djimon hounsou Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Us critics, we don't hate Michael Bay. Well, not all of us, and not all the time. I wasn't a fan of his Transformers, nor Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and I haven't watched The Rock or Armageddon in their entirety in years, but I distinctly enjoyed 2005's The Island during its ill-fated theatrical run (gross: $35 million, cost: between three and four times that), and I still do as a decent sci-fi/action matinee outing.

But how?, I've been asked. It does after all bear every other trademark of a Michael Bay outing: explosions, rampant product placement, blatant racial stereotypes, explosions, perpetual dusk lighting, explosions, and a female lead constantly flattered by her wardrobe (yeah, a real woe-is-us scenario).

Maybe it's all in the context.

Earlier this week, I saw He's Just Not That Into You, which took place in Baltimore and may as well have taken place in the Mojave Desert or on a blank stage; the filmmakers didn't incorporate that city's personality in the slightest. It's a totally generic cityscape, and it doesn't help the already underwritten characters. The other thing that movie did was to drag on past the two-hour mark, obsessively wrapping up even the tiniest scraps of plot thread, or, in other words, flogging a dead horse. But then, the following night, I saw Paul McGuigan's Push. While not a classic by any stretch, I was endlessly impressed by how thoroughly the filmmakers incorporated its Hong Kong location; it feels like they actually spent real time there, and understood some of the local customs. And, at the end, the film merely stops when it gets to a satisfying stopping point, even though there's a bit more plot left to go. (It's the old showbiz adage: "always leave them wanting more.") It felt great, like someone was alive behind the camera, actually thinking about ways to make the movie.

News like this is what I wait for when writing about movie news -- announcements that merge so many good things that you can't help but get the tingle of excitement. The Hollywood Reporter posts that Julie Taymor is taking on William Shakespeare yet again, and with one starry-eyed and stellar cast. Strike that ... THE stellar cast.

This time around, we get The Tempest, but with a spin -- there's a bit of gender bending. Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan who became a sorcerer, is getting a sex change so that Helen Mirren can play the part. The lovely Mirren will be joined by Jeremy Irons, who will play Prospera's brother Alonso, Djimon Hounsou, who will tackle Caliban, Russell Brand as the jester Trinculo, Alfred Molina, who will be the drunken Stephano, Ben Wishaw as the spirit Ariel, and Felicity Jones as Prospera's daughter, Miranda. Oh, but that's not all -- Geoffrey Rush is in negotiations to play Prospera's ol' ally and adviser, Gonzalo. Since things are being changed up a bit, here's how THR describes it: "Shakespeare's play mixes romance with fraternal politics and the supernatural. As revised for the screen, it will center around Prospera, her daughter Miranda (Jones) and a shipwrecked crew full of Prospera's enemies."

After seeing Taymor's Titus, I never dreamed another Shakespeare adaptation could compare, until now. I say this having seen every single one of Will's plays performed at least once, and thinking that Patrick Stewart's Prospero was practically untouchable. But now, with this cast? I'm in love.

But still, Taymor is changing things up, so sound off below: Taymor, gender-bending, and The Tempest -- yay or nay?

Djimon Hounsou's "dream project" has finally been confirmed in the trades. Variety reports that Hounsou is pairing up with Dynamite Entertainment to star in and produce a movie about Thulsa Doom, nemesis of King Kull and Conan the Barbarian.
The character originally appeared in Robert E. Howard's story Delcardes' Cat, and is getting his own comic book series (courtesy of Dynamite) next year.

You probably remember Thulsa Doom as being played by the incomparable James Earl Jones in the classic Conan the Barbarian movie. But if you're a fan of Howard's work, you know that Jones' character didn't resemble the literary one very much. The original Thulsa Doom is an undead sorcerer with the face of a skull, with eyes of fire, and all kinds of scary powers.

