Writer-director Paul Haggis has been working on quality projects throughout his entire career, so anytime he dips his hand into a new one, my ears perk up.
Early in his career he worked on TV, on solid shows such as "thirtysomething" and "LA Law," before breaking out big time by writing the features "Million Dollar Baby" and "Crash," which was one of the most polarizing Best Picture winners in recent memory. The film about a diverse group of people from Southern California pulled no punches in its focus on race, and either you were a big fan of the story or felt it was way to melodramatic to be a winner.
Personally, I was a fan of the film, especially how Haggis was able to bring the characters together and paint an honest portrait of the difficulties people can face. With that in mind, its welcome news to hear from The Los Angeles Times that Haggis is set to work on another ensemble drama along the same lines as "Crash."
Titled "Third Person," the story will follow three different couples living in different countries. This time around, his film explores issues of romance rather than race. To allow for a deeper exploration of each character, the film will follow only the three storylines rather than the six or so employed in "Crash."
Haggis wants to do a serious story about modern relationships set against scenic locales, two of which will be New York City and Rome. The tone will be much darker than current romance ensembles such as the comedy "Valentine's Day," and one of the characters will be a writer.
Haggis hasn't taken the project to a studio yet and hopes to do the project without one, but either way, this will be an award contender once the time comes. After seeing the cast he assembled for "Crash," Haggis should have no trouble attracting stars to this project.
Haggis has shown that he is apt at capturing the reality of romance and relationships including in "Crash" and also on the film "The Last Kiss." No matter who ends up being cast in the film, it seems as if Haggis has another winning idea on his hands.
Hip-hop and music fans could argue till the end of time about where "gangsta rap" really originated from, but one thing that is certain in the debate is that KRS-One was heavily involved in the process.
When Kris Parker (KRS-One) met social worker Scott Sterling (Scott La Rock) while homeless and staying at a group home, neither could have known how far their collaboration would go, and the impact on the game they would leave. After running into each other a few weeks later the two eventually formed a crew, later recruiting D-Nice as well.
Originally comprised of the trio (KRS-One, D-Nice and DJ Scott La Rock), Boogie Down Productions helped lay down the foundation of what would become true gangsta rap on their debut album, "Criminal Minded".
Released on March 3, 1987, the album was controversial for many reasons, including the cover of the album, which showed Parker and Sterling surrounded by an arsenal of weapons, and was hip-hop’s first major release to feature members holding firearms. While this is significant, what's even more important were the blunt, realistic descriptions of life in the South Bronx.
The album is filled with some amazingly crafted tracks, including "South Bronx", "9mm Goes Bang", "The Bridge Is Over", "Criminal Minded", and "Poetry". And although there's some matter of dispute over who the true musical architect of the album was (some say Ced Gee of the Ultramagnetic M.C.'s was a "ghost producer" on the album) there's no disputing that it was a game-changer.
"Poetry" is the opening track on the album, and on top of just showing the pure rhyming skills of KRS-One the track emphatically sets the tone for the rest of the album. In our current 'playlist' era many fans forget that in the past some artists actually wanted people to listen to tracks in a certain order---this was one of those times. He rhymes about how hip-hop is poetry and I think KRS-One sums things up perfectly when he spits "If this meaning doesn't manifest put it to rest/I am a poet."
He spits one of the best verses on the entire album as he raps: "So tell me what is this?/See I come from the Bronx so just kiss this/Boogie Down Productions is somewhat an experiment/The antidote for sucka MC's and they're fearin it/It's self-explanatory, no one's writin for me/The poetry I'm rattlin is really not for battling/But if you want I will simply change the program/So when I'm done you will simply say 'damn'."
One of my personal favorite tracks is "Word From Our Sponsor," which I think is an underrated piece on the album. The group does an excellent job of being honest about the hood mentality, bringing together the culture of the system with an ethical code of the streets.
