Movie News Daily
Clooney Dominates Cannes
In the first major pickup of this year's Cannes Film Festival, Overture has nabbed the rights to 'Men Who Stare at Goats,' which stars Clooney as an ex-member of a secret Army unit that uses paranormal tactics, according to Variety. In addition, Focus Features announced at the fest that George will star in 'A Very Private Gentleman,' about a misanthropic assassin who runs into trouble when he begins to form personal relationships with members of the idyllic Italian town in which he's hiding. (May 19)
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Martin Luther King Jr. Bio Heads for Big Screen
Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks have a dream to bring the story of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. to the big screen -- and they're making it come true. Variety that DreamWorks has acquired the rights to MLK's life story and is set to make a biopic with Spielberg producing. The iconic role has yet to be cast, but we're thinking Jamie Foxx fits the bill perfectly. (May 19)
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Mel Gibson Settles 'Passion' Lawsuit
It's been a big week for Mel Gibson. Hot on the heels of the news that he's expecting a baby with Russian girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, the Hollywood Reporter confirms that he's settled a lawsuit with 'Passion of the Christ' screenwriter Benedict Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald sued Gibson for $10 million in February 2008, alleging that he was told the film's budget was considerably lower than it actually was. A June 3 trial date has been canceled, but details of the settlement have not been revealed. (May 19)
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'New Moon' Poster Debuts
Can't wait to sink your teeth into the 'Twilight' sequel 'New Moon' this November? This should whet your vampire lust even more: Summit Entertainment has released the official 'New Moon' teaser poster, showcasing a brooding (and -- no shocker here -- immaculately coiffed) Robert Pattionson, as well as Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) and the human object of their vamp/werewolf desires Bella Swann (Kristen Stewart). Get more about 'New Moon.' (May 19)
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Critics Boo Von Trier's 'Antichrist'
Controversial filmmaker Lars Von Trier's latest movie, 'Antichrist,' didn't go over so well at the Cannes Film Festival. According to the Hollywood Reporter, a Sunday screening of the film -- which features a talking fox, scenes of explicit sexual gore and a leg-drilling scene that would make Eli Roth blush -- elicited boos, jeers and howling laughter from critics. When angry journalists demanded Von Trier "explain and justify" himself, he simply declared himself "the world's greatest director." Riiiight. (May 19)
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Hemsworth Nabs Leads in 'Thor,' 'Red Dawn'
It looks like Hollywood has a new It Boy. Hot off his turn as James T. Kirk's dad in 'Star Trek,' Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth has booked lead roles in director Kenneth Branagh's Norse superhero blockbuster 'Thor' and the remake of '80s Russian invasion cult classic 'Red Dawn,' according to the Hollywood Reporter. Hemsworth will play the titular blond-maned, hammer-wielding deity in 'Thor' and take on the role originated by Patrick Swayze in the original 1984 'Dawn.' (May 18)
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Bradley Cooper to Play Face in 'The A-Team'?
Take a good look at Bradley Cooper's mug because it may be the face of Face in director Joe Carnahan's upcoming 'A-Team' movie. At yesterday's press junket for 'The Hangover,' Cooper seemed to confirm to IESB that he'll play Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck in the big-screen adaptation of the hit '80s show, about a ragtag quartet of war heroes who, while on the lam for a crime they didn't commit, become good-guy vigilantes for hire. (May 18)
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Connelly, Neeson Take 'Wrong' Turn
Jennifer Connelly and Liam Neeson have signed on to star in the drama 'What's Wrong With Virginia,' Variety reports. The film, which marks the directorial debut of Oscar-winning 'Milk' screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, centers on a charming but psychologically troubled woman (Connelly) whose secret 20-year affair with a man running for state senate (Neeson) is tested when her son begins dating his daughter. Can't imagine why that would be weird for anyone. (May 18)
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Penn to Rock in 'Place'
Sean Penn is in talks to play a retired middle-aged rock star in 'This Must Be the Place,' Variety confirms. Bored with retirement, Penn's former rocker sets off on a quest to find his father's executioner, an ex-Nazi war criminal now living as a refugee in the U.S. No doubt he plans to rock said executioner's world. (May 18)
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Marion Cotillard to Star in 'Mouchoirs'
'La Vie en Rose' Oscar winner Marion Cotillard is set to star in the French-language ensemble 'Les Petits Mouchoirs,' Variety confirms. Described as a tragicomedy, the third film from 'Tell No One' director Guillaume Canet follows a group of friends who experience some startling revelations while spending their traditional summer holiday together on the French coast. (May 18)
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Reader Comments (111)
Patrick at 9:12PM on Dec 2nd 2008
Umm, how is Kung Fu Panda the frontrunner for best animated picture when WALL-E not only recieved much better reviews than it, but also recieved better reviews than ANY FILM OF THE YEAR THUS FAR.
