The Scorecard Review

The Muppets for the month of May. We are truly blessed here in Portland. Thank you, Northwest Film Center. And now to make sure this is in your head the rest of the day ... It's time to play the music It's time to light the lights It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight.

It's time to put on makeup It's time to dress up right It's time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight.

Why do we always come here I guess we'll never know It's like a kind of torture To have to watch the show

And now let's get things started Why don't you get things started It's time to get things started On the most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational This is what we call the Muppet Show

The Northwest Film Center presents: MUPPETS™, MUSIC & MAGIC: JIM

Apr 22
Apr 22 High School Musical's Hudgens to get Beastly

High School Musical sweetheart Vanessa Hudgens is set to star in a modern adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast" called Beastly. The film is set to be directed by Daniel Barnz using a script he adapted from a book by Alex Flinn. A modern twist, the New York City-based story is about a 17-year-old mean girl who is changed into something awful in order to find true love.

Beastly will be one of the first projects from CBS Films, and will be produced by Susan Cartsonis through her company Storefront Films.

This fluffy role sounds harmless, especially for someone as bubble gum as Hudgens. Ain't no shame in making another movie that tries to get kids to stop being brats. Beastly may not be a monster hit, but it'll probably surpass Disney-channel-movie-like expectations

Apr 22
Apr 22 Disney's Earth

Quickcard Review Disney's Earth

Directed by: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins Rating: G

Plot: The first documentary from Disney Nature, shows the life of animals on our planet for one year, with the focus on polar bears, elephants and whales.

Who’s It For? You would think this is a film to held get your kids excited about the environment, but that's a stretch. It's really for people too lazy to go out and rent the 11-part series from Discovery's "Planet Earth" 11-part series.

Expectations: Following three animal families over the course of the year, with Disney's magic tough, narrated by James Earl Jones ... what's not to like there?

OVERALL

It just feels like cheating. This is the exact footage used in the "Planet Earth" series. They leave that information out during the previews

Apr 22
Apr 22 30 Days of Night's David Slade to helm Twilight's Eclipse

The list just keeps growing. Another name of potential directors for the Eclipse, the third film of the Twilight saga, has been thrown into the pot. Joining the likes of Drew Barrymore, Paul Weitz, and even Orphanage director Juan Antonio Bayona, David Slade is reportedly also being considered.

Slade is known for 30 Days of Night and Hard Candy, two films from different sides of the horror spectrum that are both grounded in a dedication to reality.

Nikki Finke is reporting that producing company Summit Entertainment has met with Slade, and that the director has also met with Twilight author Stephanie Meyer.

If you really think about it, Slade would be an excellent choice for the series. Hard Candy offered some tasty thrills, while also delivering a visual style (various color tints) to make

Apr 21
Apr 21 Notorious - DVD

DVD Reviews

DVD Review Notorious

Directed by: George Tillman, Jr. Cast: Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett Running Time: Theatrical Version- 2 hrs, 3 mins, Director's Cut - 2 hrs 9 mins Rating: R Due out: April 21st

Plot: The life of rapper Christopher Wallace (Jamal Woolard), famously known as Biggie Smalls, a.k.a The Notorious B.I.G.

Who's It For? This movie was made for all, but it cares most about pleasing the fans. Outsiders might fall behind at the introduction of characters or events that are skirted through - that or become even more aware of the film's typicalness.

Movie: Notorious hip-hops from one event to the next, all with the overall feel of a movie that is birthed by the ground of which it dies (Vh1). Key moments of Biggie's life seem to be told with cheesy imagination - not

Apr 21
Apr 21 Columbia Pictures ready to start work on third Da Vinci Code film

After a successful release of the big screen adaptation of author Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, Columbia Pictures started work on the second book in the series. Angels and Demons will hit theaters May 15 starring Tom Hanks and now Variety reports that Columbia is already looking forward to start adapting the third book The Lost Symbol. Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol won't be published until September this year, but sources say the manuscript has been completed. Since Sony has rights to the Robert Langdon character, they will get first crack at negotiating a deal on the new title. After the worldwide success of the first film, Sony should do whatever it takes to secure the third book. It's too early to tell if Tom Hanks will make it back

Apr 21
Apr 21 Breaking Dawn, the final Twilight film, in the works

The fourth and final film in the popular Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, is in the early planning stages, reports TheWrap.com. The second film in the series, New Moon, is currently shooting in Vancouver and is scheduled to be released in Fall 2009 after an accelerated post-production. The third film, Eclipse, will begin production in late summer this year.

