Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Return of Jessica Alba?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/the-return-of-jessica-alba/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/the-return-of-jessica-alba/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/the-return-of-jessica-alba/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Sure, some would suggest that Jessica Alba really can't return to form since there never was a form to begin with. But there definitely was a time when Alba was an "It" girl -- the type to grace numerous magazine covers and star in big, flashy films like Sin City and The Fantastic Four. But then her star began to fade as she clumsily starred in one cruddy flick after another (Into the Blue, Good Luck Chuck, The Eye, Awake, The Love Guru), and with other, more sensational young actresses attempting to make their mark in Hollywood, Alba sort of fell by the wayside.

But now the gal has positioned herself with a few pretty interesting upcoming projects, including two produced by Robert Rodriguez (Machete, The Insiders), one that's based on a very good novel (An Invisible Sign of My Own) and one that finds the actress taking things farther than she's ever gone before (The Killer Inside Me). While I'm sure the girl will manage to land roles beyond these four projects, they will still serve as proving ground for Alba. Is she a "real" actress? Can she turn out an awards-caliber performance? Can she still sell lots of movie tickets? Is she worthy of our attention?

Before you answer those questions, head after the jump to find out more about her new films.

Continue reading The Return of Jessica Alba?

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]]>an invisible sign of my ownAnInvisibleSignOfMyOwncinematicalfeaturedjessica albaJessicaAlbamachetethe insidersthe killer inside meTheInsidersTheKillerInsideMevalentines dayValentinesDayErik DavisMon, 30 Nov 2009 13:32:00 ESTIs This the Next 'District 9'?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/the-next-district-9/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/the-next-district-9/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/the-next-district-9/#commentsFiled under: , ,

By: Zachary Hermann

Count Sam Raimi among the people who saw District 9 and thought, "Gee, why can't more studios put out budget-conscious gems like this?" The Spider-Man director will be playing Peter Jackson to his own Neill Blomkamp of sorts, a Uruguayan director by the name of Federico Alvarez. After the buzz around Alvarez's alien invasion short (posted below for your viewing pleasure) Panic Attack! had him making rounds in Los Angeles, Raimi's production shop Ghost House Pictures signed the director for what will be Alvarez's feature film debut.

The reports have been translated from Uruguayan newspaper El Paris, but here's what everyone seems to agree on -- the feature, like District 9, will be budgeted in the $30-40 million neighborhood and Raimi will take on a mentor role, thus saving Alvarez from the ugly, business part of things. The picture will shoot in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay and will likely involve giant robots, which play a big part in Panic Attack! What is unclear is if this feature-length will be based on Panic Attack! at all.

Read the rest and watch the original short over at SciFi Squad

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]]>district9neill blomkampNeillBlomkamppanic attackPanicAttacksam raimiSamRaimiCinematical staffMon, 30 Nov 2009 10:32:00 ESTDiscuss: What Were Your Best Black Friday Deals?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/best-black-friday-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/best-black-friday-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/best-black-friday-deals/#commentsFiled under: ,

As my Twitter feed fills with constantly re-Tweeted online bargains (be still, my weeping wallet), and as our own site did its best to prepare you readers for today's Thunderdome of savings, it's likely that a great many of you ventured out to capitalize on Black Friday in all its mania.

There were certainly deals to be had on movies and home entertainment equipment alike, and that's really what we want to hear about (not that a thirty-dollar camping tent isn't impressive or anything).

Where'd you go? How long did you wait in line? How cold was it? How busy was it? What did you get? What was already gone? Did you upgrade to Blu-ray this year? And did any of our readership outside the States take advantage of the online deals without leaving the comfort of your own home?

So go ahead, brag and boast about your claimed trophies. Me? I've got an empty wallet to console.

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]]>amazon.combest buyBestBuyblack fridayblack friday 2009black friday dealsblack friday salesBlackFridayBlackFriday2009BlackFridayDealsBlackFridaySalestargetWilliam GossFri, 27 Nov 2009 20:15:00 ESTBlack Friday Movie Deals: Amazon.comhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/black-friday-movie-deals-amazon-com/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/black-friday-movie-deals-amazon-com/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/black-friday-movie-deals-amazon-com/#commentsFiled under: ,

At first I thought this would be too difficult. Target, Best Buy, Walmart ... all those stores offer a very manageable number of Black Friday movie deals. Surely Amazon.com would prove way too massive of an undertaking ... but nope! Of course Amazon.com is offering a lot more movie deals than the non-virtual stores are, but they've made things quite easy by categorizing everything, and with handy links and everything!

