Posts Tagged ‘Romance’
We’ve been covering the development of Jack & Diane for over four years now. This predates the whole Twilight craze, and predates the breakout success of Juno. Bradley Rust Gray’s film is about two teenage lesbians, originally set to be played by Ellen Page and Olivia Thirlby.
“Jack & Diane meet in New York City and spend the night kissing ferociously. Diane’s charming innocence quickly begins to open Jack’s tough skinned heart. But, when Jack discovers that Diane is leaving the country in a week she tries to push her away. Diane must struggle to keep their love alive while hiding the secret that her newly awakened sexual desire occasionally turns her into a werewolf.”
It’s a very indie story about two girls who fall in love. The werewolf aspect is actually a visual metaphor for something else. Jack and Diane was originally set to start production in the fall of 2007, but I guess funding fell through. Last year we heard that Milk/Scott Pilgrim star Alison Pill would be replacing Page in the lead role. And now Bloody Disgusting is reporting that Juno Temple (Year One, Wild Child) has instead been cast in that role, alongside Thirlby, and that shooting will finally begin this May in New York City.
From day one David Slade seemed like an odd choice to direct a film in the Twilight franchise - and not least because of his controversial comments damning the first installment. With Eclipse, however, it seemed maybe like Summit were going for a slightly harder-edged feel by choosing him, and it even gave some undecided floating voters a tiny bit of confidence that this next film in the series would have broader appeal than the first two - films which were, let’s be honest, quite squarely targeted at certain easily defined demographics.
Entertainment Weekly now bring news that Slade’s choice of editor and regular collaborator Art Jones has been replaced on the project by Nancy Richardson, editor of the original Catherine Hardwicke movie. The studio said that they were not “blaming” Jones but that the film needed a “stronger” edit. Hmmm. The comments on this one pretty much write themselves - and that ‘Art’ has been replaced by ‘Nancy’ just adds to the comedy potential.
Christina Applegate (Anchorman), Alyssa Milano (“My Name is Earl”), Larry Campbell (Wedding Crashers) and Vanessa Angel (Kingpin) are the latest batch of actors and actresses to be announced for the Farrelly Brothers‘ comedy Hall Pass, which began shooting this week in Atlanta. (With Atlanta standing in for New England.) They join the already announced cast of Owen Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Amanda Bynes, Jason Sudeikis, Stephen Merchant and J.B. Smoove.
Previously:
- Wilson stars as Rick, a husband in a dull marriage whose wife gives him a ‘hall pass’ — ie a license to engage in a week’s worth of extra-marital affairs. Sudeikis co-stars as Wilson’s best friend, who also gets a pass to get whatever ass he can.
- Stephen Merchant and J.B. Smoove play friends of Rick (Wilson) and Fred (Sudeikis) who “accompany them as they cut loose and attempt to cash their tickets.”
- Hall Pass was written by Pete Jones as a spec, then rewritten by Kevin Barnett and Peter and Bobby Farrelly.
- New Line picked up the film after Fox put it in turnaround
- It sounds like a comedy in line with the tame recent work of the filmmaking brothers rather than the broad, over the top stuff that made them popular in the first place.
source: THR
Last month Universal held a test screening of an early cut of Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World in Las Vegas. We posted a collection of ten reviews from people who attended the screening, most of which were extremely positive (you can read them here). It appears that Universal just test screened the film again, this time in New Jersey.
Of course, it should be noted that these people did not see the finished version of the movie, but an early cut, without finished effects, which could very well turn out much different from the final cut. That said, the early reviews are very positive. Check out early thoughts from fifteen different people, after the jump.
L2BT on Tumblr: “I was lucky enough to see this awesome nerdfest of a flick known as Scott Pilgrim vs The World. It was a lot of fun and Edgar Wright did an impressive job bringing the comic to the screen. Pilgrim is going to gain even more followers once this hits theatres in August. Kids are really going to geek out over this. Hard.” “Scott Pilgrim was the nerdiest movie I’ve ever seen and it was awesome. Edgar Wright did an amazing job. What a fun film.”
enright on Tumblr: “the movie itself is somewhat entertaining, there’s some humor in it and his gay roommate is a riot. it’s WONDERFULLY shot, like holy shit. the effects weren’t so great, reminded me of cheap japanese animation. the acting was OK, one of the “exs” was superman in superman returns and he’s also the gay guy miri hit on in zach and miri make a porno. most of the affects were cheesy, like the “fight scenes” were mostly CGI’d, less than impressive. overall, it was okay. i wouldn’t see it again. maybe download it illegally. so hey movie people, if you end up seeing this, it’s JAMES ENRIGHT from the PARAMUS SHOWING.”