Many critics, including the very reliable Michael Phillips, called WALL-E the best American studio film of the year thus far. Not just best animated, but best FILM.
I'm sorry, but your analysis that Kung Fu Panda recieving more NOMINATIONS, not wins, but NOMINATIONS, somehow makes it a frontrunner is just LUDICROUS.
lindielv at 5:07AM on Apr 7th 2009
I agree, WALL-E was by far a superior film. It just didn't have Angelina's voice, unfortunately.
Angel at 1:10PM on Apr 11th 2009
Watch WHAT I've just found! Angelina Jolie leaked home made video!!! I don't care if it was made by Brad or someway else (she's much younger there), it's just hot! Watch it for free at http://tinyurl.com/Jolie-naked
Marie at 12:35PM on Apr 28th 2009
right on patrick - Wall-E was the best KungFu Panda wasn't even a close 2nd or 3rd
Patrick at 9:16PM on Dec 2nd 2008
Not to mention a number of those nominations are for VOICE ACTING, which of course WALL-E doesn't have much of.
Just look at critic reviews or public consensus. Look at rottentomatoes or imdb. WALL-E's the frontrunner, plain and simple.
William at 8:55AM on Dec 4th 2008
"Wall-E" should be considered a lock to win best animated film -- and for good reason. It deserves the honor."
erik at 1:16PM on Dec 6th 2008
I predict animation domination. Kung Fu Pand wins Best Animated Picture and WALL-E wins best picture of the year over all
taylor at 8:00PM on Dec 6th 2008
watch Brad Pitts interview with Larry King. Pitt is a moron who can barely string two sentences together. He is what the British call a "pratt."
louis at 12:54AM on Dec 8th 2008
WALL-E IS THE WEAKEST MOVIE PIXAR EVER PRODUCED...JUST LOOK AT PIXAR'S ACHIVEMENTS...A BUGS LIFE, MONSTER INC. FINDING NEMO, TOY STORY, CARS, RATATOILLE...WALL-E IS VERY GOOD BUT JUST NOT AS GOOD AS THOSE LIST ABOVE.
KUNG FU PANDA ON THE OTHER HAND IS THE BEST ANIMATION FROM DREAM WORKS STUDIO ON PAR WITH RATATOILLE...THAT IS A BIG ACHIVEMENT, DON'T YOU THINK?
Will4in2erth at 8:14AM on Dec 13th 2008
I'm a big fan of Avatar, and I was excited to see the live action movie. But M. Night Shylaman's casting doesn't fit. McCartney should not play Prince Zuko in the movie. Zuko has an image and a character that Jesse simply does not have. I'm afraid to see how one of my favorite shows will be ruined when it goes to Live Action
JollyRogers at 9:02AM on Dec 13th 2008
Maybe they could change the plot so that his growth spurt just involves a body part instead of his height.
Angiebaby at 9:08AM on Dec 13th 2008
They can make Tom Cruise taller, Brad Pitt an old man and Gwyneth Paltrow obese. But Taylor Lautner is "too short"? Bull hockey. If they recast the part, whomever they select will have to undergo the same "growth spurt"! If they can make it happen for one actor, they can make it happen for another. I think they just want someone else for the part.
yaya at 9:30AM on Dec 13th 2008
Too short? So were more than a few Hollywood Legends of Long Ago. AOL needs to stop the Shock Headlines. Do ya think they'll give 'im a pair of "platform" shoes, hey?Just like the ones the "Legends" used? This story is so Bogus. The Studios are just fishing for reaction so they can make their next move.
Fran at 9:35AM on Dec 13th 2008
In addition to my other post, the studios still often employ a ramp, or a dug out walkway to acheive desired height , at least in the close ups. There's a whole lot of solutions to height problems. So, hold on all you young hysterical fans....they're pullin' ur leg with this one...believe me they are not going to kill the Golden Goose...he'll be back. Now, please go help ur parents with the usual Saturday chores, like good kids do.
