Movies Movies Movies February 26

Opening This Week March 1 (Friday)

21 & Over
Jack the Giant Slayer (in 3D)
The Last Exorcism Part II
The End of Love (Limited)
Leviathan (Limited)
Phantom (Limited)
Stoker (Limited)

New Trailers

The Peeples

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Video: 13 Going on 30

Warner Bros. Takes 'The Road Home' for Leo DiCaprio & Scott Cooper

Though Leonardo DiCaprio hasn't starred in a film from Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper, the two have already collaborated on the Christian Bale led drama Out of the Furnace, which the actor produced through his Appian Way production banner along with Scott Free. Now the two will have the chance to make a film together as director and actor as Deadline reports Warner Bros. has picked up the rights Michael Armour's forthcoming novel The Road Home for Cooper to write, direct and produce with DiCaprio potentially taking the lead role and also producing. DiCaprio has been quite busy as a producer as of late. Read more.

Universal Plotting 'Identity Thief' Sequel, More Bourne & 'Snow White'

After hearing the mostly disappointing news that Universal is considering a sequel to the horror hit Mama, today comes word that the studio is thinking about more sequels. It's still early for a lot of these projects, and no official plans are in order just yet, but Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson talked about a future for some of Universal's more successful properties, even if they weren't critical successes. The projects include the gestating sequel to last year's Snow White and the Huntsman, more for the universe expanded in The Bourne Legacy, and a sequel to the R-rated comedy Identity Thief.  Read More.

Quvenzhané Wallis Officially Cast as Annie in Will Smith Adaptation

"The sun'll come out tomorrow!" The youngest Academy Awards Best Actress nominee ever has confirmed her next starring role. Sony Pictures and Overbrook Entertainment have chosen this fine Oscar Sunday to officially announce that Quvenzhané Wallis will be starring in their new take on Annie, adapted from the musical which first hit Broadway in 1977. Wallis, the star of Best Picture nom Beasts of the Southern Wild, is now 9-years-old and has been touring around this past awards season, which culminates in her big night at the Oscars. Whether she wins or not, she's a charming, bright young star who has many roles ahead. Read More.

Original 'Dragon Tattoo' Director Niels Arden Oprev Taking 'Flatliners'

Back in 2011, we learned that Source Code writer Ben Ripley was working on a remake of the 1990 thriller Flatliners. The story follows five medical students (Julia Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin, Oliver Platt) who conduct experiments to stop their heart to simulate a temporary death, and see if there's anything beyond our own mortality. But after returning to life, the group is visited by physical manifestations of their childhood sins and it's not clear if this is real or just a hallucination. Now Bloody Disgusting reports that Niels Arden Oplev, the director of next month's Dead Man Down, is at the helm. Read More.

Tom Hardy Gets Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in 'Samarkland' Drama

After his turns in The Dark Knight Rises, This Means War and Lawless last year, Tom Hardy is not slowing down. In fact, the actor has only become more busy. As of now, Hardy is linked to a real-time thriller called Locke, a film with Daniel Espinosa called Child 44, an adaptation of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell video game, a period drama about scaling Mount Everest, and a passion project called Animal Rescue. Now Deadline has word Hardy is working with Solar Pictures to develop and star in Samarkand, a drama directed by Greg Williams who wrote the script with brother Olly Williams (not the "Family Guy" character). Read More. 

Juliette Binoche to Join Gareth Edwards' New 'Godzilla' at Legendary

Slowly but surely, the cast for Gareth Edwards' reboot of Godzilla set up at Legendary Entertainment is filling out. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston were all said to be in talks for various roles (though specifics are still unavailable), and now Variety reports French actress Juliette Binoche, who was recently seen in David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis, is taking an unknown role. Legendary and Warner Bros. are keeping this film under tight wraps, even after a supposed rewrite from Frank Darabont, so it's hard to get excited for anything other than the return of the giant monster. Read more. 

 Meryl Streep Will Head Into The Woods With Rob Marshall 

Another musical for Meryl Streep! Despite rumors she was no longer attached to the project, the actress will play The Witch in a new film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's hit musical Into the Woods

Read more. Here or Here.

