Posted 8/17/09 2:00 pm EST by Larry Carroll in News
They are three legends of the silver screen. Separately, they've made dozens of films that have had a huge impact on the lives of moviegoers. Fans have been wanting to see them unite on screen for decades. Now, the trio are finally planning to make a movie together.
“I want to send best wishes to Sly,” Bruce Willis said with a grin when we spoke with him last week. “And the Governor of California, my old pal Arnold.” Read More...
Posted 8/17/09 1:30 pm EST by Christopher Campbell in News
Before “Juno” became a big hit that propelled Ellen Page to stardom while also helping the career of Olivia Thirlby, the two actresses were set to costar in a love story called “Jack and Diane” (like the John Cougar Mellencamp song, yes). This was not to be the usual indie film about teen lesbians, however... one of the girls is a werewolf.
Last year it was speculated that Page was leaving the long-in-development project when her name went missing off the film’s IMDb page. Now, there’s official confirmation (via /Film) from the website of writer/director Bradley Rust Gray that she has indeed left, and been replaced by “Milk” actress Alison Pill. Read More...
Posted 8/17/09 1:00 pm EST by Adam Rosenberg in Box Office Poll
This week brings yet another easy weekend screening for me. Especially since, unlike last week, I haven't actually seen the highly anticipated upcoming release in question.
It's been a long time since director Quentin Tarantino served up a proper feature. There was "Death Proof" of course, which formed one half of "Grindhouse," and a brief bit in "Sin City." But the last feature-length solo effort from Tarantino was "Kill Bill: Vol. 2," and that was in 2004. While the Bride's tale of bloody revenge was a blast, I'm looking forward "Inglourious Basterds"' World War II adventure. Maybe it's the Jew in me, but the premise of American soldiers brutalizing Nazis while spouting Tarantino dialogue sounds exactly like my idea of a good time at the movies.
Those who are not quite as fond of the "Pulp Fiction" director's work have some good options to choose from, among them last week's excellent "District 9," which is sure to repeat its solid weekend performance as word-of-mouth builds. Then there are the new releases... Read More...
Posted 8/17/09 12:00 pm EST by Adam Rosenberg in News
UPDATE: The original report in Us Magazine was based on an article in today's London Mirror, which it turns out was slightly inaccurate. And by "slightly," I mean "holy crap, who let this news run?!" Brad Pitt is NOT joining the cast of "Sherlock Holmes." So says Warner Bros. So everything I say below is completely false. You can check out WB's statement right here; I've left the original report after the jump, for posterity.
FROM WARNER BROS.: "The report in today’s London Mirror is completely inaccurate. Brad Pitt is not joining the cast of Sherlock Holmes and we're extremely pleased with the production of the film. As planned, it will be released on Christmas Day, 2009. In order to complete the movie, we've scheduled a few days on set to shoot a couple of additional scenes, obtain pick-up shots, and perfect some of the visual effects elements, all of which is standard filmmaking practice."
Oops. Someone done effed up. Read More...
Posted 8/17/09 10:00 am EST by Adam Rosenberg in News
The top dogs at DreamWorks Animation must be feeling pretty pleased with themselves today. Variety reports that their upcoming "Oobermind" just snatched itself three superstars: "SNL" alum Will Ferrell, Apatow-spawn Jonah Hill and -- the whopper -- "Inglourious" bastard Brad Pitt. Sure, Ferrell is replacing Robert Downey Jr., a man who complements his "Iron Man" armor with the power to please a crowd, but this trio is still a pretty big "get" for DreamWorks.
It's a cool project too, at least from the sound of things. One of those increasingly rare "original spins" on an established idea. Super-villain Oobermind (Ferrell) has finally defeated his arch-nemesis (Pitt), and now he's bored to tears. So he uses one of his dastardly machines to create a new hero (Hill) to fight, only the newbie just wants to be a jerk. All of a sudden, Oorbermind finds himself in the hero's role. See? Clever. Read More...