First off, here's the Amazon Black Friday sales page, movies-only division. But that page offers way too many options, so let's pick out some of the best standard (non-blu-ray) dvd deals: Blazing Saddles ($5.99)! The Marx Brothers Collection ($17.99)!! The Goonies ($6.99)! The Nightmare on Elm Street box set ($24.99)! Spaceballs ($8.49)! And on and on it goes. New, old, classic, crappy, there's a good deal in here whatever you're after.

And what I'm after is blu-rays! 2001: A Space Odyssey ($9.49)! The Silence of the Lambs ($8.99)!! Watchmen director's cut ($16.99)! Goodfellas ($10.99)!! And those crafty Amazoners are planning to change the titles every day. It's like they want you to visit their website six times a day!

Last but not least, for those who love not just the deals but also the crazy pressure that comes with Black Friday, Amazon is now offering some nifty "Lightning Deals" that are scheduled throughout the week and last only a few hours. For example, tonight you can purchase the X-Men Origins: Wolverine blu-ray for $9.99. That's a pretty good deal on a very recent blu-ray release. Too bad the movie stinks.

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]]>amazon.comblack fridayBlackFridayScott WeinbergFri, 27 Nov 2009 00:03:00 ESTIndie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/indie-roundup-sweetgrass-clarkworld-broken-embraces/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/indie-roundup-sweetgrass-clarkworld-broken-embraces/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/indie-roundup-sweetgrass-clarkworld-broken-embraces/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Cinematical's Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'

Indie Roundup gathers a selection of indie film news from the past seven days and offers a peek ahead to what's coming.

Deal. Do not despair that the first month of the new year will be filled solely with the expansion of award contenders. Distribution rights in the US for Sweetgrass have been acquired by The Cinema Guild, according to indieWIRE, and the documentary will open at Film Forum in Manhattan on January 6, followed by a rollout across the country.

Directed by Ilisa Barbasch and Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Sweetgrass "follows the last sheepherders to trail their flocks up into Montana's Beartooth mountains for summer pasture," per its official synopsis. After debuting at the Berlin Film Festival last year, the doc played the festival circuit quite successfully, picking up positive critical notices. Check out the splendid trailer in all its quiet, chud-chewing glory after the jump.

Online / On-Demand Viewing. Debuting on demand next Sunday, Clarkworld paints a portrait of filmmaker Bob Clark. Best known for his perennial holiday favorite A Christmas Story, Clark also made the groundbreaking Porky's, which set the tone for all raunchy teen comedies to come, and the significant slasher pic Black Christmas, another flick that was a trendsetter (or at least ripped off at will). Director Deren P. Abram talked with Peter Billingsley (former child star turned filmmaker), Kim Cattrall, Jon Voight, Denise Richards, Mary Steenburgen, John Saxon, Scott Baio, and other people who weren't even in any of his movies! We have the trailer for this one after the jump, too, which makes for an interesting contrast with the one for Sweetgrass. Look for the movie on cable systems via Cinetic FilmBuff.

After the jump: box office talk; trailers for Sweetgrass and Clarkworld.

Continue reading Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'

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]]>Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New OrleansBadLieutenant:PortOfCallNewOrleansbob clarkBobClarkbroken embracesBrokenEmbracesclarkworldderen abramDerenAbramfantastic mr foxFantasticMrFoxfeaturedindie weekend box officeIndieWeekendBoxOfficepedro almodovarPedroAlmodovarpreciousprecious moviePreciousMoviered cliffRedCliffsweetgrasssweetgrass the movieSweetgrassTheMoviePeter MartinWed, 25 Nov 2009 19:02:00 ESTBlack Friday Movie Deals: Toys "R" Ushttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/black-friday-toys-r-us-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/black-friday-toys-r-us-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/black-friday-toys-r-us-deals/#commentsFiled under: ,

Our good friend and EIC Erik Davis had a very thoughtful idea for the holiday season: Why not scan the early flyers for the Black Friday sales, and report back to you -- the ravenous movie junkie -- to let you know where to find the best treats on the day after Thanksgiving?