The Oscars

I made a very special effort to watch the Oscars on Sunday Night so I thought I ‘d talk about a few of my favorite parts.

Who doesn't love looking at the dresses!

When these happened. These are some talented folks

The James Bond Tribute

The Les Miserables Cast Sings Live! I thought Amanda Seyfried sounded way better live than in the movie and Russel Crowe did a decent job as well.

And Anne Hathaway wins for Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Lawrence trips up the stairs on the way to accept her award and handles it very gracefully

I felt bad that Daniel Radcliff had to present with Kristen Stewart. She sounded about as excited to be at the Oscars as she would to go to the dentist for root canal.  

Right at the end of the Oscars and Michelle Obama comes on to announce the final award. Really? shouldn't she be doing something that’s beneficial to our country? Oh wait, that's right, the first lady is a celebrity.  I don't think this was necessary at all. 

Lastly I really enjoy Daniel Day Lewis and I’m glad he won for Best Actor. He seemed very humble and actually pretty funny. I almost wish he hadn’t been involved in a movie this year. If it wasn’t for him I think Hugh Jackman would have been the favorite to take home the shiny statue. Hugh Jackman is completely awesome and he deserves it. 

Movie Update

Opening This Week February 22 

Dark Skies
Snitch

New Trailers

The Company You Keep

The Internship

It's a Disaster

Video: The Burbs. If you've never seen this movie. You need to. 

Director Sam Mendes Now Very Likely to Return for 'Bond 24' Next

Completing my 23-film Bond 50 set and arriving on Blu-Ray this week is one of my favorite movies of 2012, James Bond's Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes (who we interviewed last year). We're still two years out from seeing the next Bond movie (possibly late 2014) but ever since Skyfall was released in November, fans have been anxiously awaiting details on the next one, especially because this last one was so damn good. Would Chris Nolan direct? Would we finally see SPECTRE? Well, while nothing is confirmed yet, a report from Baz Bamigboye on The Daily Mail hints that Sam Mendes could be returning for more 007 after all. Read more.

Michael Mann Set to Direct Chris Hemsworth in New Cyber Thriller

Say what you will about Michael Mann, but the man has a vision and he's committed to it. His famous digital photography that worked so well in Collateral didn't fit the aesthetic of his period piece Public Enemies, and though he directed the pilot of the failed HBO series "Luck" since then, the filmmaker hasn't helmed a feature in four years. Now he's climbing back on the proverbial horse, as Variety reports that Mann will direct a new untitled cyber thriller with Thor star Chris Hemsworth in the lead. Legendary Pictures is behind the film which Mann also co-wrote the film with Morgan Davis Foehl (Mass Effect). Read more.

Billy Ray is Writing a Competing 'Mummy' Reboot Script for Universal

Here's something you don't see every day. Desperate for another hit film franchise, Universal Pictures decided last year that they were going to reboot The Mummy franchise, hiring Prometheus writer Jon Spaihts to pen the screenplay, snagging Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci as producers, and bringing onLive Free or Die Hard helmer Len Wiseman to direct. Development has been quiet since September, but now Vulture reports that the studio has made a move that will likely have many scratching their heads: they've hired The Hunger Games writer Billy Ray to write a completely separate screenplay for the same project. Read more.

David O. Russell Also Meeting Jennifer Lawrence at 'Ends of the Earth'

Just last week we learned that Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell was reuniting withJennifer Lawrence in his yet-to-be-titled Abscam drama formerly known as American Bullshit (which also features Oscar nominee and co-star Bradley Cooper). But they won't be done working together after that either. THR has word that Russell has now committed to direct The Ends of the Earth for The Weinstein Company, a project which had Lawrence attached late last summer. This truly is a teaming of Academy Award nominated talent all around as the script comes from Argo writer Chris Terrio. Read more.

