Does Django have his Black Hat?

More interesting news about Quentin Tarantino’s new spaghetti western project, Django Unchained.

Word has it Leonardo DiCaprio may be coming aboard as villainous slave trader Calvin Candie. It's an interesting idea, a little reminiscent of when Henry Fonda decided to play the badest of the bad in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West.

If cast, DiCaprio might join Will Smith, who's rumored to be considering the title role. Smith could use an image makeover in a big way, though I really have to squint hard to see him in Tarantino’s universe. He'd be playing a slave turned bounty hunter here.

Meaning to do for the Western what Inglourious Basterds did for the war movie, the names that have been cropping up lately make for a great roster of old west characters: Idris Elba, Samuel L. Jackson, Cristoph Waltz, Franco Nero, Treat Williams and Keith Carradine.

There's no screenplay I'm more anxious to read right now, so if anybody is good at picking up a trail...?

Fall TV preview: genre show roulette

Everybody wants the next Lost. For everyone that gets it right (Fringe), there are well-intentioned hopefuls who just don't quite connect (The Cape, Invasion, Surface).

I think we're all curious about Steven Spielberg's Terra Nova, with humans from the year 2149 time-traveling back to the prehistoric era to somehow improve the future. It could be really great. It stars Avatar's Stephen Lang, a tremendous actor. Hoping it doesn't end up being less Jurassic Park and more Land of the Lost. anyone remember Earth 2? All I know is that those dinosaurs will have to look better than they do in the trailer. Lang looks like the only non dino with any real choppers:



Fox is offering up J.J. Abrams' Alcatraz -- again with the time travelling (sorry, China). when 302 convicts from 1963 show up in 2011 looking exactly as they did when they were incarcerated.




A lot more intriguing is Jonathan Nolan's (Dark Knight writer and brother of Christopher) Person of Interest, starring Lost veteran Michael (Ben Linus) Emerson as a mysterious billionaire helping a former CIA agent fight the good fight.



I'm really digging the vibe of The River, in which a famous nature show host (Bruce Greenwood - Captain Pike!) disappears in the Amazon. Six months later, his emergency beacon goes off, sending his friends and family into action...



Finally, one of the weirdest shows on the horizon (looking to fill the King of the Hill void?) is Fox's animated take on Napoleon Dynamite, from original writer Jared Hess and The Simpsons Mike Scully, with the movie's original stars doing the voice work. Here's hoping for lots of Rex Kwan Do...

Dexter lands a commanding presence

Commander Adama is moving to Miami. Showtime has announced that actor Edward James Olmos will be joining the cast of Dexter for its sixth season, premiering this fall. Little is known about the plot, though Olmos will be portraying an enlightened religious studies professor. Also cast for season six are Mos Def and Colin Hanks.

Showtime President David Nevins has said that season 6 would bring Dexter back to his roots and be more like earlier seasons. We'll find out what that means this fall.

Fasten your seatbelt, dad...

When I was 10 years old, my dad took me to the movie theater to see Le Mans, starring Steve McQueen. I remember the in-your-face shots with the camera fastened to the front of the car, flying down the road. It felt like we were right there in the middle of the race. Le Mans is the famous French endurance race lasting 24 hours. McQueen is coming back to the race after being involved in an accident that took the life of a fellow driver the year before. Say Hello to his Gulf-Porsche 917...

It debuts on Blu-ray this week. I'm really looking forward to watching Le Mans again, dad. Thanks for taking me out for some seriously cool excitement, way back when.

You can complete your speed demon double-feature with John Frankenheimer's earlier Grand Prix, starring James Garner.

Grand Prix is packed to the gills with sixties romances and subplots, but it was released in Cinerama and has been restored from the original 65 mm Super Panavision elements which should be nothing short of eye-damagingly sharp in Hi-def. Gentlemen, do not attempt to drive after seeing these movies...!

1939 – film’s fantastic year.

