Soderberg: Update

I wasn't a fan of Contagion, but even this is a step down. At least a more obvious step down. While Contagion was attempting to have some serious credibility Soderberg's latest, Haywire, cannot be described as more than a Bourne-Taken-Knight-and-Day mix.

Trained assassin. check. Revenge. check. American blockbuster with 'trailer guy' voice over to prove it. check.



After the (justified) success of Traffic (critically and award-ly), I automatically assume Soderberg to be one the best directors working at the moment. Indeed, Out of Sight and Erin Brockovich help things too. But this new revenge film has giving me the most disappointing enlightenment, moment. He's not...that...good.

I know(!). I'm scared to say it too. But while he's done Traffic (and this is not to take away from that film, which remains phenomenal) and a couple of other less good, but still amazing films (maybe Solaris and the Informant as well...maybe), he's also done Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Thirteen, Contagion and now this! Surely Ocean's Twelve is one of the worst films of the decade, while the others are flimsy at best.

He's up-coming ones have to be on top form then, if he is going to remain the credible director we all know and love. Unfortunately, that isn't looking too lightly.

Soderberg has too films in development - both with Channing Tatum (Step up, G.I. Joe, the Eagle) attached. So not a great start.

He has a reason to be hiring Tatum for one, though, since it is based on Tatum's own experience as a stripper. Magic Mike follows new male stripper Mike into his new career, as he is taken under the wings of other male strippers in the business for a bit longer. So yeh. Soderberg appears to want to reminis about Channing Tatum as a stripper. Intersting choice.

Next up is the new adaptation of 1960s t.v. show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. This follows that of a male duo (originally Robert Vaughn and David McCallum) fluttering abroad to fight international crime. After George Clooney and Bradley Cooper have dropped out from playing the part of Vaughn's Napoleon Solo, Tatum is now connected to this too.

The script for Haywire is done by  Lemm-the Score-Dobbs, and by the sounds of these plots, and the direction Soderberg's taken with his recent films, the script for these two will fair little better. And that's just by passing by why after Haywire, Soderberg wants to work with Tatum (as ok as he may be) on another two films. No disrespect to Tatum, but he's no Matt Damon.

Are we witnessing the fall of Soderberg? Maybe I'm exaggerating. Check out the trailer to his new film and post your comments below...

Haywire Trailer

Being Flynn

Not many good titles under this directors belt (About a Boy being his best, Little Fockers being his latest) but Paul Weitz has got a stellar cast for his new one. Robert De Niro looks especially good. Definitely nice to see him electrifying the screen again. Not a return to the old days, but at least he's spreading some more of his acting wings. Even a little bit of his magic is good to see nowadays (really don't know what the point of Fockers and Machete roles are!).

Either way, check the trailer out below and see what your thoughts are...

Being Flynn Trailer

PS wish they kept the original title of Nick Flynn's memoirs: Another Bullshit Night in Suck City. That would have being amazing!

Snow White and the Hunstman: ever wondered what a Kirsten Stewart Snow White would be like?

Speaking of Kirsten Stewart (below) reminded me of this nice new trailer. Why do i like this? Lets face it, its probably just because its got Kirsten Stewart in it. So if you fancy seeing what a Kirsten Stewart Snow White looks like check this out...

Snow White and the Huntsman trailer

On. the. Rooooaadd!

Yes, just read Jack Kerouac's stunning novel that defined a generation and set the next one off trecking across the US. Yes! Yes, man! Dean Moriarty, yes! So while I'm excited about this book I new I had to link it to films. And so I have, with the news that Walter Salles' next film entry is indeed a take on Kerouac's already classic road novel.

With the likes of the Motorcycle Diaries behind him, you can see why producer Francis Ford Coppola (yeh, thats right man! yes! yes!) wanted Salles at the helm. Indeed, if he puts his pacing to Motorcycle Diaries to good use, this adaptation good end up to be a cracka.



It has a lot to live up to, though. Kerouac's semi-autobiographical tale has influenced the likes of Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison, while defining the Beat Generation. Indeed, since it was published in 1957 it has being hailed as one of the best books of the 20th century. So no pressure.

The story itself follows that of writer Salvator 'Sal' Paradise, who takes to the road on numerous, spontaneous trips around America with the free-spirited maverick that is, Dean Moriarty.

Why has it taken over fifty years for such a classic to get to the big screen? It's being tried before but has being one of those films everyone has struggled to get off the ground. It's only when Coppola got the rights after Gus Van Sant (Milk, Good Will Hunting) failed, that things have started to get moving.

Luckily, though, those worries are behind us and the film is now well on its way (yes! yes!).

The film boasts a stunning cast including new(ish)comers Sam Riley and Garrett Hudland (another newcomer on fire at the moment - though not yet sure why. Will he be Kenda in Hollywoods new take on Akira?), as well as Kirsten Stewart (yes man! yes, I love her! You know that!? I love her! yes man!), Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensan and Amy Adams.