Rupert Wyatt in Talks to Direct Denzel Washington in 'The Equalizer'

After doing a terrific job reinvigorating a dying franchise with 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, director Rupert Wyatt made the ballsy decision to step down from directing the sequel because he didn't feel like he could meet Fox's hasty release date. (Cloverfield helmer Matt Reeves eventually took over.) We've been anxious to see what Wyatt will do next, and though he's had a few projects percolating since then, it seems like he may have finally found his next gig. Deadline reports that he's in talks to direct The Equalizer, the Denzel Washington action movie that Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn vacated last month. Read more.

CBS Films Picks Up the Coen Brothers' New Film 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

CBS Films has only been around for a few years, but with titles like Extraordinary Measures, The Mechanic, Faster, and Beastly on their roster so far, they haven't gotten off to the greatest start. But the company did a solid job with Martin McDonagh's Seven Psychopaths last year, and they also turned some heads when they picked up Toy's House recently, which was one of the best films that emerged from Sundance last month. Now it appears that they're really trying to turn things around, as a press release reveals that CBS Films has picked up the Coen Brothers' new 60s folk music indie Inside Llewyn Davis. Read more. 

Sunday Social 37

1.  What is the best Valentine's Day you've ever had?

Apparently I’ve learned to treat myself very well on Valentine’s Day. My best Valentine’s Day was probably last year when I bought tickets to see Lady Antebellum in concert. It was way fun. 

http://abbaqueen.blogspot.com/2012/02/thompson-square.html

2.  What is the worst Valentine's Day you've ever had?

My worst Valentine’s Day would probably be 2011. My roommates all got home from work and school and we were all inexplicably in a bad mood, maybe because we didn’t have dates. So we ended up hanging out at home and watching the movie Valentine’s Day.                                                                    3.  What did you do for Valentine's this year?

It was like any other day. I went to school in the morning. I worked until 6 and then went to the gym. Afterwards I went to a late showing of Safe Haven.

4.  What is your best Valentine's idea if you're single?

Definitely getting tickets of any kind. You could go with a friend to a play,  a concert, or to see a comedian.

5.  What is your favorite Valentine's candy?

Preferably anything with chocolate and caramel. I like the boxes of chocolate but I am just as happy with Halloween candy like Twix Snickers.

6. Favorite Valentine's memory from your childhood?

          I remember making delicious heart-shaped sugar cookies with homemade cream cheese frosting with my mom. They were so good. 

Retroactive

I’ve noticed a music trend for the last 5 years or so. New artists are working classic melodies and motifs of old songs and working them into something completely new. For the most part I think this a really cool idea. I love hearing something old be brought back to life. It’s amazing how the retro and the new can combine and fit together so well.

New Artist: Spin Me Right Round -Flo Rida

Original: Spin Me Round (Like a Record) -Dead or Alive

New Artist: Goodbye-Christina DeBarge

Original: Hey Hey Goodbye-Steam

New Artist (sort of): Madonna-Hung up on You

Original: Gimme Gimme Gimme a Man After Midnight-ABBA

This is the one I really did not like at all, but that’s just my opinion.

New Artist: Time of My Life-Black Eyed Peas

Original: I’ve Had the Time of My Life

Movie News

Movies Opening This Weekend (February 15^th)

Beautiful Creatures
A Good Day to Die Hard
Safe Haven

New Trailers

Rewind This                                                                                                       Monster’s University                                                                                         Room 237

Video: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Nicole Kidman Doesn't Remember Colin Firth in 'Before I Go To Sleep'

When Alex visited the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, he snapped a photo of a poster for an upcoming film called Before I Go to Sleep. The poster hyped Nicole Kidman in the lead role, and now Variety confirms her casting and mentions that The King's Speech star Colin Firth will play her husband in the thriller, with Mark Strong (Green Lantern, Sherlock Holmes) and Anne-Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy) rounding out the cast. 28 Weeks Later writer Rowan Joffe wrote the screenplay and will direct the suspenseful story of a woman with amnesia that sounds like it shares some DNA with Christopher Nolan's Memento. Read more.

