The UBS Evening Movie News 04.05.07
Posted by George H. Sirois on 04.05.2007
The “There’s Not Much on My Mind to Rant About This Week” Edition…
Welcome everyone to the latest chapter of The UBS Evening Movie News. I'm George H. Sirois, and there won't be a "Mad Prophet of the Airwaves" segment this week. I'm not feeling too confrontational. Well, I'm pissed off at the rain since I'm about to go to the Yankee game, but that doesn't exactly warrant a rant.
I had something else set to go as my top story, but then I found out this piece of tragic news...
TOP STORY
Film director Bob Clark and his son Ariel were killed in an early Wednesday morning collision along a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, authorities said. Clark directed the classic holiday film "A Christmas Story" in 1983 and was the producer of the "Porky's" films, along with about two dozen other features. The crash was reported about 2:20 am, April 4 on PCH just south of Bay Club Drive. Police said Clark, 67, of Pacific Palisades, and his son, who was 22 and lived in Santa Monica, were pronounced dead at the scene. LAPD investigators said Clark was driving a 1997 Infiniti Q-30 sedan southbound on PCH when the driver of a GMC Yukon, Hector Velazquez-Nava, 24, of Los Angeles swerved and hit the Clark vehicle head-on.
The road was closed until about 10:40 a.m. while authorities investigated.
Nava and his passenger, Lydia Mora, 29, of Asuza, were transported to a local hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries, said LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon. Mora was later released. Nava was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license. After treatment, he will be booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and gross vehicular manslaughter, Vernon said.
This is such a terribly tragic way for us to lose such a gifted filmmaker. If there's anything I can say about Bob Clark, it's that his movies can be seen in so many different periods of our lives. Obviously, we can start viewing A Christmas Story when we're young kids, and then we can move onto Porky's when we get into high school and Black Christmas when we get into college. When we reach adulthood, all three of these films hold up well – especially A Christmas Story – and so we're confident our children can become attached to them just as we did.
My prayers go out to Mr. Clark, his son, and their family. And I do hope Nava gets everything that's coming to him.
Credit: Los Angeles Times
SYBIL THE SOOTHSAYER
UPCOMING MOVIES
The Reaping: Hilary Swank plays a former Christian missionary who lost her faith after her family was tragically killed, and has since become a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening and she must regain her faith to combat the dark forces threatening the community. Based on the "Christian who loses her faith" concept, it sounds a lot like both versions of the Exorcist prequel. Considering how much CGI is in it, it seems a little more like Exorcist: The Beginning, which is not a good sign. However, I've liked Stephen Hopkins' work ever since I saw the fifth Nightmare on Elm Street film, so hopefully he was able to do something unique to this just like he did with that entry in the Elm Street franchise.
Grindhouse: Directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez present two full-length movies in a new horror double feature. In Tarantino's "Death Proof," Austin's hottest DJ, Jungle Julia, sets out into the night to unwind with her two friends Shanna an Arlene. Covertly tracking their moves is Stuntman Mike, a scarred rebel leering from behind the wheel of his muscle car, revving just feet away. In Rodriguez's "Planet Terror," two doctors find their graveyard shift inundated with townspeople ravaged by sores. Among the wounded is Cherry, a dancer whose leg was ripped from her body. As the invalids quickly become enraged aggressors, Cherry and her ex-boyfriend Wray lead a team of accidental warriors into the night. This looks pretty damn awesome, and I'm loving all of Kurt Russell's interviews that he's been doing for this film (as well as his answers regarding the Escape from New York remake). My only worry is that this particular genre has such a contained fanbase that not as many people would get. If HBO or Showtime or Cinemax is smart, they'll be airing some of the Grindhouse movies that Tarantino and Rodriguez seen that inspired them to create these two flicks.
Credit: TheMovieBox.net
UPCOMING DVD'S
Bridge to Video Stores: Buena Vista Home Entertainment has scheduled the release of Bridge To Terabithia for June on both DVD and Blu-Ray Disc. Disney will present a widescreen version of the movie on DVD with Dolby Digital audio tracks. The release will also include a few supplements, such as Two Featurettes entitled "Digital Imagination: Bringing Terabithia to Life" and "Behind the Book: The Themes of Bridge to Terabithia." You will also find Anna Sophia Roob's Music Video "Keep Your Mind Open" on these releases. The disc will be arriving on June 19.
