Posts with tag John Krasinski
Sam Mendes' Comedy Has a Title and John Krasinski Has a Beard!
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Focus Features », Movie Marketing »
Update: Cinematical was informed that the film still does not have a title, though we imagine one will be announced soon. See full (and accurate) press release after the jump. Since news first broke about Sam Mendes making the leap to comedy with John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, I've become awfully curious to see if the man famous for heavy subject matter can pull off a straight rom-com. Coming Soon has received a press announcement from the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tuscon, Arizona, and according to them, the spa has been chosen as one of the locations for the road flick. More importantly, we now know that the film is going by the slightly awkward title of Farlanders.
McSweeney's founder Dave Eggers co-wrote the script with his wife, Vendela Vida, and the story centers on an expectant couple played by Krasinski (sporting some much-maligned facial hair) and Rudolph as they travel the US looking for the perfect place to start their family. The film has a big ensemble cast to play the various 'characters' our couple will meet along the way -- including some very funny women like Catherine O'Hara, Cheryl Hines, and Allison Janney.
Production began back in April, and according to the release, the Arizona shoot will begin in June. Some of the other locations include Colorado, Connecticut, and Florida. There is no official release date, so I guess I'll have plenty of time to get used to that title.
Farlanders The Untitled Sam Mendes Comedy is due to arrive in theaters in 2009.
Toni Collette Joins Sam Mendes Film
Filed under: Comedy », Independent », Casting », Focus Features », Newsstand »
Toni Collette has joined the cast of the still-untitled Sam Mendes relationship film -- you know, the one starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, and being penned by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Collette will be playing a college professor and close friend of the young couple -- two folks who are scouring the country for a place to settle and raise their child, and Collette's character feels that it'll be dysfunctional no matter where they end up. Smart lady!
The movie pairs Collette up again with Big Beach producers Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf, who produced Little Miss Sunshine. Focus is hoping to capture a bit of that magic, since they gave up their claim on that enormous indie hit.
Review: Leatherheads
Filed under: Comedy », Sports », Universal », Theatrical Reviews »

As Leatherheads arrives in theaters, you're going to be hearing the phrase "screwball comedy" a lot, either in the barrage of pre-opening publicity or in review after review. "Screwball comedy" implies a certain snap and rotation -- a velocity to the gags and a vector to the plot -- but the people who made Leatherheads don't quite have the strength of arm or skew of angle to make Leatherheads truly screwball; it kind of fizzles out on the way to the plate. And that's not to say Leatherheads is charmless or unenjoyable or ill-made; it just isn't quite as good as the pedigrees and passions of the people involved would have you think it will (or, frankly, should) be.
George Clooney and John Krasinski Go Unscripted
Filed under: Comedy », Sports », Fandom », Movie Marketing », George Clooney », Trailers and Clips »
I totally think it'd be fun to hang with George Clooney for the day. Not even for the attention, the women or the chance that Perez Hilton would write silly little things all over a photo of George and I. Fact is, the guy just looks like he has a good time with life (granted, good looks and millions of dollars probably help some). Above you will find an exclusive clip from Moviefone's latest Unscripted installment featuring Mr. Clooney and his Leatherheads co-star John Krasinski.
Not only did they ask each other questions YOU left for them right here on this very blog, but they also revealed plenty in the "unscripted" questions they asked one another. Who won a thousand bucks in a one-on-one basketball game behind the scenes: Clooney or Krasinski? Whose perfect date consists of drinking and yelling? And why do the boys care so much about Fifi from San Francisco? (Where are you Fifi -- you're a star now!) Check out the clip above, then head on over to Moviefone for the entire Unscripted interview. Fun stuff.
Leatherheads tackles its way into theaters on April 4.
Insert Caption: Leatherheads
Filed under: Comedy », Sports », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Contests », Insert Caption », Hold the 'Fone »
Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game even your parents can't resist playing! Last week, we asked you to strap on your hottest piece of exercise wear in order to give us the wittiest caption for a photo from the new film Run, Fat Boy, Run. Things didn't get too physical in the comments section, and I think we all agreed that Simon Pegg was definitely NOT bringing sexy back. However, according to our winner Christina D., he might be bringing something just a tad less ... manageable.

