After two failed attempts, Brad Pitt and Darren Aronofsky are trying to team again for the adventure thriller "The Tiger" at Focus Features.
According to Cinematical: Once upon a time, Brad Pitt and Darren Aronofsky were lined up to do “The Fountain” together. Pitt dropped out, the project fell apart, and there have always been rumors of hurt feelings.
They were set to do “The Fighter” together until both abandoned it, and were replaced. But now it’s clear that Pitt's Plan B and Aronofsky's Protozoa Pictures will produce “The Tiger” and the project is being lined up as a possible starring vehicle for Pitt.
Based on John Vaillant's upcoming non-fiction book, the story takes place on the Siberian plain, where humanity is encroaching on the tigers' habitat -- and one tiger turns on the intruders.
As townspeople are being hunted with an almost supernatural power, a conservationist game warden must face the tiger in a fight to the death. Guillermo Arriaga ("Babel," "21 Grams") will pen the script.
I’ll try not to get my hopes up too high about Aronofsky and Pitt teaming up because based on past events this project will probably be made with someone else starring. Either way, my fingers are still crossed because Aronofsky is brilliant, and Pitt is the type of intelligent, high-profile actor that could work well with him.
Colin Farrell and Marion Cotillard are set to star in David Cronenberg's adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel "Cosmopolis"
According to Variety: The $20.5 million film is penned by Cronenberg and produced by Portuguese producer Paulo Branco's Alfama Films and Cronenberg's Toronto-based Antenna, in association with Kinology.
The story is set across a 24-hour period and takes place almost entirely within a limousine which is making its way slowly through a city due to several events (including a presidential visit) keeping traffic at a standstill.
Farrell would play a newlywed billionaire who cheats on his wife (Cotillard), finds himself being stalked, attacked by a protester, and slowly losing his massive fortune.
Cronenberg's kicks off filming on the psychoanalyst love-triangle drama "A Dangerous Method" this month in Germany.
Cronenberg is one of the most interesting filmmakers in the industry, and he is perfect to adapt one of DeLilo’s novels. It’s also good to see Colin Farrell getting some more work, because when he is on his game (“Tigerland,” “In Bruges”) great things can happen.
"Cosmopolis" will shoot from March to May next year.
In the early 90’s East coast rap took a backseat to the West coast scene. Dr. Dre had released “The Chronic”, and along with N.W.A., Snoop and Nate Dogg, he took West coast rap to the mainstream.
While “The Chronic” was a significant debut, soon after that, another group from the opposite coast emerged, blazing a trail for an East Coast comeback that would bring on what many in the industry called “the East Coast Renaissance”.
Wu Tang Clan’s debut album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” is easily one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time. RZA’s distinctive production style and Wu Tang’s cast of unique and talented MC’s created the blueprint for hardcore hip-hop and helped revitalize the New York rap scene. The album laid the groundwork for young rappers on the East coast such as Nas, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. and Mobb Deep.
Released in November 1993 the album's title originates from the martial arts film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. As the group’s de facto leader, RZA produced the entire album and used some eerie, peculiar beats along with a raw sound based on movie clips and soul music samples.
His production, along with the talents of Method Man, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and the rest of the Clan, helped make the album feel completely original.
Every track on the album is packed with fresh, inventive rhymes, which are filled with martial arts metaphors, pop culture references, threats of violence, and a truly twisted sense of humor. The album is great from top to bottom, but “Protect Ya Neck”, “Method Man”, “C.R.E.A.M.”, “Bring da Ruckus” and “"Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit” stand out above the rest.
“Bring da Ruckus” is the first track on the album, and in a way it epitomizes everything the group wanted to accomplish on “36 Chambers”. The track is a burst of energy as it opens with a martial arts audio clip, leading into the opening line, with RZA emphatically stating: “Bring da motherfuckin ruckus/Bring da mother, bring da motherfuckin ruckus”.
The ferocious opening sets the stage for Ghostface Killah, who has the best verse on the track. He drops some perfectly placed cultural references as he raps: “However, I master the trick just like Nixon/Causin terror, quick damage ya whole era/Hardrocks is locked the fuck up, or found shot/P.L.O. style, hazardous, cause I wreck this dangerous/I blow sparks like Waco, Texas.”
