Nov 6 2008 Jack Black Going on a Gulliver Travel
Jack Black has signed on to act hammy in a new Fox adaptation of Gulliver's Travels. From Variety:
Twentieth Century Fox is moving forward with a bigscreen adaptation of "Gulliver's Travels," with Jack Black taking on the title role as his next project.Rob Letterman ("Shark Tale") has signed on to direct the contemporary reimagining of the classic Jonathan Swift tale.
Story centers on Lemuel Gulliver, a free-spirited travel writer who, on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle, suddenly finds himself a giant among men when he washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of industrious, yet tiny, people.
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" helmer Nicholas Stoller and Joe Stillman ("Shrek") penned the screenplay.
When are we going to stop remaking stories we've already told to perfection? Because if Ted Danson in a 1996 NBC miniseries isn't right, I don't know what is. No improvements can be made. I defy you to not shout "Emmy!" when T-Dan asks this horse if it's a horse:
Oct 1 2008 Jack Black Playing Fat, Fake Jason Bourne
So a couple guys went into Universal the other day and were like, "Hey, we made that panda ninja cartoon movie. Anyway, you know Bourne Identity, right? How he's got amnesia but he's a spy guy? What about a movie like that, but the guy only thought he was a spy, when he was actually just fat? That's the movie." In response, Universal said, "Here's a million dollars." It's truth:
Jack Black is reuniting with "Kung Fu Panda" writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger for an untitled live-action action comedy at Universal.A sort of comedic "The Bourne Identity," the story sees Black as an American who finds himself washed up the shores of Cuba with no idea of who he is and how he got there. He comes to the conclusion that he must be a superspy, though in reality he is far from one.
Universal picked up the project as a pitch in a seven-figure deal.
On the shores of Cuba, eh? I hope these guys figure out how to work in some culture clash jokes and something about Castro. Those are always classics.
Aug 28 2008 'Rain of Madness' is Free on the iTunes
Rain of Madness, a documentary parody of Apocalypse Now documentary Hearts of Darkness chronicling the making of Tropic Thunder (the fake Tropic Thunder within real Tropic Thunder, obviously) is now available for free on iTunes. It sounds like a thick, mucusy wad of meta I can't yet bear to swallow, but you can check it out here. I'll probably just wait for the fake book within a book.
Jul 30 2008 Reasonable People Teaming for New Bond Theme
Columbia Pictures has announced that Alicia Keys and The White Stripes' Jack White will be providing the theme song to Quantum of Solace. From Coming Soon:
Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the highly anticipated 22nd James Bond adventure Quantum of Solace, announced today that multi-Grammy Award-winning and platinum selling recording artists Jack White of the rock band The White Stripes, and Alicia Keys, have recorded the theme song for the film, which will be released worldwide this November.Their song, written and produced by Jack White, and titled "Another Way to Die," will be the first duet in Bond soundtrack history. In addition to writing the song, Jack White is also featured as the drummer on this track.
As a reminder, Chris Cornell provided the theme to Casino Royale. To put that in perspective, that's like going from the lead singer of Soundgarden to absolutely anyone relevant. Metaphorically.
Jul 8 2008 'Tropic Thunder' International Trailer, for the Fart-Loving Foreigners
It still feels like watching an extended MTV Awards sketch to me--largely because the last MTV Awards sketches were just extended commercials for this movie--but there is a new international trailer for Tropic Thunder. If there was any question whether Ben Stiller's latest would be a biting satire or just a collection of fart jokes, let me point out that this trailer literally contains a fart delivered as a joke. I'm not saying the film will necessarily consist entirely of fart jokes, but I'm the kind of guy who finds some mold on his bread and throws away the whole loaf. By which I mean I'll wait until this sweeps the MTV Movie Awards before I'll bother with it.
Continue Reading " 'Tropic Thunder' International Trailer, for the Fart-Loving Foreigners "
May 23 2008 'Tropic Thunder' Poster is Triumvirate of Laughs
This is the version of Cerberus that guards the gates of Comedy Heaven. To get through you have to resist laughing, which is clearly impossible after seeing those wacky expressions, so it's likely no one will ever reach Comedy Heaven.
Tropic Thunder Poster [IMPA]
May 9 2008 Ugh, New 'Kung Fu Panda' Trailer
The best trailer for WALL-E yet.
Kung Fu Panda Trailer 2 [Yahoo!]
Apr 22 2008 Can RDJ Out-Ham Jack Black in 'Tropic Thunder'? Visual Proof!