RunItsAPirate: So I feel obligated to the twittersphere. I saw Scott Pilgrim vs. The World today. Awesome movie, 100% respectful to the books.
lo_diggs: Basking in the afterglow of a Scott pilgrim vs the world nerdgasm
beefyfunk: [non-haiku] saw Scott Pilgrim vs. the World focus group tonight, great flick (to-be) (Love Aubrey Plaza!)
CraigeryMontoya: Saw Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. ‘Twas epic.
PTAnderson (not the filmmaker): Scott Pilgrim vs The World was unbelievably good. So stoked I saw it before it’ll be cool to like that movie. Remember this tweet hipsters!
AdamVole: Went to a mystery test screening descriped as “a music drive slacker comedy/action film based on a comic book” it ended up being a Michael Cera movie directed by Edgar Wright and is now of one my favorite movie that doesn’t have Star Wars in its title. it was called Scott Pilgrim vs The World
skinnyboyBALKI: “@radiomaru Just saw Scott Pilgrim in a test screening. Edgar Wright did your books tremendous justice.” … “@edgarwright Just saw Scott Pilgrim in NJ, all I can say is wow. You surpassed my already lofty expectations. So I thank you.”
MaddenOnRookie: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was amazing…hipster-indie sin city
Christoff679: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Heard of it? @brendonbigley ur gonna love this. My dad saw a preview. he said its incredible
JonRivera: Just caught a surprise test screening of Scott Pilgrim Vs.the World! Fantastic!
Bilal_Mian: Just saw an early screening of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Michael Cera’s best movie to date. Original, hilarious, witty, and great action. … have to say it was AMAZING. Never read the comics, now i do.
rchapoteau: Just saw a screening of the Scott Pilgrim movie. Holy crap that was awesome! #scottpilgrim
CRusso815: Went to a VERY early screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World w/ @Erock88. The geekiest movie I’ve ever seen. AWESOME
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I can’t wait to see this movie…
Bradley Cooper has pulled out of McG’s next film, a romantic comedy called This Means War. According to EW, Cooper was forced to make the decision due to scheduling conflicts: The July start date for the Fox romcom overlapped with the start of The Hangover 2. Reese Witherspoon is still attached, but not yet officially signed, same with McG. It is possible that this film might completely fall apart again. Fox has had this one for a long time; it was originally intended as a Martin Lawrence film, and a number of directors have been attached over the years.
The movie revolves around two best friends, inseparable since childhood, that fall in love with the same woman (Witherspoon) and go to war against each other. THR says the “ensuing battle escalates to mammoth proportions, with New York City demolished in their wake.”
Confessions of a Shopaholic star Isla Fisher is set to star in a high concept romantic comedy titled Kiss and Tell for Universal Pictures. Based on a pitch by Dax Shelby and Robert Stevens, the story follows a woman who discovers she has the ability to see the exact length of a long-term relationship, and how it will unfold, when she kisses a man. Sounds like a marketable high concept premise.
Up in the Air co-writer Sheldon Turner will produce the film. Shelby and Stevens don’t have any noteworthy credits on their resume, but they have a bunch of projects in development, including Man Camp and Paths of Glory at Sony, and Two Minutes to Midnight at 20th Century Fox.
source: variety and prodweekly
According to Vulture, test screenings of The Baster have revealed a popular distaste for the title. Okay, in and of itself the title is barely offensive but it would seem these test audiences are finding it a little too on the nose in how it makes the film’s central maguffin, a turkey baster used for artificial insemination, too front and center.
The script by Allan Loeb is really rather good, and certainly isn’t just lowest common denominator stuff. It’s about a switcheroo stunt with a baster full of semen and a women who finds out she may have conceived with the ‘help’ of a different man to the one intended. In the picture, said woman is Jennifer Aniston so I should hardly be surprised that the studio is looking to keep all sharp edges out of the marketing. I guess they can call it anything they want - Friends: The Movie, if they must - if it means the dopes are more likely to line up with the smarts.
As if we didn’t see this one coming, Nikki Finke has confirmed with her high up sources that Summit Entertainment will film the two-film adaptation of Breaking Dawn, the last film in the Twilight series, back-to-back beginning in Mid-October 2010.
