Composer David Arnold this week reaffirmed his interest in having Amy Winehouse contribute the vocals to the next James Bond theme song, which Arnold will assist in writing for Sam Mendes's untitled 007 film set to shoot this fall. It's a natural inclination considering the singer's vintage '60s style and tone (assuming you want to go vintage; there's always the Duran Duran or Chris Cornell route, I guess), but then there's that minor problem of Winehouse being unshakably strung out on booze and/or drugs. Plan B might be in order. That's where you come in.
more »
Also in this Friday edition of The Broadsheet: Some fresh James Bond casting rumors... Space Invaders blasts to the big screen (again)... Step Up 4 finds a female lead... and more ahead.
more »
There's something for pretty much everybody this weekend at the movies -- fresh new dishes and some heat-lamped empty calories at the multiplex, crypto-spiritual potboilers and swell nonfiction at the art house. And a variety of snacks in between. But only one can be America's favorite.* Your Weekend Forecast is here.
more »
Yesterday, we reported that How I Met Your Mother is eerily incorporating new advertisements for current films like Zookeeper into syndicated reruns. Today, the phenomenon continues with new screen shots showing a Bad Teacher poster in a 2006 episode of the CBS hit sitcom, but this time we finally have a more detailed explanation of the time-travel marketing courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.
more »
High above the ground, he hovers in the air, with the aid of futuristic technology! Is that Cliff Secord, the Rocketeer himself? Or... is it San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, tooling around with a jet pack while on a watery jaunt in St. Tropez?
more »
Director Amy Heckerling gave us Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless, so it's only appropriate that she raise the bar on her brand of socially hierarchical fun with a stark left turn: Vamps, a romantic comedy starring Clueless alums Alicia Silverstone and Wallace Shawn, Sigourney Weaver, and Krysten Ritter, ensconces us in a world of vampires -- and not the whiny, blanched ones. Though Heckerling's reunion with Silverstone is plenty enticing, Weaver's role as queen of the vampires warrants a few double-takes. Check out new pictures posted to the in-production film's Facebook page.
more »
Nicholas Braun, who starred in a movie you didn't see called Prom, is toplining a new comedy called Gay Dude. The premise concerns a high schooler named "Michael (Braun), who makes a pact with friend Matty to lose their virginity before graduation -- until Matty comes out of the closet." The good news is that Parks and Recreation scribe (and Mouse Rat band member) Alan Yang handled the script. The bad news is the following analogy could be true: American Pie: Gay Dude :: Road Trip: Boat Trip. Frightening. [Variety]
For fanboys, a sigh of relief; the just-announced schedule of events for Thursday at this year's Comic-Con will slate ladies first, generally speaking, as The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn holds its presentation early in the day, thus allowing for thousands of sweaty non-Twilighter geeks to pack Hall H in time for their most-anticipated panels. Official Breaking Dawn panel times and more from Thursday's schedule after the jump!
more »
Judd Apatow's next film -- his untitled writing/directing venture already starring Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Albert Brooks, and Megan Fox -- just added its first dose of Bridesmaids lady magic to the cast in the form of Melissa McCarthy. (Chris O'Dowd was previously mentioned as in negotiations for a role.) Awesome! But: Is McCarthy the bawdy bridesmaid whose success you should be rooting for most?
more »
You haven't seen the movies. You haven't even done the requisite research on Margaret Thatcher to judge Meryl Streep's role in The Iron Lady. You don't even really understand why Glenn Close is dressed in drag for Albert Nobbs yet. But you do know that Meryl Streep and Glenn Close are very likely to garner nominations for Best Actress at the next Oscars, exhuming a battle that began in 1987 when Cher beat both of them for a statue. Without any knowledge of the films' quality, who are you rooting for?
more »
Relativity Media sends word today that it has acquired Machine Gun Preacher, the Marc Forster-directed, Gerard Butler-starring biopic about a drug dealer-turned-man of God who becomes a crusader for refugee children in East Africa. And thus did the studio -- with its Sept. 23 limited release date (and presumed Toronto Film Festival debut) -- and its partners at Lionsgate enter the awards hunt. Full details about the film and its rollout are below.
more »
As production continues on Peter Jackson's two-part adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Hobbit, the director continues to leak photos of his epic adventure. Last week, he teased audiences with images of Bilbo and Gandalf (played by Martin Freeman and Sir Ian McKellen) and now the New Zealand visionary has unveiled the first still of The Hobbit's bickering dwarf trio of Dori, Ori and Nori.
more »
· Have you heard about this little film called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II? Well! It's coming out next week, and is all about this boy wizard -- oh, you have heard about Harry Potter? Well, then click ahead to watch this latest clip from the end of the end, where Hermione Granger goes all Pulp Fiction-y on one of Voldemort's Horcruxes. Your Thursday afternoon Buzz Break has arrived.
more »
Take this with the comically large grain of salt it most certainly deserves, but: Chicago Sun-Times celebrity journalist Bill Zwecker reports that Oprah Winfrey is at the top of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences list to host the 84th annual Academy Awards in 2012. Winfrey's hosting duties could possibly come with an OWN-only behind-the-scenes component, in an effort help the ratings-deficient cable network. If this comes true, hopefully Olympia Dukakis winds up in the front row. [Chicago Sun-Times]
