When it rains it pours. Ask David Denby, the embattled, embargo-flouting New Yorker critic who, over the course of one week, has drawn the wrath of both Scott Rudin and Shame ‘s unsung co-stars Calamity Chang and DeeDee Luxe — a.k.a. Late Night Lover #1 and #2. Tough crowd!
So Baz Luhrmann beats on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into 3-D. In the first photos from his splashy new The Great Gatsby adaptation, stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, and Joel Edgerton vamp it up like humorlessly obsessed guests at a murder mystery dinner party. Anybody else find the casting here a bit too pat and obvious? Leonardo DiCaprio is a… a moneyed and aloofly self-interested man! Tobey Maguire is… a nervous, kowtowing outsider! Carey Mulligan is… the new Mia Farrow again! Well. Check out the images for yourself and see if I’m too cynical.
It’s heeeeere. The 2011 Black List — Franklin Leonard’s annual compilation of the year’s “most liked” screenplays that have not yet been produced — was announced this morning, comprised of scripts that will satisfy every genre curiosity, from historical crime to Internet rom-com to intentional Steven Spielberg derivative (introducing another movie called Jurassic Park ). Acquaint yourself with the films that could be next year’s Juno and The Social Network below.
Now, the Second Sino-Japanese War may not seem like the perfect backdrop for Christian Bale to showcase his heartthrob chops, but it appears there’s a romance nestled in this very expensive, ornate chronicle of the Japanese invasion of China. The Flowers of War is China’s official submission to the Oscars, and it won’t take long to see why: This thing is too gigantic and textbook-serious to be ignored.
Just when you thought that Hollywood had run out of hit movies to adapt into Broadway musicals , word is spreading that Mike Myers is in discussions to translate his ’60s spy spoof series for the stage. But just how involved will the franchise creator and star be in Austin Powers: The Musical — especially when he is reportedly busy writing a fourth film installment for the British secret agent?
If you thought that Will Smith’s trailer on the set of Men in Black 3 was ridiculous, wait until you see the actual trailer trailer for the film itself. The nonsensical first preview for the series’ third installment is officially released, prompting the tired sighs of millions still reeling from the garbage-strike pile-up known as New Year’s Eve . A perfectly fine way for Hollywood to further bruise your memory of a perfectly fine blockbuster and remind you beyond the shadow of a doubt that it’s Monday. Submit .
The stakes are higher and the villains far more treacherous (Moriarty!), but everything in Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows is of a piece with the 2009 predecessor that introduced Robert Downey Jr. ‘s turn as the titular OCD turn of the century sleuth. For director Guy Ritchie it’s felt like one long evolution from the days of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels ; now, at the helm of his biggest film to date — which features some of the most innovative action sequences of the season — Ritchie is firmly in his wheelhouse. As he told Movieline recently in Los Angeles, “I enjoy playing in a bigger sandbox… and I enjoy having powerful friends to help me manifest a vision.”
There’s something for everyone in the first trailer for The Three Stooges . Well, something for everyone who enjoys Sofia Vergara in tight sweaters, lobster-down-the-pants gags and Jersey Shore cameos. If any of those ideas interest you, click ahead to see the Farrelly brothers’ take on modern-era Moe, Larry and Curly.
After programming his favorite cult and classic films in two “Wright Stuff” slates at the New Beverly Cinema , Edgar Wright is returning this month with an unusual twist: For eight nights starting December 9, the Scott Pilgrim director will present double features of films he hasn’t seen. Last time he told you to ” envy these virgins ;” this time, he’s the virgin! It’s the ultimate game of cinematic catch-up that embraces the bashful truth about cinephilia; no matter how many of the greats you’ve seen, there’s always one (or two or a hundred) classics you have yet to check off the list.
Alec Baldwin, one of our chirpiest and most opinionated tweeters, has apparently given up Twitter altogether. The 30 Rock star and Oscar nominee fled the site following an incident in which American Airlines booted him off a plane for playing Words With Friends and for being violent, abusive, and aggressive . All that remains of his Twitter is the handle name and the word “Deactivated.” Sad, sad day. Thrust your American flag at the sky and never forget his above-average GOP putdowns. [ @AlecBaldwin ]