End of the Year Update: Trailergasm Edition

Okay, Trailergasm has been slacking as of late, so here it is, the end of the year massive update on the best trailers out there for movies still to come in the future (in no particular order):

"Transformers: The Dark of the Moon" - July 1, 2011

The third installment of Michael Bay's franchise has got to be better than "Revenge of the Fallen". No Megan Fox? Sure, we'll miss that face, but not that acting. This third act is going to be a huge improvement over the second film, count on it.




"Green Lantern" - June 17, 2011

Most casual fans aren't as familiar with this hero as let's say a Spider-Man or Batman, but that is no reason to shy away from this film. While the suit leaves a bit to be desired (they'll make it look much better as post production moves along), the cast is fantastic with Ryan Reynolds leading the way and a stacked supporting cast of Peter Sarsgaard, Blake Lively and Mark Strong backing him up.



"Thor" - May 6, 2011

This is Marvel's next huge film, having dropped "Iron Man 2" last summer in anticipation for 2012's "The Avengers". "Thor" takes the reigns this time around with director Kenneth Branagh at the helm, which is one thing the film has going for it. Branagh wasn't the most obvious choice to direct, he has a distinct theater background, but rememebr, Jon Faverau wasn't the seemingly perfect choice for "Iron Man", and that turned out pretty good. Natalie Portman..hot. This is one not to miss.



"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" - May 20, 2011

Jack Sparrow may be one of the best characters ever to grace film screens and the reason for that is Johnny Depp. I don't care what crazy type of trouble the pirates have gotten themselves into this time, because no matter where Captain Jack Sparrow rides I'll gladly follow.



"Cedar Rapids" - February 11, 2011

This one may seem a bit out of place with all these action and superhero films, but this might be my favorite one to see of the bunch. Honestly the only reason I say that is because Andy Bernard, aka my boy Ed Helms is starring in this film, and he is one of my favorite actors and finally he is getting the chance to show off as a starring man. Sure, this won't be a perfect movie, but Dunder Mifflin's favorite employee is starring in it, and I know it will be hilarious. At least he will be.

'Empire Strikes Back' Among 25 Movies Named to National Film Registry

Every year the National Film Registry names up to 25 "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films" to preserve at the Library of Congress, showcasing the full range of American film and its impact on our culture.

The films, which include Hollywood classics, documentaries and genres from every era of American filmmaking, have so far spanned the period of 1891-1996, for a total of 550 films. In the past some truly great films have been named for preservation, including "Fargo", "Goodfellas", "Raging Bull", and "Do the Right Thing", and this year's list is no different.

Of the 25 films named to the registry, some names that stick out include "Airplane!", "The Empire Strikes Back", "All the President's Men", "Malcolm X", "Saturday Night Fever", "The Pink Panther", "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and "The Exorcist".

Over 2,500 films were nominated, and the ones that were selected will have a copy of the original film preserved by the registry at the Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Virginia, for future generations.

Whether it's by chance or by design, the list honors some filmmakers and actors who have passed away this year, including director's Irvin Kershner and Blake Edwards, along with actor Leslie Nielsen. Kershner was the director of "The Empire Strikes Back" which is considered by many to be the best sequel of all time, while Edwards was the director of the famed comedy "The Pink Panther". Nielsen of course starred in the spoof film "Airplane!", making famous his deadpan comedic delivery.

Spike Lee already had a film in the registry ("Do the Right Thing") and now adds another with "Malcolm X". Denzel Washington was phenomenal in the film, which was a no holds barred look at the life and death of Malcolm X.

I'm thrilled to see "All the President's Men" added to the registry. Randomly enough I am actually watching the film as I write this, and I can emphatically say it deserves a spot in the vault. The acting by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman is nothing short of phenomenal, and the film itself is a perfectly paced thriller.

I literally could go on all day about the films added to the registry, but I'll say that this year was one of the strongest lists in recent memory, and I'm impressed with the range of genres they chose from this time around, including horror ("The Exorcist") and comedy ("Airplane!", "The Pink Panther").

