Fair Game Preview/Synopsis

Fair Game November 8

Directed by Doug Liman ( Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Swingers ) Starring Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Sam Shepard, Bruce McGill, Noah Emmerich, Ty Burrell and Brooke Smith. Written by Jez and John Butterworth ( The Last Legion ) Cinematography by Liman himself, Editing by Christopher Tellefson ( Capote, The Village ) Original music by BAFTA nominee John Powell ( Happy Feet, Shrek ).

As a covert officer in the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie (Naomi Watts) Plame leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie's husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and igniting a firestorm of controversy.

Soon after, Valerie's covert status is reported by a high-profile Washington journalist. With her cover blown and her overseas contacts placed in mortal danger, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. After years serving the government, Valerie--a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record--now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her family.

Rated PG-13 for some language. 104 minutes.

Oscar chances ? The film has a good critical approval rating so there's a good chance it gets a picture nomination. Same for Watts. There's an outside chance for
Penn in support. Long shot for screenplay but stranger things have happened before.

Streep's new future projects

After having what was a whirlwind award season for actress extrodinaire Meryl Streep last year, she took 2010 off to relax and gloss over scripts and future projects.
She currently has 3 films in pre-production. Here is are brief snippets of those three films...

Probably the most high profile and will most likely earn her yet another Oscar nomination, about former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in a “sympathetic” light in the upcoming biopic ‘The Iron Lady.’which will reunite her with Mama Mia director Phyllida Llyod.

The Oscar-winning legend will take on the role of the famously tough ex-leader, who divided opinion throughout the 1980s and early 1990s when she battled with trade union leaders and declared war on Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
However, according to co-star Jim Broadbent – who will portray the ex-leader’s devoted husband Denis- Streep is determined to show Thatcher’s softer side in the movie.

“Of course it will be a sympathetic portrayal, that’s what he was, he was very sympathetic. It’ll be a sympathetic portrayal of Margaret as well,” the Daily Express quoted him saying.

This type of portrayl that screams Oscar bait. Think Helen Mirren in The Queen.

Another film she is involved in is called Welcome To People, that will be directed by producer Alex Kurtzman ( Star Trek, TV's Alias ) with a script co-written by Kurtzman, Robert Orci and Jody Lambert. The film also stars Rachel McAdmas, Chris Pine and Amy Adams. The plot is about a man who is given the task of delivering 150,000 dollars of his deceased father's fortune to the sister he has never met.

Lastly, she has been cast in Bella Luna, a romance about two impossible lovers who can't stop loving eachother.

As always with any Streep project in the works, my anticipation is highly piqued.

Burke and Hare trailer

Directed by John Landis ( Animal House, Trading Places ) Starring Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Tim Curry, Tom Wilkinson, Isla Fisher, Christopher Lee, Jenny Ugutter.

The film is a black comedy based upon the infamous Burke and Hare "Bodysnatchings" that took place in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Moverman's Rampart gets more cast members

Oren Moverman's new crooked police film Rampart, has begun filming in the mean streets of LA and centered on the widespread corruption in the anti-gang unit of the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division in the late 1990s.The project which has reunited the director with Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson, who had previously worked together on the critically acclaimed indie The Messenger.
More casting has taken place, and joining those three will also be Ice Cube, Steve Buscemi, Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver, Anne Heche and Cynthia Nixon. Moverman is sharing co-writing duty with James Ellroy and the film will be shot by DP Bobby Bukowski ( Tangled, Arlington Road )

The Warrior's Way trailer

Dec 3rd

Starring Dong-gun Jang, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush, Danny Huston, Tony Cox.

The story is about an Asian warrior played by Jang, who is forced to hide in a small town in the American badlands. He meets the town drunk played by Rush, and a circus knife thrower played by Bosworth, both of whom have powerful secrets.

London Boulevard trailer

This is the directorial debut by Oscar winning screenwriter William Monahan ( The Departed ) with a cast starring Keira Knightley, Colin Farrell, Ray Winstone, David Thewlis, Eddie Marsan, Ana Friel, Stephen Graham, Ben Chaplin. Written by Monahan and adapted from the Ken Bruen novel, with cinematography was provided by Oscar winner Chris Menges ( The Mission, The Boxer )

Film is about reclusive movie star ( Knightley ), who hides out from the world in a Holland Park mansion, hires a London criminal ( Farrell ) recently released from prison to be her bodyguard and handyman

Martin Scorsese's top 11 horror films

Legendary film director Martin Scorsese recently spoke with the UK rag the Daily Beast to drop what are his top 11 horror films of all time. Here's the list below...

