Christopher Nolan-related stories
The Geek Beat: 20 Years of Batmania
Filed under: Comic/Superhero/Geek », The Geek Beat »
20 years ago on this very day, Tim Burton's Batman was released into theaters. Think back, stretch your creaking bones, and let's go on a trip down memory lane.
I was all of seven years old when Batman came out (I know, a lady never reveals her age, but when have I ever acted like a lady?), which means I have only vague recollections of the pre-release period. I remember we were buzzing about it at my school, and that it was looming on our radar long before we were out for the summer. But while I remember that shadowy poster of the Bat symbol decorating my multiplex, I can't recall the casting of Michael Keaton, the eager whispers of Jack Nicholson and his hidden make-up, or the trailers. Event movies were so different in my childhood. They just seemed to happen overnight, and were probably the better for it. Movies will always be magical to me, but I really long for those days before the Internet and its marketing mania. (Yes, I realize the irony inherent in my saying that, but at least I make it fun, right? No, don't answer that.)
Because I was all of seven, and thus too young for Frank Miller, my exposure to Batman was purely through Adam West reruns. I knew Gotham City as a place of goofy villains and BAM! and POW!, so to say that Burton's version terrified me was an understatement. I don't remember what I went in expecting (I know it wasn't Adam West), but I do remember being absolutely horrified by Nicholson's Joker. Maybe I was still reeling from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? the year before, but his acid-soaked origin left me faintly ill, as was every shot of him sans whiteface and lipstick.
I was all of seven years old when Batman came out (I know, a lady never reveals her age, but when have I ever acted like a lady?), which means I have only vague recollections of the pre-release period. I remember we were buzzing about it at my school, and that it was looming on our radar long before we were out for the summer. But while I remember that shadowy poster of the Bat symbol decorating my multiplex, I can't recall the casting of Michael Keaton, the eager whispers of Jack Nicholson and his hidden make-up, or the trailers. Event movies were so different in my childhood. They just seemed to happen overnight, and were probably the better for it. Movies will always be magical to me, but I really long for those days before the Internet and its marketing mania. (Yes, I realize the irony inherent in my saying that, but at least I make it fun, right? No, don't answer that.)
Because I was all of seven, and thus too young for Frank Miller, my exposure to Batman was purely through Adam West reruns. I knew Gotham City as a place of goofy villains and BAM! and POW!, so to say that Burton's version terrified me was an understatement. I don't remember what I went in expecting (I know it wasn't Adam West), but I do remember being absolutely horrified by Nicholson's Joker. Maybe I was still reeling from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? the year before, but his acid-soaked origin left me faintly ill, as was every shot of him sans whiteface and lipstick.
Is Christopher Nolan Returning for 'Batman 3'? The Rumor Mill Says No
Filed under: Action », Thrillers », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy », Fandom », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
It's hard to believe it's been a year since The Dark Knight, and the Batman 3 rumor mill just hasn't stopped grinding. Someone, somewhere, is always trying to flog a rumor of who will be Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler, or Robin. When they get tired of fantasy casting, they ponder when Christopher Nolan will abandon this Inception thing, and get going on Batman 3. In a piece passed wildly around the net, Batman on Film is reporting that Nolan is very uninterested in returning to Gotham City. The story goes that Heath Ledger's death upset him greatly, and dismantled any and all plans he had for a third installment. The Joker was set to return (is that really a surprise?), and now there's simply no story. While Nolan and David S. Goyer are working on ideas, it's unlikely you'll see anything before 2012 at the earliest, with 2013 being more likely.
Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy Join Nolan's 'Inception'
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Thrillers », Casting », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger »
Here's what we currently know about Christopher Nolan's between-Batmans project, Inception:- It is not, as initially asserted by a commenter, concerning "a war for the colonization of Venus."
- It is more likely along the lines of a sci-fi action film "set within the architecture of the mind" (which, coming from the brains behind The Dark Knight, The Prestige, and Memento, is a scary-thrilling thought).
- Currently on board are Leonardo DiCaprio (as some sort of CEO), Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Caine...
Sorry to be Avatar-level vague, but with a cast like this and a crew like that, there's little left to do but twiddle our thumbs and hope for the best between now and next summer. Either that, or Nolan just recast most of the third Batman film and doesn't want Christian Bale to know...
