Got a scoop...tell us here!
or email Joey Baloney directly here
 

 

< click pic to read full interview >
  

June 29, 2001

So what the heck are you waiting for?!? Only a few days left to enter and we've only had 4 people send in their own original A.I. posters designs thus far. Hullo!?!? You guys/girls could win a $3000 DELL COMPUTER!!! C'mon, zone in on your creativity, pay some dude to draw something cool for you, do something, anything and enter to win!! Did I mention that the winning poster also gets their drawing placed on the official A.I. website? More info here >>

And even if you can't draw, you can still enter your email address to randomly win 10 A.I. prize packs (includes a watch and a poster) that we'll be giving away on Monday. Okay, so we have hundreds of entrants for that one, but ANYONE could win, so check it out.

ENTER THE A.I. CONTEST HERE
(3 days left)
 

June 29, 2001

Well, nobody invited anyone from JoBlo.com to go down to Australia and check out the goings-on the production of SCOOBIE-DOO a while back, but the early word on the Net had been pretty bad about this film. Well, now here's an interview with the writer of the film James Gunn, who says that the filming was completed last week and that the buzz on the Internet is a bunch of shite. Why? "The only draft anyone on the internet I know of has read is the very first draft, completed in a few short weeks. It has been through countless drafts since then - so I don't really think many people CAN criticize the direction of the film -- they really have no idea what direction we've taken". Makes sense to me. 

Read the entire James Gunn interview here
  

June 29, 2001

MINORITY REPORT: Who's directing this movie? Steven Spielberg. Who's starring in this movie? Tom Cruise. 'Nuff said. Now here come some pics from the set of the sci-fi thriller, as well as a set report (click here), courtesy of Dreamworkfansite.com (click pics below to see more on their site):

< click pics to see larger versions and more photos >
  

June 29, 2001

Actress Michelle Yeoh recently spoke to Sci-Fi wire about the idea of a CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON prequel and here's what she had to say about it: "Ang Lee is off to work on 'The Incredible Hulk', and I have started my own production company, and we're in the blitz of pre-production on a movie called The Touch," she says. "At the moment, everybody seems to be over their heads with work, but I've heard that Ang has found a couple of writers, and they're working on another Crouching Tiger film. Until he actually comes out and tells us, though, we're sort of in the dark." She also said that she would like to see her character be a litte less serious and contained in the prequel, with a sense of humor and lightheartedness.
 

June 29, 2001

Not sure how many of you are excited about the sequel to AMERICAN PIE, but I personally am a little hesitant. I really haven't heard much about the film thus far and its trailer didn't do much for me (other than the genius that is Eugene Levy). Anyway, you can check out the trailer yourself here or see the poster for the film below. The second poster is for a thriller entitled JOYRIDE, directed by cool director John Dahl (THE LAST SEDUCTION, ROUNDERS and RED ROCK WEST). The film stars Leelee Sobieski. Paul Walker and Steve Zahn.

< click poster to see bigger version at DH >

< click poster to see bigger version at CA >
  

June 29, 2001

Amid heavy security, actor/director Roberto Benigni started shooting the most expensive Italian film ever in Milan last night. No reporters have apparently been allowed on the $45 million set, which Miramax will be releasing worldwide at the end of 2002. Benigni plays the title role, and his wife, Nicoletta Braschi, plays the Blue Fairy.
 

June 29, 2001

Joey was "on call" for a couple of cool interviews today (you should see them up on our site real soon), so I'm back again with more cheezy news (what can I say, I like some of the gossipy items from time to time...). Anyway, after four years of dating, showing up at events together and just looking real good as a couple, Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt have apparently called it quits. Bratt publicist confirmed the rumors, so I guess something must've happened over the past month or so, since Julia was seen around Montreal last month, hanging out with her honey while he shot ABANDON here with Katie Holmes (oh yeah, and did I mention that I "met" her....? Read more here).
 