The next big brick and mortar retail stores we'll be scouring for Black Friday deals is Toys "R" Us . While there isn't a great selection of DVD/Blu-ray players, those parents looking to save on kid-friendly titles should find more than enough to pick up here. Note that the doorbuster items are marked with a *

Toys "R" Us is open at 12:00am on Black Friday. Their online sale starts at 12:01am EST on Thanksgiving Day.

Our previous Black Friday Movie Deals:
Best Buy
Target
Walmart
Kmart and Sears

DVD/Blu-ray

20 Select DVD Movies $9.99
30 Select DVD Movies $4.99
Aliens In The Attic DVD $9.99
All $9.99 Sony DVDs - 60 Titles (In-Store Only) $3.99
Aristocats DVD $9.99
A Tale Of Tails DVD $4.99
Babe DVD $4.99
Barbie Thumbelina DVD $4.99
Blues Clues World Travelers DVD $4.99
Bolt Disney DVD $9.99 *
Christmas Star DVD $4.99
Coraline DVD $9.99
Curious George DVD $4.99
Diego Saves Christmas DVD $4.99
Hanna Montana The Movie Blu-Ray $14.99
Hero Rails DVD $9.99
Hotel For Dogs DVD $9.99
Jonas Brothers Disney DVD $9.99 *

More after the jump

Continue reading Black Friday Movie Deals: Toys "R" Us

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]]>black friday movie dealsblackfriday09BlackFridayMovieDealstoys r usToysRUsErik DavisWed, 25 Nov 2009 18:05:00 ESTBlack Friday Movie Deals: Kmart and Searshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/black-friday-movie-deals-kmart-and-sears/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/black-friday-movie-deals-kmart-and-sears/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/black-friday-movie-deals-kmart-and-sears/#commentsFiled under:

Our good friend and EIC Erik Davis had a very thoughtful idea for the holiday season: Why not scan the early flyers for the Black Friday sales, and report back to you -- the ravenous movie junkie -- to let you know where to find the best treats on the day after Thanksgiving?

The next big brick and mortar retail stores we'll be scouring for Black Friday deals are Kmart and Sears (here are the deals for Best Buy, Target, and Walmart). Neither have a particularly large selection of sales going on in the movie department, but if you're heading to either store for other pick-ups, you might want to keep your eye out for some of the following.

Oh, and the Kmart sale is from 6am to 11am while Sears' runs from 4am to noon.

Continue reading Black Friday Movie Deals: Kmart and Sears

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]]>Black FridayBlack Friday 2009BlackFridayblackfriday09BlackFriday2009Kmartmovie dealsMovieDealsSearsPeter HallTue, 24 Nov 2009 15:32:00 ESTDreamWorks Puts 'Real Steel' In Their Ringhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/dreamworks-puts-real-steel-in-their-ring/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/dreamworks-puts-real-steel-in-their-ring/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/dreamworks-puts-real-steel-in-their-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

If you held out faint hope that Hugh Jackman wouldn't be helping Shawn Levy box robots, and would abandon it for a feature film adaptation of A Steady Rain, kiss it goodbye now. Variety reports that DreamWorks' Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider have green-lit Real Steel, making it the studio's first big financial project since it split with Paramount, and had to find its own money.

Spielberg was attached to the project as executive producer when it was first announced, and it seems that it's been a real passion project for him. DreamWorks bought the project back in 2005, and it was one of the films they held onto after splitting from Paramount. "When we took it with us, we really highlighted it as something we would put the pedal to metal on," said DreamWorks co-president of production Mark Sourian. "It's a project that Steven always wanted to do. It just came together rapidly after we left Paramount." The film will be made for the relatively low budget of $80 million, and will begin production next June.