Credit: DVDReview.com
CASTING COUCH OF THE WEEK
To continue last week's casting for the film adaptation of "Speed Racer," Susan Sarandon and John Goodman are in negotiations to play Speed's parents. Even though I only rarely watched the show, I'm getting more and more interested in this. First the Wachowski Brothers sign on, and my interest starts. Then Emile Hirsch comes aboard – whom I like thanks to his performance in The Girl Next Door - and my interest perks up a bit more. Then I hear that the Wachowskis are pushing to make this as family friendly as possible, which I'm completely fascinated by thanks to their previous films. Now, there's this bit of casting news and this looks like something that looks like it could be a quality piece of work. Now, I wonder who's going to do a cover of the theme song.
Credit: HollywoodReporter.com
MOVIE TRAILER OF THE WEEK
Anyone who knows me knows how big of a fan I am of the movie Grosse Pointe Blank. So even though this isn't a direct sequel to it, it looks like anyone who loved that movie will be interested in seeing this too…
JIM WEBBING AND HIS IT'S-THE-HONEST-TRUTH-DEPARTMENT
He Actually Took Me Seriously?
Jim Caviezel is in negotiations to star in "Only in New York," an indie crime thriller that French helmer Pitof will direct. The script, written by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld and Geebee Dajani, follows a recently paroled street hustler looking for a new life and seeking redemption only to find his path blocked by the combustible melange of New York elements that once did him in.
The movie is being produced by Tucker Tooley, Dan Keston, Barbara Feinstein and Ted Schipper. It is being executive produced and financed by Film Capital Partners, a motion picture fund formed last year and based in Dublin, Ireland. The movie was packaged by ICM and Endeavor Independent, both of which will handle U.S. sales.
"New York" will begin production in June in Toronto. When I watched the only few minutes of Catwoman that I could possibly take, I thought to myself, "it would take a miracle for Pitof to get another directing job after this turd." So what does Pitof do? He gets a film into pre-production and hires Jesus Christ Himself to star in it! I'm not sure what's funnier: that or the fact that the movie called "ONLY in New York" is going to be filmed in Canada.
Well, It Is a Very Nice Trailer
The theatrical trailer for Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' hotly anticipated "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" captured more than 375 million viewers worldwide in its first week before its theatrical release, according to Buena Vista. The trailer went out day and date worldwide for broadcast television and online in anticipation of the film's May 25 release; its viewership marked a Disney record.
"This was the most significant trailer launch and kickoff to a campaign that I've ever been involved in," said Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Motion Picture Group, noting that the trailer reached 62 countries in more than 25 languages. Now that I'm all caught up with the Pirates series since I saw Dead Man's Chest last weekend, I'm now revved up for this film. It's really amazing how successful this series has been, and I have to give everyone involved a lot of credit. Yes, the trilogy is inspired by an amusement park ride, but the characters and situations are… ready for this?... original! That's one major element that people in the industry need to take into account. Original work can strike a chord with audiences.
Credit: HollywoodReporter.com
Film to Follow Events of 2000 Election
HBO Films has greenlit "Recount," a scripted movie about the 2000 presidential election, and has attached Sydney Pollack to direct. The film will follow the Florida recount from Election Day through the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of George W. Bush five weeks later. It will place an emphasis on what execs say is the "human drama" that permeated news events. "Recount" goes into production in spring or summer. It will air on HBO, probably next spring, as the country finds itself in the heat of another presidential election. HBO Films is opting to air "Recount" on HBO and not release it via theatrical arm Picturehouse because, execs said, airing it on the network will guarantee millions of viewers. Pollack has previously directed films with political themes including "Three Days of the Condor" and "Absence of Malice," the latter of which also tussled with Florida politics. Well, this seems to be the Left Side's answer to the ABC Path to 9/11 film that accused the Clinton Administration of ignoring crucial events that led to the September 11 attacks. While I credit HBO for setting this up to air for free, I have to wonder if the network's going to be raked over the coals by the Right in the same way that Michael Moore was when he released Fahrenheit 9/11. They have to be careful about how this is set up, and they sure as hell better have all of their bases covered with their sources. If this is painted as "Left-Wing Propaganda," it's very possible that this whole experiment could backfire and another Republican will make their way to the White House in '08.
Credit: Variety.com
Film Music News
* Score Interview of the Week: "Blades of Glory" by Theodore Shapiro
* UK's PRS Abandons Equal TV Royalty Rates
* Inal Bilsel Wins NOTION Competition
* Chandos to Release Addison Collection CD
* Steinberg VSTi Updates for Intel Macs
* Technology: SampleTank wXL from IK Multimedia
* Signings and Projects by John Debney, Charlie Clouser, Brian Reitzell, Thomas Newman, Harry Gregson-Williams, Randy Edelman and more
* Soundtrack Review: "Doctor Who" by Murray Gold
* Spotlight on the Classics: "The Thorn Birds" by Jerome Moross
Download This Week's Issue at: www.filmmusicweekly.com.