(Just take in how those last three names were used in passing for one film. Like Kirsten Stewart wasn't enough on her own.)

So, yeh. That's it. If you're not excited/don't understand what all the 'yes man's' are about, then go now, go now, and read it! Then you will more than understand.

It should be out 2012; so I think of Dean Moriarty...

the Dark Knight Rises! - with Christopher Nolan, thank god

With teasers coming out left right and centre for the most anticipated film of next year, no post for the past couple of months is inexcusable.  So to put that criticism to rest, here we have an update of everything Dark Knight Rises. Check it out and get up to date on Nolan's final in the Dark Knight Trilogy...

Director: Christopher Nolan

Screenplay: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan

Story: Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer

Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Liam Neeson and Josh Pence

Plot: unknown. but includes Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle (i.e. Catwoman), and Tom Hardy as Bane. Liam Neeson will also feature as his previous character Ra's Al Ghul, while Josh Pence plays a younger version. Presumably a flash back then, but with Nolan at the helm it's anyone's guess.

Meanwhile, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is on as a police officer on a special task force to hunt the bat, and the beautiful Marion Cotillard is apparently flying in as a new addition to Wayne's business. Where the romance will come from (which we will assume will be an element) we don;t know, though. NOTE: Nolan always wanted to finish the trilogy altogether, with no chance of sequels. With a new reboot for Batman (as DC plan an Avengers challenger in the form of....) this is more than likely. So, the key question in all of this intrigue is: how will Nolan finish the biggest trilogy since LOTR!? Will he be able to kill Batman off!? Or will it be something more subtle?...

Teaser Trailer: Didn't get anything much from this myself, but check out and see if you get the bat bug...

the Dark Knight Rises Teaser Trailer

Pictures: Last but not least, the officially released pics (theres tonnes out there, so I've narrowed it to the ones officially released)



Odd but ok...



First look at Bane. Again, not got much from this one (compare it to the hard hitting teaser pic of heath ledger's joker!). But yeh, ok...



This is where Nolan lost me. Yes, I'm afraid at this point my heart officially sunk. She looks terrible! What is with those goggles!? Whats the blue LED light at the corners? That's literally my first reaction. Not good considering Catwoman is driving Batmans bike!

So, that's the update. How do we feel after that? I want to go on with optimism but that dam picture above is plaguing me. While everything would be absolutely fine had I being blown away by/liked the other official teaser stuff, this has left me disillusioned. I am in turmoil. The characters, the trailer, the pics...nothings striking me this time around. It's made worse when you compare it to the Dark Knight. It teased us here and there with beautiful pics and trailers. I mean even the name of that one was a revolution. But this one... Nevertheless, we must not let a constant shroud cover the exciting prospect that is the Dark Knigth Rises. After all, Christopher Nolan is returning for the last in his Batman trilogy(!). As long as that fact is there, we have much cause for the much held excitement. In Nolan we trust then...I guess.

Coriolanus

Like the look of this one...






Coriolanus Trailer

Malick: he's pulling a Woody Allen!

After waiting twenty years for the Thine Red Line, then seven for the New World, you wouldn't be out of line to suggest that after his Tree of Life success, we cud be waiting at least half a decade if not a full one for his next outing. Fortunately (/unfortunately, depending on your thinking), Malick has stepped up his game. Apparently he doesn't do things in half either. So, instead of one film (on average) a decade, Malick has three films all at once. He's pulling a Woody Allen on us!

First up is his, as yet unnamed, romance pic staring Ben Affleck (another busy bee at the moment) and Rachel McAdams. Then we have two almost back to back.

Lawless will star the likes of Ryan Gosling (yaay!), Cate Blanchett, Haley Bennett, Rooney Mara (again! she should give Fincher a very big kiss, she is being boosted into stardom now!) and Christian Bale.

He's added a final one, Knight of Cups, into the mix too. Bale and Blanchett will return for this one(!). What does Knight of Cups mean? Anyone's guess. Saying that, Malick (in usual Malick style) is keeping all these new projects close to his chest.

Now while I was very(!) skeptical before about Malick's 'gift' post-the Thin Red Line disappointment, I have decided to hold fire on these ones. Indeed, one can expect the Tree of Life will show up in my stocking this Christmas (yes, I know!). This just proves that I've grown up. Gone are the days wherewe make pre-concieved ideas of films based on past disappointment. Hello, mature days where we critically analyse films only when I have seen them. Of course some films are deemed exceptions (the Land of Blood and Honey) but it doesn't apply to Malick, and I am still trying.

Either way, it'll be interesting to see what Malick has up his sleeves.

So while no dates are set yet, for better or worse, we can expect to see a lot of Malick in the next couple of years...