The other night we watched John Ford’s Revolutionary War drama, Drums Along the Mohawk, from 1939. That year is widely considered to be the greatest year in movie history. It was certainly a busy one for Ford, who also made Stagecoach and Young Mr. Lincoln that very same year.

These days we have to work at it to come up with five features that are truly worth being nominated for the Academy Award. But in 1939, the stars were in alignment and the Gods were smiling. Just consider this list of films that debuted during that golden, halcyon year:

The Wizard of Oz

Gone with the Wind

Wuthering Heights

Dark Victory

Goodbye Mr. Chips

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Ninotchka

Of Mice and Men

Dodge City

The Women

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Beau Geste

Destry Rides Again

The Four Feathers

Gunga Din

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Oklahoma Kid

Only Angels Have Wings

I’m betting that most readers have never seen most of these, other than Oz and Gone with the Wind. But many of them are downright classics that have helped shape the face of every piece of cinema that's come since. So if it's been a while since you've watched a movie made before 1960, maybe it's time to savor a little history and go take a drink from the well.

Fall TV preview: Mad Men inspired Pan Am

Fall TV premieres might seem a world away at this point, but that doesn't stop the networks from teasing us a little early. One candidate that sounds interesting is ABC's new drama, Pan Am, aiming to evoke a 1960's Mad Men-at-30,000-feet vibe (you know that's got to have been the pitch). Back in the day, Pan Am was of course the epitome of international jet set cool. Pan Am stars Christina Ricci as a stewardess.

Pan Am was written by Jack Orman, who's worked on JAG, ER and Men of a Certain Age. The pilot's directed by West Wing veteran Thomas Schlamme, a real TV pro. A package with some promise - Ricci is way underrated - here's hoping the folks involved give us compelling characters and do justice to this fascinating era.

Breaking news: Benedict Cumberbatch will appear in The Hobbit!

Benedict Cumberbatch will appear in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit alongside Sherlock costar Martin Freeman (aka Bilbo)! The duo were at the TV Baftas over the weekend to recieve the award for Best Drama series for Sherlock. Backstage, Freeman accidentally let slip that Cumberbatch had signed on for The Hobbit as well.

When asked about his role, Cumberbatch hushed up; "I can't say at the moment, thank you very much." A red-faced Freeman added; "I knew I was a sort of a big mouth but I didn't realise to what extent I was a big mouth, and I've just ruined everything. I might not actually go back to a job - they might have just sacked me."

Freeman is back for a brief stay in the UK to film a second series of Sherlock, which will air later this year.

Your Government is prepared and has a plan...for the Undead!

Yes, the Center for Disease Control has a webpage about preparing for a zombie apocalypse. It's actually Assistant Surgeon General Ali Khan's very clever method of getting public attention focused on their guidelines for emergency preparedness in the face of more pressing disasters such as hurricanes. You're advised to stock up on food and water and first aid supplies (“Although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane,” the agency says).

Also figure out “where you would go and who you would call if zombies started appearing outside your door step,” the CDC’s post advises. No mention of preparing a weapons arsenal or any advice on killing these shambling bad guys.

The webpage became so popular that the increased traffic crashed their site. Zombie preparedness is the brainchild (sorry) of communications staff who noticed that traffic spiked when zombies were mentioned during one of its Twitter sessions on Japan and radiation, says Dave Daigle, a CDC spokesperson who led the new campaign.

Damned good - The Damned United!

Have you seen The Damned United? It's the film Tom Hooper directed before he scored with an Osacar for The King's Speech. Set in the early seventies, the film depicts the notorious rivalry between two of the UK's most legendary football coaches, Don Revie (Star Trek's Colm Meaney) of Leeds United, and envious, arrogant Brian Clough (Michael Sheen of Frost/Nixon) of Derby County.

This is a terrific movie, beautifully shot. From the first couple of scenes, you're struck by what an amazing job Hooper and his DP (Ben Smithard) do of composing every shot. The film revels in its seventies setting with some outrageous hair and wardrobe and a great soundtrack featuring Tom Jones, Deep Purple and Bowie.

