Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gif Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Cinematical Seven: Favorite Will Ferrell Man-Childrenhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/cinematical-seven-favorite-will-ferrell-man-children/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/cinematical-seven-favorite-will-ferrell-man-children/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/cinematical-seven-favorite-will-ferrell-man-children/#comments

At some point this past summer, between all but consecutive viewings of The Dark Knight, I slipped into a screening of Step Brothers with the same tempered expectations with which I had greeted Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro -- and found myself equally surprised in the coming days and weeks and months by just how admittedly tickled I was by any of them (quoting lines was moderate on all counts). Mind you, I'm saying this as the guy who chuckled during Anchorman, sure, but not really enough to keep it on my shelf or call myself thankful for it.

That's nothing against our Eric D. Snider, and nothing against the star of each film mentioned, Will Ferrell (yes, he was actually Batman). In fact, with Step Brothers hitting shelves today (with reports of a wholly sung commentary track), it only seemed fitting that we go over his most amusing roles as overgrown man-children (Ferrell's, not Snider's). Because they're there, and they always will be, and the sooner that I admit to being vulnerable to his shtick, a better world this very well may be.

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Continue reading Cinematical Seven: Favorite Will Ferrell Man-Children

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]]>a night at the roxburyadam mckayanchormananchormanthelegendofronburgandyANightAtTheRoxburyblades of gloryBladesOfGloryelfjohn c. reillyJohnC.Reillyjon hederJonHederkicking and screamingKickingAndScreamingold schoolOldSchoolricky bobbyRickyBobbyron burgundyRonBurgundysaturday night liveSaturdayNightLivesnlstep brothersStepBrotherstalladega nightsTalladegaNightsvince vaughnVinceVaughnwedding crashersWeddingCrasherswill ferrellWillFerrellWilliam GossTue, 02 Dec 2008 22:02:00 ESTWatch This: 'I Want My Three Minutes Back' Trailerhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/watch-this-i-want-my-three-minutes-back-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/watch-this-i-want-my-three-minutes-back-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/watch-this-i-want-my-three-minutes-back-trailer/#comments

It was inevitable that someone would eventually make a documentary about the folks who upload videos to YouTube, and it's kinda fitting that we get to watch a trailer for said doc on, well, YouTube. Directed by Chuck Potter, I Want My Three Minutes Back "examines the phenomenon of online video through the stories of YouTube video creators." I'm not very hip to the whole YouTube scene (then again, I'm not very hip to any scene), so the following names might not mean much to me, but they may mean a whole lot to you. Among the folks who participated in the doc are Tay Zonday (Chocolate Rain), Judson Laipply (Evolution of Dance), Michael Buckley (What The Buck Show), Phillip DeFranco (sxePhil), Christine Gambito (Happy Slip), Terry Roth (Zipster), Katie Graham (K80Blog), Paul Robinette (Renetto) and Travis and Jonathan (Jackie and Dunlap of Red State Update).

I Want My Three Minutes Back is currently attempting the film festival route, and depending on the final product this is totally something I could see premiering at SXSW. Check out the trailer below, and answer this: You may waste time watching these YouTube videos, but are you really interested in the people who created them?



[via Spout]

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]]>chuch potterChuchPottercinematicali want my three minutes backIWantMyThreeMinutesBackErik DavisTue, 02 Dec 2008 21:02:00 ESTPeter Farrelly Dips Into Vignette Comedyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/peter-farrelly-dips-into-vignette-comedy/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/peter-farrelly-dips-into-vignette-comedy/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/peter-farrelly-dips-into-vignette-comedy/#commentsLast we heard from the Farrelly camp, the brothers were cooking up a re-launch of the Three Stooges. Now, in a bit less aggravating news: One of them, Peter Farrelly, is getting into the trend of cooking up a myriad of shorts for one feature -- a la Paris je T'aime. The Hollywood Reporter posts that Farrelly and Charles Wessler are teaming up with Liberty Media to create a comedy-centric mix that could hold as many as 24 shorts.

What names are attached thus far? None, other than Farrelly, who will direct not one, but two shorts. Beyond him, the infamous Brett Ratner, Todd Phillips (Old School), Mike Judge (Office Space), and Blades of Glory directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck are all in talks to write and/or direct. The plan is to score "other actors and directors from across the film world, even some not known for comedy." So far, no city-centric or overriding theme has been given.

