BuzzSugar

The Trailer for Leo's 11th Hour

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:45:32 PDT

Soon after this year's Oscars, I heard tell of Leonardo DiCaprio's environmentally themed documentary, and now the movie has a trailer and a release date of August 17. Back then, DiCaprio was described as "using the medium that he knows best to explore the problem of global warming by making a documentary that is almost a film... the feature-length film even tries to proffer solutions for restoring the Earth's ecosystems."

Originally posted on the movie's MySpace page, the trailer for 11th Hour includes an introduction by Leo himself followed by footage from the movie that is clearly split into two parts:
Part 1: Foreboding doomsday images and forecasts of certain apocalypse if human beings continue down their current environmentally destructive path.
Part 2: Leo and friends more cheerfully appealing to "our generation" to be the hip saviors of the natural world - set to a driving rock song. The weight of the responsibility being placed squarely on us is cushioned by the promise of heroism: "This generation gets to completely change this world."

Heavy-handedness aside, this is a grave issue and if Leo can bring some attention to it then that's great. To see the trailer for Leo's documentary, the Inconvenient Truth for Generation Y,

read more The 11th Hour

Add to My Profile | More Videos . According to the Earth Times, the hybrid-driving hunk (my words, not Earth Times')

Tom Cruise to Grace the Big Screen Again

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:18:18 PDT

Well, Tom Cruise is asking us to take him seriously again, by agreeing to star in a World War II thriller that he is also producing. It's going to be tough, especially with the grave subject matter, to watch this crazy egomaniac without rolling my eyes. But I have faith in director Bryan Singer, responsible for the excellent film The Usual Suspects and executive producer of Fox's "House." According to Variety:

The thriller is based on actual events, as German generals hatch a scheme to assassinate Adolph Hitler at the height of WWII. In subsequent meetings, Singer asked Cruise if he wanted to play a central role and he agreed Tuesday.

Cruise's UA partner Paula Wagner said, "I cannot think of a more perfect combination of creative elements for our second production."

Hmm... I can! Namely, a combination of "elements" that doesn't include Tom Cruise, perhaps. I wish I could get excited about this, since the director and script sound solid, but instead there's a grim feeling of dread creeping through my insides - and not in the thriller movie kind of way. What do you think of this news? Tom also has some other production projects underway, so

read more The Cruise and Wagner-led United Artists may also be set to acquire to rights to Youth Without Youth, Francis Ford Coppola's first movie in a decade. According to Variety:

Coppola adapted, produced and directed "Youth Without Youth" from the 1976 novel by Romanian-born religious historian Mircea Eliade. Coppola screened the film on Feb. 22 for friends in the Bay Area, including Carroll Ballard and George Lucas.

As much as Cruise gives me the creeps, he and Wagner seem to be snapping up some pretty cool projects, and at least Tom won't be starring in this one. Source

Jolie Staying Busy With Wanted

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:58:53 PDT

Just last week, Angelina Jolie said she wanted to spend some time as a stay-at-home mom with her ever-expanding brood. But it seems turning down movie roles is not her strong suit. After signing on for Clint Eastwood's next movie, The Changeling, which begins shooting this Fall, the actress has also agreed to star in Wanted, an action film based on a graphic novel.

The movie, which begins shooting in Eastern Europe in May, also stars James McAvoy (Last King of Scotland) and Morgan Freeman and will be directed by Kazakh filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov. According to Variety:

McAvoy will play a young man who discovers his father is an assassin, only to learn shortly thereafter that his dad has been murdered. The youth is drafted to follow in his father's footsteps. Jolie will play an assassin who teaches the ropes to the wannabe killer.

Script was originated by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, and Jolie took the role after a rewrite by Dean Georgaris ("Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life") to tailor the character for her.

Well, I guess if a role is written just for you, it's tough to turn it down. And I guess if the Jolie-Pitts really want to adopt an entire soccer team, they're gonna need a little extra cash. At the very least, the movie sounds pretty cool, don't you think?

Source

Cate Blanchett Eyes Indiana Jones

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:45:23 PDT

As far as I'm concerned, Cate Blanchett can really do no wrong. I love watching this woman act, even in her more questionable movie roles. (Bandits, anyone?) So I'm just going to trust her instincts on this one: According to the Hollywood Reporter, Blanchett has signed on to star in Indiana Jones 4 alongside Harrison Ford.

In theory, I have no problem with Indiana Jones and very much enjoyed the first three movies. But I agree with many critics that casting Ford as the young adventurer seems a bit absurd. Still, everyone involved - including director Steven Spielberg - is keeping quiet about the plot details of the fourth movie, so maybe they'll come up with something great. And the addition of Blanchett certainly won't hurt. According to the Hollywood Reporter:

With David Koepp's screenplay shrouded in secrecy, it is unclear what character Blanchett will play. However, sources said the Oscar-winning actress has landed a starring role.

Shooting will begin in June in Los Angeles and at undisclosed locations around the world. Paramount Pictures will release "Indy 4" day-and-date around the world on May 22, 2008.

What do you guys think about this casting news? Will you go see Indiana Jones 4?

Source

Dreamy-Eyed Daniel Craig Considers Blindness

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:06:45 PDT

I always love an excuse to write about Daniel Craig - it means looking for photos of him, after all - but this news is particularly cool. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the James Bond actor is in talks to star in Blindness, a movie based on the Jose Saramago novel of the same name.

Julianne Moore is also being considered, which is interesting, since the premise reminds me a bit of Children of Men. According to the HR, "the story chronicles an epidemic of blindness that sweeps through an unnamed contemporary city." The only person left with the sense of sight is a doctor's wife and, thankfully, the filmgoers. The film will be directed by Fernando Meirelles, whose resume includes such captivating movies as The Constant Gardener and City of God. I haven't read Blindness, but now I really want to. If you have, tell me what you think.

