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18 articles from 2008

4 October 2008 8:32 AM, PDT | From Cinematical.com | See recent Cinematical news

Somehow I missed this on Thursday, but apparently so did everyone else, since I didn't see it linked anywhere. Roger Ebert was hanging out at a post-production studio in Chicago, watching the restored new print of The Godfather, when he was unexpectedly joined by Larry and Andy Wachowski, the famously inaccessible duo behind The Matrix, Speed Racer, and (people forget) Bound. Afterward, he got a chance to chat with them -- not in a conventional interview setting, complete with a hovering publicist (the brothers don't do that, remember?), but over a beer.

Ebert was impressed with the "zillionaires": "Nice people. Friendly. No Hollywood attitude." He writes that "[t]he blogosphere paints them as mysterious recluses, which may add to the legend but doesn't match the reality." But their being nice and friendly doesn't make them any less mysterious and reclusive: I'd wager that Ebert only ran the piece because of

Eugene Novikov

4 October 2008 6:36 AM, PDT | From firstshowing.net | See recent FirstShowing.net news

Die hard fanatics of The Matrix know that filmmakers Larry and Andy Wachowski haven't ever spoken to the press since 1999, when Matrix first premiered. Its been nine years and they still haven't broken their anti-press stance, remaining absent during Speed Racer promotions. However, our favorite critic-turned-blogger Roger Ebert randomly ran into the brothers after a screening of a newly restored print of The Godfather (which was re-released recently) and spoke to them officially for the first time in years. He describes them as: "Nice people. Friendly. No Hollywood attitude. The blogosphere paints them as mysterious recluses, which may add to the legend, but doesn't match the reality." If anyone's curious, Ebert's recount of the evening is a fascinating read. He mainly quotes their discussion about The Godfather and specifically cinematographer Gordon Willis' use of shadows and light. Cinephiles should be in utter awe just reading about one film legend's

Alex Billington

3 October 2008 1:24 AM, PDT | From cinemablend.com | See recent Cinema Blend news

Larry and Andy Wachowski are notoriously elusive. They don't do press for any of their movies, in fact they don't talk to anyone or show up anywhere, at least not on the record. They don't do pictures either, and outside of a couple of paparazzi shots floating around out there, the general public has not seen or heard from them in person for well, many, many years. The last real Wachowski Brothers interview I could find after a spin around Google, took place in 1999. They did step out of the shadows for one moment though, and it happened on Roger Ebert's watch. The brothers responsible for The Matrix, V for Vendetta, and... unfortunately, Speed Racer crawled out of their cave (wherever it is) and talked to America's most venerable film critic. If they were only going to talk to one person... I'm glad it was Roger Ebert. It wasn't

2 October 2008 7:05 AM, PDT | From Popsugar.com | See recent Popsugar news

Fresh from a weekend on the set of Yes Man, Jim Carrey went out with Jenny McCarthy for AFI's Night At The Movies presented by Target in La. They weren't the only stars out for the red carpet — Keanu Reeves kept it typically dark while Cameron Diaz had that in love smile on her face though no hot Paul by her side. Plus at the end of those long legs were some adorable polka dot shoes. The event included simultaneous screenings of 12 classic American movies with introductions from their stars — Jim went on stage to talk about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Keanu for The Matrix, Cameron for There's Something About Mary and on and on from Dustin Hoffman to Mike Meyers. Sounds like a perfect way to take in a Wednesday night at the movies taking a walk down memory lane joined by some of the world's biggest stars.

Molly

22 September 2008 11:21 PM, PDT | From Rope Of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news

Speed Racer was a disaster in theaters and it is an even bigger one on DVD/Blu-ray. Watching Warner Bros.' Blu-ray release at home almost proved to be an impossibility. Why? At least in the movie theater the sensory overload was so all-encompassing it somewhat dulled the film's numerous structural failures. In the comfort of my living room, devoid of all the bells, whistles and an obnoxious preview audience directors Larry and Andy Wachowski's labor of love was stripped of all its distractions, the emptiness of the script and the colossal unfocused nature of it all suddenly front and center for everyone to see. While this is supposed to be a movie about flashy visuals and heartfelt family values, what it all adds up to is a disaster that's as perplexing and annoying as it is sometimes difficult to take your eyes off of (at least as long

Sara Michelle Fetters

22 September 2008 7:25 PM, PDT | From The Hollywood News | See recent The Hollywood News news

Samuel L. Jackson revealed to MTV Movie Blog that THE MATRIX star Carrie-Anne Moss has joined the cast of his next film, UNTRACEABLE.

.It.s about a guy who.s planted three nuclear devices in three different cities in America, and we.re trying to find out where they are.. The LAKEVIEW TERRACE star said.

Jackson will play a Black-Ops interrogator in the film, which is being directed by Gregor Jordan (BUFFALO SOLDIERS).

.Since there are so many rules about how you can and can.t interrogate people, they bring my character in,. Jackson added. .[I.m the person] who.s willing to cross that line to find out what they need to know..

