Inland/Movies

September 2009 Archives

'Paranormal Activity' has cult potential

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 28, 2009 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From Hollywood Reporter - Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle (or the ghost in the machine), Paramount Pictures has been treading carefully with its release of "Paranormal Activity," which opened in 12 theaters on Friday.

The Slamdance 2008 pickup's ridiculously low budget of $15,000 and cinema-verite approach to the supernatural evoke that ultimate sleeper success, "The Blair Witch Project."

The movie's utter lack of production value has mandated an unconventional word-of-mouth strategy that incorporates midnight debut screenings in 13 college towns and a website competition to determine which parts of the country will get it next. If you want to see this movie in your city, you need to "demand it" here.

Brad Pitt honored for humanitarian work in New Orleans

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 25, 2009 1:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brad Pitt was honored today for his humanitarian work in helping rebuild hurricane-ravaged New Orleans at former U.S. President Bill Clinton's philanthropic summit, the Clinton Global Initiative.

Pitt was presented with a plaque from the U.S. Green Building Council which said the actor and his foundation "Make It Right" had created the "largest and greenest single-family community in the world."

Each house is unique and has eco-friendly features like green roofs, which can cut heating and cooling costs dramatically.

PItt's goal is to have 150 green homes up and ready in New Orleans by next year.

Source: Reuters

Randy and Evi Quaid arrested and charged with 3 felony counts

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 24, 2009 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Radar Online and the Associated Press are reporting that actor Randy Quaid and his wife, Evi, are being investigated by The Santa Barbara Police Dept. for allegedly skipping out on their hotel bill at the San Ysidro Ranch after racking up more than $10,000 in charges and an arrest warrant has been filed.

The couple has been arrested in Marfa, Texas, and is expected to each be charged with three felony counts: defrauding an innkeeper, conspiracy and burglary.

The couple also has been holding on to a rental car that's been reported missing by a Hertz Rent-A-Car.

What is going on here? Is this a big misunderstanding or the start of a big, bad habit?

Movies opening Sept. 25

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 24, 2009 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Surrogates: Set in a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots, a cop (Bruce Willis) is forced to leave his home for the first time in years in order to investigate cases of surrogate murder. Also starring Radha Mitchell, Ving Rhames.

Fame: A remake of the 1980s musical centered on the teachers and students at the prestigious New York City High School of Performing Arts. Starring Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth, Megan Mullally.

Pandorum: A pair of crew members aboard a spaceship wake up with no knowledge of their mission or their identities. Starring Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet.

Coco Before Chanel: The story of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (Audrey Tautou) and her rise from obscure beginnings to the heights of the fashion world. Co-stars Benoit Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola.

Paranormal Activity: While settling into her new home, Katie (Katie Featherston) is disturbed in her sleep by a mysterious presence. Her husband, Micah (Micah Sloat), tries to ease her fear by installing video cameras in an attempt to capture the strange behavior on tape. Bad idea. Co-stars Michael Bayouth.

Astro Boy: Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy (voiced by Freddie Highmore) is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist (voiced by Nicolas Cage) in the image of the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving man's expectations, our hero embarks on a journey in search of acceptance, experiencing betrayal and a netherworld of robot gladiators, before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with the father who had rejected him.

Courtesy IMDB.com

Universal to make live-action Barbie film

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 24, 2009 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Universal Pictures has made a deal with Mattel to build a live-action film around its Barbie toy line. Laurence Mark ("Julie and Juila") will produce.

According to Mattel, the 50-year-old Barbie has 99% worldwide brand awareness, and it's the number one girls property in the toy industry, the top doll property in the U.S., and the number one worldwide property in the traditional toy industry.

There's no shortage of plot possibilities for the family-friendly movie, since Barbie has held more than 120 jobs over the years.

Source: Variety

Stephanie Meyer's 'The Host' to become a movie

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 23, 2009 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Stephanie Meyer's (author of "Twilight" vampire saga) first adult novel, "The Host," is being adapted for a feature film, according to Variety.