So, unless Hounsou is going to bury his handsome face behind make-up or CGI, the new Thulsa Doom will be more in line with Jones' character, and another departure from Howard's original pulp stories. Already, they are looking to make a demonic villain more inviting, as Hounsou's film will show how the once heroic Doom went all mean and nasty. Just once, wouldn't it cool to have a movie about a demonic sorcerer who happily eschewed the straight and narrow? Thank goodness J.R.R. Tolkien left no such wiggle room with Sauron or Morgoth, eh?

When it comes down to it, Brett Ratner might not be the most hated man in the movie business -- but he's definitely in the top five. In a profile for Ad Age, the director sat down to talk about Brett Ratner Brands, his new consultancy business. But things get interesting right at the end of the article when the journalist dropped the bomb that Ratner might be working on a big-screen version of the best-selling video game, God of War.

For those of you who haven't played it (and I really recommend you do), here is a quick primer: God of War centers on Kratos, a celebrated soldier who is haunted by his past transgressions and his debt to the Gods of Olympus. It could have just been your typical hack and slash game, but the cinematic approach and highly entertaining story line earned it a reputation as one of the best around.

Talk of a feature film surfaced back in 2005, and Universal was the studio named to produce. According to recent reports, the script has already been finished and casting has begun to heat up (some recent buzz has Djimon Hounsou in consideration for the lead). But then fans the world over had to deal with the unpleasant news that Uwe Boll was being considered to direct -- luckily, this never came to be. So I guess Ratner could be considered a step in the right direction. Then again, if you had the misfortune of seeing Rush Hour 3, you would probably disagree.

[via Film Junk]

And the Internet sat up and went, "Seriously?"

CHUD's Devin Faraci is one dedicated researcher. Like a man possessed, he's been determined to unearth Djimon Hounsou's comic book project. (We reported on what it could be earlier this week as well.) It would now seem that he has, and the news is a bit disappointing. One of CHUD's reporters was at the Never Back Down junket and pressed Hounsou further. The actor reluctantly revealed that it was a comic "that used to be part of the Conan comic book."

Faraci spoke to NuImage, the people behind the new Conan movie, and they are only in talks with Hounsou -- and do not even have a director, so the project is far from definite. There are some other Robert E. Howard projects in development, notably Solomon Kane, but it is already filming, and Bran Mak Morn.

It is all a long way from Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg's Tintin or the Black Panther. Faraci is still consumed with the story and trying to get a definite answer. Pop on over and read his article, which includes audio of Hounsou's Conan quote.

IESB is excitedly speculating on a coy comment made by actor Djimon Hounsou yesterday during a press junket for Never Back Down. Honsou mentioned that he had just signed on to star in a comic book trilogy, which he called his "dream project." He refused to give any more details.

The most popular guess is that Hounsou is going to be the Black Panther -- but it could just as easily be Luke Cage or Tintin, both of which are in development right now. I honestly think Hounsou is talking about Tintin. It is going to be produced by Steven Spielberg, who has worked with Hounsou before on Amistad. And he specifically mentioned a trilogy of films, which Tintin reportedly will be.

While IESB is skeptical, claiming that Tintin isn't really a comic book movie, I think it is more likely to be Hounsou's dream project than the Black Panther. Tintin is wildly popular in Europe and appeared first in France -- where Hounsou lived during his early years.

Not all comic book movies involve superpowers -- and not everyone's dream is to don skintight Lycra. But who knows -- Hounsou could be the biggest Black Panther (or Luke Cage) fan ever, and I am way out in left field. But I just can't help but think the Internet immediately thought African actor -- must be the Black Panther!

Those pesky U.S. government agencies -- they always have to make things difficult. No, I'm not talking about getting a passport, although that seems to be hellish these days, but about the groups looking to capture or neutralize the "different" people. After watching E.T. and similar films as a kid, I've had a love/hate relationship with special abilities -- I've wanted to read minds, see the future, etcetera, but I also feared that some scary, government agency would then hunt me down and conduct tests and experiments on me. If the government didn't get me, I was sure some corporation would fool me into working for them and fulfilling their evil plans, like Dark Visions. Not fun.