Some of the names are good, but some -- *cough* Ratner *cough* -- aren't the first names I'd think of in the world of comedy, which makes me wonder what sort of film they're going for. The plus of the Paris and New York collections is the diversity. So, I can only hope that means we'll get not only stateside names like Tina Fey and Christopher Guest, but also some Guy Maddin, Patrice Leconte, Terry Gilliam, Gurinder Chadha...

Who do you want to see involved?

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]]>Brett RatnerBrettRatnerCharles WesslerCharlesWesslerCinematicalJosh GordonJoshGordonMike JudgeMikeJudgeTodd PhillipsToddPhillipsWill SpeckWillSpeckMonika BartyzelTue, 02 Dec 2008 20:02:00 ESTBrian Grazer Explains the 'Nottingham' Change-Uphttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/brian-grazer-explains-the-nottingham-change-up/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/brian-grazer-explains-the-nottingham-change-up/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/brian-grazer-explains-the-nottingham-change-up/#commentsWhen we last heard from Sherwood Forest, there was a bit of confusion as to who exactly Russell Crowe was playing in Nottingham. Was he Robin Hood? Was he the Sheriff of Nottingham? Were they the same guy? Did they change it up, halfway through? Those who had read the initial script reported they were two different characters -- something that was suggested by hints of a "love triangle" between Robin, Nottingham, and Maid Marian.

Well, MTV caught up with Brian Grazer, who set the record straight on all the character confusion ... well, kind of. "The two role confusion is that what Robin Hood does is he sees Nottingham in battle very early in the movie and Nottingham dies. And Robin Hood takes over the identity of Nottingham. That's how it plays out." Grazer also described the film as an "origin story" of the characters.

I'm really curious if "origin story" means the film is setting itself up as the "real story" behind the legends, or if this is an origin reinvention / franchise in the vein of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes? If it's the former (and it probably is), meh. I'm throughly sick of that trend, especially as the "true" stories end up even more inaccurate than the fantasy versions. But if it's the latter, and it meant a few medieval outings with Russell Crowe, well, that's would be pretty exciting. Dreamy, even.

All reports of "endlessly delayed" may also have been exaggerated -- Grazer also reports that they're waiting on a final rewrite from Brian Helgeland, and that he fully expects that the film will start shooting in March 2009. Huzzah!

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]]>Elisabeth RappeTue, 02 Dec 2008 19:15:00 ESTRay Winstone -- Hollywood's Singing Caesarhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/ray-winstone-hollywoods-singing-caesar/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/ray-winstone-hollywoods-singing-caesar/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/ray-winstone-hollywoods-singing-caesar/#commentsIn October, Eric D. Snider shared the wildly strange and awesome news that Steven Soderbergh was following uber-long biopics with a rock-singing Cleopatra in three dimensions. Soderbergh had set his sights on two unsurprising leads -- Catherine Zeta Jones and Hugh Jackman (Marc Antony). But that left one major hole to fill -- the sandals of Caesar himself.

According to MTV, that honor will be given to Ray motherfrakking Winstone. The thought of him playing the iconic figure in a rock opera -- it just sounds too good to be true. Anyhow, the filmmaker went on to say that this will be a period piece shot on backlots, and explained his motivations. It seems he was itching to do a rock 'n' roll musical like Tommy, but didn't like the options coming his way so he started researching. Musicals led him to female-driven plots, which led him to female protagonists and figures, and then Cleopatra. Jackpot!

It all sounds wonderful to me, although part of me sort of wishes that he'd hook up with Julie Taymor for this (can you imagine the visuals if he did?!). Best of all -- we shouldn't have to wait an eternity since Soderbergh plans to begin shooting Cleo this April. Are you ready to see Catherine, Hugh, and Ray don retro-wear and sing in 3D?

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]]>3DCinematicalCleoCleopatra musicalCleopatraMusicalRay WinstoneRayWinstoneSteven SoderberghStevenSoderberghMonika BartyzelTue, 02 Dec 2008 18:35:00 EST'Dark Knight' Not Getting an IMAX Re-Release??http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/dark-knight-not-getting-an-imax-re-release/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/dark-knight-not-getting-an-imax-re-release/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/dark-knight-not-getting-an-imax-re-release/#commentsA couple of months ago -- and after watching the film spit out monster box office totals -- there was word Warner Bros. would throw The Dark Knight back onto IMAX screens (and possibly conventional theaters) for one last run. With the flick currently lingering around the $996 million mark, a re-release would all but guarantee it the much sought-after $1 billion. However, according to Superhero Hype, it's not gonna happen. They don't give much of a reason or a statement, just that plans to re-release on IMAX screens have apparently been scrapped.