The full list:

Airplane! (1980), All the President's Men (1976), The Bargain (1914), Cry of Jazz (1959), Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB (1967), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), The Exorcist (1973), The Front Page (1931), Grey Gardens (1976), I Am Joaquin (1969), It's a Gift (1934), Let There Be Light (1946), Lonesome (1928), Make Way for Tomorrow (1937), Malcolm X (1992), McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), Newark Athlete (1891), Our Lady of the Sphere (1969), The Pink Panther (1964), Preservation of the Sign Language (1913), Saturday Night Fever (1977), Study of a River (1996), Tarantella (1940), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), A Trip Down Market Street (1906)

Gilliam Goes Steampunk With "1884"

It's really impossible for my ears to not perk up when I hear the words 'Terry', 'Gilliam', and 'steampunk'. Gilliam is one of the most talented and unique directors of all time, while the 'steampunk' era has made for some truly awesome films (i.e. the recent "Sherlock Holmes"). So it's fantastic news to hear that Gilliam is planning a project set to take place in that particular era.

According to Variety Gilliam and visual effects artist Tim Ollive are teaming for "1884", which is described as an $8 million "mixed-media adventure".

The project is an alternative history story of some sorts, with the story set in an alternate 1884 where the industrial revolution went a lot further and faster along than it really did, resulting in a futuristic metropolis filled with steam-powered flying cars and the scientific advancement of mankind.

What makes the project so intriguing to me is that the story will mix animation, live-action puppetry and computer graphics while the backgrounds will blend period photography, miniatures and graphics. Ollive will direct the project Gilliam will serve as both producer and advisor. Ollive co-wrote the screenplay with Dennis de Groot, while Gilliam said that some of the "Monty Python" cast would lend voices to the film.

Gilliam stated that the project would: "not [be] slick and sleek CG work, such as studios in L.A. particularly produce. It looks crafted by an artisan, and the scale and design are spectacular."

The film sounds like it will be wildly imaginative, and seemingly only something that only a guy like Gilliam could come up with. The alternative history aspect of things will be interesting to see, as will the blend of animation, live action, and computers. From the way the project has come together, it sounds like it will be something truly original we have yet to see onscreen.

Also, how cool will it be to hear some of our favorite "Monty Python" actors together again?

More news on this project should come early in the New Year.

Phil Noyce Opts Out Of "Salt" Sequel

After taking a break from the film industry for four years, award winning Australian director Phillip Noyce returned to theaters this past summer helming the spy action thriller "Salt" with Angelina Jolie. Noyce's last feature film that he directed before that was "Catch a Fire" released in 2006, which starred Derek Luke and Tim Robbins.

Noyce doesn't churn out films on a yearly basis, and he has stated now that if "Salt" spawns a sequel, he won't be the director of it. According to Moviehole, the director said: "Those three [alternate] Blu-ray cuts [of the film] represent just about everything I have to offer on Evelyn Salt. If there ever is a sequel, better its directed by someone with a completely fresh take on what I believe could be a totally entertaining and complex series of stories."

In the meantime, instead of worrying about further "Salt" films, the acclaimed director of films such as "The Bone Collector", "The Quiet American" and "Rabbit Proof Fence" has decided to focus on other projects.

One is the romantic drama "Timeless", which is being written by "Enchanted" scribe Bill Kelly, while the other is "Dirt Music", a project Noyce has wanted to work on for quite some time. According to the site, "Atonement" screenwriter Christopher Hampton is in negotiations to rework the script for Noyce's passion project, which is an adaptation of Tim Winton's thriller novel "Dirt Music". Russell Crowe is still attached to star in the project.

Noyce is one of Hollywood's most well-respected directors, and while I thought "Salt" wasn't great, I felt it was a quality return to form by the director. Some of his past films, especially "The Bone Collector", are some of my favorite films of recent years and I think it's a positive move for the director to move on from "Salt" and work on other projects, considering that in this past decade he has worked on only a handful of films.

It's also good to see that Hampton will be working on the script for "Dirt Music", because in my opinion "Atonement" was just fantastic. Although Joe Wright, the director, is mostly responsible for how good it was, the script was truly great as well, having shaped an excellent novel into an even better movie.

More news on Noyce's upcoming projects should come early in the New Year.