The love story is set in the near future on Earth, which has been assimilated by a compassionate alien species of parasites that call themselves "Souls." One soul, called the Wanderer, is fused with a dying human named Melanie Stryder, in an attempt to located the last pocket of surviving humans on Earth. They set off to locate Stryder's lost love, Jared, who is one of the last unaffected humans and remains in hiding.

Andrew Niccol will write the script and direct. Previously, he has written and directed "Gattaca" and "Lord of War," and wrote "The Truman Show."

I read the book "The Host" last year, and the entire time I thought how incredible it would be as a movie. I'm excited at this news and I'm curious who the cast will be. Last year Meyer told MTV News that her dream cast would include Robert Redford as Jeb, Matt Damon as Jared, Casey Affleck as Ian and Ben Affleck as Kyle. Only time will tell if any of her wishes come true.

Movie theaters will be able to foil pirates

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 22, 2009 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You can't shoot a film pirate with bullets, but infrared light is just fine.

Sharp, at the request of Japan's National Institute of Informatics, has developed a method to ruin the camcorder footage shot by pirates in movie theaters. By placing mega IR lights behind the screen (which are invisible to the human eye, of course), the light can tunnel through tiny holes that are already in screens for the passage of sound.

The result is a wash of light protruding from the screen, ruining camcorder footage.

Courtesy Gizmodo

Special member screening of 'The Hurt Locker'

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 21, 2009 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Palm Springs International Film Society is offering a special screening of "The Hurt Locker" to its members on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., at Regal Cinemas (789 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs). Director Kathryn Bigelow, Screenwriter Mark Boal and member of the cast will be available for a Q&A.

"The Hurt Locker" is about the technicians of the military's bomb squad who battle insurgents and each other as they search for and disarm a wave of roadside bombs on the streets of Baghdad in order to try and make the city a safer place.

Netflix awards $1 million for improvements

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 21, 2009 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From UPI - Online movie rental service Netflix Inc. said today it has awarded a $1 million prize to the team that best improved its recommendation system.

The award was presented after a three-year competition that brought submissions by more than 40,000 teams variously made up of engineers, statisticians and researchers from 186 countries.

The winning team is comprised of software and electrical engineers, statisticians and machine learning researchers from Austria, Canada, Israel and the United States. All seven team members -- Bob Bell, Martin Chabbert, Michael Jahrer, Yehuda Koren, Martin Piotte, Andreas Toscher and Chris Volinsky -- attended the awards ceremony.

Hallelujah! Jeff Buckley biopic in the works

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 21, 2009 9:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

ABC News reports the role of Jeff Buckley, son of musician Tim Buckley, could be between James Franco and Robert Pattinson in a biopic about Jeff Buckley. Jeff was popular in the 1990s playing cover songs in the East Village before focusing on his own material. In 1997, he accidentally drowned in Memphis at the age of 30.

James Franco physically resembles Buckley, and he's played James Dean. Pattinson played an emo musician in "How To Be" and portrayed Salvador Dali in "Little Ashes."

I like Franco for this role. What do you think? Who's the better choice to play this part? Do you have someone else in mind that could pull it off?

Thousands of 3D theaters to be added by May

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 18, 2009 5:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From StudioBriefing.net - The movie industry's plan to convert the nation's theaters to digital 3D is expected to take a great leap forward in the coming months, DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg has told the New York Times.

The plan, which calls for theaters to pay for the initial cost of the conversion but receive from the studios a credit for every movie distributed to them on disk rather than on film until the loans for the equipment are paid off, has reportedly been delayed by the current lending crisis. However, the Times reported, Katzenberg told a conference in Los Angeles on Thursday that a financing vehicle arranged by J.P. Morgan will enable the nation's three biggest theater chains, Regal, Cinemark and AMC, to up the number of digital 3D screens in the U.S. to 3,800 by December and to 5,000 by next May.

Giamatti to play King John in 'Ironclad'

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 18, 2009 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Paul Giamatti will play the tyrant King John in "Ironclad," a medieval-era action that starts production in Wales next month. Jonathan English will direct and James Purefoy costars.

