Sure, it's creepy that she's only 20 and dating the eccentric Marilyn Manson, but besides fornicating on a bed full of blood in his music video last year, she rocks. She hit Hollywood with 2003's "Seventeen" and was nominated for a Golden Globe and more recently starred in "Running with Scissors" (2006). The role that really grabbed my attention, though, was that of Lucy in last year's "Across the Universe." Who knew she could sing well and look so innocent?
Wood will be starring in Woody Allen's new film "Whatever Works," which is set to be released in 2009.
Sometimes producers just don't learn. No matter how hard a film flops, some idiot recreates it with a different cast and a tweaked plot. Here's my list of top 3 film ideas I never want to see again.
1. College movies: I never understood the hype over "Old School." It squeezed a couple laughs out of me, but for the most part I was more fascinated with my popcorn than the film. None of its predecessors accomplished much more, nor did its followers. "Legally Blond," "Road Trip," "American Pie" and, worst of all, the film that made me detest Ryan Reynolds--"National Lampoon's Van Wilder."
Yesterday marked the release of 2008's updated version of "Animal House" with "College." The plot focuses on some annoyingly heartbroken teenager who is peer pressured into joining a fraternity to distract his love sickness. You can figure out the rest on your own; just watch an episode of ABC Family's "Greek." Enough already. 2. Films starring pop superstars who can't act: They never succeed, and quite a few of them top "worst movies ever made" lists on major movie sites.
"Glitter" with Mariah Carey "Gigli" with J-Lo "From Justin to Kelly" with the American Idol stars Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson "Crossroads" with the pre-breakdown Britney Spears "Spice World" featuring British pop sensations The Spice Girls
We can also look forward to upcoming "Hannah Montana: The Movie" featuring Miley Cyrus and set for release on May 1, 2009.
These stars are made for singing, and at least a few of them do it well. Why not stick to your talents?
3. Football movies: I realize this is hypocritical considering my constant promotion of the upcoming SU football film "The Express," but if it weren't Syracuse, I wouldn't think twice about avoiding it. They're all the same: "The Replacements," "Any Given Sunday," "Friday Night Lights," "We Are Marshall." They always focus on an underdog team that usually has to fight for civil rights while tackling players on a football field and following the guidance of a heroic, intelligent coach with a hot body and pristine virtues. I've seen enough of them to predict the plot. Why go to the theater?
Just in case Hollywood is running out of ideas, I've concocted a few film ideas to help with their writer's block.
1. Michael Phelps film: He's going to be legendary, and his story serves up a decent plot. He has all the classic requirements of an inspirational film: - He's extraordinary; no one else can say they own 14 Olympic gold medals (8 of them in just this past Olympics) or broke seven world records in swimming. - He's just an Average Joe; He grew up in Baltimore, Md. with a policeman father and a mother who was principal of a local middle school. - He's worked through obstacles; Part of the reason Phelps began swimming was because his Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder left him with excess energy that he needed to work off. His parents divorced when he was young.
2. Documentary on illegal immigration: How has Michael Moore not yet thought of this one? He's already got school shootings, universal health care and 9/11 under his very large belt. This is right up his alley, but I personally think a better director with a less snarky tone would be better suited to produce a film so controversial. The excessive sarcasm of Moore's films tend to reduce their objectivity and therefore their accuracy. Illegal immigration has created so many issues--issues big enough that they're even considered a somewhat high priority in this presidential election. The unfortunate part about it is that many people whose votes are affected by the topic don't actually know much about it. It's a topic on which the U.S. needs to be better educated, and what better way to educate than through a film?
3. Adaptation of "The Lovely Bones": This was originally my third idea, but it seems a better producer than myself thought of it quite a while ago. Peter Jackson, director of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the 2005 "King Kong" remake, is directing this adaptation of Alice Sebold's book. Set in 1973, the plot revolves around the young Susie Salmon, who is raped and murdered by a serial killer neighbor. (I never said it was an uplifting story.) The majority of the book follows Susie as she goes to heaven and watches her family on Earth as they attempt to uncover the reasons behind her disappearance. The film's production commenced back in October 2007 and is supposed to be released between September and November 2009. Susan Sarandon, Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg are just a few of its stars.