June 28, 2001

Shit, what a sad, sad day! Legendary actor Jack Lemmon has died at the age of 76. More details here

Share your thoughts with fellow schmoes here
  

June 28, 2001

Darren Aronofsky and Brad Pitt are toiling away in a basement like mad scientists on their top secret sci-fi film (technically still UNTITLED but rumored to be called THE LAST MAN) and they've recruited one more to be part of their underground society. Cate Blanchett is negotiating with Warner Bros. to join the two as the female lead in their production. Warners has this film at the top of their to-do list and is pushing Blanchett to make this film her next, ahead of Bruckheimer's CHASING THE DRAGON. Wouldn't be interesting if Aronofsky was pulling our leg all along and the "sci-fi" film he was working on was really his BATMAN project...kinda like the old bait and switch? Sounds absurd but it could make sense. Why else would everything be kept so top secret? Granted Brad Pitt is a little old for a YEAR ONE Bruce Wayne, but you just never know.
  

June 28, 2001

Director Martin Campbell, who brought you the big-budget adventure flicks VERTICAL LIMIT and THE MASK OF ZORRO, has signed with Paramount to direct the cat-and-mouse film, PATHFINDER. The film revolves around a military operative who must stop a rogue colleague from going nuts and killing people and blowing stuff up in big elaborate explosions. The script, written by George Nolfi, was actually purchased over five years ago and has drawn the likes of Mel Gibson, Ahnuld Schwarzenegger and Nicolas Cage, all of whom have moved on to other projects. This may push the planned ZORRO sequel back even further (possibly to the point of extinction).
 

June 28, 2001

CHUD is reporting, by way of Now Magazine (whatever that is), that Clive Owen (currently seen all over the web in the BMW Films THE HIRE series) is negotiating to star in the remake of the 60s TV show THE PRISONER. Simon West (TOMB RAIDER, CON AIR) is set to ruin this film with a script by Academy Award winner Christopher McQuarrie (USUAL SUSPECTS, WAY OF THE GUN) who was in talks to direct but moved on to his ALEXANDER THE GREAT project. This could be the big break Owen needs to make a name for himself in the States but with West on his side, he could do more harm than could.
 

June 28, 2001

Peter Berg, former CHICAGO HOPE actor and director of the disappointing VERY BAD THINGS, will direct his own script entitled TRUCK 44. The film has been bouncing around studios for some time now, going from Interscope to USA Films to Universal, before finally settling down at Fox. Samuel L. Jackson had once been attached to star in this drama about New York City firemen who accidentally burn a building down during a botched robbery but is no longer believed to be a part of the project. Production is expected to begin later this year.
 

June 28, 2001

Wolfgang Petersen, who usually takes on such adrenaline heavy action films such as THE PERFECT STORM and AIR FORCE ONE, will produce a comedy entitled WHEN IT COUNTS written by Michael Zaidan. COUNTS follows a young mother who turns to drastic measures to ensure the return of her abducted children. How this is actually funny pretty much escapes me. The script has been compared to OUT OF SIGHT and GET SHORTY, neither of which I found very funny. Maybe I just have a bizarre sense of humor....
 

June 28, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Read more about Haley Joel Osment's cameo in Spielberg's MINORITY REPORT here
• The official site for FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN have posted a few more clips and screenshots that you can download here
• Tom Hanks wants to direct a film version of Arthur Clarke's 3001? Rumor or fact?...you can read for yourself and decide here
• Shots from MINORITY REPORT appeared in US News magazine and they've been posted online here

June 27, 2001

Yup, you heard right. I've returned from my sabbatical down in beautiful southern Florida and ready to dish the latest and greatest in the entertainment biz once again. The weather was so great and the week was so relaxing (sorry JoBlo, Drew, Arrow...hate to rub it in) I almost completely de-stressed so you might notice a kinder, gentler Joey Baloney 'round these parts. Mmmmm, I'm not exactly sure about that but I can promise some pretty cool things in the future here at JoBlo. I won't get into many details *cough*kissofthedragon*cough but I think you'll enjoy it *cough*akiradvd*cough. With all that being said, I'd like to once again thank JoBlo himself for holding up the news fort while I was gone. I must say the old boy did a fantastic job of dusting himself off after all these months and getting back in the reporting game. Hope you didn't miss me too much while I was gone (did anybody even realize?...) and without further adieu here's some news F.T.A. (for that ass).
  