It's unfortunate, too, because the DVD (which we'll review tomorrow) includes a few great behind-the-scenes features on the film's IMAX sequences. And, as someone who did not have a chance to catch the flick on IMAX screens, I was kinda looking forward to taking in a screening this January during the re-release after watching how they went about shooting it. Considering Christopher Nolan and his crew made history by becoming the first major feature film to shoot partly using IMAX cameras, you'd think folks might want to stage an encore engagement. Oh well.

Also of note: Variety reports that The Dark Knight will arrive via video-on-demand in South Korea two weeks before the DVD hits shelves, making it the first Hollywood blockbuster release to go VOD before DVD.

Were you looking forward to watching The Dark Knight again on IMAX screens?

UPDATE: BoF reports (via a Warner Bros. source) that this is not true, and that the film will indeed be released on IMAX screens in January. Superhero Hype has removed the original story from their website. We'll let you know when something a little more official hits, but it looks good for fans ...

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]]>batmancinematicalfeaturedimaxthe dark knightthe dark knight dvdTheDarkKnightTheDarkKnightDvdErik DavisTue, 02 Dec 2008 17:50:00 ESTWill 'Lost' End On The Big Screen?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/will-lost-end-on-the-big-screen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/will-lost-end-on-the-big-screen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/will-lost-end-on-the-big-screen/#comments

At the beginning of this past summer, I finally caved and decided to check out Lost on DVD. A friend of mine had gone on some crazy Lost binge, watching all four seasons in, like, a week, and afterward the dude was a little dizzy, dirty and distant. So, instead of going the crazy route, I spread the sucker out over five months and just finished up season four last week ... itching for more, of course. With season five debuting in January, and season four arriving on DVD this December 9, series writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse sat down for a roundtable discussion and answered questions about the show.

Collider has a great transcript, and I could spend hours chatting it up with you, but this is a movie blog and we're more comfortable sticking with things that may or may not end up on the big screen. Case in point: What about Lost? Sure, they've cut a deal to end the series in 2010, but will they surprise us with a finale in theaters? When asked this, Lindelof said, "No. At least not by us. We've always felt that the show should definitively end the same place it started... on television. To bring our characters to some sort of cliffhanger where the audience gets none of the answers that they really care about and then say, "Now give us ten bucks, buy some popcorn and we'll give you the rest!" would pretty much be the worst thing ever."

What do you think? Should Lost stick to the small screen, or would a theatrical finale be more fitting?

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]]>carlton cuseCarltonCusecinematicaldamon lindelofDamonLindeloffeaturedlostlost movieLostMovieErik DavisTue, 02 Dec 2008 17:02:00 ESTShia LaBeouf Enters the World of John Grishamhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/shia-labeouf-enters-the-world-of-john-grisham/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/shia-labeouf-enters-the-world-of-john-grisham/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/shia-labeouf-enters-the-world-of-john-grisham/#commentsHe's had the honor of being the on-screen offspring of names like Harrison Ford and Carrie-Anne Moss. He's faced a few different types of robots. And now, well, he's following the likes of Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Matthew McConaughey, and Matt Damon.

Variety reports that Shia LaBeouf is going to star in the next John Grisham flick cooking up at Paramount, The Associate. If it doesn't sound familiar -- that's because it's an upcoming novel slated for release in January. The film will focus on a student (LaBeouf), heading towards graduation at Yale Law School, who somehow gets manipulated into taking a job with a prestigious law firm. This gig gives him "privileged information about a multibillion-dollar lawsuit." After that, I guess thrilling twists ensue.

It looks like the Shia train has no signs of stopping quite yet. Could the fiery world of law do it? I don't know... I liked him more when he was a wee tyke, and I can't picture him as a Yale smartie. Can you?

