Soloman Kane trailer

Starring James Purefoy, Pete Postlethwaite, Mav Von Sydow, Jason Flemyng, Alice Krige.

Danny Boyle to tackle 127 Hours

Many wondered just what would be the next project for Danny Boyle, after winning best director and picture for Slumdog Millionaire. Well all that wondering can be put to ease as the filmmaker and his fellow Oscar winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, are now at the end of pre-production to begin filming on their new movie based on a true story titled 127 Hours.

The back story to the film is about real life mountian climber Aron Raslton, who during a canyoneering in the Moad in Utah, encountered a terrible accident, as a boulder was set loose that landed and pinned Ralston against the canyon. For 5 days he struggled to free his arm to no avail. On the 5th day, long after he was out of food and water, dehydrated and delirious, amputated his arm in order to live and free himself albeit with a dull knife from his tool piece. Not only was that a harrowing experience, but then in his delirium, he had to make his way 8 miles down the steep mountain with an severed limb to safety. Basically a mircale. James Franco has been selected to play Ralston.

I'm not an expert in predicting Oscar nominations, but if this story doesn't sound like Oscar bait, and it's a true story about overcoming great odds ( which Oscar does like ) I don't what is.

Shooting begins at the end of March looking for a release at the end of 2010. The rumor out there from the script doctors, is there will be an hour of no dialogue, ala Cast Away. That actually does make sense.

Alice In Wonderland Preview/Synopsis

Alice In Wonderland March 5

Directed by Tim Burton ( Sweeney Todd, Big Fish, Ed Wood ) starring Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Alan Rickman, Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry, Timothy Spall, Christopher Lee. Written by Tony nominee Linda Woolverton, cinematography by Dariusz Wolski ( Sweeney Todd, Crimson Tide ) editing by two time Oscar nominee Chris Lebenzon ( Top Gun, Enemy Of The State ) original music by 4 time Oscar nominee Danny Elfman ( Goodwill Hunting, Big Fish )

For this go around, Tim Burton gives you his vision of how Alice In Wonderland shall be put to celluloid, based obviously from the popular Lewis Carroll novel. Depp will play The Mad Hatter, Hathaway as the White Queen, Bonham-Carter the Red Queen and Sheen as the White Rabbit.

Rated PG-13 for action violence and a smoking caterpiller ( yes you read that right ) 108 min.

Oscar chances ? If it's reviewed in critically favor and does well at the box office, then it stands a chance to crack the top 10. Depp will have a good chance in the Musical/Comedy category at the Globes. And the art direction and visual effects stand a very good chance at earning Oscar nominations.

Still no date For Tree Of Life

The film has been done for nearly 2 years, so if you were not aware of this story, Tree Of Life is a period drama, with a fantasy setting directed by the super recluce and the much secretive Terrence Malick ( Days Of Heaven, The Thin Red Line, The New World )starring Sean Penn as Brad Pitt's grown up son, through scenes of Pitt in flashback's to Penn's character's childhood. Jessica Chastain play's Pitt's character's wife.

Rumors are afloat that the perfectionist director is still messing about with the editing process on the film. A notorious slow filmmaker, let alone one of the least active ( 5 films in 37 years ), this long wait has made Tree Of Life one of, if not the most anticpated film's of 2010.

There have only been a few pictures from the set, with no release date mentioned or not even a teaser trailer for us to witness.

These long waits from post production to release date often times have a way of back firing on a movie. As with any long wait for a film, it tends to make the anticipation rise for the audience and almost always by the time the viewer sees the film, their anticipation was for not, and the film lets down. Here's hoping Terrence Malick knows what he's doing. It worked for The Thin Red Line but many were mixed on The New World. Any new info. on the film with be posted periodically.

BAFTA gives a couple of surprise wins

Well, our movie going brethren from across the pond in Britain decided to make a statement for their best actor and actress at their ceremony and vote for Colin Firth in A Single Man and Carey Mulligan for An Education.

Looks to me like the brit's are being a tad bias, as Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock/Meryl Streep have been dominating the precursor's awards so far this year. The BAFTA's threw a wrench in the Bridges/Bullock/ Streep love. So I think it's probably fair to say and also a safe bet to see these two wins as an aberration because truthfully, these two are NOT winning an Academy Award. And anyway, I really didn't see what was real special about either performance by Firth and Mulligan. They were not bad mind you, but Oscar worthy ? I would have had Amy Adams in there for her turn in the awkwardness of her character in Sunshine Cleaning over Mulligan's. I like Colin Firth as an actor but was that a top 5 performance nn A Single Man ? Over Viggo in The Road or Ben Foster in The Messenger? Personally I don't think so, but that's just me. Well, good for them, their country voted them the best, but come Oscar night you won't be hearing their names when the winner is announced. Bet on it.

