The Scorecard Review

Variety reports that Drew Barrymore has signed on to star opposite Justin Long in New Line's romantic comedy Going the Distance. The duo recently starred together, as part of the ensemble cast, in the successful film He's Just Not That Into You. Geoff LaTulippe wrote the screenplay for Going the Distance which revolves around a young couple as they deal with a long distance relationship. The film will be directed by Nanette Burnstein and is being produced by Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot.

Barrymore and Long have dated in real life, which could add some depth to their on-screen characters. On a more personal note, as someone who has been through a long distance relationship, I can see the huge comedic potential in the situation.

Source: Variety

Mar 31
Mar 31 Star Trek sequel in the works for Summer 2011

David Pohl

Even before the May 8 release of Star Trek, Paramount's relaunch of the popular franchise started in the 1960s, the studio is boldly going where Star Trek has gone before ... a sequel. Variety reports that Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof have been hired to start writing the sequel's screenplay. There aren't any story details yet but the writers are looking to complete the script by December for a likely summer 2011 release.

It takes some guts to start work on a second film before knowing how the first will perform and the writers are fully aware this. "There's obviously a lot of hubris involved in signing on to write a sequel of a movie that hasn't even some out yet," said Lindelof, "But we're so excited about the first

Mar 31
Mar 31 Slumdog Millionaire

DVD Review Slumdog Millionaire

Directed by: Danny Boyle Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Irfan Khan Running Time: 1 hr 50 mins Rating: PG-13 Release date: 3/31/09

Plot: It’s the potential of rags to riches as a slumdog (poor Indian boy played by Patel) must answer questions while on India’s own “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” Each question somehow relates to a moment in his past mainly involving his older brother (Mittal) and a girl (Pinto) who he believes is the love of his life.

Who’s It For? This is the most accessible, mainstream Indian film (yes, it’s Indian even though a English man directed it) I have seen. The only thing Bollywood about it is all the vibrant colors and a slightly odd musical number at

Mar 30
Mar 30 Monsters vs. Aliens

Film Reviews

Monsters vs. Aliens Directed by: Peter Cornwell Cast (voice): Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Keifer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Paul Rudd Time: 1 hr 10 min Rating: PG

Plot:Right before Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) strolls down the aisle to marry Derek Dietl (Paul Rudd), she is struck by a meteorite that causes her to grow a hundred times her normal size. The government whisks her away to a secret facility that keeps “monsters” away from the general public. When an alien (Rainn Wilson) invades earth to harness the energy from the meteorite, the government turns to the monsters for help. Long…gasp…explanation…wheeze…

Who’s It For?Everyone will get a kick out of this movie, but I’d say it’s especially for younger and pre-teen girls.

Expectations:The previews looked cool, the idea was cool, and Seth Rogen was a

Mar 29
Mar 29 The Wolf Pack of Actors named for The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison have some new company to keep as the wolves have been past for the sequel to the Twilight vampire flick. Here's the news release from Summit Entertainment ... Summit Entertainment announced today that Native American/First Nation actors Chaske Spencer, Bronson Pelletier, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon and Tyson Houseman have signed on to star as the members of the wolf pack in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON. In the film, the wolf pack defends humans against vampires although they have a tribal history intricately entwined with Edward Cullen and his family. The wolf pack members will join Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and fellow wolf pack member Taylor Lautner in the film directed by Chris Weitz which will be released domestically November 20, 2009.

In THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

Mar 29
Mar 29 Box Office Review - March 29, 2009

Box Office

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, MARCH 27-29, 2009 Rank. Movie Title - Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. Monsters Vs. Aliens - $58.2 million | 4,104 | $58.2 million | 1

2. The Haunting in Connecticut - $23.0 million | 2,732 | $23.0 million | 1

3. Knowing - $14.7 million | 3,337 | $46.2 million | 2

4. I Love You, Man - $12.6 million | 2,717 | $37.0 million | 2

5. Duplicity - $7.6 million | 2,579 | $25.6 million | 2

Source: boxofficemojo.com

Big weekend for monsters. Monsters Vs. Aliens crushed the competition, but was on almost 1,000 more screens than anything else. And it was about $10 million short of Ice Age: The Meltdown. The creepy first half of The Haunting in Connecticut was enough to scare up

Mar 27
Mar 27 The Haunting in Connecticut

CLICK HERE for Morrow McLaughlin's complete Scorecard Review

Film Reviews

Quickcard Review The Haunting in Connecticut

Directed by: Peter Cornwell Cast: Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Elias Koteas Time: 1 hr 20 min Rating: PG 13

Plot: A teenager (Gallner) has cancer, and the family moves closer to the hospital for his treatment. But the house is an ex-mortuary. His mother (Madsen) hopes for the best, but the house is holding secrets from the past.