Hendricks, Munn, Meyers Just "Don't Know"

With Sarah Jessica Parker already set to star, the film adaptation "I Don't Know How She Does It" has added some more talent to the mix, bringing on a crop of TV talent to the cast.

Christina Hendricks ("Mad Men"), Olivia Munn ("The Daily Show") and Seth Meyers ("SNL") have joined the cast of the film adaptation of author Allison Pearson's chick lit novel "I Don't Know How She Does It" according to The Los Angeles Times.

The first-person comedic novel follows a high-powered financial worker (Parker) who is the mother of two children and trying to balance the various competing elements of her life.
Hendricks is in final negotiations for the part and is set to play a friend of Parker's character.

The actress is best known for her role as Joan Holloway on AMC's acclaimed series "Mad Men." Munn, who is slated to play a colleague of Parker's character, is the TV personality from G4's "Attack of the Show" and Comedy Central's "The Daily Show;" which she joined earlier this year. Munn has recently been working on more film roles, recently playing a part in "Iron Man 2".

Meyers joins an already stacked male cast with Pierce Brosnan and Kelsey Grammer also starring.

The book was a best seller in both England as well as the United States, and with the addition of the three actors, the project should broaden its appeal. It's great to see Hendricks's starting to branch out to more work, because she has been one of the steadiest and most promising actors throughout her four seasons on "Mad Men" and it will be great to see her in another role.

Anyone who is a fan of "The Daily Show" knows how funny Munn can be, and she should be the perfect compliment to Sarah Jessica Parker in the film. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well, and with all that talent involved this could be one of the sleeper romantic comedy hits once it's released, much like "The Proposal" was last year.

Douglas McGrath, who previously helmed "Infamous", directs and shooting is set to kick off in January.

Rob Marshall Explains Fourth "Pirates" Story

Captain "Jack" Sparrow is one of the best movie characters of all time, and actor Johnny Depp clearly plays him to perfection, as evidenced by his Oscar nomination for the first installment in the series.

One successful movie morphed into a billion dollar franchise, and after the third film "Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End", many hoped they would see Captain Jack in action again very soon. That didn't happen exactly, but after a few years, four to be exact, Captain Jack is back.

The first trailer for the film debuted last week, building even more anticipation to director Rob Marshall's 3D extravaganza "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides". The director spoke to Movieweb about the film, elaborating on the story a bit after what was revealed in the trailer.

Said Marshall about the opening of the film: "The first third of the film takes place in London. So we start on dry land and there is an impostor that Jack is looking for. He then escapes from the palace, gets captured by King George and there is a huge carriage chase".

Marshall added a few more details about the film in the interview, explaining that Jack and crew will head out to sea in the second act of the film, and that it's a new ship named "Queen Anne's Revenge". He also elaborated on the overall story of the film, which culminates in "this incredible jungle adventure through caves where they are looking for the Fountain of Youth.”

The trailer of the film was fantastic, with just some good old Jack Sparrow antics and classic "Pirate" action. Penelope Cruz and Depp seem to have great chemistry, which is no surprise to me considering they worked together fantastically in "Blow" years ago.

I wasn't sure how Marshall would handle the action aspects of the film, considering that he has worked on musicals like "Chicago", but from the look of the trailer he seems to have had no trouble at all.

"Pirates" sails into theaters May 20, 2011.

Parker, Efron, Berry Celebrate "New Year's"

After recently adding Sofia Vergara and Jessica Biel to it's already star studded cast, Garry Marshall's "New Years Eve" has brought in a few more big name stars to the party.

Sarah Jessica Parker has signed on while Zac Efron and Halle Berry are in negotiations to star in the romantic comedy ensemble according to Reuters.

The story follows several characters as they make their way through the year-end holiday in New York City. Parker will play the mother of Abigail Breslin's character, who is too clingy with her daughter.

Efron is set to play a bike messenger who tries to keep a promise to Michelle Pfeiffer's character by scoring tickets to a big party. Berry is in talks to play a caterer who runs into an old lover.

All three should help bring some more people to theaters, especially Efron who seems to have a monopoly on teenage girls in America. The cast of the film is utterly stacked with Robert De Niro, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, Hilary Swank, and Lea Michele also starring.

