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Sarandon, Goodman Join Pacino in HBO's Dr. Kevorkian Movie

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:30:54 -0700

HBO Films' biopic of Jack Kevorkian, You Don't Know Jack, already has its Dr. Kevorkian in Al Pacino. Now Pacino has castmates in Susan Sarandon and John Goodman. The biopic is loosely based on the book Between the Dying and the Dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian's Life and the Battle to Legalize Euthanasia. Goodman will play one of the authors of the book, Noel Nicol, Kevorkian's friend and co-worker whose "medical training as a corpsman and laboratory technician enabled him to assist Kevorkian on many occasions, while his laboratory supply company often provided materials for Kevorkian's efforts."

Meanwhile, Susan Sarandon will play Hemlock Society activist Janet Good "who becomes one of Jack's staunchest supporters, working side by side with him to make humane suicide available to the terminally ill and suffering. After she is herself diagnosed with terminal cancer, she avails herself of Kevorkian's services, choosing her own time to die, surrounded by her friends and loved ones."

Sarandon and Goodman already starred together in last year's Speed Racer, though this project will obviously be quite the drastic departure from that one. It is good to see great actors getting some substantial roles, though I'm awaiting this particular project with a mixture of curiosity and anxiety.

Are you interested in seeing a Dr. Kevorkian biopic?

Buzz News Roundup, 5/27

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:30:11 -0700

John Lithgow has landed a - ahem - killer role on the upcoming season of Dexter. - The Futon Critic
Dustin Hoffman will star opposite Paul Giamatti in the indie drama Barney's Version, based on Mordecai Richler's final novel. - Variety
Jennifer Westfeldt and John Boyd are the newest cast members of 24 season eight, joining Anil Kapoor and Chris Diamantopoulos. - TV Guide
Eminem's back on top of the Billboard charts this week, while the Glee cast's "Don't Stop Believin'" hits the singles chart at No. 4. - Billboard
HBO's new series Hung will launch after True Blood in June. - Variety
Speaking of HBO, Al Pacino is in talks to portray Dr. Kevorkian in the HBO movie You Don't Know Jack. - Reuters
Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig will star together in a new dramatic play titled A Steady Rain this fall on Broadway. - NY Post
Former Wilco member Jay Bennett died on Sunday at the age of 45. - Billboard

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Buzz News Roundup, 5/13

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:30:51 -0700

Al Pacino is in talks to star in Blink, an adaptation of Malcolm Gladwell's nonfiction bestseller to be directed and written by Traffic director Stephen Gaghan. - Reuters
Philip K. Dick's sci-fi book Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said will be adapted for the big screen. - Variety
Party Down has been renewed for a second season. - E!
Lie to Me has also been renewed, and the series Human Target and Sons of Tucson have been picked up. - The Futon Critic
Kevin Spacey will play Washington power broker Jack Abramoff in the true story-based thriller Casino Jack. - ComingSoon
Things aren't looking good for the pilots starring Lauren Graham and Katee Sackhoff - or for Sit Down, Shut Up. - TV.com
Chrisette Michele beat out Ciara and Hannah Montana for the No. 1 spot on this week's Billboard charts. - Billboard
Nicole Kidman has dropped out of Woody Allen's latest, untitled project. - Variety
A live-action movie version of American Gladiators is in the works. - ComingSoon

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Buzz News Roundup, 2/4

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:30:42 -0800

Al Pacino will play King Lear in a new film adaptation of the Shakespeare play. - ComingSoon
Steve Zahn is close to joining the cast of Treme, the New Orleans-set show from the creator of The Wire. - TV.com
Columbia Pictures and producer Scott Rudin will make a film based on the life of Henry Molaison, whose brain became the most studied gray matter in medical history. - Variety
The Hold Steady will release a documentary/live album combo in April. - Pitchfork
The creators of My So-Called Life are working on a pilot for CBS called A Marriage. - The Hollywood Reporter
Spike Lee is returning to a WWII setting, as he signs on to produce Brendan Koerner's manhunt tale Now the Hell Will Start. - Zap2it
A movie titled The Legend of Santa Claus is in the works, the first installment in a three-film series exploring the early days and mythology of the Christmas hero. - Variety
Warner Bros. Pictures has set Aaron Sorkin to write the movie The Challenge, a courtroom drama which George Clooney will produce. - ComingSoon
It's official: Bob Saget will return to ABC in Surviving Suburbia. - Zap2it

