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August 24, 2001

Despite a film resume that's about as developed as mine, THE ROCK is a hot commodity in Hollywood these days.  His small supporting role in THE MUMMY RETURNS led to a starring role in the third MUMMY film THE SCORPION KING, which Universal has high hopes for in the summer of 2002.  Now, the wrestling star has to decide which film will be his next starring project.  Will it be an untitled pitch from director Brian Helgeland (A KNIGHT'S TALE, PAYBACK)?  Or will it be the Jan De Bont produced, action-comedy HUNTING BRONZE?  Either way, The Rock will most likely see an increase in his $5.5 million payday for SCORPION and without a starring role under his belt, become on of the most highly paid action stars.

There is no word on the untitled pitch, only that it may not be directed or even written, by Helgeland (who won an Oscar for LA CONFIDENTIAL). BRONZE, however, is described as a MIDNIGHT RUN-esque film where The Rock would play a bounty hunter competing with a corrupt police officials to catch a fugitive. The question still remains, can The Rock carry a film?  I guess we'll just have to wait until next year to see...Meanwhile if anyone wants to put me, JoBlo, Arrow or Drew in a movie, just write to us via the site.  We'll be happy to take your $5 million paychecks or Philly Cheese steak sandwiches...
  

August 24, 2001

Now that Nicolas Cage might be out as the star of GHOST RIDER (might...there is a possibility it could still happen), the actor is taking a look at other projects. One of these projects is STANDING ROOM ONLY, a film that once had John Travolta and director Gus Van Sant attached.  Neither of them are currently involved with the project.  Cage would play lounge singer named Jimmy Roselli, desperately trying to break his connections with the mafia. Travolta was slated to sing his own songs in the film and it is unknown whether Cage would be willing to do the same.  Has anybody asked Bill Murray if he might be interested?
 

August 24, 2001

If you live in Illinois, you might be interested in the following information.  There's an open casting call for teenage boys to star in John Frankenheimer's EXORCIST: DOMINION taking place today.  Here's the information:

WHAT:
Open casting call for the new "prequel" to the classic film THE EXORCIST. The producers of the new "prequel" to the classic film THE EXORCIST are conducting an open casting call. Ideal candidates are African-American boys between the ages of 12-15. Participants will be interviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

WHERE:
Loews Country Club Hills Theatres
4201 W. 167th Street, Country Club Hills, IL

WHEN:
Friday, August 24th, 2001
2:30PM - 5:30PM

The only catch is that if you get hired, you have to provide JoBlo.com with an exclusive report of your experience on the set, complete with photos.  Deal?
 

August 24, 2001

Dustin Hoffman will play a sports psychologist in his next film, HEAD CASE, which he is currently developing with New Line Cinemas.  The comedy will have Hoffman counseling a troubled male tennis player currently at the top of his game.  The star just wrapped the drama BABY'S IN BLACK and is currently prepping his directorial debut, PERSONAL INJURIES. No director has been mentioned in connection with HEAD CASE but the script was written by David Wiger.
 

August 24, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• The SCOOBY-DOO website is up for business...sort of. There's not much to look at but you can check it out all the same here
• A promotional image for THE MATRIX RELOADED was scanned and sent in to Ain't It Cool News and you can check it out here
• Check out the first on-set photo of Adam Sandler from his untitled (???) PT Anderson film here
• There are a couple behind-the-scenes video clips from JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK available for download here

August 23, 2001

There was a rumor reported a few weeks ago that if Steven Spielberg couldn't find a suitable director (meaning one that star Leonardo DiCaprio approved of) for DreamWorks' CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, he would take the job himself.  Well, after Gore Verbinski and Lasse Hallstrom quit and Milos Forman and Cameron Crowe turned down the offer, Spielberg looks set to do exactly that.  Keep in mind that Spielberg has agreed to direct projects before but has eventually bailed. For example, this is a quote from Variety of April 29, 1998:

