Cool News
AICN-DOWNUNDER: Where the Wild Things Are, The Waterhorse, Ghost Rider 2, Narnia 3 & more!!!
I love you, really. With all due respect, you're a beautiful person. You're a credit to your race.
AICN-DOWNUNDER
One of the most closely-guarded productions around has been WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, the Spike Jonze adaptation of the classic children's book (one that was, for me, quite seminal during those formative years). The film shot in Melbourne last year, and nobody was allowed anywhere near it. This rule was soon changed when the dailies showed that none of the cast or crew had been able to get on set.
A few weeks ago, however, I saw some stills from it. Also, a fair bit of footage. Me viewing this stuff was conditional upon me not publishing them online, but I wouldn't have anyway. If they want to keep their film secret until they're ready, I don't want to be the dick who ruins it.
But what's it actually like?
Well, the stuff I saw was of the creatures themselves. Do a Google image search if you've not read the book, and you'll see what they look like. The creatures I saw were practical outfits; massive costumes in the style of those big Muppet monster things. I mean they're Big Bird sized. And they look fantastic. They're incredibly close to the illustrations themselves (I cheered a little when I saw the cockatoo character, which is absolutely spot on), and about as accurate as I think a 3D representation of a 2D picture can be.
I won't describe the actual footage I saw for fear of treading into spoiler territory, but there's an awful lot of practical effects in there. Stuff I would assume they'd do with CGI, too.
Everything I saw looked amazing. I'm a big Spike Jonze fan, and I'm certain the film will be quality, but at very least I now know that it's going to look fucking incredible. And I had to tell you because (a) I'm now very excited about it, and (b) there's no way they're ever going to figure out the six degrees of people that got me the footage. Cannot wait to see the finished product.
NEWS
The "Big Large Monkey" never lets us down. Sure, he had to lay low for a while ("The watchdogs were growling"), but he's back with a nifty scoop on THE WATERHORSE. According to BLM, the world premiere of the film's trailer will be attached to SPIDER-MAN 3. That's a pretty big audience hearing about the film for the first time, and should be a big boost for the film. Cheers to "BLM".
Frequent AICN-D spy "Lennox" was engaging in the most cunning form of spying imaginable (listening to ABC talkback radio), and heard that a Sandra from Film Victoria (I'm guessing it's Film Vic CEO Sandra Sdraulig... and by "guessing", I mean I Googled it) discussing how international productions coming to Australia helps the industry, rather than hinders it. Responding to the argument that not enough local actors are cast in lead roles, Ms Sdraulig said that this was changing. An example she used is that they've spoken to Gary Foster (producer of GHOST RIDER) about shooting the GR sequel in Melbourne, and discussed with him the idea of using an Australian actor as the main villain. I suppose the thing did make a lot of money, but a sequel? Given the critical slamming Cage got, I'd suggest they'll be fishing about for a new Johnny Blaze as well. Another interesting tidbit is that they're discussing shooting the next NARNIA film here, as well as the next MAD MAX film. Were these speculative, or did she actually let slip some things she perhaps wasn't supposed to?
Speaking of the next NARNIA film, Moviehole got an interest tidbit about Neil Burger (THE ILLUSIONIST) possibly directing the third installment of the NARNIA series. Which, going by movie chronology, is THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER. (Am I really the only one who liked "The Magician's Nephew"? Really?) Burger's direction on ILLUSIONIST was good, but if they're really going to try to match the HARRY POTTER series, they should offer it to Guillermo Del Toro. Or, better yet, offer it to Alfonso Cuaron, and then have him suggest Guillermo instead. The symmetry would blow everyone away!
ROMULUS MY FATHER is an Australian film I'm really looking forward to seeing. It's directed by Richard Roxburgh and stars Eric Bana, Franka Potente and Marton Csokas. Well, the director's diaries are online at www.romulusmyfather.com.au so you can take an early look at it. Also, be friendly with the production at www.myspace.com/romulusmyfather.
AWARDS, FESTIVALS AND SCREENINGS
8TH MELBOURNE UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
Richard Wolstencroft's MUFF is a godsend for those of us who like to make a lot of double entendres. It's even better for those of us who prefer single entendres*. So it's good news for us that MUFF #8 is ramping up. Got a short or a feature or a documentary or an experimental expressionist treatise on Belgian mysophelia? Go to www.muff.com.au for an entry form (and additional information), then post your film to PO Box 822, South Yarra, VIC 3143 Australia. There's no firm date for this year's festival, but it looks like it'll be late 2007 (rather than just before MIFF, as has been the case in the past). (* vagina)
BOX OFFICE
Well, the prospect of seeing some local landmarks wasn't enough to maintain GHOST RIDER's box office success. No, everybody's too busy going to see NORBIT. If you are one of those people, please send your name and address to the email at the bottom of the page, and you'll receive a free elbow in the throat.
1. NORBIT
2. MUSIC AND LYRICS
3. ROCKY BALBOA
4. GHOST RIDER
5. THE ILLUSIONIST
RELEASED THESE PAST TWO WEEKS
Funny film description, funny film description, funny film description, lame film description.
