“Don Corleone cuts a fearsome figure through the mafia underworld, yet Brando also makes him into an emotionally needy butterball. When Bonasera makes the gesture of friendship (an awkward ‘Be my friend?’), the Don waves off the request. He knows how to play hard to get. It’s an odd juxtaposition, and a funny one at that. Without Brando’s levity, the dark sadness of the scene might have become unbearable. With it, the audience learns that The Godfather won’t limit itself in scope. Any emotion, any subject, anything is fair game.” [ Splitsider ]
This morning’s horrific Colorado multiplex shooting , which left at least 12 attendees of a midnight Dark Knight Rises screening dead, has prompted an ongoing wave of reactions from Hollywood to the White House and beyond. President Barack Obama, who canceled a campaign event scheduled for this evening, issued a statement : “Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my Administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded. As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come.” Also from the campaign trail came comments from presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney, who cited preliminary casualty reports: “Ann and I are deeply saddened by the news of the senseless violence that took the lives of 15 people in Colorado and injured dozens more. We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief. We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice.” Meanwhile, Warner Bros. called off its Paris premiere and issued its own statement: “Warner Bros. is deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time.” MPAA chief Chris Dodd spoke out as well: “We share the shock and sadness of everyone in the motion picture community at the news of this terrible event. We extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to the victims, their loved ones and all those affected by this tragedy.” Reactions on Twitter are those of sustained shock and grief, perhaps best characterized by Michael Moore, whose 2002 documentary Bowling For Columbine explored the issue of gun violence in America (particularly in Colorado): Too sad at the moment to comment. — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) July 20, 2012
Any re-hash of Beetlejuice will have to include Michael Keaton, Tim Burton who directed the 1988 original that also starred Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara has said. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter writer Seth Grahame-Smith, who is currently penning a script for the Beetlejuice sequel said in May that he’s spoken with both Burton and Keaton about the proposed follow-up. In Beetlejuice , Keaton played the ghost in the film, which went on to gross nearly $74 million in the U.S. and cost about $13 million at the time to make. “I think he would be willing to do it. He would have to be [in] it,” Tim Burton told MTV News at Comic-Con where he was promoting his new stop-motion pic “Frankenweenie.” “He was great as that character. I think it’s a way to unleash your inner whatever. I bet you he would get right back into it.” Continuing, Burton added, “I’m finishing this, and then I need to [revisit ‘Beetlejuice 2’].” Grahame-Smith told a crowd in Austin, TX back in May via Aint It Cool News “It’s one of the things I’m producing at Warner Bros and it’s one of the things I’m supposed to write…I met with Michael Keaton and Tim Burton about it and they said the same thing, ‘if you come up with a story that’s worthy of us actually doing this for real and not something that’s about cashing in or forcing a reboot down someone’s throats, then we’ll think about it.” He also said he has his own restrictions for proceeding with the possible second Beetlejuice : “If it’s not something we all get super-excited about then why do it…” He said he told the studio it “can’t be a reboot or remake.” The project would have to be in his words, “a straight, pure sequel. If it’s 27 years after the first movie, then 27 years will have transpired in the next movie.” An animated Beetlejuice series ran from 1989 to 1992 first on ABC and then Fox, loosely based on the 1988 film that Burton developed and executive produced. [Source: MTV News , Aint It Cool News via http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a394412/tim-burton-michael-keaton-would-need-to-be-in-beetlejuice-2.html]
It’s hard to imagine most folks will be eager to rush into cinemas this weekend following the tragedy out of Aurora, Colorado, even those who’ve been anticipating the release of The Dark Knight Rises for months. While Matt Patches over at Hollywood.com thoughtfully wonders if audiences will return swiftly to theaters, The Wrap reports that Warner Bros. are themselves scrambling to figure out how to balance their multi-million dollar Dark Knight Rises roll-out campaign with common decency and empathy for the victims, their families, and a shaken nation. It’s not that audiences might recoil from Batman, presuming some direct link between the comics or the character somehow incited suspect James Holmes to allegedly pre-meditate his attack on the dozens of men, women, and children at Aurora’s Century 16, despite unconfirmed reports that he may have had hair dyed in the style of The Joker; violence in media doesn’t “make” people kill, though access to guns and combat paraphernalia helps sick people do terrible things. And though fanboy ire this week had reached alarming levels with the hate-speech and death threats lobbied at critics of The Dark Knight Rises , any true Bat-fan knows that the DC hero not only fights to protect lives, he’s staunchly anti-gun. (A scene in TDKR highlights this.) So let’s not even start to blame the movies for what happened in Aurora. Besides: When tragedy strikes niche communities , it reminds us that we’re not so divided after all. Fandom is what made the Aurora victims sitting ducks for the gun man, who burst through the packed theater’s emergency exit doors just minutes after the film had begun. These were people who had