That being said, I'll bet there's a very good chance that Spielberg will direct this film, simply because if he doesn't, the film will be dead and I don't think he wants that to happen.  4 directors have turned it down and if Spielberg doesn't take it, no one will.  DiCaprio is very selective about which directors he works with and there aren't that many left to chose from after these A-listers. Despite all the turmoil surrounding this film, I'm genuinely excited (even more so now) to see the final result. In fact, I think I'm going to pick up a copy of the book to get myself ready...3
  

August 23, 2001

Dr. Drew, from our very own DVD Clinic, was kind enough to send along word of that new supplemental MATRIX DVD that Warner's is working on.  Here are the details:

Experience the nuts, the bolts, the creative thunder of the cyber-thriller that thrust moviemaking into an astonishing new dimension with never-before-seen footage from the original movie and exclusive reflections by those who lived it. Then go deeper with a look forward into the reality that is unfolding in real time: the sequels simmering to life at hidden locations around the world; an eye-popping first glace into THE MATRIX ANIME - new dimensions that explain more about The Matrix. THE MATRIX REVISITED is the who, what, where, when and wow of a phenomenon that has just begun. It will make you dream in bullet time.

The disc starts off with "What is to Come?" - a behind the scenes featurette from "MATRIX 2", "What is Animatrix?" - a preview of the Matrix Anime, "What is the Matrix.com" - a preview of the upcoming new website, "The True Followers" - interviews with hardcore fans, "The Dance of the Master" - a featurette showcasing the fight choreography of Wu Ping, "The Bathroom Fight and Wet Wall" - a scene study with BTS footage, "But Wait, There's More" - a music montage with never before seen footage from "THE MATRIX". The disc will also contain extensive DVD-ROM content and four easter eggs labeled "Chase in the Alley", "The Woman in Red", "Gun Training" and "Juke Box".

THE MATRIX REVISITED will be released on November 20th (just in time for the holidays) and will be priced at a mere $19.99.

Got a DVD scoop?  E-Mail Drew at the Clinic
 

August 23, 2001

Live in the New York metropolitan area?  Are you a fan of Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson, the team who brought you RUSHMORE and BOTTLE ROCKET?  Does Gwyneth Paltrow wearing too much mascara turn you on?  If you answered yes to all of those questions, not only are you just like me, but you'll be happy to know that THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS will make its premiere at the 2001 New York Film Festival this fall.  The festival features other films from "indie" filmmakers like Richard Linklater and Todd Solondz and runs from September 28th to October 14th.  I know what you're saying:  "Stop jerking me around, Joey!  How can I get tickets!!"  Easy, there tiger. Here's the ticket info:

"The box office for the Festival will open at Alice Tully Hall [at Lincoln Center in New York] at noon on September 9. Tickets are $14 for regular screenings; $20 for the Centerpiece; and $30 for Opening and Closing Nights. Special event screenings have various ticket prices. Please contact the New York Film Festival Box Office, at 212/875-5050, for additional information." [at Lincoln Center in New York] at noon on September 9. Tickets are $14 for regular screenings; $20 for the Centerpiece; and $30 for Opening and Closing Nights. Special event screenings have various ticket prices. Please contact the New York Film Festival Box Office, at 212/875-5050, for additional information."

You can bet your sweet ass that I'll be there (just in case you can't make it) and I'll make sure to bring you all the scoop on what's going down.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll catch a glimpse of Gwyneth.......
 

August 23, 2001

The folks at Revolution Studios were so impressed with an early cut of Antoine Fuqua's upcoming film TRAINING DAY (starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke) that they up and offered the guy the directorial gig on MAN OF WAR with Bruce Willis attached to star.  In the film, Willis will star (alongside the lovely Monica Bellucci) as a military leader sent into the African jungle on a rescue mission. The film is currently set to begin production early next year.  Before taking on TRAINING DAY, Fuqua directed the Jamie Foxx action/comedy BAIT.  In fact, while out promoting that very movie, JoBlo was able to sit down with Antoine and shoot the shit. Take a read of his interview to see what he had to say.
 

