Trailer: Oz the Great and Powerful

The long awaited prequel of sorts to the famous Wizard of Oz, finally has a trailer.

Sam Raimi’s Oz the Great and Powerful, kicks off in black-and-white, paying tribute to the original, then we get to the Land of Oz.

The story centers around Jame Franco, who plays a circus magician, who finds himself transported to the world of Oz, where he is thrusted into battle with the three witches; Thodora played by Mila Kunis, Evanora, played by Rachel Weisz, and Glinda, played by Michelle Williams.

The film also stars Zach Braff and Abigail Spencer. 

Oz the Great and Powerful hits theaters onMarch 8th, 2013.

Synopsis:

Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Jonah Hill and James Franco Starring in True Story

Jonah Hill was nominated for an Oscar. After watching Superbad did you ever think that was going to happen?

Hill has stated that a main reason he lost all that weight was to get more “grown up and dramatic” roles. It’s working.

Hill is teaming up with Brad Pitt again, but no exactly on screen. Pitt will be producing a film called True Story, based on Michael Finkel’s novel, following a tale of mistaken identity and an investigation into falsifying New York Times-published articles.

Hill will portray Finkel and he’ll also be joined by James Franco. The story follows Finkel, who learns that a FBI most-wanted criminal Christian Longo (played by Franco) gets captured and was taking his identity. When Finkel gets fired at the New York Times for reportedly falsifying articles his career seemed over, but Longo only wants to speak to Franco and so begins a strange relationship.

It’s good to see Jonah Hill getting serious projects, I’m always a fan of actors trying to change their tune, and get rid of their label in Hollywood.

You can see Hill next in the comedy 21 Jump Street.

Eddie Murphy to Host The Oscars, Terrible Choice

After Anne Hathaway and James Franco bombed at 83rd Academy Awards, I, like many others chastised them for their poor performance, and had suggestions of my own for the next year’s host.

My first choice would have been Tom Hanks, a sneaky yet very funny actor, Hanks would slay the audience, I’m 100% sure of it.

Yet today, we learned that Eddie Murphy will host the 84th edition of the golden statue awards.

WHO!?!

Obviously everyone knows who Murphy is, but he isn’t relevant anywhere in Hollywood.

Now he’s best known for being a cartoon Donkey, and his last movie that made is seemingly noticeable was Norbit which came out over four years ago.

What was the thought process behind this? How far down the proposed host list was Murphy?

This comes out of left field, and I can’t see it being the best option, nor do I think it’ll go over well.

Now, I think it’ll be better than the neurotic, possibly marijuana induced spectacle that Hathaway and Franco put on this year, but frankly that isn’t a high bar to reach.

Which Murphy will we see?

The Coming to America Murphy?

Or, will we see the stupid, brain-dead, trying way too hard Murphy, that was thrown in our face in movies like Norbit, The Nutty Professor, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Daddy Day Care,and Bowfinger?

“With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances – especially on stage – I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February,” said Brett Ratner.

Don Mischer adds, “Eddie is a truly ground-breaking performer, whose amazingly diverse array of roles has won him a devoted audience of all ages. His quick wit and charisma will serve him very well as Oscar host.”

Murphy states, “I am enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others.”

Word is Billy Crystal will be involved in someway as well.

The 84th Academy Awards show taking place on February 26, 2012.

 

Wyatt Sheds Light on Apes Sequel

Once this weekends major hit, Rise of the Planet of the Apes ended, everyone knew a sequel should be the next logical step.

And anyone with half a brain, and some eyes would be in favor of just that happening.

In my review of the film, I dubbed it the best film thus far of the year, so naturally and thanks to the box office numbers, director Rupert Wyatt is hinting that way.

Wyatt has started sharing some info about a possible sequel and what other ideas are floating around.

Here is what Wyatt had to say…

“There’s so much we could do… The ideas I’ve had are all sorts of things, ranging from Full Metal Jacket with apes… you could start this story again eight years from where we left off, the next generation of apes, those that have come from our protagonists, perhaps going in to a conflict with humans and showing real fear, in the same way as going into war for young soldiers in this day and age, telling their story. Or how apes are taking over cities, and being moved into human environments and having to interact with them and deal with things that are part of our culture and understand and evolve through them. Spies that are in the employ of the apes, working against humans and humans maybe existing underground, because that’s a way they can avoid the virus, coming up above ground wearing gas masks, and maybe that’s what dehumanises them.”