Source

Rainn Wilson to Join Juno Cast

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:25:32 PDT

Wow, I was excited when I found out Michael Cera and Jennifer Garner were going to be in a movie together. But now that Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute on "The Office") has signed on, I am nearly beside myself!

The dark comedy, called Juno and directed by Jason Reitman, stars Ellen Page as a teen facing an unplanned pregnancy. Wilson will play the drug store employee who supplies her with "an EPT test, licorice ropes, and a guilt trip." I can just picture his disdain doled out with deadpan humor. The cast also includes Allison Janey and Cera's fellow "Arrested Development" alum Jason Bateman and is looking at a late 2007 release. This is fast becoming my most anticipated film of the year.

Clint Eastwood Looking to Direct Angelina

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:02:18 PDT

Angelina Jolie has her hands full with adoptions these days, but Clint Eastwood's arms are noticeably empty of Oscar statuettes. Perhaps that's one reason the nominated Letters from Iwo Jima director is eyeing The Changeling for his next project. Variety is reporting that Eastwood could soon be working with Jolie on the highly anticipated new film from Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. According to the article:

Jolie would play a woman whose son is abducted but retrieved; she suspects, however, that the returned child is not her kid. The woman must then confront corruption in the LAPD. Story is based on true events in 1920s Los Angeles.

U and Imagine have been high on the project since acquiring it last summer and placing it on a shortlist of films that Imagine partner (Ron) Howard intended to direct next.

Apparently, Howard was so busy that he wouldn't have been able to get to The Changeling for another two years, so the studios approached Eastwood with the script. In my opinion, Howard's packed schedule is a blessing, so

read more I'm hot and cold on Eastwood as a director: Flags of Our Fathers looked pretty schlocky, but it's hard not to respect Million Dollar Baby. While Eastwood can be a bit heavy-handed, his style is far subtler than Howard's, and I think the film could work well in his hands. Plus, it will be exciting to see Jolie tackle what sounds to be a really challenging role again. Source

Will Smith Loves to Warm Hearts

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:23:44 PST

Who can resist a Cinderella story? Certainly not Will Smith, who has just signed on to produce ~~The Pursuit of Happyness 2~~ another rags-to-riches film based on an inspiring memoir. The book, called Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, From Cocaine to Foie Gras, tells the life story of Jeff Henderson, a former drug dealer who worked his way up to become "Chef Jeff," executive chef at Las Vegas' Cafe Bellagio. Apparently, he used his prison sentence to learn the ins and outs of gourmet cooking.

It actually looks like an interesting story, and this type of film is destined to cause widespread heartstring yanking and weepiness. Yet it's hard not to see these movies becoming a kind of Will Smith cliche. Currently, it's not yet determined whether Smith will play the lead role, though he's obviously warmed up for it. Ha ha... get it? Warmed up... cooked... Ah, forget it.

Source

Streep and Brosnan to Star in Mamma Mia

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:45:15 PST

Firstly: "Mamma Mia!" as a movie. It's true: The Broadway musical based on the campy songs of Swedish pop group ABBA is going to be made into a film. Baffling, I know. But wait, there's more! Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep have signed on to costar in the film! My reaction: Whaaa?

As a rule, I'm not a big fan of making musicals into films. Chicago translated well into film, Dreamgirls - in my opinion - not so much. Even more confusing is this trend of making films into musicals (Legally Blonde, Edward Scissorhands?!) And while I know "Mamma Mia!" was big with the, uh, let's say matinee crowd, I wonder how it will come together on screen in a way that is appealing to many people. Yet, now that Brosnan and Streep are on board, I can't fully dismiss the idea. If they're involved, surely it can't end up being that humiliating... right?

Source and Source

Matthew McConaughey, Surfer Dude

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:41:58 PST

Well, Matthew McConaughey may have just found the movie role of his lifetime. According to Variety, the oft-shirtless actor has signed on to star in Surfer Dude, a movie about - hang on to your bongos, people - "a soulful surfer in existential crisis."

Let's all just take a moment to let that sink in.

Despite my general apprehension about movies with "dude" in the title, I think this could be the greatest thing to happen to surf cinema since Point Break. Matthew McConaughey is ridiculous - from his naked bongo playing to his '90s-era neon board shorts - and I love him for it. In fact, I can't wait to see him in this role, so

read more
Surfer Dude, which begins filming in Malibu in May, is the first homegrown project from McConaughey's j.k. livin' production company. Of course, j.k. livin' is shorthand for McConaughey's motto, "Just keep livin'." Flimsy personal philosophy aside, McConaughey the actor has always been a pleasure to watch, whether he's playing a stunted adult in Dazed and Confused or a defiant Southern lawyer in A Time to Kill. In my opinion, he always accepts roles within his range, and no, I haven't forgotten about Amistad. Also, McConaughey doesn't pretend to dislike being a sex symbol like so many hot actors do. In fact, he recently told Entertainment Weekly that directors often "gotta work to get me to put on shirts." I particularly love this quote from Adam Shankman, who directed him in The Wedding Planner, about cutting one of MM's shirtless scenes:

"I only cut it because it was a moment when he was supposed to be having a genuine conversation with the bride-to-be and it was a massive distraction. He came to the set in his robe, all oiled up, and he was glistening in the light."

But the main thing I like about Matthew McConaughey is that he always seems to be having fun. After all, isn't that the main perk of being rich and famous? Bongo on, dude. Source