tagged w/ Rampant Speculation
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Ok, the love affair's over--until tomorrow afternoon when the Out of Competition films ( read: ones made with studio money to truly be independent) are announced.
But till then, let's do a little glancing at what we've got to whet our whistles till then.
U.S. Documentary Competition: Know Your Possible Buzz Films
Bhutto:
-Duane Baughman Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O'Hara dissect the life and after events of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
CASINO JACK & The United States of Money
-The 800-lb pink gorilla in competition is Alex Gibdney's doc about Jack Abramoff. Definitely has the possibility to be one of the most buzzed docs.
Freedom Riders
-Based on the Civil Rights protests wherein riders would defy Southern states' segregation laws.
I’m Pat _______ Tillman
Amir Bar-Lev (My Kid Could Paint That) puts his camera on the story of Pat Tillman during a year that's expected to have Afghanistan back on everyone's tongues. Of course, it'll be discussed and it'll sell.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
-"From the Director of Billy Madison and CB4..."
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
-Like Heckler but with a bit more work put into it.
Lucky
-The latest doc from Jeffrey Blitz, who rocked socks with 2002's Spellbound. Using something as polarizing as the lottery system to rally the troops makes this a definite maybe when it comes to the common people vote.
The Oath
-Another "Middle Eastern" doc, but with focus on the other side of that War on Terror. Namely, the Terror.
Restrepo
-The hat trick for Middle East docs is made up by Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington takes hold with the "War" aspect against those "Terror" guys in a valley.
Smash His Camera
-Leon Gast profiles and presents paparazzo Ron Galella. This could be our big contender for the year in doc.
Waiting for Superman
-Davis Guggenheim takes on the public school system. Woo boy.
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U.S. Dramatic Competition:
Blue Valentine
-Derek Clanfrance's "complex portrait of an American marriage" has Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams and its' poster advertising "From the Executive Producers of Half Nelson" are good to go for the Sundance rope-a-dope. Not much else.
Douchebag
-Drake Doremus returns for a consecutive year to Sundance with something that has three actors for his previous entry, Spooner, and the editor of Spooner into an acting role.
Hesher
-Joseph Gordon-Levitt as "a loner...He has long greasy hair, a baby mustache, a Metallica t-shirt and homemade tattoos." And he's the "mentor and tormentor" to young T.J. Oh, then he moves in. And there's also Natalie Portman. I smell success! Get the rights to Enter Sandman, now!
Howl
-James Franco as Allen Ginsberg means you could put spikes in front of this screening and people would still throw themselves at it.
Obsellidia
-"A lonely librarian believes love is obsolete until a road trip to Death Valley with a beguiling cinema projectionist teaches..."...zzzzzzz.
Sympathy for Delicious
-1) Mark Ruffalo directing. 2) Faith healers. 3) Ruffalo as a Jesus Freak DJ. 4) ????? 5) Profit...?
Welcome to the Rileys
-Alternate Title: "We have Bella." And the twitter is fascinating.
What about the World selections? No side and no clue. Till tomorrow.
Ok, the love affair's over--until tomorrow afternoon when the Out of... more
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Kidding!
But really, the question of why Shutter Island was the first to feel Paramount's economic shortcomings is still a bit of a question. The easy answer is that without Scorsese and DiCaprio, Paramount can push all of its' resources behind the only other Fall Awards Contenders, Up in the Air and The Lovely Bones. Not to mention it's more cost effective.
Still, in the world of online speculation, you don't get much better than the information that a graphic novel of the novel by Dennis Lehane ( "the first graphic novel adaptation" reveal Splash Page and ICv2! Ooh!)
In fact, I lied to you, dear reader. This is no where near a manga. It's just being released by TokyoPop.
Not to mention it's a drawn adaptation of a novel that has nothing to do with the delay of Shutter Island. But it sure is interesting how neither MTV or ICv2 point out when this project was originally slated for, since it would've been released nearly three months after the film came out. Then the news of a graphic novel based on a Dennis Lehane book would be as interesting as news of a graphic novel based on a Dennis Lehane book.
[MTV Splash Page; img via ICv2]
-John Lichman
Kidding!
But really, the question of why Shutter Island was the first to feel... more
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While he honored Bong Joon-ho's monster in our Top 5 Aliens and Monsters, still shots leaked today of the creature that'll be used in The Host 2, a sequel that will have none of the original cast or talent involved returning. Anyway, Twitch has the most interesting take on the news regarding the film's funding and talent. CHUD is excited about it.
And yet, it's a test photo for CGI.Seriously. It was done quick and dirty to get a contract.
So, who cares? Go home already.
