Mark Wahlberg jumps back into action as an ex-cop out for justice in this week's Broken City, which sees him face off against none other than Russell Crowe as a crooked politician Crowe describes as "part Queens, and part Wall Street." After the jump, watch as Wahlberg talks up the Allen Hughes-helmed potboiler, what brings him back to the gritty action well time and time again, and the big-screen face-off with Crowe that was 15 years in the making.
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If you and the fam headed to the multiplex to watch one of the season's big new releases this week, chances are you caught Tom Hooper's epic weepie Les Miserables or Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. (Or maybe the in-laws dragged you to Parental Guidance, in which case, my condolences.) We'll get spoilery all over Django later, but for now let's get to hashing out the answer to the question that's been on every showtune-lover's mind for months: Which Les Miz cast member totally nailed the live-sung suffering for the big screen (and whose warblings made us les miserables)? more »
The highly anticipated Les Misérables is on track to become this year’s Chicago — a crowd-pleasing, award-winning, budget-busting musical extravaganza that will sharply divide audiences on the respective talents of its singing, emoting, showboating stars. The stakes are raised by the actors having sung their parts live on set — accompanied by a piano, with the orchestra added in post-production — instead of recording the songs in the safety of a studio and lip-synching during their scenes. The debates over who proved a genuine triple-threat and who embarrassed themselves will last for weeks as we barrel into Oscar season, but let’s get the ball rolling now by ranking who we’re expecting to dazzle us — and who’ll disappoint.
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RZA's kung fu actioner The Man With The Iron Fists is already a must-see thanks to its pedigree (RZA co-wrote, directs and stars, Eli Roth co-wrote and produces, Quentin Tarantino "presents"), cast (Lucy Liu, Gordon Liu, Pam Grier to name a few) and stylistic influences (Shaw brothers meets Wu Tang? Yes please!). Speaking with Movieline, RZA dropped another worlds-colliding tidbit that might blow minds when Iron Fists hits theaters November 2: Russell Crowe's mysterious, dagger-twirling character Jack Knife was influenced by none other than the late rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard.
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After scoping out Noah cinematographer Matthew Libatique's dark-but-revealing shot of the interior of the title character's reptile-laden ark, I find myself praying for a cameo by Samuel L. Jackson in which he lives long enough to say, "I have had it with these mother-fucking snakes on this mother-fucking ark." Libatique, who was nominated for an Oscar for his work on Black Swan, tweeted the photo on Tuesday, along with the line: "Pre lighting on the holiest day of the year," an apparent reference to Yom Kippur. more »
This is not your mother's Noah. A first look at actor Russell Crowe as the grizzled title character in Darren Aronofsky's Noah has surfaced, and it's not what you'd expect. As Movies.com reports, Crowe: "looks like a Mad Max out of the depths of time" and lives in a hostile world where "pity has no place." more »
Also in Friday morning's round-up of news briefs, Warner Bros is eyeing Russell Crowe as it considers Stephen King project. Terrence Howard is set to play a hustler in a new pic, while a Game of Thrones star is joining an all-star cast in The Counselor and more.
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In Tuesday afternoon's round-up of news briefs, the actor who played George Jefferson has died. Russell Crowe will direct a film about a cult comedian. Disney is moving a 3-D re-release to the holidays; NATO is taking donations for Aurora shooting victims and Netflix sees its shares dive.
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Also in Wednesday morning's round-up of news briefs, Charlie Sheen takes a bite at Axl Rose at a Slash Walk of Fame ceremony. Jason Bateman is heading behind the camera (and in front) for his directorial debut. And new projects for Anna Kendrick and Adam Brody.
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It looks like Wu-Tang Clan's RZA has learned well from his masters — they being the Hong Kong grindhouse filmmakers of yesteryear whose slicing, dicing martial arts exports clearly influenced more than just the rapper-actor's musical side, not to mention the reigning icon of modern exploitation cinema culture, Quentin Tarantino. Watch Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu, Pam Grier, Jamie Chung, and RZA himself chop, stab, kick, and fight their way through the bloody first redband trailer for The Man with the Iron Fists!
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Also in Wednesday morning's round up of news briefs, Jack Bender of ABC's Lost is developing a new thriller and Justin Timberlake is tipped to be headed to Baywatch movie. And thriller/comedy The Revenant to hit theaters.
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Also in Tuesday morning's round up of news briefs, BFI London Film Festival sets October dates and a revamp, former stripper colleagues accuse Channing Tatum of taking their experiences for Magic Mike and Welsh actor Victor Spinetti has died.
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This just in: Paramount and New Regency will release Darren Aronofsky's Biblical tale Noah on March 28, 2014. No filming date has been announced just yet, but that gives the Black Swan helmer just about two years to get Russell Crowe in gear as the eponymous wino/boat-builder; Aronofsky will direct from a script credited to himself, Ari Handel, and John Logan. The date puts Noah opening right before Captain America 2, which means... superhero season will start even earlier in '14, kinda. I know, I know: But when will we see a big-screen adaptation of Fightin' Around the World? [Deadline]
Word around Hollywood has Russell Crowe officially committed to star in Darren Aronofsky's Noah, with the long-gestating, big-budget biblical epic making its way in front of cameras this summer. Should be great — but can it ever really match up to Crowe's legendary seafaring exploits from South Park?
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Maybe you can't quite ask Woody Harrelson anything, but at least he has a forthcoming contemporary in Russell Crowe. The Oscar-winner recently leveled with fans on Twitter, acknowledging his and Liam Neeson's interest in Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic Noah while putting a swift, certain and severe end to speculation that he may participate in a RoboCop.
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