Who’s It For? Those who want/need the creepy stories, but are willing to overlook some flaws.

OVERALL

Going to a scary movie is kind of like a first date. Your palms get sweaty, you’re consistently nervous, and you’re just hoping for something unexpected to happen. It’s a love/hate … thing, and so is this movie.

It’s a good start. Creepy tone, scary basement, big house

Mar 26
Mar 26 Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks Animation Promotes Monsters vs. Aliens

David Pohl

Articles

DreamWorks CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg is excited about, Monsters vs. Aliens. So excited in fact that he traveled the country to show clips and discuss the new 3D technology DreamWorks employs in this animated film. In December, Katzenberg made the trip to Seattle despite the unusually snowy weather. Before the clips roll, Katzenberg gives a brief presentation on his view of 3D. He recalls two major revolutions in film to date. The first was when films went from silent to “talkies” in the 1920s, the second was the arrival of color in the 1930s. Katzenberg believes 3D might be the next great revolution in film.

Katzenberg remembers the old 3D movies as, “my father's 3D,” with the blue and red filter glasses, also known as anaglyph. He goes on to explain the first

Mar 26
Mar 26 The Haunting in Connecticut

Film Reviews

The Haunting in Connecticut Directed by: Peter Cornwell Cast: Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Elias Koteas Time: 1 hr 20 min Rating: PG 13

Plot:A mother (Madsen) moves into a creepy ex-mortuary in order to be closer to the hospital, where her son (Gallner) is receiving chemotherapy. Like you’d expect from a creepy ex-mortuary, the house turns out to be possessed by a gaggle of ill-tempered spirits.

Who’s It For? Ghost story addicts, such as myself.

Expectations: I’ve reached the point where I assume any American made ghost story is going to amount to little more than a pile of caca, but I was still ready to be entertained. My expectations were suitably, though not pessimistically, low.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors: Virginia Madsen as Sara Campbell: Madsen has very little impact on the movie’s effectiveness. Here and there she has some quasi-real

Mar 26
Mar 26 TOP 7 Bromance Film Duos of the Past Decade

Top 7

Bro-mance. (n., adj., v.) 1. Love between two heterosexual dudes that soars past regular friendship and does an intimate waltz around the line of platonic-ness 2. An alternative type of romance that, while it may at times be obstructed by women, will be rooted solely in the strong bond between two men 3. More than just friends...but not in that way

This list has been made in honor of the hilarious I Love You, Man, (go see it now!!!) but the truth is that the art of the bromance has actually existed for thousands of years; (maybe starting at Cain and Abel ... or not). This special relationship has been continued by many great figures of cinema (like Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa), and the recognition continues to this very day. In

Mar 25
Mar 25 Nicole Kidman joins Brolin, Hopkins in Woody Allen's new film

The new Woody Allen film has just added another name to its giant constellation of a cast. Nicole Kidman has just signed on to star in the writer-director's next film, which is set to start filming in London this summer. The cast list already includes a whopping amount of talent. Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto, Antonio Banderas and Naomi Watts are all on board to help make one of Woody's most heavily cast films.

The project still has no title (and won't have one for a while), and will be produced by Letty Aronson, Steve Tenenbaum, and Jaume Roures. It will be financed by Mediapro, the Spanish company that funded Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Whatever Works, Woody's latest film, finally has a stateside theatrical release date of June 19.

Source: Variety

Mar 25
Mar 25 Penn, Carrey and Del Toro to be Farrelly's Three Stooges

Casting is almost finalized for The Three Stooges, a film using the classic comedic trio to be made by the Farrelly Brothers and produced by MGM. So far, Sean Penn and Jim Carrey are signed on to the project. Penn will play Larry, and Carrey is in negotiations to play Curly. The actor has already made plans to gain forty pounds for the role, which will put his weight very close to that of the original Jerome "Curly" Howard.

Benicio Del Toro is targeted by the studio to play the role of Moe.

