Caffeinated Clint
From the “Talladega Nights” premiere in London
Hi from London, where we’ve been flown over to attend the “Talladega Nights : The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” premiere.
Much like Clint, I imagine, I’m knee-deep in work at the moment, being instructed by studio powers-that-be how to make “their” movie. You can fight it as much as you want, but at the end of the day, they’re the ones that are opening their wallets to make said movie, so you really have to broaden your use of the word ‘compromise’. The British even have some rather ‘different’ ideas to Yanks, too.
Clint was telling me about a situation the other day – regarding a film he’s working on, with someone/something/some place – that reminded me a lot of the whole Brandon Routh “Superman Returns” casting coup. Unfortunately, some studios still don’t care for ‘actors’, they care for ‘names’. You can see their point – they want to make money – but I do wonder how Hollywood films have survived for so long when all they do is ‘make offers’ and not hold out for the ‘best person for the job’. Now I think of it, sounds a lot like journalism….. even writing columns for movie websites…… nobody holds out for the right guy these days…. But to the point, Singer got his way (even when the WB wanted a bigger name), but I do wonder what other ‘compromises’ he had to make to get his “man”.
Knees up, Mother Monks! Knees up, Mother Monks! Under the table you must go. Ee-aye, Ee-aye, Ee-aye-oh. If I catch you bending, I’ll saw your legs right off.
Knees up, knees up, never get the breeze up. Knees up Mother Monks!
Oh my, what a rotten song. What a rotten song, what a rotten song. Oh my, what a rotten song and what a rotten singer, too-oo-ooh!
Oh the joys of a good ole London song, (despite it originally coming from France I think, adapted by myself of course).
So, Lady Monkey and me, Monks, are still here in London. I’ve been here many times before and the Princess? Well, this is her third. We’ve just been pubbing around, slurping Guinness and checking out some local bands. I kinda like our own songs we make up though. There’s a building not too far from us which is nick-named ‘The Gherkin’. It’s the Swiss Tower really, but the Gherkin is a good name. It looks out over the Thames at City Hall, which some have named ‘The Testicle’. Anyhow, Princess has a neat little song which goes something like this; “Oh, the Gherkin and the Testicle were friends. Their friendship will never ever end.” I personally believe the tune is better whistled, but as Princess finds it difficult to whistle, I tend to take over that particular quirk in our relationship.
Okay, London.. I’m finding my place here is being overrun by free newspapers. It’s becoming a turf war between rival press on the streets. I’m handed a copy of London Lite and before the person at the pitch finishes their smile of gratitude due to you taking a paper my paws are covered in print making it impossible to read anyway or at least smearing everything, making me see double.
Talking of seeing double. Lady Monkey and I watched S-Club Seeing Double the other day and um.. enjoyed it! What the..? Mind you, I couldn’t see one little bit last night due to Princess leaping on me like a cougar from a tree, wrapping a silk tie tightly around my monkey wrists and suddenly blind folding me. As much as I enjoyed it completely, I do think it was a tactic to blank out her current thoughts of “What and where am I going to be next year?” Princess? The only scary thing is you can be who and wherever you please! The scary thing is the amount of different paths you can go down. Fear not.
So, talking of fear not.
Rachel wants her ‘Mummy’
Rachel Weisz is considering the “Mummy 3”? Really? We know the Fraser will once again be Indy’s reincarnate, but the Oscar winning beauty? Thought she had been there and done that with the Mummy series. Perhaps not.
Hot Times Ahead
Meg Ryan’s gonna join Antonio Banderas, (who I saw wandering with other half in Gloucester Road the other day), in ‘Homeland Security’. Meg needs a good comedy comeback or a damn good change. Q should have got her in ‘Grind House’.
007 is screened
This one time, at Bond Camp. So, mixed feelings at a preview screening here in town the other night. You get the usual plants who subsequently post stuff on the net at these typa things, but hey, what will always be will always be. Anyways, the overall word I felt was “Craig ain’t no James Bond” and “it’s no Bond movie by any means.” But it is a relatively okay film, once finished. My spies tell me (and they’re not just your run of the mill film goers, these are insiders, my fellow simian pals). “It wants to be the Bourne Identity.” And “It wants to be a rebellious Bond flick.” and “It wants to be a 12 rated QT film.” And “It wants to be original, but ain’t.” Q and Pierce were both rejected and kicked in the face. Q wanted to fuck Bond up and Pierce woulda gone with that. Hell, didn’t Connery recommend Q a fair while back to the Brocs? Okay, I admit, the trailer looks good. There’s not enough of the Aston Martin. Bond is a little all over the place, but I’m sure that was a script problem. A three picture deal or a “let’s see how the first one goes” scenario? Anybody seen a picture of the toy? Eww.
Ruby Tuesday
Mick Jagger and the rest of the cronie Stones are being animated? Luc Besson is apparently producing with Jagger a cartoon based on the single ‘Ruby Tuesday’, set in NYC and a single Mom. A feature or TV show? I say the latter. By the way, there won’t be a “Leon” sequel now that Besson has announced his retirement from directing – unless he hands over the reigns to someone else.
‘Charlies Angels 3’ Talk
Is Drew eyeing up Pink’s Alicia Moore to be a replacement Angel in a third Charlie’s movie? She did the soundtrack for the sequel, but I’m hearing word she could be playing one third in a new Mc G helmed flick. This one has to be about the loyalty of the girls. It’s what the show was all about, Ms. Barrymore. C’mon. You’re a damn good producer. Get a good writer and make a raw, commercial, back to how it was Charlie’s Angels movie and not some competition as to who can wear the tightest clothes and look the best. It wasn’t about that!
Um….
On the up: Anna Faris, Emilio Estevez, DB Weiss (Kashmir/Halo screenplays), Holly Valance, Joel Schumacher, Helen Mirren. Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Will Ferrell, Bob Hoskins, Demi Moore and Helen Hunt (good luck with the debut)
Standing still: Oliver Stone, Luc Besson.
On the downhill slope? John Travolta, Bruce Willis.
Three Men 3?
Do I hear word on a ‘Three Men and A Young Woman’? They suggested doing a second sequel to “Three Men and a Baby” in the early 90s, called “Three Men and a Cheerleader”, but it didn’t get the go-ahead. Now that they’re – Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg & Ted Danson – all reasonably free – and Guttenberg has made a bit of a comeback, thanks to a role on TVs ‘Veronica Mars’ – Disney execs are toying with the idea of relaunching the series. I’ve even heard rumblings on who might be writing it…but that’s something for later on.
’24’ Adds 1
My favorite show ‘24’ has gotten another recruit. James Cromwell will play Kiefer’s father, Phillip Bauer. Why it wasn’t Donald, I don’t know, however.. are the two pairing up for a cameo in something soon? I’ll delve deeper.
Great Premiere last night, Will. Talladega’s a good film. Good word comes from those on the inside of Marc Forster’s ‘Stranger Than Fiction’. The Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson film with Ferrell has him with ‘real actors’. I fly the flag for the Frat Pack.
Okay, I’m out of here. Until next time.
