Manny The Movie Guy

Bradley Cooper Wants a Drug to Make Him Rich and Powerful!

Manny — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:39:12 GMT

That's only in the movies of course, Bradley Cooper doesn't need a drug to make him rich and powerful anymore. "The Hangover" star will be working on the suspense thriller "Dark Fields."

Neil Burger, the director who gave us "The Illusionist" (a criminally ignored film, if you haven't seen it yet, go rent it or buy it, it's brilliant!) is set to helm.

According to Variety, the plot is about "a designer drug that can make you rich and powerful. Eddie (Cooper) is a down-and-out New York writer until he possesses a pill that gives him the ability to access the full capacity of his brain. He soon realizes that his newfound intelligence and success come at a hefty price as mysterious forces begin to pursue him."

Leslie Dixon ("Hairspray") wrote the screenplay based on a novel by Alan Glynn. The film is set to shoot late spring of next year.

Trippy!

Timberlake, Aykroyd, Faris in Talks for "Yogi Bear"

Manny — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:24:37 GMT

"Yogi Bear" is set to delight moviegoers and he wants to bring Anna Faris, Dan Aykroyd, and Justin Timberlake along with him.

Warner Bros. is rebooting the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon with a full feature film. All the actors are in negotiations right now to star in the live-action/CG hybrid for director Eric Brevig ("Journey to the Center of the Earth).

The Hollywood Reporter tells us that, "Faris will play a nature documentarian who follows the antics of a bear in fictional Jellystone Park. Aykroyd will voice Yogi, and Timberlake could end up lending his pipes for Yogi's constant companion, Boo Boo."

Joshua Sternin and Jeff Ventimilia wrote the original script and Brad Copeland did the rewrites and the current version of the screenplay. The studio is hoping to start production in New Zealand in December.

"The Evil Dead" to Be Shown in Theaters Again!

Manny — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:07:52 GMT

Almost 30 years after its original premiere, "The Evil Dead" will rise again.

Writer-director Sam Raimi's masterpiece starring the memorable Bruce Campbell is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. So this news from Paste Magazine is truly a delicious treat!

I've only seen "The Evil Dead" in its VHS and DVD formats, so I'm looking forward to watching this fantasy-horror-thriller extravaganza on the big screen.

Paste Magazine tells us:

In 2010, the creators and Grindhouse Pictures will offer midnight showings of the cult classic at select Landmark theaters in the U.S., Mayfair Cinema in Canada, and more venues will be announced after the first of the year.

The always unconventional Campbell has this to say about the release: �Nothing can prepare an audience for what they are about to see, because nothing punishes an audience like Evil Dead � especially on the big screen. I�m really glad it�s back. People are gonna be hurt.�

"The Evil Dead" premiered in Detroit on Oct. 15th, 1981, soon after, the $375,000 film made $2.4 million at the box-office and achieved a cult status.

Count me in to buy tickets for this re-release. Now, if they can also do the same thing with "Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn," I'll be one happy camper.

"Disney's A Christmas Carol" Looks to Top Box Office! Watch My Movie Review

Manny — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:16:12 GMT

Do I look festive enough? :happy

"Disney's A Christmas Carol" spread Holiday cheer a wee bit early. And it's looking to conquer the box-office this weekend over Warner Bros.' "The Box" and Universal's "The Fourth Kind."

Read my newspaper review of "A Christmas Carol" right here, otherwise, check out my TV review, and, um, have a Merry Christmas! :happy

Here's more info about "Disney's A Christmas Carol" from Yahoo:

Cast and Credits
Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Produced by: Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey

Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk and his cheery nephew. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Animation, Adaptation, Holiday and Remake
Running Time: 1 hr. 36 min.
Release Date: November 6th, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG for scary sequences and images.
Distributors:
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Visit the film's official site right here.

"2012" the TV Show! Director Roland Emmerich Reveals!