According to Variety, the film is not a biopic, but rather a "comedy built around the antics of the three characters that [Moe, Larry, and Curley] played in the Columbia Pictures shorts. It is unclear whether this will be some

Mar 24
Mar 24 Quantum of Solace

DVD Review Quantum of Solace

Directed by: Marc Forster Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins Rating: PG-13

Plot: James Bond (Daniel Craig) picks up right where he left off … kicking arse. Still seeking revenge for the death of his true love Vesper (who betrayed him), Bond encounters Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), an environmentalist who has sinister motives.

Who’s It For? Action fans will flock. No romance this time … and if all you care about is gadgets and villains … take a deep breath, you aren’t getting your fill here.

Movie: How can we care? Heavy on action, but still light on what made the Bond films truly tick. There are no memorable gadgets, no super villains

Mar 24
Mar 24 Marley & Me

DVD Review Marley & Me

Directed by: David Frankel Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Anniston, Eric Dane, Alan Arkin Running Time: 2 hrs and 3 mins Rating: PG

Plot: A couple's life completely changes when an excited, naughty puppy enters their life. John (Wilson) eventually finds his voice at a newspaper when he starts talking about his dog, Marley. Based on the best-selling book by John Grogan.

Who's It For? Wait for it, wait for it ... This one is for the dogs. Zing!

Movie: Wilson is a perfectly cast, mild mannered man, which is saying a lot because of his previous high intensity comedic characters in his past. At the center, this is all about a man's relationship with his dog. They don't oversell the cute, and they move

Mar 24
Mar 24 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five

DVD Review Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five

Directed by: Raman Hui Cast (voice): Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman Time: 30 min for the movie, 60 + min for the extras Rating: PG

Plot: Master Shifu asks Po to teach a group of youngsters that Kung Fu isn’t just about kicking butt and taking names. To illustrate the point, Po tells the kids the story behind Mantis, Crane, Tigress, Viper, and Monkey.

Who’s It For? If you’re younger than 13, you should be a fan of the original Kung Fu Panda, otherwise you’ll probably be bored. However, this DVD is phenomenal for children.

Movie: The animation is as wonderful as it was in the original KFP (Kung Fu Panda for the cool kids) with all the back-story and

Mar 24
Mar 24 He said - She said ... I Love You, Man

He Said - She Said

It's time for another installment of He Said/She Said with the bromance I Love You, Man. It's She (Morrow McLaughlin) and He (Nick Allen).

She Said

I feel like I spend the majority of these dialogues bitching and moaning and I was really hoping to dole out some kudos this time around the block--especially when the previews looked so funny and there is nothing that perks me up quite like a fun buddy movie. I love Paul Rudd, I love Jason Segel, I love the idea...it should've been one big love fest that ended with me pirouetting happily around the theater.

Instead, I spent most of my time trying to force myself to laugh so I could talk myself into liking it, thus, putting myself in a position to not be the big downer

Mar 24
Mar 24 To Catch A Thief - 2-Disc Centennial Collection

DVD Review To Catch A Thief - 2-Disc Centennial Collection

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock Cast: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams Running Time: 1 hr 46 mins Rating: Not Rated Due out: 3/24/09

Plot: A reformed jewel thief (Grant) must find out who is behind robberies similar to his old style before he is pinned with the crimes themselves.

Who's It For? Lovers of Hitchcock and Cary Grant fans - but if you're either of those, you've probably already seen this.

Movie: There's nothing like a good Hitchcock film, especially with an iconic coupling like Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. The action here is exciting. It's fun, intelligent fare from a director more than capable of giving us a wonderful, twisting tour of the French Riviera. This

Mar 24
Mar 24 The Odd Couple: Centennial Collection - 2 Disc

DVD Review The Odd Couple: Centennial Collection - 2 Disc

Directed by: Gene Saks Cast: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau Running Time: 1 hr 45 mins Rating: G Due out: 3/24/09

Plot: Based on Neil Simon's award winning play, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are Felix and Oscar, two best friends who decide to live with each other out of necessity. Hilarious chaos ensues when their radically different lifestyles begin to drive each other crazy.

Who's It For? Fans of comedies and overall great films. This re-release of The Odd Couple will invite and re-invite viewers into the famous filthy apartment co-habitated by the neurotic Felix and the disgusting Oscar.

Movie: The chemistry of Lemmon and Matthau has prevailed in other movies, but here it's easy to see why this is

Mar 23
Mar 23 Anne Hathaway - Getting Happy for Judy Garland