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First Glance: 88 Minutes - See It or Skip It?

PopSugarUK — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Here's another trailer for you to take a look at, this time it's for 88 Minutes which comes out in the UK this Friday.

Al Pacino stars in the thriller as a college professor / FBI forensic psychiatrist who receives a death threat informing him that that he has only eighty-eight minutes to live. He then has to narrow down possible suspects, including a problem student, an ex-girlfriend, and a serial killer on death row.

Take a look at the teaser, and let me know - will you see it, or will you skip it?

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Acting Legends Al and Robert Bring Righteous Kill to London

PopSugarUK — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:00:41 -0700

50 Cent joined his costars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro on the red carpet in Leicester Square yesterday for the UK premiere Righteous Kill. Both acting legends spoke about how they'd love to work together again, with Al saying: "There’s no rivalry now but there was when we were younger" and Robert adding "we've always had a great respect for each other". Secret Diary of a Call Girl's Ashley Madekwe looked gorgeous and Leigh Francis gave his trademark thumbs up, but Mark Ronson struggled to smile for the cameras after those reports of a break up.

Righteous Kill came out in the States on Friday, but my girl Buzz wasn't overly impressed. To get a feel for the film (which is out in the UK next week) check out the trailer, and to see loads more pictures from the premiere, including Lady Victoria Hervey, Roxanne Pallett and George Lamb, just read more.

View 35 Photos ›

Images include: Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jon Avnet, Alex Pettyfer, Ali Bastian, Antony Costa, Lady Victoria Hervey, Mark Ronson, Nancy Dell'Olio, Roxanne Pallett, Tamsin Egerton, William Moseley, Ashley Madekwe, George Lamb, Leigh Francis, Liz Fuller

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Righteous Kill: Mostly Just Killing Time

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:39:24 -0700

You know, it's nice to see Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro up on the big screen together. It's sort of sweet to see the two enjoy some banter back and forth, two grumpy older men who happen to be film legends. But is it worth sitting through the mediocre, thrill-less thriller that is Righteous Kill? I'm not so sure.

Much of the movie feels incredibly familiar, and my guess is it wouldn't have gotten any attention if it weren't for the promise of "DeNiro and Pacino reuniting on the big screen!!" The script - and, frankly, the performances - are lacking so much, these two huge legendary names in the credits can't save it. For more of my thoughts on this, read more.

DeNiro plays Turk and Pacino plays Rooster, two highly respected NYPD detectives put on the case of a serial killer who's been targeting acquitted criminals. Murderers, rapists, pimps - the scum of the earth types who were let off for whatever reason become the victims of this "righteous" killer. Thing is, Turk and Rooster know each of these victims, and Turk has been known to have a short fuse when it comes to the injustice of letting a dangerous perp go free. So, all eyes start turning toward him as a suspect in the serial killer case, and as he continues to hunt for the killer, some of his colleagues (played by John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg) try to find proof that Turk's the one behind it all. Another member of the NYPD homicide department, Karen Kleisner (Carla Gugino who is one of the highlights of the film), is sort of Turk's kinky paramour, but even she begins to suspect him.