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]]>CinematicalJohn GrishamJohnGrishamShia LaBeoufShiaLabeoufThe ASsociateTheAssociateMonika BartyzelTue, 02 Dec 2008 16:03:00 ESTHoliday Movie Junk: Deckard's Trenchcoathttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/holiday-movie-junk-deckards-trenchcoat/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/holiday-movie-junk-deckards-trenchcoat/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/holiday-movie-junk-deckards-trenchcoat/#comments

Every man (and woman) needs a stylish trench coat -- and every fan who loves Ridley Scott's neo-noir needs this trench coat. This is a faithful replica of Rick Deckard's trenchcoat of the future, meticulously recreated by Abby Shot. They promise (and their customer reviews back it up) that it will wear the same, even in the endless rain. So, go ahead -- get in a fistfight with that Rutger Hauer lookalike, because it will stand you in good stead. Wear it, knowingly, to a noodle bar! You'll be in fashion in the past, present, and future -- and while all those moments may be lost, like tears in rain, the coat won't be. The grandchild who inherits it will be grateful they had such a cool grandparent.

If Blade Runner isn't quite your style, Abby Shot probably has a coat that is. Among other pieces, you can get the Bride's yellow biker jacket from Kill Bill, Silent Bob's trench, Mad Max's coat, Zoe's Serenity vest, and (my favorite) Wolverine's coat from X-Men. (It would take a special guy to rock that coat.) They're pricey, but they are all custom made for you, which is more than you would get if you spent it at Gucci. Check them out, if only to drool and wish you were really really wealthy.







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]]>Abby ShotAbbyShotBlade RunnerBladeRunnerDeckards coatDeckardsCoatKill BillKillBillMad MaxMadMaxRick DeckardRickDeckardSilent BobSilentBobWolverineElisabeth RappeTue, 02 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST'Ballast,' 'Frozen River,' 'Rachel Getting Married' Lead in Indie Spirit Nomshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/ballast-frozen-river-rachel-getting-married-lead-in-indi/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/ballast-frozen-river-rachel-getting-married-lead-in-indi/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/ballast-frozen-river-rachel-getting-married-lead-in-indi/#commentsSure enough, the first week of December brings the first formal slew of awards nominations, today's coming from Film Independent's Spirit Awards. The Hollywood Reporter bring us the list of nominees, with dramas Ballast, Frozen River and Rachel Getting Married each tied for the most nominations (six a piece, including Best Feature; the other two nominees there are Wendy and Lucy and The Wrestler).

Now, these awards aren't necessarily Oscar precursors or anything -- some of these films are just too small -- but it's difficult to deny that the likes of Milk, The Visitor, The Wrestler, Rachel, River and documentary contender Man on Wire are all looking at the first of many nominations in the coming weeks, most of which I can safely say are or will be deserving. I can't speak for Ballast, but it's been earning attention in the indie world for months and months, so do as I do and keep an eye out for it.

The greatest assurance can only be taken once the Spirit Awards are awarded on February 21. See the full list of nominees after the jump.

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Continue reading 'Ballast,' 'Frozen River,' 'Rachel Getting Married' Lead in Indie Spirit Noms

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]]>anne hathawayAnneHathawayballastcourtney huntCourtneyHuntfrozen riverFrozenRiverjonathan demmeJonathanDemmelance hammerLanceHammerrachel getting marriedRachelGettingMarriedWilliam GossTue, 02 Dec 2008 14:32:00 ESTKeanu Reeves to Return for 'Speed 3'?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/keanu-reeves-to-return-for-speed-3/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/keanu-reeves-to-return-for-speed-3/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/keanu-reeves-to-return-for-speed-3/#comments

I really loved the first Speed movie. You had Keanu before he became Keanu, and Bullock before she became Sandra Bullock -- it was simply a nice, refreshing on-screen duo featuring two actors we didn't quite know yet and a villain played by one we already loved. Speed 2: Electric Cruise Ship Boogaloo? Not so much. And even though the sequel wasn't nearly as successful as the first (partly because the story was absurd, and partly because Keanu was replaced by Jason Patric), folks still talked about a third installment in the series -- so much so that The Guardian even announced last year that Dennis Hopper had a role in it. Weird, I know, considering the ending of the first flick, but who knows what these Hollywood types have up their sleeves.

