JodieFoster Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Admittedly, a big part of the appeal of "Shelf Life" (as a film writer, anyway) is having a legitimate excuse to go back and watch a lot of movies we remember loving, partially for the hell of it, and partially because we wonder if our feelings have changed significantly over time. Interestingly, this has thus far not begat a lot of pure reassurance, nor transformed initial or even evolved/ devolved reactions; rather, it's given us a window into – and more specifically, a stronger argument for – some of the appetites and interests we've developed as our sensibilities as moviegoers (much less critics) has evolved.

This week's case in point is Contact, Robert Zemeckis' 1997 film about humankind's first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. Released during the summer after my college graduation, when I was at the height of my pretentiousness as a cinephile, it nevertheless knocked my socks off when I saw it, combining a sense of wonder with technical proficiency and an emotional sophistication that wouldn't register with yours truly until much later. If it still has – which is precisely why it's this week's "Shelf Life" subject. (Well, that and the fact it's just been released on Blu-ray by Warner Home Video.)

Back in April, I wondered if we can forget reality when watching actors on the big screen. Well, if there's any way to re-warm ourselves to thoughts of Mel Gibson, how about the story of a man and his beaver puppet?

That wacky story (the one that had Jim Carrey circling it back in May) is now in the hands of Gibson, with Jodie Foster officially signed as director, according to Variety. Kyle Killen's Blacklist script focuses on a depressed toy manufacturer (Gibson) who comforts himself with his beaver hand-puppet. There's no sexual innuendo in this -- he thinks of his faux beaver friend as a sort of "human creature with human feelings" -- a la Lars and the Real Girl.

On top of directing this puppy, her first film since 1995's Home for the Holidays, Foster will play his wife. And with that, I think this may be one of the most interesting projects to come our way. Sure, it's got the strange premise and promising comparisons to the likes of Lars and Being John Malkovich, but it's much more irresistible for the combination of talent. With Steve Carell and Jay Roach, or the later-circling Jim Carrey, the film isn't so hard to imagine. But out-of-nowhere picks like Gibson and Foster? It just leads to questions about why they'd pick this piece of quirk, and what they'll make of it.

Are you ready for Mel, Jodie, and his beaver?

Don't worry -- this post isn't about heaping Leave it to Beaver on the ever-growing remake pile. (Especially because one was made in 1997! -- SW) In fact, this new project is one to keep an eye on.

The Beaver, written by Kyle Killen, topped the Black List in 2008, with Steve Carell in line to star. Now the Risky Biz Blog reports that Carell is out, and Jim Carrey might be working his way in. What could possibly be good enough to top the List and attract both Steve and Jim? How about the story of a down-on-his-luck toy manufacturer who becomes way too close to a beaver hand puppet he finds, "treating it as something close to a human creature with human feelings"? Still not enough? How about the fact that it's been compared to both Being John Malkovich and Lars and the Real Girl? Methinks Jim might be a wee bit perfect for the part.

One would imagine that a project like this would get a kickass director right away, but Anonymous Content is still shopping around since Jay Roach said no. And they've even got one heck of a surprise in the mix: Jodie. Foster. I don't know how the woman behind Little Man Tate and Home for the Holidays got to wanting this gig, but word has it she's one of the contenders. Everything might be up in the air right now, but you can be sure that we'll let you know who signs on the dotted line whenever the news hits.

Some B films are loved because they're just so bad, but some are loved because they're just so good -- a palpable talent resting beneath the haze of badness.

I'm not talking about the guys who spend years honing their technique and then head back to the world of B to make a flashy feature (Grindhouse), but those who are born out of that wonderfully bad wasteland -- the men and women who kickstart their career with blood, chills, and pulp, and then grow into high-buzz filmmakers and talent. Not everyone can start with a critical masterpiece, so what can be better than a little silly fun? It certainly beats a crappy first movie that no one wants to see.

Read on to learn of seven big Hollywood names who kicked off their careers with the wonder of B-movie filmmaking. These directors have talent, awards, and a healthy serving of critical success, but it all came out of began with our beloved B's. Maybe they knew how to start their careers, or maybe Roger Corman simply has the best eye for killer talent. Whatever the case, their first films didn't define their careers, and in fact, set them on their way to success.

It's a good thing Child Protective Services never saw Nim (Abigail Breslin) in action or there wouldn't be any movie. Nim would be quietly toiling away in school, perhaps going to the mall and texting her friends. But in the new PG-rated family film Nim's Island, she climbs trees (and volcanoes), swings through the jungle, cooks dinner using mealworms as a main ingredient, reads adventure stories and talks to animals. Nim's father, Jack (Gerard Butler), is a marine biologist who has set up residence on a remote, South Pacific island to study microorganisms. It's just the two of them, so when Jack goes off on a two-day expedition to find new samples, Nim insists on staying behind. But after a huge storm, Jack is left stranded in the middle of the ocean. And when "pirates" (really tourists) invade the island, and her father fails to return on schedule, Nim gets scared.

One of the films I've been itching to see, which can't even seem to get itself in front of the camera, is Jodie Foster's Flora Plum. For at least the last ten years, there has been buzz about this film, which was originally going to star Claire Danes, out of My So-Called Life and into Yale, and Russell Crowe. But just like bad luck has loomed in Terry Gilliam's world of filmmaking, Foster just can't seem to get it made.