There's another fantastic verse on the track, perfectly illustrating where the group is coming from and what they stand for: "So go ahead and consume/A new era, KRS-One comes better/Bite another lyric? Never/Cos I'm too clever, however/ I own my own label/Partners with Scott LaRock, he's on the turntable/And partner Lee Smith/I'm exercising a true gift just to uplift."
The most recognizable track on the album is probably "The Bridge is Over", but it's also one of the best. The group gained some notoriety for their feud with MC Shan, Marley Marl, the Juice Crew and rappers from Queens, and this track is considered to be a diss song classic, aimed at that crew.
The beat is great, and the simple chorus of "I say, the bridge is over, the bridge is over, biddy-bye-bye!/The bridge is over, the bridge is over, hey, hey!/The bridge is over, the bridge is over, biddy-bye-bye!/The bridge is over, the bridge is over" is one of the most recognizable of all-time.
The track is filled with memorable lines, my personal favorite being: "Tell them again, me come to te-ell them/Manhattan keeps on makin it, Brooklyn keeps on takin it/Bronx keeps creatin it, and Queens keeps on fakin it."
One thing that makes the track so unique is how the group gives a slight nod to Billy Joel, with the song's lyrics at the end set to the tune of the famous song "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me." The track is one of the group's most significant, and one of the best out there.
In 1987, things were on the cusp, and "Criminal Minded" represented a seismic shift in hip-hop and illustrated a blueprint for the genre’s next decade. Basically it established the prototype for East Coast gangsta rap, and its effects can still be felt today. Sadly, DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, months after the release of the debut album, and ironic twist of fate for the group and the album.
Either way the album was a benchmark in hip-hop, and is most assuredly a classic.
I have only seen bits and pieces of the original "Tron" film, and I'm still pumped as hell to check out this movie. Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Sheen, and Olivia Wilde with Daft Punk scoring the soundtrack? Count me in.
And all the trailers have been effing dope. Especially this new one:
"TRON: Legacy" beams into theaters December 17, 2010.
The financial saga and uncertain future of MGM and James Bond continues, but perhaps not for much longer.
With the studio finally having officially having filed for bankruptcy in preparation for its next phase of existence, MGM has begun making big plans for the return of James Bond, according to Bloomberg News.
The studio plans to shoot the next 007 film in the next two years with a release date of November 2012 being targeted. Further, MGM is reportedly planning to release a new 007 film at regular two-year intervals thereafter.
Focusing on the financial side, the studio will retain 50 percent of the rights to the 2012 film, while an equal partner will cover all production costs. Further Bond sequels will be fully owned and funded by MGM itself.
The biggest question swirling through all of this, though, is whether Daniel Craig will retain his role for the next film and for further installments.
One reason he might not come back is due to the long layoff until the next film. The other problem is whether Craig can take on the role while also being committed to all three installments of the Millennium Trilogy, which is currently in production with the first installment of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." If not, another Bond would obviously have to be cast, making that actor (maybe Tom Hardy? Hmmm?) the seventh official Bond.
In my opinion, there is no need for that move, at least not yet. While I think Pierce Brosnan was a worthy Bond, Craig brought a gruff, rugged and yet classic quality to the role that had been missing since the Roger Moore days. Craig revitalized the franchise, and while "Quantum of Solace" was a disappointment with critics, Craig was a disappointment with no one.
Clearly, only time will tell with what happens to this long-running series and also what will happen with Craig and his future commitments. That said, I see no reason why, with all this time leading up to production, that MGM can't figure out a way to keep their star while he also works on the hotly anticipated "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
Although nothing is set in stone, director Sam Mendes has long been rumored to be tapped as the director of the next Bond film, so imagine in two years if we get Craig back in the role and Mendes behind the lens? It's almost too good to be true.
Anyone who doubted how good the new "Spider-Man" reboot would be ought to start changing their minds. As the cast for Marc Webb's new franchise-starter grows, so does the confidence that it will be a success.