It is a smart move for Summit to act quick on the remaining chapters of the Twilight series as the stars are getting older and who knows how long this insane fan craziness will last, really. Also, using the same crew for two films shot together will save on a lot of costs. Deadline says that Summit is looking at “high-end” directors for the conclusion of the Twilight Saga. I really can’t imagine any huge name filmmakers aligned with this series, but I also never imagined David Slade or Chris Weitz would ever be involved. David Slade’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is already in the can and awaiting release in June 2010.
It is assumed that both films will be shot back to back, in the same style as the Back to the Future, Matrix and Pirates of the Caribbean sequels. Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg (who’s written all of the Twilight films) is currently working on the Breaking Dawn adaptation. The book, which was released in August 2008, is not a favorite of many of the Twihards.
At first glance it appears that Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg, the screenwriting/directing team credited with ruining the spoof movie genre (Disaster Movie, Meet the Spartans, Epic Movie, Scary Movie series, Date Movie) have run out of material in the Hollywood genre world and are now going to take aim at the Los Angeles independent scene with a new movie titled LA Art Movie. Ugh. Chris Gore already beat them to it with My Big Fat Independent Movie in 2005.
No information is known about the plot, but chances are there isn’t much of one (I’m only half-joking). I’m guessing that the film will probably take on Swingers and… ummm… Is the LA indie film really topical enough to spoof?I’ve heard that the film might actually be a cover for a spoof feature film taking on the popular teen vampire series Twilight, which would make a lot more sense.
New Regency will be producing with Peter Safran’s Safran Company (Buried, Over Her Dead Body). Production is set to begin on March 22nd 2010 in Shreveport, LA.
I found this casting call on Craigslist, posted in January, but it doesn’t provide many clues:
- AMBER - 18-22, beautiful and sensitive, must have a flair for comedy..LEAD
- PHILIP - 18-24, darkly attractive, aristocratic adn intense, must have a flair for comedy..LEAD
- MICHAEL - 18-22, working class, sincere and appealing, must have a flair for comedy…LEAD
- FRANK - 40-50, Amber’s dad, good looking
Anyone have any more information on this project?
It was just a few days ago that we heard a prequel/reboot of Mr. and Mrs. Smith is under consideration. But why bother, when there’s Killers, a movie about a woman who marries a seemingly perfect guy, only to discover that he’s a government operative/assassin? Of course she gets in on the action, turning this into another buddy movie like Mr. and Mrs. Smith; i.e. one where the buddies in action could actually make out.
Oh, and the couple in question are Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher. Maybe we do need that Smith reboot after all.
I don’t think there’s anything inherently terrible about putting Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher in movies, but this trailer suggests that throwing them into something together is a disastrous idea. There isn’t a whiff of chemistry on display between them. Kutcher looks like he’s got more in ties to the car seat he slices up than he does with his onscreen wife.
(The positive notes: I do like some of Heigl’s oversized screwball comedy facial expressions, and seeing Tom Selleck graduate to ‘crotchety old dad’ status could be a good thing. That’s all I got.)
Killers director Robert Luketic previously directed Heigl in The Ugly Truth, and has also helmed Legally Blonde, Monster in Law and 21. I’ll leave it up to you to decide (or pre-judge, as the case may be) whether that helps make this trailer make more sense. One possible saving grace: Ted Griffin did a script rewrite, so perhaps some of his sensibility will end up on screen.
I know you’re dying to know more about this movie, and may be curious to know why it was originally called The Five Killers, and in fact why the hell it is still titled Killers, which really doesn’t seem to make any sense. This synopsis may clear some things up, though it probably won’t make the current title seem all that suitable after all.
Spencer Aimes is just your average, undercover, government-hired super-assassin accustomed to a life of exotic European locales, flashy sports cars and even flashier women. But when he meets Jen Kornfeldt, a beautiful, fun-loving computer tech recovering from a bad break-up, he finds true love and happily trades international intrigue for domestic bliss.Three years later, Spencer and Jen are still enjoying a picture-perfect marriage; that is, until the morning after Spencer’s 30th birthday. That’s when Spencer and Jen learn he’s the target of a multi-million dollar hit. Even worse, the hired killers have been stalking the happy couple for years, and could be anyone: friends, neighbors, the grocery store clerk, even that crabby old guy shuffling across the street. Now Spencer and Jen are on the run for their lives. As their suburban paradise turns into a paranoid game of dodge-the-bullet, they must find out who wants Spencer dead and why, all the while trying to save their marriage, manage his pain-in-the-ass in-laws, keep up neighborly appearances and just plain survive. And you thought suburban life was easy.
Yahoo has this painful experience in HD, should you be so inclined.
