You know that feeling you get when something looks so familiar but you just can't put your finger on it? Well, that's how I felt after I saw the latest poster release for Marcel Langenegger's, Deception (see to the right, and click to enlarge). After a furious search to try and figure out just what it was about the poster that was so familiar, I came up empty. Luckily, the sharp eyes over at the Ropes of Silicon boards noticed the poster was almost identical to The Prestige.

Ewan McGregor stars as Jonathan, a buttoned down accountant who is swept up in a mysterious sex club called 'The List'. Hugh Jackman plays his lawyer friend who leads Jonathan down the 'rabbit hole' involving a missing girl and a million dollar fraud. There aren't that many differences between this latest poster release and the previous release -- in fact, there are only a few minor differences. The most noticeable being that Jackman had a lot more real estate on the first poster than he does now. On the upside, we actually get to see McGregor's face this time around.

After watching the trailer, I'll admit that there is no way I would see this film if Jackman and McGregor were not starring (it just has a late night, skinemax vibe). Plus, the film bears a striking resemblance to the 1990 thriller Bad Influence (it even looks like McGregor borrowed James Spader's glasses). Deception is set for release on April 25th, and I can't help but wonder if Fox released this poster in hopes of drumming up some much-needed business.

During an interview for the Aussie paper The Advertiser, actor Christian Clark inadvertently announced that he had landed a part in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, though because of a gag order in his contract he couldn't elaborate further. Clark, who stars in the upcoming George Miller-directed horror flick Prey, as well as the thriller Crush, is relatively unknown to us in the states, though he definitely has that 'break-out Aussie star' look to him. Rumors suggest Clark may have landed the role of a young William Stryker, the villain from X2 (as played by Bryan Cox), though Michael C. Hall's name is also being tossed around with regards to that part.

Directed by Gavin Hood, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (which is shooting now) takes place several years before the recent X-Men films and follows Wolvy (Hugh Jackman) while he searches for keys to his past. Liev Schreiber was originally thought to be playing a young Stryker, though it recently came out that he'd be playing the villainous Victor Creed (Sabertooth) instead. Wolverine's girlfriend Kayla Silverfox will also play a role in the film, though an official casting announcement (Maggie Q was rumored) has never been made. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is due out on May 1, 2009.

[via X-Men Films, JoBlo]

It took me years to get that horrible Natalie Imbruglia pop song out of my head, and now the singer/actress might be about to return to the spotlight. According to The Herald Sun, the Aussie-born actress was recently in Sydney to film a "secret screen test" for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is gearing up production as we speak. No further information was available on exactly what kind of part Imbruglia was testing for, but one can only assume the 32 year-old beauty was up for the female lead. Imbruglia has recently re-focused her career on acting and back in October we noted that she was playing the lead in the Australian drama Elise, about a missing child. She also appeared in a 2003 action comedy called Johnny English, which was unseen by me but was apparently not very good.

Earlier rumors had Maggie Q latching onto a lead female role in X4, but nothing has been confirmed yet and there's always a possibility that there could be a female villain in the mix. Liev Schreiber is also supposedly circling the role of young Stryker, but we recently passed on the news that Brian Cox is also putting X4 on the resume he's currently sending around, so that adds to the confusion. One of our commenters recently pointed out, however, that the film may be going in the direction of acknowledging that Wolverine is a very old character, which would necessitate the young and old Strykers both being in the film. Makes sense, right?

Balls of Fury
Does anything more need to be said other than that Balls of Fury is a ping pong action movie co-starring Christopher Walken? Frankly, that's enough for me. But if you happen to be a Bruce Lee fan, the fact that it's a spoof of Enter the Dragon may entice you. The comedy details a former Pong phenom called Randy (Dan Fogler), who is sent on a special mission to nab his father's killer, Feng -- who just so happens to be played by Walken. With Maggie Q and a spiritual guide, Randy gets back into ping pong shape and heads to Feng's jungle compound and his ping pong tournaments.

