A rather cool new poster has debuted (via Collider) for the upcoming Jason Statham action flick, Safe. The movie sees Statham as Luke Wright, a second rate cage fighter in the mixed martial arts circuit in New Jersey. When he blows a rigged fight, the Russian mafia make an example of him – murdering his wife and threatening to kill anyone he forms any kind of friendship or relationship with. Now homeless, destitute and completely isolated from society, Luke finds a shot at redemption when he meets and starts to protect Mei, a young prodigy with a perfect memory for numbers, who the triads have been using so there’s no paper trail on their dodgy dealings. The film hits cinemas in April.
P.J. Hogan To Direct Comic Adaptation Bone
For quite a long time there’s been talk of adapting the popular graphic novel series Bone, by Jeff Smith into a film, but it seemed the idea had bitten the dust, as there’s been no movement for a long time. However now it seems things are getting back on track, as THR reports Muriel’s Wedding director PJ Hogan has signed on to helm, with Patrick Sean Smith set to write the script.
The comics follow three cousins from the Bone family, who are small, bald, human-like creatures with big noses. The trio are run out of their hometown and find themselves in a mysterious valley where they are separated and hunted by other creatures. The Bones are taken in by a girl named Thorn and her grandmother, and they find out that the valley is threatened by an evil force called the Lord of the Locusts.
The comics first appeared between 1991 to 2004 and were rediscovered when Scholastic began putting out graphic novels that compiled the comics together. It’s certainly an ambitious fantasy comic to take on, and the project will likely direct the movie in Australia, the home the director and the producers (and also where generous tax breaks are available).
David Kajganich Set to Write Ben Affleck’s The Stand
You’ve got to have confidence to take on a mighty tome like The Stand, and it seems David Kajganich does, as Vulture reports he’s been hired to come up with the screenplay for Ben Affleck’s adaptation of Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic horror/fantasy novel.
The story starts when a government-run lab accidentally lets loose a deadly virus, resulting in most of the population of the world being wiped-out. Survivors begin having dreams about two figures: a mystical old woman, or a foreboding, scary man, representing good and evil. The tale tracks various people who stories begin to intersect.
Originally Ben Affleck was set to both write and direct the project, but it was decided to bring Kajganich in after and the producers saw the work he’d done of a script for the upcoming remake of another Stephen King classic, IT.
There’s no production schedule set for The Stand (and considering the difficulty the book has had getting to the screen, it could be a while yet).
Liv Tyler Takes On The Side Effect
Director Ti West has got quite a reputation for himself in horror circles for the likes of The Innkeepers and The House Of The Devil, but he’s going slightly sci-fi for his next effort, The Side Effect. Now Deadline reports that Actress Liv Tyler has signed on to star in the movie.
The film centres on Tyler’s character, Catherine Rigby, who spends several months alone in space, to test a pharmaceutical company’s new drugs. When the woman somehow becomes pregnant, paranoia sets in as Catherine begins to think she may be stranded in space.
Here’s what Ti West had to say about bringing Liv Tyler on board, “Although it is still somewhat of a horror film, it is much more psychological than any of my previous efforts. It was essential that I find an actress who could portray a wide range of emotion and always earn the audience’s sympathy no matter what the situation. As soon as I sat down with Liv, it was obvious she was the one.”
It isn’t known when the film will shoot.
Richard Curtis Going Sci-fi With About Time
He scored big hits writing Four Weddings and Notting Hill, and has had some success as a director with Love Actually and The Boat That Rocked, in the process becoming one of the most sought after comedy filmmakers. However now RIchard Curtis is eyeing something a little bit different, with THR reporting that he hopes to direct About Time.
Curtis will helm from his own original screenplay, although little is known about the project, except that it is a low-budget time travel dramedy. Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are behind the movie, which hopes to begin production as early as this summer.
Perhaps co-writing War Horse has given him a taste for things outside the world of rom-coms, and indeed it won’t his first brush with time-travel, as he wrote an episode of Doctor Who.