August 23, 2001

Will Smith has decided to use his A-list fame to get his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith work in Hollywood.  First, he had her cast alongside him in Michael Mann's ALI and now he's producing a remake of the 80s comedy 9 TO 5 (originally starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman) to star his lovely wife.  Basically it will be the same film as the original except, as The Hollywood Reporter so bluntly put it: "The new version will feature three black women at a black workplace." To be fair, Jada is getting work without the help of her more famous husband. She's starring in both MATRIX sequels as Niobi, former love interest of Laurence Fishburne's Morpheus.
 

August 23, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Sony has announced that their film version of RESIDENT EVIL will be released on April 5th
• Download two different behind-the-scenes clips from BLADE 2, one in QuickTime format here and another in Real format here
• Julius Funkenstein is preparing to sit down with screenwriter Ross LaManna (RUSH HOUR) and is looking for some cub reporters to submit some questions. According to Jules, the best question will receive a special prize (I have no idea...).  Send your questions to juliusfunkenstein@hotmail.com
• Is independent film more your style?  Then you might be interested in the New York Independent Film Festival taking place this September. For ticket information you can call 1-866-468-7619

August 22, 2001

David Goyer (BLADE, DARK CITY) will write a script for a third BLADE film as the first part of a development deal with New Line Cinema that will eventually lead to directing.  There was no mention as to whether Goyer might possibly direct the third film but he did say that "After BLADE 3, I'm done writing for other directors", which would lead me to believe he is not. Goyer's directorial debut, ZIG-ZAG, impressed studio execs because of its departure from his previous work.  The film, starring Wesley Snipes, Natasha Lyonne and John Lequizamo, revolves around a mentally challenged boy with an abusive father.  So what might be the writer's next directorial task?  He is looking at adapting either Neil Gaiman's MURDER MYSTERIES for Miramax or Marvel Comics' DR. STRANGE.  BLADE 2: BLOODLUST (also written by Goyer) recently wrapped filming in Prague, with Guillermo Del Toro taking over for original director Stephen Norrington, and will open next March.
 

August 22, 2001

Samuel L. Jackson is negotiating to star in TICK TOCK as a amnesiac who can't remember where he (or if he...) hid a series of timebombs in Los Angeles.  Jennifer Lopez has already agreed to co-star as the FBI agent working with the man to help him unlock his memory.  The film was originally to be directed by TRAINSPOTTING's Danny Boyle but after he left the project, Stephen Norrington (BLADE) stepped in.  As you may remember from yesterday's report, Norrington leaped to this project from the delayed GHOST RIDER and as a result may have caused Nicolas Cage to jump ship as well.  Although I haven't read the script, I would imagine this is the type of role that would be perfect for Sam Jackson.  However, I just can't picture Jennifer Lopez as an FBI agent.  That was my major problem with Steven Soderbergh's OUT OF SIGHT. Every time I see Ms. Lo, I just picture that diva dancing around in crazy get-ups and singing terrible songs.  Hey, maybe she'll surprise me...
 

August 22, 2001

While out and about promoting JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (in theaters this Friday), Kevin Smith spoke with Entertainment Weekly and gave some more insight on his follow up to the aforementioned film.  Smith had previously mentioned that he was going to do "a CHASING AMY-like drama" but who knew it would be similar in tone and in cast?   Apparently Ben Affleck, Jason Lee and Joey Lauren Adams will all return for Smith's first non-Askewniverse film, an untitled drama about a couple (Adams and Affleck) raising their first child.  It isn't yet known what role Lee will play in the film or whether Smith's daughter (2 year old Harley Quinn) will star as the young child.  Pay close attention as Kevin makes the media rounds in the coming days to see if he makes any more mention of his next film.  And if anyone reads this early enough, Kevin will be appearing on the Howard Stern show on Wednesday morning, so call up and ask him yourself!
 