For years I have relied on the International Movie Database (IMDB) for movie facts, cast lists, trivia, release dates and quotes. The online database, bought by Amazon.com in 1998, is usually up to date, accurate and dependable. However, I've been Googling film information more often lately in order to frequently update this blog, and the three top hits never fail to be the official movie site, IMDB and Wikipedia.
I began betraying my old friend IMDB and moving my mouse instead to the Wikipedia links, which tend to have many more details concerning the movies, especially if they are still in production. Wikipedia mirrors IMDB in that its entries contain cast lists, plot summaries, trivia and release dates. In fact, the only thing the monopolizing online encyclopedia lacks is movie quotes on the actual movie entry.
On top of its similarities to IMDB, Wikipedia usually expands its information into longer, more detailed paragraphs, often with entire sections devoted to production, design, filming, effects and music sections. It also includes the film's awards, budget, box office performance, reviews and external links to other, relevant online articles.
The multilingual conglomerate has already expanded into Wikinews (Wikipedia's own free news source), Wiktionary (dictionary and thesaurus), Wikibooks (free textbooks and manuals), Wikiversity (learning resources and educational material), Wikiquotes (a giant collection of quotations) and a handful of other Wikipedia branches. The site is also an expert lister with enormous lists of just about anything from music genres to government departments to random compilations like "roses named after people." They already have an extensive, frequently updated list of upcoming movies.
IMDB doesn't have anything to bring to the table, since Wikipedia already produces the exact same information and more. I think it's safe to assume IMDB will fall into the shadows in the near future, and even the most loyal IMDB-ers will flock to Wikipedia. Considering the site's tendency to dominate every online information outlet out there, it's completely probable they're already discussing the establishment of a Wikimovies. Unless IMDB steps it up, the site is bound to be left in the dust.
Summer has come to a close and with it, vacation, warm weather, beaches and weekly movies worth your time and cash. Here's a mini-timeline of the handful of movies that may be decent enough to see this year:
10/3 The Express: Football movie about Syracuse University's #44 hero, Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. [See "Go Orange!" blog entry for more details.] As an SU grad, I can't help but be biased.
10/17 The Secret Life of Bees: Based on Sue Monk Kidd's 2002 bestselling novel, this film follows 14-year-old Lily Owens as she attempts to dig up the secrets of her mother's death and develop a true family at a South Carolina honey farm. This one is undoubtedly going to be a chick flicky tearjerker that I will most likely pass on. However, if you fall into the demographic of Oprah-watching, Dr. Phil-loving, middle-aged moms, grab a box of tissues and hit the theater.
11/12 Burn After Reading: This dark comedy focuses on a former CSI agent Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) whose journal is discovered by two gym employees, one played by Brad Pitt. Cox's secrets are threatened to be revealed, and a blackmailing plot ensues. George Clooney plays another CIA agent who is given the task of recovering the memoir. The film is written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, the brothers who brought you "No Country for Old Men," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "The Big Lebowski."
11/12 Christmas on Mars: A Fantastical Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips: So this one will most likely be a complete disaster, but my guess is that it's going to be bizarre enough to be worth the watch. Wayne Coyne actually directs it, and the plot is just as freaky as their live shows: something about the colonization of Mars, hallucinations and aliens.
11/21 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Oh wait--those assholes are actually making us wait til summer '09. Still bitter.
12/25 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Based on the 1922 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this promising film is a weird and dark drama about a man who is born aging backwards. This made absolutely no sense to me either until I read further. Button, played by Brad Pitt, is actually an old man as an infant and becomes mentally younger as he becomes physically older. The story begins in 1919 but follows Button's life until 2000 and is directed by David Fincher ("Se7en," "Fight Club" and "Zodiac"). I'm shocked Tim Burton didn't snatch this one up, considering it's dark, sci-fi nature is exactly his style. Other big names: Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and a cameo from the over-publicized Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.