I enjoyed watching DeNiro in this role because for his part, he genuinely seems to be thinking about the role and the words he's saying, etc. But there's something about Pacino's performance that gives me the sense he's not all there, and it's frustrating to watch. The phrase "phoning it in" comes to mind. I think Pacino has it in him to be spectacular, but in this case, it's like he doesn't care enough to put in much effort. As a crime drama/thriller, there is some mystery and tension, but it reaches this low level of suspense and never quite ups the ante. I was never fully gripped by the story, just sort of mildly curious to find out what the deal was. And then, during the dramatic ending, I started checking my watch to see how much time we had left and I could have sworn the two main actors were doing the same thing.

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Pop Poll: Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Righteous Kill

PopSugarUK — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are back together onscreen in Righteous Kill, which is coming out in the UK on September 26.

They play two NYPD detectives – who have been partners for thirty years – that begin investigating a spate of murders of suspected criminals in the city. It looks like quite a thriller, with Donnie Wahlberg, 50 Cent, Carla Gugino and John Leguizamo also star in the film. But what do you think – will you go see it? Let me know!

88 Minutes: Actually 105 Minutes, And Feels Longer

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:30:25 -0700

I fear for the future of Al Pacino's career. If 88 Minutes is any indication - and I think it might be - he should stop. Now. Or stick to cameos because his near-constant presence in 88 Minutes is an exercise in frustration. And sure, much of the movie is frustrating. It's not all his fault, not by a long shot. I'm just so baffled by how an actor so revered could have one facial expression to offer. I fear he'll fall into the same category as Diane Keaton - every performance one-note, and that note makes us cringe. It makes me wonder if there's really much there at all. And that sucks.

The movie follows the successful Seattle forensic psychiatrist and professor Jack Gramm (Pacino, with an extra six inches of puffy hair adding to his height) whose testimony in the trial of serial killer Jon Forster (Neal McDonough) helped send Forster to death row. However, now that the killer's execution date has arrived, there have been murders occurring in the city that mirror Forster's, casting doubt on his guilt and causing his lawyers to call for a stay of execution. Meanwhile, Gramm receives a phone call telling him he has 88 minutes to live. This is where the story actually picks up a little, so read more.

What follows is a race against time as everyone in Gramm's life becomes suspected of trying to kill him, including his loyal assistant Shelley (Amy Brenneman), his assistant teacher Kim (Alicia Witt) and some of his best students, like Lauren (Leelee Sobieski) and Mike (Ben McKenzie). He runs around, evading bombs and gunmen and fires (and I feel sorry for Pacino that he has to run so much in this film because he seems like he'd prefer to settle in for a nap), trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.

In my memory of this movie, I can't distinguish one scene from another. There is no real suspense, no big surprise, no satisfying pull of tension and release. They talk about scary, nasty things, and they show a few yucky images (and, to their credit, the violence is not gratuitous) but there is nothing - absolutely nothing - underlying it all. The most dramatic scene features Al Pacino hurling a cell phone away from him, and the slow motion descent and shattering of the phone. And it's so ridiculous I would have laughed - if I weren't so worried for Al Pacino and his future.

To see the trailer and more clips from 88 Minutes check out movies.ivillage.com.

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Could Just Anyone Write Johnny Depp's Movie About Dalí?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:30:00 -0700

A New Zealand newspaper is claiming just that.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Johnny Depp is set to play surrealist painter Salvador Dalí in the film Dalí. All he needs now is a script. And apparently he doesn't really care who it comes from - just as long as it's good.

Anyone.
The paper claims Depp is holding "open auditions" to find the right screenwriter. A source in the story says, "He's open to working with anyone - from housewives to pensioners - if the script is right." Now, how credible this source is remains to be seen.

What is it about Salvador Dalí biopics?
In addition to Depp's Dalí, Al Pacino is set to play the artist in Dalí and I and there has been talk of another one titled Goodbye, Dalí with Peter O'Toole. When asked about this shared interest in the painter 18 years after his death, Dalí producer Peter Rawley offered, "Filmmakers somehow pick up on the vibe. But three films is nothing, at one stage, we counted up to nine."

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