12 September 2008 12:22 PM, PDT | From ScreenRant.com | See recent Screen Rant news

MTV News has been doing a dutiful job trying to keep up with all the wayward fragments of the shattered Justice League movie, like keeping tabs on the Wonder Woman movie, which has been sitting snuggly in the lap of producer Joel Silver (The Matrix) for some time now.

According to MTV, Silver, like the man with his finger on the big red button, had been thinking of handing Wonder Woman over to the Wachowski Bros. (The Matrix). Thankfully, El Mayimbe from Latino Review were able to deflate this troubling rumor, while we here at Screen Rant looked into what’s really going on with big-screen adaptation of America’s favorite Amazon.

According to the rumor mill, fantasy guru Josh Whedon was working on a script for Wonder Woman, but quit the project when producers Joel Silver and Leonard Goldberg decided to go with a WWII-centered script by relatively unknown scribes,

Kofi Outlaw

11 September 2008 9:03 AM, PDT | From QuietEarth.us | See recent QuietEarth news

So word around the Qe water cooler this morning is that a certain Chinese actor we've not seen shine on the silver screen for quite some time will be sliding into the role of Beggar Su, a character last played by the legendary Donnie Yen in Heroes Among Heroes. Yep, seems martial artsman Yuen Wo Ping (The Matrix) has managed to coax TV actor, Zhao Wen Zhuo, to bring the legendary beggar back to the big screen in what is being called a remake of the above mentioned 1993 flick Heroes among Heroes. In fact, according to the good people at wu-jing production on the film has quietly begun in the suburbs of Beijing. Besides being Wen Zhuo's first film since 2001's Sino-Dutch War 1661, Beggar Su marks Wo Ping's first directorial effort in almost a decade. All things considered we'll defintley be keeping and eye on this one.

5 September 2008 10:43 AM, PDT | From The Hollywood News | See recent The Hollywood News news

Denzel Washington has signed on the dotted line to star in the Hughes brothers' new film, the post-apocalyptic drama Book Of Eli.

The movie, which Warner Brothers will distribute, revolves around a lone hero, played by Washington, in a not-too-distant apocalyptic future who must fight across America to bring society the knowledge that could be the key to its redemption.

This is a Joel Silver movie, the guy responsible, most recently for producing Guy Ritchie's new film Rocknrolla. His other features include The Matrix trilogy and Demolition Man.

Washington has just wrapped the remake of The Taking Of Pelham 123 alongside John Travolta. That film is directed by Tony Scott and hits theaters in 2009.

24 August 2008 1:03 PM, PDT | From Cinematical.com | See recent Cinematical news

Filed under: Horror, Warner Brothers, Remakes and Sequels

Dark Castle Entertainment is an odd little beast of a production outfit. Headed by uber-producer Joel Silver (Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, The Matrix), the company originally focused on horror remakes (House on Haunted Hill, House of Wax) and originals (Gothika, The Reaping). More recently they branched out to a wider variety of material (Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla, Dominic Sena's Whiteout). Their next two projects, however, will be solidly horror-based.

ShockTilYouDrop reports that All Cheerleaders Die, a horror-comedy, and "another chapter in the House on Haunted Hill saga," possibly a prequel, are under development. No writers or directors are signed at this point. Evidently the company is also mulling over other sequels to properties they developed at Warner Brothers.

In October 2006, Dark Castle entered into an agreement with finance company Cit whereby Cit would finance 15 feature films over six years with a

Peter Martin

26 July 2008 3:27 AM, PDT | From Rope Of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news

Photo: 20th Century Fox I haven't taken a look to see what other websites are saying about the Max Payne portion of Fox's Comic Con panel on Thursday, July 24, but you can consider me completely unimpressed. Dollied out for the presentation were director John Moore and stars Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and the panel was moderated by producer Erwin Stoff. Stoff began the panel quoting Moore saying what he believed to be the best description of what a film adaptation of Max Payne really is. He said, "John [Moore] put it best when he said 'It's not minimum pain, it's not medium pain, it's Max Payne.'" Sorry, but cheese dick taglines like that sound gimmicky every time you hear them. Following a bit of banter they previewed the first clip from the film, which looks like it may be the opening of the film as Wahlberg as the title character,

Brad Brevet

24 July 2008 12:16 PM, PDT | From ScreenRant.com | See recent Screen Rant news

This post will be updated continuously during the panel.

For the Fox panel Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connolly and director Scott Derrickson are on hand to talk about The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Derrickson directed the most excellent Emily Rose. He touched on the concerns over remaking a classic film and how much he enjoys and respects the original. He thinks it’s a good idea to revisit the concept using modern day issues.

They will be showing a few clips.

The scene was an extended version of the interrogation shown in the trailer. This version of Klaatu is not docile and non-violent - in the scene he takes over the interrogator, delivering an electrical shock and controls his mind in order to get info so he can escape.

Keanu stated that his take on the role was to be an objective observer as the alien.

Derrickson says that the

Vic Holtreman

19 May 2008 5:08 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

The Matrix star Laurence Fishburne is set to bring best-selling book The Alchemist to the big screen - directing and starring in a new Hollywood adaptation.