Legendary actors Martin Sheen and Sally Field are in talks to play Uncle Ben and Aunt May, respectively, in the upcoming reboot at Sony Pictures, according to Heat Vision. While Sheen is in final negotiations, Field still is in early talks for the part.
Nevertheless, I honestly can’t think of two actors who could be better than these two to play Uncle Ben and Aunt May. In the first three films, actress Rosemary Harris took on the role, and while I know she's a legend in her own right (and also looks a lot like Aunt May), I hated her. There was something that never seemed quite right to me about her in the part, so its welcoming news to see Oscar-winner Field in talks for the role.
Even better is the addition of Sheen. Uncle Ben is supposed to epitomize what Peter Parker is fighting for and I can already see him spewing the line, "With great power comes great responsibility."
The characters are, of course, the parental figures who look after Peter (Garfield)--and Ben's death has a major impact on his decision to slip on the webbed spandex.
The pair will join Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans, who have previously been announced as playing Gwen Stacey and The Lizard, respectively. As I said, this cast is starting to round out nicely.
While Garfield might not be the most recognizable name to the masses, to the better-informed, he is one of the best young actors out there right now. Have you seen "The Social Network" yet? Go, because he's one of the best in it. Have you seen "Never Let Me Go" yet? His performance is wonderful.
Shooting on the reboot kicks off next month, so keep your eyes open for more casting news and hopefully some set photos in the coming weeks.
One of the most anticipated sequels is adding a bit of class to its cast. According to The Daily Mail, Dame Judi Dench is set to make a cameo in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the upcoming fourth film in the franchise.
Director Rob Marshall has almost completed shooting on the film, but before wrapping it, he has been able to convince the actress to pop up in the film's opening sequence.
If you're hoping to stay totally fresh going into the new film once it comes out, avert your eyes--spoilers ahead, mates!
The film apparently opens with Captain Jack on trial for piracy in London's Old Bailey before he escapes in a chase sequence through the city’s streets. Dench is to play a noblewoman in a carriage who is "ravished" by Captain Jack as part of his attempted escape.
Dench and Marshall previously worked together on last year's musical adaptation "Nine," while she joins a cast that includes Geoffrey Rush, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Stephen Graham, Richard Griffiths and Keith Richards.
While the anticipation surrounding this film is great, it seems to have taken a back seat to some other franchises over the past year, such as the superhero films "Thor," "Captain America," "Green Lantern" and "The Avengers."
Either way, I think this film has potential to be great. After taking a break for a few years, I am totally ready to see Depp suit up again as Captain Jack. Anyone who doesn’t think he's one of the most memorable characters of the past decade is crazy in my eyes, and Depp's performance is nothing short of genius in how funny it is.
Marshall has surrounded himself with talent on this one, and bringing in Dench will only add to the prestige and anticipation of this film, which is set to anchor down in theaters on May 20, 2011.
With both "Shutter Island" and "Inception" hitting theaters in 2010, this was yet another big year for one of America's favorite leading men, Leonardo DiCaprio. The next year looks to be just as big.
With his feet already dipped into the film "Prisoners" (in development) and Clint Eastwood's Hoover biopic on the horizon, DiCaprio has added another very interesting option to the mix.
Through his production company Appian Way, the actor is set to star and produce the film adaptation of Erik Larson's bestselling book, "The Devil in the White City," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The nonfiction book, which spent three years on the New York Times bestseller list and has sold 2.3 million copies in 17 languages, is set against the backdrop of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and tells the interweaving stories of two men--fair architect Daniel H. Burnham and serial killer H.H. Holmes. In a short amount of time, Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, was forced to overcome immense obstacles to construct the famous "White City" around which the fair was built.
The other man, Holmes, was a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair. Holmes devised and erected the World's Fair Hotel near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims to their death.
Armed with a gas chamber and a crematorium, Holmes would murder his victims and strip them to their skeletons to sell for medical and scientific study. Holmes killed at least 27 people, though some say the number was closer to 200.