anticipated TDKR so much many of them likely bought tickets in advance, wanting to be among the first to see the film. The shooter seemed to be preying on fans, not representing them, though his motives have yet to be revealed. Writing in The New Yorker, Anthony Lane proposes doing away with midnight movies for fear of copycats, though his secondary reason somewhat condescendingly critiques the practice of the midnight screening altogether: “…those screenings, starting when most people are in bed, often have a crazed and hallucinated air, which is all part of the game to those who enjoy them — anyone who has driven to a theatre to fetch teen-aged Harry Potter devotees, as they wander out in costume at three o’clock in the morning, can attest to that weary delirium — but which, right now, seems volatile, ominous, and redundant. Theaters around the country will be beefing up security this weekend, with police in NYC and elsewhere promising increased presences at TDKR screenings. But whether or not more officers and metal detectors and other security measures are enacted going forward, the fact remains that this was a lone gunman who entered through an emergency door and shot dozens of people in cold blood. How much can security help, except to encourage moviegoers to head to the multiplex, to not live in fear of tragedy striking again? Variety’s Josh Dickey reports ( via Twitter ) that WB is not considering pulling screenings, and given the financial investment and massive 4,400-theater release plans it’s hard to imagine they would. Cancelling a celebratory press event in Paris is one thing; letting audiences decide if they’re ready to head into theaters, with the unshakable specter of Aurora lingering in the hearts and minds of just about everyone, is another. Just a starting point for discussion, but sound off below as we keep the families and victims of Aurora in our thoughts. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
“A 9/11 joke didn’t go down well during a showing of new movie Ted attended by former mayor Rudy Giuliani and wife Judith in the Hamptons on Sunday night. In one scene, Ted — the misanthropic CGI teddy bear in the film — asks singer Norah Jones about her nationality, then shockingly spits back, ‘Whatever. Thanks for 9/11.’ ‘No one in the theater laughed,’ the Hamptons spy said. ‘The joke fell completely flat.’ They added the audience ‘had too much respect for the mayor’ to make light of the disaster. But Rudy and Judi were later seen enjoying the rest of their night in the Hamptons.” Whew . [ NYP via NYM ]
“A 9/11 joke didn’t go down well during a showing of new movie Ted attended by former mayor Rudy Giuliani and wife Judith in the Hamptons on Sunday night. In one scene, Ted — the misanthropic CGI teddy bear in the film — asks singer Norah Jones about her nationality, then shockingly spits back, ‘Whatever. Thanks for 9/11.’ ‘No one in the theater laughed,’ the Hamptons spy said. ‘The joke fell completely flat.’ They added the audience ‘had too much respect for the mayor’ to make light of the disaster. But Rudy and Judi were later seen enjoying the rest of their night in the Hamptons.” Whew . [ NYP via NYM ]
The Batmobile has had quite the evolution since actual volition appeared in the ’60s television version to its altogether super-suped up version heading your way in The Dark Knight Rises . Its latest incarnation includes some nifty gadgetry including a rocket launcher, the vehicle’s creator Andy Smith told Beyond The Trailer host Grace Randolph at Comic-Con where the vehicle, aka The Tumbler, is on display along with previous versions of The Batmobile. Smith has a history in race car work and worked on a car for a James Bond film and for an earlier Batmobile back in ’89. The current Tumbler is a hybrid of a Humvee and Lamborghini and it’s the only one that has ever been named something other than a ‘Batmobile.’ Smith gives a rundown of interesting factoids in the video below, including Christopher Nolan and production designer Nathan Crowley’s hand in creating The Tumbler after toying with various model kits. Of note, The Tumbler is 9 feet, 2 inches wide and 15 feet, 2 inches in length. Those stats keep it from being street-worthy at least legally speaking. It also has a top speed of 110mph, but “film makes it look much faster,” Smith notes. The video also shows previous Batmobiles including an interview with one owner and an interview with an early Batmobile designer who also designed many other famous on-screen vehicles including four-wheel stars appearing in Knight Rider , The Dukes of Hazzard and even The Monkees .
The Batmobile has had quite the evolution since actual volition appeared in the ’60s television version to its altogether super-suped up version heading your way in The Dark Knight Rises . Its latest incarnation includes some nifty gadgetry including a rocket launcher, the vehicle’s creator Andy Smith told Beyond The Trailer host Grace Randolph at Comic-Con where the vehicle, aka The Tumbler, is on display along with previous versions of The Batmobile. Smith has a history in race car work and worked on a car for a James Bond film and for an earlier Batmobile back in ’89. The current Tumbler is a hybrid of a Humvee and Lamborghini and it’s the only one that has ever been named something other than a ‘Batmobile.’ Smith gives a rundown of interesting factoids in the video below, including Christopher Nolan and production designer Nathan Crowley’s hand in creating The Tumbler after toying with various model kits. Of note, The Tumbler is 9 feet, 2 inches wide and 15 feet, 2 inches in length. Those stats keep it from being street-worthy at least legally speaking. It also has a top speed of 110mph, but “film makes it look much faster,” Smith notes. The video also shows previous Batmobiles including an interview with one owner and an interview with an early Batmobile designer who also designed many other famous on-screen vehicles including four-wheel stars appearing in Knight Rider , The Dukes of Hazzard and even The Monkees .