August 22, 2001

I saw the trailer for CHEATERS a few weeks ago and I was impressed by what I saw.  A neat teen comedy that isn't completely about gross-out jokes, tits and ass...very John Hughes-esque.  It basically features a cast of unknowns but from what the trailer shows, there are a lot of potential leading ladies in the cast.  'Honest Abe' is back and he shares his mixed/no spoiler thoughts on CHEATERS:

Having just seen the poster last week, I woke up this morning to find this sitting on my desk.  Well, let me start off by saying.....twas a noble attempt.  Essentially this is about a clique of friends who have cheated their way from grade school all the way to their senior year of high school.  The principal is on to them but has yet to be able to catch them in the act.  I will admit that the boys have some interesting ways of cheating as well as providing helpful tips and tricks to us, the audience.  The problem is the execution.  There were moments where the script was just getting good, and then it would shift focus.  What you would expect from something like this is a huge major cheat, one last super-duper stick it to the administration type of cheat.  The kind that becomes legendary.  Well.....doesn't happen here.  The payoff just doesn't occur like we'd want it to.  For me, there's several comparisons to FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF.  The administration is Ed Rooney and the boys, Ed in particular are their own little Ferris' wannabes.  Everyone knows them and worships them and comes to them to get out of a jam.  It's not bad and I haven't seen the trailer yet (which a friend of mine saw on Sunday).  So based on the script, bottom line:  I think I'll pass.  Just not enough here to merit my money.

Download the CHEATERS trailer here
 

August 22, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• You may have seen this reported teaser poster for ATTACK OF THE CLONES popping up at various sites around the web. Coming Soon was able to get a comment from a Fox rep that said (no surprise here) that it wasn't real
• Read an interview with Natasha Henstridge, star of GHOSTS OF MARS, here
• Check out the official site for Jet Li's upcoming film THE ONE (opening November 2nd) here

August 21, 2001

Looks like producer Jon Voight may have jumped the gun when he announced that Nicolas Cage was set to star in GHOST RIDER.  Cage was in fact all set to star (it had gone so far as final negotiations) but director Stephen Norrington realized just how daunting all the pre-production work was going to be.  A 2002 start date no longer seemed feasible and the production was pushed back until 2003. Norrington has since signed on to direct the Jennifer Lopez thriller TICK TOCK in the interim.  Cage, out promoting CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN, spoke about RIDER and said that because of the delays and Norrington's commitment to TICK TOCK, he's dropping out.  "The director went and took another job...we were going to go and I don't know what happened.  So now I'm not doing it."  Cage went on to further distance himself from the project saying, "Maybe that's a good thing." 

So now what?  Should producers can Norrington, search for a new director and hope Cage stays aboard?  Or should they stick with the BLADE director and hope they can find a suitable replacement (Johnny Depp anyone?) with an available schedule?  Either way the status of this project has gone from moving ahead nicely to limbo.  You can rest assured this film will get made one day, but the line-up may look completely different that what we were used to.
  

August 21, 2001

Source: Ain't It Cool News

The movie that everyone and their aunt is waiting for is called OCEAN'S 11, a remake of the old rat pack movie about a casino heist in Las Vegas. The movie stars Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Andy Garcia and Julia Roberts, amongst others. Here is the teaser poster for now:

< click to see full-size >
 

August 21, 2001

Ice Cube is negotiating to star in and produce the film DA UNKNOWN SOLDIER, which was written by Phil Beauman of SCARY MOVIE fame.  The film revolves around a guy who trades places with his military cousin so that he can have a weekend away from the Army to spend time with his wife and kids.   Upon his return he discovers that war has been declared and his cousin sent to fight a battle in a foreign land.  While this does sound like it has potential wackiness, it was described as being a straight "action" flick.  Mr. Cube can be seen this Friday when he stars in GHOSTS OF MARS.
 

August 21, 2001

If I were ever to write a "Joey Baloney FAQ" list (don't worry that's not gonna happen), high atop that list would be "What movies are you looking forward to?" Considering I'm a terrible skeptic, the answer is "not a whole lot." Doing what I do, I hear all kinds of things about movies that ruin them, spoil them and all around make me not want to watch them.  There are a few films however that have managed to pique my curious interest and these make that list of movies I'm looking forward to.  One of those very movies is ADAPTATION, the re-teaming of the BEING JOHN MALKOVICH team of director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman.  BJM was one of my favorite films of 2000 and Spike Jonze has been an obsession of mine since his MTV days of Wax's "California" and Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet."

