Father Geek is back... yes I've just returned to Geek Headquarters from the wonderful San Diego ComiCon. I'm sorry this is late, but my PC laptop was smashed in transport to California. Bummer! We had another new Mac with us to deliver to Moriarty when Harry goes up to LA this week, but all the necessary software to update the site had NOT been downloaded into it yet. Bummer again! But all is well now. Edgard and Darth Bond are globe trotting at present so our Irish Office is filling in for them till all is back to normal. Despite our hardware problems on the trip Harry, Quint and I had a great time in Southern California and we will all be filing reports soon, now here's Ozy...
Hey guys,
This isn't one of those Earth shattering Episode II casting stories or the like - merely the tale of a modest Euro AICN spy who wandered onto the Italian set of a movie and got a chance to have a chat with one of the stars of LOTR...
This isn't one of those Earth shattering Episode II casting stories or the like - merely the tale of a modest Euro AICN spy who wandered onto the Italian set of a movie and got a chance to have a chat with one of the stars of LOTR...
Hey Ozymandias!!!
Dryad here. By now i contented myself to talk a little with Cate Blanchett!!! Today i went on the set of "Heaven" by Tom "Run Lola Run" Tykwer. It was a sort of quite-open-to-public set, in the sense i could hang around, even if the filmed action was inside the Savoia Royal Palace courtyard, and off sight to anyone out of the crew.
Let's begin with what interest you more: Lotr. So today I had the honour to hear the sweet voice of Her Majesty Galadriel Elven Queen!!! Actually I think you won't be that thrilled & delighted by my little news, for she hasn't told me much about Lotr, and surely nothing new: you won't find in my lines the last Truth on the Movie(s) of the Decade: it's just her impressions on how it is proceeding. But i think the few things she told me earn value for the simple fact that i'm not a journalist but i'm a Miss Nobody and this wasn't an interview destined to promote the movie but just a small talk after an autograph.
I told her I knew about Lotr and Galadriel and stuff (it's a rarity that someone knows it here in Italy, we're always lightyears from the rest of the world about movie news), and this pleased her. Believe me, she is really ENTHUSIASTIC about the making of Lotr, you clearly see when someone is proud and really appreciates what is doing. She told me: "I love it all! The whole work is really majestic, not only as a project, also as it is getting out real. And Peter Jackson is a terrific director, one of the best i worked with. He really knows to do his job and to make everything work greatly". I asked her what the rest of the actors think about: "All the people working on it are of the same idea, all happy to be in, we feel how big this is going to be". When I asked her about the movie changes she said: "Be sure, PJ's having brilliant ideas about how to translate the book on screen". But when I asked her to be more specific she just smiled and told me: "You'll have to wait and see". ARGGGGGGHHHHH!!!
About Heaven, I had a quick glimpse of the screenplay and i got to know which will be the crew movements in the next month. The movie seems to be again very moving, as Run Lola Run was, but with a wider space of action: not just a city. It seems a sort of action thriller.
What i saw of the screenplay is not a lot different from what's already written in IMDB... Cate is an english stranger who lives in Italy. She puts a bomb in an elevator in Turin to kill a man who's guilty of having imprisoned his husband (who, after that, died in jail) but instead kills innocents. Captured by the police, she manages to escape, helped by an officer (italian actor Giovanni Ribisi) in love with her... sorry, hadn't the time to read the rest (of course i missed the best part and the real spoilers!).
The crew has been filming in Turin since last week, and will stay here until 31st july. Then they'll move to Germany for 2-3 weeks to shoot the interiors. Then, back to Italy: Rome, Montepulciano (near Siena, Tuscany), and Naples. In Turin historical Centre they shoot at least two scenes at "open air", in the streets. The first is at the beginning of the movie: when Cate gets off a bus to go place the bomb. The second, taken today: the exteriors of Cate's detention in the barracks, and her escape.
