Guardian] • Roger Ebert talks at length with “Funny People” director Judd Apatow. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Filed in: Daily
Is “‘Avatar’ Day” a canny move to dampen expectations?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:36 pm · July 27th, 2009
When James Cameron unveiled 25 minutes of his forthcoming film “Avatar” to Comic-Con crowds last week, the reaction was pretty solid. But there were those who were quick to tone down the ecstasy, and with due cause. While the footage was awe-inspiring and, to this viewer’s mind, quite indicative of where the medium is going, […]
Filed in: Daily
Anderson’s ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ to open London Film Festival
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:59 pm · July 27th, 2009
As the London Film Festival grows in scale and stature by the year, its opening film becomes an ever bigger deal. Last year, they scored a massive coup by kicking off with the world premiere of “Frost/Nixon,” and I’m pleased to report that they’ve maintained that standard by landing Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” to […]
Filed in: Daily
The long haul
Posted by Guy Lodge · 12:56 pm · July 27th, 2009
ScreenDaily editor Mike Goodridge raises a topic that has provoked more than a few grumbles this season: the inordinate length of some of Hollywood’s biggest summer releases. I’m not someone who automatically whines whenever a film pushes the 150-minute mark. Some films warrant that heft, and it’s not always directly related to the scale of […]
Filed in: Daily
Shutter Fear
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:06 pm · July 27th, 2009
Anthony B. mentioned the similarities between the “Cape Fear’ and “Shutter Island” posters last week, so I thought I’d toss this up now that Comic-Con craziness has subsided. Intriguing parallels:
Filed in: Daily
Kevin Smith talks ‘Twilight’ at Comic-Con
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:41 am · July 27th, 2009
One of my favorite parts of Kevin Smith’s Saturday Comic-Con appearance was his take on the “Twilight” series, video of which Dennis over at Think Hero has dug up and passed along. Great stuff (originally at ScreenCrave.com):
Filed in: Daily
Hackford takes over as DGA president
Posted by Guy Lodge · 11:08 am · July 27th, 2009
Congratulations to Taylor Hackford, who was elected this weekend as president of the Directors Guild of America. He takes over from Michael Apted, who has held the position since 2003. Hackford ran unopposed after being nominated by Steven Soderbergh — who in turn retains his vice-president position. Here’s Hackford’s statement, via Variety: This Guild has […]
Filed in: Daily
Archives
