The Scorecard Review

You may have seen his brief cameo at the end of this summer's second highest grossing film, Iron Man. However, with things starting to get cloudy, there's a possibility that Samuel L. Jackson will NOT be playing Nick Fury in Iron Man 2, The First Avenger: Captain America, or even the heavily anticipated Avengers movie.So far, it has worked like this. The character of Nick Fury used to be rugged and white (and once played by David Hasselhoff). Then, Marvel changed the character to specifically model Samuel L. Jackson, which has (so far) made casting for the character very clear.

Jackson was essentially scheduled to be in the Iron Man sequel, the Captain America movie, and soon to be

Jan 15
Jan 15 More Star Power to Iron Man 2?

Nick Allen

Variety is reporting a rumor that may be more solid than we may think. Possibly joining Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell in the heavily anticipated Iron Man 2 is the wonderful Emily Blunt. (You may remember her sharpness from The Devil Wears Prada). Blunt is supposedly the front-runner for the role of Black Widow – a villain who doubles as a tight leather-wearing Soviet superspy. Like Iron Man and others, she is enhanced by super-technology.

With Blunt on board, this would mean the great cast is only getting better. At the same time it also translate to a lot of serious character juggling, which has been the downfall of even the biggest of comic book movies...glaring at you, Spiderman 3.

Source: Variety

Jan 15
Jan 15 Land of the Lost and New Moon Rumors Denied

Land of the Lost and Vanessa Hudgens Howls "Not so!" Land of the Lost Hits Post-Production

It's like a dream--Will Farrell and Danny McBride (Farrell's discovery in The Foot Fist Way) in a remake of a silly 70's television with dinosaurs...don't wake us. Think Jurassic Park and Anchorman with a generous dash of totally awesome and what you have is four helpings of Best Movie Ever hot and ready to serve. Land of the Lost is now, officially in post-production, and we're getting our first peek at movie stills and the first official poster. We are also urging everyone to prep your pitchforks and torches--if Hollywood takes an entertaining idea and churns out yet another below-average dingleberry on the ass of American cinema, we're going to need an angry mob, stat.

Source

Jan 14
Jan 14 The Unborn

Film Reviews

The Unborn Directed by: David S. Goyer Cast: Odette Yustman, Gary Oldman, Meagan Good, Cam Gigandet Running Time: 1 hr 30 min Rating: PG 13

Plot: A preposterously helpless and shrill girl in underpants is tortured by a spirit in the form of a creepy, cow-eyed boy. With stupidity and powerlessness on her side, she gets almost everyone close to her killed off.

Who’s It For? The gaggle of screaming meemees sitting behind me with the collective IQ of 77, who must lick the lead paint in their off-time.

Expectations: Good horror is so hard to find these days. I marched into this film expecting crap in a turd-shaped box, but I secretly hoped for something surprising. Although, as soon as you see previews showcasing incompetent teenagers in their underwear, game over, man.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors:

Odette Yustman as Casey

Jan 14
Jan 14 The Karate Kid Remake and Best Foreign Film Semi-Finalists

THE KARATE KID In Rush Hour, Jackie Chan showed Chris Tucker a few tricks on how to kick butt. Now, with Columbia Pictures' revamped Karate Kid, maybe he can do the same for Jaden Smith.

The martial arts superstar is in final negotiations to play the role of Mr. Miyagi in the remake of the 1984 classic. He'll mentor Smith, who will take on the weak ruffian role once played by Ralph Maccio. The script, written by Chris Murphy, will likely retain the basic character structures of the original film.

This new version is co-produced by Jerry Weintraub, who helped with the first Karate Kid twenty-five years ago. Will Smith is also a listed producer.

Harald Zwart, whose Pink Panther 2 is set to release in February

Jan 12
Jan 12 New Moon and SAG Leaders Meet

David Pohl

New Moon The Twilight sequel, New Moon, due out November of this year may be getting more tween star-power.

Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical fame, who was rumored to be up for the role of werewolf Leah Clearwater has apparently auditioned for the role. In a quick interview on the red carpet of the Golden Globes on Sunday, Twilight actress Ashley Greene was asked to comment on the potential new co-star. Enthusiastically, Green answered, “I think she’d be great.”

The Twilight series has a big enough following on it’s own but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind drawing a few fans from High School Musical to sweeten the pot.

Jan 12
Jan 12 Brideshead Revisited

Megan Lehar

DVD Reviews

Brideshead Revisited Directed by: Julian Jarrold Cast: Matthew Goode, Hayley Atwell, Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon Running Time: 2 hr 10 min Rating: PG-13

Plot: Middle class Charles Ryder (Goode) befriends Sebastian Marchmain (Whishaw), son of a titled family who owns the titular Brideshead. After visiting Brideshead, he becomes enamored with the family, particularly Julia (Atwell), Sebastian's beautiful sister. But Lady Marchmain (Thompson) believes her daughter isn't right for the unaristocratic, athiest Charles so they marry other people. But Charles is tied to the Marchmain family for life.