Yes. Yes he can. It was a hard-fought war, with bright hair and teeth clashing like bleached swords, but in the end the victory went to the faux-Aryan on the left. And don't forget, you can see all the intense hamminess in action in the trailer.
New Tropic Thunder Photos [/Film]
Mar 18 2008 'Tropic Thunder' Trailer Assaults You with RDJ's Blackness
You may think Ben Stiller is an A-list comedy star who's taken more than his share of execrable roles, and is as guilty as Will Ferrell of expecting us to continually enjoy the same tired schtick. But he's totally not. As this trailer to Tropic Thunder demonstrates, Stiller considers his wacky comedy persona to be perched well above the world of overly-serious actors, action stars, rapper-turned-actors, and his fellow wacky comics, giving him the freedom to lambast them with hammy, painfully obvious satire.
At least the trailer alleviates any concerns about the questionable taste of Robert Downey Jr. playing a white man playing a black man. It's not derogatory, just really tiring after only two-and-a-half minutes.
Continue Reading " 'Tropic Thunder' Trailer Assaults You with RDJ's Blackness "
Mar 10 2008 'Tropic Thunder' Humorless Teaser Trailer
Many traditionalists will argue that a teaser trailer to a comedy should, in some way, hint at the presence of humor--that there should be some indication that comedy may occur. Not so, says this trailer to Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder, noting that Robert Downey Jr. in blackface and a man saying "motherf***er" could almost be considered humor if you've never smiled before.
But seriously, were there jokes in this? Where? More importantly, why does it look like a fan-made trailer, cobbled together from available production stills and an Entertainment Weekly feature?
Continue Reading " 'Tropic Thunder' Humorless Teaser Trailer "
Mar 5 2008 First Look at 'Tropic Thunder', RDJ as C. Thomas Howell
In the seven years since directing Zoolander, Ben Stiller has had a lot of time to decide the next ego-driven profession to lance with the blunt skewer of broad comedy. With Tropic Thunder, Stiller transitions from male models to the realm of self-important actors, and has replaced the intense model-stare he so frequently employed with a new face: blackface. Yes, if the black man in above image looks familiar, it's because that's RDJ:
Robert Downey Jr. plays Kirk Lazarus, a very serious Oscar-winning actor cast in the most expensive Vietnam war epic ever filmed. Problem is, Lazarus's character, Sgt. Osiris, was originally written as black. So Lazarus decides to dye his skin and play Osiris, um, authentically.
It's obviously dangerous territory, but Stiller assured Entertainment Weekly that he "recently screened a rough cut for African-Americans, and was relieved at the reaction." Stiller also informed the magazine that he's now allowed to use "the N-word" because he's got this black friend, and he's totally cool with it.
Does Jack Black look like a fat version of the villain from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? to anyone else?
Stiller's new comedy [EW]
Feb 12 2008 'Kung Fu Panda' Trailer is Big, Clumsy
Like pretty much all of Dreamworks Animation's efforts, Kung Fu Panda must have began with the great idea of getting big name voice cast to take on the roles of goofy animated animals. They succeeded in this noble effort, getting Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, and Angelina Jolie to star, but it seems like that's all there is to it.
Outside of hearing stars' disembodied voices, the film relies entirely on the premise that it's hilarious how fat and clumsy this schlub is. It might be moderately funny the first time, but how many times can you watch a cartoon panda fall over and laugh? I hope your answer is at least seven times, twice in slow motion, because that's pretty much all the content you're going to find here.
I watched this thing several times, and I've determined it's impossible not to roll your eyes when "Kung Fu Fighting" starts playing. And remember the end of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze), when Master Splinter finally breaks his solemn facade to give the audience a long-awaited "cowabunga"? Well, I don't want to ruin anything, but get ready to laugh--again!
Dec 12 2007 See The Beatles in 'Walk Hard'
Regardless of how funny Walk Hard ends up being, this scene with The Beatles, as played by Jack Black, Jason Schwartzman, Justin Long, and Paul Rudd, should go down with I'm Not There as one of worst yet funniest group impressions in history.
Dec 3 2007 'Be Kind Rewind' Poster Rides Video Tape Into My VCR Heart
I really like how the homemade theme of the movie is translated to the poster, right down to the frustration of the marker running out near the end. And also that Danny Glover appears to be Mos Def's subtitle.