1. "So...Bleeker. Juno got you pregnant back?" -- Christina D.
2. "Simon heard Hans' pickup line and smirked at the irony that he actually had tickets to the gun show." -- Eric W.
3. "I knew I recognized you... You were in the Olivia Newton John Video 'Physical' huh?" -- Josh B.
See full image and all captions
This week we're sticking with boys who like to get dirty and sweaty. Not boys, men! Men who like to play with balls. (I think I'll stop here.) Yes, we're here to talk about Leatherheads -- that upcoming old school football flick starring George Clooney, John Krasinski and Renée Zellweger. The three sports behind our favorite captions will walk away with one Leatherheads poster, one Leatherheads t-shirt, one Leatherheads hat and one Leatherheads calendar. Not to mention you'll score a winning touchdown with our staff. So lace up gang, and give us everything you've got! (And maybe, just maybe, we'll take the whole team out for ice cream after the game.) Sound off below ...

George Clooney and John Krasinski: Ask 'Leatherheads' Stars a Question
Filed under: Comedy », Fandom », Interviews », George Clooney », Unscripted »
Well, apparently there is a movie god, because Clooney and Krasinski are starring in a movie together -- a romantic comedy called Leatherheads -- and I'm all over this sucker like mud on a linebacker. Seriously, the only way this could top my fantasy-boyfriend-meter would be if Nathan Fillion were starring in it, too. But, ahem, to be professional for a moment: Clooney directed and stars in Leatherheads as Dodge Connelly (great name), a football player in the 1920s, which is just before professional football has become an actual organized sport. His team loses its sponsor and the league is on the verge of collapse until he hires a ringer: college star and WWI hero Carter Rutherford, who may just be too good to be true. Renée Zellweger co-stars as a reporter who falls for them both; and can you blame her?
Well, tie me down and call me Nelly, 'cause we've snagged Clooney and Krasinski for a Leatherheads Unscripted, in which they'll interview each other using your questions. Trust me, if I could stalk... um, attend the taping I would, but you can do the next best thing, and that's ask them whatever you want in the comments section below. Submit any questions by this Friday, March 14, and then check back here on Monday, March 31, to see if yours made the cut. Oh, and be sure to include your first name and the city and state where you live -- but please, no "John, will you marry me?" questions. I mean c'mon, show a little professionalism. [insert self-mocking emoticon here]
John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph are in Love
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting », Scripts », Focus Features »
John Krasinski has had a bit of a rough start transitioning his TV career into a movie career. For starters, have you seen License to Wed? Luckily for my favorite office drone, his upcoming projects look a lot more promising. Variety reports that Krasinski, SNL's Maya Rudolph, and Cheryl Hines have signed to star in Sam Mendes' new untitled comedy. News of the film first appeared back in January, and just over a month later, three top-notch comedians have signed on for the film. That has got to be a good sign, right?Celebrity novelist Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida (author of Girls of the Verge and Egger's wife) wrote the script for the romantic comedy. Eggers made his name with his memoir, Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, but is still relatively new to the screenwriting trade. In the film, Krasinski and Rudolph will play an expectant couple traveling around the country looking for a place to settle down and start a family.
If you have ever read anything written by Eggers or the McSweeney's 'brand' then you know that this slight premise is just the kind of story you would expect. Knowing Egger's penchant for personal touches, I'm sure some of the details of his life with his own family found their way into the script. The production is expected to start shooting this April in Connecticut, and the film is set for release in 2009.
Dueling 'Leatherheads' Posters -- Sports or Romance?
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Sports », Posters »
On the one hand, I can see why a film would want a few drastically different posters -- you can appeal to a wider audience and get more butts into the seats. At the same time, this technique runs the risk of alienating the people you just intrigued. You look at one poster, get all excited, then see another, and begin to wonder if you'd really be interested in it. Two posters for the upcoming sports comedy Leatherheads have been released this week. To the right, you get my favorite, which popped up yesterday over at Coming Soon. It's fun, and I love the faces George Clooney and John Krasinski are sporting. You know it's a retro sports comedy, and that you'll get some light laughs from the film's stars.