With a low budget to avoid Transformers excess, perhaps the magic of Spielberg and Richard Matheson can overcome the kiddie tendencies of Shawn Levy, and turn it into something special. A lot of commenters mentioned that Matheson's story was adapted into an episode of the Twilight Zone called Steel. Happily, it's online and I've embedded it below the jump. It really is a good episode, and while Levy keeps stressing that his Real Steel is grounded in its "father-son relationship," I hope it can retain a bit of Matheson's grit. I could be happy with a robot version of Million Dollar Baby.


Continue reading DreamWorks Puts 'Real Steel' In Their Ring

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]]>DreamWorkshugh jackmanHughJackmanparamountreal steelRealSteelRichard MathesonRichardMathesonShawn LevyShawnLevysteven spielbergStevenSpielbergTwilight ZoneTwilightZoneElisabeth RappeTue, 24 Nov 2009 09:03:00 ESTWhat a Surprise: 'The Howling' Gets a Remakehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/the-howling-remake/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/the-howling-remake/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/the-howling-remake/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What a complete non-surprise! Now that New Moon is raking in the cash, and doing what very little it can for the werewolves of the world, the vamps are gearing up for some further sharp-toothed competition. Variety reports that The Howling will return to the big screen by the hands of indie producers Joel Kastelberg and Etchie Stroh under the name The Howling: Reborn. Since it's been over three years since we first heard rumors of a remake, my guess is that this is a whole new can of worms.

A former marketing executive for studios like MGM and New Line, Joe Nimziki wrote the script and will direct it when the feature starts shooting this February. Once that's all done, they're hoping to get this howler into theaters for Halloween. The plot is being kept under wraps, but the original followed a TV newswoman who goes on a retreat after an ordeal with a serial killer, only to be thrust into a world of vampires werewolves.

Now here's where I say this is a missed opportunity. It's inevitable that each old-school horror flick will get rebooted. But why not try to up the ante, or at least insert wow-factor? We've seen the increased interest in Elm Street since Jackie Earle Haley took over, and that's a pretty mainstream franchise. Now imagine what The Howling could be if they coerced John Sayles into writing it again -- maybe not to be campy like the first, but a well-written piece of horror. That man is a pro at taking characters and situations and spinning an intricate web, so imagine if he intermingled his indie talents with his old-school horror ways. At the very least, it'd make the project immediately buzz worthy to a larger audience.

As it stands, do you want more Howling?

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]]>CinematicalJoe NimzikiJoeNimzikiJohn SaylesJohnSaylesThe HowlingThe Howling: RebornTheHowlingTheHowling:RebornMonika BartyzelMon, 23 Nov 2009 11:15:00 ESTMike White Starts a Santa Claus Civil Warhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Not pleased with the likes of our latest serving of A Christmas Carol? Want a little more originality served with your ho-ho-ho's? This might be the answer: Variety reports that Paramount Pictures has tapped Mike White to write the script for a new comedy called Santa Wars. Oh yes, it's just like you'd imagine.

This project will follow the story of two rival factions that emerged within a group of professional Kris Kringles, and how they "became arch enemies during a Santa Claus civil war." And I should probably point out -- this concept is based on a true story. It all stems from a segment on Ira Glass' radio show This American Life, which aired last December and talked about how two professional Santas formed the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas, only to become bitter rivals.

Talk about picking the perfect pen. White is the writer of all things weird, whether that be with creepy stalkers, transcript trouble, discontent with mundane life, rock 'n' roll classes, strange wrasslers, or dog obsession. Furthermore, he's jumped back and forth between mainstream and edgy indies, which means the potential for a film that will appeal to more than just the casual, family fare moviegoer. Let's just hope Paramount ignores this year's strange release schedules (Valentine's Day in the summer, Christmas before Thanskgiving) and serves this puppy up during the right season.

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]]>Christmas filmsChristmasFilmsCinematicalMike WhiteMikeWhiteSanta WarsSantaWarsThis American LifeThisAmericanLifeMonika BartyzelFri, 20 Nov 2009 18:02:00 ESTNetflix and IFC Team Up for Streaming Indieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/netflix-and-ifc-team-up-for-streaming-indies/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/netflix-and-ifc-team-up-for-streaming-indies/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/netflix-and-ifc-team-up-for-streaming-indies/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

NetflixNetflix knows where it's at when it comes to the rental biz; more and more, folks want to stay at home and watch movies instantly. We don't even want to wait for those happy little red envelopes any more. Nope, if it's not on our Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or computer, we get all squirrelly. (Okay, maybe that last part is just me.) And IFC is also on the cutting edge of home entertainment in its steadily growing on-demand offerings, including their IFC Festival Direct program, where you can watch a selection of movies that have played during recent festivals, and the In Theaters + On Demand program, which offers at-home viewers the chance to see indie flicks the same day they premiere in what's usually limited release.