The marketing noise at Comic-Con is always such a cacophony, it can be tough-to-impossible to get tiny movies noticed in the chaos unless they’ve got attention-grabbing hooks . Like, say, finding a thumb drive inside a condom that just happens to contain the first-look teaser at Ron Perlman as a transsexual named Phyllis greeting his Sons of Anarchy son Charlie Hunnam (both in town for this weekend’s Pacific Rim and SoA panels) and Bridemaids ‘ Chris O’Dowd with a big, fat kiss. Movieline’s got your first look at the indie comedy Frankie Go Boom ! Hunnam stars as Frankie, O’Dowd as his terrible brother Bruce, and Perlman as Bruce’s terrifying old ex-con acquaintance Phil, now a terrifying ex-con lady named Phyllis. Lizzy Caplan earned raves for her turn as Lassie, whose one-night stand with Frankie leads to complications… involving a sex tape… and, well, I’ll let the film’s synopsis do the explaining: 3,2,1 … Frankie go Boom follows Frank Bartlett (Charlie Hunnam) who has been tortured, embarrassed and humiliated by his brother Bruce (Chris O’Dowd) – usually on film – for his entire life. Now that Bruce is finally off drugs and has turned his life around, things should be different. They are not. 3,2,1 … Frankie go Boom is a comedy about two brothers a girl with a broken heart, a sex tape, an angel and a pig. Since Movieline was the first to debut Frankie Go Boom ‘s poster featuring Perlman as “Phyllis,” it’s fitting that we bring you this glimpse of his post-op vamping. Let Perlman’s ” HER , MOTHAF***A!” terrify you into addressing the trans community with cowering respect. (Fun fact: I’m told it was Hunnam who suggested his Sons of Anarchy father figure play the transgender Phyllis.) Frankie Go Boom (now titled 3,2,1… Frankie Go Boom ), written and directed by Jordan Roberts, will debut on VOD on September 10 with a theatrical release to follow October 12. As for you other would-be attention-grabbers here at Comic-Con: Good luck topping the visceral recoil followed by ” Oh thank God ” relief I experienced when I picked up the Frankie Go Boom viral “package” last night and realized what was (or wasn’t) inside… Read more from Comic-Con 2012. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
The other day at the weapons check table, where costumed attendees must have their (mostly) fake light sabers and guns and knives inspected and tagged, a Comic-Con security officer summed up cosplay culture during the Con to me: Folks don their costumes at home thinking they’ll stand out in the crowd, only to arrive at the Convention Center and see that uniqueness is almost pedestrian here in San Diego — if only for this one wondrous weekend in July. So what’s the secret to crafting a truly Tweet-worthy, next-level costume? You’ve got your easy jokes on a familiar theme (Retired Batman is lounging outside the Convention Center in a lawn chair as we speak, while a Sad Storm Trooper was spotted holding a sign that read “Need hug. Death Star destroyed.”) but let’s be real: if you’ve been to one Con, you’ve seen most of it all. So, a few humble observations from Comic-Con 2012: Over the past few years Slave Leia has become one of the most overdone costumes at Comic-Con. They’re everywhere. They look the same. Yawn. So props to the guy who made me pause on the street to take this Leia pic: It ain’t Slave Leia, but it works. (Also kinda works as a nod to the stunt double scene in Spaceballs .) Meanwhile, subversive takes on Disney princesses have spawned their own meme category on the interwebs, and Sexy Fill-in-the-Blanks are a staple of any gathering of geek culture. (It’s like Halloween for geeks. Walking down the street in a thong in broad daylight is a fanboy/girl prerogative!) Now, Hot Disney Princess is not a new concept in the cosplay world but this trio pretty much stopped traffic while walking toward the Convention Center the other day. And while they politely declined requests from the random dudes with cameras swarming them on the street, I watched them stop to take a photo with a kid. THE EPITOME OF THE DISNEY PRINCESS SPIRIT! And yet the best cosplay I’ve seen all Comic-Con was one that you kinda had to be here to truly appreciate: The group of youngsters who, with just a few pieces of cardboard, a marker, and a sense of humor, parodied the Christian evangelists who’ve been clogging the crowded walkway between the Convention Center and downtown San Diego shouting about Jesus on soapboxes to disinterested Con-goers just trying to cross the damn railroad tracks: Well played, dudes. By today a band of paid marketers pimping some Stan Lee event were already biting your style, to far less compelling effect. Read more from Comic-Con 2012 here. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
