Timothy Olyphant Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Review: A Perfect Getaway
Filed under: Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », Theatrical Reviews », Summer Movies »
Agatha Christie had it figured out. Ten victims, one killer. Set it up, knock 'em down.
And while there's something to be said for simplicity -- writer-director David Twohy opts for three couples with two killers among them -- A Perfect Getaway can hardly sustain itself until the suspense can kick in. Unable to cut to the chase, Twohy takes his time and decides to get coy, and as it turns out, the only thing deadlier than a killer in a thriller is a screenwriter.
'Hitman 2' - Another Sequel Nobody Wants
Filed under: Deals », Scripts »
I may have to hold my nose for this one. Hitman 2 is in development, says Variety, and 20th Century Fox has hired Kyle Ward to write a script that incorporates elements from "Hitman 5," a video game due for release in late 2010. So a movie sequel will be cribbing from a video game sequel, and more crappy product will fill the corporate pipeline.
Reportedly, the first Hitman was made for $30 million. It grossed $40 million in the US and $60 million overseas, according to Box Office Mojo. The overseas total and DVD sales must have pushed it well into the black, ensuring that a sequel would be inevitable. Putting aside the bottom line, the film itself was relentlessly mediocre. I entered with modest expectations, having heard that Fox had taken the project away from director Xavier Gens, who made the ferocious horror thriller Frontière(s). The studio denied the rumors, but Hitman felt flat and flaccid, only occasionally offering glimpses of the brilliance Gens had shown. Whether it was sophomore slump or studio interference, I ask you: did anyone leave the theater pumping their fist in the air, shouting, "More! I want more! More Hitman! Now!"
I didn't think so. Timothy Olyphant, who was so good in Deadwood, wasn't a very compelling assassin, and Olga Kurylenko supplied nothing more than decorative value. For those who care, Hitman 2 finds Agent 47 "at a low point. He must build himself back up psychologically and physically to reclaim his mantle as the world's most feared assassin." I can hardly wait.
'A Perfect Getaway' Could Make for Pulpy Thrills
Filed under: Action », Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », Summer Movies », Trailers and Clips »
I didn't realize it until now, but it's probably a safe bet that everyone either likes Steve Zahn or Milla Jovovich. So someone was finally smart enough to stick them in the same movie as newlyweds being hunted down in David Twohy's A Perfect Getaway.From the looks of things, I do hope that their Hawaiian honeymoon from hell skews closer to The Most Dangerous Game than Turistas, as the couple juggles suspicion between fellow travelers Timothy Olyphant (well, duh) and Chris Hemsworth (Kirk's pop from J.J. Trek, and a Josh-Brolin-in-No-Country doppelganger here).
Twohy demonstrated a knack with B-grade thrills with Below, Pitch Black, and The Arrival, so let's hope he keeps the streak alive and defies the shrug-worthy placement of any film on an August release date (and this after much previous shuffling to boot).
Getaway currently opens August 14th opposite roughly a gajillion movies -- Taking Woodstock, Ponyo, The Time Traveler's Wife, Bandslam, District 9, and others -- so if it (or Wife) flinches and gets put off, don't act so surprised. My suggestion? Counter-program against constant comedies on July 10th or Harry Potter on July 17th. We could use something tropical there...
Radha Mitchell Joins 'The Crazies'
Filed under: Horror », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Remakes and Sequels »
It has been almost a year since news first hit of a remake of George A. Romero's classic, The Crazies, but after a long delay, it looks like the project is finally back on track. Shock Till You Drop is reporting that Radha Mitchell (The Surrogates) has just signed to star alongside Timothy Olyphant in the update of Romero's sci-fi horror. Breck Eisner (Sahara) will be directing Scott Kosar's update about the small town that becomes ground-zero for a mutant military virus. Originally released in 1973, The Crazies centered on a small town that is the site of a mysterious military plane crash that turns the locals into homicidal maniacs, leaving the few survivors to fight off their former neighbors. There aren't any details on Mitchell's role in the film, but the smart money has her playing wifey to Olyphant's butt-kicking sheriff -- although if you have seen Mitchell in Pitch Black, then you already know that this gal is usually no 'Mary Sue'.