Now Netflix and IFC have sealed the deal for a partnership that gives Netflix access to 53 IFC releases to be streamed online to whichever platform you like, starting today.

I would guess that if this experiment takes off, we'll be seeing more IFC goodies on Netflix, but for now, you can see docs like The Thing Blue Line and Gates of Heaven; international films from Catherine Breillat, Christophe Honoré, and Alfonso Cuaron; and Joe Swanberg; and plenty of other flicks like The Brother from Another Planet, Nights and Weekends, and more. Check back later for the full list and more details on the launch of this new project.

Have you watched any of the IFC On Demand offerings, especially if they're for releases not otherwise available in your area? Do you think this is another death knell for the indie video store, or a really, really good idea to help spread the word about otherwise underseen independent films in a struggling market? Or both?

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]]>IFCNetflixnetflix playernetflix streamingnetflix watch instantlyNetflixPlayerNetflixStreamingNetflixWatchInstantlyon demandOnDemandJenni MillerFri, 20 Nov 2009 16:32:00 ESTBlack Friday Movie Deals: Best Buyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/black-friday-movie-deals-best-buy/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/black-friday-movie-deals-best-buy/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/black-friday-movie-deals-best-buy/#commentsFiled under:

Our good friend and EIC Erik Davis had a very thoughtful idea for the holiday season: Why not scan the early flyers for the Black Friday sales, and report back to you -- the ravenous movie junkie -- to let you know where to find the best treats on the day after Thanksgiving?

The first big brick and mortar retail store we'll be scouring for Black Friday deals is Best Buy. So grab your Reward Zone card and some kind of protective shield to fight back the horde of shoppers, for there are deals incoming!

Note: Best Buy opens its doors at 5:00am on November 27th.

Continue reading Black Friday Movie Deals: Best Buy

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]]>Best BuyBestBuyBlack FridayBlack Friday 2009BlackFridayblackfriday09BlackFriday2009featuredmovie dealsMovieDealsPeter HallFri, 20 Nov 2009 15:03:00 ESTSam Worthington Gets Gritty in 'American Crime'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Few of us have had the chance to read Rick Remender's upcoming series, The Last Days of American Crime, but it's already tapped for the big-screen treatment. To sweeten the deal, American Crime already has a face. An Australian one. Mania is reporting that Sam Worthington has signed on to play the series' star criminal, Graham Brick.

American Crime is set in a near-future where the government has found a way to kill the criminal impulse in its citizens. That's good for everyone but the criminals, and chaos erupts as the unsavory element goes mad trying to get in one last job. One of these men is Graham Brick, who is in the midst of planning a big heist, and gets to watch all his best laid plans fall apart in a bloody fashion. I read the preview Radical handed out at Comic-Con this year, and like all previews, it was too short to really get a handle on the story. But the art was incredible, it was ridiculously violent, and it had that slimy feeling of Sin City. You can check out three pages here, and Radical has 15 pages up on MySpace. The first issue is scheduled to hit stands in December.

Remender will be penning the screenplay himself, and Radical will be producing it under their film shingle. We'll supposedly be getting a studio, a director, and more cast-members very soon, but it's tough to get excited without having read issue #1. Still, if this is really the mix of James Ellroy and David Mamet's Heist that Remender promises, Crime will be something to look out for.