"Method Man" is one of the most unique and original tracks on the album. Method Man the rapper introduces himself in a big way as he spits one of the best, yet simple choruses of all time: “I'm…/M-E-T, H-O-D, Man/ M-E-T, H-O-D, Man.”
Throughout the track Method Man shows off his confidence and bravado as he raps: “Here I am here I am, the Method Man/Patty cake patty cake hey the method man/Don't eat Skippy, Jif or Peter Pan/Peanut butter, Cause I'm not butter/In fact I snap back like a rubber.”
Essentially every track on this album is great, but "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing Ta F'Wit” might be the best of the bunch. The track has one of the best beats I have ever heard and RZA spits some truly great lines as he raps: “I be tossin, enforcin, my style is awesome/I'm causin more Family Feud's than Richard Dawson/And the survey said -- ya dead/Fatal Flying Guillotine chops off your fuckin head.”
"C.R.E.A.M." is easily my favorite track on the album. Raekwon and Method Man both spit some great verses, but this track is all about the chorus. Method Man’s gritty East coast drawl is instantly recognizable as he raps: “Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me/C.R.E.A.M./Get the money/Dollar, dollar bill y'all.”
The sound and style of the album became hugely influential in modern hip-hop production, while the group members' explicit, humorous, and free-associative lyrics created a blueprint for future rappers to follow.
“Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” was the start of something truly great in hip-hop, and the album is a definitive classic.
The episode opens with Jim and Pam teaming up to prank Dwight. The two are clicking and taping on their keyboards continuously, and Dwight thinks they are communicating in Morse code, talking about him. They tell him that’s ridiculous, but it’s true. Dwight gets frustrated, but all he can do is get in a Morse code stare down with Pam.
Michael is in a great mood due to his wildly successful relationship with Donna, the woman he met in “Happy Hour”. Michael calls everyone into a meeting so they can help him figure out more things to do with Donna than just have sex.
Ryan and Kelly bring to Michaels attention that Donna might be cheating on him, because they don’t go out.
Andy receives a call from a customer that the Sabre printer they bought caught fire during routine operation. He becomes frustrated when no one takes his customer's complaint seriously. He says something to both Stanley and Gabe (the corporate dude) but neither gives him any answers.
Michael is worried about Donna. “I haven’t eaten or slept since I found out Donna was cheating”, he says to the camera after knowing for about 5 minutes. Michael decides to put Dwight on the investigation, to follow Donna and see if she’s cheating.
Darryl uses Andy’s problem to get back at him for an incident that happened a couple years before, when Andy got Darryl in trouble for getting a paper shipment out late. He decides to prank Andy and convince him that something shady is going on with the fire printers.
Dwight follows Donna to the gym, and goes about things totally the wrong way. He attempts to seduce her, and fails, so he openly admits Michael sent him there to tail her.
Darryl enlists Creed to help further his prank. Then after initially pretending to help Andy to not get fired, Darryl agrees to film Andy using the printer in typical fashion to confirm his burning printer theory.
Donna comes to the office to talk to Michael about the whole situation, and after Michael charmingly apologizes to her about the whole thing, they talk about going away for a weekend.
Darryl and Andy go into the old Michael Scott Paper Company Office/Supple Closet and film the video, Andy continuously prints while Darryl films.
While Donna and Michael are talking about their trip, Pam find photos on Facebook revealing that she is hugging and kissing another man. Pam shows Michael the pictures she found, and he confronts Donna with the evidence.
At the end, to Darryl’s surprise, the printer indeed catches fire, confirming Andy's suspicions. Darryl decides to end his prank, with things getting “real, real fast”.
The episode ends with Michael confronting Donna in the parking lot. Donna reveals that she is cheating, but that it is Michael that is the "other guy". The photos are of her and her husband. Michael is left confused and hurt.
Warner Bros. Pictures has released an official synopsis for Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated yet still very mysterious thriller "Inception" - a synopsis that delivers a basic outline of the story at last:
"Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams.
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable.
Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved.
Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible–inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one.