The story is about a member of the Knights Templar (Purefoy) and his "Magnificent Seven" cohorts who defend Rochester Castle against King John and his army in 13th century England.

Source: Variety

Movies opening Sept. 18

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 17, 2009 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (PG) - A scientist tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance in this animated tale. Voices by Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T and Tracy Morgan.

Jennifer's Body (R) - When small-town high school hottie Jennifer (Megan Fox) is possessed by a hungry demon, guys who never stood a chance with her, take on new luster in the light of Jennifer's insatiable appetite. Co-stars Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody, Amanda Seyfried and J.K. Simmons.

Love Happens (PG-13) - A widower (Aaron Eckhart) writes a book about grieving that turns him into a phenomenon. Reinvented as a charismatic self-help guru, he falls for a woman (Jennifer Aniston) at a seminar and is forced to confront the fact that he hasn't come to grips with his own loss. Co-stars John Carroll Lynch, Dan Fogler and Judy Greer.

The Informant! (R) - Matt Damon stars in this comedy as Mark Whitacre, a rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) who becomes a whistleblower about his company's multi-national price-fixing conspiracy. Based on a true story.

Source: The Movie Insider

Sharlto Copley of 'District 9' joins 'A-Team' cast

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 16, 2009 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Twentieth Century Fox says that 35-year-old South African Sharlto Copley ("District 9") will play pilot H. M. 'Howling Mad' Murdoch in remake of "The A-Team." Also, joining the cast of Liam Neeson (Col. John "Hannibal" Smith), Bradley Cooper (Lt. Templeton "Face" Peck), and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (B.A. Baracas) is Jessica Biel who will portray an ex-flame of Faceman's.
Production has already begun on the Vancouver-based set with the action flick set to bow next June.

Source: EW.com

Tarantino sees 'Basterds' saving Weinstein brothers

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 15, 2009 2:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The box office success of the WWII shoot 'em up film "Inglourious Basterds" will help the cash-strapped Weinstein brothers, director Quentin Tarantino says. The brothers, who run Weinstein Co., have been the financial backers for all of Tarantino's films.

"They were backed up against the wall, and this gives them breathing room. This gets their back off the wall," Tarantino told Reuters during a visit to Israel to promote "Inglorious Basterds," which he said had grossed $200 million worldwide.

"It will give them some cash by the time the whole thing is over with, but it also even helps them inside of the industry and it actually shows Hollywood that they can open a movie."

"I'm actually proud that I was able to do that for them, that I could pay back their faith in me, that I could pay back their support," Tarantino said.

Source: Reuters

Continue reading Tarantino sees 'Basterds' saving Weinstein brothers.

Orlando resort reveals details of Harry Potter park

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 15, 2009 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey will be a high-tech ride and the marquee attraction at the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter," a theme park area opening in spring 2010 at Universal Orlando Resort.

The Forbidden Journey ride was named by author J.K. Rowling and described by Universal officials in a webcast revealing details of what the Potter park will look like, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The ride will take guests through scenes from the Potter movies inside a richly detailed remake of Hogwarts Castle made to look 700 feet tall.

The Harry Potter park will be part of Universal's Islands of Adventure.

The read more about the park, click here.

'Basterds' thesp to play villain in 'Green Hornet'

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 14, 2009 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Christoph Waltz, who is getting rave reviews for his role as a Nazi in "Inglourious Basterds," has signed on to lay the villain, Chudnofsky, in the action comedy "The Green Hornet." The character is a Los Angeles crime boss who tries to unite the city's various gangs in order to create a super-mafia.

The Austrian actor replaces Nicolas Cage, who walked away from negotiations last week when a contract couldn't be finalized.

The film is scheduled to be released in December, 2010.

Source: Variety

Lottery for Oscars red carpet bleacher seats begins today

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 14, 2009 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The online registration began at 9 a.m. today and will end at 9 p.m. Sept. 20 for those interested in getting a bleacher seat along the red carpet during next year's Oscar ceremony.

To register, visit www.oscars.org/bleachers.