Shooting will begin very early in the 'new year' (aka 2011).

Jon Favreau Departs "Iron Man" Franchise

When Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. teamed up for "Iron Man" in 2008, I don't think anyone realized quite how successful the film would become. It grossed more than $500 million worldwide, was critically praised, and brought on some huge anticipation for "Iron Man 2." While that one wasn't quite as critically acclaimed as the first, it made even more money, and had everyone wondering what the duo would bring on for a third film.

Although a third film is set for the series, one thing that will change is the director. After a bit of speculation, Vulture and Faverau himself confirmed this past week that the director will not return for the third installment.

When the news broke, the Internet started buzzing about the reasons for the split. Some claimed that Favreau's price tag was getting too high, while some others speculated that the studio forced him off the project. Thankfully, the director himself put an end to that chatter, giving some clarity on the situation through his Twitter account and in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.

Through his Twitter account, Faverau said: "It's true, I'm directing Magic Kingdom, not Iron Man 3. I've had a great run with Marvel and wish them the best."

After that, Favreau gave an interview to The Los Angeles Times, saying his departure from the film was "no snap decision or the result of fractured relations." He also stated that he Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and him remain friends, and that Favreau will stay on as a producer on ”The Avengers.”

Although this may seem like a negative move for the "Iron Man" franchise, I think it's great because it always helps to inject some new life to a fracnshise, even one that's been as successful as this. Faverau wants to work on other projects, and with "The Avengers" still on the horizon, the third film probably wouldn't be released until 2013 anyway.

I honestly am excited to see what Favreau does with "Magic Kingdom," which is about a family that gets trapped in Disneyland after hours and soon discovers that the theme park's rides and characters come to life. I think the film idea has a lot of potential, primarily because of what Faverau brings to the table.

Shooting on "Magic Kingdom" should start filming next year.

Katee Sackhoff Is Kind Of a "Sexy Evil Genius"

Anyone who has ever seen the show "Battlestar Galactica" knows that deep down, they have a bit of a crush on Katee Sackhoff, aka Kara "Starbuck" Thrace. The actress doen't work all that much (although she gave a hilarious performance in a guest spot on "The Big Bang Theory" last year), so anytime she hops onto a project, I pay attention.

According to the Heat Vision Blog, Sackhoff is set to headline the independent comedy "Sexy Evil Genius," which will be directed by Shawn Piller, the executive producer of ABC Family’s "Greek."

The project centers on a group of strangers brought together in a downtown Los Angeles bar by their mutual ex-girlfriend (Sackhoff). The woman is mysterious about her intentions, but by the night's end, revenge will be had, romance made and the wronged woman will have delivered on her reputation as the sexy evil genius at the center of all their lives.

The script was written by Scott Lew, a filmmaker who is afflicted by ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Diseas). Lew is a quadriplegic and wheelchair-bound. He cannot speak and writes using an infrared dot on his forehead, pointing to letters and words on the computer screen.

Said Few to Heat Vision: “I thought why not do a story about early 30-somethings, where a sexy girl forces an unhappy guy to remember all his dreams and aspirations when they were 17 and dating.”

I think the concept of the film is just great and very unique. On top of that, I think Sackhoff really fits into this part well, because her character on "Battlestar" had a bit of an edge to her and this character sounds the same in that regard.

Sackhoff will also co-produce and the film should start shooting early next year.

Classic Album Review: Common, "Be"

As it is with many different types of people in all fields of life, sometimes an artist's biggest disappointment can lead to their biggest success.

Way back in the year 2000, Common released his fourth album "Like Water for Chocolate" and received great reviews as well as solid sales results. The recognition from the album elevated Common to a point where he was on the cusp of mainstream success and stardom. So two years later when he was set to release his next album, anticipation and expectations were very high.

In 2002 Common dropped the hotly anticipated "Electric Circus", but that mainstream success was put on a screeching hold when the album proved to be disastrous commercially. Critics praised the album, and I don't think anyone questioned how skilled Common was as a musician and rapper, but clearly something didn't work out quite right, and the album was considered a big disappointment.

