What is Your Favorite Elias Koteas Role?
Filed under: Fandom
There is an actor I didn't mention in my For Love of Unknown Actors post last July, one who is criminally underused and under appreciated on the cinematic scene, and who has acted in over 60 films -- Elias Koteas. I've had him on the brain for days, ever since THR's Risky Business Blog posted a piece called "Put Elias Koteas in your movie, now" on Friday.
These words sent me into a Koteas tailspin: "He's the kind of actor that lives so close to the skin of the character that he gives off those blurry heatwaves you see above a hot blacktop." This. I've been enamored with the actor since his second feature film in 1987, the John Hughes romance Some Kind of Wonderful. And while he's been in an impressive array of films since, usually finding more of the spotlight in Canadian features like Crash and Exotica, I doubt mainstream audiences know him as anything but that kinda-familiar bald guy, or Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
I love all the fleeting, cinematic glimpses of Koteas, but my favorite always remains the first I ever saw: Duncan in Some Kind of Wonderful.
"Lost" John Williams Score Makes CD Debut
Filed under: Fandom, Home Entertainment
Assume for a moment that John Williams has sold more movie scores on CD than any other composer, though Maurice Jarre, James Horner and Ennio Morricone are certainly contenders too. Williams has on his resume all the Star Wars movies, all the Indiana Jones movies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. The Extra-terrestrial, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Jaws, Superman and Saving Private Ryan. He even has scored more obscure items like Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye and Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot. He has won five Oscars and has been nominated -- no kidding -- more than 40 times. Now, just imagine that this Elvis Presley of composers, this Beatles of composers, has had one major composition that was never released on CD. That would be like, say Rubber Soul or From Elvis in Memphis being unavailable.It's true. There's one elusive score in Williams' impressive discography that has previously escaped collectors, until now. It's understandable that the score for John Frankenheimer's thriller Black Sunday might have disappeared in that watershed year of 1977, when Williams also composed Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Now Film Score Monthly has announced the official release, available for order through their website. This is a limited release of only 10,000 copies, and the site warns against waiting. The CD runs 64 minutes and features the complete score in chronological order, plus some outtakes. There are audio samples available on the site, and it's a wonderfully ominous, suspenseful score, far more controlled than some of Williams' later works.
Peter Bogdanovich Moves from Meows to Barbies and Manson
Filed under: Comedy, Deals, Scripts
It's been eons since we've gotten a Peter Bogdanovich tale. Aside from some TV work and his Tom Petty documentary in 2007, there hasn't been a big-screen feature since he dug into William Randolph Hearst's dirty laundry with The Cat's Meow in 2001. And before that, The Thing Called Love in 1993. No finishing Orson Welles' The Other Side of the Wind (he stated last month that he didn't think editing the film would ever be possible), and no code cracking. But finally, The Hollywood Reporter posts that he will write and direct an adaptation of Kurt Anderson's novel Turn of the Century.If anything should reinvigorate the feature career of the man who helmed Paper Moon, The Last Picture Show, and Mask, and bring in a new audience, this is it. The book is a modern social satire oft-compared to Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities. Written in 1999, the novel follows the MacTiers in the year 2000, "a Manhattan power couple with three kids who are managing their troubled marriage in a world where BarbieWorld has opened in Vegas and Charles Manson's parole hearing is live on TV." George has produced a series called NARCS, which mixes real drug busts with snappy scripts, while wife Lizzie is a software entrepreneur who created a "force-feedback technology," which is part of an alternative history game that senses fear. "Dinner time!" is announced room to room via e-mail, Lizzie's guilt over voting for Rudy Giuliani leads her to hand out $5's in penance, and there's a Jimmy Smits/J-Lo revolution in Mexico.
Bogdanovich isn't the first name I would think of to helm a technology-ridden modern satire like this, so I'm dying to see what he makes of it. Should things continue as planned, the film will shoot next spring in New York.