"The West Wing" writer Aaron Sorkin and "No Country for Old Men" producer Scott Rudin are working with Sony Pictures to create a movie about the creation of the popular social network Facebook, says Internetnews.com. No comments have surfaced yet from Mark Zuckerberg, the site's founder and the world's youngest billionaire, and very little is known about the film.
The team has initiated their research by creating their own Facebook group in order to learn more about the site and its issues and benefits. The group encourages Facebook members to post Facebook stories on the group's "wall" and participate in discussions on its discussion board.
On the night of the "Tropic Thunder" release, I had read up on some reviews and was anticipating an incredible performance from Tom Cruise. All the critics raved more about his cameo than they did about the star performances of Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller and Jack Black. I left the theater wondering if I had missed a huge chunk of the film where Cruise stole the show. Sure, seeing the sexy star in a bald cap and fat suit adds some humor and his ridiculous gangsta dance at the end cracked some laughs; but besides that, his role basically consisted of yelling at co-stars and screaming egotistical rants. It's not like Cruise acting crazy is anything new.
The next "Harry Potter" film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," will no longer be released on its scheduled date of Nov. 21. While this news was devastating, I consoled my anguish with the hope that it was only pushed back a month or two.
Alas, we will not be able to watch Daniel Radcliffe defeat dark wizards with the flick of a wand until July 17, 2009. That's right; Warner Brothers Inc. wanted to improve its release schedule for the summer market and used the lame excuse that the writers' strike, which ended many moons ago, had "impacted the readiness of scripts for other films." Warner Bros. is no fool. They know movies earn more in the box office during the summer months, so they chose to torture Harry Potter fans everywhere with this recent change of plans. Jerks.
So the revolutionary creators of "National Lampoon's Pledge This!" are now suing Paris Hilton for their megaflop of a film, according to ABC News. Hilton was paid $1 million for what I'm sure was back-breaking work (though I somehow missed the opportunity to see her sensational performance).
However, that payment was not simply for her performance, but for her role of "executive producer" as well, a position Worldwide Entertainment Group Inc. claims she did not fulfill. This title serves as a guise for the responsibility of general promotion and publicity, a task most likely accomplished simply by showing up to a few interviews promoting the movie and throwing around a few "It's hot"'s.
They should be paying her for keeping her mouth shut, not opening it. Any promotional statements made by Hilton would have undoubtedly convinced even more moviegoers to poke fun at the film, rather than actually pay to view it. I mean, she doesn't exactly have the best track record: "The Hottie and the Nottie," "House of Wax," "Bottoms Up." According to ABC News, the movie production company is demanding $75,000 in damages in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
According to the Los Angeles Times, George Clooney is taking some risks with a new, controversial project. He recently bought the movie and book rights from journalist Jonathan Mahler, who chronicled the story of Osama bin Laden's driver, Salim Hamdan, in his book "The Challenge." Hamdan was captured in the invasion of Afghanistan and imprisoned at Guatanamo Bay for being the al Qaeda leader's professional driver. Hamdan claims he only took the job because of the $200 monthly salary. He was sentenced to five and a half years of imprisonment on July 21, 2008, for "providing material support" to the terrorist group and has already served five years of the sentence.
According to the "Guardian," Mahler paints a picture of Hamdan as a kind of victim of the U.S. government. Clooney plans to play the role of Hamdan's lawyer, Charles Swift.
I think I may have been the only TV-obsessed individual who actually watched the entire series of "In Treatment," the HBO psychological drama series that initially aired in January. That said, I fell in love with one of its stars--the young Mia Wasikowska, who, before "In Treatment," was hardly recognized in Hollywood. Her energy stole the show, and I could never look away during one of her episodes.
The 18-year-old former Australian ballerina will be playing the role of Alice in Tim Burton's highly anticipated CGI version of "Alice in Wonderland." The release date is set for March 2010, and I just can't wait. Johnny Depp will be joining her as the Mad Hatter, which marks the seventh time Burton and Depp have collaborated on a film, the most recent being the incredibly made "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." I keep waiting for news that Helena Bonham Carter, Burton's partner and a favorite in his casting, will be chosen as an addition to the cast, but I have yet to hear such news.
