New Films in Production

[exte]

Well, why not? We're talking about Polanski here, not Kevin Smith. I'd love to see what the master of Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown does with that much cash in the bank. After all, why should Mann adapt a TV show at such a ridiculous budget, only for people to find it wonderfully empty? Give the guy a break, all child-rape aside...

[Antoine Doinel]

I don't care about Polanski's child rape conviction or whatever. It just boggles my mind that even in the face of such financial and critical disasters of Alexander, Miami Vice and The New World that there are still people with money to burn.

I have nothing against the idea itself, but given that this will easily have to top $150-200 to break even, which will undoubtedly NOT happen (if Superman Returns couldn't recoup, I don't see what chance this has) it will ultimately affect funding for future Polanski projects.

Two things are going to happen here. Either Polanski will stick to his vision and deliver the film he wants to, but that will die in multiplexes. Or, his investors wanting a guarantee on return will saddle him with an A-list Hollywood cast, driving expenses up further and demand more explosions.

In either scenario, I don't see this ending well.

[Matt]

I don't care about Polanski's child rape conviction or whatever. It just boggles my mind that even in the face of such financial and critical disasters of Alexander, Miami Vice and The New World that there are still people with money to burn.

I don't mean to get this thread off-topic (as much as it has a topic), but you shouldn't be classifying The New World as a "financial and critical disaster." Its budget was much, much smaller than either Alexander or Miami Vice (reported at $30 million--a pittance these days), and, while it was no Chronicles of Narnia, it did respectable business (more than Domino!). At 69 on Metacritic, and at 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's not exactly the stinker you imply either.

And what is it that you have against Colin Farrell movies anyway?

But yeah, I can't really imagine why anyone would put Polanski at the helm of a huge historical epic either.

[Antoine Doinel]

I guess the point I was trying to drive at with The New World (which didn't even come close to breaking even incidentally) is that period pieces in general have a hard time at the box office.

But I think we can all agree that having Polanski at the helm of Pompeii is a puzzling choice at best.

[DrewReiber]

But yeah, I can't really imagine why anyone would put Polanski at the helm of a huge historical epic either.

I guess everyone forgot about Pirates.

[Antoine Doinel]

But yeah, I can't really imagine why anyone would put Polanski at the helm of a huge historical epic either.

I guess everyone forgot about Pirates.

It's the exception that proves the rule.

Also, it's not as if POTC is being billed as some kind of historically-accurate-political-thriller about an aqueduct (yawn). It's a theme park ride promotion stretched into a franchise. I'm sure there are plenty of Disney marketing executives sending their kids to college on bonuses alone.

If they cast Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley maybe I'll reign in my cynicism. Maybe.

[exte]

You didn't click the link in his post did you?

[Antoine Doinel]

No --- but I kinda wish I hadn't. Oy.

[DrewReiber]

It's the exception that proves the rule.

Also, it's not as if POTC is being billed as some kind of historically-accurate-political-thriller about an aqueduct (yawn). It's a theme park ride promotion stretched into a franchise.

No, not Pirates of the Caribbean... Roman Polanski's PIRATES

The film was one of the biggest financial and critical flops of its kind and one of the pirate movies responsible for making the subgenre equivalent to box office rat poison (and Cutthroat Island 9 years later) until just recently. It cost $40 million and only made around $1 in the US. If memory serves, it was one of the most infamous flops of the 1980's.

See what I mean? Everyone forgot.

[jorencain]

I haven't seen any mention on here of Gregg Araki's new film, "Smiley Face". Here's the trailer.

I love the "Come on, Frank, you know I love surprises" bit.

[Matt]

I love me some Anna Faris and it's nice to see a female-centered pothead movie for once. I don't know about the these-familiar-faces-you-love-from-TV-as-you've-never-seen-them-before aspect of it, but I've watched worse movies for Ms. Faris.

[Antoine Doinel]

I haven't seen any mention on here of Gregg Araki's new film, "Smiley Face". Here's the trailer.

Cool. It looks like Dude, Where's My Car but with a female lead.

And I mean that in the best way possible.

[jorencain]

Well, I don't know if that's a good or bad thing, but after "Mysterious Skin", I am interested in anything that Araki is doing.

[Antoine Doinel]

It's a good thing.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Oh dear...

Romanek set to prowl with "Wolfman"
By Borys Kit
Thu Feb 8, 1:42 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Music videos veteran Mark Romanek has been hired to bring "The Wolfman" to the big screen.

Benicio Del Toro is attached to star in the remake of the classic Universal Studios monster movie, and will also serve as a producer.

The movie will hew to the period pedigree of the 1941 original, in which a man returns from the U.S. to his ancestral home in Victorian-era Great Britain, gets bitten by a werewolf and begins a hairy moonlight existence.

A fall start is being planned.

Romanek wrote and directed "One Hour Photo," starring Robin Williams. His music video credits include Johnny Cash's "Hurt,"Audioslave's "Cochise" and Fiona Apple's "Criminal."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

[Antoine Doinel]

Reading that, I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.

[DrewReiber]

Universal isn't in the business of making movies unless it's a big CGI monster making lots of noise. At least we were spared Halo.

[Antoine Doinel]

I'm just puzzled as to why Mark Romanek is involved at all, unless after he's done with Wolfman, Universal will green light whatever personal project he has next on his slate.

Does this mean A Cold Case with Tom Hanks is no more?

[Andre Jurieu]

I haven't seen any mention on here of Gregg Araki's new film, "Smiley Face". Here's the trailer.

I love the "Come on, Frank, you know I love surprises" bit.

I love me some Anna Faris and it's nice to see a female-centered pothead movie for once. I don't know about the these-familiar-faces-you-love-from-TV-as-you've-never-seen-them-before aspect of it, but I've watched worse movies for Ms. Faris.