[If you want to see the photo, click here for DAUM]
-John Lichman
While he honored Bong Joon-ho's monster in our Top 5 Aliens and Monsters,... more
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As the working week continues, so do we with the important news of the day, which includes a brief flash guide to indie/independent, Robert Downey Jr. casting rumors debunked and James McAvoy proving Wanted did wonders for his career.
Rarely do I remember to watch, but Strong Bad finally explains indie film vs. independent film. [Current]
Despite an article from the London Mirror, Brad Pitt isn't joining Sherlock Holmes. [MTV Movies Blog]
James McAvoy will star in I'm With Cancer, true-life role of a screenwriter who battled cancer throughout his 20s. [Current]
SPECULATION ABOUT WHIPLASH IN IRON MAN 2 DUE TO A COMIC BOOK PROMO PAGE. [io9]
Peter Jackson talks Tintin--so 3/4s of the world cares while America goes "HUH." [MTV Splash Page]
Quentin Tarantino has 20 favorite films. Shockingly, BATTORU RUUUU-OYAL is one. [Movieline]
And now, the New Moon trailer, because none of you saw Bandslam. [Current]
As the working week continues, so do we with the important news of the day, which... more
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[youtube 1uS5b8aQ6z8]
Now that Voltron: Defender of the Universe is suddenly on the minds and hearts of news outlets right before San Diego Comic-Con, the question stands: just what the fuck is a Voltron?
Well, that question is on the minds of old white dudes in suits who are waiting to see if this crazy Japanese thing can make as much money as another import (Transformers). Both Latino Review and CHUD got a glimpse at Justin Marks' script back in 2007, nearly two years prior to the release of Marks' first script-to-screen epic: the 4-percent Rotten Street Fighter: Legend of Chun Li.
While Marks' script is still the current working version, or at least the only known one by The Hollywood Reporter, just what was involved with it?
Well, first off according to Jeremy Smith:
[It] takes place five years after the Earth has been ravaged by their Robeast overlords. Marks flatters himself by depicting his world as "a cross between Escape from New York and a Vonnegut apocalypse fantasy". He does not cite a particular Vonnegut tome because he clearly has not read one. Better, then, to rephrase his post-apocalyptic setting as "a cross between 1990: The Bronx Warriors and Tom Sizemore's bedroom".
El Mayimbe continues the sentiment:
Also, none of the elements that made Voltron corny are in the script – no Nanny, no Hagar, and especially no fucking space mice! In fact, no corniness at all!
Here is the setup: The Drules have invaded Earth and kicked our ass in the ONE DAY WAR. Humanity has gone underground. New York has been decimated and our story opens on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Drule invasion. Think about it, Earth was conquered by an Alien race in 24 hours.
The deep irony of these script reviews is that Transformers had just been released in the summer of 2007, so Giant 80s Robots were en vogue a touch. Marks' script deemed the story of five heroes who fight against inter-galatic despots needed to be darker. This involves gruff landscapes, scorched earth, a damaged child who happens to be a technological whiz and Robot Lions made out of spare parts.
No. Really:
Allura disappears into the compound with one of the blue keys, and when she remerges on page 36, she does so in a giant fucking machine in the shape of a colossal, 50 foot tall Lion, assembled entirely out of Earth bound parts. A C-130H tailgate has been used for the mouth, complete with traffic spikes for the teeth. The glass dome of an A6E Intruder cockpit has been soldered onto the head. All of this stands on top of four legs, refashioned from four construction excavator claws.
It's like someone saw Transformers and decided to take the worst parts from it. Then comes the references to alien cultures, to Robeasts, to fights spanning the entire planet. But ultimately, this is an origin story where the giant robot battle takes place in the final five minutes before setting the stage for a sequel.
Again, frightening how the Transformers model would become the default for dumb, dark kids' movies. Luckily, it can only get better from here. Right?
Right? Well, no. It's a dumb kids show that, as Jeremy points out, entertained us for brief periods between homework. But in a weird way, I want this film. Despite the fact that I'll be annoyed with it, overtly critique it and claim it should be set in space, I'd still see this. It's ingrained into my nerd psyche because I grew up on begging my parents for all five Lions when only one was left. My entire childhood was spent with the Black Lion, desperately forming an invisible Voltron to combat against Ninja Turtles and random kaiju.
At least with the new Voltron movie, I can finally get the other Lions. But still live in a world of bleak, post-apocalyptic disappointment, since they'll be Bay-ified Robot Lions. Le sigh!
-John Lichman[youtube 1uS5b8aQ6z8]
Now that Voltron: Defender of the Universe is suddenly on the... more
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