BOBBY
THE GOOD GERMAN
THE HOST
THE ILLUSIONIST
MAN OF THE YEAR
THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE
WILD HOGS
REVIEWS
There's been a huge number of reviews about this already so I won't go into too much detail, but I finally caught THE GOOD GERMAN the other night. Wow. My favourite director, my favourite composer, and three of my favourite actors in a film that's basically a meshing of two of my all-time favourite films: CASABLANCA and THE THIRD MAN. Was there any chance I wasn't going to love it? No, probably not. It's on my tentative Best of 2007 list already. Some films feel like they were geared just for you, and this was one of them.
SCOOP
I'm a pretty big sucker for Woody Allen films. I love the guy. I love it when he's working at his best, and, frankly, I even love it when he's not doing brilliant work. Case in point: I watched ANYTHING ELSE for the first time yesterday, and loved the hell out of it. I understand it wasn't particularly well-received, so I know anything I have to say about Woody must be taken with a grain of salt.
I love SCOOP. I absolutely love it. No, it's not his best work, but who cares when it's this good? Scarlett Johansson does a great job at playing the nervous Woody-esque central character, and nails the sensibilities you need to nail if you're going to deliver the man's dialogue. Though, love her as I do, I wish he'd find another muse. No complaints about her performance, other than she comes off as pretending to be nerdy rather than actually being nerdy. Look at Diane Keaton in ANNIE HALL. Few actresses have inhabited their character the way Keaton did there. Johansson was perfect as the seductress in MATCH POINT, and I really enjoyed her in SCOOP, but I'm sure there's someone out there who could probably do it a bit better. But that's not really me reviewing the film so much, so I'll move on.
Hugh Jackman makes another strong case as to why he should be in everything that's ever made, ever. Seriously, the man can play any role. Woody himself, playing the dodgy Brooklyn magician, is, as always, brilliant, and makes me wish he'd cast himself more often. Ian McShane, also great, but not in it nearly enough. I'm not deluding myself to think it'll ever happen, but I'd love to see Woody make a prequel film following McShane's reporter. He's that good.
Yeah, I'm fawning. Some people just hit all the right notes, as if they're making something just for you. (See my GOOD GERMAN preamble above.) Woody Allen's films tickle me so much, I sometimes wonder if they're just made solely for me. Sorry if you were hoping for a deconstructionalist look at the film, but I really, really just love it.
HOLLYWOODLAND
I knew very little about this film going in, other than the fact that the mystery surrounding George Reeves's death hadn't been solved, and this film didn't solve it. I'd prepared myself for an unsatisfying experience, and found the exact opposite. How does a film manage to do nothing but raise questions, and still be completely satisfying? It helps if it's as well-made as this.
Allen Coulter is very, very good. Whenever I'd see his name pop up on a "Six Feet Under" or a "Sopranos", I knew I was in for something great. Given how cinematic those shows are, it wasn't a huge leap for him to go to cinema, and he does it without missing a beat.
The story of Reeves's life interspersed with the investigation into his death makes the jump back and forth effortlessly. All the cast is great, including Ben Affleck, who cops an awful lot of flack for an awful lot of poor film choices. It's nice to see that when he does actually pick a film of quality, he can be damn good in it.
The film runs about fifteen minutes too long (or perhaps I was just antsy about my parking running out), but otherwise this is a fantastic film that's far, far better than I was expecting. Highly recommended.
NEXT WEEK
- George Miller announces the new DVD special edition of LORENZO'S CORN, with the new title change enabling the studio to apply for an ethanol tax credit
- Ashton Kutcher and Matthew Lillard to play army recruits trying to lose their virginity in HONOURABLE DISCHARGES
- Tensions in the Middle East are enflamed when George Lucas announces that Indiana Jones's son will be played by Sunni La Bouef
Peace out,
Latauro
AICNDownunder@hotmail.com
-
+ Expand All
-
GR was the worst Nic Cage movie ever, maybe worst superhero movie of last 10 years
-
thats me done.
-
I am utterly sick of sequels, and so down on the idea of new installments to ancient franchises (INDY JONES, DIE HARD, even ROCKY) you don't want me to get started... but I've been waiting half my life for those bastards to give Max Rockatansky a decent sendoff that didn't involve the guy getting royally fucked over by whatever latest crew of hippie ingrates he rescued from dire straights. So is this FURY ROAD that was bandied about, the return of Mel Gibson as Max? Or are they moving on to ideas of a grown-up Feral Kid tale, as rumored some years back? I just can't imagine Mel wanting to do this again after all these years... except nobody needs a guaranteed hit right now like Mel does (except maybe Harrison Ford... or Bruce Willis... or Sly Stallone!). Here's hoping this thing gets off the ground someday soon. I sure would like to traipse back through that wild, desolate post-apocalypse world one more time, and see Max finally redeemed and given sanctuary in some idyllic paradise where he can grow old in peace... (Yeah, like that'll happen!) Bring it on, Miller!!!
