October 6, 2000

So that's why Mariah's been dressing up in all those skanty outfits for the past few years! She was practicing for her role as WONDER WOMAN in the yet-to-be confirmed movie, that's why! :) That's right, folks, word on the street is that singer/"actress" Mariah Carey is ready to embark on her first major starring role in a film, and yup, it's WONDER WOMAN no less. She's still "in discussions" with producer Joel Silver, so we'll all have to wait and see how it all turns out.
     

October 6, 2000

The Friday the 13th series has decided to "up the ante" on the horror genre. JASON X features nutball Jason Voorhees being sent to space and beginning an all-new chain of terror in the great beyond. The reviewer describes this film as "an insane joke that wants the audience to laugh along." The review is slightly positive, gives you a good overview of the entire plot of the film and does contain some inside joke references/cameos. If you don't want to ruin any part of the film for yourself, do not read the review below.

 Jason X Review (some small spoilers)
      

October 5, 2000

I always loved Danny DeVito's style of directing in films like WAR OF THE ROSES and THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN. Now he's back behind the camera in a film entitled DEATH TO SMOOCHIE, a comedy which is on the brink of signing Robin Williams as its lead. In a funny concept, Williams would play Rainbow Randolph, a Barney-like costumed TV star fired for taking payola and replaced by the clean-cut title character, a blue rhinoceros. Randolph then plots to kill his rhino rival, or actually the clean-cut guy under the fuzzy suit. DeVito will also star in the film. Jim Carrey was initially considering the role before he joined Frank Darabont's BIJOU, and word on the street is that the studio is hip to Ed Norton as the rival Rhino. Filming is to begin in January 2001.
    

October 5, 2000

Okay folks, here is the first test screening review for a film which a lot of people are looking forward to this Christmas called CASTAWAY. The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt. If you're interested in reading this test review, remember that it is NOT a final product yet, and that the review itself is filled with *** MASSIVE SPOILERS ***

Castaway Review (SPOILERS ALERT!!)
    

October 5, 2000

After turning down roles in everything from Steven Soderbergh's TRAFFIC to the next Jack Ryan film SUM OF ALL FEARS, actor Harrison Ford seems to have decided on his next film project. He has chosen to play the captain of a Soviet submarine whose crew attempts to "keep the payload of their nuclear vessel from meltdown". The film, entitled K-19, is set to begin production in February 2001, with Kathryn Bigelow at the helm. She directed STRANGE DAYS and was one of the many women once married to the king of all directors, James Cameron.
   

October 5, 2000

Jet Li is going to star in director James Wong's (FINAL DESTINATION) next film entitled simply THE ONE, written by Wong and partner Glen Morgan (both ex-X-Files writers). Wrestling star The Rock was initially attached to the project, but he went on to sign with THE SCORPION KING, a film based on the character he portrays in THE MUMMY 2. THE ONE is about a cop who must fight his evil double from a parallel universe to save himself and the world. The film is set to start shooting in January 2001 with a tentative August 2001 release.
     

October 5, 2000

Alec Baldwin will make his directorial debut in a contemporary retelling of the classic tale THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER, starring himself and Anthony Hopkins as Daniel Webster. Set in New York City's literary world, Jabez Stone (Baldwin) makes a deal with the devil to become a best-selling author in exchange for his soul after 10 years. The ten years slip by like hours, and then the author must implore the help of Webster, the head of the most powerful publishing firm in New York, to get him out of the deal. In a battle of wits and words, the devil and Webster go to trial over the author's soul. The role of the devil, who is a woman, has not yet been cast. The film is slated to begin production in January 2001 with a budget near $25 million.
     

October 2, 2000

The early word on the street is that actor Gary Oldman is due to receive an Oscar nomination for his role in the upcoming October 12th drama THE CONTENDER. If anybody deserves it, it is definitely Gary. But having said that, Oldman is apparently not doing any print interviews for the film and will only do TV interviews if they are live. Director Rod Lurie explains, "Gary feels he's been burned too much and too badly in the past...he is protecting himself from being edited to suit the agenda of certain interviewers."

Lurie went on to admit that Oldman was not his first choice for the role of the scheming congressman. "We had a $9.8-million US budget for The Contender. Gary commands at least $6 million a picture, so I didn't allow myself to consider him." And once on board, Lurie didn't even have an opportunity to discuss the look or attitude of the character with Oldman. "Gary arrived on set in complete makeup and character. No one recognized him. The security guard tried to bar him from the set."
  

October 2, 2000

Tim Burton's next project, initially entitled PLANET OF THE APES and now THE VISITOR, has added a new cast mate. This time it's actor/director Spike Jonze, director of BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, who will apparently play a sympathetic chimpanzee who befriends the human hero of the film, Mark Wahlberg, who played Jonze's best friend in THREE KINGS and apparently suggested him for the part.
    

October 2, 2000

Well, not exactly, but heavy metal group Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has written his first movie screenplay entitled THE CHEMICAL WEDDING, about a scientist who attempts to attain the powers of occult master Aleister Crowley. Monty Python funny man Terry Jones' production company will begin production on the project very soon, while Iron Maiden, the band, will record the movie's soundtrack. The Who's Malcolm McDowell and Roger Daltrey have been mentioned as possible cast members.
   

October 2, 2000

Vince Vaughn is in negotiations to join John Travolta in the thriller DISTURBANCE, about a divorced father (Travolta) who discovers that his 11-year-old son's new stepfather (Vaughn) is not what he made himself out to be. Travolta's character sets out on a mission to rescue his son from a life-threatening situation. Director Harold Becker (CITY HALL) will helm the project, which is set to begin shooting in North Carolina on January 15. 
   

October 2, 2000

Most people either love Drew Barrymore or hate Drew Barrymore and her decision to take on the title role of BARBARELLA in a film "inspired" by the 1968 classic starring Jane Fonda, is sure to reinforce that polarization. Barrymore will also co-produce the film, fresh off her stint in the big screen adaptation of TV's CHARLIE'S ANGELS. She will apparently give a new spin to the sci-fi sexpot, with the film being described as "sci-fi meets the Woody Allen sex comedies of the 1970s". The storyline will follow the adventures of a naive woman (Barrymore) who uncovers the secret behind her tiny planet's good fortune and finds herself leading a revolution. Screenwriter John August, who wrote GO and co-wrote CHARLIE'S ANGELS, is attached to pen the project.