Which brings us to today and yet another Speed 3 rumor. This time, AICN has received a message from one of their sources that says a scriptment for the sequel is floating around and it reintroduces the Jack Traven character, played by Keanu Reeves. And yes, the studio would like to talk Reeves back into starring. No word on whether Bullock would play leading lady (what else does she have to do?), but something tells me folks would rather Keanu if they had a choice between the two, hence Speed 2: Keanu-less Water Park Nightmare.

What say you? Speed 3 with Keanu? You down for it? And did the film Crank already give us the best possible Speed 3 premise?

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]]>cinematicaldennis hopperDennisHopperfeaturedkeanu reevesKeanuReevessandra bullockSandraBullockspeedspeed 2speed 3Speed2Speed3Erik DavisTue, 02 Dec 2008 13:45:00 ESTThe Geek Beat: What Shall We Do With the Justice League?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/the-geek-beat-what-shall-we-do-with-the-justice-league/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/the-geek-beat-what-shall-we-do-with-the-justice-league/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/the-geek-beat-what-shall-we-do-with-the-justice-league/#comments

It's official. Justice League is dead in the water. The last man standing, director George Miller, has dropped out and the film goes back Warner Bros archives -- something I imagine to be similar to the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Reportedly, Miller told an Australian television audience that Warner Bros wants "bigger stars" in the Justice League movie, and that he believes it will be recast. That's not at all surprising, considering the way the world is wetting their pants over Warner/DC's super competitors, The Avengers, which is probably going to be nothing but A-List. What studio wouldn't look at the line-up for Justice League Mortal, where no one compares to Robert Downey Jr., and say "Thanks, but no thanks."

Honestly, I don't know if there can ever be a Justice League movie. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I know you will) but what JLA fans want is exactly what Marvel is doing with The Avengers -- a bunch of solo character movies, establish the universe and the continuity, and then launch a superhero team extravaganza. They want good actors of the appropriate age, not a bunch of young and pretty things. They want it to be a solid effort, not something hastily thrown together for a late summer cash grab -- which is all Justice League Mortal seemed to be. (No offense to all involved, but hey, we're on the outside looking in here.)

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]]>BatmanChristopher NolanChristopherNolanfeaturedGeorge MillerGeorgeMillerJustice LeagueJusticeLeagueSupermanThe Geek BeatTheGeekBeatWonder WomanWonderWomanElisabeth RappeTue, 02 Dec 2008 13:03:00 ESTSpin-ematical: New on DVD for 12/02http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-12-02/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-12-02/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-12-02/#commentsClockwise from upper left: 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,' 'Wanted,' 'White Dog,' 'The X-Files: I Want to Believe,' 'Step Brothers'

White Dog
Samuel Fuller's follow-up to The Big Red One was shelved by Paramount Pictures before its scheduled release in 1982 because of fears that its premise -- a white dog has been trained to attack black people -- would stir up more controversy than box office. Fuller was understandably outraged; in his autobiography, A Third Face, he wrote: "The studio has used me as a scapegoat for their lack of determination and courage." The film, co-written by Curtis Hanson (LA Confidential), with a score by the legendary Ennio Morricone, later received acclaim when it was released in Europe but never received a home video release in the US and has rarely been seen here. Kristy McNichol plays an actress who adopts the dog; Paul Winfield is as an anthropologist who tries to reverse the training. The Criterion Collection DVD includes a featurette with Hanson, producer Jon Davison, and Fuller's widow, plus a print interview with the dog trainer and essays by J. Hoberman and Armond White. I'm buying, but even if you're not a huge fan of Samuel Fuller, you'd want to check it out. Rent it.

Step Brothers
Combining Will Farrell, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins, and Mary Steenburgen under one roof, Step Brothers mines familiar territory with sharp timing and plenty of belly laughs. Mine is, admittedly, a distinctly minority opinion. Available on DVD (single-disc rated, single-disc unrated, two-disc unrated) and Blu-ray, with an audio commentary by Farrell, Reilly, director Adam McKay, and a score by Jon Brion. Other features include deleted scenes and alternate takes, a gag reel, 'making of,' and a couple of gag featurettes. Rent it.

Much more on Wanted, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian after the jump, plus Indies on DVD, Blu-ray Picks, and Collector's Corner.