You heard right. Cruise's performance in tomorrow's movie release of "Tropic Thunder" has left critics raving and Cruise altering his career path. He is now rumored to be working with screenwriter Adam Brooks ("Definitely, Maybe") and possibly filmmaker Steven Brill in a new comedy called "Food Fight." According to the "Hollywood Reporter," Cruise would be playing the role of an A-list, New York chef whose career takes a turn for the worse, leaving him cooking at a school cafeteria.
It's also rumored that Cruise may be teaming up with Ben Stiller again for a 20th Century Fox movie version of the classic series "The Hardy Boys."
Remember this funny guy? Well, he's just been arrested for investigation of attempted murder, mayhem and burglary after his girlfriend was found stabbed and cut after a fight. Shelley Malil, 43, was escorted off a train by police Monday in Oceanside, Calif. The incident happened Sunday night 15 miles east of San Marcos, and deputies arrived after reports of screaming and breaking glass.
The woman's condition is unknown, though she was reported to be in critical condition Monday morning. Malil has yet to comment.
Peter Berg, the director of "Hancock" and "Friday Night Lights," has been working on a new espionage thriller titled "Edwin A. Salt." The plot focuses on a CIA officer named -- surprise! -- Edwin A. Salt, who is accused of betraying the American government, spying for the Russians and planning a presidential assassination. The film follows Salt as he attempts to reunite with his family and prove his innocence.
Tom Cruise had planned on taking the lead role but backed out at the last minute, according to today's issue of the UK's "Daily Telegraph." Jolie took an interest in the film, jumped in and got the part. Apparently, screenwriter Kurt Wimmer is adjusting his script to accommodate a female role. I'm uncertain how this will figure into the movie's title, however, considering it IS named after the male character. We'll just have to see.
"Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera recently joined "Gossip Girl's" Blake Lively on "Good Day LA" to promote their new movie "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," which was released Wednesday.
Lively couldn't stop rambling about her own TV show, and Ferrera was not amused. Her face is priceless. Just in case you haven't seen it yet:
This one looks like a winner: Dane Cook's character, Tank, takes Kate Winslet's Alexis out on a crappy date in order to convince her to return to her ex-boyfriend (and Tank's best friend), Dustin, played by Jason Biggs. It's difficult to watch the entire, overextended trailer. This doomed chick flick will be released to theaters Sept. 19.
The comic book movie trend is showing no sign of slowing.
X-Men Origins: Magneto (2009): One of next year's two additions to the "X-Men" series focuses on the early life of Magneto (aka Eric Lensherr) and his friendship with Charles Xavier, most likely explaining the reasoning behind Magneto's shift to the dark side. Writer David Goyer refuses to rest. After just recently completing the successful Batman film, "The Dark Knight," Goyer is staying absorbed in his work on this film as well as "The Unborn" and "The Invisible Man." The cast list has yet to be released.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009): Stan Lee, David Benioff and Gavin Hood join forces to develop a film about Wolverine's life immediately after being transformed into a mutant. Logan attempts to amend his memory while vengefully fighting a handful of villains, including Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber).
Wonder Woman (2009): Not much is known about this female superhero film, which is due to be released next year. Matthew Jennison is writing the screenplay about the Amazonian princess-warrior who brings her supernatural abilities to the urban world of skyscrapers, lights and busy streets.
Iron Man 2 (April 30, 2010): It's been rumored that Samuel L. Jackson will play a major role in the "Iron Man" sequel. It's no surprise since the post-credit scene delivered the most obvious foreshadowing possible. His character Nick Fury will supposedly be joining forces with Tony Stark to defeat a terrorist known as The Mandarin. Rumors have also surfaced about a monster villain named Fin Fang Foom. Possible superhero appearances include Thor, Hawkeye and Black Widow.
Superman: Man of Steel (working title, June 2011): "Superman Returns" director Bryan Singer will be dedicating his time to the creation of the DC comic book's sequel.