Chris Nolan Nabs Juno and Others for 'Inception'
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting »
Christopher Nolan is one of those filmmakers who could make a rut or obsession seem so damned appealing. For many, it's great to branch out and not get rutted, but for Nolan ... it would be quite sweet to have a neverending onslaught of good, wow-worthy Batman films. That's not going to happen, but at least his post-bat project is becoming increasingly more interesting.On the heels of Leonardo DiCaprio, Variety reports that Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, and Cillian Murphy are joining the Inception. Not much more is being said about the project, but this is what we know thus far: It will be a sci-fi action movie that takes place within "the architecture of the mind," and DiCaprio will play a CEO-type, Cotillard will be married to him, and Page will be a young grad student who is also his sidekick. There's no mention of Murphy's character, so I wonder: Could this all take place within his mind?
It could take place on a napkin for all I care -- Nolan has definitely proven he's got the chops, and this cast should be interesting in the realms of science fiction. But what do you think? Is Inception intriguing you, or do you just wish Batman would answer the bat signal once again?
'Dark Knight' Director's Brother Wanted for Murder?
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy », Newsstand »
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It's the sort of story that puts Christian Bale's un-Batman-like rant into perspective -- Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan's brother may be a murderer. Matthew Francis Nolan, 40, is wanted in Costa Rica for the kidnapping and murder of a Florida businessman. Nolan allegedly presented himself to the now-deceased Robert C. Cohen as an investor, claiming he wanted to do business in South America. But his real mission, authorities say, was to get $7 million that Cohen owed another man in Florida.
Nolan's accomplice, Douglas Mejia, has already been convicted of kidnapping Cohen when he and Nolan attempted to extort the money from Cohen's family. When that failed, cops say that the pair killed him.
Nolan was already under investigation by the FBI regarding an unrelated $700,000 bank-fraud scheme. He's now being held in the U.S., awaiting extradition.
Christopher Nolan collaborated with another brother, Jonathan, on the scripts for Memento, The Prestige, and The Dark Knight, and Jonathan is credited with the upcoming Terminator: Salvation -- it looks like they don't have to search too far to find inspiration for the darker themes in their screenplays. A lot of families have black sheep, but who knew that Nolan's own brother might be the Joker?
DiCaprio Jumps on Chris Nolan Bandwagon
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting »
Aside from the obvious cachet of being Chris Nolan's writing and directing follow-up to The Dark Knight, next year's Inception has the most intriguing teaser description I've heard in a while: it's billed as a sci-fi action film "set within the architecture of the mind." I have no earthly idea what that means, though I'm imagining something like the old "Body Wars" ride at Epcot Center, where you were shrunk to microscopic proportions and went on a simulated flight through the human body. Light saber battles on the parietal lobe! What? No takers?As with every other movie coming out in 2009 and 2010, Leonardo DiCaprio is now attached to star. I mock DiCaprio's ubiquity, but I'm never sorry to see him: over the past few years it's become clear that he's a pretty brilliant guy. He knows how to pick material, too; he's fond of prestige projects, but he seems to have an eye for the good ones. His next film is his fourth Martin Scorsese collaboration, Shutter Island. And Inception is sci-fi from one of Hollywood's smartest screenwriters (and I'm not even necessarily talking about The Dark Knight).
Anyway, speculation on what an action film "set within the architecture of the mind" might entail, if you please. I'm sticking with my "Body Wars" hypothesis until further notice. In 3D, of course.
Fanboy Freakout: Chris Nolan Not Making 'Batman 3' His Next Film?!
Filed under: Deals », Fandom », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand »
Just when we thought Warner Bros. was ready to tie Christopher Nolan to a really uncomfortable stool and force him to write the script to the next Batman film comes news that the same studio is actually eager to have the man direct something else first. Variety tells us that Warners is looking to get Nolan to direct a film called Inception (which he also wrote). Described as "a big-scale spec script" and "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind [THR]," there's no word on what this is about* (or whether it involves bats or bat men), but the studio is aiming to begin production on the sci-fi flick this summer for a release the following summer of 2010. One imagines Warners would try to lock Nolan up for both Inception and the next Batman film, and perhaps the only way he'd agree to do the latter was if they let him direct the former first. But that's just wild speculation on our part; fact is, we're dying to know what Inception is about, who it will star and how long it will be until the next Batman movie heats up. Something tells us summer 2011 is the best bet.
What do you think of Nolan making this film his next project? Also, does anyone know what this Inception is or was or is about to become?
*Cinematical reader dd tells us that Inception is about "a war for the colonization of Venus."