With the rate Summit Entertainment is turning these films it's no surprise to hear rumors of the fourth in the series. Summit spokesman Paul Pflug, however, gave no comment and an anonymous executive denied any production plans.

Fans of the series will have to take comfort in getting at least the first three Twilight films and wait to see what happens with Breaking Dawn.

Source: TheWrap.com

Apr 20
Apr 20 The Wrestler - DVD

DVD Reviews

DVD Review The Wrestler

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood Running Time: 1 hr 45 mins Rating: R

Plot: Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a wrestling legend in the 80s, but now after 20 years, Randy is still holding on to the spotlight. He’s stuck wrestling in school gyms and small venues, just scraping by in life. When he’s hit with a heart problem, Randy looks around at his life and sees a stripper (Tomei) and an estranged daughter (Wood) and that’s it.

Who's It For? This is a character study, with Rourke in almost every shot. It isn’t completely necessary but it sure does help if you watched wrestling in your lifetime or at least banged your head to

Apr 19
Apr 19 Box Office Review - April 19, 2009

Box Office

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, APRIL 17-19, 2009 Rank. Movie Title - Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. 17 Again - $24.1 million | 3,255 | $24.1 million | 1

2. State of Play - $14.1 million | 2,803 | $14.1 million | 1

3. Monsters Vs. Aliens - $12.9 million | 3,662 | $162.7 million | 4

4. Hannah Montana: The Movie - $12.7 million | 3,118 | $56.1 million | 2

5. Fast and Furious - $12.3 million | 3,674 | $136.7 million | 3

Source: boxofficemojo.com

Russel Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren and more couldn't compete with Zac Efron at the box office this weekend. 17 Again wins, and Crank: High Voltage doesn't even crack the top 5. Efron's short career already has him on top thrice at

Apr 17
Apr 17 Soffia Coppola's next film Somewhere with Stephen Dorff

Focus Features joined Sofia Coppola to make Lost in Translation, and now they'll do it again with Somewhere. But she's decided on Stephen Dorff instead of someone like Bill Murray ... I just don't see it. Here's the press release. NEW YORK, April 16, 2009 – Reuniting with the film company with which she made the Academy Award-winning hit Lost in Translation, writer/director Sofia Coppola will make her next movie, Somewhere, with Focus Features. Somewhere will star Stephen Dorff (soon to be seen in Public Enemies) and Elle Fanning (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Ms. Coppola is also reteamed with Pathé, which will have rights to the film in France, Benelux, and Switzerland; and Tohokushinsa, which will hold rights to the film in Japan

Apr 17
Apr 17 Crank - High Voltage

Crank: High Voltage Directed by: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor Cast: Jaosn Statham, Amy Smart, Ling Bai, Dwight Yokam, David Carridane, Corey Haim Running Time: 1 hr 25 mins Rating: R

Plot: Someone has stolen Chev Chelios' (Statham) heart, in this continuation of the Crank series. So he needs to find it, right? Right.

Who's it For? Mindless action speed demons. This movie is fast and furious with no sign of Paul Walker. There's plenty of others with bad acting abilities though, so the man's not missed.

Expectations: The first one didn't hit me like it should have. I was annoyed. Maybe it was the SCS (shaky camera syndrome) where you couldn't avoid getting vomitous. Or perhaps it was the sex scene in front of the school bus that rubbed me the wrong way.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors: Jason Statham as Chev

Apr 17
Apr 17 State of Play

Thomas Pardee

State of Play Directed by: Kevin Macdonald Cast: Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren Running Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Rating: PG-13

Plot: The mysterious death of a capital hill research assistant unfolds into political scandal after congressman Stephen Collins (Affleck) admits he was having an affair with her. Meanwhile seasoned Washington Globe reporter Cal McAffrey (Crowe), Collins' old college roommate, can't seem decide whether his strained friendship with the troubled congressman is worth not cashing in on his exclusive access to the central source in the biggest story of the year. But the more McAffrey, along with his spitfire assistant Della Frye (McAdams), investigates the death of the assistant, the closer he's led to PointCorp, one of the nations largest private arms dealers, which is about to sign a multi-billion-dollar government contract

Apr 17
Apr 17 17 Again

Morrow McLaughlin

17 Again Directed by: Burr Steers Cast: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry Time: 1 hr 30 min Rating: PG 13

Plot: Mike O’Donnell (Adult, Perry) yearns to relive his senior year in order to undo past mistakes. When a janitorial “spirit guide” hears O’Donnell bemoaning his lost youth, he arranges for O’Donnell to fall off a bridge into a magical whirlpool that transforms O’Donnell into a teenager (Efron). Yes, it’s inches from purple cows in tutus, but just go with it, people.