Spider-Man 4 (May 2011): Not much is known about this film, though I speak for everyone when I say it better be an immense improvement from the last "Spider-Man" movie. It's rumored that James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) has the "Spider-Man 4" working draft completed and "Spider-Man 5" may be shot at the same time.
The First Avenger: Captain America (2011): It's about time a decent Captain America movie was made. Marvel has given the task of script writing to Zak Penn, screenplay writer for superhero hits like "The Incredible Hulk" (2008), the three-part "X-Men" series and "Fantastic Four" (2005). Jon Favreau was originally chosen by Marvel to direct this film, but he instead chose to take on "Iron Man." "Captain America" is rumored to be set in World War II, and it was confirmed that Captain America's shield was in fact in "Iron Man." There has recently been rumors floating around of Captain America's character being played by Matthew McConaughey. These rumors were recently squashed by Marvel's Kevin Feige. Thank god.
America can't get enough superheroes. The past decade has witnessed comic book and graphic novel movies set records at the box office over and over again. My own personal theory is that, between the war and the economy, Americans need this kind of supernatural, heroic type of entertainment to satisfy their need for hope. Just in the past five years, Hollywood has spit out hits like "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "The Dark Knight," the "Spiderman" series, "Superman Returns," the "X-Men" series, "Transformers" and the two "Fantastic Four" films, among others. There have been some jaw-dropping masterpieces, as well as some disasters that are too terrible to sit through. Let's review with a top 5 best and worst:
Top 5 Most Awesomely Incredible Comic Book / Graphic Novel Films: 1. The Dark Knight (2008): The film that made the late Heath Ledger a legendary comic book villain easily compensated for the less-than-perfect track record of “Batman” movies. The DC comic book blockbuster became the fastest film in history to pass 400 million dollars at the North American box office, and it’s no surprise with such a noteworthy cast, including Christian Bale, Ledger, Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Perfectly created action scenes, a new, drool-worthy Batmobile and a surprise twist at the end culminate in a film worth seeing twice on the big-screen.
2. Iron Man (2008): Robert Downey Jr. made his Hollywood comeback in this impressive Marvel Universe comic book film debut. Jam-packed with exceptional sci-fi action, this movie rocked the box office and excited an enormous amount of moviegoers, despite what the DC comic fans may say about the film paralleling “Batman Begins.”
3. V For Vendetta (2006): Everyone loves an underdog who has the balls to take on a group so powerful as an oppressive government. Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving team up with director James McTeigue and the Wachowski brothers to create a comic book-based film with the best monologues Hollywood has ever heard.
4. X-Men (2000): No actor besides Hugh Jackman could play a superhero bad-ass enough to be Wolverine. Though the third “X-Men” film of the series disappointed most, the original movie and its sequel make for two of the best comic book movies created.
5. Sin City (2005): “Sin City” may be the one exception to the rule that any film including Jessica Alba in its cast is bound to leave you dumber. Its unique cinematography and use of color makes this film stand out among others. Though packed with violence and gore, the plot and amazing direction make it worth the watch. Honorable Mention: 300 (2007) and The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Top 5 Miserably Terrible Eye Sores Within the Comic Book / Graphic Novel Film Genre: 1. Josie and the Pussycats (2001): It’s hard to believe that a comic book-based movie could be this bad. Derived from an Archie comic, “Josie and the Pussycats” expresses a satirical perspective of the pop music industry. Though we can all appreciate the occasional laugh at this joke of a music genre, the joke was on the cast. Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson combine the character brainlessness of “Legally Blond” with the plotlessness of “Crossroads.”
2. Daredevil (2003): A sad attempt to duplicate “Spiderman,” this Mark Steven Johnson creation uses poorly made action scenes to an extent that no movie watcher should have to bear. If you haven’t seen it, don’t.
3. Batman and Robin (1997): DC comic book hero Batman could easily be considered the worst superhero of all time (at least in my book), but if Christopher Nolan could make Christian Bale incredible enough to land the #1 spot in the best films, director Joel Schumacher should have been able to mold George Clooney into the role. I mean, it’s George Clooney. He’s basically already a superhero. It shouldn’t take much work. However, the fact that Schwarzenegger appeared in the film as Mr. Freeze adds a whole different level of difficulty when it comes to developing a good movie.