Poll: How Many Batman Movies Should They Make?
Filed under: Action », Fandom », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels », Polls »
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Does this current Batman franchise have the legs to go the Harry Potter route and churn out, say, eight films all together? Or has Christopher Nolan and Co. crafted the sort of universe that should come to a close after a third film? We ask this now because during a recent Warner Brothers conference call, CEO Jeff Bewkes made mention that they're interested in spinning Batman, Superman and Sherlock Holmes into potential multi-film franchises a la Harry Potter. He says, "The obvious thing we're going to take from it is more Dark Knight. We look at Harry Potter ... It's fantastic to have franchises that last that long. We want to do that with Batman and Superman and perhaps Sherlock Holmes. The sequels are as good, with new characters added, as were the originals. That wasn't the case in the years ago."
But will turning a franchise like Batman into an eight-picture epic mean that, like the previous franchise, those latter sequels will churn out crap? There's no way Christopher Nolan (or Christian Bale, for that matter) will remain involved for eight Batman films (he'll probably stop at three or mayyybe four), and so we'll be right back to finding a new director and a new Batman ... and then fans begin to squirm a little in their seats. Obviously Warners wants to turn this sucker into a cash cow, but there's definitely something to be said for a lean, mean trilogy featuring all the same actors and filmmakers.
So, I ask you: How many Batman films should they craft out of this current franchise?
[via Silicon Alley Insider]
Look: Vanity Fair's 'Something Just Clicked' Collection
Filed under: Newsstand », Images »
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Vanity Fair is known for their ambitious (and sometimes controversial) photo spreads, and whenever one pops up online -- with the exception of those ultra funky Hitchcock recreations -- the name most likely associated with them is Annie Leibovitz. She's worked as the featured portrait photographer for VF since 1983, and some of her most buzzed-about photos include the very pregnant (and very naked) Demi Moore Vanity Fair cover, as well as the sexed-up Miley Cyrus photo that caused quite the stir last year. Some of the more geeky Leibovitz images can be found in her series of Disney photographs featuring celebs recreating classic scenes from our favorite Walt Disney movies (read more about that here and here).
This time around, Leibovitz's Something Just Clicked collection for Vanity Fair features 10 partnerships that helped generate more than four dozen Oscar nods this year. The image above, featuring Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger (The Risktakers), is of course a composite, but it's one of my favorites -- especially the way they position both Nolan and Ledger, with the former quietly sneaking off to the corner away from the spotlight. Other partnerships photographed include Woody Allen and Penelope Cruz (The Odd Couple), Nicole Kidman and Baz Luhrmann (The Colonists), Gus Van Sant and Sean Penn (The Milk Men), Sam Mendes and Kate Winslet (The Partnership) and Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke (The Ringers), among others. Check out a few of our favorites below, then swing over to Vanity Fair to see the rest.
Discuss: Is There Room for Michael Bay in the Age of Chris Nolan?
Filed under: Action », Celebrities and Controversy », Fandom », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Trailers and Clips »
The cacophonous Super Bowl spot for Transformers 2 made me think -- not for the first time -- that Michael Bay is full of crap. There are plenty of directors who make stupid and expensive action blockbusters, but few who are so damned self-righteous about it. It seems that every interview with the man contains a response to his naysayers to the tune of: "I don't see anything wrong with spending a lot of money to make big action movies to entertain people. Yet somehow, I come under special scrutiny. I mean, why don't people get upset if Dow spends $300 million to invent some new chemical? Audiences like popcorn movies. What's wrong with that?" and "What we do is not brain surgery. We are entertainers, plain and simple, and we're responsible to bring that money back, to make a profit."
As a response to the criticism that his movies aren't very good, this is, of course, complete nonsense. There are people who make very commercial, very popular Hollywood films who don't have to resort to the "I'm just making popcorn movies" defense -- which, as Eric D. Snider pointed out to me, is another way of saying "I'm not making very good movies." Google Sam Raimi, and you'll get quotes about the power of great stories, and his love for his source material. Even Stephen Sommers, who has certainly made some reviled films, talks about his enthusiasm and inspiration; you can sense he's trying. From Bay, you get: "I'm an entertainer -- don't hold me to any standard."
Ron Weaseley Has Swine Flu
Quick List: Romance for Boys
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Michael Bay Trashes Megan Fox, Talks 'Transformers 3' and 3D_thumbnail.jpg)
First Look: Stewart, Fanning and More Are 'The Runaways'
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