Jane Lynch Joins George Clooney In Dustin Lance Black’s Play, 8
A few weeks ago it was revealed George Clooney would take part in a staged reading of 8, Dustin Lance Black’s play about the court case surrounding Proposition 8 in the California. Now more cast members for the March 3rd at LA’s Wilshire Ebell Theatre.
Adding to the star power, according to the LA Times, are Jamie Lee Curtis, Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Glee’s Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch. The play has been performed in New York, but this will be its East Coast premiere, and as it’s taking place in LA, it can call on plenty of celebs. The play chronicles the historic federal court trial overturning Proposition 8, the ballot measure that denied gay and lesbian Californians the right to marry, and is based on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families. Also taking part in the reading are Matt Bomer, George Takei, Yeardley Smith, Campbell Brown, Rory O’Malley and Cleve Jones.
All proceeds from the event will go to American Foundation for Equal Rights, with the $2 million that’s expected to be raised being used to continue fighting the court case and on awareness raising events.
It’s also been revealed that 8 will be licensed to be performed in universities and schools for free, with 40 productions expected to take advantage of this during 2012. Milk and J. Edgar screenwriter Dustin Lance Black commented, “People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter. I’ve built my career around exposing and uncovering ‘the real story,’ The goal of 8 is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right and that those who would deny this basic freedom from loving, committed couples have only vitriol and baseless hyperbole to fall back on. The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light. We are doing all we can to help speed that process along.”
And while we’re talking about Dustin, the recently married writer has just found distribution for his directorial debut, Virginia. The movie stars Jennifer Connelly, Emma Roberts and Ed Harris and centers around Virginia, a mentally ill mother protected by her illegitimate son Emmett, whose father may be the local Mormon sheriff. Their small-town secrets are threatened when Emmett begins a romantic relationship with the sheriff’s daughter, while her father runs for public office. Entertainment One has picked up North American right to the movie and a release date is expected to be announced soon. No UK release is currently set.
Haley Joel Osment Is Playing Gay In Sassy Pants
After The Sixth Sense, Haley Joel Osment had a brief time to shine with the likes of Pay It Forward and AI, but since then we haven’t heard much from him (other than a drink driving arrest a few years ago). He has been working fairly consistently in voice roles though, such as for Family Guy, The Jungle Book 2 and the Kingdom Hearts videogame series, and getting an education, but he certainly dropped out of the limelight.
However now the 23-year-old is back and playing gay in the indie movie Sassy Pants. The almost unrecognisable actor is playing Chip, the boy-toy boyfriend of the protagonist’s father. So if you ever fancied seeing Haley look rather camp and wearing Daisy Dukes (and if you did there’s something wrong with you, watch the trailer below.
Official Synopsis: Bethany Pruitt (Ashley Rickards) is valedictorian of her class – her one student homeschool class. Stuck with younger brother SHAYNE (Martin Spanjers) under their perky but oppressive mother JUNE’s (Anna Gunn) thumb, Bethany’s only escape is a teen fashion ‘zine courtesy of her absentee gay dad. She covets each edition, covertly restyling taboo fashions in her treasured scrapbook.
Bethany reluctantly succumbs to her mom’s post graduation mandate to get an accounting degree from an online university, but when she sneaks out with handsome neighbor HECTOR (Rene Rosado), Mom freaks out and retaliates by destroying her beloved scrapbook. Finally broken, Bethany catches the nearest Greyhound to her dad’s.
Life at dad DALE’s (Diedrich Bader) mobile home is no picnic either. Despite the close bond she forms with his fun, younger boyfriend, CHIP (Haley Joel Osmont), Dad’s self-loathing, alcoholic outbursts weigh heavy on Bethany. She finds solace selling clothes at a cheap, trendy retail chain, Jail Bait, but her petty, cutthroat coworkers cause a new set of “real world” navigation problems. When Bethany learns about Fashion Art Technology Institute, aka F.A.T.I., she sees a chance to break free once and for all and forge her own brighter future. How she gets there will redefine her and her family and maybe even update her wardrobe.