1) The Haunting- 1963
2) Isle Of The Dead- 1945
3) The Uninvited- 1945
4) The Entity- 1981
5) Dead Of Night- 1945
6) The Changeling
7) The Shining- 1980
8) The Exorcist- 1973
9) The Innocents- 1961
10) Psycho- 1960

127 Hours Preview/Synopsis

127 Hours November 5

Directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle ( Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting ) Starring James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Treat Williams, Kate Burton. Written by Boyle and Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy ( Slumdog ) Cinematography by Oscar winner Anthony Dod Mantle ( Slumdog, The Last King Of Scotland ) Edited by Jon Harris ( Snatch ) Original music by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman ( Slumdog, Elizabeth: The Golden Age )

Hiker Aron Ralston (James Franco) is trapped in an isolated canyon after a fallen boulder crushes his arm while he is hiking in Utah. Over the next five days, Ralston examines his life and survives the elements before amputating his own arm to free himself from the boulder. Ralston then scales a 65 foot wall and hikes over eight miles before he is finally rescued.

Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content/bloody images.

Oscar chances ? It's tested well in pre-screenings and also at the Toronto Film Festival. Reality is it could possible earn 8 nominations including picture, actor, director and adapted screenplay to name a few.

Paul Greengrass in pre-producton on next project

Paul Greengrass is hard at work on his next project and adaptation that will be called They Marched Into Sunset, set for a 2013 release.

The book was written by Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author David Maraniss ( When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi) intertwines two compelling narratives to capture the Vietnam War at home and on the battlefield as well as, if not better than, any book yet written. The first narrative follows the soldiers of the army battalion the Black Lions, 61 of whom died in an ambush by North Vietnamese on October 17, 1967. The battle scene description is devastating, brilliantly compiled with painstakingly recreated details of the four-and-a-half-hour battle, unflinchingly drawn pictures of the damage modern ordinance inflicts and an equally unflinching record of the physical and psychological residue of battle. The second narrative centers on the October 18, 1967, riot at the University of Wisconsin at Madison when student protesters tried to stop Dow Chemical, the maker of napalm, from recruiting on campus. Here Maraniss, a Madison native and a freshman at the university at the time, successfully depicts the complicated range of motives that led students to participate in the protest: many began the day as curious observers, and the riot radicalized them against the war. The author also re-creates the sense of loss, confusion and anger of the university administrators as they were overtaken by events that would change the fundamental relationships between students and faculty. The two narratives together provide a fierce, vivid diptych of America bisected by a tragic war: a moving remembrance for those who lived through it and an illuminating lesson for a new generation trying to understand what it was all about.

No wonder the pre-production is lasting almost 3 years, this will be a giant production invloving many people with multiple storylines. It will touch many peoples lives that lived it and remember, and also a history lesson to the younger people that didn't know anything about it.

The Rite trailer

January 28

Directed by Mikael Hafstrom ( 1408, Derailed ) and starring Anthony Hopkins, Ciaran Hinds, Alice Braga, Toby Jones and Rutger Haur.

The Rite centers on a disillusioned young American who studied to become a priest. In the Vatican, he learns to carry out exorcisms and finds his faith through encounters with demons.

Francis Ford Coppola shooting new film

Francis Ford Coppola has been "quietly" directing a new film that marks his first foray into horror since 1992's Bram Stoker's Dracula. The film is called Twixt Now and Sunrise and is currently shooting at Coppola's place in Napa. More deets after the jump.

The film stars Val Kilmer as a horror novelist, and is based on a short story written by Coppola. The title is likely in reference to a Nathaniel Hawthorne short story, "Young Goodman Brown," about a man who encounters a man who may be the devil.

Unknown trailer

Directed by Jaume Collet-Sera ( Orphan ) Starring Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger, Frank Langella, Aiden Quinn, Bruno Ganz.

A man (Liam Neeson) awakens in Berlin from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one, not even his wife, believes him. With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is.

Scream 4 trailer

Directed by Wes Craven and returning past Scream stars as Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Coutnery Cox with the addition of new cast members Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Anthony Anderson, with small roles for Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell.

Tony Scott planning for Top Gun sequel

Tony Scott has opened up and let it be known that he is working on a sequel to the highest grossing film of 1986. He will simply title it Top Gun 2. He's at the very beginning stages of the project at this time. He has several ideas for plot. He's not sure if he will be bringing the Maverick ( Tom Cruise ) character back or not.

According to Scott, "Top Gun 2" will partially examine the end of the era of fighter pilots. Scott notes, "These guys are still test pilots and they manned the drones when they were first running them." But, where is Maverick now? Scott wouldn't reveal that, but also confirmed this wouldn't be his next film, but possibly the one immediately after. So, a "Top Gun" sequel is still a few years away.

The Hobbit's casting

The Hobbit has it's actor to play the famous Hobbit Bilbo Baggins... the famous fictitious character will be played by Martin Freeman, who currently can be seen on the BBC as Watson on Sherlock.

Peter Jackson has recruited eight more members to play various dwarves:

•Richard Armitage (MI-5) as Thorin Oakenshield
•Aidan Turner (Being Human) as Kili
•Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders) Fili
•Graham McTavish (Secretariat) as Dwalin
•John Callen (Power Rangers Jungle Fury) as Oin
•Stephen Hunter (All Saints) as Bombur
•Mark Hadlow (King Kong) as Dori
•Peter Hambleton (The Strip) as Gloin

Filming is to begin shooting in February of next year.