Manny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:56:49 GMT

The disaster flick "2012" is not opening until next Friday the 13th, but now, director/producer Roland Emmerich already revealed his plans to bring his apocalyptic vision into our TV screens.

This will be one of those "gimmicky" TV shows we've all grown to love or hate. Shows like "Lost," "Heroes," and "Flash Forward."

Emmerich exclusive told Entertainment Weekly:

�The plan is that it is 2013 and it�s about what happens after the disaster,� Emmerich told EW while walking the red carpet for the 2012 premiere Tuesday. �It is about the resettling of Earth. That is very, very fascinating. (2012 writer/producer) Harald Kloser and I came up with the idea and we have the luxury of having a producer on the film who is a big TV producer, Mark Gordon. We said to Mark, �Why don�t you do a TV show that picks up where the movie leaves off and call it 2013?� I think it will focus on a group of people who survived but not on the boats � maybe they were on a piece of land that was spared or one that became an island in the process of the crust moving. There are so many possibilities of what they could do and I�d be excited to watch it.�

See what network is rumored to pick up "2012" the TV series by clicking here.

What? Oscar Talks for Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side?" Really?

Manny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:41:17 GMT

Wow, 2009 is shaping up to be Sandra Bullock's year! And she deserves it!

First, the super-affable Bullock starred in the biggest romantic comedy of the year, "The Proposal." (Check out my fun interviews with "The Proposal" cast and crew right here)

Now, many Hollywood insiders are saying, Bullock deserves an Oscar for her performance in the upcoming "The Blind Side."

Really? We've forgiven the actress for starring in the horrible "All About Steve" already? :happy

Well, let's see. "The Blind Side" is a heartwarming true life story about Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock), a Southern belle who persuades her family to take in a homeless African American teen, Michael Oher (played by Quinton Aaron).

It's an against-all-odds drama that's not manipulative nor cliched.

The Los Angeles Times is saying:

"But it's Bullock, burning up the screen as an upscale Southern woman who finds her heart and soul, who should finally earn some awards attention. It's easily her best screen work since her underrated supporting turn in "Crash," but she has yet to appear on anybody's short list of best actress candidates. (This writer excluded.)"

Read more about Bullock's chances of getting an Oscar nomination by clicking here.

UPDATE: "Ghost Rider" Sequel! Nicolas Cage to Return, and David Goyer is Taking Us to an Existential Place!

Manny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:35:51 GMT

YESTERDAY, WE SAID THIS:

Back in September, we told you that Columbia Pictures is revving up for "Ghost Rider 2."

Today, MTV News has reported that the franchise will not get an overhaul (a reboot if you may), but the tone is going to shift!

David Goyer ("Batman Begins") is toning down a script he wrote for a friendlier PG rating tone. Goyer tells MTV News:

"It's not exactly a reboot," said Goyer, who's currently hard at work on his "FlashForward" television series. "I hate to say it's more realistic, because he's got a flaming skull for a head, but it's a bit more stripped down and darker. It's definitely changing tone. What 'Casino Royale' was to the Bond movies, hopefully this will be to 'Ghost Rider.'"

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE:

Now, MTV News is exclusively reporting that Nicolas Cage is attached to return as Johnny Blaze, and we're going to an existential place with the sequel.

The "Ghost Rider" sequel is planned to "roll before cameras next year," according to Goyer, who also said that Nicolas Cage is currently still attached to the lead role of Johnny Blaze.

"This story picks up eight years after the first film," said Goyer. "You don't have to have seen the first film. It doesn't contradict anything that happened in the first film, but we're pretending that our audience hasn't seen the first film. It's as if you took that same character where things ended in the first film and then picked it up eight years later�he's just in a much darker, existential place."

As for where that existential place might be, Goyer wouldn't delve into specifics�mainly because he doesn't have to.

"My script is out there on the Internet," he said. "We're not changing much from it. It'll be significantly the same script."