Fishburne has teamed up with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein to get the $60 million (GBP30 million) project into production.

The tome, by Paul Coehlo, which has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 67 languages, focuses on the story of a shepherd boy who travels across the Egyptian desert in search of treasure, but meets an alchemist who teaches him the meaning of life.

And Weinstein believes the movie's themes could help heal rifts between the Western world and the Middle East.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, he says, "It is a book I have been truly inspired by and I have agreed to personally produce it. The Alchemist is simple and spiritual, and the screenplay will reflect that. The book means so much to people on a spiritual level yet there is also a great love story in it. It is an incredibly moving, emotional story.

"I think this story will act as a bridge to the Middle East. In the Middle East, the book has been an overwhelming success. That is a world that we need to know more about an extend a bridge to. This movie could be a healer in that region, bringing the West and the East together, especially the Middle East."

Fishburne is set to play the alchemist of the title, and Weinstein is keen to cast Penelope Cruz in his latest project: "One way or another I'm finding a part for Penelope Cruz."

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8 May 2008 10:30 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

The Cannes Film Festival announced plans on Wednesday to pay tribute to Warner Bros. on the studio's 85th anniversary by screening a classic movie from the studio's archives during each night of the festival. The festival said that it will also premiere film critic Richard Schickel's documentary, You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story, narrated by Clint Eastwood, as well as a night of Looney Tunes shorts. The tribute begins with a screening of Mervyn LeRoy's 1932 I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang and ends with 1999's The Matrix. Somewhat surprisingly, the film series does not include a screening of The Jazz Singer, the first sound film, produced in 1927 and starring entertainer Al Jolson.

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2 May 2008 6:35 AM, PDT | From Digitalspy | See recent digitalspy news

Rick Yune has been cast in Ninja Assassin, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The martial arts film focuses on a man who is brought up in an orphanage used to train ninjas. When the protagonist (Korean actor-singer Rain) turns his back on the tradition, he clashes with another member of the clan, played by Yune.

Ninja Assassin will be directed by James McTeigue. The Matrix's Larry and Andy Wachowski are producing along with Joel Silver.

"Not . . .

Simon_Reynolds_imdb_@digitalspy.co.uk (Simon Reynolds)

28 April 2008 4:06 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

Movie star Laurence Fishburne hates Hollywood's celebrity culture - insisting his counterparts are too consumed by the limelight to make intelligent decisions that keep them out of trouble.

Fishburne claims too many stars are more interested in making headlines than making great films, because their stardom is so celebrated.

He says, "I live mostly on the West Coast, where people treat me like I just stepped off the movie screen in The Matrix. People think of me as a celebrity. What's bad about that is, if you're a celebrity, everybody wants to celebrate you.

"Celebrities are more interested in talking about who they are. I don't think I'm that interesting, but I love what I do. You have to make a choice to be levelheaded. When you're in my position, it's easy to make a wrong turn and wind up on (website) Tmz.com."

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2 April 2008 9:15 AM, PDT | From PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news

Move over, Justin. Jessica Biel has found a new No. 1 fan in Christina Ricci. The 5-foot-tall actress – who had to fill out a pair of barely-there hot pants for her upcoming role in Speed Racer, directed by The Matrix's Andy and Larry Wachowski – is full of praise for Biel's famously fit physique. "I asked my trainer, 'Can you give me Jessica Biel's butt?'" the actress – who starred with Biel's beau Timberlake in last year's Black Snake Moan – tells the U.K. edition of Elle. "I want a bigger butt." Alas, because of her tiny frame, "they said I couldn't,

7 March 2008 9:29 AM, PST | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

Soccer star-turned-movie tough guy Vinnie Jones is the frontrunner to land the lead in Guy Ritchie's movie adaptation of his The Gamekeeper comic book series.

Jeff Parker, the acclaimed writer, who has helped turn the director's strong and silent hunter, Brock, into a comic book hit, is keen for Jones to take the lead in the film Ritchie is making with The Matrix mogul Joel Silver.

Parker says, "Vinnie Jones would be perfect. He has such presence and, in every movie I've seen him in, I can't wait for him to show up."

And the writer also has another Brit in mind to play The Gamekeeper's villain, who leads a gang of assassins, called The Soccer Club.

He adds, "I just keep thinking about Terence Stamp. He'd be perfect."

But Parker admits Ritchie is refusing to reveal anything about the casting of the movie, which went into pre-production last year.

If the writer's casting dreams come true it won't be the first time Jones and Ritchie have teamed up - the Gone In 60 Seconds star had roles in the director's Snatch and Lock, Stock + Two Smoking Barrels.

Jones also shares something else with Ritchie - both stars are country gents with tough images, just like the lead character the director and Jeff Parker have created.

The plot of the film revolves around Brock's efforts to escape his violent and mysterious past as the caretaker of a small Scottish estate of Glen Morgan.

The first series of the Virgin comic book has been a big success and Parker has just completed work on a second series with Star Wars and Star Trek artist Ron Randall.

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18 articles from 2008