Pitch of the Day: 'Superman Returns 2'
Filed under: Classics, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
Today's pitch is sort of a last chance grab at any possibility of Warner Bros. not rebooting the Superman franchise yet again and instead letting Bryan Singer, or someone else, simply move forward from the underrated Superman Returns. I'm sure to be in my own boat here, especially since all the geeks are celebrating Christopher Nolan's reported involvement with version 3.0 of the superhero on film (if we're talking theatrical releases, isn't this version 5.0? And if we're talking all adaptations it's like version 10.6.2). Still, I'm going to once again make the case for...Superman Returns 2
Of course it wouldn't be titled that. What an awkward title. But my point is that I'd like to see Singer's installment get a follow-up rather than another reboot. As I noted in my take on the pseudo Mr. & Mrs. Smith reboot yesterday, and as some commenters agreed, sequels are usually more desirable than reboots. I know, go on about Nolan's Batman franchise reboot. Well, a sequel can go in a new direction, too, without the lame connotations of a reboot. Or, it can be a combo like Singer's movie was. Superman Returns continued the original Superman series while also rebooting it. I'll admit I'm a wee bit torn on the idea, as I'd like to see Brandon Routh return but I could certainly do without Kate Bosworth -- though, if Nolan can switch it up with the female lead in his Batman films, they can do it with this, as well.
Watch This: Beaker is Just "Dust in the Wind"
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Fandom, Trailers and Clips
For the love of God please make that new Muppet movie a rock opera!!!! Arrrrrrgh!
Okay, now that that's out of my system, it's time to explain why I just had that little outburst. See, MuppetsStudio has released another classic rock song with a Muppets edge. Oh, yes! First it was the brilliance of "Bohemian Rhapsody," and now -- "Beaker's Ballad." No, it's not some random original song, but rather the ol' meeemer sharing his rendition of "Dust in the Wind" -- Kansas' 1977 hit. Unfortunately, Beaker's memeing is no match for Lynn Meredith's vocals, and the harsh, cruel internet world is ready to pounce. It seems that they only like silent (pun alert!) memes.
If we can't get Jason Segel to switch his upcoming movie to a Muppet rock opera, maybe we can at least get a faux concert documentary from the MuppetsStudio? It could be the fan event to challenge Rocky Horror! I imagine I'm not the only one who would stand in line to hear these guys go through all the classic greats.
Meanwhile, in related news, The Playlist managed to nab a description of the new Muppet movie based on a script that's dated October 2009 that their source calls a "solid attempt at recapturing what made "The Muppet Show" and the first two Muppet movies so great" Check out the film description from The Playlist and the hilarious video after the jump.
Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams Reunite for 'Mission Impossible 4'
Filed under: Action, Casting, Deals, Paramount, Tom Cruise
Looks like we have some good (and possibly bad) news for fans of the Mission Impossible franchise. Mike Fleming at Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Paramount and Tom Cruise have indeed put away their past squabbles in order to pave the way for a fourth Mission Impossible film starring Cruise as Impossible Mission Force agent Ethan Hunt. The possibly bad news? MI3 director J.J. Abrams will not be captaining the ship this time out.
Deadline reports that Abrams will be producing alongside the leading man, but that the studio is actively looking for a director to hire. I suppose that means Abrams hasn't been ruled completely out - who knows, he may fall in love with the project and hop back into the directors chair - but it's not likely he'll return in that capacity. We do have two more names confirmed for the project though: writing duo Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec. The pair may not be all that well known on the cinema front, but fans of the small screen should recognize both as writer/producers on a number of television shows, including the Abrams-produced, spy-loving Alias.
There's no confirmation at this stage as to whether or not any previous cast members will be returning, but if they're keeping the streak going by bringing back Cruise they may as well bring back Ving Rhames for him to play off. Beyond that, however, the only other major bit of news is that Paramount will be shooting this summer for a Memorial Day 2011 release.
But what say you? Are you glad to see Tom Cruise reentering the IMF fold? Or would you rather see a franchise return follow the current Hollywood trend of flat-out reboot with a new cast?
Discuss: Your Oscar Party Preparations
Filed under: Awards, Fandom, Oscar Watch
Call me a dork if you want to, but I love to throw an Oscar party. Every year I bust out my snack trays and print up some ballots for a traditional Oscar shindig, and this year will be no different. The rules for an Oscar party aren't all that different than any other party - you need some food, some booze, and hey, why not a little gambling -- ya know, for "entertainment purposes"? Now some of you out there like to bet money, and sure, that can be fun, but I like to put together prize packages to give away, and besides, the addition of a booby prize guarantees that I can ditch some of the lesser selections in my DVD collection (I'm looking at you, The Goods).