More trailers

All Good Things December 3

Directed by Andrew Jarecki ( Capturing The Friedmans ) Starring Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella, Kristen Wiig, Diane Venora, Philip Baker Hall.



How Do You Know ? December

Directed by James L. Brooks ( As Good As It Gets, Terms Of Endearment ) Starring Reece Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson.



Tron: Legacy December 17

Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Garrett Hedland, Jeff Bridges, Michael Sheen, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner.



Season Of The Witch January 2011

Directed by Dominic Sena ( Swordfish ) Starring Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Ulrich Thomsen, Stephen Graham, Christopher Lee, Clair Foy.

It's Trailer time !

Rabbit Hole Dec. 17th ( wide Jan. 14th )

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell ( Hewig ) Starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Diane Wiest, Sandra Oh.




The King's Speech Nov. 26

Directed by Tom Hooper ( The Damn United ) Starring Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce.



Casino Jack December

Directed by George Hickenlooper and starring Kevin Spacey, Kelly Preston, Barry Pepper, Jon Lovitz, Maury Chaykin, Eric Schweig.



Made In Dangenham Nov. 19

Directed by Nigel Cole ( Calendeer Girls, A Lot Like Love ) Starring Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson, Bob Hoskins, Rosamund Pike, Rupert Graves.

Director Terrence Malick already onto next film

Here are some on set photos of Ben Affleck ( who replaced Christian Bale ) and Olga Kurylenko ( Centurion ) in Alabama, where they are filming the new Terrence Malick movie. Yes... you read that correct, the notoriously slow director/filmmaker that has pushed Tree Of Life to 2011, is already filming his next film that also stars Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem, Rachel Weisz and Barry Pepper.

Obviously like any Malick film, everything about it is hush, hush and all anybody knows is that the film is a romantic drama. Typical Malick lenser Emmanuel Lubezki is handling the cinematography. The release date attached to the movie says it will be released in 2012. Any film fan with even slight familiarity with Malick, knows to take that release date with a grain of salt. Interesting movie news nonetheless.

Sandra Bullock back to a busy itinerary

Hot off after winning the best actress Oscar, Sandra has loaded up her filmography itinerary with more than a few projects. Looking forward to seeing most of them. Here they are as follows...

Kiss and Tango- Adapted from the memoir by Nicole Perlman with the story about a tango teacher that has to fake a love relationship with her local's owner just to keep her business alive. 2001.

The Abstinence Teacher- Directed by the team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris ( Little Miss Sunshine ) and this story is about a divorced sex education teacher coerced into teaching about abstinence and then in the mean time falls for a " born again " soccer coach ( Steve Carell ) Tom Perrotta ( Little Children, Election ) is the screenwriter. 2012.

Most Wanted- This will reunite Bullock with her The Proposal co-star Ryan Reynolds and and director Anne Fletcher. The premsie to the movie is about a FBI agent trying to escort a prime suspect and are ambushed and forced to go on the run together. Sounds like a co-ed version of The Defiant Ones. Lauren Graham has also been cast. 2012.

Gravity- The lone survivor of a space mission to repair the Hubble telescope desperately tries to return to earth and reunite with her daughter. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron ( Children Of Men ) and will also co-star Robert Downey Jr. Emmanuel Lubezki ( The New World, Burn After Reading ) is providing the cinematpgraphy. 2012.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close- Will be directed by Stephen Daldry ( The Hours, The Reader ) based from the book by Jonathan Safron Foer and adapted by Oscar winner Eric Roth ( Forrest Gump ). It's about a nine-year-old amateur inventor, jewelry designer, astrophysicist, tambourine player and pacifist, searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father when he was killed in the September 11 attacks. 2012.

Rent this: They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable- 1945- 135 min.

Directed by the late great John Ford, and adapted from the William L. White novel, They Were Expendable is an underrated WWII Navy drama, that kind of gets thrown by the way side when discussing some of Ford's best work. But I personally think it's a gem of a film and if you want to see an good old school movie, this I feel is one of Ford and Wayne's best collaborations. Released in 1945, it stars Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed, Ward Bond and Cameron Mitchell in main roles.

The premise starts with a demonstration of the capabilities of PT boats is shown in Manila Bay, Philippines in December 1941. Lieutenant (junior grade) 'Rusty' Ryan (John Wayne) becomes disgusted when his superiors refuse to see the small boats as viable naval craft and is in the process of writing his request for a transfer to destroyers when news arrives of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Ryan and Lieutenant John Brickley's (Robert Montgomery) demands for combat assignments for their squadron are frustrated for a time, but they are eventually allowed to show their capabilities. From there on, there are mostly 'action' scenes, with the exception of Ryan's romantic interludes with Army nurse Sandy Davyss (Donna Reed). With the mounting Japanese onslaught against the doomed American garrisons at Bataan and Corregidor, the squadron is sent to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur, his family, and a party of VIPs.