Now we have Spike back together with Charlie in a film that stars Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep with John Cusack and Catherine Keener in small roles as themselves playing their characters from MALKOVICH (delightfully confusing, ain't it?!). So basically, I'm counting down the days until ADAPTATION hits screens across the US.  Unfortunately, we have no idea when that'll be.  I contacted the fine folks at Sony and asked what the dilly was and I was told that ADAPTATION was pushed back from a fall 2001 release date to an unknown 2002 date.  They weren't even sure when in 2002 but popular opinion is that the film will premiere at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival with its official release date being next summer sometime.  Nothing has been confirmed yet but the fine people at Sony told me they would keep me up to date of any developments.  Until then I'll have to wait for a poster, a teaser, something!!
 

August 21, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• The first picture of the animatronic bears from Disney's THE COUNTRY BEARS is online and you can check out the shot here
• Comics2Film has an exhaustive library of everything related to FAUST, including reviews, interviews and much more.  Check out their goods here and enter our FAUST DVD giveaway here
• In case you hadn't heard or noticed, the Movie of the Week forum has been closed down.  All topics were transferred to Video Capsules so that any ongoing discussions could be continued.

August 20, 2001

Our very own JoBlo was lucky enough to toss a few questions at writer/director Kevin Smith (whose latest film, JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK opens this Friday) and decided to ask him only the more serious queries like:

Would you blow George Lucas if it got you a part in the next Star Wars movie?
What's your take on 69s?
What are you favorite swear words?
And many, many more...

< click on the seal to read JoBlo's interview with Kevin Smith >
  

August 20, 2001

Christina Ricci will step behind the camera for the first time to direct SPEED QUEEN, a movie in which she will also star.  The film is a dark comedy (to which Ricci is no stranger) about a girl relating the story of her cross-country killing spree to a best-selling author while on death row.  There was no mention in the Hollywood Reporter article about who had written the script or who may co-star.  Christina can be seen next in ALL OVER THE GUY opening this Friday in select theaters across the nation.
  

August 20, 2001

Well, if you missed this blockbuster bomb in the theatres, you might want to take a look at it on DVD, when it makes its way onto the shelves on December 4, 2001, in three different editions:

60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition will arrive in a 2-disc set for $29.99. The movie will be presented in ananmorphic widescreen with DTS 5.1 and THX certified DD 5.1 audio. The extras will include an introduction by Michael Bay, a documentary "on the real life Pearl Harbor veterans and their return to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial for the film's premiere," interviews with the cast, and the music video for Faith Hill's There You'll Be.

Pearl Harbor: 60th Anniversary Commemorative Gift Set will be priced at $49.99. In addition to including the 2-discs from the commemorative edition (mentioned above) there will also be a third disc featuring National Geographic Beyond the Movie: Pearl Harbor, which is the same disc that was released back in July. "Also included is National Geographic's 60th Anniversary Commemorative map: one side of the map provides a detailed overview of what happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The other side of the map is an authentic replica of a world map from this time period, displaying political boundaries."

Pearl Harbor: Vista Series will arrive in a 3-disc set for $39.99. This will be an extended Director's Cut of the movie - presented in ananmorphic widescreen with DTS 5.1 and THX certified DD 5.1 audio. In addition to including all of the bonus material included with the commemorative edition (mentioned above) there will be audio commentaries, a making-of featurette, insight into the special effects, historical information, and a memorial art gallery.