Who's It For? The film's a period piece but more E. M. Forester than Jane Austen. It's fairly subtle and pretty deeply dependent on the English class system for it's storyline so it would help to know a little about that. The film rewards patience, I felt it was going

Jan 12
Jan 12 Box Office Review - January 11, 2009

Box Office

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, JANUARY 9-11, 2009 Rank. Movie Title - Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. Gran Torino - $29.0 million | 2,808 | $40.1 million | 5

2. Bride Wars - $21.5 million | 3,226 | $21.5 million | 1

3. The Unborn - $21.1 million | 2,357 | $21.1 million | 1

4. Marley and Me - $11.4 million | 3,478 | $123.7 million | 3

5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - $9.5 million | 2,947 | $94.3 million | 3

America loves racism. Right? That's the proper conclusion since Clint Eastwood tops the box office this weekend. OK, maybe they just love Eastwood and I am being sarcastic since I only gave the film a 6/10, though Nick Allen did give it a 9/10, so perhaps

Jan 12
Jan 12 Golden Globe Winners

The winners and nothing but the winners ... besides the ones they beat.FILM BEST FEATURE - DRAMA: Slumdog Millionaire The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon The Reader Revolutionary Road

BEST FEATURE - COMEDY: Vicky Cristina Barcelona Burn After Reading Happy-Go-Lucky In Bruges Mamma Mia!

DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire Stephen Daldry -The Reader David Fincher -The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon Sam Mendes -Revolutionary Road

ACTOR – DRAMA: Mickey Rouke - The Wrestler Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon Sean Penn - Milk Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

ACTRESS – DRAMA: Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married Angelina Jolie - Changeling Meryl Streep - Doubt Kristin Scott Thomas - I've Loved You So Long

ACTOR - COMEDY OR MUSICAL: Colin Farrell - In Bruges Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona James Franco - Pineapple Express Brendan Gleeson -

Jan 9
Jan 9 Bride Wars

Film Reviews

Bride Wars Directed by: Gary Winick Cast: Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson, Candice Bergen, Steve Howey, Chris Pratt, Bryan Greenberg Running Time: 1 hr 25 min Rating: PG

Plot: Two best friends (Hathaway, Hudson) are reduced to catty, girly warfare when their respective dream weddings are scheduled on the same day at the same, beloved venue.

Who’s It For? Non-feminists, fans of Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson, and anyone who enjoyed Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality.

Expectations: I was pretty sure I had this movie pegged. I love Anne Hathaway; I love Kate Hudson; the previews were silly and harmless—cotton candy.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors:

Anne Hathaway as Emma: Anne Hathaway is fabulous no matter what she does—drama, comedy, dramedy…for her next project, I vote highbrow horror. With her soft doe eyes and her dainty little frame, you’d expect more timidity, but

Jan 8
Jan 8 Gran Torino

CLICK HERE to read Allen's complete Scorecard Review

Film Reviews

Quickcard Review Gran Torino

Directed by: Clint Eastwood Cast: Clint Eastwood, Sue Lor, Bee Vang Running Time: 2 hrs Rating: R

Plot: Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) just lost his wife, and now the Korean war veteran is knee-deep in "old curmudgeon" mode. He helps out his Hmong neighbors and becomes a sort-of father figure as they try to escape the violence of a local gang.

Who’s It For? Eastwood fans will flock and bow down to this performance. And by the crowd's reaction to this film, I am guessing most people will think it's a comedy. Eastwood really plays up his persona to please fans here.

OVERALL

If you take Eastwood out of this film it's some of the worst acting I have seen all year. But that's the thing: you can't

Jan 8
Jan 8 Sherlock Holmes and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Sherlock Holmes Has there been a more inspired creative idea since Michelangelo wondered if he should try painting the ceiling?

You have Robert Downey Jr., one of the most enjoyable and talented actors of all time, playing the most famous detective of all time; Jude Law as Sherlock’s sidekick, Dr. Watson; and the entire scrumptious package is in the hip and capable hands of Guy Ritchie. It could be the biggest geekgasm in 2009.

And apparently all you have to do to get a part in the flick is look distinguished and be in the right place at the right time. Acting scouts spotted 56-year old Raymond Emanuel leaving a theater, where he’d taken shelter from the cold. Emanuel had been homeless for the past seven months prior to his appearance as a

Jan 7
Jan 7 Iron Man 2 might have Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell

Iron Man 2 It looks like the comeback is in full affect for Mickey Rourke. Variety reports that Rourke is in talks to star as a villain in Iron Man 2.