This DVD includes an alternate ending, a small serving of deleted scenes, a comedy bit about, erm, ball handling, and a "Making Of" featurette that includes cast and table tennis guru Wei Wang, who also helped out this year's other ping pong movie, Ping Pong Playa.

Check out James' Review | Buy the DVD

Blade Runner
It has been 25 years since Blade Runner first hit theaters, and now we're getting one hell of an anniversary DVD gift just in time for the holidays. Originally stemming from the mind of Philip K. Dick, the film is a cyber-heavy vision of the future where replicants (human clones) are whipped up to work on colonies outside of Earth. However, when some escape and head to the planet, Deckard (Harrison Ford), a cop and replicant terminator, must put aside his visions of retirement and stop them. The flick also starred the likes of Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, and Daryl Hannah -- and of course, it's one of the biggest and most loved sci-fi films to hit the screen.

Fans can choose one of 3 main sets -- the 2-Disc Special Edition, the 4-Disc Collector's Edition, or the mack daddy of collections: The Ultimate Collector's Edition. The 2-Disc set offers Ridley Scott's new, final cut of the film with three commentaries, plus a feature-length documentary on the film's creation. If that's not enough, you can up it two more discs and also get all the different cuts -- theatrical, international, and director's, as well as another disc with 90 minutes of rare footage and featurettes. Finally, you can add one more disc and store it all in a sweet, metal case. The extra DVD shares a "Workprint Version" that changes things up a bit (such as no Deckard narration and no happy ending) and includes one more featurette and commentary.

Check out Ryan's Review of the Final Cut | Buy the 2-Disc, 4-Disc, or 5-Disc DVD


Other New DVD Releases (December 18)
Stardust
Underdog
Halloween
Rush Hour 3
Evil Dead: Ultimate Edition DVD
Bring It On: In It to Win It
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True

*And apologies to Simpsons fans: The Simpsons Movie

Check out Peter Martin's Indies on DVD for even more new releases.

Justin Lin's Finishing the Game brought the point home strongly: Too often, Asian-American actors are relegated to bit parts (the food delivery guy, gangster #3, mysterious prostitute) simply because of their race. Of course, it can be argued persuasively that all actors of color are denied opportunities because of their appearance. As independent film producer Karin Chien pointed out in a television interview, though, people will say: "What about Jackie Chan? Or what about Jet Li? ... Asian cinema is a completely different thing altogether. It's a bit difficult, as an Asian-American producer, to fight for the cause of Asian-American films when we are grouped together with Asian cinema."

This list is an attempt to identify just a few of the Asian-American actors who have not yet crossed over to broad, mainstream recognition but who caught my eye this year. (Among others, you won't find Lucy Liu, John Cho or Kal Penn here; they're all folks that have established varying degrees of stardom.) It's also intended to serve as a starting point for Cinematical readers to name other talented Asian-American performers: Who do you like, who should be better known, who is ready to break out as a star?

Roger Fan

Fan made an impression in Justin Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow as the class leader who lured Ben (Parry Shen) into a life of crime. Before that, he played parts like Student #2 (Party of Five), Hood #1 (Blue Haven) and Student #15 (ER). His next two parts after BLT were not much bigger: Executive #1 (Stuck on You) and News Anchor #1 (D.E.B.S.). With his performance as Bruce Lee-imitator Breeze Loo, who lives in a delusional dream world in which he's a much bigger star, Fan brought a human touch to his comedy. In person, Fan is so funny he can make you spit; at a post-screening Q&A in Dallas, he had the crowd in stitches. Fan's comic genius deserves a much bigger stage -- and more starring roles.