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]]>austi powersAustiPowerscasablancachildren of menChildrenOfMenerin brockovichErinBrockovichfeaturedhome aloneHomeAlonela femme nikitaLaFemmeNikitaparanoid parkParanoidParksin citySinCitystep brothersStepBrothersstranger than fictionStrangerThanFictionthe chronicles of narnia prince caspianthe day the earth stood stillthe messenger the story of joan the arcthe shawshank redemptionthe x-files i want to believeTheChroniclesOfNarniaPrinceCaspianTheDayTheEarthStoodStillTheMessengerTheStoryOfJoanTheArcTheShawshankRedemptionTheX-filesIWantToBelievewantedwhite dogWhiteDogPeter MartinTue, 02 Dec 2008 12:15:00 EST'Sherlock Holmes' Villain(s) Revealed! http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/sherlock-holmes-villain-s-revealed/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/sherlock-holmes-villain-s-revealed/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/sherlock-holmes-villain-s-revealed/#commentsWhen Cinematical visited the set of Sherlock Holmes last month, we certainly wanted to learn a lot more about this much-anticipated film (which we did), but we also wanted to find out once and for all whether the classic Holmes villain Moriarty would make an appearance. Up until this point, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) was the only villain on record, and so far folks behind the scenes have managed to successfully dodge the big Moriarty question. That is, until now.

Note: Watch for spoilers below ...

While we received a number of shady answers (followed by evil smirks) from the cast and crew regarding Moriarty during our set visit, IGN managed to get someone to talk: Mr. Mark Strong. At the British Independent Film Awards over the weekend, Strong said this about Moriarty's involvement: "Moriarty's in it ... but you don't really see him. I think he's there because if the franchise carries on, there's a possibility that he will appear in a larger guise. But for the purposes of this one and the detective narrative, I'm the guy that Sherlock's after, Lord Blackwood. And he's a cultist/Satanist lord who is the ultimate cad." So he's there, but you don't see him? Hmmm. I guess we'll take that as solid confirmation ... until we find out who's playing him (ahem, Russell Crowe?).

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]]>cinematicallord blackwoodLordBlackwoodmark strongMarkStrongmoriarityrussell croweRussellCrowesherlock holmesSherlockHolmesErik DavisTue, 02 Dec 2008 11:30:00 ESTMore 'Wolverine' Photos -- This Time With Sabretooth!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/more-wolverine-photos-this-time-with-sabretooth/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/more-wolverine-photos-this-time-with-sabretooth/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/more-wolverine-photos-this-time-with-sabretooth/#comments

I know you're probably groaning at seeing yet another X-Men Origins: Wolverine post, but I can't help it! There's new pictures! And the photos are always so cool -- and yes, I am easily pleased when it comes to the admantium one ... and yes, at this point the movie could be Wolverine reading a phone book for 2 hours and I would probably count my money well spent.

Anyway, 20th Century Fox has released five new images from Wolverine -- if you saw the bootleg ComicCon trailer, you'll recognize the image above. I like that Wolverine and Sabretooth appear to be bickering moments before being "executed." Hate runs deep. My favorite of the bunch, though, is the Weapon X photo ... not because it shows off a lot of Hugh Jackman, but because I'm hoping its an indication we see the whole nasty bonding procedure. If it's another blink-and-you-miss it sequence, well, they just missed the point of doing a Wolverine origin story!

Check out all the photos in the gallery below, accompanied by the two that hit the web last week -- and don't be surprised if there's more before the trailer hits on December 12th because, come on ... where the heck is Deadpool?! Where's Beak? We want to see them, too! Even I need a break from Jackman sometimes.


Gallery: Wolverine



[via Superhero Hype]







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]]>20th century fox20thCenturyFoxhugh jackmanHughJackmanliev schreiberLievSchreiberWolverinex-men origins wolverineX-menOriginsWolverineElisabeth RappeTue, 02 Dec 2008 10:45:00 EST'X-Files' Producer Blames 'Dark Knight' for Poor Performancehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/x-files-producer-blames-dark-knight-for-poor-performance/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/x-files-producer-blames-dark-knight-for-poor-performance/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/x-files-producer-blames-dark-knight-for-poor-performance/#commentsSilly us X-Files fans trying to rationalize why The X-Files: I Want to Believe crashed and burned so badly this summer. It was too thoughtful! Too character-driven! Too focused on giving fans emotional closure, and not enough on slam-bang summer excitement! Long-time franchise producer Frank Spotnitz has a much easier and quicker answer: It was The Dark Knight's fault.