June 27, 2001

Apparently George Clooney has gotten sick of sitting around and waiting for CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND to get off the ground. After financing was pulled by Renaissance Films, the Charlie Kaufmann scripted flick got bogged down in development hell when almost all talent involved (Bryan Singer and Johnny Depp) moved on to bigger and better things. George Clooney (who was attached to play CIA agent Jim Byrd) has decided to take his first step behind the camera to direct CONFESSIONS and save the film from certain death.

Clooney is still scheduled to star as Byrd but no mention of whether Johnny Depp would still be starring as Gong Show host/supposed CIA hitman Chuck Barris. I'm glad to see some life breathed into this production because I think it's going to make a spectacular film once it gets made. I just wish Mike Myers was going to star as Barris cause he would have been dead on perfect for the role. Oh well...
 

June 27, 2001

While on my vacation, I finally got myself to go see SWORDFISH and catch Halle Berry's boobies in all their glory. Good stuff. Halle talked about the scene recently and how she now feels more comfortable taking it off in front of the camera. Berry said "I wouldn't even read scripts that had nudity in them before but now that I've done it I realize that it's actually very easy." Could this mean more topless scenes in the future? Berry doesn't rule the possibility out but we can all hope. Maybe if we're all lucky we can see Storm gettin' down and dirty in X-MEN 2. Nice...
 

June 27, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• If you're planning on seeing FINAL FANTASY you'll be glad to know there will be a teaser for SPIDER-MAN attached exclusively to the film. Want to know what it will include? Read all the juicy details here
• Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise have been cavorting about Washington DC filming scenes for MINORITY REPORT and you can find out all about what was going on here
• Another A.I. review is listed is ready for you to read (although I suggest you wait and see for yourself on Friday) here

June 26, 2001

Not too sure how reliable this story is, but MyMovies.net is reporting that Brad Pitt is set to star in the adaptation of Jack Kerouac's classic tale of the Beat generation entitled ON THE ROAD. Pitt would play a character named Dean Moriarty, based on Kerouac's friend Neil Cassady, while Billy Crudup would also co-star. The film is to be directed by sometimes good director, sometimes hack director, Joel Schumacher, and produced by sometimes great director, sometimes hack director (think JACK, ya'll!), Francis Ford Coppola. Do what you will with this information...
   

June 26, 2001

Keeeewwwwl!! I was one of the many people who went out over the weekend, turned off their brains and had a whole bunch of fun watching THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS, starring Vin Diesel. Of course, for anyone who did see the movie, you know that the ending kinda left an "opening" of sorts for the movie to continue in a sequel, and wouldn't you know it, before the studio could count all of the money that they made over the first weekend, producer Neil Moritz is now reported to have told Variety that talks about "The Fast And The Furious 2" have already begun and that the writers are already skimming over a script. BTW, if you didn't see the "complete ending" of the movie, make sure to stick around until AFTER the closing credits to see whassup with all that!
  

June 26, 2001

Could this dude be the next James Bond? Well, after months of rumors and innuendo (I love that word!), Scottish actor Gerard Butler, better known as the "Dracula dude" from DRACULA 2000 (with an eerie resemblance to 80s singer Richard Marx in that movie!), has offered a bit of real news to add to the fun. Butler said, "I've chatted with Barbara Broccoli and she knows that I'll only do it if Ann Widdecombe can be my Bond girl. She's off thinking about that right now. It's very flattering and I can't say much more than that." This will all be looked into more carefully when Mr. Pierce Brosnan does in fact, decide to leave the throne of 007.

