Features
At Comic-Con, director Guillermo Del Toro announced that one of his next projects would be a remake of Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion.” Del Toro would be co-writing and producing, though, not directing (and boy did that news get a split reaction from movie-goers). He said his next directorial gig would be announced shortly, and today, […]
Del Toro, Cameron to take on Lovecraft’s ‘Madness’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:59 pm · July 28th, 2010
Filed in: Daily
COMIC-CON: Wrapping it up…are we getting through?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:44 pm · July 25th, 2010
My Comic-Con experience ended a bit sooner than I expected this morning when I woke up and decided whatever was on the Sunday docket wasn’t as fetching as a three-hour ride in traffic back to LA. That’s how exhausting the convention was this year. Here’s the thing. We all know Comic-Con and its 125,000-plus attendees […]
Filed in: Daily
COMIC-CON: ‘Scott Pilgrim’ preaches to an enthusiastic choir
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:54 pm · July 25th, 2010
Perhaps the most ubiquitous presence at Comic-Con this year has been Universal’s “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” The film held a traditional panel Thursday evening, was screened three times to audiences including the public, was fully visible with a massive ad on the north side of the Hilton Bayfront and took over the Hilton Gaslamp […]
Filed in: Daily
COMIC-CON: Universal brings ‘Paul’ and ‘Cowboys & Aliens,’ oh my
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:54 pm · July 24th, 2010
With its “Scott Pilgrim” presence already dominating the scene here at Comic-Con, Universal publicity didn’t need to do much else to be top of the nerd mountain this weekend. Then they went and blew the roof off. The studio first offered up a sizzle reel for Greg Mottola’s sci-fi comedy “Paul,” which went over well […]
Filed in: Daily
‘Nottingham’: How a hot script became a forgettable film
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:26 pm · May 16th, 2010
Screenwriter blogs can often reward with a refreshing take on the film industry, even if they are at times flavored by the requisite misanthropy of those of us with visions of slug lines dancing in our heads. Josh Friedman’s I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing was a good read for a time, though it […]
Filed in: Daily
12/10 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:52 am · December 10th, 2009
• John Horn writes up the Hollywood journey of Scott Cooper’s “Crazy Heart.” [Los Angeles Times] • On the flashy opening credits sequence from “Up in the Air” with designer Gareth Smith. [MakingOf] • Anne Thompson re-visists her old haunt, writes up the possibilities for genre play in this year’s expanded Best Picture field. [Variety]
Filed in: Daily
Studio FYC sites on the march
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:32 am · November 11th, 2009
It’s that time of year, when studios roll out their awards-centric websites for films in play. You get screening info, news and notes, reminders of how AMAZING their films are (with critical quotes to back it up), goodies like screenplays and such, etc. It’s a good way to see how wide the net is cast […]
Filed in: Daily
8/3 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:06 am · August 3rd, 2009
• Steven Miessner, the Academy’s white-gloved “keeper of the Oscars,” dead at 48. [USA Today] • Steve Weintraub talks “The Princess and the Frog” with directors Ron Clements and John Musker (at Comic-Con). [Collider] • The unmade films of Stanley Kubrick, including “Foucault’s Pendulum,” “Napoleon” and “Perfume.” [Empire]
Filed in: Daily
WEEKLY WRAP: Festivals, foxes and funny people
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:27 pm · July 31st, 2009
• In the week’s most dramatic news, Universal rather cleared its awards slate by bumping both “The Wolf Man” and Paul Greengrass’s “Green Zone” to 2010. • Against expectations, we were won over by Meryl Streep’s latest bid for that elusive third Oscar, “Julie & Julia.” • The Venice Film Festival unveiled a typically well-planned […]
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
6/22 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:41 am · June 22nd, 2009
• Steve Appleford taps into Spinal Tap, 25 years later. [Los Angeles Times] • Dennis Lim, meanwhile, revisits the “last gasp of an old-fashioned modernism” that is “Last Year at Marienbad.” [Los Angeles Times] • A few of the cinema’s most inspiring, moving and emotional dad moments. [Empire] • John Hiscock talks “Year One” with […]
Filed in: Daily
SonyMount? Universal Mount?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:03 pm · June 15th, 2009
This Reuters item, via Forbes, could be the biggest case of leaping before looking in film journo world this week. And it’s only Monday! Viacom Inc’s Paramount Pictures could merge with Sony Pictures, Universal Studios or another movie studio amid a wave of consolidation in the industry over the next few months, veteran investor Mario […]
Filed in: Daily
Shortest brief ever?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:05 pm · May 13th, 2009
But I’m excited: LOS ANGELES – Martin Scorsese (scor-SAY’-zee) will be telling Frank Sinatra’s life story on film. Universal Pictures says the Academy Award-winning filmmaker will direct “Sinatra,” the first feature film about Ol’ Blue Eyes‘ life. Source: AP. Love the pronunciation key.
Filed in: Daily
2/9 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:02 am · February 9th, 2009
• Thom Yorke and Gustavo Santaolalla to join forces on “Terminator Salvation” tunes?? [The Playlist] • Tom O’Neil spotlights the BAFTA voting process. [Gold Derby] • T.L. Stanley on the politics of Dustin Lance Black’s WGA acceptance speech. [Gold Rush] • David Poland says Universal dropped the ball on “Frost/Nixon,” as represented by its incredibly […]
Filed in: Daily
12/20 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:27 am · December 20th, 2008
• Darren Aronofsky interviews Danny Boyle about the technical aspects of “Slumdog Millioniare.” [/Film] • Erik Childress catches up with the season mid-way through the first phase. [eFilmCritic] • David Carr takes note of the big Universal trade spend. Hey, if you’re going to decide against advertising with the lowly online types, you might as […]
Filed in: Daily
Goldenthal to score Mann’s ‘Enemies’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:38 pm · June 30th, 2008
Exciting news. This is without a doubt my most anticipated film of next year. The press release, in part, on Goldenthal jumping on board: Oscar-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal (Frida) has been signed to score Universal Pictures’ action-thriller from acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann, Public Enemies. Currently shooting in Chicago, Public Enemies stars Johnny Depp and Christian […]
Filed in: Daily
REVIEW: “The Incredible Hulk” (***1/2)
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:30 pm · June 9th, 2008
When Ang Lee set out to direct the first feature film adaptation of Marvel’s Incredible Hulk property five years ago, some things were…different. Lee was coming off of the major awards success of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which led audiences – many of them skeptics – to ponder what he might be able to accomplish […]
Filed in: Reviews
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