< pre-order the PEARL HARBOR dvd here >
     

August 20, 2001

It seems that the live-action version of BATMAN BEYOND has hit one of those speedbumps on its way through pre-production and may be completely dead as a result.  Paul Dini, creator of the animated BATMAN BEYOND series, spoke at a recent convention and revealed that the project is on hold and Warners isn't pursuing the project any further.   Instead they are turning their attention to the BATMAN: YEAR ONE project that will be directed by Darren Aronofsky.  It's probably for the better considering all the BATMAN related films currently in development (YEAR ONE, CATWOMAN, WORLD'S FINEST, BATMAN 5).  BEYOND would have been directed by Boaz Yakin (REMEMBER THE TITANS) and scripted by Dini.
 

August 20, 2001

Before this script review hit my inbox, I have to confess I had never heard of this movie. I knew Denis Leary and Elizabeth Hurley were filming a movie together (partly because of those rumors of an affair) but I had no idea it was named DAWG, which incidentally is a terrible title.  Anyway, here's Honest Abe ready to share with us a bit more information on this project in his positive review with no spoilers. 

Dennis Leary and Elizabeth Hurley team up for a touching comedy.  Yeah right, and monkey's might fly out of my butt!   If you're a fan of Dennis (check out SUICIDE KINGS for a minor but great character he plays) then you'll actually be amused by this flick.  Due to come out I believe next spring, Dennis plays the ultimate womanizer.  He's a smarmy businessman who collects women's phone numbers like I collect star wars figures (cough cough).   Anyways, when a wealthy relative dies, he stands to inherit ONE MILLION dollars but the catch is he must first apologize to 10 women from his past with whom he scored with and dropped like a bad habit.  They must each say "I forgive you".   Enter Liz Hurley.  Never much of a fan of hers until AUSTIN POWERS but she has proved herself quite capable lately.  Here she plays the attorney/executor of the estate and she accompanies Dennis on his whirlwind weekend of apologizing with some hilarious results.  She informs him that the apologies must be sincere and off they go.  After a few loopholes that Dennis exploits, he actually comes around and realizes what a ****head he's been.  Naturally there's a surprise or two (I must be getting dumb because I didn't see either one coming) but I won't ruin it for you here.   It's a cute story with two very capable performs who play well against each other.   Bottom line:  a funny date movie that I would recommend seeing.  Or if you yourself are a dawg, get drunk and go with your other dawgs and laugh your pendejo butts off!  See you there. ARF! ARF!
 

August 20, 2001

I've had a hard time liking Laura Linney ever since THE TRUMAN SHOW (whatta bitch!), but I guess that's just a testament to what a fine actress she is.  I just can't get over the sinking feeling that she IS Meryl Burbank.  Anyway, Linney has signed on to join Kevin Spacey in THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE for director Alan Parker (known for musicals like EVITA, FAME and THE COMMITMENTS).  She will play the murdered best friend of Spacey's David Gale, for which he is wrongfully convicted of the crime.  Nicole Kidman is currently in negotiations to join the production as a journalist who uncovers the truth about Gale and helps set him free.  Doesn't this sorta sound like THE HURRICANE except for the lead character isn't a black boxer?...
 

August 20, 2001

At first glance, it certainly doesn't sound like the kind of topic that'd have studios clammoring over scripts, but the popular board game Scrabble has two films in pre-production in Hollywood.  Curtis Hanson (LA CONFIDENTIAL) has optioned the rights to WORD FREAK while Miramax has their Scrabble movie, YOUR WORD AGAINST MINE.  Hanson's film is more of a drama (think SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER) about a obsessive Scrabble competitor, while Miramax's film is a romantic comedy that uses Scrabble competitions as a backdrop for an unlikely romance.  It looks as if the Miramax version may hit screens first considering they've fast-tracked YOUR WORD, while FREAK is still waiting for a return of the third draft.  There was no mention on whether Hanson would direct his version of the film or simply produce.
 

August 20, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Read about some possible casting rumors for the third installment in the AUSTIN POWERS series here
• A couple of really sweet shots from some upcoming movies popped up online this weekend, courtesy of Coming Soon!  Check out stills from PANIC ROOM, MEN IN BLACK 2, and ADAPTATION
• Check out the poster for Robert Redford's THE LAST CASTLE here