About Cate Blanchett herself, if some fan of her is getting mad to know. The look for the movie: she cutted her hair at shoulder length, blond with black strias. For once, she's dressed in contemporary clothes, for the film takes place in these days. As a person, she's really nice and friendly, absolutely not puffed up at all. A simple, kind girl who talks about her job without throwing it as it was a Manna from the Sky (from a catholic Country, wouldn't you espect a Bible citation??? :-))
Ozymandias, that's all: sorry if it's not that much, and not that fresh... i did my best! And also sorry for my everything-but-perfect English!
Dryad
To all our Euro readers - this is the sort of thing we thrive on! Let us know about any movie info, gossip etc. you have no matter how small!
As you probably know I'm taking care of business while Edgard and Darth are enjoying their well earned holliers so until further notice mail me your Euro AICN stories to ozymandias@dublin.com
OCEAN'S 11...
OCEAN'S 11...
There's been some doubt recently over Mark Wahlberg's much heralded participation in Clooney's remake of Ocean's 11 due to his upcoming intimate involvement with primates (in the nicest way of course...) Popcorn.co.uk asked GC what the deal was:
Mark Wahlberg has clearly made a big impression on George Clooney. The two actors have starred in 'Three Kings' and the upcoming 'Perfect Storm', and now Clooney has revealed to Popcorn that he's willing to postpone production on 'Ocean's Eleven' in order to accommodate his buddy. 'Ocean's Eleven' was due to begin production next January - with Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts - but the ex-'ER' man tells us he'll try and postpone it a month "to see if we can get Mark freed up". Wahlberg is, of course, starring in Tim Burton's 'Planet Of The Apes' remake and will definitely star in 'Ocean's Eleven', according to Clooney, "if he can finish his ape movie in time."
The film is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack heist movie and sees Clooney reunited with his 'Out Of Sight' director Steven Soderbergh. Clooney says the 2000 edition of 'Ocean's Eleven' "is a completely different story, we weren't out looking to do a rat-pack story".
In fact, although Clooney loves the new script (by Ted Griffin), he's not a huge fan of the original, which starred Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the gang. "I was driving across country on a bus with my buddies and we got it [on video] a couple of years ago and we're like 'Woooooo!' We stuck it in and went 'Woooo!', and then ten minutes into it you're like 'Woo'. It just sort of fades away. So I'm a real fan of the idea and of the guys that were in it, but I'm a big fan of the script we're doing now."
Now wouldn't this be a turnaround???!?!?!? From our friends at Empire Online :
Mel Gibson may go from Brit-bashing in The Patriot to hoisting the Union Jack in an upcoming biopic of British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.
According to Perfect Storm producer Gail Katz, Gibson is interested in the role as Blighty's intrepid adventurer who set out to be the first man to cross Antarctica in 1914. "We've talked to Mel about the role and it would be perfect for him. Shackleton really was a larger than life kind of character, he's considered one of the greatest leaders of all time."
Perfect Storm director Wolfgang Petersen may well be set to direct the project, which has been in development for some time, but no details have been finalised. While The Perfect Storm pushed both actors and digital effects to the limit, the, as yet untitled, story of Shackleton's voyage involves crewmen stranded on ice floes, a ship being crushed by pack ice and a recreation of the gruelling conditions of the Antarctic, "It's an amazing story, if you think The Perfect Storm was a difficult movie to make, it's nothing compared to this one".
Katz is currently in the UK promoting The Perfect Storm.
AH.... And then if you read the Press Association's website:
Kenneth Branagh is in talks to play Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton in a dramatisation of his polar expedition.
Director Charles Sturridge is keen to land the Shakespearean star for the extraordinary tale of survival which will be made for Channel 4 next summer.
Shackleton and his crew survived for two years in the Antarctic after their boat the Endurance became trapped in ice floes and crushed.
Sturridge, who made the award-winning adaptation of bestseller Longitude, said: "This is a film about a man, his men and an incredible journey.
"Against seemingly hopeless odds Shackleton managed to keep his 28-man crew alive for two terrifying years, at the same time as millions of men were being sacrificed in the defence of civilisation on the battlefields of France."
Sturridge has signed a three-year deal with Channel 4 to create further films and is currently writing the script for his four-hour Shackleton film.