This done, they resume their attacks against the Japanese, who gradually whittle down the squadron. As boats are lost, their crews are sent to fight as infantry. Finally, the last boat is turned over to the Army for messenger duty. Brickley, Ryan and two ensigns are airlifted out on one of the last planes because the PT boats have proved their worth and they are needed stateside to train replacement PT boat officers and crews. The remaining enlisted men, led by Chief Mulcahey, are left behind to continue the fight with remnants of the U.S. Army and Filipino guerrillas.

The film received two Oscar nominations for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. The cinematography was shot by Joseph August ( The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Devil and Daniel Webster )

Looking forward to Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method

Set on the eve of World War I, A Dangerous Method is based on the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud, and Sabina Spielrein, the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them.

The film directed by David Cronenberg ( A History Of Violence, The Fly ) and starring Viggo Mortensen as Freud, Michael Fassbender as Jung and Keira Knightley as Sabina. The film also co-stars Vincent Cassel and Sarah Gordon.

The upcoming historical biopic, the screenplay was adapted by Academy Award-winning writer Christopher Hampton from his 2002 stage play The Talking Cure, itself based on the 1993 non-fiction book by John Kerr, A Most Dangerous Method.

The film marks the third collaboration between Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen (A History of Violence, Eastern Promises). This is also the third film British film producer Jeremy Thomas has made with Cronenberg, after together completing the William Burroughs adaptation Naked Lunch and the J. G. Ballard adaptation Crash.

Usual Cronenberg director of photography Peter Suschitzky handled the cinematography and past Oscar winning composer Howard Shore providing the musical score. No set release date so far but the film will be released next year.

Unstoppable poster

Another Tony Scott and Denzel pairing ?. About an unstoppable train ? I'm leery, but I'll give it a shot because I'll see anything Denzel is in. Just kind of thought his game has been a bit off lately though. He has been much better than he was in The Taking of Pelham 123 and The Book Of Eli. Maybe he will be back to form in Unstoppable.

Pitt and Forster to take on World War Z

Well, Brad Pitt isn't wasting any time between movie projects, he has just finished shooting the Billy Bean baseball film Moneyball, and has already signed on to join director Marc Forster ( Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland ) who himself is in post production on the true story Machine Gun Preacher, in a adaptation of the Max Brooks novel World War Z, with Matthew Michael Caranahan adapting the screenplay.
The premise is about ten years after the human victory over the world wide Zombie epidemic, referred to as World War Z, Max Brooks ( Pitt ) scours the world collecting the stories and experiences of those who have survived the conflict that almost eradicated humanity.
Longtime Forster director of photography Roberto Schaefer will be the cinematographer on the project which is already deep into pre-production and will see Pitt also producing and the film looking for a July 2012 release date.

Tower Heist cast and crew info

It sort of surprised me that an impressive filmmaking team has agreed with Brett Ratner to direct the next Ben Stiller film Tower Heist. Why am I surrpsied...well many of the so called movie pundits don't think too highly of his work or skills ( though I must admit I did like Red Dragon )
The film will also co-star Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Dave Chappelle and Charlie Murphy with much respected screenwriter/director Noah Baumbauch writing the script, uber producer Brian Grazer producing and multiple Oscar nominee Dante Spinotti handling the cinematography.
Tower Heist is an action comedy about a group of hard working guys that find out they've fallen victim to a wealthy business man's Ponzi scheme, they conspire to rob his high-rise residence. It will be released sometime in 2011.

Look for these cinematographers names come Oscar time

Well I did a minor experiment last night. I noticed lately, and it's normal, that we have been discussing the best picture and acting categories a lot. That's a no brainer, as those are the most popular categories obviously. But I went to my personal favorite category, cinematography, and broke it down to the very most realistic contenders. Basing my logic on the cinematographer's status ( popularity ) or the certain type of film that will use impressive camera and lighting work.

I started with 40 DP's and cut it down to 20. As in I think it's about a 90% chance the 5 names you see nominated will be one of these 20 on this list. Then I made a " next 5 " for those that might play spoiler and surprise.

I list the names of the cinematographer, what film they represent this year, how many nominations they have received in the past and the current project they are working on. Done in alphabetical order. Yes, I'm a freak but I have been doing this for years, mostly for my own records on spreadsheets.

2010 cinematographers with the best chance at Oscar nominations...

David Boyd- Get Low- 0 Oscar nomination's. Mostly a television dp. Notable work: Deadwood, Without A Trace, Friday Night Lights. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl first feature film. A name to keep your eye on. He could earn a Spirit nod easy

Russell Boyd- The Way Back- 1 Oscar win and nomination ( Master and Commander ) Many Australian Film Institute nominations. Notable work: Gallipoli, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Tender Mercies, Mrs. Soffel.

Danny Cohen- The King's Speech- 0 Oscar nominations. Earned an Emmy and 2 BAFTA nods. Notable work: Pirate Radio, Longford, John Adams.