Aside from the fact that the story is amazingly interesting, DiCaprio is to play the "villain" of the film--the murder-minded Holmes rather than Burnham the architect.
The project has bounced around Hollywood since the book was released, with Tom Cruise's production company having picked up the rights to the book in 2003 (but let the option lapse), and once having Kathryn Bigelow attached to direct and produce.
DiCaprio's Appian Way, along with Double Features, acquired the screen rights to the book, and should soon be hiring a writer and director before making a deal with a larger studio.
It was rumored that David Fincher was interested in directing, but with him now on the adaptation of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," scheduling may not allow it. While a Finer-DiCaprio pairing would be almost too-good-to-be-true, I think any competent director could craft this story into an interesting film. DiCaprio has played such a wide variety of roles throughout his career that I have confidence in him taking on anything.
Not much is known to the public about Holmes, and I think it shows great range by DiCaprio to take on a character who is intelligent and charming--and also a mass murderer.
Depending on who they get to helm the film, this one could start moving quickly.
Back when the news first dropped last year that Baz Luhrmann would be helming a new adaptation of the classic American novel "The Great Gatsby," I admit it, I was unsure of how to react.
Not that I think Baz is a bad director, but I hold the novel in such high regard (it is no doubt my favorite book all-time) that I really hoped that if a new adaptation would go into production, it would be with someone like Martin Scorsese or Joe Wright (who I think, after seeing "Atonement," could handle any period piece anywhere). And after seeing how authentic "Boardwalk Empire" looks, a guy like Martin would be perfect.
But after my initial reaction, I let things set in for a while. Then the news on the film started coming out, and suddenly, I was a believer.
I hate to state rumors as fact, but these are just too hard to pass up. According to The Wrap, a few weeks ago longtime friends Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire were in New York workshopping scenes for Luhrmann's planned adaptation. Of course, reading for a role does not necessarily mean an actor is signed for it, but why would such high-profile actors spend time workshopping if there wasn't at least a CHANCE they'd be signing onto the film?
On top of that news came out this week courtesy of Deadline that actress Rebecca Hall, most recently seen in "The Town" as well as in Christopher Nolan's underrated "The Prestige," is supposedly the top choice to play the immortal role of Daisy Buchanon in the adaptation.
Luhrmann will audition numerous actresses before making a decision, with Keira Knightley, Amanda Seyfried, Blake Lively, Abbie Cornish, Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson all making the wish list. Hall has the edge, especially considering that she participated in Luhrmann's workshop reading in the role with DiCaprio as Gatsby and Maguire as Nick Carraway.
Numerous filmmakers have taken on the legendary work, most recently a 2000 TV version starring Paul Rudd, Toby Stephens and Mira Sorvino, and the best-known adaptation being the 1974 version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. The 1974 film was written by Francis Ford Coppola, and while it's a pretty good movie, there always was the feeling that something was missing from it.
I'm trying my best not to jump for joy, because until the actors are actually signed on anything can happen, but I think Maguire and DiCaprio are absolutely perfect for the roles. The fact that they are friends means it makes even more sense, because for any "Gatsby" adaptation to work, the characters of Gatsby and Carraway will have to have some sort of chemistry.
The two have worked together before in both "This Boy's Life" and the little-seen indie "Don's Plum." And we all know DiCaprio and Luhrmann do well together--remember the artsy and interesting "Romeo and Juliet"?
In regards to Daisy, Hall was excellent in "The Town," so if she ends up wining the role, I have no beef with that. I also have no beef with Luhrmann's wish list, which is filled with some beautiful, talented actresses as well.
Luhrmann co-adapted the script with Craig Pearce, who worked on "Moulin Rouge." The book is considered to be one of the greatest American novels ever written, so why not make into one of the best American films of all time?
