extras Tagged Articles at Cinematical

It's the casting opportunity of a lifetime! If you're in Albuquerque or Sante Fe from August 8 to September 12, you can work as a stand-in or extra on Saturday Night Live's feature film version of MacGruber. And of course, jettison into cinematic history! Or more likely oblivion, but at least they're paying! And it's all over at Craigslist.

First, they need stand-ins for the four stars -- Will Forte, Kristin Wiig, Ryan Philippe, and Val Kilmer. If you've got the look, and their exact measurements -- no 6'2" Wiig impersonators or 5'1" Kilmer look-alikes allowed -- you can fill out a talent application and get considered for the honor. But if you don't look like those guys, there are a whole slew of extras required. They're looking for a string quartet, upscale men and women, twenty-something club-goers, tattooed/scarred burly wrestlers and experienced martial artists, "Russian-looking men," and some Native Americans. But don't bother applying if you're ordinary. They want "INTERESTING" character faces.

So this is really happening. Yes, Jenni confirmed it, but it's just so very hard to believe it. So, since it is, I can only hope that Richard Dean Anderson throws his hat in the ring to be a Forte stand-in. Now that would be something to watch out for.

OK, the first thing I noticed was the lack of an audio commentary of any kind. I mean, Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. are certainly known for their affable and garrulous nature -- and they're also damn funny guys. So I was definitely looking forward to a chat track with Favreau, Downey and Jeff Bridges -- with maybe an alternate track for the producers / screenwriters / etc. -- but I can only assume those commentaries are being postponed for a later DVD. (And I checked: No commentaries on the Blu-Ray release either.)

So with that minor and very nerdly disappointment out of the way, I dug into the other stuff. And wouldn't you know it? The 2-disc Iron Man Special Edition is every bit the fantastic package that this movie deserves. Will the film warrant a big, fat THREE-discer once Iron Man 2 rolls around? Almost definitely. But that's a few years away, and for twenty bucks you can get a whole lot of Marvel-ous fun out of this set.

On disc one we have the 125-minute feature film in glorious 16x9 widescreen. Also included on this disc are about 18 minutes of deleted bits and extended scenes. Nothing too revelatory, but there are some nice exchanges and interesting takes here. Best of all, none of the excised sequences make you wanna smack someone and go "D'oh! That shoulda been in the movie!!" Plus we get a bunch of promos for Star Trek, Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk, and the animated series Iron Man: Armored Adventures.

Ahhh, but then we get to Disc Two!

I think it's fairly safe to say that when Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant get together on a project, the outcome is nothing short of comedic gold. These are the men who brought us the original TV version of The Office, and they're also the guys who dreamt up the very awesome (but no longer around) HBO series Extras. These days, Gervais has officially crossed over to Hollywood, and he's starring in all kinds of films -- his latest being Ghost Town (which he just wrapped) and This Side of the Truth. Now, the BBC tells us that Gervais and Merchant are reuniting once again; this time, as writers on a film script.

As of right now, the working title for the film is The Men at the Pru, and according to the BBC, it's "about a group of 20-somethings in the early 1970s." Gervais notes, "They work for the building society and they're having a great time but it's about them coming of age and having to grow up." The idea of having to grow up is a constant theme in their work, but it will be interesting to see what Gervais and Merchant can do with a screenplay -- a feature film that clocks in at around an hour and a half or so. He adds, "We're really getting excited. We went down to the Prudential headquarters and got all this old footage so we're really getting into it." Gervais has only co-written one script so far, and that's the upcoming This Side of the Truth (which he's also co-directing). This new project will mark the first time the duo has teamed on the script for a feature. Unfortunately, there's no word yet on when The Men at the Pru will be ready for production. My only request is that they please please please give Merchant a starring role. That man is beyond hysterical.

I've watched the Extras Christmas Special twice now, and I still can't get through the end without crying. I'm so lame. I know this is TV related, but if you haven't watched Extras yet, do yourself a favor while on holiday break and check out both seasons (and the X-Mas special) of this amazing HBO show. Written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (both of whom brought us the Brit version of The Office), Extras is about just that -- Extras. Folks who spend their entire careers as the guy or girl in the background of a shot. Though it's only two seasons long, the show has a great story arc and while I would've loved for it to go longer, it definitely feels complete.

Aside from an excellent day-to-day cast (special kudos to Ashley Jensen), each episode also includes hilarious celebrity cameos -- all of whom are either obsessed with sex, obsessed with themselves or both. Clive Owen's cameo in the X-Mas special was absolutely friggin' priceless, and the same can be said for folks like Daniel Radcliffe, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Patrick Stewart, who have all appeared in various episodes as themselves. And speaking of Stewart, below you'll find one of my favorite scenes from Extras -- featuring Stewart -- which appeared in a pivotal episode that changed the scope of the entire show. I adore this scene, and it gives you a good taste of what to expect from the rest of the series. Anyway, I just felt like getting that out there. Go watch Extras. Gervais and Merchant are comedy Gods.