I'm actually mildly enthusiastic about that cast, though the casting of Adam Brody just looks rather shameless and lame. I'm wondering if he constantly high-five's himself on being cast in a Gregg Araki movie.

[flyonthewall2983]

Grace is Gone looks like it could be a winner.

[Cinesimilitude]

Universal isn't in the business of making movies unless it's a big CGI monster making lots of noise. At least we were spared Halo.

Have you any Idea what was involved in the terms of making a Halo movie? It will be made, and It will be amazing, because bungie has made 2 great games, the 3rd is going to be awesome as well, and they wont let it be made until they know its perfect. I can't wait to see the Halo movie.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

From Variety:

Javier Bardem has joined Penelope Cruz in the cast of Woody Allen's upcoming, untitled summer shoot in Barcelona.

As with Cruz, Bardem's role is unknown: Allen, who is currently editing "Cassandra's Dream," has yet to finish the screenplay. But, like Cruz, Bardem has been asked to keep dates free for the summer.

Details of the pic remain sketchy... it will shoot mainly in Barcelona and contains English and some Spanish dialogue. Also, its plot features foreigners in the Spanish city and turns on a love entanglement, Allen has declared.

[Antoine Doinel]

Wow, that pic sounds like it will be amazing. I'm just really impressed that Allen isn't sitting on his laurels and has begun to explore new locations and has greatly expanded his casting horizons.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

From the Guardian:

Frances McDormand has signed up for two films, playing the lead in the period comic novel adaptation Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day, and reuniting with the Coen brothers on the dark comedy Burn After Reading. Miss Pettigrew centres on a governess employed to sort out a nightclub crooner's complicated life. Burn After Reading marks the actor's fifth movie with the film-making siblings Joel and Ethan, whose 1996 comedy Fargo earned McDormand the best actress Oscar. George Clooney will also star in the story about the CIA.

'Sweeney Todd' Starts Principal Photography
Date: February 26, 2007
By: Kellvin Chavez
Source: DreamWorks Pictures

Principal photography has begun in London on "Sweeney Todd"; starring Johnny Depp in the Tim Burton directed screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's award-winning musical thriller.

The DreamWorks Pictures and Warner Bros. co-production presents Depp as Sweeney Todd, a man unjustly sent to prison, who vows revenge not only for that cruel punishment but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, he becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who "shaved the heads of gentleman who never thereafter were heard from again."

"I've always wanted to do a musical and 'Sweeney Todd' is my favorite," said Tim Burton. "Stephen's blend of humor, horror and emotion is something that has always connected with me."

"Sometimes a story or stage production has to wait a long time until the right people come together to turn it into a motion picture," said Stephen Sondheim. "That's what has happened with 'Sweeney Todd' and I'm excited as well as confident that it will be a first-rate and startling movie."

This will be the sixth collaboration between Depp and Burton who worked previously together on Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow. Depp comes fresh from completing the third Pirates of the Caribbean film in the Academy Award nominated role of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Also starring in the Parkes/MacDonald and Zanuck Company production is Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett who creates her diabolical meat pies while becoming Sweeney's amorous accomplice. Alan Rickman is the evil Judge Turpin who sent him unfairly to prison, thereby sowing the seeds of Sweeney's vengeance. Timothy Spall plays the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford. Sacha Baron Cohen is a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli, and Christopher Lee takes on the role of the gentleman ghost.

Rounding out the cast are Jamie Campbell Bowen as the young sailor Anthony, Jayne Wisener as Johanna, Laura Michelle Kelly as the beggar woman, and newcomer Ed Sanders plays Toby.

All the stars will do their own singing from Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics.

The film is produced by Richard D. Zanuck, Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, and John Logan from a screenplay by Logan. The original Broadway production had Sondheim's music and lyrics and a book by Hugh Wheeler based on a play by Christopher Bond. It won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Its mix of the shockingly macabre, comic and dramatic, supported by Sondheim's movie-like score has had hundreds of productions through the world, most recently a highly acclaimed production on Broadway. What once might have been taboo and ghoulish became deliciously entertaining.

Joining Burton at Pinewood to create his vision is director of photography Dariusz Wolski (Pirates of the Caribbean I, II, III), production designer Academy Award winner Dante Ferrati (The Aviator), costume designer two time Academy Award winner Colleen Atwood (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago), hair and make up designer Academy Award winner Peter Owen (The Lord of the Rings), and editor Chris Lebenzon.

From the IMDB:

'LA Confidential' Sparks Two Sequels

The creative team and original stars from cult movie LA Confidential are in talks to re-team for a sequel to the movie, going head-to-head with another sequel starring George Clooney. Director Joe Carnahan is also directing a follow-up to the film based on author James Ellroy's book White Jazz. According to entertainment website Tmz.com, another sequel is being planned by the film's original director Curtis Hanson. Hanson's version wouldn't rely on the plot of White Jazz and would instead pick-up where LA Confidential ended. The sequel would reunite original stars Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kim Basinger, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in LA Confidential.

[exte]

The creative team and original stars from cult movie LA Confidential are in talks to re-team for a sequel to the movie, going head-to-head with another sequel starring George Clooney. Director Joe Carnahan is also directing a follow-up to the film based on author James Ellroy's book White Jazz. According to entertainment website Tmz.com, another sequel is being planned by the film's original director Curtis Hanson. Hanson's version wouldn't rely on the plot of White Jazz and would instead pick-up where LA Confidential ended. The sequel would reunite original stars Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kim Basinger, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in LA Confidential.

I'm not following that at all. Is Curtis Hanson directing Crowe, Pearce and Basinger? Or is he directing Clooney?