Jeff Goldblum Set To Play A Gay Dad On Glee
Since the early days of Glee, we’ve known that diva Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) has two gay dads, but unlike Kurt’s dad and Finn’s mom, we’ve never met either of her parents. There’s been plenty of speculation though as to who should play her dads if they were ever to show up in the series, with Glee creator Ryan Murphy even suggesting at one point we should never see them, as they couldn’t live up to expectations.
However now it appears we will indeed see at least one of them, as TNT reports that Jurassic Park and Independence Day star Jeff Goldblum has signed on to play one of Rachel’s pops, with Brian Stokes Mitchell playing the other. It will give Goldblum a chance to show off his singing skills, as he will apparently take part in a duet with Rachel in the episode, which’ll be screened around Valentine’s Day.
There had been rumours Elton John would play the part, but his touring schedule rules him out.
The Guard (Blu-ray)
Director: John Michael McDonagh
Running Time: 92 mins
Certificate: 18
Release Date: January 16th, 2012
Although I can’t imagine the Irish Garda being a massive fan of the film, The Guard is a very entertaining movie, with a strong script, tight direction and a couple of excellent performances from Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle.
Gleeson plays small town cop, Sergeant Gerry Boyle, a man who’s more interested in hookers than keeping law and order, but whose quiet life is disrupted by the arrival of FBI Agent Wendell Everett (Cheadle), who’s on the trail of an international drug smuggling ring. Boyle isn’t interested in this multi-million Euro operation, and with the two men initially having a very confrontational relationship (largely because of the Irishman’s decided non-PC approach), it would appear they’ll never be able to work together. [Read more…]
New American Pie: Reunion Trailer – The original cast is back
The Pie kids are back, although they’re not kids anymore! Now in their early 30s and (mostly) all settled down, they’re coming back for a high school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn’t and that time and distance can’t break the bonds of friendship. It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye. Oz and Heather grew apart, but Finch still longs for Stifler’s mom. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about—and get inspired by—the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend. The film’s due out April 6th.
Detachment Trailer – Tony Kaye is back in the directing chair
While American History X was much praised, one person who wasn’t as impressed was director Tony Kaye, who’d tried to have hi name taken off the movie due to what he saw as studio interference. He failed and it gave him a bit of a reputation (as well as souring him on making films). As a result it’s only now that he’s made another movie, Detachment. Here’s the synopsis: ‘Adrien Brody is Henry Barthes, a substitute teacher who conveniently avoids any emotional connections by never staying anywhere long enough to form a bond with either his students or colleagues. A lost soul grappling with a troubled past, Henry finds himself at a public school where an apathetic student body has created a frustrated, burned-out administration. Inadvertently becoming a role model to his students, while also bonding with a runaway teen who is just as lost as he is, Henry finds that he’s not alone in a life and death struggle to find beauty in a seemingly vicious and loveless world. Kaye has molded a contemporary vision of people who become increasingly distant from others while still feeling the need to connect. Detachment features a stellar ensemble cast, including Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden, Christina Hendricks, William Petersen, Bryan Cranston, Tim Blake Nelson, Lucy Liu, Blythe Danner, James Caan, and newcomers Sami Gayle and Betty Kaye.
Now the trailer a poster have dropped, so enjoy!
Les Miserables Gets Gossip Girl’s Aaron Tveit
After years in development, a film of the Les Miserables musical is about to go into production, with King’s Speech helmer Tom Hooper at the helm. The cast has been growing, with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe as Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, and Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne also along for the ride.
Now a the movie has added a revolutionary in the rather cute form of Gossip Girl’s Aaron Tveit has boarded the cast, according to THR. He’s set to play Enjolras, a character who leads the student revolution. While best known for Gossip Girl, Tveit does have some Broadway experience, so hopefully his voice will be up to scratcj.
Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are also rumored to be in talks for the film, although their involvement hasn’t been confirmed. It’s turning into a great cast, and hopefully Hooper’s the man who can do the musical justice. It’s due in cinemas at the end of this year.