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]]>Radical ComicsRadical Picturesradical publishingRadicalComicsRadicalPicturesRadicalPublishingrick remenderRickRemendersam worthingtonSamWorthingtonThe Last Days of American CrimeTheLastDaysOfAmericanCrimeElisabeth RappeFri, 20 Nov 2009 13:32:00 ESTBrett Ratner to Americanize Bollywood for Ushttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/brett-ratner-to-americanize-bollywood-for-us/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/brett-ratner-to-americanize-bollywood-for-us/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/brett-ratner-to-americanize-bollywood-for-us/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Variety is reporting that Brett Ratner has been hand-selected by Reliance Big Pictures to re-edit a forthcoming drama of theirs, Kites, in order to make the film more accessible to international audiences. Yes, the man who made the Rush Hour trilogy has been tapped to once again crush cultural barriers (assuming that's what Reliance thinks he did with those films). The production is being filmed in both Hindi and English, so it'll be Ratner's job to make sure that the English-language cut is attractive enough for a sales market outside of India, which will only be getting the Hindi cut.

And as odd as this news seems at first, the official synopsis for Kites does seem to fit Ratner's penchant for making broad-appeal films: "In the harsh terrain of the Mexican desert, a mortally wounded man is left for dead in the heat of the desert sun. This is J. Once a street smart, carefree young guy. Now, a wanted man. The only thing that keeps him alive is the quest to find the love of his life, Natasha. A woman engaged to another man, but surely destined for J. ... Kites is a story of love that goes beyond barriers, boundaries and cultures. It is a story of passion that defies every rule, of a relationship that takes two lovers on a thrilling journey filled with precious moments - and unexpected betrayal."

I say broad-appeal because that pitch reads an awful lot like Slumdog Millionaire, except without the mention of a game show. However it turns out in the end, it looks like this won't be the last time Ratner teams up with Reliance. Variety hints that re-editing Kites comes with the rights for Ratner to direct Youngblood, an adaptation of a graphic novel by Rob Liefeld... Ah, more films from the man who made X-Men 3, isn't that what we all need?

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]]>Brett RatnerBrettRatnerKitesRelianceReliance Big PicturesRelianceBigPicturesPeter HallThu, 19 Nov 2009 16:35:00 ESTGet Ready to See 'Agora' Early Next Yearhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/get-ready-to-see-agora-early-next-year/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/get-ready-to-see-agora-early-next-year/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/get-ready-to-see-agora-early-next-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

There's nothing better than the times when you get to blog about good news, and I hope this is just another spoke in a continual cycle: Variety reports that Newmarket Films -- the peeps who handled The Passion of the Christ -- has scored the U.S. rights to Alejandro Amenabar's Agora, and plan to release the film during the first half of next year. This is the second '09 TIFF film they've nabbed, the first being Creation, although I have no idea what would lead them to the much chastised Darwin pick before Rachel Weisz and Hypatia.

As I mentioned in October, the film was a big, expensive risk, but seemed to be paying off. In four days, it earned the best opening weekend for 2009, over $10 million, and the second best opening in Spain ever. Now, it still holds onto the number one spot, and according to Box Office Mojo, has earned a healthy $16,698,345.

But it cost roughly $73 million, so there's still work to be done, which shouldn't be very hard for the U.S. market. $55 mil? We can do that! Really. Start planning now. It's well worth your time, whether you love historical epics, truly gorgeous filmmaking, cerebral cinema, or smart girls on the big screen. Go see it! Pretty please?

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]]>AgoraAlejandro AmenabarAlejandroAmenabarCinematicalRachel WeiszRachelWeiszMonika BartyzelThu, 19 Nov 2009 11:18:00 ESTIndie Roundup: 'Cracks,' 'Harry Brown' Deals and Trailershttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/indie-roundup-cracks-harry-brown-deals-and-trailers/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/indie-roundup-cracks-harry-brown-deals-and-trailers/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/indie-roundup-cracks-harry-brown-deals-and-trailers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Cinematical's Indie Roundup: 'Cracks,' 'Harry Brown'

Indie Roundup: Your quick guide to what's new and upcoming in the independent film community.

Deals. Our friends at indieWIRE report that Cracks has been acquired by IFC Films, which plans to release it next year via its IFC in Theaters platform. The film is the feature directorial debut of Jordan Scott, daughter of Ridley Scott. Eva Green (The Dreamers, Casino Royale) stars as a teacher and diving coach in an Irish boarding school for orphaned girls; Juno Temple, Imogen Poots, and Maria Valverde also star. "The trials and tribulations, for both the students and their unorthodox teacher," writes Kurt Halfyard at Twitch, "gradually are brought to a boil that subverts many of the typical paths in either a coming of age story or a typical 'school-girl dormitory' tale."