+ = ?

What's the story with this "Ann Widdecombe", you might ask? Well, Richard sent me an email to explain the whole thing: "I was reading the story about Gerard Butler wanting to be the next bond and how he wanted Ann Widdecombe to be his bond girl.....well, Ann is an MP (member of parliament) and is one of the most hideous women you will ever see. In fact, research has yet to prove she is woman. An ugly mid-40's bond girl, I guess it's different! Obviously Gerard Butler has a sense of humour, guess you've got to after being in Dracula 2000/01 (depending when you actually got the damn film)"
  

June 26, 2001

I've always had this love/hate relationship with writer/director/actor Sean Penn. I love the guy because...well, he's just one of the coolest men living on the face of this planet, but I also hate him other times, when he just seems to take himself waaaaaay too seriously (read: gets pretentious). Anyway, his latest trip is to knock DVDs, a "culture" which apparently he knows nothing about. Penn says, "Frankly, I have never watched a DVD. I might have walked by when the kids (his children with actress-wife Robin Wright Penn) were watching some. I wouldn't know how to put them into the machine. But that's just laziness. So I don't have any good answers about the DVD."

Which is his apparent answer to why his most recent production, entitled THE PLEDGE, has nothing more than a trailer and limited cast and crew info on its DVD. In the end, Penn hopes that his film will "speak for itself" and to be honest with you, having seen the movie already...I can't say that it will necessarily "speak to you" on the first go-around. A couple of more viewings (if interested) might clear it all up for you. Either way, Sean Penn ain't a fan of DVDs but I remain a fan of the man still the same (I'm a sucker for coolness, what can I say!).
   

June 26, 2001

You gotta hand it to Disney, give them lemons and by gosh, they're gonna make some lemonade, dammit! Even though Disney's latest animated film ATLANTIS didn't inspire as many people as they would have liked, plans are currently going ahead for an animated spin-off TV series based on the adventure flick. The series, tentatively entitled TEAM ATLANTIS, does not have a set date for broadcast yet, but will apparently feature the return of Cree Summer as the voice of Princess Kida (no, Michael J. Fox ain't coming back!). The series will apparently take Milo, Kida and the crew on adventures outside Atlantis. God oh mighty....you gotta "love" Disney!!
  

June 26, 2001

And just when you thought that you'd heard the weirdest story going, I've just read one about a certain sci-fi ball in England, that is set to unveil a director's cut of last summer's stinker majeure BATTLEFIELD EARTH (according to others, of course... :), with an offer of $700,000 being set to John Travolta just to make an appearance at the convention. A millionaire "fan" of the film (he adores the film because of its utter "atrociousness") will be flipping the bill for John to show up and enjoy the event. They're apparently still waiting for a response from Travolta. So do I get an honorary PASS BANK card just for being the only critic in North America to have been amused by the film? Woo-hoo!! (I think)
   

June 26, 2001

Now this looks like a fun movie! If you have yet to check out the trailer for this kid's film, head on over to JoBlo's Movie Trailers and see what the fuss is all about first. Then, check out the two positive reviews that AICN has already dropped onto their site. The first reviewer says that the film is "..a well-crafted and entertaining mainstream Hollywood movie..." while the second finishes with "Bottom line, if you see "Cats and Dogs" with kids and expect nothing more than a light-hearted, occasionally inspired goofy comedy, you’ll have fun." Read either full review here or here...
 

June 26, 2001

Moviehole is reporting that Eddie Murphy has apparently made one wise career decision (okay, they didn't report that, but that's just my two little cents), by nixing the rumored BEVERLY HILLS COP 4 sequel. While talking to the Sun Times, Murphy said, "I'm not thinking about it right now...", and when they asked Murphy about the rumor of a younger dude replacing him in the flick, Murphy replied, "I'm sure no one would think of doing one of those movies without me!". Uhhhhhhmmmm, yeaaaaah, I guess you're right on that one, Murph....