Jeff Cronenweth- The Social Network- 0 Oscar nominations. Son of Oscar nominated Jordan Crenoweth ( Peggy Sue Got Married ) Graduate of USC Film School. Notable work: Fight Club, One Hour Photo, K-19: Widowmaker.

Roger Deakins- True Grit- Most nominated DP working. 0 wins, but 7 Oscar nominations as well as many ACS nods. Works hands on. Notable works: Shawshank Redemption, The Man Who Wasn't There, Fargo, No Country For Old Men. Also shot The Comany Men due in 2010 as well.

Robert Elswit- The Town- 1 Oscar win ( There Will Be Blood ) one other nomination ( Good Night and Good Luck ) Notable Work: Duplicity, Michael Clayton, Syriana, Boogie Nights. Currently shooting Mission: Impossible IV for Brad Bird.

Adriano Goldman- Conviction- 0 Oscar nominations. Did get a Independent Spirit nomination for Sin Nobre. Other notable work: City Of Men, The Year My Parents Went On Vacation.

Hoyt Van Hoytema- The Fighter- 0 Oscar nominations. Notable work: Let The Right One In, The Girl. Currently shooting a new version of the Le Carre Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy for Tomas Alfredson starring Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, Ciaran Hinds, Jared Harris, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Christian McKay and Stephen Graham. This will def. be one to look for.

Matthew Libatique- Black Swan- 0 nominations. Very good argument he should have for The Fountain. Notable work : Iron Man 1&2, Miracle at St Anna, Gothika, Everything Is Illuminated. Just finished Cowboys and Aliens for Jon Favreau.

Anthony Dod Mantle- 127 Hours- 1 Oscar win and nomination ( Slumdog Millionaire ) Notable Work: Antichrist, The Last King Of Scotland, Dogville, Manderlay.

Claudio Miranda- Tron: Legacy- 1 Oscar nomination ( The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button ) Notable works: Failure To Launch, A Thousand Roads. Currently in Pre-Production on Life Of Pi with Ang Lee.

John Mathieson- Robin Hood- 2 Oscar nominations ( The Phantom Of The Opera, Gladiator ) Notable work: August Rush, K-Pax, Kingdom Of Heaven. Currently has 2 more films ready for 2010, Brighton Rock and Burke and Hare for John Landis.

Wally Pfister- Inception- 2 Oscar nominations ( The Dark Knight, The Prestige ) Notable work: Batman Begins, The Italian Job, Laurel Canyon, Insomnia. Just finished shooting Moneyball for Bennett Miller.

Rodrigo Prieto- Biutiful- 1 Oscar nod ( Brokeback Mountain ) 2 ACS and BAFTA's nominations. Notable work: State Of Play, Lust, Caution, 21 Grams, 25th Hour, Frida. Just finished Water For Elephants for Francis Lawrence.

Robert Richardson- Shutter Island- 2 Oscar wins ( JFK, The Aviator ) with a total of 6 Oscar nominations. Notable work: Inglourious Basterds, A Few Good Men, Born On The 4th Of July, Platoon. Just finished shooting Hugo Cabret for Martin Scorsese.

Harris Savides- Somewhere- 0 Oscar nominations. Notable work: Greenberg, Milk, American Gangster, Zodiac, The Game. Just finished Restless for Gus Van Sant.

John Seale- The Tourist- 1 Oscar win ( The English Patient ) 4 total Oscar nominations. Notable work: Cold Mountain, The Perfect Storm, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Rain Man, Witness. In pre-production for Christian McKeller's Trevi.

Dean Semler- Secretariat- 1 Oscar win ( Dances With Wolves ) Notable work: Apocalypto, Appaloosa, The Alamo, We Were Soldiers, Dead Calm.

Eduardo Serra- Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part I- 2 Oscar nominations ( The Girl With a Pearl Earring, Wings of the Dove ) Notable work: Defiance, Blood Diamond, Unbreakable. Has finished Deathly Hallows Part II.

Tom Stern- Hereafter- 1 Oscar nomination ( Changeling ) Notable work: Things We Lost In The Fire, Letters from Iwo Jima, The Exorcism Of Emily Rose, The Last Kiss, Mystic River. Currently has Second Coming and Hoover projects in Pre-Production.

So there's your 20. I almost added Doug Liman ( Fair Game ), Michael McDonough ( Winter's Bone ) Stephen Fontaine ( The Next Three Days ) Yorick Le Saux ( I Am Love ) and Steven Fierberg ( Love and Other Drugs ) but I kept it at the 20 that mostly likely have the best shot. Then you will be 8-10 of those 20 listed that have much better chances than the other. But out of respect for who they are I listed 20. There are a few leading favorites, as every year, you just know are getting in.

Rabbit Hole gets release date

Rabbit Hole, the Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart family drama, will be getting a limted release December 14th and then goes wide after the first of the year on January 14th. Many so called experts and Oscar pundits think Kidman has a legit shot at an Oscar nomination along with Diane Wiest who portrys Kidman's mother in the film.