Michael Caine stars as Harry Brown, a retired Marine who determines to clean up his neighborhood after his best friend is killed. Samuel Goldwyn Films picked up theatrical rights to the thriller; indieWIRE notes that the film opened in the UK last weekend, though the US release date has not yet been announced. Daniel Barber directed. UK site Pure Movies calls Harry Brown "a superior offering - albeit a gritty and bleak one."

On Demand / Online Viewing. Check out On Hallowed Ground, available exclusively this month on Babelgum. Andre Braugher narrates the documentary, which explores Rucker Park, a basketball court in Harlem where legendary future NBA players, and those who should have been famous, once played. Speaking of gritty players, if you're curious to catch up with Troy Duffy's The Boondock Saints, it'll finally be coming to video on demand in January.

After the jump: watch trailers for Cracks (absolutely gorgeous) and Harry Brown (dark and intense)!

Continue reading Indie Roundup: 'Cracks,' 'Harry Brown' Deals and Trailers

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]]>cracksdaniel barberDanielBarbereva greenEvaGreenharry brownHarryBrownjordan scottJordanScottmichael caineMichaelCaineon hallowed groundOnHallowedGroundPeter MartinWed, 18 Nov 2009 19:03:00 EST'Precious' Director Circles 'Selma' & Antoine Fuqua's Life of Crimehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/precious-selma-antoine-fuqua-life-of-cr/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/precious-selma-antoine-fuqua-life-of-cr/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/precious-selma-antoine-fuqua-life-of-cr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The men behind Precious and Shooter are going back in time, according to Variety:

Having had wild success with Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, Lee Daniels is itching to go historical for his next feature. He's in "advanced negotiations" to helm Selma, a big-buzz Civil Rights-era drama penned by Paul Webb (Lincoln). The film, which would team him with Slumdog Millionaire producer Christian Colson, focuses on the marches between Selma and Montgomery in 1965, which were the peak of the Civil Rights movement. This means that while prospects of a Martin Luther King Jr. film might be hazy, he will get some time here, one would assume -- he was one of the leaders drawn to the area where marches quickly turned to "Bloody Sunday" with force from local and state police.

And in a wholly different historic affair, it seems Antoine Fuqua and Spike Lee are getting ready for a pimp-n-ho crime spree. Fuqua will direct John Ridley's adaptation of the graphic novel Miss: Better Living Through Crime, with Lee executive producing. Set in 1900s New York, the project focuses on Sola and Slim, "a poor white girl who has learned to survive by hook or by crook since being expelled from the orphanage," and the "black pimp with an uncertain past, trying to keep one foot out of the grave." But, it's not as you might think -- the pair team up to become killers for hire.

Along with Jennifer Hudson as Winnie Mandella, it's refreshing to see a whole slew of projects in the works free of African-American crossdressers-for-laughs.

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]]>Antoine FuquaAntoineFuquaCinematicalJohn RidleyJohnRidleyLee DanielsLeeDanielsMiss: Better Living Through CrimeMiss:BetterLivingThroughCrimePaul WebbPaulWebbSelmaSpike LeeSpikeLeeMonika BartyzelWed, 18 Nov 2009 15:15:00 ESTJennifer Hudson Takes on Winnie Mandelahttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/jennifer-hudson-takes-on-winnie-mandela/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/jennifer-hudson-takes-on-winnie-mandela/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/jennifer-hudson-takes-on-winnie-mandela/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jennifer HudsonJennifer Hudson, the multitalented performer who was once a finalist on American Idol and is now a sought-after Oscar winner, will be starring in a biopic about Winnie Mandela, based on the book Winnie Mandela: A Life. Mandela, the ex-wife of South African President Nelson Mandela, is a controversial figure; although she's a stalwart activist against apartheid, with some calling her the Mother of the Nation, she has also been embroiled in several scandals, both of the personal and political nature. Perhaps most controversial was her association with a former bodyguard who was charged with the murder of a kidnapped 14-year-old. She was also charged with bank fraud in 2001; as the New York Times wrote, "there is no doubt that the woman who was once celebrated as a heroine of the anti-apartheid struggle has become mired in a particularly sticky set of financial and political troubles."