Let's hope this isn't the kind of decision Halle Berry made when she went from Monster's Ball to Catwoman. Actually, there's no way to compare those super hero movies, I apologize for the comment. After all, Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr. guarantee a certain amount of credibility.

Rourke, awaiting his Oscar nomination for The Wrestler, will play Crimson Dynamo, a heavily tattooed Russian arms dealer, if he signs on.

Sam Rockwell, who nailed his character in Frost/Nixon, is in negitiations as well, though there is no specific character for him to play yet.

Source: Variety

Jan 7
Jan 7 Portland's Hollywood Theatre gets props from Sundance

It's the little theater that could ... or I guess did. The Hollywood Theatre joins a few others around the country as part of the Sundance Family. Let's all look forward to shaking Robert Redford's hand next time we head to this Portland institution (institution in the good way, not the crazy way). Here's the press release ...The Sundance Institute has selected Film Action Oregon’s historic Hollywood Theatre as one of only eighteen theaters in the country to be part of the Sundance Institute Art House Project.

In 2005 the Sundance Institute established the Art House Project with select cinemas exhibiting independent film. The Project’s mission is to build audiences and develop a supportive national community of theaters committed to independent film. The Project unites the country’s best independent theaters and

Jan 7
Jan 7 Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Centennial Collection – 2-Disc

DVD Reviews

DVD Review Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Centennial Collection – 2-Disc

Directed by: Blake Edwards Cast: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Mickey Rooney, Buddy Ebsen Running Time: 1 hr. 55 mins Rating: Not Rated Due out: 1/13/2009

Plot: Based on Truman Capote’s book, Holly Golightly (Hepburn) is a New York socialite who is getting by on her charm and looks. Along comes Paul (Peppard) as a struggling writer. Her goal is to marry a millionaire, his is to get back to writing, but Holly is pretty easy to fall for.

Who's It For? The easy answer is that this one is for the girls. But pretty much everyone should sit through this film at least once.

Movie: Holly is a brilliantly damaged character, especially since it was written over 40 years ago. And it’s great to see Peppard in a non-“A-Team” role

Jan 7
Jan 7 The Expendables, Jack The Giant Killer and more ...

Nick Allen

The Expendables Sylvester Stallone, the action genre deity who helped provide the world with characters like John Rambo is now working on an explosive project destined to blow our minds - before a single frame is even filmed. His new film, The Expendables, about mercenaries who aim to overthrow a dictator in South America, is comprised of a dream team of ass-kickers. Using names important to both the past and present, it stars Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, and not to mention Stallone himself.

Recently added to the cast list is Mickey Rourke, who is metaphorically pile-driving audience members one by one with his performance in The Wrestler.

With action greats from different eras, it seems like this film is only a Steven Seagal or Arnold Schwarzenegger short of being an instant

Jan 5
Jan 5 Jaime Paglia - Executive Producer & Writer of "Eureka"

Interviews

I caught up with Jaime Paglia in the only place possible in Los Angeles … from his car. The husband and father of two spoke with me about his other love, "Eureka." The Sci-Fi hit has become a centerpiece for the SCI FI channel. While Paglia navigated the unmoving streets of L.A. we spoke about the show, the strike and I even quizzed him a little to see if he is the all-knowing, all-powerful mind of everything "Eureka."

For those that aren’t fans of “Eureka” yet, what’s the show about and how do they get caught up?

It’s small town, big secret. To me it’s a blend of “Northern Exposure” with a little bit of “X-Files” or “Twin Peaks” tossed in. A small town sheriff is in charge of a town that looks

Jan 5
Jan 5 Operation Filmmaker

Megan Lehar

DVD Reviews

Operation FilmmakerDirected by: Nina Davenport Cast: Muthana Mohmed, Nina Davenport, Liev Schreiber Running Time: 1 hr 30 min Rating: Unrated

Plot: Muthana Mohmed attends film school in Iraq until it is bombed during the invasion of Baghdad in 2003. In an act of charity, Director Liev Schreiber invites him to work as a PA on the set of Everything is Illuminated. There, instead of stepping up to the challenge, he flounders. After they're done filmming, Mohmed decides he doesn't want to return to Iraq, where conditions have deteriorated. He then struggles to maintain travel visas and support himself financially in Europe.

Who’s It For? Viewers who enjoy documentaries where the filmmaker plays a large part. People interested in another perspective on the Iraq war. Those who don't mind cursing.

Expectations: The DVD box had a line

Jan 4
Jan 4 Box Office Review - January 4, 2009