His theory goes thus: The X-Files opened a week after The Dark Knight broke all sorts of records and began its domination of the summer box office. What's more, the dark and brooding film was similar in tone to the caped juggernaut, and not the sort of counterprogramming that might nonetheless have had a chance in its wake. And so you get $21 million domestic.

Look, I'm probably as big a fan of I Want to Believe as you'll find around these parts; for fans of the show it was a lovely, moving conclusion. For fans of the show. The commercial problem with the film wasn't that it was too dark or that it followed The Dark Knight, but that it was too small, and its appeal too narrow. A bigger, flashier X-Files, with more explosions and flying saucers, would have done better, Batman notwithstanding. As it stood, people who didn't grow up on Mulder and Scully didn't see a reason to go. And -- speaking, again, as someone who loves the film -- they probably made the right choice. There wasn't much there for them.

Oh, and as to the possibility of another film that Spotnitz vaguely suggests: no thank you. This was a graceful, satisfying finale.

[via Movie City News]

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]]>frank spotnitzFrankSpotnitzthe dark knightthe x-files I want to believeTheDarkKnightTheX-filesIWantToBelieveEugene NovikovTue, 02 Dec 2008 10:03:00 ESTDid You Know 'The Transporter' Was Gay? Well, He Isn't Anymorehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/did-you-know-the-transporter-was-gay-well-he-isnt-anymore/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/did-you-know-the-transporter-was-gay-well-he-isnt-anymore/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/02/did-you-know-the-transporter-was-gay-well-he-isnt-anymore/#commentsFans of the Transporter films aren't usually looking for a lot of subtlety and nuance, not unless those are codewords for "butt-kicking" and "car crashes." But Louis Leterrier, the whimsical Frenchman who directed the second film and co-directed the first one, said in 2005 that he had a subtext in mind for Jason Statham's title character: He was gay.

Chris Lee writes at the Los Angeles Times' fanboy blog that three years ago, when Transporter 2 came out, well, so did Frank Martin. According to Lee, Leterrier pointed to the scene where Frank turns down a romantic advance from Amber Valletta by saying, "It's because of who I am." Leterrier said, "That's him coming out!"

"If you watch the movie and you know he's gay, it becomes so much more fun," Lee quotes Leterrier as saying in 2005. "It's so great -- the first gay action movie hero! ... Action fans in general are pretty homophobic. You see these tough guys who say, 'The Transporter, that's such a great movie!' If they only knew they're really cheering for a new kind of action hero."

Statham didn't pay much attention to his director's comments, telling Lee in 2005, "It's just Lou-Lou trying to be funny. Although he did say, 'In Part 2, you will become the gay icon.'" That part might have come true, as Statham's many shirtless scenes made him popular in certain quarters, even if the character himself wasn't overtly gay.

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]]>gayjason stathamJasonStathamlouis leterrierLouisLeterriertransporterEric D. SniderTue, 02 Dec 2008 09:02:00 ESTHot off the Presses: The Top 20 Nude Scenes of 2008http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/top-20-nude-scenes-of-2008/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/top-20-nude-scenes-of-2008/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/top-20-nude-scenes-of-2008/#commentsThe end of the year means you'll have no shortage of movie lists to pick through ... but here's one that's just too bouncy to ignore. My old pals at MrSkin.com have (of course) come up with their list of the finest in cinematical skinematical for the year 2008. Now, before you get all huffy and stressed, it should be noted that MrSkin has always taken a rather jovial approach to movie-time nakedness. (Jovial as opposed to sleazy, is what I'm saying.) Plus, c'mon, we all love a good nude scene. Admit it. Love it enough to give MrSkin a whole lot of longtime fans. (Heck, they even played a prominent role in Knocked Up!)

But if you're scared of seeing copious cleavage or perhaps a stray butt-dimple, here's a text-based sampling of what you'll be missing: The stunning Sophie Monk in the amusing Sex & Death 101; the spunky Amy Smart re-defining "jaw-dropping" in Mirrors; plus just a few sexy peeks at Penelope Cruz, Mena Suvari, Amy Adams, and Angelina Jolie. Wanted, indeed. For a whole lot more (and a lot less clothes), check out the piece(s). And hey, there's another twenty for you TV fans. Since when is there nudity on TV? Check out the 20 film girls, in order of where they appear on the list, in the gallery below.