Posted 8/17/09 9:00 am EST by Adam Rosenberg in Daily TwitPic
Imagine what Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would have been like if the "Superbad" crew had been students there. Jonah Hill, there's no question he would have been Slytherin. No one as loud and obnoxious as he could end up anywhere else, even if he does have a heart of gold. Michael Cera would join Harry, Ron and Hermione in Gryffindor; he's got that inner courage, the willingness to put himself on the line for a friend.
Then there's Christopher Mintz-Plasse -- you know, McLovin'. Where the hell would he go? Probably Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw is home to the prodigiously intelligent, whereas Hufflepuff houses those who are genuinely good people. That's McLovin' all over. Not that any of this matters, since the "Superbad" guys aren't exactly "Potter" material. Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton is a fan though, a big enough one that he carries around a McLovin' ID card, which Jonah Hill was kind enough to sign for him in today's Daily TwitPic. Read More...
Posted 8/16/09 2:41 pm EST by Josh Wigler in Box Office
1. "District 9" ($37 million)
2. "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" ($22.5 million)
3. "The Time Traveler's Wife" ($19.2 million)
4. "Julie & Julia" ($12.4 million)
5. "G-Force" ($6.9 million)
Given its strong opening day of $14.2 million and a Saturday take of $12.6 million, it's hardly surprising to hear that "District 9" finished its first weekend on top of the box office. What is surprising is that "District 9" is on track to make $37 million by Sunday's end, meaning that the alien-centric film has already surpassed its budget costs by $7 million. According to Deadline Hollywood Daily, the results surpassed rival studios' expectations of the film, thanks largely to good word of mouth and grassroots marketing from producer Peter Jackson, director Neill Blomkamp and the rest of the "District 9" team. Read More...
Posted 8/16/09 10:04 am EST by Adam Rosenberg in Commentary
This weekend, we remember Elvis Presley on the August 16 anniversary of his untimely passing, in 1977. It has been a hard summer in that regard, as we've said goodbye to pop culture icons as massive as Michael Jackson and John Hughes. Presley was the original though, the very first rock star. He came screaming out of pop culture's embryo with an electric guitar and lasciviously swaying hips. The King was a legend long before he left us
As we all know of course, Elvis never died. No, none of that ridiculous "he's living with aliens on another planet" conspiracy nonsense. Elvis never really died because he continues to influence the arts, even to this day. Not just in music, but in film as well. Whether he's a sexual deviant, an invisible friend or even a mummy-hunting geriatric, The King lives on in our hearts, minds and movie theaters, and he will for a very long time to come. Read More...
Posted 8/16/09 8:59 am EST by Adam Rosenberg in Photos
It was only a matter of time before hard evidence emerged that "Avatar" actually exists outside of convention halls and James Cameron's crazy mind. I'm actually kind of surprised it took this long. But the movie is indeed real and, if the planned "Avatar" day on August 21 hasn't convinced, then this newly revealed still certainly will.
What we have here is Sam Worthington with a thoughtful look on his face and... something else. The thing in the blue liquid -- cryofreeze? -- behind Worthington looks half-human/half-cat. As MTV Multiplayer editor Russ Frushtick so aptly noted, it looks like Cheetara from "ThunderCats." You're right Russ, it does. Hit the jump for a look at the full pic, brought you by the fine folks at /Film. Read More...
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From 'Reservoir Dogs' To 'Inglourious Basterds': Who Is YOUR Favorite Quentin Tarantino Character?
Posted 8/17/09 3:00 pm EST by Adam Rosenberg in Commentary
It's hard to narrow down a single favorite, but I have to go with Robert Forster's bail bondsman Max Cherry, from "Jackie Brown." By far QT's most underrated effort, Forster's top-notch role is just one among many in the movie. Still, it's his character who sticks with me the most. As all of these shady dealings are unfolding before his eyes, this old fogey dullard sticks to his moral center and comes out of the mess clean as a result. Tremendous, that performance.
I want to know who your favorite is though. Hit the jump for the associated poll I'll be running this week, as well as thoughts from the rest of the MTV News team on their own favorites. And of course, if you have more to say than the poll really offers, I encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments or in a video post on Your MTV. Read More...
Tags brad pitt, Christopher Waltz, Eli Roth, inglourious basterds, quentin tarantino