There are 700 seats available for the March 7 event. In early October the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will notify the winners.

As many as 20,000 people have applied in past years, according to the Academy.

Source: City News Service

Movies opening Sept. 11

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 10, 2009 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

9 (PG-13) Post-apocalyptic, animated adventure about the tiny, man-made creatures who rise to defend the planet from the fearsome machines which have already decimated humanity and now threaten to wipe out all living things. Voice cast includes Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover and Elijah Wood.

I Can Do Bad All by Myself (PG-13) Tyler Perry's back in drag as Madea for this modern morality play which has the gun-toting granny delivering the trio of orphaned, juvenile delinquents she catches burglarizing her home to their only living relative (Taraji P. Henson). With Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, Marvin Winans, Brian J. White and Hope Olaide Wilson.

Sorority Row (R) Remake of the gruesome, 1983 splatter flick about five college juniors (Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Jamie Chung, Rumer Willis and Audrina Patridge) who agree to cover up the accidental death of a sorority housemate by secretly buring her body only to find themselves stalked by a serial killer a year later during their big graduation party. With Robert Belushi (son of Jim).

Whiteout (R) Kate Beckinsale stars in this frosty crime caper about a U.S. Marshal assigned to investigate the first murder in Antarctica three days before winter sets in. With Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short and Tom Skerritt.

Courtesy The Loop

Free screening of new Ken Burns film Sept. 16

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 10, 2009 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The public is invited to attend a free screening of the new Ken Burns' film "This is America," which tells the story of the National Parks through the lens of a diverse cast of historical characters.

The film will be shown Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:45) at the Broad Performance Space in the Broad Center at Pitzer College. The center is located near Platt Boulevard and Mills Avenue in Claremont.

This 45-minute film is a companion to Burns' upcoming National Parks documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," which debuts Sept. 27 nationwide on PBS.

Netflix to stream 'Wizard of Oz' for free Oct. 3

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 9, 2009 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Netflix plans to stream the newly remastered "The Wizard of Oz" online for free (Netflix subscription not required) throughout the day on Oct. 3 at www.netflix.com/wizardofoz. The online presentation coincides with the release of a 70th anniversary special edition of the film that is being released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc, as well as cable on broadband downloads.

Warner Bros., which acquired MGM film when it merged with Turner Entertainment, is also mounting a free live concert and screening in New York's Central Park on Sept. 29.

Source: Studio Briefing

2009 TVIFF workshops and panels

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 9, 2009 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One on One Mentoring Session: Sit down and have a private meeting with record producer Jason Brawner on Friday, Sept. 11 from 3 to 4 p.m. at Tower Plaza, Workshop Room, during the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival. This is your opportunity to make an impression and expose yourself to the industry. There are only five 15-minute slots available per session. Registration starts at Screening Room A, 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 11.

PItch it: Pitch your music to Jason Brawner on Friday, Sept. 11 from 4:15-5:30 p.m., Tower Plaza, Workshop Room. Your song will be played over the PA for Brawner to consider and evaluate. There is only time for 15 songs to be heard so sign up early in Screening Room C. He has written for and had holds with David Foster, Josh Groban, Hilary Duff and Carrie Underwood.

Music, Film & Money -- How You Can Make It Happen: For filmmakers, songwriters and composers. Saturday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m. to noon, Tower Plaza, Workshop Room.

A Conversation with Jim Isaac: Saturday, Sept. 12, 1 to 2 p.m., Tower Plaza, Workshop Room. Special effects master Jim Isaac will present his expertise in creating movie magic and his experiences as a SFX technician and supervisor, producer, and director. He's worked on "Gremlins," "Return of the Jedi," "Romancing the Stone," "Ace Ventura" and more.

A Good Story Well Told - A Screenwriting Seminar by David Cole: Learn the ins and outs of the screenwriting process. Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 to 2 p.m., Tower Plaza, Workshop Room.

The Indie Insight - A Producing and Directing Panel: Moderated by Steve Montal. Sunday, Sept. 13, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Tower Plaza, Workshop Room.