Now, over here to the left, this is the poster that popped up today on Empire. It's overly-airbrushed, and frankly, too romantically serious for the film -- at least in comparison to the last poster and the trailer that came out last month. I understand playing up the romance angle, but there's two much better ways to do this -- play up the triangle between Renee Zellweger, Clooney, and Krasinski, or use a funny image from the film -- Renee driving off and leaving George in the mud, or of the pair post-kiss with lipstick smudged everywhere. Then, you're displaying the romance without making it seem like some typical romcom.What do you think?
DVD Review: Smiley Face
Filed under: Comedy », DVD Reviews », Home Entertainment »

"And then people will ask why I have a picture of President Garfield on my wall, and I'll tell them it's because I like lasagna, of course!"
I've been watching all the buzz surrounding Smiley Face for some time now, following two positive reviews from both Monika (at Toronto) and Jette (at SXSW), and yet the film still couldn't find its way to theaters (with the exception of a limited run at New York's IFC Center). Part of the reason why I wanted to review the DVD was because, after all the wonderful feedback, I needed to see for myself why, in fact, Smiley Face was not worthy of a theatrical run. Aside from a great, marketable cast (including Anna Faris, Adam Brody, John Krasinski, Danny Masterson, Jane Lynch, John Cho, Danny Trejo, Brian Posehn and friggin' Carrot Top), the flick comes with a very funny script, some great edge-of-your-seat set pieces and plenty of memorable quotes (see above). So what gives? Why is this one heading straight to DVD (tomorrow), instead of enjoying some theatrical face time?
Well, the problem probably lies in the fact that it's a straight-up, unapologetic stoner comedy ... with the words 'cult following' written all over it. With its R rating (for foul language and massive amounts of drug use), Smiley Face would've been near impossible to market to a mass audience. That said, they could've cut together a "safe" trailer, and I imagine the critics would've liked this one -- so either the money wasn't there or First Look just didn't have enough faith in their product (it is a female-driven stoner comedy after all -- and those are rare). Dazed and Confused grossed only $7 million when it was first released in 1993, but the film has gone on to reach cult status among teenagers (that DVD was passed around like a joint back when I was in college). It's my belief that, while Smiley Face will probably not reach Dazed and Confused status, it will definitely find an audience on DVD and perhaps go down as the first great stoner comedy of the new millennium ... or at least give Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle a run for its money.
The First Trailer for Clooney's 'Leatherheads'
Filed under: Comedy », Sports », Site Announcements », Universal », Movie Marketing », George Clooney », Trailers and Clips »
The official site for Leatherheads has now added the first trailer for the period comedy. The film stars George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, and John Krasinski and is a comic telling of the transformation of pro-football in the 1920's. Krasinski plays the college golden boy to Clooney's world weary fast-talker. Zellweger plays a reporter that serves as the object of affection for both our boys. The film marks Clooney's third time behind the camera but this is his first time attempting to direct a 'straight' comedy. But, they don't call him the modern day Cary Grant for nothing, so at least we know that the man knows how to pull off "screwball". So as much as I like the idea of a return to the snappy dialog and feisty leading ladies, after watching the trailer all I could think was "where is Barbara Stanwyck when you need her". Nothing against Zellweger, lord knows she can do a Doris Day recreation better than anybody, but I just don't think her trademark pout is going to work for her this time.Just last week Erik had gotten an exclusive on the first theater standees for the film and now that the official site is up and running, there are some extra downloads and photo galleries. Judging from what you see in this trailer, it looks like the movie will be a fun way to spend an afternoon. Plus, any similarities to another comedy sports hit, (*cough* Bull Durham) are probably purely intentional. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because if you are going to copy another sports movie, you might as well take one of the best. Leatherheads opens in theaters on April 4, 2008.