Revie's success and fame at Leeds inspires envy in Clough, as well as titanic ego, to the point that Clough's ambition eventually drives a wedge between himself and his manager, Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall). Their friendship plays more like a love story and it's terrific. Neither man's really complete without the abilities of the other. Sheen and Spall are both just wonderful in their roles. Jim Broadbent rounds out a superb cast.

It's a tremendously enjoyable film about two sports legends most stateside folks have probably never heard of. Here in Portland where we're erupting in new found love for our Timbers, what better time to check out this excellent tale of just how crazy that love for the sport can drive someone.

How to Die in Oregon - stunning documentary premieres on HBO

Whatever you do, don't miss the astonishing documentary How to Die in Oregon, from Portland filmmaker Peter Richardson. It's an emotional powerhouse, having won the 2010 Grand Jury Prize Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film festival.

In 1994 Oregon became the first U.S. state to legalize physician aid-in-dying. Anyone who's diagnosed as having less than six months left to live can lawfully request a fatal dose of barbiturate to end his or her life. It's a controversial subject and Richardson does an amazing job of examining an emotionally charged issue by creating an extremely intimate and compassionate portrait of Cody Curtis, a 54 year-old wife and mother coping with the brutal diagnosis of liver cancer, and her surgical oncologist, Dr. Katherine Morris. Given six months to live, Curtis decides to face the end on her own terms while trying to enjoy her remaining time to the fullest. The candid conversations between Curtis and Dr. Morris are humbling to witness. Morris struggles with her own beliefs when faced with prescribing medication that will end Curtis' life, who is a friend as well as a patient.

Kate Morris is a dear family friend who took tremendous professional risks in participating in this documentary, caring for her patient with incredible compassion and kindness. She says she was "shocked" by the contrast between "thinking about it in the intellectual realm of 'This is a law that supports my values,' versus, 'I'm actually going to take a pen and write a prescription for something that will end someone's life."

How to Die in Oregon looks at both sides of a very controversial and painful subject and emerges as an ultimately life-affirming and devastatingly powerful look at what it means to face the end of life with dignity. Both patient and physician reveal enormous longing and bravery in a way few documentaries have ever captured. I was fortunate enough to see this film last year and it left me moved, overwhelmed and tremendously proud for those involved. It may be the hardest movie to watch that you'll see this year - it's also the one you should absolutely not miss.

How to Die in Oregon premieres on HBO this Thursday, May 26th at 8:00 PM.

Hobbit rumor updates...

When news broke about Stephen Fry joining The Hobbit, I realized that it had been a while since I'd checked the most recent rumblings about the cast. There have been some interesting developments:

Thrilled to see that Christopher Lee is now being openly mentioned among the full cast, reprising the role of Saruman. Lee turns 89 on May 27th - it's glorious news to hear he's able to participate, particularly given his having actually met Tolkien and his fondness for re-reading the books every year. Sir Christopher is a good luck charm of the highest order.

Brian Blessed is one of the most marvelous actors alive, long a fixture of UK film and television and a personal favorite, having appeared in The Avengers, I, Claudius, Space: 1999, Flash Gordon, Henry V, Hamlet and countless others. Blessed is rumored to be portraying Dwarf King Dain, a pivotal figure in the Battle of Five Armies.

Who will be the voice of Smaug, most nefarious of dragons? Names from Ron Perlman to Bill Nighy have all been rumored at some point. Most recently, Leonard Nimoy's name has appeared as a contender. Nimoy has been great on Fringe and will be the voice of Sentinel Prime in this summer's Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

All wonderful actors! Game of Thrones fans, also of note - Conan Stevens who plays Ser Gregor "The Mountain That Rides" Clegane, has also been cast as fierce Orc Azog! Can't wait to see this cast in all their Middle Earth glory!

Two more reasons Stephen Fry is cool

Writer, actor and Emma Thompson pal Stephen Fry has had a fervent cult following for ages, having appeared in Jeeves and Wooster and Black Adder II in the UK.