Yet another needless remake

Now I'm hearing that Stephen Norrington ( Blade, The League Of Extraordinary Gentleman ) plans on directing a remake of the cult classic The Crowe, which made short time star out of the late Brandon Lee.

I just don't get why Hollywood keeps thinking of remaking movies. And look, the original isn't even 20 yars old yet.

What some of the top director's will be doing next

Oliver Stone- Will be releasing his sequel to Wall Street later this year and then will be tackling Jawbreaker, a political drama about how the United States repsonded after 9-11.

Christopher Nolan- Next up The Dark Knight director will bring you Inception with Leonardo DiCaprio this summer. A very highly anticipated film.

Ridley Scott- After Robin Hood is released he may take on an Alien prequel. Now that sounds veddy interesting.

Gus Van Sant ( pictured ) His first project after Milk, is a untitled drama starring Mia Wasikowska ( Alice, in Alice in Wonderland ) and Henry Hopper ( Dennis Hopper's son )

Joel and Ethan Coen- Will be taking on a re-imaging of True Grit with Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin attached. Shooting starts next month. The female lead ( a key character has not been casted as of yet )

Sam Mendes ( pictured ) He has been signed on the direct Bond 23, after he's made Away We Go and Revolutionary Road.

Spike Lee- Is currently working on a New Orleans documentary and is in pre-production for Inside Man 2.

Ron Howard- Is directing a film called Your Cheating Heart, written by Allan Loeb, the screenwriter for Wall Street 2, and starring Vince Vaughn.

Martin Scorsese- Is always busy with a ton of movies on his itinerary. His next project after the today released Shutter Island, is an adaptation of the children novel Hugo Cabret. Then the rumor is he and De Niro might reunite for a mob based I Heard You Paint Houses, that too based from a book about the disappearence of Jimmy Hoffa.

Sophia Coppola ( pictured ) Is returning with a father/daughter drama called Somewhere with Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning.

Darren Aronofsky- His post The Wrestler film is a mystery/thriller ballet story starring Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassell.

Robert Zemeckis- His next project is a re-tooling of The Beatles Yellow Submarine, this time in 3-D.

David Fincher- His first film after the Oscar nominated Benjamin Button, is a adaptation of the book The Social Network about the beginning's of Facebook starring Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake.

Danny Boyle ( pictured ) Will begin shooting soon for 127 Hours about the true life story of mountain climber Aaron Rolston and his miraculous survival after having to amputate his arm that became pinned under a boulder to live. James Franco has signed on to star as Rolston.

James Cameron- Is talking about an Avatar prequel and also has been suggested to be a consutlant on the next Spider-Man film.

Howl trailer

Howl

James Franco plays poet Alan Ginsberg, in this portrayal of the early days of the beat poet. Also starring Aaron Tveit, Jon Hamm, David Strathairn, Mary Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels, Bob Balaban and Treat Williams. Film played to mixed reviews at Sundance, but across the board raves for Franco's performance as Ginsberg. No official street date for release as of yet.

Leaves Of Grass gets date

The Tim Blake Nelson directed film, Leaves Of Grass finally got an April 2nd release date, the marijuana dealing premise movie starring Edward Norton ( as twins no less ) also stars Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Nelson and Keri Russell.

Rent this: Requiem For A Dream

Released in 2000 and directed by Darren Aronofsky ( The Wrestler, The Fountain ) that is based from the 1978 Hubert Selby,Jr. book, is a harrowing but very realistic look into different types of drug addiction that lead the main characters in a world of delusion. The main cast of Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, Marlan Wayans and Louise Lasser in the principal roles are all well acted, but it's Ellen Burstyn who steals the movie. I feel she was robbed of not winning the best actress Oscar ( to Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich ) because her work in this film is outstanding. The direction is tight and the camera work from director of photography Matthew Libatique, is very cutting edge.

It's not a happy story but it's very enthralling storytelling nonetheless. Once the drugs wear off the main characters and their delusions wear away, they find out they are in a much deeper hell then they ever truly realized. Very realistic. I feel it's one of the top 10 of that year. Excellent film.

What's next for Johnny Depp ?

First will be his turn as The Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's version of Alice In Wonderland. Then he will tackle a more serious role in an adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's The Rum Diary. It's set in the late 1950's and is about a American newspaper writer ( Depp ) who is fed up with the Eisenhower administration and whisks of to Puerto Rico to land a job for a newspaper there, where he falls into alcoholism, mixed with woman and friendship problems. The film also co-stars Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins, Amber Heard and Giovanni Ribisi. Said to be looking for a fall release ? Oscar bait for Depp ? Could this be the one ?