Dear 20th Century Fox,

I'm writing to request from your offices a reimbursement of funds totaling $11.00, which I believe were obtained from me under false pretenses. As a regular consumer of your products, I rely heavily on the advertising you produce to inform me when I make choices about which films to see and which to avoid, and my reliance on said advertising constitutes a bond of good will between you, the movie studio, and me, the audience member. I believe that bond has been broken in the case of Live Free or Die Hard, a new film that purports to be the continuing adventures of beloved movie character John McClane, but is in reality a film revolving around an entirely new character, who I shall henceforth refer to in this letter as Indestructible Fathead. Before I go on, let me stipulate that I was, in fact, offered a chance by you to see this film for free before its general release, and had I taken you up on that offer, my monetary damages might be lessened. The psychological damages would, I'm afraid, remain.

Like all Die Hard films (or films representing themselves as such) there is a terrorist plot at the center, but despite watching with close attention, I honestly couldn't tell you what it's supposed to be about. We're introduced to a team of cyber-terrorists, led by Timothy Olyphant and Maggie Q, who are attempting to pull off a 'Fire Sale,' which I gather means executing a rapid, simultaneous shutdown of our nation's regional power grids. The simultaneous part is apparently the key, since it has the desired effect of short-circuiting any backup plans and therefore crashes America's infrastructure. Anything run by computer will no longer work. Financial records gone, utilities gone, and so on. In other words, they declare total war on America, from the back of a moving truck. There are so many plot holes here that I won't insult your intelligence by pointing them out. Watching this plot unfold, I was reminded of what Roger Ebert said about Jaws: The Revenge -- that some executive at the studio should have been put in charge of making sure it was at least "a passable thriller."

As a high-octane action film starring Bruce Willis, Live Free or Die Hard is really quite spectacular -- what with its larger-than-life effects and nonsensical stunt maneuvers. But we're supposed to believe this is the next installment in the Die Hard franchise, and not "just another summer action flick." So when Detective John McClane leaps out of a squad car going 40mph, sending it up a concrete divider and into a conveniently-placed helicopter, you have to ask yourself this: Am I here for the popcorn action or am I here to spend two hours with one of my all-time favorite movie characters? If it's the latter, then you might find yourself slightly disappointed -- this isn't the same John McClane who woke up next to an unfinished cocktail and an empty bottle of aspirin. This is John McClane after he woke up next to an assortment of summer superhero flicks, chock-full of just enough explosive set pieces to make it worth your money.

If there's a Suspension of Disbelief machine currently on sale at your local Best Buy, then I suggest picking one up before heading to the movie theater. The first major difference between this Die Hard film versus the previous three is not the concept, but the execution. A group of clean-cut hackers hijack this country's most important support systems in an attempt to shut it all down while causing mass chaos. I can buy that. A jet hovering three feet above an active freeway? The fact that John McClane somehow has 47 lives when the rest of us get just one? Timothy Olyphant as a believable Die Hard villain? Kevin Smith's laughable role in the film (watching him try not to curse was almost as painful as watching him try not to act)? And McClane's daughter taking down a guy larger than three trees combined? This is Die Hard on steroids; jacked up to a level where it still looks familiar, except it's now capable of splitting you in two with its pinkie finger. But while it might hurt those expecting the punch, others will walk away not knowing what just hit them.

Cinematical's roving reporter Kevin Kelly made his way out to the junket press conference for Live Free or Die Hard yesterday, and I'm listening to the tapes he sent me right now. It's already hit the web that Bruce Willis says Fox wants another Die Hard movie to follow this one, but I wonder if he's really being serious about that. There was a huge time lapse between the third film and this one, so it would be surprising if the studio decided to immediately put another one into production, even if this one does surprisingly well at the box office. Then again, maybe they sense that Willis really is getting old, so the cow needs to be milked for all its worth now. Here's what Willis had to say on the subject: When asked "will this be the last 'Die Hard' movie," he responded: "No, I don't think so. Fox is already talking about doing another one. I told them I would only do it if Len is involved, and Maggie Q. And Justin, of course. You can't do one without Justin."