Hoping to have a better outcome for his new album, Common made one of the best moves of his career when he decided to team up with fellow Chicagoan Kanye West to produce his next album. In 2005 Common released "Be" under Kanye's own label, 'GOOD Music' to stellar reviews and excellent commercial sales. The album sold over twice as many as "Electric Circus" and catapulted Common into the mainstream.

Released in May 2005, "Be" is solid and concise from top to bottom. Although there are only 11 tracks, the tight song list doesn't have a single 'skippable' track in the bunch. You literally listen to the album straight through without ever having to touch a dial. Clearly Common was inspired to make a great album, and he emphatically succeeded, crafting some truly fantastic tracks. While I feel the whole set list is excellent, "Go!", "Testify", "They Say", "The Corner", and "The Food" stand out above the rest.

"Go!", which featured John Mayer, was the most commercially successful track on the album and one of the best. Although Common at first was unsure if he wanted to bring on a non-hip-hop artist onto the track, it proved to be an extremely good move, with Mayer providing a perfect compliment to the rapper. On top of that, Kanye West's production is top notch, creating one of the catchiest beats on the entire album.



Common really has a great way with words, as proved on this verse as he raps with supreme confidence: "Freaky like the daughter of a pastor, said I was bait for her to master/Little red corvette now she was faster, wet dreams Le'maire cream the bathroom/We made love and then laughter, and anyway I wanted I could have her/Said there were some girls that did attract her, a new chapter she was after so I said let's/To a place that you wanna be, uh get what you want from her and me uh/Free love I wanna see uh, hot sex in the third degree uh/You gettin' served while servin' me uh, dirty words encourage me to/Rock steady and sturdily on, you turnin' me no turnin' back the further we."

"The Corner" is one of my favorite tracks on the album, and it very well may be one of the best. The track features Kanye West and The Last Poets and was nominated as Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the Grammy's that year. Detailing what life is like on the street corners of tough neighborhoods, Common sounds his most inspired, rapping seamlessly over another solid beat produced by Kanye.



Common paints a fully illustrative portrait of life on the street as he raps: " Streetlights & deepnights cats trying to eat right/Riding no seat bikes with work to feed hypes/So they can keep sweet Nikes they head & they feet right/Desires of streetlife cars & weed types / It's hard to breath nights days are thief like/The beast roam the streets the police is Greeklike/Game at it's peak we speak & believe hype/Bang in the streets hats cocked left or deep right."

One of the most fitting parts of the track is the spoken word segment by The Last Poets to close out the track, perfectly placing the idea of the 'corner' in cultural and historical context: "The corner was our Rock of Gibraltar, our Stonehenge/Our Taj Mahal, our monument/Our testimonial to freedom, to peace and to love/Down on the corner..."

"Testify" is one of the most creative an interesting tracks on the album and it also was nominated for a Grammy, this time for Best Rap Solo Performance. The track details a story about a woman who manipulates a judge and jury to find her partner guilty of a crime she committed. Common has always had the skill of telling a story through his rhymes, and this track might be the perfect example of that.



His slick rapping and passionate tone coupled with another quality produced beat by Kanye make you completely visualize the story as it's unfolding. Common builds up the story on top of the beat as each verse goes on leading to a thrilling conclusion/last verse, which is one of his best on the whole album: "The court awaited as the foreman got the verdict from the bailiff/Emotional outbursts tears and smeared makeup/He stated, he was guilty on all charges/She's shaking like she took it the hardest/A spin artist, she brought her face up laughing/That's when the prosecutor realized what happened/All that speaking her mind testifying and crying/When this bitch did the crime- the queenpin..."

While I don't think "Be" rewrote the rulebook, or was all that groundbreaking in any particular way, it's hard to argue with its quality as an overall album. Common raps as good as he has throughout his entire career, and the production from Kanye West (with a little help from J Dilla) provided the foundation for an all around solid album with some jazz and soul sounding beats.

In my opinion "Be" is Common's best work. The album is a tightly condensed yet utterly enjoyable collection of tracks that holds up many years down the line. Although not revolutionary or a game changer, the album was easily one of the best of the decade, and is surely a classic.