4. Fantastic Four (2005): “Sin City” may have been an exception to the Jessica Alba rule (see above), but “Fantastic Four” is not. Any comic book film has the potential to be cornier than the average chick flick; it’s a predictable, from rags-to-riches plot that usually ends with a happy ending. “Fantastic Four” surpasses any cheesiness ever accomplished by previous comic book films, or any since its debut.
5. Spider-Man 3 (2007): Spider-Man 1—awesome. Spider-Man 2—entertaining. Spider-Man 3—what the hell happened?? There’s one scene that sums up the entire film’s devastation: Tobey McGuire is enjoying his revenge-driven date at Mary Jane’s club, when suddenly he decides to break out in a piano-playing, jazz-singing, chandelier-swinging insult to dance choreography, all the while sporting a hair style that makes him look like an even less attractive version of Adam Sandler from “Little Nicky.” Ugh.
Honorable Mention: “Wanted” (2008): Sure, I haven’t seen it yet. But the trailer that shows Angelina Jolie hanging off the hood of a car by her feet and shooting a pistol just makes me want to gag.
"Iron Man" is hitting DVD and Blu-Ray on Sept. 30! Marvel and Paramount Pictures' summer hit, which made more than $315 million in the box office, can be yours in a little more than a month.
The "Iron Man" Ultimate Edition two-DVD set comprises deleted and extended scenes with the feature film on the first disc. Disc 2 includes a variety of added features, including a behind-the-scenes look at the visual effects of "Iron Man," a Robert Downey Jr. screen test and a scene rehearsal with the cast. Now you can stare and drool at Robert Downey Jr. all you want in the courtesy of your own home.
In case you haven't heard, it's true. The star Ryan Reynolds, known for his lead role in "Van Wilder," will be playing the villainous Wade Wilson (also known as Deadpool) in the upcoming film "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which is due to be released on May 1 of 2009.
His character grows up in an unstable, abusive family, as many comic book and graphic novel antagonists do. After developing terminal cacner, he volunteers for the controversial Weapon X program, designed to genetically alter body and mind. Of course this experiment turns deadly wrong when the cancer and the genetic changes interact, resulting in a psychotic murder machine. As you may have predicted, Wolverine becomes one of his many enemies.
I do not usually have faith in Reynolds' roles, especially serious ones, but if Ledger can break his type casting and successfully play a comic book villain, (which he did so incredibly well), Reynolds should be able to pull it off.
"Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen," which is due to be released June 26 of next year, is officially including "The Office" star Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute).
Prepare yourself. According to Paris Hilton herself, a cartoon is to be made featuring an animated version of the hotel heiress. Who is responsible for this abomination? No other than Stan Lee and MTV. MTV, we expected it from you, but we're not sure what's going on in the mind of Lee.
There had been rumors, but ever since Jason Bateman confirmed on June 26 that there would, in fact, be an "Arrested Development" movie, I have not been able to contain my excitement. According to Bateman, money is the source of blame for the holdup in the movie's creation. Well, hurry the hell up, Michael Hurwitz. The AD fans can't wait any longer.
Michael Cera's recent success will no doubt encourage moviegoers to spend some cash on such a movie, even if they are (sadly) not familiar with the cult TV show. Actually, ever since the show's cancellation, many of the cast members have earned spots in major Hollywood films and shows.
Bateman's career has taken off with his appearances in "Hancock," "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" and "Juno," the 2007 hit comedy in which Bateman shared the stage with Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner and fellow AD star, Michael Cera. Cera could be considered the most successful of the AD bunch with lead roles in box office sellers like "Juno," "Superbad" and the upcoming, soon-to-be hit "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist." The hilarious Will Arnett tends to take sporadic minor roles in shows and films like "30 Rock," "Semi-Pro," "Blades of Glory" and "RV."