Fry is about to become even more familiar to worldwide audiences. He'll be appearing this Christmas in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows as Holmes' brother Mycroft, and Peter Jackson just announced he'll be joining the cast of The Hobbit as the Master of Laketown! That's quite a pair of roles, Stephen!

Thor review: busting open summer with the God of Thunder!

Got a chance to bust the shrinkwrap off the summer movie season and check out Thor, the latest from Marvel Studios and director Kenneth Branagh. Thor was always one of the more cosmic properties of the Marvel universe and Branagh offers up a satisfying, far flung fantasy where magic and advanced science are one and the same, delivering a trippy hybrid of ethereal space kingdoms and rainbow bridges with costume designs that lean heavy on the fiberglass. Once Thor is banished from the plain of Asgard to dwell among we mortals of Earth, the fun factor really kicks into high gear. Forced to trade in his hammer and cloak for denim and flannel, Thor storms into a pet store demanding a horse.

The Asgard scenes are a bit of a mixed bag. It’s a little bizarre to see The Wire’s Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) as Odin’s personal nightclub bouncer, with a voice so deep he makes Barry White sound like Pee Wee Herman. Thor’s brother/nemesis Loki (Tom Hiddleston) looks eerily like Brent Spiner as Data.

Sadly, the villainous Frost Giants are a real disappointment. Given how they’ve been depicted in the comics, they’re pretty generic here – but their mind-blowingly enormous guard monster is sensationally well designed. But the Frost Giants themselves are barcode CGI bland.

But make ye no mistake – Thor is Fun with a capital F. The pacing is brisk and much of the movie takes place on Earth where fish-out-of-water Thor is incredibly engaging alongside scientists Natalie Portman and Stellan Skarsgård. Portman is a scientist from the Bringing Up Baby school of believability, which is to say, she’s just really about having fun here and you just have to go with it. Thor among the humans creates an atmosphere that reminded me of Star Trek IV – The Voyage Home – affectionate and not taking itself too seriously while still delivering the goods. Loki sends an automaton after Thor called Destroyer – a combination suit of armor and blast furnace, making a very effective antagonist. Destroyer is scary and cool.

A movie about dimension-hopping space Vikings shouldn’t take itself too seriously and Thor wisely makes sure to keep things fun. There are plenty of laughs to be had and Chris Hemsworth makes a great larger-than-life hero. Keep your eyes peeled for a terrific Stan Lee cameo and be sure to stay after the end credits for another Marvel bonus scene that teases next summer’s Avengers movie. Thor is terrific summer fun.

"In your satin tights, fighting for your rights..." NBC breaks up with wonder Woman

Remember in Pulp Fiction how Mia Wallace talked about being in a TV pilot that no one ever saw? Fox Force Five? Fearing another Bionic Woman disaster, NBC has pulled the plug on David E. Kellye's new Wonder Woman pilot. Wonder Woman starred Adrianne Palicki from Friday Night Lights and had generated a lot of online carping about the costume, so much so that NBC even changed it -- but evidently to no avail. This Diana Prince was depicted as a corporate CEO by day,crime-fighting Amazon Wonder Woman by night. The pilot must have really failed to connect at test screenings for NBC to go DNR here, especially in a marketplace that's more superhero friendly than ever. Kelley can always try to shop it someplace else (Syfy channel?), but after this public a shutdown, odds of any takers are slim. What this means for any continuing plans to develop a Wonder Woman movie is anyone's guess. For now, time to hang up that lasso of truth.

What's it like when he goes camping? Will Smith invades New York.

Will Smith has managed to tick off residents and shopkeepers of New York's Soho neighborhood, where he's currently filming Men in Black III. "But I thought he was such a nice guy!" The thing is, Will has set up a gigantic double-decker trailer, nicknamed "The Heat," to serve as his between-takes refuge from reality. Locals are outraged by the enormous vehicle and have complained to city officials, who say despite its size, the trailer does not violate any regulations. Take a look at this behemoth:

Measuring 1,150 square feet, the custom designed RV is bigger than most cramped New York apartments and rents for $9,000 a week.