P.S. This is a list of female nakedness. For the other side of the equation, I challenge the women writers (and readers) of Cinematical to kick-start that roster.

Gallery: Top Nude Scenes of 2008

Mischa BartonSophie MonkHeather GrahamAsia ArgentoNeve Campbell

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]]>mrskinnakedtop 20 nude scenes of 2008Top20NudeScenesOf2008Scott WeinbergMon, 01 Dec 2008 22:03:00 ESTStuff and Things: Some Post-Turkey 'Tron' Sequel Hatin'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/stuff-and-things-some-post-turkey-tron-sequel-hatin/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/stuff-and-things-some-post-turkey-tron-sequel-hatin/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/stuff-and-things-some-post-turkey-tron-sequel-hatin/#comments

You'd think there wouldn't be a ton of stuff to catch you post-Turkey blokes up with, but it's the exact opposite. So here's some stuff(ing) and things to skim over today:

-- Folks are going bonkers today over news in Production Weekly that the much-anticipated (and kinda secretive) Tron sequel has changed its title to TRZ in order to trick young kids into thinking MTV has adapted their now-retired TRL for the big screen. Okay, that's not the real reason ... but do we really need to know the real reason? TRZ? Here's the snippet of plot synopsis they provided: "After being transported into the surreal landscape of a mainframe computer to destroy an intruder, a programmer finds himself allied with the leader of a rebellion against a corrupt cyber-entity." According to Disney, an official title for the Tron sequel is not set yet.

-- George Miller finally went on the record and told a talk show in Sydney that he's officially off Justice League. He's done. That's it. Over. Dark Horizons says Miller thinks the film will be recast when (and if) it happens because "the studios seem to want bigger stars in their superhero movies now." We wonder why?

-- According to Shock, a source tells them Rob Zombie will indeed return to direct Halloween 2, the follow-up to his successful (at the box office) reboot of the franchise, titled Halloween. Additionally, the site claims Halloween 2 will begin shooting as early as this March.

-- Why do all the Nazi flicks come out during the holidays? And how do you sell them?

-- Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law has been arrested for the deaths of the actress/singer's mother, brother and nephew, according to CBS News.

After the jump: First looks at Whip It and Youth in Revolt, more on Chef and a very cool short film contest.

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedgeorge millerGeorgeMillerjennifer hudsonJenniferHudsonjustice leagueJusticeLeaguethe internationalTheInternationalwhip it movie photosWhipItMoviePhotosyouth in revolt movie photosYouthInRevoltMoviePhotosErik DavisMon, 01 Dec 2008 21:02:00 ESTBenderspink Attacking 'The Straw Men'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/benderspink-attacking-the-straw-men/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/benderspink-attacking-the-straw-men/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/01/benderspink-attacking-the-straw-men/#comments Michael Marshall is one lucky writer -- he published a well-received trilogy, which was adapted into a comic series by Zenescope, and now The Straw Men are coming to the big screen. According to Variety, Benderspink has snatched the rights to the to the novels and the comic books, presumably in order to adapt some combination of them.

Unfortunately, I can't rustle up a preview of the comic -- but you can check out the gorgeously creepy covers on Zenoscope. I'm not sure I could have these laying beside my bed, they're pretty nightmarish.

It sounds like the book is, too. The story begins with two men calmly opening fire at a McDonald's in Palmerston, Pennsylvania before jumping ahead ten years to meet up with Ward Hopkins, who is convinced the death of his parents was no accident. Elsewhere, a 14 year old girl is kidnapped by a serial killer, and two FBI Agents are on the manhunt to find him. These events are no coincidence, they're the first clues to the nightmarish individuals known as The Straw Men. Marshall's thriller has received nothing but praise -- Publisher's Weekly squeamishly noted its "dismemberment scenes," Stephen King praised it, and Newsarama is calling it "one of the best horror thrillers ever written."

There's no director or screenwriter attached yet -- and Benderspink is adapting every other graphic novel known to man, so this could sit in pre-production for awhile, which gives us all time to read the book. Has anyone out there read it or the comic? Tell us everything (well, not everything, but give us a good review) in the comments below.

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]]>benderspinkMichael MarshallMichaelMarshallThe Straw MenTheStrawMenZenoscope EntertainmentZenoscopeEntertainmentElisabeth RappeMon, 01 Dec 2008 20:02:00 EST