The underground aspect could work, but if you have seen the film, and stayed after the credits, we saw that the next location is New York, so unless the take over begins there, they would have to pick up the story in a different way for the “humans living underground” story line to work.

Then again this would in a way pay homage to the second film in the original series called Beneath the Planet of the Apes, which featured mutated people that lived underground.

Many people have already expressed their desire to see James Franco and Freida Pinto back if a sequel does take place, along with Caesar, of course. The audience is now emotionally intertwined.

Thoughts on what Wyatt had to say?

 

Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

You’ll never look at monkeys or apes the same again, ever.

Captivating. The one word I can use to adequately describe the feeling I got throughout the entire film, along with the one word that stuck in my brain as I walked out of the theater.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is another take on Planet of the Apes that we have seen many times over time, and this one could be the greatest of them all.

The old heads will probably side with Charlton Heston and his 1968 portrayal,but director Rupert Wyatt deserves just as much praise for his 2011 adaptation.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes tells the story of Will Rodman, played by James Franco, a scientist who develops and tests a potential cure for Alzheimer’s disease. In order to see it’s potential he tests the formula on apes, until he sees one ape react very positively to the cure. This ape is dubbed Caesar, played by Andy Serkis via motion capture technology.

Caesar proves to have great intelligence for an ape, being able to sign and even write. Soon enough, things go astray and Caesar winds up in an unfamiliar environment where he leads a complete takeover of California with help from thousands of apes.

First and foremost I have to acknowledge Serkis, and his stellar work. With this motion capture technology, Serkis was responsible for all the facial expressions and movements, Caesar’s body was added with CGI, but the work was all done by Serkis.

To think you can feel the pain, suffering, anger of an ape through a screen so vividly one moment, and then see a complete transformation as the apes rise against the human race and stake their claim, it’s truly an unbelievable thing to witness.

Serkis connects with the audience through his interactions with Franco, his girlfriend Caroline played by Freida Pinto, and his father who has Alzheimer’s, John Lithgow. His performance in this film stands alone, above all else.

Now I’m one of the biggest James Franco detractors out there, but his role here is rather minimal in the grand scheme of things so he isn’t over baring in his pompous ways like he normally is, which was a major plus.

The other star of this film, isn’t a person, it’s the CGI.

We’ve become so use to CGI technology in our films these days that nothing comes as a surprise. We’ve seen it countless times already this summer with all the superhero films that have come out.

But this is different, the way it was used with the Apes and the action here made it seem authentic.

Now of course you must leave belief at the door, but the look and feel for the apes, their interactions, their anger was pure and came across as not something that was so out of the ordinary in terms of the look.

There are moments of happiness, sadness, and sometimes pure terror where you sit back and think for yourself, wow, can this really happen?

One of the major keys of this film is the pace and timing. There is no 25 minute wait period for the film to get going, literally 5 minutes into the film the action starts, and from there on out, it’s a non stop tense fiasco.

Fodder Note – Stick around after the credits, there are additional scenes. 

Tom Felton, best known to the world as playing Dracco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise plays a role here as well as an Ape attendant. And boy, besides looking older, his smugness that traslated well as Malfoy really came across here as well. It’s like he was the same character just in civilian clothes, I fear he may never lose that stigma.

An interesting note about his character though, his name in the film is Dodge Landon, which is a reference to the characters Dodge and Landon, Colonel Taylor’s fellow astronauts in Planet of the Apes.

I’m going out on a limb and doing something I really hate to do, and say this is the best movie of the year thus far.

I tried to find a way around it, and not think so, but this is the top of the top of 2011 as of today.

Captivating from start to finish, leaving you with questions and a desire for more.

Rating: 9/10

James Franco to Star in Cherry

Add and indie drama film about the pornography industry to the list of films next up for James Franco.

Franco has just signed on for “Cherry” where he will play a lawyer.

Co starring will be Heather Graham, while Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) and Lilli Taylor (The Haunting) are also both in negotiations to co-star in the movie.