The project has gone through a couple of writers already, but Kosar and Ray Wright are still being credited as the primary writers for the flick. Kosar has had some experience in horror updates before, having been behind The Amityville Horror and Texas Chainsaw updates back in early 2000's. Eisner is also no strangers to remakes having just been signed to helm updates of Creature from the Black Lagoon and Flash Gordon. But previous experience aside; I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that The Crazies won't be another cult horror that winds up with a PG-13 state of mind.
The Crazies is expected to arrive in theaters on September 25th, 2009.
Timothy Olyphant is 'Crazies'!
Filed under: Horror », Casting », Remakes and Sequels »
If the crazies were to come back and lead to wide-spread bouts of insanity, who would you want to save you? You might say Ben Affleck, since he was "the bomb in Phantoms, yo." Or maybe Joseph Whipp's Sheriff Burke from Scream. But what about the sequel's baddy? (And if that spoils it for you, you were never really intent on seeing Scream 2.)The Hollywood Reporter posts that Timothy Olyphant has signed on toplay sheriff in the remake of George Romero's The Crazies, which Scott blogged about earlier this year. The under-the-radar film focuses on the people of a small Kansas town "who are beset by death and insanity after a plane crash lets loose a secret biological weapon into the water supply." I'd say he's a pretty good man for the job, and after the crappy luck he had on Dreamcatcher, he's due for a good fight.
And is it wrong for me to really, really wish that Josh Brolin directs that fun, camp interest to this project instead?
Neil Armstrong Biopic Finally on the Way
Filed under: Drama », Casting », Deals », Universal », Warner Brothers », Distribution »
After a false start back in 2003, it looks like Neil Armstrong's life story -- and specifically an adaptation of First Man: The Life of Neil Armstrong by NASA historian James R. Hansen -- might finally make its way to the screen. Originally, Clint Eastwood was slated to direct the film for Warner Bros., but now the rights have been sold to Universal, and Nicole Perlman (who also has a project about the 1986 Space Shuttle disaster in the works) is writing the screenplay. No word from Variety about whether Eastwood is still eyeing the project, but since he sold away the rights to the novel, I assume the answer is no.Milla Jovovich Joins Zahn & Olyphant on 'A Perfect Getaway'
Filed under: Horror », Thrillers », MGM »
Not very long ago, Jessica told you that Steve Zahn and Timothy Olyphant had signed up to play in David Twohy's A Perfect Getaway, but it seems like the writer / director was scouting for actresses over the weekend. Looks like Milla Jovovich will be paired up with Zahn (the lucky dog) and Ms. Kiele Sanchez will be hanging with Mr. Olyphant. (Genre fans will remember David Twohy from flicks like The Arrival, Pitch Black, Below, and ... The Chronicles of Riddick.)According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Jovovich and Sanchez join Timothy Olyphant and Steve Zahn in the thriller, which revolves around a newlywed couple on their honeymoon in Hawaii who run into two hikers who turn out to be vicious killers." Call me psychic, but I'm betting it's the Olyphant / Sanchez couple who do the stalking and the Zahn / Jovovich duo who do the running ... although it'd probably be more interesting the other way around.
The whole gang will begin shooting A Perfect Getaway next week in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Tough gig. As far as the flick is concerned, I'm just a bit skeptical. Haven't we had enough of the Americans Terrorized Overseas thrillers yet? Then again (Chronicles notwithstanding) I'm a big fan of the Twohy, so I suppose one more dose of Passport Purgatory won't be all that bad.
