Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

GENERAL MOVIE NEWS

General movie news courtesy of Movie Muser (www.moviemuser.co.uk)

Chris Columbus Set To Direct Calico Joe

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Chris Columbus isn’t quite the all-conquering name he was when he helmed the first two Harry Potter movies, but producing The Help has upped his dwindling power. Now Deadline reports that he has acquired the rights to John Grisham’s baseball-themed novel, Calico Joe. The book was published in April by Doubleday and has topped The New York Times best seller list ever since its debut.

The story is set in the world of major league baseball and follows Joe Castle, a rookie prospect from Arkansas who quickly gains a massive fan base, until one fateful pitch changes it all. The plot concerns the New York Mets pitcher who threw the fastball that changes Joe’s life, and how the relationship with his son is altered after that one throw.

Columbus commented, “When I finished this beautiful, deeply moving novel, I immediately started to see the movie in my head. I knew that I had to write and direct Calico Joe. The story deals with universal themes of betrayal, tragedy and redemption. It has the potential to be a classic film and I am honored to be a part of it.”

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First Behind The Scenes Pic From Iron Man 3

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Iron Man 3 has started shooting, and to prove it Marvel has released the picture above of Robert Downey Jr. on set, in front of a line-up of his super-powered suits, just ready to appear in a shot.

Here’s the US press release that accompanied the image: BURBANK, Calif. (June 4, 2012) – Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios’ release “Marvel’s The Avengers,” production on the highly anticipated film “Iron Man 3,” directed by Shane Black, has commenced production in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production schedule will also include locations in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Miami, Florida and China.

Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, “Iron Man 3” returns Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”) as the iconic Super Hero character Tony Stark/Iron Man along with Gwyneth Paltrow (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,”) as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle (“Iron Man 2”) as James “Rhodey” Rhodes and Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2”) as Happy Hogan. Set for release in the U.S. on May 3, 2013, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” marks the second feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.

“Iron Man 3” continues the epic, big-screen adventures of the world’s favorite billionaire inventor/Super Hero, Tony Stark aka “Iron Man.” Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film. Executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz.

The creative production team on the film includes two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography John Toll, ASC (“Braveheart,” “Legends of the Fall”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“The Hangover,” “Due Date”), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) and Peter S. Elliot (“Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer”), and costume designer Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace,” “Contagion”).

Marvel Studios most recently produced the critically acclaimed “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which is currently in release, continues to shatter box office records and is The Walt Disney Studios’ highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studios’ fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with “Thor,” starring Chris Hemsworth, and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 “Iron Man 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke, took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.” “Iron Man,” in which Robert Downey Jr. originally dons the Super Hero’s powerful armor and stars alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success. Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend. On June 13, 2008, Marvel released “The Incredible Hulk,” marking its second number one opener of that summer.

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The Perks Of Being A Wallflower Trailer – The potential joys of being a teen outsider

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In The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Charlie (Logan Lerman) who hopes to change his world and become popular on his first day of classes, but unfortunately doesn’t have much success. Luckily, he does get to meet Sam and Patrick (Emma Watson, Ezra Miller) two seniors that take Charlie under their wing and show him that being an outsider isn’t the worst thing in the world. The film also stars Paul Rudd, Mae Whitman, Melanie Lynskey, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Johnny Simmons, and Nicholas Braun. It’s due out in September in the US but no UK date is currently set.

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Snow White & The Huntsman Tops US Box Office

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Prometheus doesn’t reach the US until next weekend, leaving the box office clear for Snow White And The Huntsman to take a big bite out of the US box office with $56 million in its first three days. While that’s not exceptional, for a film that isn’t a sequel it’s certainly not a bad start at all, especially considering it’s ahead of the first three day take of last week’s Men In Black III.

It probably helped that it was the only big new release, although the likes of The Avengers had decent holdovers too. Indeed The Avengers has now taken over $550 million at the US box and with more than $1.3 billion worldwide, has overtaken the final Harry Potter movie to become the third highest grossing movie ever.

The only other new entry in the US top 10 was the Mexican historical epic For Greater Glory, which took a rather tepid $1.8 million. Take a look below for the full top 10 for the weekend of June 1st-3rd.

Rank Title Weekend Gross (millions) Total Gross to date (millions)
1 Show White And The Huntsman $56.2 $56.2
2 Men In Black 3 $29.3 $112.3
3 The Avengers $20.2 $552.7
4 Battleship $4.8 $55.1
5 The Dictator $4.7 $64.8
6 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel $4.6 $9.3
7 What To Expect When You’re Expecting $4.4 $23.8
8 Dark Shadows $3.8 $18.4
9 Chernobyl Diaries $3.0 $395.8
10 For Greater Glory $1.8 $88.6

 

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Brad Pitt Producing Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe Flick Blonde

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Before he went off to make Killing Them Softly, The Assassination of Jesse James director Andrew Dominik was developing a film about Marilyn Monroe. It was a semi-fictional take, based on Joyce Carol Oates’ novel Blonde, which imagines Monroe’s thoughts.

It seems that while Dominik put the project to one side while he made Killing Me Softly with Brad Pitt, he hasn’t given up on it and now he’s even got Pitt involved, as the star’s Plan B production company will now produce Blonde, according to the LA Times. Dominik comments, “I wanted to make a $15-million movie. I wanted to make a movie that was cheap and could make its money back, because I’d like to keep working with Brad and I’d like us to have more expensive playdates than the last one. I would like to make someone some money.”

At the moment it seems Pitt is only attached to produce, but he may end up starring. It’s also unclear if Naomi Watts is still involved, who was set to play Monroe a couple of years ago.