Who’s It For? Hard one…on the surface it’s dressed up for teenaged girls, but there is a surprisingly poignant undercurrent of “What if?” for unhappy adults. Zac Efron is there for the tweeny-boppers, but under all the eye-candy and fluff, the movie has some heart to it.

Expectations: Low-de-low-low. I expected

Apr 16
Apr 16 Zac Efron wants to remake Back to the Future

Great Scott! Will Zac Efron just leave the 80's alone? Speaking to Teen Hollywood, the High School Musical and 17 Again star was all jazzed up about playing the role made classic by Michael J. Fox. Much of his enthusiasm seems to come from his childhood, as he told the website: "Growing up, my favorite thing was to go into the car and play Back to the Future. I would pretend I was Marty McFly."

On top of this, Efron even has his own DeLorean, which was reportedly given to him by his grandfather.

As concerned as I may be, I'm also confused. Did this mean Efron used to play with the car radio or obtain plutonium illegally?

For the record, there has indeed been talk of another Back to the Future - but

Apr 16
Apr 16 Will Arnett talks about Arrested Development Movie

Hopefully this isn't another con from the Bluth family. The heavily-anticipated film adaptation of the cult TV series has just gotten a small update from one of its key players, actor Will Arnett. For those unfamiliar with the show, Arnett plays a struggling magician who is a member of the uber dysfunctional Bluth Family. The show (and later the film), includes actors like Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Portia De Rossi and David Cross.

Speaking to MTV News, Arnett offered a few words on the status of the project. He said: "There's no script as of right now, but it's something that Mitch [Hurwitz] is actively working on and getting ready for, and we're hoping to start shooting by the end of the year. I know that's one of the goals. There are a

Apr 15
Apr 15 TOP 7 Body Switching Comedies

Megan Lehar

Top 7

We start the Top 7. You finish the Top 10. One minute you're a pimple covered teen railing at the injustice of adults, the next you are an adult! Welcome to the improbable world of body switching comedies. Kirk Cameron and Fred Savage failed to launch film careers from such auspicious beginnings, but that hasn't deterred Zac Efron from taking his shot in 17 Again. He's not totally copying his illustrious predecessors, 17 Again is more of a body getting a second chance than parent-and-child-switching-places type film, but the principle's the same. Who doesn't wish they were an adult as a teen? What adult doesn't consider what he or she would do differently if given the chance to be a teen again? And who doesn't love the

Apr 14
Apr 14 After Terminator Salvation McG may do "Spring Awakening"

Filmmaker McG is in talks to direct and produce a big screen adaptation of the Broadway rock musical "Spring Awakening." The story of "Spring Awakening" is set in 19th-century Germany and follows a group of teens as they discover their sexuality and deal with sensitive topics like abortion, rape and suicide. Writer Steven Slater and rocker Duncan Sheik based the musical on an 1891 German play.

According to The Hollywood Reporter McG, who is wrapping up directing Terminator Salvation, fits well with the project. He got his start in the music business as a songwriter and video director and has maintained a finger on the teen pulse by producing shows like "The O.C." and "Chuck". Is there anything he can't do?

Source: Hollywoodreporter.com

Apr 14
Apr 14 Mark Wahlberg and James Franco join Date Night

Variety reports that Mark Wahlberg and James Franco have signed on for supporting roles behind Steve Carell and Tina Fey in the upcoming comedy Date Night. Director and producer Shawn Levy had a goal of filling all the supporting roles for Date Night "with formidable actors." Levy mentioned, "People just kept saying yes." He followed by saying, "I think people just really wanted to work with Tina and Steve." Those that also said yes include, Leighton Meester, Common, Taraji P. Henson and Kristen Wiig.

The comedy revolves around a married couple (Carell and Fey) who find themselves in trouble after their regular Date Night goes horribly wrong.

I'm looking forward seeing this film on my date night when it releases in 2010.

Source: Variety

Apr 13
Apr 13 Box Office Review - April 11, 2009