Steve Zahn Will Make 'A Perfect Getaway'
Filed under: Thrillers », Casting », MGM »
To be honest, I'm always a little surprised that Steve Zahn managed to carve out a dramatic acting career. I can't help but think 'Studs' whenever I look at him, but since Rescue Dawn I'm not the only one who discovered that Zahn can handle the 'grittier' side of life. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Zahn has signed to star alongside Timothy Olyphant (Hitman) in the psychological thriller, A Perfect Getaway.David Twohy will direct from his own script about a honeymooning couple who become the targets for a pair of killers. Zahn will play the husband and Olyphant (true to form) will play one of the violent psychos. There is no word yet on the partners for each of our leading men, but it's not like its going to be all that difficult to fill the parts of 'Frightened Wife" and "Psycho Killer". Twohy made his name as a screenwriter and has made some good and some not so-good movies. Twohy has directed in the past, but with the exception of Pitch Black, there isn't much to recommend some of his previous endeavors.
Zahn already has three other films in various stages of production. First up will be two comedies, a baseball flick titled Calvin Marshall and then a romantic comedy with the very unfunny title of Management. A Perfect Getaway is set to start filming on location in Puerto Rico and Hawaii starting at the end of this month, but there is no word of a release date. Stay tuned to Cinematical for any news that comes our way.
Timothy Olyphant is Looking to Make a 'Getaway'
Filed under: Thrillers », Casting »
They say the whole marriage thing will be the best day of your life -- followed by a sweet and romantic vacation that will start off your many years together. The same "they" also claim that soon after -- your sex life will plummet, work will keep you busy, and the kids will run you off your feet. So, you should enjoy those moments while you can. But what if you can't? Is your future more doomed if you don't have the proper send-off to happily wedded life? What if your honeymoon isn't full of romantic bliss? Do you have a chance if someone tries to kill you while you're getting sun and sexy time?The Hollywood Reporter has posted that Timothy Olyphant, fresh off his own killing gig, is set to star in an upcoming thriller called A Perfect Getaway. The brainchild of writer/director David Twohy, who previously brought us the likes of Critters 2, The Fugitive, Waterworld, G.I. Jane, Pitch Black, and The Chronicles of Riddick, Getaway will star Olyphant as "a newlywed whose Hawaiian honeymoon becomes a nightmare when he and his bride are stalked by two killers." That really sucks. I wonder if they're being stalked for something that happened before, or if in their newly-wedded bliss, they muck up something for the killers. Whatever the reason, it's certainly a crappy case of luck. There's no word on Tim's lucky co-star yet, but with production set to begin March 17th in Puerto Rico, we should hear more soon.
Review: Hitman
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Theatrical Reviews », 20th Century Fox », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Games and Game Movies »
Exec #1: "OK, so we bought the rights to this hot (old) video game. We need a story."
Exec #2: "What's the game called?"
#1: "Hitman."
#2: "OK, so it's a movie about an assassin. This stuff writes itself."
#1: "Yeah, but how much action should we put in there? Action scenes are really expensive, you know..."
#2: "Hey, I got it. Instead of going the 'action route' let's try something different. Let's focus more on those "plot" scenes from the video game that I'm just sure everyone watches, despite the fact that you can press ENTER and skip over 'em at any time. They're mostly dialog!"
#1: "Great, get me a young French director who'll do whatever we say, a screenwriter who hasn't written a flick in five years, and a lead actor who couldn't possibly be a worse fit for this 'hitman' guy. And go easy on the action scenes."
#2: "Cool. Production starts tomorrow. The marketing team has the trailer all set to go."
I'm sorry, but when you go to a restaurant and order, say, peanut butter and jelly, you'd be justifiably annoyed if the sandwich showed up without the peanut butter. You'd probably demand a refund if you purchased a cat with no spine ... and it would definitely be cause for alarm if you bought a porno mag that offered only two naked pictures. But when it comes to Hollywood action pics, we're completely inured to the scam by now: Generate just enough flashy action to fill a two-minute trailer, and that's really all your movie needs. Once you get the people into the cinema ... who cares? They already paid their money, right?
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