-
...was indeed shocking. Pure pigs puke! T'was a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad motion picture. When watching this deeply vexing and emotionally scaring excuse of a movie I had the overwhelming urge to pull my eyes out of their sockets and plunge a blunt instrument into my chest. Mr Cage was absolutely awful (and for me vastly over-rated), Eva Mendes (shagable as she is) was completely miscast and Peter Fonda should just go away - for ever - and contemplate being a missionary in some remote south pacific island...
Should there be a sequel?
No, there should not; and the mare fact that some executive somewhere was some how inspired to not only make a Ghost Rider movie in the first place but now - disturbingly - willing to greenlight a sequel is absolutely excusable.
If Hollywood is determined to continue the vexing trend of churning out over-budgeted, underdeveloped, cods-wallop and cows dung it would be better for all if they were to take the steaming excrement and swallow it (I believe the U.S. expression is to 'Eat shit mother-fuckers'?).
Sometimes I hate Hollywood.
Hail! -
... inexcusable.... (sigh).
-
Damn you Michael Bay
-
Please my dear U.S. cousin (one assumes that you are indeed an American) what, pray tell, does the expression 'Damn you Michael Bay' actually mean, for I have no clue? Does it refer to your apparent disdain to some (if not all) his directorial work. No doubt I have missed something. Indeed, I am British and I am at a loss.
-
The trouble with long-delayed sequels is that they are often shite - probably 90% of the time in fact - mainly because the makers aren't worried about their legacy anymore, they don't care about getting you to buy a ticket for the next film - all they care about is making a quick $50m. But if we even have a 10% chance of getting another great Indiana Jones film, I'll piss my money down the drain watching "Live Free or Die in a retirement home" any day of the week. After all, Rocky Balboa was actually watchable (shockingly). The exception to this is Fury Road - without Max, it's nothing, and there's no way Gibbo is doing it. Even if he did, I can't see it hitting $100m domestic. Let's just leave Max to RIP.
-
That "funny film description" bit is actually a template I use that I totally forgot to fill in this time. Now you have an insight into the inner-workings of Latauro's world... and further proof that he really, really doesn't look this thing over carefully enough before he submits it.
-
Da-yumn! I hope it has a scene with Mr. T yelling "Don't do school, drink drugs and go to milk, foo'!" And that it opens with subtitles saying "A Spike Lee Joint", and that it has a scene where a brother is kept down (by his sister.) Oh, wait, it's another Spike? There really should be a law against more than one director having the same weird name!
-
Search your feelings. You know it to A, B, C and D true.
-
for the Silver Chair would be AWESOME nice and dark and creepy with honestly the weirdest creatures and stuff going on...I could really see him digging into Silver Chair although Dawn Treader is my favorite narnia book and I would love to see someone really good tackle it
-
No, you're not the only one to like it - it might be my favorite - but in spite of the current numbering order on the books, more people knew something about "Lion..." than were even aware of Magician's Nephew. And once starting with Lion, you're sort of locked into the "contiguous" ones - Prince Caspian, Voyage of the DT, and Silver Chair, if you're trying for continuity with the kids. But if/when they get to do Magician's Nephew, well, the audience will be primed. You won't have to stop to explain who Aslan is. Or Jadis.
-
I suppose. Pans was good.
-
well...the effects were good also. GR is a prime example of how NOT to do a comic book movie. You gotta play it straight - far too campy, far too disposable, hammy acting from crap villians, a cardboard cut out love interest. Id LOVE to see a Ghost Rider sequel that corrects this. Hell I could live with Mendes, just get rid of MSJ for christ sakes.
-
I believe I read he was offered Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe but declined.
-
All for the magicians nephew.Loved it. One of my 7 favorite of the series.
-
I think I remember hearing him on NPR saying he was offered "Lion..." but didn't like the series, so passed and did Pan's Labyrinth instead. Can anyone confirm that?
Which is good, because whether you like it or not, the Narnia stories are for kids and GdT is not for kids. And we got a pretty ok Narnia movie and a pretty awesome Pan's Labyrinth movie out of the deal. -
But I guess he confirmed my view, which is what I was looking for. I love people who agree with me.
-
I've read the first 5 so far and that one is by far my favorite. It would make a kick ass movie.
-
Seriously??? Um...you do realize that he is directing the film adaptation of one of the most beloved franchises in history and that he has completely fucked it up in every respect, right?
-
What the hell was the hold up? I know we usually have to wait about 2 weeks give or take here in Oz to get a flick but I thought Notorious had been and gone so I bought the DVD months ago. Great movie, but WTF with the delay?
-
Seriously? Seriously. ::eye-roll::
-
I'm sure there's more to Michael than meets the eye . . .
-
...indeed. Perhaps he is even a competent director in disguise.
-
Screw published order. Chronological order FTW
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 171 total posts 169 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 157 total posts 111 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 138 total posts 75 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 67 total posts 67 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 479 total posts 62 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 59 total posts 59 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 62 total posts 59 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 48 total posts 45 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 116 total posts 32 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 181 total posts 30 posts