Director Danny Boyle Reteams with "Slumdog Millionaire" Creative Team

Manny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:22:20 GMT

Danny Boyle is working once again with Fox Searchlight and he's bringing back his "Slumdog Millionaire" creative team with him.

Their upcoming collaboration is called "127 Hours" about the real-life tale of mountaineer Aron Ralston. You may remember the name, he's the man who nearly died pinned under a boulder during a climb in Utah in May of 2003.

For five days, Ralston's right forearm was under that boulder, so he used a dull knife to amputate himself. Take a look at this video for more of Ralston's story, and then continue reading to find out who's being rumored to play him:

Boyle is set to direct the movie. Production begins early next year for a late 2010 release, just in time for the Oscar season.

The director has written a treatment, and Simon Beaufoy is negotiating to write the script. "127 Hours" will be Boyle's fifth time around with Fox Searchlight. The director and the studio teamed up before for "Slumdog Millionaire," "Sunshine," "28 Days Later," and "Millions." Wow, I love all those films!

So who's rumored to play this meaty role? Hollywood insiders are comparing this role to the one that Tom Hanks played in "Cast Away" since the character will spend most of the time alone.

And Ryan Goslin is being rumored to star but Variety tells us that nobody is set to play the part at this point.

Zach Galifianakis to Voice Humpty Dumpty in "Puss in Boots!"

Manny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:07:02 GMT

Zach Galifianakis is having a great year thanks to the $461 million box office goldmine "The Hangover." Now, he's set to voice Humpty Dumpty in the "Shrek" spinoff "Puss in Boots."

As we told you in January, Tom Wheeler is writing the screenplay. Antonio Banderas is set to return to voice the beloved fierce feline which is great news because the actor did a terrific job with this character. He's the most memorable one for me, sorry Donkey!

Salma Hayek joins Banderas and Galifianakis to tell the story of the events leading up to Puss' first meeting with Shrek and company in the second film. It's a prequel of sorts.

Chris Miller, who co-directed and co-wrote "Shrek the Third," is set to direct the animated flicks. He also wrote an earlier draft of the screenplay.

"Puss in Boots" will meow into theaters Nov. 4th of 2011, but prior to that, we'll see the character again in the fourth installment of "Shrek" called "Shrek Forever After."

He's a very busy pussy indeed!

Johnny Depp May Join Angelina Jolie in "The Tourist!" What About "Pirates 4?"

Manny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:45:19 GMT

May is the operative word here because for now, Johnny Depp is just in talks to star with Angelina Jolie in "The Tourist." The film is cursed by the Hollywood gods! The remake of the 2005 French thriller "Anthony Zimmer" has gone through so many major changes.

First, Bharat Nalluri was set to direct Tom Cruise and Charlize Theron. Then, Cruise left and Sam Worthington entered.

Soon after, Nalluri left and Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck joined to helm. Then, Theron exited and Jolie entered.

Then, both Worthington and von Donnersmarck left.

Are you still with me?

We heard that Worthington and von Donnersmarck left due to creative differences.

"The Tourist" tells the story of an American tourist who goes undercover to entrap an ex-lover. That ex-lover is also a suspected global criminal.

Depp is negotiating to play the tourist while Jolie is set to play an Interpol agent who is attempting to locate a criminal who was once her lover.

Julian Fellowes wrote the original script; Christopher McQuarrie and Jeffrey Nachmanoff did rewrites.

Hollywood is going gaga over the prospect of a Depp-Jolie partnership; meanwhile, I'm going bonkers because director Alfonso Cuaron is said to be interested. I respect Cuaron's vision!

You know what's also surprising? Depp being interested in making this film. He was expected to make either the fourth installment of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, or "The Lone Ranger" for Disney. But Depp loudly expressed his disappointment over the untimely exit of ex-Disney chairman Dick Cook. So maybe, that's the reason the actor is turning his back on the house of mouse and embracing the prospect of working with Sony for "The Tourist."

All I'm saying is the studio better get their act together because the targeted start date of February is coming very soon.