Also, when asked if he watched the first three before setting out to make this film, Willis said: "I looked at em' just before we started shooting this. I know I liked the first one. I looked at the second and third one and said 'Can't do that ... can't do that ... can't do that' ... one of the rules we had was that we banned ourselves from being self-referential. The second film, if you go back and look at the second film, there are so many f*ckin' references, referring to the first film. It was such bullshit, I just hated it. It was really just a stupid, stupid thing. I don't know, I mean I liked jumping out of the helicopter onto the wing of that plane. I liked that from the second one. But I'd have to look at it to tell you if there was anything else I liked."

I'll never forget the first time I saw a copy of Five Deadly Venoms. I was walking with a friend through Toronto, one who raved to me over the virtues of the cult-favorite martial arts film. We walked into an old video store by chance, and there it was, an old and tattered copy of Chang Cheh's movie. In that moment, I saw the biggest burst of adult male fanboy possible. I thought the windows would blow from the rush of excitement. Since then, I can't help but smile when I hear the name, and it seems like I'll be smiling more because the film is getting re-made (because of the name, not the remake).

So, the movie started to gear up in December, with Kirk Wong signed on as the writer and director. This will be the first directed feature for Hong Kong helmer since The Big Hit in 1998. Yeah, I know... Now he's reportedly saying that his cast will "probably" include: Jay Chou as the lead, with Edison Chen, Maggie Q, Huang Xiaoming, Wu Jing and Liu Chia-Hui as the Deadly Venoms. There's definitely enough of a draw for some wider audiences, especially Q, who is following up Mission: Impossible III with Balls of Fury and Live Free or Die Hard, and Chia-Hui, who played Johnny Mo in Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Pai Mai in Vol. 2. The film has a nice $15 million budget and will shoot this September in Shanghai, Harbin (China) and the U.S. So, now the question is: Will this be worth it? His last film was pretty questionable, and now he's taking on a beloved classic. Are you ready to see the Five Deadly Venoms strike again?

[via Twitch]

There's something vaguely schizophrenic about the career arcs of filmmakers Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant. (And by "vaguely" I mean "ridiculously.") On one hand they're the co-creators of stuff like The State and Reno 911!, both of which are certifiably hilarious TV shows. On the other, less enjoyable, hand, these guys wrote not only The Pacifier, but Taxi and Herbie: Fully Loaded as well. (And they also have Let's Go to Prison and Night at the Museum on the way, as well as the Reno 911! movie.)

Mr. Garant makes his directorial debut on a bizarre-looking ping-pong comedy called Balls of Fury, and before you check out the brand-new trailer, give a gander at the blissfully bizarre cast list: Dan Fogler, Maggie Q, George Lopez, Aisha Tyler, James Hong, David Koechner and Christopher Walken, looking as if he just wandered off the set of Dracula: The Spoof.

OK, now you can check the trailer out. I got a few chuckles out of the thing, even if it does feel more like a Netflix rental than an opening night gotta-see.

Maggie Q has been one busy gal lately, and it doesn't look like her schedule is letting up anytime soon. Already well known to audiences in Hong Kong, she played small parts in Rush Hour 2 and the forgettable Around the World in 80 Days, and she had her first big breakout role opposite Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible III.

Q recently finished filming the ping-pong crime comedy Balls of Fury with Christopher Walken and George Lopez, has just been cast with Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman in the sexual thriller The Tourist. She will go directly from shooting that over the next few weeks into the terribly named Die Hard sequel, Live Free or Die Hard (this movie is going to tank if they keep that title).

We're all for actresses from foreign films breaking out into larger roles, but Hollywood frequently brings stars over from other countries, and then doesn't seem to know what to do with them. The talented Swiss actress Irene Jacob made her dubious first American film appearance in U.S. Marshals, which was her last "Hollywood" film and Audrey Tautou recently appeared in The Da Vinci Code, although her next two projects will be back home in France.