Visit the web site www.tviff.com or call 951-699-5514 for more info.

'The Princess and the Frog' trailer -- classic hand-drawn animation

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 9, 2009 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Walt Disney Animation Studios' musical "The Princess and the Frog" is an animated comedy set in New Orleans. The story features a beautiful girl, Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on an adventure through Louisiana bayous.

Here's the trailer, courtesy of Trailer Addict.

Nicolas Cage out of 'Green Hornet'

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 9, 2009 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nicolas Cage, who was reported to play the villain in "Green Hornet," apparently never signed on to do it, according to comicbookmovie.com. A few days ago Sony announced that the movie would go forward and that Cage was in negotiations, but those have failed.

Cage is now ready to do other projects including "Drive Angry," and "Hungry Rabbit Jumps."

Director Michael Gondry will keep shooting other scenes that don't involve the villain. The movie began filming last week at Sony Pictures Studios and Friday will be filming in Chinatown. Over the next three months, the production will shoot in various Southern California locations.

There's been no announcement to replace Cage.

What do you think? Will this movie get off the ground? Will other actors bow out? Who would you like to see as the villain?

Obama's mother to be topic of documentary

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 8, 2009 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

THR is reporting that Aloe Entertainment, along with IMG and Schroeder-Ptacek Productions, are bringing the story of Barack Obama's mother to the big screen. The documentary will be directed by Charles Burnett.

"Stanley Ann Dunham: A Most Generous Spirit" will show how she raised a young Obama in Indonesia and Hawaii as well as her pioneering work in the field of Third World microfinance, which assists small entrepreneurs, mostly women, in developing countries.

Read the full story here.

Discounted seats at The Movie Experience

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 4, 2009 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Movie Experience at Cal Oaks in Murrieta is offering special Back to School pricing on movie tickets beginning today, Sept. 4.

All shows before 3 p.m. - $5.50

After 3 p.m. - general admission - $7.50, seniors - $6.50

There is a $2 upcharge for all tickets to 3D shows.

This pricing is offered for a limited time only.

Visit www.themovieexperience.com for show times or call 951-698-7800.

Sept. 4 movie releases

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 3, 2009 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

All About Steve (PG-13) - Bradley Cooper stars as a CNN cameraman who thinks he's being stalked across the country by a crossword puzzle designer (Sandra Bullock) who is convinced that they're soulmates. Also stars Thomas Haden Church, Keith David and Dr. Ken Jeong.

Carriers (R) - Horror movie about four friends (Piper Perabo, Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine and Emily Vancamp) who start driving across the desert to escape a deadly virus threatening the human race with extinction only to discover they are more dangerous to each other.

Extract (R) - Jason Bateman stars in this ensemble comedy about a sexually-frustrated, flavoring factory owner trying to handle several personal and workplace woes ranging from incompetent employees to a frigid wife (Kristin Wiig). With Ben Affleck, J.K. Simmons, Mila Kunis, David Koechner and Gene Simmons.

Gamer (R) - Sci-fi thriller set in the near-future that revolves around the attempt of a human gladiator (Gerard Butler) to free himself from the clutches of a deadly mind-control game invented by a voyeuristic, reclusive billionaire (Michael. C. Hall) which pits people against each other. Also stars Amber Valetta, Kyra Sedgwick, Terry Crews, Keith David, Ludacris and John Leguizamo.

Source: The Loop

Fall movie preview

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 3, 2009 8:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Cinema Blend has a list of fall movies they think you should see.

It's a long list, but here are the highlights:

SEPTEMBER

Extract (Jason Bateman stars, Mike Judge directs, enough said), 9 (the animated one by Tim Burton, not the singing and dancing one), The Informant! (Steven Soderbergh directs a girthy Matt Damon, feels like a Cohen bros. film), Jennifer's Body (written by Cody Diablo, and stars Megan Fox, who eats boys).