According to Variety, the movie will be directed by Darrell J. Roodt, a South African who directed Cry, the Beloved Country, which stars James Earl Jones.

Hudson said, "I was compelled and moved when I read the script... Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I'm honored to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told."

Continue reading Jennifer Hudson Takes on Winnie Mandela

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]]>American IdolAmericanIdolDarrell James RoodtDarrell RoodtDarrellJamesRoodtDarrellRoodtDreamgirlsFragmentsJennifer HudsonJenniferHudsonoscarsex and the citySexAndTheCitysupporting actressSupportingActressThe Secret Life of BeesTheSecretLifeOfBeesWinged creaturesWingedCreatureswinnie mandelaWinnieMandelaJenni MillerWed, 18 Nov 2009 09:45:00 ESTJerry Bruckheimer and Disney Developing 'Alien Legion'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/jerry-bruckheimer-disney-alien-legion/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/jerry-bruckheimer-disney-alien-legion/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/jerry-bruckheimer-disney-alien-legion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Comics never really die. They become cult classics, cherished until they're revived, republished, and optioned by Disney. Such is the tale of Alien Legion, which is soon to enjoy a revival that'll have many a comic fan claiming they were there from the beginning. (I won't be one of them -- I'll openly confess that it passed me right by.)

Creator Carl Potts described Alien Legion as "the Foreign Legion in space," and it's probably best described as melting pot of military and sci-fi, as Star Trek, Star Wars and The Dirty Dozen all influenced its vision of intergalactic soldiers banding together for honor, fortune, and adventure. It was one of Marvel's longest running series under their Epic Comics' banner, and it's been one that fans have continued to champion. Now it's being republished in a beautiful Dark Horse omnibus (which means out-of-the-loop losers like myself can finally read it), and getting four brand new issues from Dark Horse starting in 2010.

It's also on its way to the big screen. USA Today sat down all its creators, and Potts revealed that Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney were currently developing a feature film out of the series. Derek Haas and Michael Brandt are currently working on the third draft of the script, and Disney is undoubtedly hoping it could become another blockbuster franchise. I'd love to see the Mouse House actually develop a viable sci-fi franchise of their own, and Alien Legion is certainly a very promising series. Let's hope its cult of fans are rewarded with a good adaptation after all their years of devotion, and they don't resent the rest of us for coming to the party so late.

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]]>Alien LegionAlienLegionCarl PottsCarlPottsderek haasDerekHaasDisneyEpic ComicsEpicComicsJerry BruckheimerJerryBruckheimerMarvelmichael brandtMichaelBrandtElisabeth RappeTue, 17 Nov 2009 16:45:00 ESTWhy Won't Anyone Make a Richard Linklater Film?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/richard-linklater-films-dazed-and-confused/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/richard-linklater-films-dazed-and-confused/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/richard-linklater-films-dazed-and-confused/#commentsFiled under: ,



If Richard Linklater did not exist, I would never have thought his fame would be possible. Here's a director who has found mainstream success in intellectual thought and aimlessness -- not something Hollywood usually takes kindly to.

Slacker earned raves, cult status, and inspired Kevin Smith to create Clerks. Dazed and Confused followed, quickly becoming one of the quintessential high school flicks, merging stoner simplicity with political and social discussion. Before Sunrise charmed audiences with romantic discussion, The Newton Boys revealed interests reaching beyond modern day, Waking Life took on rotoscoping to discuss philosophy, Before Sunset quickly became a widely loved talk-centric romance, then fast food and Philip K. Dick fare, and now time with Orson Welles. (Not to mention those penned by others, like the one-room drama Tape.)

Yet the guy can't catch a flipping break.

Continue reading Why Won't Anyone Make a Richard Linklater Film?

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]]>CinematicalDazed and ConfusedDazedAndConfusedfeaturedLiars A-ELiarsA-eRichard LinklaterRichardLinklaterSchool of Rock 2SchoolOfRock2Thats What Im Talking AboutThatsWhatImTalkingAboutMonika BartyzelTue, 17 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST