The Taking Of Pelham 123 Preview/Synopsis

The Taking Of Pelham 123 June 9th

Directed by Tony Scott ( Man On Fire, Enemy Of The State ) Starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Jason Butler Harner, Michael Rispoli, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Victor Gojeaj. Written by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland ( LA Confidential, Mystic River ) Cinematography by Tobias A. Schliessler ( Hancock, Friday Night Lights ) Editing by Oscar nominee Chris Leberzon ( Crimson Tide, Top Gun ) Original Music by Harry Gregson- Williams ( Gone Baby Gone, Kingdom Of Heaven )

Remake of the 1974 Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw crime thriller, about a gang of hijackers that take over a NY subway train led by Travolta and Denzel Washington playing the Transit Authority head that does the negotiations with the hijackers in attempts they don't kill any passengers. After one hour if their demands are not met, every hour they will execute someone.
Washington's character is going to try negotiate himself for the passengers.

Rated R for violence and pervasive language. 121 minutes.

Oscar chances ? Possible for screenwriting.

Away We Go Preview/Synopsis

Away We Go June 5th

Directed by Sam Mendes ( Jarhead, Road To Perdition ) Starring John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jim Gaffigan, Catherine O' Hara, Melanie Lynsky, Paul Schneider, Chris Messina. Written by David Eggars and Vendela Vida, Cinematography by Oscar nominee Ellen Kuras ( Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind, Analyze That ) Editing by Sarah Flack ( Dan In Real Life, Lost In Translation ) Original Music by Newcomer Alex Murdoch.

Story is about a couple that are expecting their first baby, who make a goal of traveling the USA in search of finding the best place to raise their new child. Along the way misadventures ensue with old friends and relatives.

Rated R for Language and sexual content

Oscar chances ? Truthfully, possible for Janney in support. Screenwriting.

Land Of The Lost Preview/Synopsis

Land Of The Lost June 5th

Directed by Brad Siberling ( Lemony Snickets, City Of Angels ) starring Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride. Written by Chris Henchey ( Entourage ) Cinematography by Oscar winner Dion Beebe ( Chicago, Collateral ) Editing by Peter Teschner ( The Muse, Legally Blonde: 2 ) Original music by Oscar nominee Michael Giacchino ( Ratatouille ).


Film is a remake of some sorts of the popular mid 70's Saturday morning show from Sid and Marty Krofft, and this version has a disgraced palentologist Dr. Rick Marshall ( Ferrell ) his assistant ( Friel ) and their tour guide ( McBride ) get caught in a space vortex that sucks them into a world that is inhabited by dinosaurs, manlike monkey creatures and an reptilian species called Sleestaks.

Oscar chances ? Possibles for FX nods.

More movies that are being made for 2010 release

They are a bit of interesting projects that are just now in the pre-production phase or that are actually filming. Here is a list of some of them

My, Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done

Werner Herzog ( Rescue Dawn, Grizzly Man ) is directing this story that comes from the idea of a true story, about a delusional man that takes on the persona of a character he was preparing for in a play and blinded real life with fantasy and killed his mother with a saber. Cast includes Michael Shannon ( does this guy play crazy better than anybody ? ) Willen DaFoe, Clea Duvall, Michael Pena, Brad Dourif.

Untitled Woody Allen film

Going back to Europe, with Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, Antonio Banderas and Frieda Pinto already in the cast.

Untitled James Mangold legal thriller

Mangold with the help of Oscar winning screenwriter Scott Frank ( Out Of Sight ) is not casted as of yet, but is a interesting true story about a pair of two lawyer brothers in New Orleans that took on a multinational oil comapny and their heavyweight legal team to rep the rights of the families of an oil rig that sank in a typhoon. Mangold has quickly become one of my favorite directors. He really has a good eye for choosing projects. Can't wait to see who they get casted as the brothers. ( Wouldn't Sean Penn and Daniel Day-Lewis be a good pair )

more coming tomorrow....

Star Trek Preview/Synopsis

Star Trek May 8


Directed by JJ Abrams ( Mission: Impossible-3, Lost ) Starring Chris Pine ( Kirk ), Zachary Quinto ( Spock ) Simon Pegg ( Scotty ) Zoe Saldana ( Uhura ) Anton Yelchin ( Chekov ) Karl Urban ( McCoy ) John Cho ( Sulu ) Eric Bana, Winona Ryder, Bruce Greenwood, Clifton Collins Jr., Leonard Nimoy, Tyler Perry, Rachel Nichols. Written by Robert Orci ( The Island, The Mask Of Zorro ) Cinematography by Daniel Mindel ( The Skeleton Key, Enemy Of The State ) Editing by Marry Ann Brandon ( Grumpier Old Men, The Jane Austin Book Club ) Original score by Michael Giacchio ( Speed Racer, The Incredibles )

Film will serve as a back story of the original crew of the Starship Enterprise, after leaving the academy and their first brush of combat to battle Nero ( Bana ), a Romulan from the future who threatens the United Federation Of Planets.

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence. 126 min.

Oscar chances ? May garner a nod for visual effects and sound mixing.

X-Men Orgins: Wolverine Preview/Synopsis

X-Men Orgins: Wolverine May 1


Directed by Gavin Hood ( Rendition ) Starring Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Dominic Monaghan, Ryan Reynolds, Lynn Collins, Danny Huston. Written by David Benioff ( 25th Hour, Troy ) Cinematography by Oscar nominee Donald McAlpine ( Moulin Rouge, Predator ) Editing by Nioclas De Toth ( The Sum Of All Fears, The Mirror Has Two Faces ) Original Score by Harry Gregson Williams ( Gone Baby Gone )

Film is set 20 years before X-Men, as the film will focus on Wolverine's violent past and his early encounters with William Striker ( Huston ), the Weapons X program and his interactions with other mutants will be explored, including his rocky relationship with his half brother Victor Creed/Sabertooth ( Liev Schreiber )

Rated PG-13 for action violence. 120 min.

State Of Play Preview/Synopsis

State Of Play April 17

Directed by Kevin McDonald ( The Last King Of Scotland ) starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Viola Davis. Written by Oscar nominee Tony Gilroy and also Matthew Michael Carnahan. Cinematography by Oscar nominee Rodrigo Prieto ( Brokeback Mountain, Frida ) Editing by Justinne Wright ( The Last King Of Scotland ) Original music by Alex Heffes ( The Last King Of Scotland )

Movie is based on on the popular 6 part BBC mini series of the same name. The plot is similar to the original but condensing certain aspects to fit a 2 hour format. Premise is set in Washington D.C. and focuses on a fast rising congressman, Stephen Collins ( Affleck ) his ultimate goal of one day becoming a Presidential candidate one day, is thwarted, after his mistress winds up being found dead under suspicious circumstances afoot. This is where right wing advocates of social reform attempt to use the scandal to ruin Collins political career. Investigative reporter Cal McAfferey ( Crowe ) Collins former campaign manager, is brought in, and finds himself the task of solving the case, linking up romantically with Collins estranged wife ( Wright Penn ) in the process.

PG-13 for some violence, language, sexual references and brief drug content. 118 min.

Oscar chances ? Bad release date. 75% of the time films and or performances released in spring are not recognized for awards. If I had to bet, since it's more of an ensemble, I'd say supporting actor ( Crowe ) and actress ( McAdams ) and screenplay ( Gilroy and Carnahan )