OCTOBER

The Invention of Lying (Ricky Gervais lives in a world where nobody lies, until he invents it), Whip It (Drew Barrymore's directorial debut starring Ellen Page as a roller derby girl), Zombieland (funny-gory zombie movie starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg), A Serious Man (the Cohen bros. film looks intense and features no big name stars), Where the Wild Things Are (Spike Jonze directs this adaptation of a childhood classic), The Road (Viggo Mortenson stars in the gritty, post-apocalyptic father-son story based on Cormac McCarthy's novel).

NOVEMBER

The Men Who Stare At Goats (Besides the awesome title, it stars George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges as aging soldiers who were trained as Jedi soldiers), A Christmas Carol (Robert Zemeckis directs Jim Carrey as Ebeneezer Scrooge), The Fantastic Mr. Fox (stop-motion animation film by Wes Anderson), The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Could be the biggest movie of the year), Nine (the musical, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench and a bunch of over stars that can sing and dance), Ninja Assassin (action movie from the Wachowskis).

DECEMBER

Brothers (Jake Gyllenahaal and Tobey Maguire are sibings, also stars Natalie Portman), The Lovely Bones ( Based on a heartbreaking book starring Saiorsie Ronan and Stanley Tucci), Invictus (Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood star, about Nelson Mandela), Avatar (James Cameron's spent years and millions making this grandiose 3D movie), The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Heath Ledger's last film, directed by Terry Gilliam), Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr. smolders in the steamy bromance between Watson and Holmes).

To see the full list, click here.

Kelly McGillis cast in vampire film

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 2, 2009 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

movies0902 kelly-mcgillis.jpg

Kelly McGillis has joined the cast of "Stake Land," a vampire movie filming in New York and Pennsylvania, the flick's producers said Wednesday.

McGillis, 52, is best known for her roles in "Top Gun," "Witness" and "The Accused."

Written by Jim Mickle and Nick Damici, and directed by Mickle, the film is about what happens after a global spread of vampirism.

McGillis plays a nun who joins a small team of survivors -- played by Damici, Danielle Harris and Conor Paolo -- as they make a treacherous journey north to safety through the war-torn United States.

"Jim and Nick have written a uniquely intense part for Sister, and we are thrilled to see Kelly McGillis in the role. This is a very ambitious project, with a genuinely epic sweep, and we cannot wait to bring it to audiences next year," Dark Sky's Executive Vice President Greg Newman said in a statement.

Source - UPI

Netflix will announce $1 million prize on Sept. 21

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 2, 2009 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Netflix will award $1 million to anyone who can improve their recommendation system by 10 percent. For the past three years, some of the world's most resourceful software engineers and mathematicians have been working on this challenge.

The winning entry will power Netflix's upcoming movie recommendation engine.

Neflix said it will announce the winner at an event in New York on Sept. 21. The teams Bellkor (AT&T Research), Big Chaos and Pragmatic Theory united to form Bellkor's Pragmatic Chaos, the first team to qualify for the prize on June 26 with a 10.05 percent improvement over Netflix's existing algorithm. Within 30 days a team called The Ensemble, made of lower-ranked contestants, submitted a higher score of 10.10 percent.

Before Sept. 21 Netflix must decide which of the two qualifying teams has the best algorithm based on how they score on various undisclosed tests. The company must also determine whether the winning team's results are reproducible.

Read the entire story here.

Source: Wired

Mayweather-Marquez fight to screen live in theaters

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 1, 2009 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From Reuters - Boxing will return to movie theaters for the first time in almost three decades - and in high definition - with the September 19 welterweight championship bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez, it was announced Monday.

More than 170 screens will have the fight and its undercard from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Among the circuits participating are AMC, Cinemark, Cobb, Kerasotes, Malco, Marcus, National Amusements and Regal. Read the entire story here.

Fox readying for 'Fantastic Four' reboot

By

Carrie McDermott

on September 1, 2009 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Variety reports that 20th Century Fox has begun overhauling one of its big Marvel franchises, "Fantastic Four," to take the property beyond the two films already made.

Michael Green, who co-wrote "Green Lantern," will write the script for the new "Fantastic Four," and Akiva Goldsman will produce.

Get the entire story here.

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