PATTY at 10:01AM on Dec 13th 2008
OH LORD STUPID REASON FOR CUTTING THE ACTOR JUST BECAUSE HE IS TO SHORT HE IS 16 IF HIS CHARACTER REQUIRES TO BE THE HEIGHT OF A 25 YR OLD GIVE HIM SOME TIME TO GROW TAYLOR STILL HAS A FEW YEARS LEFT ON HIM TO GROW IN HEIGHT WIISE JUST BECAUSE HIS HEIGHT IS SHORT DOESNT MEAN HE NEEDS TO BE BOOTED OFF THE SEQUEL IDK WHY WHY WHOMEVER DECIDES TO DO THIS CRAP ITS THE SAME WITH YOU GET THESE ADULT TO PLAY THE ROLE OF A 25 YEAR OLD SOMETIMES A TEEN AND THEY ARE IN THERE LATE 20S EARLY 30S KEEP TAYLOR IN FOR THE SEQUEL BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO HIT A GROWTH SPURT JUST BECAUSE IT HASNT HAPPEN YET (THE GROWTH SPURT) DOESNT MEAN U HAVE TO JUMP TO CONCULSION OF TAKING HIN OUT OF TH4E SEQUEL FIND OTHER SOLUTIOONS TO MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE THE HEIGHT OF A 25 YEAR OL MILA KUNIS ELISA CUTHBERT WEAR SPECIAL SHOES TO MAKE THEM LOOK TALLER 4 ROLES IN THE MOVIE THAT REQUIRE BEING TALLER THEN WHAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE THEY ARE SMALL AS TAYLOR THIS WORLD IS FULL OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE TALL SHORT BIG SMALL YOUR NOT GOING TO FIND THAT ONE PERFECT PERSON TO PLAY A ROLE AS I SAID GIVE TAYLOR A CHANCE TO HIT A GROWTH SPURT TO PLAY THE PART SEE IF HE REACHES THE HEIGHT OF 25 YEAR OLD IF THAT DOESNT WORK TRY TO FIND OTHER SOLUTIONS FOR THE PART AND THE ACTOR MY COUSIN WAS SMALL TILL HE WAS 16 THEN HE HIT A MAJOR GROETH SPURT BY THE TIME HE WAS 18 KEPT GROWING HE IS 25 HE 6FT 5 IN UNLESS SOMEONE SUCH AS TAYLOR OR THE DIRECTORS OR SOMEONE FROM THE CAST CAN FIND SOME INSOLES THAT GOE IN YOUR SHOES TO MAKE U LOOK TALLER OR SPECIAL SHOES TO WEAR JUST WHEN YOUR DOING THE MOVIE TO MAKE YOU LOOK TALLER. IF U CANT DO IT NATURALLY TRY TO AT LEAST LOOK LIKE YOU ARE. TALLER. THEY MAKE IT SOUND AS OK HES NOT TALL ENOUGH THAT IT FORGET IT NOT GOING TO GIVE A CHANCE FOR THAT GROWTH SPURT TO HIT THE SEQUELS IS NOT COMING OUT TILL THE END OF 2009 OR SOMETIME IN 2010 THATS A YEAR AND A HALF TO 2 YEARS FOR TAYLOR TO HIT A GROWTH SPURT OR FIND OTHER SOULTIONS TO HAVE HIM BE THE HEIGHT A A 25 YR OLD
Tracy at 10:05AM on Dec 13th 2008
I suppose he will sue if he loses his job for being too short. This sue happy society sues for almost anything. What happened to the opinion that most of the hunks needed to be tall and well built? I, for one, much prefer that. Cruise and Pitt are much too short..........not sexy!!!
Jerry at 10:22AM on Dec 13th 2008
Do they really need to remake Romancing the Stone? The original was great, and I don't see any way they can improve on it. Has the well rally run so dry that Hollywood has to remake every movie made in the last 60 years? Come up with something original. I read recently that The Karate Kid was going to be remade as a starring vehicle for Wil Smith's son Jaden. The kid is a good actor, but couldn't someone write something original for him instead of rehashing a script already filmed 20 + years ago?
Pat at 11:03AM on Dec 13th 2008
For the record sixteen year old Taylor Lautner is 5'9", which is close to average adult height. Apparently the studio which is making Twilight would have an issue with Harry Potter's 5'6" Daniel Radcliffe too. But then the studio that produces the Harry Potter series somehow managed to make Daniel appear as tall as his co-star, the 5'10" Rupert Grint. So maybe it comes down to the fact that the Twilight studio must be run by a bunch of clueless retards. Actually with all the backlash they're generating I'm guessing Lautner is going to be re-signed and get paid a bigger chunk of cash to boot.
KEVIN at 10:47AM on Dec 13th 2008
if they knew that his character was to undergo a growth spurt in the follow up book why then did they hire this kid only to tell him later that he is to short to be in the sequels . sounds like a discrimination suit to me i hope he does sue & puts this movie on hold & if someone is to blame it is the producers ,casting directer .
twilight at 11:07AM on Dec 13th 2008
a really important part of the plot is a sudden and extreme growth spurt, it sets up the rest of the book