“Ms. Snider said she did not think the three-hour length would be an obstacle for moviegoers. Three-hour epics, she said, are Mr. Jackson’s ‘brand.'” The NYT checks in on PJ’s Eighth Wonder of the World, and unveils the running time: 3 hours.
Tag: Cinema
Red Six Downed.
R.I.P. William Hootkin 1948-2005, a.k.a. Jek Porkins, Red Six. Between he and Michael “Ozzel” Sheard, it’s been a bad couple of months for Star Wars role players. Ken Colley, Richard Le Parmentier, John Hollis, Julian Glover, Denis Lawson, and John Ratzenberger: Take your vitamins!
Vamps of all kinds.
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers has a fatal attraction problem with Scarlett Johansson in the new trailer for Match Point, directed by…well, someone unexpected. (By way of Listen Missy.) Also in the trailer bin are looks at the “remake” of Broadway’s The Producers (What? No Larry David?) and Underworld: Evolution, the unnecessary sequel to a truly terrible film. Seriously, if everyone just sent Bill Nighy $10 rather than seeing this latter flick, the world would be a better place. Catsuit-Kate notwithstanding, he’d be the only reason to sit through this drek.
Vera Draconian.
Imelda Staunton announces she’ll play Dolores Umbridge in Order of the Phoenix, while Ralph Fiennes talks more about Voldemort.
(Ice) Maidens & Minotaurs.
Coming Soon acquires a slew of new images from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The White Witch seems fearsome enough (although I can’t say much for her battle dress.) And it looks like WETA has turned in more stunning work (although I’m a mite concerned about CGI Aslan.) Update: The full trailer is now online, and an impressive one it is.
Stone’s Last Stand.
After the atrocious Alexander, Oliver Stone returns to American history for inspiration with Son of the Morning Star, based on the 1997 book by Evan S. Connell about George A. Custer and Little Bighorn. Ok, but I still want to see Stone’s take on LBJ some day, just to complete the trifecta.
Two Sides to Every Story.
Here’s some interesting news: Clint Eastwood is coming out with two films about the Battle of Iwo Jima simultaneously next year, Flags of our Fathers (the US perspective) and Lamps Before the Wind (from the Japanese viewpoint.) “Typically, Eastwood is not able to articulate fully his rationale for this ambitious enterprise: ‘I don’t know — sometimes you get a feeling about something. You have a premonition that you can get something decent out of it,’ he says. ‘You just have to trust your gut.’” Well, that and your sources.
Taking the Rocky Road.
“‘Rocky Balboa’ is about everybody who feels they want to participate in the race of life, rather than be a bystander…You’re never too old to climb a mountain, if that’s your desire.” Sylvester Stallone returns for Rocky Balboa, a.k.a. Rocky VI. I guess what he’s trying to say is, if he can come back, and you can come back, everybody can come back! (Cue Gorby-lookalike clapping.)
Shore Shipped?
In a strange turn of events this late in the game (particularly given this production diary), Howard Shore is off King Kong, to be replaced by James Newton Howard, late of the Batman Begins score. Says PJ: “During the last few weeks, Howard and I came to realize that we had differing creative aspirations…Rather than waste time arguing with a friend and trying to unify our points of view, we decided amicably to let another composer score the film.” Well, he was right about Stu Townsend, I suppose.
Stacking Gotham’s Deck.
For what it’s worth, Dark Horizons publishes a highly speculative “insider report” on the next Nolan Batman. Among the tidbits offered here, Liev Schreiber is up for Harvey Dent, as are Paul Bettany, Ryan Reynolds, Michael Keaton (!), and Johnny Depp for the Joker. Schreiber would be a great pick-up as Gotham’s two-faced D.A., and any of the others — well, except Reynolds, I guess — would make a solid Crown Prince of Crime, although I’m still rooting for Adrien Brody.