If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming."
I'm more excited for this film than any other this summer. The trailer is mysterious, and just leaves you begging for more. Nolan is a cinematic genius, and this film looks to be mind blowing.
The film is scheduled to hit theatres on July 16th. Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy and Michael Caine also star.
"The Soup" and "Community" comedian Joel McHale has joined the Anna Faris comedy "What’s Your Number?" says The Hollywood Reporter.
According to the Hollywood Reporter: Joel McHale has booked his first movie since his turn leading the ensemble cast of NBC's "Community."
The actor is in final negotiations to play a key role in the New Regency's comedy "What's Your Number?"
Based on Karyn Bosnak's book "20 Times a Lady," the story follows a woman (Anna Faris) who thought she'd find her perfect guy by the time she'd slept with a maximum of twenty men.
Waking up after a drunken night in the bed of her mildly charming boss (McHale), she realizes she's reached that limit but hasn't achieved it. Rather than increasing the number or staying celibate, she tracks down all her ex-partners in an attempt to make things work with one of them.
McHale's deal for "Number" comes on the heels of his joining the cast of the Fox 2000 comedy "The Big Year," starring Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin. McHale plays Martin's boss in the David Frankel-directed movie.
McHale appeared last year opposite Matt Damon in "The Informant!" -- a movie he did prior to "Community," which has been picked up for a second season by NBC.
It’s no secret that McHale is hilarious. He’s great on “Community” and as a fan of “The Soup” I always knew he was ready to branch out into film. McHale will be perfect for this film, which is putting together a solid cast.
The movie, whose cast also includes Chris Evans, Zachary Quinto and Matt Bomer, shoots at the end of the month. Mylod ("Entourage") is directing from a script by Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan.
Anjelica Huston, Rosamund Pike, Dianne Wiest and more have all joined the cast of "The Big Year" for Fox 2000 says Movieweb.
According to Movieweb: The director of Marley & Me's next film project has rounded out its cast. Rashida Jones, Anjelica Huston, Dianne Wiest and Jim Parsons have all joined the cast of “The Big Year”.
Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson play a trio of guys who attempt to outdo each other in a yearlong bird-watching competition. Rashida Jones, Jim Parsons, JoBeth Williams, Brian Dennehy, Anthony Anderson and Tim Blake Nelson also star. Kevin Pollak and Joel McHale are in talks for roles.
The film is based off the 1998 book by Mark Obmascik, which revolves around three men who try to keep outdoing each other in a yearlong bird-watching competition. Jones will play Black's love interest, also a bird-watcher, while Huston will also play a competitive bird-watcher while Parsons will play a bird-watching blogger.
The cast from top to bottom is fantastic, especially with Martin, Wilson and Black in the lead roles. But the news that I’m most excited about is the fact that Jim Parsons is cast in the film. He has proven he is one of the best comedic actors on TV with his portrayal of Sheldon on “The Big Bang Theory”. He is one of the most memorable TV characters in recent years, and it will be interesting to see Parsons take on a new role.
Howard Franklin penned the script while Frankel directs with filming kicking off this week in Canada.
Robert Downey Jr. has confirmed that Alfonso Cuaron's sci-fi-thriller "Gravity" is his next immediate project followed by Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" sequel reports MTV News.
According to MTV News: Downey confirmed that he'll be doing "Gravity" next, with director Alfonso Cuaron, and then following that up with the "Holmes" sequel.
The 'Holmes' sequel kicks off this fall and while it will mostly shoot in London, Downey expects to "be abroad" saying "A bit of Paris, a bit of Switzerland by the end, if I'm not mistaken".
That last bit could allude to the filmmakers using the famous ending of "The Final Problem" in which both Holmes and Moriarty seemingly fall to their death at Reichenbach Falls (Holmes ultimately survives). As its already been stated that Moriarty will serve as the film's villain, it would come as no surprise if the events in 'Problem' are incorporated into the script.
Downey's not sure if Rachel McAdams' Irene Adler character will also return: "It's hard to say. Because Irene Adler only appeared in one of the stories of Doyle's reservoir of activities. But we'll find out quickly."
