Posts with tag JohnKrasinski
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.
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?
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.
George Clooney Drops Out of 'White Jazz'
Filed under: Drama », Thrillers », Casting », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Independent Pictures », Celebrities and Controversy », George Clooney »
George Clooney is one of the busiest men in Hollywood. He's currently promoting his excellent new legal drama Michael Clayton. He's wrapping up acting and directing duties on Leatherheads, a 1920's football romantic comedy with John Krasinski and Renee Zelwegger. He's shooting the Coen Brothers' Burn After Reading, a CIA comedy co-starring Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton (so great in Clayton), John Malkovich, and Frances McDormand. In addition to all that, he's got to fly around the world in a jet made of gold and make the women of the world swoon 24/7. So yeah, the guy's got a lot going on. In fact, he's just decided that he has too much going on.Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Clooney has just dropped out of Joe Carnahan's White Jazz, a gritty tale of police corruption set in 1950s Los Angeles. Clooney was set to star in the independent film, which is based on the James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential) novel. White Jazz was expected to begin filming early next year, and was scheduled for a 2009 release date. Grant Heslov, Clooney's producing partner, says "It just simply came down to scheduling. George continues to believe in the project and in Joe." Clooney was set to be a producer on the film, and whether he'll remain involved in that capacity has not been announced. And those of you excited about the film, myself included, might not be too happy with this last sentence. According to a spokesperson at Warner Independent, where the film was set up -- White Jazz has dropped off its slate. Currently, there's no word from Carnahan, who, as of a couple days ago, was pretty pumped about starting production in January.
Araki's 'Smiley Face' Goes Straight to DVD
Filed under: Comedy », Independent », Distribution », Home Entertainment », Cinematical Indie »
Despite having a familiar cast and an easily digestible concept, Gregg Araki's stoner comedy Smiley Face has been dumped to the same status as a modern Steven Seagal vehicle. That's right, according to MTV, it's going straight to DVD, following a barely-even-limited run in Los Angeles, that is. The movie, which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, stars Anna Faris (Scary Movie), John Krasinski (The Office), Jane Lynch (The 40 Year-Old Virgin), Danny Masterson (That '70s Show) and Danny Trejo (Grindhouse), none of whom are apparently good enough for a theatrical release. Maybe it's the fact that it can't be sold to Araki's typical fans, or maybe it's the fact that nobody likes to admit that Up in Smoke, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Dazed and Confused, Knocked Up, Half Baked and Dude, Where's My Car? were all fairly popular and successful movies -- because then maybe it will seem like an admission that marijuana is cool. Smiley Face stars Faris as a woman who starts her day by smoking up and then mistakenly taking care of her munchies with a batch of pot cupcakes. Then ... hilarity ensues. During its Sundance premiere, crowds were reportedly laughing non-stop (though Karina claimed that it received some awful buzz) and it seemed to be well-enough-received at later festivals, too. Jette reviewed the movie at SXSW, pointing out that it's "the kind of movie that will be more fun to watch with a big audience than alone on your DVD player." So much for that idea. Earlier this month, Monika saw the film in Toronto, where she confirmed its worth. "Araki's comedy gives us the best of many comedic worlds in an incessantly funny, easily-quotable serving," she said in her review. "From discussions of Marxism to love of lasagna, Smiley Face serves it all -- with some weed and a very, very stoned smile." Well, at least we can be sure it will develop a cult following on video; aside from that we can only hope our local art-house cinema will give it a midnight screening somewhere down the line.








