Movies36

This movie is being directed by David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) and was written by Al Gore’s daughter, Kristen.  The stars attached are Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, James Marsden, Kirstie Alley, Paul Reubens and James Brolin.  No problem so far, right?

The problem comes with the finances.  This movie has stopped production on three seperate occasions due to monetary concerns.  The staff have boycotted due to not being paid.  Jake and Jessica walked off the set when producers couldn’t prove that there were funds available to compensate them.  They’ve had a wrap party but the movie still isn’t complete.

It tells the story of a waitress who gets a nail stuck in her skull.  Alice (original name isn’t it?) goes to Washington DC and falls in love with a young Senator while trying to promote her cause (whatever that is).

The movie will be out sometime next year if they are able to complete it.

So far Christian Bale, Anton Yelchin (House of D, Alpha Dog), Sam Worthington, and Moon Bloodgood (Eight Below) are confirmed cast for this film with Josh Brolin and Chris Browning (3:10 to Yuma)  are rumored. 

In this, the fourth Terminator movie, John Conner (Christian Bale) is leading the resistance against Skynet in the year 2018.  But Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) shows up and alters the future that John thought he knew.  Marcus’ last memory was as a prisoner on death row but he doesn’t know if he came from the future or the past.  Together John and Marcus will discover the secret of Skynet.

If you’re a Terminator fan they’ll be back on May 22, 2009

In order to bump DVD sales, Warner Brothers will be releasing Tales of the Black Freighter direct to DVD five days after Watchmen is released in March of 2009.  One of the charcters in the Watchmen will actually be reading a ‘Tales of the Black Freighter‘ comic book.  It will include a documentary type film titled Under the Hood which will go into the backstory of the characters in Watchmen.  It sounds like a brilliant marketing strategy, if the movie lives up to expectations. 

Watchmen stars Malin Akerman (27 Dresses),  Jackie Earle Haley (Semi-Pro), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (PS I Love You), Carla Gugino(Sin City), Billy Crudup (The Good Shepherd), and Patrick Wilson(Phantom of the Opera).  Zac Snyder of 300 and Dawn of the Dead is directing.

Edward Norton turned down the starring role in Ang Lee’s 2003 Hulk movie but decided to take the lead when it was offered by Marvel this time around.  During a promo interview in August he revealed that he had rewritten the entire script which was originally done by Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand).  The studio announced that Norton was hired to rewrite and Tim Roth confirmed that Norton worked on the script every day on the set.

Earlier this year we learned that Norton was arguing about the length of the film.  Marvel wanted it shorter, Norton wanted it longer.  Marvel won however Norton is now refusing to do any interviews to promo the film.  Now we’re being told that Zak Penn will receive sole credit for writing the script.  This was confirmed with Penn’s reps and the WGA.

The Incredible Hulk hits theaters June 13th.

Sydney Pollack died on Memorial Day at his home in Pacific Palisades at the age of 73.  He was diagnosed with cancer about nine months ago according to his pulicist.  He directed some of my favorite films so lets dedicate our next Movie Marathon Day to him.

• Out of Africa recieved 7 Academy Awards.  One of them went to Pollack as Best Director.  This 1985 film stars Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.

• Tootsie is one of my favorites and was nominated for 9 Academy Awards.  Jessica Lange took home the trophy for Best Supporting Actress.  The cast of this wonderful film includes Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Bill Murray and Geena Davis.  Pollack played a small role in this film as well.

• They Shoot Horses Don’t They? recieved ten nominations with  Gig Young taking home the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.  This is the story of a group of people participating in an almost inhuman dance marathon.  Jane Fonda, Susannah York, Gig Young, Red Buttons and Bonnie Bedelia star in this heartbreaking movie.

• Sabrina (1995) is one of my favorites.  It was nominated for two Oscars.  The film stars Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond and Greg Kinnear.  It’s the classic love triangle crossed with a Cinderella story.  Of course the original with Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden is wonderful as well.

Of course if these aren’t up your alley you can try Jeremiah Johnson, Absence of Malice, The Firm or The Interpreter.

Pollack was an actor as well as a director and producer.  He most recently appeared in Made of Honor which is now in theaters.  Other films you’ll find him in are Death Becomes Her, Eyes Wide Shut, Changing Lanes, Random Hearts, and Michael Clayton.

The buzz is that Lindsay Lohan has been dropped from the indie film The Manson Girls.  Matthew Bright (Freeway) is writing and directing this film.  It was rumored that Lindsay was to protray Nancy Pitman.  She was a pampered surfer girl who became enamoured with Charles Manson.

Unfortunately, Lilo’s recent problems have become a liability.  It’s being reported that some of the actors and actresses that were being tapped for the film refused to work with her.  Lindsay’s publicist is saying this isn’t true.  They report that she never had a contract in place for The Manson Girls and when plans were finalized she was committed elsewhere.

However, Alison White producer of Ye Olde Times a romantic comedy starring Jack Black confirmed that they have dropped Lindsay from that project.  She stated that they decided to go their seperate ways and the offer was out to another actress.  No other reason was given for the change.

It seems that she’s still in the cast for the musical romance Dare to Love Me with Raoul Bova.

I hope Lindsay can pull it together.  I really enjoy watching her earlier films.  And, for me, Georgia Rule, was a good film.  I wonder if her role in it was more like her real life than we know.

In the meantime, she’ll appear on the season finale of Ugly Betty and do at least five episodes next season.

                             Photo courtesy of Flickr

Ted Key who wrote the scripts for Disney’s The Cat From Outer Space, Gus, and The Million Dollar Duck, passed away at the age of 95.

Mr. Key also created the comic strip Hazel which was later produced as a television show.  Hazel was played by Shirley Booth who won two Emmys for her role.

His son Peter said that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2006 and suffered a stroke this past September.  He died in his home near Philidelphia.