The Last Airbender trailer

July 2

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan ( The Sixth Sense, Signs ) with Noah Ringer, Jackson Rathbone, Nicola Peltz, Dev Patel, Cliff Curtis, Jessia Andres.

Adapatation taken from the animated television series about Aang, a successor in a long line of Avatars, who must put aside his irresponsible ways to use his special gift to help save the world from war and ruin.

Ondine trailer

The film is set in Ireland, and is about a fisherman who discovers a woman in his fishing net, who after careful contemplation, thinks she just so happens to be a mermaid. Starring Colin Farrell, Alicja Bachleda- Curus and Stephen Rea. The film will be getting a limited run in June and is directed by Neil Jordan ( Interview With A Vampire, Michael Collins )

Repo Men trailer

Out March 19th, the film's premise is set in the future where human organs can be bought on credit. If said person and organ has a default, the organ is repossessed.
Word from some early screenings has been positive and it's premise in originality cannot be denied.

Just a little diversion from movies for a sec...

Congrats to the New Orleans Saints at winning the Super Bowl !

Hopkins to play Ernest Hemingway

Anthony Hopkins is set to play one of the all time great writers, Ernest Hemingway in a film titled Hemingway and Fuentes. The film will be directed by actor Andy Garcia from a script he co-wrote with Hilary Hemingway. Annette Bening will play Mary Welsh, Hemingway's wife. The premise of the film will be about the the writing Hemingway had written when he befriended Cuban sword fisherman Gregorio Fuentes. The inspiration for Hemingway's classic The Old Man and The Sea.

My Own Love Song trailer

Looks like a tear jerker. And also pretty Oscar bait type premise and peformances. Looking forward to it.

My Oscar issues: The snubs

Avatar, The Hurt Locker and Inglourious Basterds lead the Oscar's this year, in a ceremony that I could care less more about than any previous year. To me, I feel the was one of the weaker years in film. OK... as always in every year, there are going to be movies and performances we felt got snubbed for a nomination.Now, let me get to it...

Best Picture

I would NOT have nominated The Blind Side, An Education, Precious, A Serious Man or Up. Instead I would have replaced those with Crazy Heart, The Hangover, In The Loop, The Messenger and Nine. I don't care what the critics say, I thought Nine was a very good film and fun experience and I'm not a big fan of musicals either. The critics went on a witch hunt for some reason.

Best Actor- Only two nominated would stay on my list, as I would jettison Morgan Freeman ( a lot of the time he's playing Morgan Freeman being himself ) I thought Anthony Mackie was better than Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker. And I'd put Daniel Day-Lewis instead of Colin Firth because he did something he has never done before for the role and pulled it off. Everybody else just did a normal character anyone could do. Singing and dancing is not something every actor can do. Or if not DDL, Viggo Mortensen for The Road or Ben Foster in The Messenger. Top notch acting in those latter roles.

Best Actress- I'm sorry, I know I may sound insensitive but I don't think Gabourey Sidibe for Precious put in a top 5 performance. I thought Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria and Abbie Cornish in Bright Star really did finer performances. It seemed to me that Sidibe was channeling something she has always felt and dealt with, so I didn't view that as much of a stretch acting wise.

Best Supporting Actor- I don't really have too much a beef with this category. Maybe I could swap out Matt Damon for Clifton Collins Jr in Sunshine Cleaning but I can live with these picks.

Best Supporting Actress- I would swap out Vera Farmiga for Emily Blunt in Sunshine Cleaning. And they got the wrong female from Nine. It should be Marion Cotillard in that nod instead of Cruz.

Best Director- I really don't have a problem with any of these choices. I could make a argument for Owen Moverman for The Messenger. Nice to see Tarantino to pick up a nod.

I felt Crazy Heart got shafted for not getting a Original Screenplay nomination.

I think Dion Beebe got snubbed big tim. How can you be nominated in the Cinematography Guilds ( The ASC Awards ) and also virtually make the cut in every precursor award up to the Oscar's and not get nominated ? That's laughable. Nine had awesome cinematography.

Precious got a editing nomination ? Over Star Trek, Nine, The Road and Up In The Air ? Please.

The Road got ripped for not getting a Art Direction nod.

Usually I get excited for the Oscar's but not this year. The ONLY reason I will watching this year is because I will be in two Oscar pool's for prizes. I really think this was a down year in film. And once again, these nominations got put out of the sails with most of these nominations were predicted months ago.