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Guy Ritchie Directing Treasure Island

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Not content with having given Sherlock Holmes a kick up the butt, Guy Ritchie is now attached to direct another classic tale, in this case Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island for Warner Bros and Sherlock producers Lionel Wigram and Kevin McCormick, according to Deadline.

Warner has been working on a Treasure Island film since April 2010 (UK based Eccosse Films announced their own adaptation of the book around the same time, but there’s been little info on whether that’s still happening). Alex Harakis will write the script based on Michael Giglio’s first draft, which centres on narrator Jim Hawkins and his adventures with the pirate Long John Silver.

When it was first announced it was described as a contemporary adaptation, although it isn’t clear if this means it’ll be set in the present day or if like Sherlock it’ll have a modern sensibility but stay in the past. There’s no news either on when it might shoot.

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Kathleen Kennedy Takes Over LucasFilm As George Lucas Retires

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After 41 years at the head of the company he founded, filmmaker George Lucas is retiring from LucasFilm, and producer Kathleen Kennedy has been named as his successor. Lucas will still serve as chief executive and will be a co-chairman alongside his successor for one year.

Lucas commented, “I’ve spent my life building Lucasfilm, and as I shift my focus into other directions I wanted to make sure it was in the hands of someone equipped to carry my vision into the future. It was important that my successor not only be someone with great creative passion and proven leadership abilities, but also someone who loves movies.”

Lucas has spoken before about his desire to be able to make more personal films, and it seems stepping back from Lucasfilm is a way to do that.

58-year-old Kathleen Kennedy has long been one of the most important producers in Hollywood, with her most important relationship having been with Steven Spielberg (as well as her husband and fellow producer Frank Marshall), who’s she’s worked with on blockbusters such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Goonies, Back to The Future, Schindler’s List, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and War Horse, to name just a few.

Here’s what Steven Spielberg had to say about the announcement, “Kathy has been a member of both of our families going into a fourth decade so it does not feel like she is going to another galaxy far, far away. She will get just as much support from me with Lucasfilm as George has given both of us all these years.”

Kennedy will oversee LucasFilm, the special effects house Industrial Light and Magic, Skywalker Sound, the video game arm LucasArts, and an animation unit which produces the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

While Lucasfilm doesn’t currently have any live-action feature films in production, Kathleen Kennedy will continue to oversee the 3D conversion of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones all the way through Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. There is also an untitled animated movie in the works, of which no details have been revealed. And Star Wars Detours, the live action television series based on the popular franchise, is still moving forward.

Here’s what Kathleen Kennedy had to say about taking over for the legendary filmmaker, “I thought it was an incredible opportunity for George to ask me to step into what has become such an incredible legacy that he has created over the years. George and I have not had time to sit down and focus on the specifics. I’m certainly fortunate that he’s not going anywhere.”

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Magic Mike Poster – The stars get their shirts off

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We are very excited about Magic Mike (as any site regulars will be well aware), and it’s only a few weeks until it hits cinemas in the UK on July 11th. Now Apple has debuted a new poster for the film, which is a little bit village people, and features Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Alex Pettyfer all with their shirts off.

Let’s just hope the movie is as sexy as the posters and trailers. Click on the pic above for a larger version.

Here’s the synopsis, ‘To a rebellious 19-year-old kid (Pettyfer) looking for independence from his family, Magic Mike (Tatum) seems like the perfect role model: he’s got a nice car, a nice apartment, and a seemingly endless supply of women. What’s his secret? He’s a male stripper, and when the kid dives headlong into Magic Mike’s world, his mad dancing skills and hunger for excitement make for an unforgettable summer…Sexy, funny and shocking, this film is a hedonistic thrill ride with a powerful undertow. A razor sharp cast – led by top liner Channing Tatum in a career-defining turn as the titular Magic Mike devours the up-to-the moment freight train of a script, and the result will be relentlessly entertaining and sure to be one of the most talked about films of the year…… and let’s not forget the price-of-admission dancing sequences…’

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New Premium Rush Trailer – Joseph Gordon-Levitt goes all-action courier

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When the first trailer for Premium Rush was released last year, it got a good response and all seemed go for a January 2012 release. However then it was announced the release was being delayed until August in the US and September 14th, 2012 in the UK. However now a new trailer has arrived and manages to suggest that despite the worrying delay, it’s still one to look out for. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays a bicycle messenger who picks up a mysterious package that results in him getting chased across New York by various shady parties, including an angry and possibly corrupt cop played by Michael Shannon. The film’s written and directed by David Koepp.

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Independence Day Going 3D Summer 2013

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With Titanic 3D having grossed $344 million around the world, it seems Fox is looking into what other titles in its back catalogue it can post-convert in the hope of making a bit more cash. Now they’ve announced that the studio and director Roland Emmerich, in conjunction with Stereo 3D (which did the work on Titanic), will produce a three-dimensional version of Independence Day, which will be released worldwide on July 3rd, 2013.

To be honest I have reservations about whether this will be a success. With some films like Titanic and Jurassic Park, a post-conversion 3D makes sense, but while Independence Day was a big hit in 1996, I’m not convinced it’s retained enough popularity to make a re-release a major success. Perhaps I’m wrong, and Fox may be using the conversion to see whether it’s worth backing the pricey sequels Roland Emmerich has long had in the works.

Fox has also set several other dates, with Steven Spielberg’s epic Robopocalypse shifting to April 25, 2014 (ID43D now occupies its former release date), while on May 23rd, 2014 the studio unleashes Dawn of the Planet of the Apes worldwide. July 18th, 2014 meanwhile sees the release of the X-Men: First Class Sequel, to be directed by Matthew Vaughn.

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