He's also not sure if they'll do it 3D but says "you're leaving a bunch of dough on the table if you don't shoot something in 3-D."
Although I didn’t think it was perfect, I really enjoyed “Sherlock Holmes” and I thought Downey Jr. was brilliant with the way he took on the classic character. Hopefully the sequel will build on the quality parts of the first film to make an awesome follow up, much like how “The Dark Knight” was to “Batman Begins”.
Also, hearing that two talents like Cuaron and Downey will be working together on a sci-fi project has got me excited. I thought “Children of Men” was brilliant and it’ll be interesting to see what Cuaron does with “Gravity”.
Downey will shoot "Gravity" in London this summer.
Many people consider the 1970’s to be one of the most classic decades for film. It's also true that the 1970’s were a golden age for director Sidney Lumet.
He directed 12 films in the 70’s, and in a stretch from 1973-1976 he helmed the films: “Serpico”, “Murder on the Orient Express”, “Dog Day Afternoon”, and “Network”.
All four of those films are classics, each extremely well written, acted and directed. The reason I bring this up, is because many filmmakers are lucky to create one film that is considered “great”, and here in only a span of four years Lumet crafted four brilliant pieces of filmmaking. While all are fantastic, “Murder on the Orient Express” may be the best of the group.
The film is based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, which was published in 1934. Christie is one of the best selling authors of all time, and “Murder on the Orient Express” is one of her finest novels.
Both the book and the film follow the exploits of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who is played by Albert Finney, as he investigates a murder that takes place on the titular “Orient Express”.
In this one, Belgian detective Poirot (Finney) finds himself surrounded by 13 murder suspects after a vulgar American millionaire (Richard Widmark) gets stabbed to death in his train compartment. Could the assailant be the victim's nervous assistant played nimbly by Anthony Perkins? Is it he quick-tempered military man, Sean Connery? The meek missionary, Ingrid Bergman? Or did the butler, played by John Gielgud really do it? I won’t give it away, but let’s just say everyone is connected.
Although the murder is the central focus of the story, the film rests on the performance of Finney, and he handles the load gracefully. Finney is nearly unrecognizable as Mr. Poriot. His moustache is perfectly groomed, and his accent is impeccable. Finney was nominated for an Oscar for his performance, and deservedly so.
Finney’s performance was a ‘Hercule-an’ effort in itself. For example, the final scene, in which Poirot shares his solution of the case, required more shots and camera angles than could be captured in a single take on the cramped set, so the cast had to shoot the scene multiple times. You could imagine how hard that must have been on Finney, whose monologue was eight pages long. The scene is beautifully directed, but Finney is just unbelievable.
The film was nominated for six Oscars all together, with Ingrid Bergman winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Virtually all of Ingrid Bergman's winning performance is contained in a single scene in which Poirot interrogates her character. The scene was captured in a single continuous take, nearly five minutes long.
Adapting a book is never easy. Adapting a book that is considered to be one of the best of its genre is even harder. Lumet shows his brilliance as a director on this film and he makes things look easy.
I’m amazed that the film was nominated for Best Actor or Best Director, but the Academy doesn’t always get things quite right anyway (“Shakespeare in Love” over “Saving Private Ryan”? I’m still not over that one).
Either way, “Murder on the Orient Express” is easily one of the best mystery films of all time, but I’ll also go as far as to say it’s one of the best films of all time, a definitive classic.
In February he began serving a one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half year prison sentence for sexual assault. Soon after that he released the album “Me Against the World”, which gave 2Pac the distinction of being the only artist ever to have an album at number one on the Billboard 200 while serving a prison sentence.
While incarcerated, 2Pac read many books by Machiavelli, Sun Tzu's The Art of War and other works of political philosophy and strategy, which would later influence his music.
In October 1995, after serving eleven months, 2Pac was released from the penitentiary due in large part to the help and influence of Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, who posted a $1.4 million bail pending appeal of the conviction in exchange for 2Pac to release three albums under the Death Row label.
While not the most customary way to score a record deal, it gave 2Pac the chance to immediately start recording his next album.