Crowe injured himself and production stopped. He never returned to the project and later in 2002, there was word that Ewan McGregor was taking over. Again, it stopped. Yet Foster is still determined to get the film made. She talked with MTV, and is still very invested in getting it made. However, she's being wary about how much she says, for fear that she'll jinx herself. "My new superstition is to never mention it, because every time I do, my film falls apart." From there, she talks about finally jumping behind the camera again, over a decade since her last directorial effort, Home for the Holidays.

Gerard Butler. I always knew that some day you'd come walking back through my door. I never doubted that. Something made it inevitable.

Gerard Butler's "officially unofficial" fansite is hosting a bunch of high-resolution stills of Butler and Jodie Foster from the upcoming Nim's Island. I was going to post a bigger version of Butler and his bullwhip here, but my computer is protesting, so it's better if you head on over there to view them. (I cannot find where they originated from -- and the site is mum, so if I am slighting someone, I apologize.)

I have to say, Butler looks less than thrilled in most of these. I guess he has more poise than I do, and wasn't running around yelling "You betrayed Shiva!" the entire shoot. Or maybe he was, and just wore himself out. I dig the costume though, especially the boots.

In other Island news, the film is reaching out to children with the Nim's Island: Our World, A Reel Thinking Event. Hosted by Jeff Corwin, the special will be aired on Animal Planet on April 2nd at 10am PST/EST, as well as in schools across the country. It will go behind the scenes of the film, while educating about environmental issues, and encouraging students to come up with solutions. Animal Planet and Walden Media are also sponsoring a contest to implement one classroom's best earth-saving idea.

I really love that this film is avoiding the McDonalds and merchandising route, and is instead educating children on coral reefs and living green. What a lovely idea! I hope a similar marketing scheme accompanies Wall*E.

It seems so strange these days to see Jodie Foster doing slapstick comedy. She gets into lots of drama and action, but when was the last time she made you laugh? For me, it was those early days when she was involved in all things Disney, and when she had one Freaky Friday. (If you haven't yet, check out the retro trailer from Stars in Rewind.) Over 30 years later, she's jumping on the wacky wagon again, but this time for some more fantastical adventure.

You might remember that she's part of Nim's Island -- the Swiss Family Robinson sort of film that has her starring alongside Abigail Breslin (Nim) and Gerard Butler. The trailer, which has now popped up online over at Ace Showbiz, pretty much explains things -- her character is an agoraphobic adventure writer who has to face her fears when her biggest fan asks for her help. Nim and her dad (Butler) live on a remote island, and she's stranded when he gets lost at sea. Men then try to take over the island, so Nim asks Alex Rover for help -- the star of Foster's action books (who is played by Butler as well).

The trailer has Foster freaking out over the thought of leaving her house, which is compounded by the fact that her adventure won't take her just down the street for a coffee, but rather, across the world. An imagined Rover taunts her, getting her out of the house and into a number of adventures not only to reach Nim, but to help her save the island. It's complete family fare, with the cheesy trailer voice-over and everything, but I have to say -- it looks like the kind of film you could get lost in your goofy, youthful memories with. We'll find out soon enough. The film opens on April 4. Either way, it's nice to see Foster embrace her goofiness again.

Considering the fact that Jodie Foster has been acting since the '60s, it's pretty damned impressive that she just made this year's top ten highest-paid actresses list. But me, I'm a fan of the Foster before the big success, when she popped up on all the old-school television shows and even better -- when she had one hell of a freaky Friday. Since it just happens to be that same day, in honor of that great little film from 30+ years ago, not the La Lohan remake, I offer you Walt Disney's Freaky Friday.

Annabel and her mom aren't getting along, and both naively assume that the other has it easier. They wish that they could switch places, and poof! -- they do. This trailer just brings back memories -- I had completely forgotten about Foster's spastic faux waterskiing. But the kicker here -- the description of John Astin's character -- "a confused, male chauvinist." Gotta love chauvinism as a selling feature. Have a great weekend, folks!

Imagine living on a secret tropical island, chilling with a marine iguana, a sea turtle, and a sea lion, playing Swiss Family Robinson, and still having electricity to interact with the outside world on the Internet. (Granted, the last part doesn't really make sense -- how do you have net access with an island no one knows exist? Do you lay cables yourself?) While it's definitely not my cup of everyday tea, the situation makes for a pretty cool adventure, and a sweet gig for the uber-cute and talented Abigail Breslin.

Little Miss Sunshine recently wrapped filming Nim's Island, and USA Today has a first look at the production, which sees Breslin and Jodie Foster swinging through the trees and Gerard Butler looking like a pouty Indiana Jones. Based on the illustrated children's book by Wendy Orr and Kerry Millard, Nim's is about a girl and her marine biologist dad, who live on a secret island in paradise. Dad's ship gets lost at sea, and alone, she turns to e-mail and gets help from Alex Rover, an explorer and literary alter ego of a reclusive author (Foster). Butler plays both the dad and the imaginary Rover; as he explains: "When Nim reads a book about Alex Rover, suddenly I'm in an Arabian desert with evil captors, or I'm being tied up by African tribesmen." The 300 star sports his own Scottish accent for Alex, but throws on an American one to play dad. The tropical family film will hit theaters in April.