That's what I'm hoping Luhrmann can pull off, because if he can lock down that cast (and maybe someone like Jeffery Dean Morgan for Tom?), he is going to have one hell of a production on his hands.
When writing about such an iconic album and artist it's hard to remember that there was a time that Notorious B.I.G. was at one time an up-and-coming rapper, unsure of how successful he'd become.
Biggie was only a kid, 21 years old when he started recording his debut album. He had been signed to Uptown Records by Sean "Puffy" Combs and started to make a name for himself, making numerous appearances on some of the labels' other artist's albums. But with anything great, some sort of uncertainly usually comes with it, so when Puffy was fired from Uptown, everything was stuck in limbo.
Biggie began to hustle, selling drugs again before he returned to recording with Puffy on the brand new Bad Boy Records label. By the time "Ready to Die" was released Biggie already had a large word-of-mouth following from his first full-length LP, but West Coast rap was still dominating the industry. "Ready to Die" was exactly what the East Coast was waiting for, and exactly what Bad Boy Records needed.
Released in September of 1994, "Ready to Die" thrusted Bad Boy and Biggie into the spotlight. While it was clear the album would be a hit, no one realized quite how significant the release was. Using his unique voice and sound, Biggie showed off his ample skills as a storyteller, which is what truly drives this album.
Every track on the album has something to offer, but in my eyes "Who Shot Ya?", "Ready to Die", "Gimme the Loot", "Juicy", and "Everyday Struggle" stand above the rest. Ironically, through most of the album there's a sense of dread hanging in most of his stories, with the fierce bandits on "Gimme the Loot", the hustler's girlfriend on "Me & My Bitch", and robbers out for his new money on "Warning" all falling in parades of gunfire.
"Juicy" is one of the most memorable tracks on the album, but also one of the best. Biggie spits with ferocity on this track, waving his hat ant anyone who ever doubted him along the way. He tells a story through this track while also bringing the bravado that made him the legend that he was.
The opening verse of the track is one of the greatest of all time: "It was all a dream; I used to read Word Up magazine/Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine/Hangin' pictures on my wall/Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl/I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped/Smokin' weed and bamboo, sippin' on private stock/Way back, when I had the red and black lumberjack/With the hat to match/Remember Rappin' Duke, duh-ha, duh-ha/You never thought that hip hop would take it this far/Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight /Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade"
The title track "Ready to Die" could be considered an anthem of sorts for Biggie, as he illustrates what things were like on the way up through the ranks. The track also comments on the material nature of culture and what drives some to do what they do.
Biggie paints a perfect picture as he raps: " Biggie Smalls the savage, doin your brain cells much damage/Teflon is the material for the imperial/mic ripper girl stripper the Henny sipper/I drop lyrics off and on like a lightswitch/Quick to grab the right bitch and make her drive/the Q-45, glocks and tecs are expected when I wreck shit/Respect is collected, so check it".
"Who Shot Ya?" is probably the most controversial track on the album, due to the fact that many thought it was a diss track aimed at Tupac. All feuding aside, I still the track is noteworthy and contains some of Biggie's most cleverly worked lyrics and one of the most solid beats on the album.
Biggie name drops Wu-Tang's C.R.E.A.M. and asserts that the East coast is where the best rap is at: "Fuckin with B.I.G. it ain't safe/I make your skin chafe, rashes on the masses/Bumps and bruises, blunts and Landcruisers/Big Poppa smash fools, bash fools / Niggaz mad because I know that Cash Rules/Everything Around Me, two glock nines/Any motherfucker whispering about mines/And I'm, Crooklyn's finest/You rewind this, Bad Boy's behind this."
Unquestionably Biggie is a legend now, but even before death and everything that occurred, this album was one of the best. Displaying an immense skill and flair for storytelling and a completely memorable vocal tone Biggie Smalls created one of the most enduring gangsta rap albums of any era.
Its significance is still felt in the industry today and is definitively one of the best hip-hop albums of the genres' entire history.