It looks like my fantastical childhood fear is going to be relived on the big screen soon with a supernatural thriller called Push. The film stars Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond), Dakota Fanning (Hounddog), Chris Evans (Fantastic Four) and Camilla Belle (The Chumscrubber) as young American ex-pats who are hiding out in Hong Kong. See, they all have telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities, so they're trying to hide from a government agency. As The Hollywood Reporter describes it: "They must band together and use their different talents to try to escape the control of the division." Where's Magneto and Professor X when you need them?! The film, which was written by David Bourla, will be directed by Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin).

There's a little film called Get Some gearing up for production that is being called a "teenage Fight Club." Hmm ... A movie about teens beating the crap out of each other ... how uplifting! The film will follow a "rebellious" kid, played by Sean Faris (Yours, Mine and Ours), who is having troubles fitting into his new school. Somehow, he gets lured into an underground fight club along the way. Now, the Palahniuk, adult version of this tale had grown men pummeling each other to find strength, meaning and reason to their lackluster lives -- and for the main guy -- a little mental clarity. If this takes on the same tone, I won't be surprised if some parents get a bit ticked off.

As we learned last month, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane star Amber Heard had signed on to co-star as a girl whose "loyalties are put to the test when her boyfriend severely beats up Faris' character." Now, Variety reports that Djimon Hounsou (recent Oscar nominee for Blood Diamond) is also starring in the drama, although there is no word on his role. Since it's a starring role, I would imagine that he's either going to be a teacher at the school that's instrumental in trying to stop this, or a fight-hungry man instrumental in getting this all together -- or maybe a blending of both. The film will begin shooting in July, directed by Jeff Wadlow, from a script by Chris Hauty and Robert Munic. I, for one, am interested to see what they make of this premise, because it really needs to walk the fine line, unless there is a surprise twist and all the guys are pillow fighting. My question: Fight Club inspired middle-aged men to toughen up with their own underground clubs. Will the same happen in high schools across the country?

Each year the Oscar nominees gather for a fabulous pre-awards luncheon and to bask in each other's glory. A Reuter's story reports such activities as Leonardo DiCaprio giving Abigail Breslin a high-five, Steven Spielberg (nominated for producing Letters from Iwo Jima) murmuring secretively with Peter O'Toole (a future movie project?), and everyone cheering for Martin Scorsese. At a press conference, some of the nominees -- also Academy members -- joked about the option of voting for themselves. Helen Mirren reportedly gave herself devil's horns with her fingers while discussing her vote, and Djimon Hounsou wondered aloud if anyone else present would be voting for him.

In all, it was the most popular Awards luncheon yet, with 140 nominees present. One sound mixer, Kevin O'Connell, holds the record for the most nominations, 19, without winning. This year he's nominated for Apocalypto. "I've saved all my acceptance speeches, all the ones I've written on the backs of napkins and programs," he told reporters. "They are all in a drawer at home. I have my thank-you written. If I win this year, I will thank my mother."

Aside from the hijinks that reporters are allowed to see, we can only imagine what else goes on at such a luncheon. What does everyone eat? Do people ask Scorsese, Spielberg and Clint Eastwood for jobs? Does Ryan Gosling try to hit on Penelope Cruz? Does everyone try to hit on Penelope Cruz? Does Kate Winslet get jealous? Does Abigail Breslin have to sit at the kids' table? Does Jackie Earle Haley creep everyone out? Alas, so few of us will ever know the answers to these questions. Not invited to the luncheon this year were Laura Dern, Jim Broadbent, David Lynch, Clive Owen, Bill Nighy, Sandra Bullock, Rian Johnson, Terry Zwigoff, Daniel Clowes and many other overlooked artists.