Today, I'm happy to say I achieved one of my many many goals in life: To meet Ricky Gervais and geek out with him over The Office. I couldn't help myself, and when we first sat down for our exclusive interview on the set of his new film Ghost Town, the first thing I said to him was something along the lines of: "I'm such a nerd when it comes to your version of The Office; I could talk to you for three days about that." Thinking Gervais would nod, smile and contemplate stabbing me for bringing up The Office when the guy's been there and done that ages ago, he was surprisingly open and, well, we geeked out ... just a bit. In fact, he said "No worries, I'd talk about that work till the cows come home; I'm very proud of it." I'll have my full interview with Gervais as we get closer to Ghost Town's release date, but I wanted to share just a tiny bit of casting news regarding the highly-anticipated sequel to one of last year's most successful holiday films.

Yes, I'm talking Night at the Museum, and its sequel Another Night, currently scheduled for a 2009 release. Since Gervais was such a big part of the success of that movie (his small role stole the entire show), we were wondering whether he'd show up in part two. According to Gervais, he's (kind of) involved; he said, "Yes, if I can. I've got the script and I really want to do it." We asked if his character is in the script, to which he replied, "Yeah yeah, and I really want to do it. I can't promise yet, because there might be a bit of overlap ... but I really want to do it. I love working with Ben, and I really really enjoyed working with Shawn Levy. He cares about the comedy ... and I want to do it. The answer's yes ... but I'm filming this, then I'm in post-production, then I'm on tour. The answer's yes, though."

Additionally, the series finale for Gervais' successful HBO show Extras airs this Sunday, and when asked why we should watch it, Gervais joked that, because of the writer's strike, it's the only original programming airing on Sunday night. So go watch it! (I guess it's funnier if you're there and listening to his sarcastic British accent ... but try your best to see the humor. Oh, and watch Extras -- it's a blast.)

Prepare to suspend disbelief -- Variety is reporting that Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner will be romancing each other in an upcoming comedy. Only in the movies (and in Beverly Hills) can people on such opposite ends of the attractive-o-meter find love. The indie flick, currently titled This Side of the Truth, is "set in a world where lying doesn't exist." Gervais wrote the screenplay with Matthew Robinson, and the pair will co-direct as well. The screenplay "centers on an Everyman (Gervais) who figures out how to lie and uses his newfound ability to woo a beautiful woman way out of his league (Garner) and become a success at work."

It sort of sounds like a reverse Liar Liar, and I can pretty much guarantee with Gervais so heavily involved, this will be one funny flick. If you're not familiar with RIcky, by all means check out BBC's The Office, the original (and still best) British version of the hit Steve Carell show. Gervais just won an Emmy for his performance on the very funny sitcom Extras, which will air an hour-long Christmas special Sunday, December 16th on HBO (Yay!). Garner of course is Mrs. Ben Affleck, and might just be in the running for a supporting actress Oscar nomination for her work in the terrific upcoming comedy Juno. I speak the Truth.

Fox hasn't issued an official press release regarding The Simpsons Movie DVD just yet -- but those lovely TV freaks over at TVShowsonDVD.com look like they've scored themselves a nifty little insider scoop. I'll stop back and update the report once we get further information from an official Fox source, but for now let's see what's (allegedly!) on tap...

Apparently the movie will be released in its original theatrical state (no extended versions or director's cuts*) in your choice of widescreen or (ugh) full. If you own at least ONE (1) Simpsons season set, then you won't be shocked to learn that two audio commentaries will be included. The first includes director David Silverman, animator Rich Moore, and sequence directors Mike Anderson and Steven Dean Moore -- and the second one offers writer-producers James L. Brooks, Richard Sakai, Al Jean and Mike Scully, director David Silverman, Dan "Homer" Castellaneta, Yeardley "Lisa" Smith and (of course) Simpsons creator Matt Groening.

We're also being promised five deleted scenes and five promo spots -- which tells me one of two things: Either there's more goodies that have yet to be announced ... or that's all the extra features we're getting on this release.

(* until 2008 or 2009, that is )

I guess it isn't enough that Daniel Radcliffe (aka The kid who will forever be known as Harry Potter), is appearing naked in an upcoming London play. Now, he's appearing on television acting like a sex-crazed ... human teenager (dare we call him a muggle?). In an upcoming episode of Ricky Gervais' BBC/HBO series Extras, Radcliffe distances himself from the family-friendly boy wizard by making an obscene gesture, cursing, brandishing a condom and, put plainly, trying to get laid. The best part about it is that he does all this while still looking like Harry Potter in a boy scout uniform.

After seeing this short clip of his guest spot, I may have trouble watching him play Potter again. Nah, just kidding. I could never let a little horny cameo alter my perception of Harry, and I still look forward to the next installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Although, I will wonder what Radcliffe, the actor, is thinking the next time I see him waving his wand about.