Channel 4 Director Of Programmes, Tim Gardam said: "I'm thrilled Charles Sturridge has come up with such a great project for us and I expect Shackleton to be one of our most ambitious dramas."
Yes... I am confused.
From popcorn.co.uk :
British actor Tim Roth is being forced to choose between two of the biggest potential movie franchises of the decade. The South London-born actor had been in talks to star as the mysterious Professor Snape in 'Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone', but he's now mulling over a rival offer for a bigger role in an equally high-profile movie.
Roth has been offered the role of the chief ape (or should that be top banana?) in Tim Burton's remake of 'Planet Of The Apes'. Variety columnist Michael Fleming reports that the actor must now choose between the two films.
'Planet Of The Apes' (aka 'The Visitor') currently stars Mark Wahlberg and Estella Warren. Gary Oldman had been expected to star as the prime primate, but it appears he's been overlooked in favour of Roth. Interesting to note that Hollywood sees Brits as naturals for the ape suits.
They've also got something sweet on JP3:
'Mystery Men' star William H Macy is set to appear in director Joe Johnston's 'Jurassic Park 3'. The 50-year-old actor, who's best known for his non-mainstream work(ie 'Fargo', 'Magnolia', 'Happy, Texas'), will play the role of a wealthy businessman - that is, if he likes a rewrite of the script.
Production has already been put back six weeks after Macy originally rejected an offer to star in 'Jurasssic Park', citing schedule conflicts.
Shooting is now due to begin at the end of August in Los Angeles and Hawaii. The script is currently being given a polish by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor - who are better known as the co-writers of the acclaimed Reese Witherspoon comedy 'Election'.
If Macy does commit, he'll join current cast members Sam Neill and Alessandro Nivola. Neill will be reprising his role from the original, while 'Mansfield Park' star Nivola will play a graduate student in the sequel.
And remember this one I 1st had for ya a couple of months ago?
OK, start panicking. You may remember all those rumours linking Robin Williams with a remake of the 1949 Ealing comedy classic 'Kind Hearts And Coronets'. Well, that project took a step closer to the starting block on Monday when the 'Bicentennial Man' star attended a reading of the script for director Mike Nichols.
Interestingly, the read-through also featured Will Smith, Connie Nielsen ('Gladiator') and Jada Pinkett Smith (aka Mrs Will Smith). The current word around Hollywood is that Smith will reprise Dennis Price's role from the original, murdering the eight incarnations of Robin Williams.
Popcorn guesswork leads us to assume that Connie Nielsen is in with a chance of taking the divine Joan Greenwood's role from the first movie. Watch this space for the next horrendous instalment.
TOMB RAIDER...
A little tidbit on Tomb Raider from popcorn.co.uk : :
Just when we thought Angelina Jolie must have been getting awful lonely on the set of 'Tomb Raider', it's been announced that the British actor Daniel Craig will star opposite her. Craig first came to prominence in the TV drama 'Our Friends In the North' in the mid-90s and has since starred in Brit films such as 'Elizabeth', 'Love Is The Devil' and the upcoming 'Some Voices'.
The 31-year-old will play Angelina Jolie's love interest in 'Tomb Raider, CIA agent Theo Rooker.
'Tomb Raider' is currently shooting in London, with 'Con Air' director Simon West at the helm...
They've also got a piece on Michael Caine's most unusual role ever....
In an interesting piece of casting, Michael Caine will play a pile of ashes in new Brit film 'Last Orders'. The film's based on the Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name by Graham Swift and is about a group of old friends who meet to carry out the dying wish of London butcher Jack Dodds (Caine) - to take his ashes from London and scatter them at sea.
The all-star cast also includes 60s icons Tom Courtenay and David Hemmings, plus Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren and Ray Winstone. It's the first time Hoskins and Caine will have worked together since making both 'Mona Lisa' and 'Sweet Liberty' in 1986.
'Last Orders' will be made by Australian director Fred Schepisi ('Roxanne'), with production on the $12million movie starting this October.