MISS MATA HARI AND HER SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET
Clooney: "I Didn't Leak 'Huckabees' Footage"
George Clooney has issued a $1 million challenge to anyone who can prove he's behind the leak of internet outtakes of I Heart Huckabees. The footage, featuring actress Lily Tomlin and director Davd O. Russell screaming at one another, hit cyberspace two weeks ago, and Clooney, who famously fell out with the moviemaker when they made Three Kings together, has been linked to the leak. But, in a statement released yesterday, the movie star wrote: "Contrary to popular opinion, neither the sound man, Ed Tise, nor yours truly sent in the David O. Russell tape. I saw it (footage) when we were working on Ocean's Twelve, and there have been quite a few copies traveling around town for the last couple of years. Any rumor that either of us put it on the internet is simply false." And Clooney is so keen to prove his innocence he's offering a huge reward if anyone can prove he was behind the leak. He adds, "(I will) offer a million bucks to anyone who would prove otherwise." I wonder what Russell was trying to prove by blowing up like that instead of being a professional and taking Tomlin into another room and ironing out all their differences. Was he trying to pull a Friedkin and keep everyone on edge the way Billy Friedkin did while directing The Exorcist? Or was this the latest case of someone not getting this script? Either way, he came off like a total asshole and didn't do himself any favors between this episode and the one during the making of Three Kings. Oh, just in case you don't know what I'm talking about, here's the footage. Enjoy…
The Brit & K-Fed Saga Comes to a Close
The marriage between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline came to a calm end when they reached an amicable divorce settlement, including a custody agreement over their two young sons. The estranged couple spent five hours at the Los Angeles offices of Spears' lawyer Laura Wasser along with Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan. Michael Sands, spokesman for Federline's lawyer, says, "The parties signed a global settlement on all issues of their marriage and the custody of the children." The terms of the agreement were not revealed, but a Los Angeles judge still has to approve the documents. Spears, 25, filed for divorce on November 7 - just two months after giving birth to their youngest child Jayden James - citing "irreconcilable differences." In the divorce papers, Spears was seeking legal and physical custody of Jayden James and Sean Prestion, 18 months, while former dancer Federline, 29, also asked for custody of the children, as well as requesting spousal support. The couple wed in October 2004 after a whirlwind six month romance. The divorce agreement comes nine days after Spears checked out of Promises Rehab Center in Malibu, California for a month-long treatment for unspecified problems. Just like almost every match at WrestleMania 23, this whole epic story came to a pretty anti-climactic ending. I can see every tabloid magazine out there reading this and thinking, "That's it? We put in all this time to report this for THIS?!" According to the latest reports, Federline got 1 million dollars and joint custody over the kids. Oh, well, guess we'll all just have to move on with our lives until Britney has another night club, head-shaving incident. We can still dream…
Credit: WENN.com
VOX POPULI
Top Grossing Movies from March 30 – April 1
1. Blades of Glory - $33,000,000
Total: $33,000,000
2. Meet the Robinsons - $25,056,000
Total: $25,056,000
3. 300 - $11,150,000
Total: $179,657,000
4. TMNT - $9,160,000
Total: $38,428,000
5. Wild Hogs - $8,389,000
Total: $135,355,000
6. Shooter - $8,000,000
Total: $27,212,000
7. Premonition - $5,100,000
Total: $39,342,000
8. The Last Mimzy - $4,000,000
Total: $16,192,000
9. The Hills Have Eyes 2 - $3,925,000
Total: $15,809,000
10. Reign Over Me - $3,700,000
Total: $13,331,000
SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE WEEK
"Batman Unbound," a featurette on the Batman & Robin Special Edition DVD. You get to see Chris O'Donnell and Joel Schumacher trying to be as nice as possible about how off-focus the film was and how bad it wound up being. Plus, you have John Glover talking about how Schumacher directed the movie by saying, "Remember everyone, it's a cartoon." Schumacher takes the most responsibility, repeating over and over, "I was an adult, I knew what I was doing," which sounds an awful lot like a recovering addict, and then goes on to talk about how he wanted the nipples on the Bat-suits. It's one of the most schizophrenic featurettes I've ever seen, and just like a lot of bad movie featurettes, it's one of the most fascinating.
Last week's episode of "Lost" gave us the (possible) final appearance of Nikki and Paulo, and the producers decided to cope with this by putting Nikki (Kiele Sanchez) in as many revealing outfits as humanly possible. That was awfully nice of them, so here are some pictures of Kiele as Nikki to help us all say goodbye to her…