Blue Valentine trailer

Blue Valentine is a 2010 American romantic drama film written and directed by Derek Cianfrance that premiered in competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. It is co-written by Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne and stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. The film was scored by Brooklyn band Grizzly Bear.

The film centers on a married couple, Dean and Cindy, and their relationship over a number of years by shifting between different time periods. Problems with the marriage center around Cindy's ambition, juxtaposed to Dean's contentment to center his life around his wife and child.

The script recently won the Chrysler Film Project, a competition that awards cash to an outstanding new feature film director, selected from over 550 submissions from across the country, overseen by Independent Feature Project, and evaluated by a panel of eminent film industry professionals. The film was also nominated for The Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. It will be distributed by The Weinstein Company, and set for a limited release on December 31, 2010 in USA. The movie will be released earlier in Australia on December 26, 2010. On October 8, 2010 Blue Valentine was officially given an NC-17rating, reportedly due to an emotionally intense sex scene. However, the Weinstein Company appealed the decision and is aiming for an R without any trims to the film since a NC-17 rating would significantly harm the film's potential box office take

Bill and Ted's third ?

1/2 of the Bill and Ted team actor Alex Winter, has further confirmation. According to the actor and director, "Bill & Ted 3" is absolutely in development.

"We kicked around the idea over the years and had always thought if we could make something that was as kind of genuine in spirit as the originals and without falling prey to kind of retro cynicism or something that was unnecessary, it would be worth doing," Winter told MTV's Adam Rosenberg in an interview arranged, amusingly, via Twitter. "Now the cat's out of the bag, and the truth is that, yeah, we have finally hit upon an idea that we think is pretty great."
"We've been working on it for the past couple of years, honing that idea and getting it into shape," he continued. "[Screenwriters Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon] are working on it now. The bottom line is that we still all feel like we need to sit down and look at a script and see if it's everything that it can be before we set about doing anything with it."

I think they may have something as to seeing what these guys have been up to all this time. Not to mention that the franchise was a popular one. I'm sure people will still find interest in it.

Ryan Gosling's next project underway

Shooting has commenced in Los Angeles for the movie Drive that is starring Ryan Gosling, who by the way is having a good 2010 with Blue Valentine and All Good Things, now for director Nicolas Winding Refn ( Vallhalla Rising, Bronson ) this movie is based off the James Sallis novel. The film is also starring Carey Mulligan
( pictured ), Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks and Oscar Isaac.

The plot is about a Hollywood stunt man ( Gosling ) who moonlights on the side as a get away driver who then soon discovers that a contract has been put out on him after a heist that went wrong. The film is looking for a 2011 release date.

Morgan Freeman to receive AFI Lifetime Award

The 73 year old actor will receive the prestigious American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award. The past decade of recipient's the last decade ate Mike Nichols, Michael Douglas, Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Sean Connery, George Lucas, Meryl Streep, Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Barbra Striesand and Harrison Ford.
The ceremony will take place on June 11 of next year.

The Company Men Preview/Synopsis

The Company Men October 22

Written and directed by executive producer John Wells ( One Hour Photo, Far From Heaven ) Starring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, RoseMarie De Witt, Craig T. Nelson. Cinematography by Oscar nominee Roger Deakins ( No Country For Old Men, The Reader ) Editing by Robert Frazen ( Smart People, Friends With Money )

The film studies the effects of corporate downsizing on families and communities. Ben Affleck plays a white-collar corporate employee who, after losing his six-figure salary, is offered a job installing drywall from his blue-collar working brother-in-law, played by Kevin Costner.

Rated R for language and brief nudity. 109 min.

Oscar chances ? I seriously don't see it. A very slight chance for supporting actress ( DeWitt ) The film has received mixed reviews at best.

Hereafter Preview/Synopsis

Directed by Clint Eastwood ( Mystic River, Unforgiven ) Starring Matt Damon, Cecile de France, Jay Mohr, Richard Kind, Marthe Keller, Derek Jacobi. Written by Oscar nominee Peter Morgan ( The Queen ) Cinematography by Oscar nominee Tom Stern ( Letters From Iwo Jima ) Editing by Oscar nomineee Joel Cox ( Mystic River ) Original Music by Eastwood.

One can safely say that Clint Eastwood isn't afraid of tackling new ideas. That rings very true in his latest project and moving into the super natural genre. The plot has a supernatural device: Some people who die and are brought back to life now have psychic abilities which allow them to talk to the dead. Damon plays a psychic named George who is trying to move past his abilities, which he considers more of a curse than a gift. A French television journalist Marie (played by Cécile De France) dies for a minute during a Tsunami, and is trying to cope with her new abilities. And a London school boy is trying to cope with the loss of a loved one. These three storylines are not at all connected until the end when they converge without any real believable explanation. Also, Jay Moher plays George’s brother, who is trying to get him back in business as a psychic. And Howard plays a woman that George meets at a cooking class.

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including disturbing disaster and accident images and for brief strong language. 129 min.