Evidently his rented $25,000 a month five-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom apartment is too remote, being less than a mile away, so Will arranged to have all the necessaries right on the curb.
 
"The Heat" includes a lounge with a bar, a movie room with a 100-inch screen, marble floors throughout, a full-service kitchen, a large bedroom and all-granite bathroom. The trailer, which measures 53 feet long and weighs around 30 tons, also has a meeting space big enough for 30 people and offices for Smith's assistants and writing staff.


Of course Smith has to stay in shape as well, so he has an additional 55-foot trailer featuring a full-size gym.

Word has it the trailer is being moved to nearby private property today. That's very thoughtful.

Coolest sounding alien movie you haven't heard of yet: Attack the Block

Currently knocking 'em dead in the UK, Attack the Block follows a gang of hoodied youths when a group of ferocious aliens begins to strike terror in the midst of their South London tower projects neighborhood. The feature debut of director Joe Cornish, Attack the Block might sound like a Shaun of the Dead knockoff at first glance, but quickly moves into confident, exciting John Carpenter territory.

The South London kids are pretty feral themselves (see Eden Lake), quick to rob and slow to articulate. But as they realize what's taken root in their midst, they become increasingly sympathetic - as things evidently grow increasingly dark. The aliens and their attacks are monstrous and shocking.

Original, smart, thrilling and cinematic, Attack the Block definitely sounds like one to look out for when it opens stateside. Watch for it!

Send an Outlaw to get rid of a Sea Monster...

After the crushing disappointment of having two dream projects collapse around him, Guillermo del Toro is looking to recover from losing The Hobbit and At the Mountains of Madness by filming an epic monster movie, Pacific Rim. Humanity is under siege from giant hostile creatures looking to wipe out mankind city by city. Cloverfield meets Battle L.A.?

Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam is up for the lead as mankind bands together to fight back using advanced weaponry. Hunnam may be a pilot of one of the monster killing vehicles.

No doubt Hunnam's Sons costar Ron Perlman had some influence over del Toro's casting, him being Hellboy and all.

Fringe 3rd season finale - spoiler-free praise

Impossible not to address the third season finale of Fringe that aired on Friday. Yet I have several friends who have been late to the party, so I don’t want to blow anything too major, for those not already into the mad world of season three. But it must be said that Fringe continues to break new ground each season. Faced with an uncertain future of there being a fourth season, Fringe dared to focus the story on…an uncertain future. This season has seen enormous changes to all the characters on the show, “in this life, and the next,” as Gladiator’s Maximus might have put it. Both sides of the fence have had their worlds rocked, to be sure. These last few episodes of the season have been spectacularly inventive and unusual.

One suspects that the writer’s room on Fringe may resemble Walter’s own lab, as a willingness to experiment seems to exist in both places. Most shows that find themselves moved to a new night with the prospect of non-renewal looming would play it safe. Not Fringe. Week after week they gave us a reason to come back and more reasons to care about these characters, so it must be particularly gratifying to have taken those risks and then actually get renewed for a fourth season. Way to go Fox!

Fringe manages to stay unpredictable and reinvent itself a bit each season. The core concept is the same, but each season flips the coin anew, revealing a side we never considered. When you take it for granted you’ll get heads or tails, the appearance of a third option is jarring – and intriguing.

The cast just gets deeper and more invested in these characters and consistently delivers the goods. Here’s hoping we see more of Seth Gable as Lincoln Lee next year. He’s made the character seem like an indispensable part of this ensemble and makes you want to know more about him. It’s also high time to give Jasika Nicole’s Astrid Farnsworth more front-and-center time. She’s risked sinking into Lieutenant Uhura abandonment at times – let’s get her into the plot more and find out what makes her tick.

Fringe delivered some superb guest stars this year, including Paula Malcomson, Andre Royo, Christopher Lloyd and most recently Brad Dourif in the finale.