Maybe it was his time in prison, or maybe it was simply his signing with Knight's Death Row label, but whatever the case, 2Pac emerged hardened and hungry with “All Eyez on Me”, the first double-disc album of original material in hip-hop history. It only took 2Pac two weeks to record the 27-track epic.
“All Eyez on Me” was released on February 13, 1996 almost a year after 2Pac began his prison sentence. Sadly, the Grammy nominated album was the last to be released during 2Pac's lifetime.
The album opened at number 1 on the Billboard 200, making 2Pac the first rapper to have two straight albums debut at number one. Although 2Pac spent most of 1995 locked up and battling the system, the album makes it obvious that, rather than reducing his artistic abilities, the struggles only elevated his skills.
Most of the tracks on “All Eyez on Me” are unapologetic celebrations of living the thug lifestyle (“California Love”) and while there is the occasional reminiscence about past and present friends ("Heartz of Men"), it moves away from the social and political consciousness of “2Pacalypse Now”.
The album featured six singles, the most of any 2Pac album up to that point and at 132 minutes, truly is an epic set of music. While every track has something to offer, “I Ain’t Mad At Cha”, “How Do U Want It”, “Picture Me Rollin” and “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” (which features Snoop Dogg), stand out above all the rest.
While “California Love” was released as the “comeback” single for 2Pac, it also epitomizes the west coast lifestyle, and is easily one of the best hip-hop tracks of all time. The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards and features Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman.
2Pac is ferocious on the track, showing that he was motivated and ready to be back on the rap scene: “Out on bail fresh outta jail, California dreamin/Soon as I stepped on the scene, I'm hearin hoochies screamin/Fiendin for money and alcohol/the life of a west side playa where cowards die and its all ball/Only in Cali where we riot not rally to live and die.”
Dr. Dre has one of the cleverest and most recognized verses on the album as he raps: “Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west/A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness/The track hits ya eardrum like a slug to ya chest/Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex.”
“I Ain’t Mad At Cha” is a personal track for 2Pac, a heartfelt tribute to his friends he knew before he was famous. He speaks of losing touch with people and how many people turned on him after his success.
On the track 2Pac raps about his younger days, his time in prison and how his life has changed from being in the ghetto to being a celebrity. "So many questions, and they ask me if I'm still down/I moved up out of the ghetto, so I ain't real now?/They got so much to say, but I'm just laughin at cha/You niggaz just don't know, but I ain't mad at cha."
"Life Goes On" is arguably the most emotional track on the album and is a tribute song to his friend Kato. Ironically, it also talks about his own death, and his funeral. You can hear the truthfulness and sadness as 2Pac raps: “As I bail through tha empty halls/breath stinkin' in my jaws/ring, ring, ring, quiet y'all/incoming call, plus this my homie from high school/he's getting bye/It's time to bury another brotha nobody cry.”
The track also has one of the best and most meaningful choruses on the album, as 2Pac croons: “How many brothas fell victim to tha streetz/Rest in peace young nigga, there's a Heaven for a 'G'/be a lie, If I told ya that I never thought of death/my niggas, we tha last ones left/but life goes on.”
“2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” is my personal favorite track on the album. Featuring Snoop Dogg, the track has an infectious beat, and some of the best lyrics on the album. The duo paints a perfect picture of the California lifestyle and show why they are two of the best MC’s of all time.
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2Pac brings it with confidence and bravado as he raps: “So now they got us laced/Two multimillionare motherfuckers catchin cases (mmm)/Bitches get ready for the throwdown, the shit's about to go down/Uhh, me and Snoop about to clown/I'm "Losin My Religion", I'm vicious on these stool pigeons/You might be deep in this game, but you got the rules missin.”
Snoop uses some great culture references as he spits the verse: “I got a pit named P, she niggarino/I got a house out in the hills right next to Chino/and I, think I got a black Beamer/but my dream is to own a fly casino/like Bugsy Seagel, and do it all legal.”
With all his past success, 2Pac could have put out a run-of-the-mill album and still probably sold millions, but instead he put something truly original and epic.
With solid tracks from top to bottom, the album is easily one of the best of all time. Throughout his career 2Pac released some truly great music, but I think “All Eyez on Me” is his defining work and is most definitely a classic.