Oscar chances ? Could squeeze in one of the 10 Best Picture nominations. Possible screenplay and visual effects as well, but less likely.

Conviction Preview/Synopsis

Conviction October 15

Directed by actor Tony Goldwyn ( The Last Kiss ) Starring Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo, Clea Duvall, Loren Dean, Peter Gallagher, Talia Balsam, Bailee Madison. Written by Pamela Gray ( Music Of The Heart ) Cinematography by Adriano Goldman ( Sin Nobre, City Of Men ) Editing by Oscar nominee Jay Cassady ( Into The Wild, Brothers ) Original Music by Paul Cantelon ( W. The Other Boleyn Girl )

The film is based on the true story of Betty Anne Waters, an unemployed single mother who, with the help of attorney Barry Scheck from the Innocence Project, exonerated her wrongfully convicted brother. In order to do this she earned her GED, then her bachelor's, a master's in education, and eventually a law degree from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. She accomplished this while raising two boys alone and working as a waitress part-time. While in law school she began investigating her brother's case.

Kenneth Waters, her brother, was convicted in 1983 of murdering Katharina Brow in Ayer, Massachusetts (the murder occurred in 1980). His sister Betty Anne located biological evidence and then worked with the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to overturning wrongful convictions, to obtain DNA testing on the evidence-- proving Waters' innocence and leading to his exoneration on June 19, 2001.[1] Betty Anne Waters now lives in New England and continues her work in freeing wrongfully convicted criminals, as well as fighting for the rights of prison inmates.

Rated R for language and some violent images.

Oscar chances ? Very good for Rockwell in support. Hilary Swank will be in the conversation. Very lean chance at screenplay.

2010 a very good year for books turned into movies

As with every year in film, there's always a ton of books that get adapted into screenplays and then made into movies.
2010 was no different and pretty good one at that. Here I list what I consider the best adaptations for this year 2010...

The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich- The Social Network- starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Joesph Mazzello, Rooney Mera.

A Very Private Gentleman- The American- starring George Clooney.

Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler starring Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman.

Between A Rock and A Hard Place by Aron Ralston- 127 Hours Starring James Franco.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks starring Amansda Seyfried and Channing Tatum.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert starring Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem and James Franco.

Imperial Life In The Emerald City- Green Zone- starring Matt Damon, Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear and Brenden Gleeson.

It's Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini starring Kier Gilchrist, Zach Galifinakis, Lauren Graham.

The Ghost Writer by Robert Harris starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling and starring Daniel Radcliffe.

The Legends Of The Guardian: The Owls Of Ga' Hoole- Voice casting of Helen Mirren, Jim Sturgess, Geoffrey Rushh.

The Long Walk by Slavonir Rawicz- The Way Back- starring Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Mark Strong.

Neon Angel: A Memoir Of A Runaway by Cherie Currie- The Runaways- starring Kriten Stewart, Dakota Fanning and Michael Shannon.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield.

Prince Of Thieves by Chuck Hogan- The Town- starring Ben Affleck, Rebbeca Hall, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Blake Livley, Chris Cooper.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World by Bryan Lee O' Malley starring Michael Cera.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, Emily Mortimer, Jackie Earl Haley, Max Von Sydow, Michelle Williams.

True Grit by Charles Portis starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper.

Zack Snyder chosen to direct Superman reboot

Zack Snyder who has directed top grossing films such as 300 and Watchman has been given the go ahead by Christopher Nolan ( producing ) to helm the reboot of the new Superman film.

Personally I have no emotional investment in another Superman film, I wasn't berating movie studio producers calling for another Superman film. But I'm sure there are millions upon millions that are chomping at the bit to hear this news as Superman being their favorite super hero. Especially fans that find Synder one of their favorite directors. Casting should be very interesting. Many blogger's and message board fans have chimed in that they'd like to see Jon Hamm cast as the Man Of Steel. Now that's not a bad choice at all. We certainly shall see in the upcoming months what the casting will turn out like.

Nicholson and Cruise to re-team for new film ?

There are reports from those in the know that both Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson are being talked about for a film called El Presidente, a comedy for Warner Bros. In the film, written by former Daily Show/ Conan O'Brien writer Dan Goor, about a secret service agent that is hired to protect an ex-president described as "bumbling and degenerate." According to a close source, Cruise is attached to play the part of the secret service agent while an offer is out to Nicholson for the part of the ex-president.

This sounds like it has some major potential, albeit that both actors stick with the project. Cruise is attached to a ton of films already. But this could get a fast track treatment. Being attached to a film is not a concrete for sure that it goes down this way. But with both stars not exactly blowing the roof off with some of their most recent work, this combination could be just that right shot in the arm that their career could use. Also, they are not dumb by any means... in that they know what happened the last time they made a movie together. It just so happened to be the top grossing film of the year and garnered Oscar nominations for picture as well as Nicholson in support.
To both stars, this project should be a no brainer. Now just add a very strong director and then you most likely have a great film in the making.