But perhaps one of the most surprising rising star is Mae Whitman, who plays Michael Cera's girlfriend, Ann, in the "Arrested Development" show. "Her?" She recently starred as the main character's daughter in the HBO series, "In Treatment," and has had her share of random cameos in major sitcoms, including "Law and Order," "ER," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives."
As long as the entire impressive cast participates in the 2009 film, it's sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Being a Syracuse graduate, I practically screamed in the theater during the previews before "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." (I went solely because I was bored. Don't waste your hard-earned cash.) First came the Harry Potter 6 trailer, which was poorly made but will be insanely amazing anyway. Immediately following was a trailer for "The Express," a drama based on the football career of Syracuse University star Ernie Davis, the legendary #44 athlete who played between 1959 and 1961 and was the first black American to win the Heisman Trophy.
The film poses similarities to the usual football movie -- civil rights, B-list stars and a stereotypically happy ending -- but, being a Syracuse University alumna, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see it on Oct. 3. I humiliated my boyfriend by loudly and enthusiastically saying, "Yeah!" when I noticed the Crouse College building and the rest of the campus on the big screen.
Dennis Quaid plays the Hall of Fame football coach who leads Davis (Rob Brown, "Coach Carter") into victory. The screen play is written by Charles Leavitt ("Blood Diamond") and based on Robert Gallagher's book "The Express."
Though it may not be a movie to remember for most, this Orange fan will be in the theater opening night.
Apparently, Quentin Tarantino has yet to rent "Crossroads." Rumor has it he seems to see something in Britney Spears that most have given up hope in finding. A recent leak to the UK's Daily Telegraph has warned the world of Tarantino's plan to cast Spears in a remake of the 1965 cult film, "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" in which she plays one of the lesbian strippers in the following plot synopsis, courtesy of IMDB:
"Three strippers seeking thrills encounter a young couple in the desert. After dispatching the boyfriend, they take the girl hostage and begin scheming on a crippled old man living with his two sons in the desert, reputedly hiding a tidy sum of cash. They become houseguests of the old man and try and seduce the sons in an attempt to locate the money, not realizing that the old man has a few sinister intentions of his own."
Though the original film was regarded as a dark comedy or thriller, I believe it is safe to say moviegoers everywhere are indeed in for a horror if this rumor is, in fact, true.
There's never a good time to witness a murder. But Seth Rogen's character Dale Denton may have discovered the absolute worst case scenario when he chose to light a fat one outside of a major drug dealer's home. His hot-boxing is interrupted by gun fire and a view of blood spattering against the house's glass window, with the dealer and his accomplice police officer visibly armed and guilty. Denton reacts as any already-paranoid murder witness would and drives away in an unfortunately less-than-discreet manner. And so the wild goose chase begins.
The next few days of Denton's life escalate into a jam-packed series of frantic decisions, including car theft, police brutality, illegal drug selling to children, accidental homosexual humping, homelessness and, of course, the occasional doobie with Denton's personal drug dealer Saul Silver (James Franco).
Though Rogen performs better than any of his previous roles, Franco carries the film with a hilariously stereotypical stoner impression that delivers lines like, "It's almost a shame to even smoke it," -- regarding the especially rare type of marijuana, known as Pineapple Express -- "It's like killing a unicorn . . . with a bomb." His long hair, disheveled style and stoned-out-of-his-mind persona make it difficult to even recognize the face that has been launched into show business through movies like "Spiderman," "Annapolis," "Tristan + Isolde" and the TV sitcom "Freak and Geeks."
The script was mainly written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the same saint who created "Superbad," though this film easily exceeds any expectations set by "Superbad" or even any other comedy in the past few years. An absolutely brilliant and hysterical masterpiece, "Pineapple Express" is destined to be quoted to the extent that "Anchorman" dialog is used in everyday conversation.
Rogen and Franco will undoubtedly become comedic icons within the next few weeks, as this film instantly becomes a "major hit."
My movie obsession was originally fueled by the boredom of growing up in a small town. There wasn't much to do besides hang out at the local coffee shop and go out for dinner and a movie. I love all films, with the exception of horror, war and dumb comedy.