Maggie might be bitten pretty hard by the Hollywood bug, but she is currently in Pusan promoting Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, a period Chinese film for which she has had to learn how to ride a horse, play a pipe, and speak an ancient language. According to Q, "Just because I'm working in Hollywood these days doesn't mean that I've turned my back on Asia. I will go anywhere in the world where there is good material."

Good for her. With any luck she'll still have a career after Die Hard: Freedom Fries.


More Maggie Q on Cinematical:

Cinematical Seven: Movie Nerd Fantasy Camp -- Re-Casting Star Wars!

While it's been a rumor for quite a while now, Variety reports Justin Long is now officially set to join Bruce Willis in Live Free or Die Hard, the fourth installment in the action-packed franchise. It appears, however, that Long will not be playing Willis' son, but instead will be taking on that "computer-savvy accomplice" role.

Also in talks to star is Maggie Q, though there's no word on who she'll play. Love interest to McClane? Female baddie? Directed by Len Wiseman, Live Free or Die Hard finds the always reliable (yet often hungover) John McClane up against a group of computer terrorists hell-bent on taking over the world by using those annoying Mac commercials (in which Justin Long stars) as a weapon. Okay, that's a lie -- but there are computer terrorists and McClane is in charge of stopping them. Pic is in production now and will hit theaters next summer.

According to reports on the foreign wires, ageless Hong Kong legend Andy Lau is in talks to star in the next film from critic-turned-director Olivier Assayas, a project that would mark Lau's English-language debut. As we reported back in February, the film, entitled Boarding Gate, already features a cast including Asia Argento and Maggie Q (and, if you believe the IMDb and various web reports, Michael Madsen and both Tony Leungs), and is set to shoot this summer in Hong Kong and France.

Early reports indicated the movie has an awesomely convoluted plot, involving "An Italian woman [Argento] who lives in London [and] has a passionate affair with a former financial big gun [Madsen]. She also had a second lover [a Leung], a contract killer who has to kill the big gun. Her second lover's wife [Yeoh] is behind the scenes, pulling the strings." So it sounds pretty damn great, no matter who Lau might play. The problem, however, is that Lau is supposed to be shooting a film with Derek Yee this summer as well, and it may be difficult for him to find time to appear in Boarding Gate. According to Lau, though, there is still hope, because Assayas has said he'll "try to work around my schedule."

I just wish we had a damn release date for this thing -- the combination of cast and director on this one is making it one of my most-anticipated upcoming projects.

Friday's bits and pieces:

• First Look has picked up the worldwide rights to this year's Sundance hit, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. The autobiographical film, which is based on parts of director Dito Montiel's memoirs, didn't particularly impress either James or The Hollywood Reporter's Duane Byrge; you can decided for yourself this fall, when the movie is expected to hit theaters.

• According to the latest scuttlebutt, Angelina Jolie might just be spending some (professional, of course) time with George Clooney in the near future. Rumor has it that Brad Pitt is trying to persuade her to join him in Ocean's Thirteen, though who Jolie would play has of course not been discussed -- with this sort of story, it's the idea of the two of them on screen together that's fun. Details, schmetails.
  

• This morning's Hollywood Reporter offers some more details on the rapidly expanding cast of Balls of Fury which, when it comes to buzz, just might be the next Snakes on a Plane. And if it's not, you people are just not paying attention -- it's Christopher Walken! It's ping-pong! I mean, come ON! Joining Walken in the dark underworld of the pong are George Lopez, who will play an FBI agent bent on taking Walken down, and Maggie Q as "the sexy niece of...Master Wong," the master of the paddle who is brought in to train the FBI's pong-plant (that'll be Dan Fogler). How can you resist any of this?

• Until today, P.D.R. -- the based-on-a-true-story movie about a heroic swim coach and the tough youths he straighted out -- had nothing but testosterone on board. Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac are set to costar, while Diana Ross' son Evan, who made an impressive debut in ATL, will play one of the kids. Now, though, there's finally a woman around (Perhaps she'll hang some curtains. Or maybe do some dusting.): Kimberly Elise has come on board as the female lead.