Elizabeth Olsen & Bryan Cranston May Encounter 'Godzilla' in 2014

Legendary Pictures' Godzilla reboot hasn't exactly had the smoothest path to production so far. Last month, word came out that producers Dan Lin and Roy Lee were being ousted by the studio, but things have slowly started turning around for the super-sized tentpole. Frank Darabont was brought on to tackle a rewrite of Drew Pearce's screenplay and Aaron Taylor-Johnson was being courted for the lead role. Now the good news continues, as Variety reports that indie darling Elizabeth Olsen and Argostar Bryan Cranston are being eyed for director Gareth Edwards' new take on the classic movie monster. Read more.

 Jason Bateman Returns to 'This is Where I Leave You' for Shawn Levy

At one point, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Zac Efron, Jason Sudeikis, and Malin Akerman were all in talks to star in an adaptation of This is Where I Leave You, an adaptation Jonathan Tropper's novelabout four siblings who come home to sit shiva after their father passes away, and what happens when they're trapped in the same house for a week. Adam Shankman was going to direct, but then was replaced by Shawn Levy and it wasn't clear if any of the cast would stick around. Now THR has word that Bateman is returning to the project, but some new actresses are going to test for some of the female roles. Read more.

Jennifer Aniston Joins the Comedic Cast of 'She's Funny That Way'

Director Peter Bogdanovich hasn't had a feature film released in theaters since 2001, but that's about to change. The 73-year-old filmmaker behind classics like Paper Moon and The Last Picture Show, has a new project in the works, a comedy formerly known as Squirrel to the Nuts (or Squirrels to Nuts) that's now being called She's Funny That Way. Indie stalwarts Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach are producing, and we already knew that Owen Wilson had joined the cast, but now we're getting word that he'll reunite with his Marley and Me co-star Jennifer Aniston here, as THR reports that the actress has just signed on. Read more.

 Mark Neveldine Going Solo to Direct Supernatual 'The Vatican Tapes'

 Over three years ago, Man on Wire director James Marsh was being lined up to take on the supernatural thriller The Vatican Tapes. Now as Pope Benedict XVI resigns from his post in the real world and a new pope must be found, a new director has been brought on for this project at Lakeshore Entertainment. Variety ran a report about funding for various projects at the production company, and they reveal that Mark Neveldine, one half of the directing duo behind Gamer, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and the two Crank films, will be at the helm of the film, but without his usual co-director Brian Taylor. Read more.

Hugh Laurie Feeling Villainous Again for Brad Bird's 'Tomorrowland'

Though Emmy winning actor Hugh Laurie was once slated to take on a villain role in Jose Padilha's remake of RoboCop, the British native didn't finalize a deal. However, it sounds like he'll get the chance to take on a villain role again as Heat Vision reports he's in talks to face-off against George Clooney in Brad Bird's secretive sci-fi project Tomorrowland at Disney. Though there have been some solid theories about the plot, the only real information describes the film as being in the same vein as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the 1978 Steven Spielberg classic about aliens and the people who encountered them. Read more.

Sunday Social 36

1.  What was your first car?

The first car I drove was a green Ford Contour and it was slightly terrible. . I think it was a 1994 or 1995. We called it Le Contour-french for the Contour.

2.  Who was your favorite childhood teacher?

I would have to say my 3^rd Grade teacher Mrs. Peterson. She introduced me to one of my favorite childhood books, Where the Red Fern Grows. She read it aloud to us as a class. In 3^rd Grade I remember loving multiplication and learning my times tables.

3.  Were you involved in any sports/extracurricular activities? Share pictures if you can!

When I was little I did one year of ballet. Around Junior High I played softball and soccer, but my favorite activity was Orchestra. I played in orchestra all through Junior High and High School. I did competitions and played for a few of the school musicals.

4.  What was your favorite birthday party?

This is going to sound really lame. My 18^th birthday we had a senior skip day from school and we spent most of the day at the amusement park Lagoon. Then a few of my close friends had a murder mystery dinner. It was one of those deals where everybody is assigned a character and you get to dress up in costume. This particular was called Pasta, Passion, & Pistols. We were just that cool ha ha. 

5.  Who was your teen celebrity crush?

Besides Brian Littrell, Mark Wahlberg.  I loved the Italian Job when it came out in 2003. Isn’t Mark just handsome?

6.  What show/movie did your parents not allow you to watch?

For Some reason the Simpsons.