The best part about hosting your own Academy Awards party is that you can get as elaborate as you want: throw down some red carpet, get the champagne flowing, and you can even have mock paparazzi working the room. But I tend to keep things a little more low-key and you're more likely to see popcorn and theater candy (milk duds, Twizzlers, you name it) on my snack table than bottles of Moet. But hey, don't let me stop you; let your imagination (and budget) run wild.
With the big night just a little under a month away, I thought I would get you in the mood with a few suggestions for your Oscar night menu...
Damon, Winslet Lead Soderbergh's 'Contagion'
Filed under: Action, Drama, Thrillers, Casting
Once again, our friends at The Playlist have the inside scoop on a Steven Soderbergh film. Having previously been the go-to site for updated casting info on the filmmaker's current project, Knockout, they now bring first word on what will be his next effort: Contagion. The ensemble action-thriller, which is reportedly being called a "terrifying" cross between the Bourne movies and Soderbergh's own Traffic (with some obvious reference to Outbreak), involves interweaving stories set on four continents during the outbreak of a deadly virus. Contagion will star now-regular Soderbergh lead Matt Damon along with Oscar-caliber thesps Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Marion Cotillard. The script was penned by Scott Z. Burns, who wrote Soderbergh's The Informant! and co-wrote The Bourne Ultimatum. According to an earlier posting by The Playlist, the idea for Contagion actually spawned from the scene in The Informant! when Damon's character rants about germs. It's possible this film will therefore treat the central virus metaphorically, as does Damon's speech. If the film does contain subtext commenting on the travel of information and misinformation, though, it would certainly bring about comparisons to Babel.
Making The (Up) Grade: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Filed under: Universal, Fandom, Home Entertainment
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas could easily have been a candidate for Cinematical's Shelf Life series, and I contemplated using it for this week's entry. After some consideration, however, I came to the realization that anyone who liked Terry Gilliam's Hunter S. Thompson adaptation in 1998, or ever, quite frankly, would probably still like it today, and anyone who didn't, well, wouldn't. (For the record, I've always been a huge fan of the film, and remain one today.) As such, it seemed more appropriate to let those fans know whether Universal's recent Blu-ray release was worth the money they would be taking away from their drug habits.
What's Already Available:
Scenes (Songs) We Love: "Lunatic Fringe" from 'Vision Quest'
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Sports, Fandom, Trailers and Clips, Scenes We Love
We've had some time to get used to the truly terrible idea of a 3D Stretch Armstrong flick with Taylor (Team Jacob) Lautner as the flexible hero in question. But on the upside, at least now I can hold out hope that maybe if Lautner's busy getting all bendy, he won't have time to ruin the memory of Louden Swain in a remake of the sports/teen drama Vision Quest -- which brings me to today's Scenes (Songs) We Love, and while most people focus on Madonna's Crazy for You as the musical highlight of the flick, I thought I would offer up a pretty viable alternative: Lunatic Fringe from Red Rider.
Vision Quest was based on the novel by Terry Davis and centered on a high-school wrestler (played by Matthew Modine) who decides to take on the top dog in a fight to do something meaningful with his life -- which I guess means rolling around on the floor with other guys. But, in the pursuit of his dream, he sacrifices his health and his love life with an older woman (played by Linda Fiorentino).
The song was written by the Tom Cochrane (and I'm sure my fellow Canadians know that name), and was originally released in 1981 before making its way onto the soundtrack, and even though the song is actually about the rise of anti-Semitism in the 1970's, when I hear this tune I just think of Matthew Modine in a spot-lit gym.
After the jump: a slice of Canadiana...
Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams Reunite for 'Mission Impossible 4'
'Big Top Pee-Wee': The Original Benicio Del Toro Wolfman
Spin-ematical: New on DVD and Blu-ray for 2/9
Watch This: Brilliant Oscar-Nominated Short 'Logorama'
Chris Nolan to Lead 'Superman' Reboot!?
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
