Caffeinated Clint
I notice I’ve got about thirty messages about my Facebook account (either from readers, producers wanting me to plug their new $2 bargain bin horror epic, illerrate guys from Kansas who want to know when the next “Dukes” movie will be out, or my folks – wondering why I don’t call home anymore) so I thought I better let you all know that it might be a while before I get around to replying to you. I’m really swamped at the moment, and honestly, don’t have much time for Facebook at the moment. It might be easier to get hold of me at Twitter; that seems to take less effort and time. Enjoy your weekend- Clint Morris, Editor
Clint’s Bits – Various News Items for 1/5/09
– You gotta give them points for trying to make an OK movie. Platinum Dunes’ has rounded up one heck-of-a-cast for it’s curious remake of “A Nightmare On Elm Street”. In addition to Oscar Nominee Jackie Earle Haley, Thomas Dekker (Personally, I think his “Sarah Connor Chronicles” John Connor is the best incarnation of the character to date) and foxy Katie Cassidy (“Black Christmas”), Bloody Disgusting says genre favourite Clancy Brown (who’ll always be the maniacal dead-dad from “Pet Sematary Two” for me – no? don’t remember it?) has also jumped aboard. Brown, who also starred in “Highlander” and “Starship Troopers”, will play a character named ‘Allen’ – I assume he meets his end thanks to the sharp end of a glove?
– The final cut (despite being advertised as a ‘workprint’) has been readily available on the internet for over a month now, and the reviews have been less than gracious, and yet “X-Men Origins : Wolverine” has still been packing them into the theaters since it opened in the U.S on Friday. The feature-length ‘Muscle Mag’ commercial, which is now the fourth biggest May opener to date, made $34.75 million on Friday and will likely come to close to hitting $90 million by the end of the weekend. It hasn’t opened as big as “X-Men : The Last Stand”, but I think it’s safe to say it’s still a success, thus expect to see more “X-Men” adventures – like the “Magneto” spin-off, and the kid-friendly “X-Men : The First Class” – up-and-going sooner rather than later.
– Only a month or so away from “Terminator Salvation” now. Trailer Addict has a bunch of TV spots & viral material up for the flick.Ab King needs a new set of underoos!
– “I just wanted to check in with you about Universal Pictures’ Bruno, which opens in theaters on July 10. The official website (www.meinspace.com/bruno) showcases a lot more of the hilarious Bruno, and more than 70,000 people have already friended him! If you could please share the official website with your readers on your site, I’d greatly appreciate it!”. No, we don’t do plugs here.
– Owners of “Star Trek : The Original Serie on Blu-ray will be able to access daily reports from FEDCON, Europe’s largest “Star Trek” convention, for direct download from the disc’s BD-Live portal. Apart from the additional information and exclusive videos and trailers provided via BD-Live, videos of the highlights at FEDCON will be available for download. May is indeed the month of being ‘beamed up’ isn’t it? (just ask Tommy Lee).
– The excellent ‘Jaws’ documentary “The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of JAWS” will make its world premiere Saturday, May 2nd at the Los Angeles United Film Festival. Apparently the version I saw, which run for about 3 hours, has been edited down to 130 minutes.
– Universal Studios Hollywood has announced a welcome overhaul of its Studio Tour. The current fleet of trams will be turned into mobile movie theaters, complete with Hi-Def monitors and customizable digital playback systems. The new Hi-Def monitors will feature commentary from filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Stephen Sommers, along with insight from such personalities as Whoopi Goldberg.
– Dimension have announced that they’ll be finally (what is it with this gang?! Do they just make films to brag to their friends, but don’t actually intended on releasing them – unless pressured by the online community?) releasing John Hillcoat’s “The Road”. The Viggo Mortensen-starrer, rumoured to have been delayed due to some special effects work that needed a polish, will hit theaters on October 16.
– Is Michael Sheen (“Frost/Nixon”, “Underworld : Rise of the Lycans”) playing a villain in “Tron 2”? Slashfilm seems to think it’s possible.
– One of the best new shows of 2009, NBC’s gritty police-drama “Southland”, has been picked up for a second season. According to Variety, Warner Bros. TV got the nod late Friday for a 13-episode renewal of the Ben McKenzie-starrer which has performed respectable since its bow last month as a late midseason entry. It’s a terrific show, and good to see C.Thomas Howell back in something good, too. Speaking of shows getting a second season, “Party Down” star Martin Starr doesn’t know whether they’ll be back for more. He is, however, available. Starr also tells Slashfilm that Jennifer Coolidge (“American Pie”) will replace Jane Lynch (“Step Brothers”) on the show later this season.
– “Underworld”-franchise co-creator Kevin Grevioux will make his directing debut on the adaptation of his graphic novel, “The Pale Horsemen,” says Variety. Grevioux will also pen the script. “Horsemen” is described as a supernatural thriller that revolves around a gang of hit men who are forced to work together to uncover who killed their mentor.
– Screen Gems has tapped Benson Lee to adapt his award-winning breakdancing documentary “Planet B-Boy” into a feature to be produced by Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson of Contrafilm, says The Hollywood Reporter.
– “Sony Pictures Home Entertainment presents an event that will slime the world”…. begins the trailer for the upcoming “Ghostbusters” Blu-Ray, now playing at BDTV.
– Alex Winter (Bill from “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”), currently directing a remake of “The Gate”, will also helm a new pic titled “We’re Here to Help”, starring Alan Rickman.
– Upon reading my request for “Point Break Indo” information in last week’s Mailbag, ‘Tom’ got in touch to tell us newcomer Matt Gerard, who played Tommy Hisk on “The Shield”, has snagged a role in the film. He joins the previously-announced Rick Otto and Damian Walshe-Howling.
– Rumour has it that Zhang Yimou has purchased the remake rights to the Coen Brothers’ 1984 classic “Blood Simple”. Sun Honglei, Ni Dahong Xiao Shen Yang and Wang Xiaohua are said to be among the cast.
Clint’s Bits : Film Recommendation of the Day
The Game – David Fincher’s “Se7en” follow-up, though probably considered his least successful film (in terms of how much it reaped in at the box-office anyway), is just as solid and just as terrific a film as his bravura debut. Michael Douglas is as good as ever as the, er, victim and Sean Penn at his kooky best as his one-step-from-the-looney-bun brother. James Rebhorn, an actor I don’t think has ever got enough credit, is terrific here too.