Be Kind Rewind Poster [IMPA]
Oct 29 2007 'Kung Fu Panda' Trailer Panders Fast as Lightning
It looks like Dreamworks is already sending out their cease and desists, but for the time being, you can check out the teaser trailer to their latest CGI masterpiece, Kung Fu Panda (AKA Shrek the Panda) at /Film.
I never understand why they forcibly remove the free advertising they're getting. It's like they don't want us to see how they got the lead voice actor, Jack Black, to ham it up in live-action antics, like Seinfeld with Bee Movie only even more patronizing. Or how they cleverly found a little-known Kung Fu-themed song, "Kung Fu Fighting," to subtlely broadcast that, indeed, this movie does involve Kung Fu.
Kung Fu Panda Teaser Trailer [/Film]
Aug 8 2007 Be Kind Rewind Official Trailer
Yahoo has the official trailer for Michel Gondry's (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) latest film, Be Kind Rewind. Here's the official description of the movie:
Jerry (Jack Black), a junkyard worker who attempts to sabotage a power plant that he believes is melting his brain. But when his plan goes awry, the magnetic field that he creates accidentally erases all of the videotapes in a local video store where his best friend Mike (Mos Def) works. Fearing that the mishap will cost Mike his job, the two friends team up to keep the store's only loyal customer - a little old lady with a tenuous grasp on reality - from realizing what has happened by recreating and re-filming every movie that she decides to rent.
I put up some screen captures of the various movies they try to remake after the cut. If you can name them all without looking at the trailer you get a free hot dog. To collect the hot dog just stop by your local 7-Eleven, grab a hot dog, and walk out. And if anybody stops you just say, "It's cool, man, I won this." They'll understand.
Jun 27 2007 Be Kind, Rewind Drives Miss Daisy
Shirt from the closet of Steven Seagal.
Another shot has turned up from Michel Gondry's Be Kind, Rewind, in which Jack Black and Mos Def are forced to re-create movies after accidentally erasing the entire rental store. Can you guess which film they're re-enacting here, ignoring the title where I blatantly give it away?
That's right, it's Driving Miss Daisy, my favorite pro-slavery movie. Extra points go out to the makeup department for adding the signature Morgan Freeman freckles to Mos Def.
Jun 19 2007 Jack Black Wants a Man-Witch, Please
Jack Black backstage at the Tony Awards
Please forgive me for that headline, but Jack Black will be teaming up with Todd Phillips (Uh, I'm here for the gangbang?) on the upcoming comedy Man-Witch.
Black will play a schoolteacher who suddenly discovers he has witchlike abilities. Taken in by a coven, he is persuaded to attend a school for witches, only to discover that his classmates are all girls.
I was in class with all girls once. They were bad and I had to teach them a lesson. A sexy lesson, bouche! This will be latest in what one hopes will be a string of kickass Jack Black movies. He's also in Noah Baumbach's Margot at the Wedding, Michel Gondry's Be Kind Rewind, and Year One with Judd Apatow. If he can't find a hit with at least one of these, it might be time to go back to sitting on the couch doing whippets.
Jun 1 2007 Michel Gondry: First Image from 'Be Kind, Rewind'
I wouldn't usually post a single image from a movie that's not coming out for almost a year (April 2008, to be exact), but since this one's from Michel Gondry, who directed one of my all-time favorites, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I'll give it a pass. Plus, it's got a delightfully strange synopsis:
When Jerry becomes accidentally magnetized while trying to sabotage the power plant he believes is melting his brain, the magnetic field he gives off ends up erasing all of the tapes in the video store where his best friend Mike works. Now Mike may lose his job, and the only way the friends can think to save it is to keep the one regular customer they have - a little old lady with a tenuous grasp on reality - from recognizing what has happened. The way they do this? By recreating and refilming every movie that she decides to rent of course! From Driving Miss Daisy to Ghostbusters to Rush Hour, these two friends become the biggest stars in their neighbourhood by starring in the biggest movies in the world.
I'll admit, I always credited Eternal Sunshine's awesomeness more to Charlie Kaufman than Michel Gondry, but Jack Black needs a hit so I'm staying optimistic. And it co-stars Danny Glover, so there's no way it can fail. The man's like King Midas!
Oh, and if when the trailer comes out Mos Def's voice is in any way similar to the retarded cartoon croak he used in Sixteen Blocks, I'll be staying home.
Oct 25 2006 Tenacious D Talk Movie Piracy
As part of the promotional campaign to the Tenacious D movie, Jack Black has made this parody of those anti-piracy ads that have been running before previews. Show it to your friends. Notice Steve's not laughing so hard? He's a narc!