The Bourne Legacy lands director

Word is out that the popular action based Bourne series is getting a new direcor. Paul Greengrass who previously directed the first three films is not returning and Tony Gilroy ( Michael Clayton, Duplicity ) who was the screenwriter on the first three Bourne films has stepped in to direct the fourth installment, titled The Bourne Legacy.
Early reports had Matt Damon saying he's not in if Greengrass doesn't direct, but I would find it hard to believe him passing on this, after all he IS Jason Bourne.

New full length True Grit trailer

First look was a one minute teaser, here is the full 2:29 minute clip. Looks pretty impressive.

Golf clap for actors having a good 2010

Every year a certain actor and actress have a very good year or what some may consider a " career " year. Here's some congratulations to those who did in 2010...

Mia Wasikowska- Alice In Wonderland, The Kid's Are Alright. One film is going to be in the top 10 of the year for total gross. Another was a critical success.

Michael Douglas- Best in show in Solitary Man and also the Wall Street sequel. Is on many pundits list of having an Oscar worthy performance in Solitary Man.

Naomi Watts- Fair Game, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger- Said to be a lightning bolt good in Fair Game and the best part of the Woody Allen movie.

Chloe Moretz- Kick-Ass, Let Me In- Steals the show in both films. Already near the A list and is currently filming with legend Martin Scorsese's Hugo Cabaret.

Matt Damon- Green Zone, Hereafter, True Grit- Seems to be in his peak and picking top notch projects. This guy is not slumming for roles. Last year was a good for him as well.

Mark Ruffalo- Shutter Island, The Kid's Are Alright- Very good year for the long time character actor and is almost a lock for earning his first Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.

Annette Bening- Mother and Child, The Kid's Are Alright- Many think she was better in Mother and Child, yet hardly anybody saw that film, so it looks like a very good chance for an Oscar nomination for Kid's.

James Franco- Howl, 127 Hours- Very good in Howl as Alan Ginsberg but is said to be outstanding in 127 Hoursm which had screeings at Telluride and Toronto, which will likely garner him his first Oscar nomination.

Source Code gets release date

Directed by Duncan Jones ( Moon ) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, Michelle Monaghan,Jeffrey Wright, Russell Peters and Michael Arden.
A brief synopsis of the film tells of a soldier (Gyllenhaal) becomes part of an experimental government program that is investigating a train bombing. He is forced to relive the incident over and over again until he can find out who is responsible and how to prevent the next terrorist attack from occurring.

The film was made on a safe 35 million dollar budget, shot in 2 months, with the cinematography provided by Oscar nominee Don Burgess ( Cast Away, Forest Gump ) with the film hitting theaters April 15, 2011.

Rango Trailer/Synopsis

Rango 2-25-2011


Directed by Gore Verbinski ( The Weather Man, POTC ) voice cast starring Johnny Depp as Rango, also with Isla Fisher, Abagail Breslin, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Alfred Molina, Ray Winstone, Steven Root, Timothy Olyphant, Ned Beatty.

In the film, Rango is a pet chameleon who lives in a terrarium. He has long thought himself a hero, but then finds himself removed from his contemporary American southwest surroundings and ending up in an Old West town called Dirt, which is populated by various desert critters garbed like characters out of a spaghetti western. Rango soon becomes the town lawman, an occupation in Dirt that, judging from the tombstones in the local cemetery, doesn't allow for a very long lifespan. At a certain point in the narrative, Rango will come to question everything about himself.

Many have noted that the film's main character and setting bear a strong resemblance to those in Hunter S. Thompson and Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Indeed, a CGI version of Thompson makes a brief cameo in the film's trailer.

Oscar chances- Quite possible in the animation category as it has a very popular A list actor voicing Rango.

Mission: Impossible IV underway

Tom Cruise is back for a fourth time in Mission: Impossible IV, which now has been shooting in Prague, Czech Republic, also will find locations in Dubai and Vancouver, B.C.
The plot of the story for this film is under wraps so far, but the cast from III is all back minus Kerri Russell, with the addition of Jeremy Renner and Lost's Josh Holloway. Providing the cinematography and hot after the doing The Town, which has really received word of mouth, is Oscar winner Roger Elswit. Working on the musical score is last year's Oscar winner for Up, Michael Giacchino.
If you are a fan of this series, the film will be released December 16 of next year. Animated director Brad Bird ( Ratatouille ) is taking a stab at live action from a script written by Scott Z Burns ( The Informant ! )

Soberbergh's Contagion filming underway

Filming on the Steven Soderbergh directed medical thriller Contagion, has commenced in Hong Kong. Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard and Lawrence Fishburne had already been cast but new names have been added to the already impressive cast. Also on board is Bryan Cranston, Elliot Gould, John Hawkes, Jennifer Ehle and Demetri Martin.
The premsie of the film is action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak. Scott Z. Burns ( The Informant )is the screenwriter.
Lensing will move to Chicago in October, and the movie will see a October 21, 2011 release date. Sound like Oscar bait ?