While Fringe never skimps on the action, it remains foremost a series about ideas and characters. Friday’s finale played out the endgame of the season then promptly knocked over the chessboard. I don’t know where we’re going next September or who’s going to be there, but I can’t wait to find out. Fringe is a series that keeps on rewarding the faithful then continues to ask if you’re ready to climb on up to the next level of the game.

UPDATE: Saturday report from Free Comic Book Day!



Click Anthony's picture to read all about the fun!



Reminder: Free Comic Book Day tomorrow!

It's the first weekend of May, so it must be time for Free Comic Book Day! Comic books shops across this mighty land of ours give away free comic books! It's very kid-friendly and shops typically try to make it something happy and fun for all ages with plenty of surprises. Creator signings and costumed characters abound!

If you're in Portland, there are many fabulous shops to choose from -- Cosmic Monkey, Excalibur and of course the hallowed halls of Things From Another World!  The Hollywood store on NE Sandy Boulevard will be a veritable Mos Eisley of mayhem, with the fun beginning bright and early at 10:00 AM! Their link has the full schedule for creator signings. Stormtroopers from Cloud City Garrison will be there, too! So take your kids and make merry among the superheroes!

Man, it's every Hudson line from Aliens, man!!!

What better way to end this delirious week than with a spectacular supercut six minute rant about the iniquity of the cosmos? Was your week as bad as Hudson's? Do you complain this much at work? I hope not! Paxton sure says "man" a lot! Dang!

"Please Hammer, don't hurt 'em!"

This Friday, the movie gods descend to earth once again for four glorious summer months of epic mayhem and excess, beginning with the first of a colossal tidal wave of superhero movies, Marvel's mighty Thor.

Early reviews have been very positive! Empire Magazine gave Thor four stars - they were expecting Flash Gordon cheese but fess up that Thor is "tremendous fun." Likewise, Entertainment Weekly gives director Kenneth Branagh's movie an A- grade, calling it "momentous and lighthearted...a rousing popcorn adventure."

Sounds like summer is going to start with a smash as Marvel builds even more anticipation for next summer's mighty Avengers team-up saga. So say ye YAY!

Ronan lands Stephanie Meyer's alien saga

Now that Hollywood has completed adapting her Twilight series, development is underway on Stephanie Meyer's other, non-vampire novel, The Host. More science fiction than horror, The Host will star Hanna's Saoirse Ronan as Melanie, a woman whose mind is invaded by an alien parasite intent on dominating her personality.

Lurking at Lincoln Center

Finally got a chance to see Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan and loved it. Pretty exciting stuff. If I'd been in a coma and you woke me up and showed me this movie with me knowing nothing about it and asked me, "Who do you think directed this movie?" I''d probably answer, "David Cronenberg." There is a great deal of physical transformation going on in Black Swan as Natlie Portman's Nina Sayers descends more and more into role-obsessed madness in her quest to be the "perfect" Tchaikovsky Swan. She does a superb job and the role seems tailor made for her. But as well as she fits the part, this is a Natalie Portman we've never seen before.

Her home life with mother is right out of Carrie. Barbara Hershey is the bestower of the obsessive genes here and she's a pretty disturbing stage mother. Their apartment feels like it could be just down the hall from Guy and Rosemary Woodhouse in Rosemary's Baby. As Nina struggles to be the Swan Queen her director wants her to be, she withdraws deeper into the darkness inside of her, veering away from mom and closer to the influence of a new member of the company played by Mila Kunis'  -- an influence that challenges and threatens Nina's ideas of who she is and who she is expected to be.

As the director of the ballet company, Vincent Cassel is fantastic. You just hate him, but you can't stop watching him, either. Somebody needs to make this guy the villain in a Bond movie, he'd be perfect.

There are some over the top sequences in Black Swan, and you can imagine how some people might not roll with these punches. But if you're in the mood for a phenomenally dark, luruid, at times Hitchcockian tale of paranoia and psychosis in New York, Black Swan is both a visionary and realistically pulp tour de force. Highly recommended.