The story follows a troubled 18-year-old who moves to San Francisco, where she enters the porn industry and becomes involved with a cocaine-addicted lawyer, to be played by Franco.

Graham will play a former porn star-turned-director who becomes mildly obsessed with the young starlet, who has yet to be cast.

Taylor will play the teen’s alcoholic mother, while Patel will play the girl’s best friend who’s in love with her.

“Cherry” is scheduled to start production next month in San Francisco.

Michelle Williams Cast in Sam Raimi’s Oz

The witches are now set for Sam Raimi’s depiction of the Wizard of Oz.

Mila Kunis who will play  Theodorah (who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West), Rachel Weisz is signed on for the part of Evanora (who turns into the Wicked Witch of the East). And nowGlinda (the Good Witch of the North), will be played by Michelle Williams.

That’s some serious talent heading the film.

James Franco will be playing the Wizard.

Raimi has said that he will make sure the characters have a more “adult type of feel” so this won’t exactly be the Dorthy story you once knew.

Here is the plot for “Oz”

“The Wizard is a “snake-oil salesman” who enters the Technicolor world of Oz after escaping the vengeful husband of his latest sexual conquest. Once in Oz, he lies to the natives, claiming to be a wizard. This deceitful Casanova soon falls for Glinda the Good Witch, and spurns Theodora prompting her to becomes a bad witch and team up with the downright evil Evanora to destroy Oz. Now the “fast-talking huckster” has to redeem himself by joining forces with his beloved Glinda to save all of Oz.”

The level of talent already on the film is sure to make for a great film, and there are still vital parts that need to be filled.

Production and shooting is set to begin in July.

Franco and Ryder to Star in Psychological thriller

After starring in “127 Hours” and bombing at the Oscars, James Franco is slowly picking his projects that will follow “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” He has to restructure his image, in a way.

I’m sure he still thinks he is this amazing person, and Gods gift to Hollywood and the silver screen but the viewers will be the real judge of that.

Winona Ryder, who was great in a minor role in “Black Swan” resurfaced and displayed her talents and as the crazy, hospitalized ex-lead dancer.

Now Ryder will assume another mind thrilling role with Franco.

The film is called “The Stare,” a drama in which a playwright (Ryder) finds her mind beginning to warp as she struggles to launch her next production.

She’s plagued by dreams and visions of being watched, but can’t decide if she’s at the center of a manipulative plot or simply losing her grip on reality.

Franco plays one of the performers in the playwright’s production.

Shooting begin in New York on May 6.

Sounds like a spin off from “Black Swan” honestly, that’s some thin ice to try and duplicate.

Trailer: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

As promised, here it is.

One of the summer blockbusters, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” trailer was released earlier this morning.

The trailer looks pretty intense, we get great looks at the apes and chimps and gorillas.

You get a great sense of a animal takeover, so off of the initial look, this seems pretty good.

What are your thoughts on the trailer?

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” hits theaters August 5th, 2011.

Travolta Talks Gotti: Three Generations

There was a big press conference held today at the Sheraton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, in honor of the Gotti bio-pic.

Among those who spoke were Executive Producer Marc Fiore, John Travolta, and director Nick Cassavetes.

One of the first things addressed was the rumors of Lindsey Lohan possibly playing Victoria Gotti, and they were confirmed, infact, Lohan was sitting in the audience. They are in final talks.

Fiore did say he thought Lohan was a “terrific actress.”

Fiore then dropped another casting bomb saying the great Joe Pesci will be in the film and will play Angelo Ruggiero.

Travolta, who will play John Gotti Sr. had big praise for the film already claiming it is one of the most important stories that needs to be told to America.

“This is probably the most interesting untold story in this country,” Travolta said, adding that a recent five-hour long meeting with Gotti Jr. put him over the top.

He went to say that he has a passion for the Gotti family and that is what is driving him to make this film.

He cited the “beautiful love I feel from the family” and the dichotomy of Gotti Sr. as appealing, plus he said he is a fan of Growing up Gotti.

The team is in talks with a person to play Gotti Jr., with Fiore saying he hopes to have a deal to announce “within a week or two.”