Apr 14 2009 Wahlberg, Franco, Others Plan for 'Date Night'
Looking to out-starstud his previous star-studded, night-themed efforts, Night at the Museum director Shawn Levy has added several more notable names to his upcoming comedy, Date Night:
Wahlberg and Franco have signed on for supporting roles in the Shawn Levy-helmed comedy for 20th Century Fox. Leighton Meester, Common, Taraji P. Henson and Kristen Wiig have also boarded the project.Penned by Josh Klausner, comedy revolves around a married couple who find themselves in harm's way after their routine date night goes horribly awry.
Wahlberg plays a successful and crazily buff securities expert who flirts with Fey's character. Franco portrays a not-too-bright conman and petty criminal. Meester is onboard as the couple's babysitter. Henson plays the one good cop who believes the couple is in danger, and Common portrays a villain. Wiig, who worked with Fey on "Saturday Night Live," rounds out the cast as the actress' best friend.
I just hope I'll be able to believe Mark Wahlberg as a muscly security guy after seeing him so convincingly portray a science teacher in The Happening. It can get so hard to reconcile all the varied, often implausible hats worn by Wahlberg.
Wahlberg, Franco join 'Date Night' [Variety]
Sep 9 2008 Here's Who Will Be 'Howl'-ing
I don't know how anyone would ever top David Cross's portrayal of Allen Ginsberg in I'm Not There--at least in terms of looking exactly like him--but James Franco will soon try his hand at playing a bad-boy heartthrob Ginsberg in Howl, and now five more have joined the cast:
David Strathairn, Alan Alda, Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker and Paul Rudd are attached to join James Franco as Allen Ginsberg in the beatnik biopic "Howl."Telling Pictures documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman will make their narrative writing, producing and directing debut with the 1950s-era tale, focusing on the obscenity trial launched to censor Ginsberg's groundbreaking book-length poem. The pair were approached by the Allen Ginsberg Trust to make a film commemorating the 50th anniversary of "Howl."
Among the real-life characters featured in the film are prosecuting attorney Ralph McIntosh (Strathairn), Judge Clayton Horn (Alda), prosecution witness Professor David Kirk (Daniels), radio personality and prosecution witness Gail Potter (Parker) and literary critic and defense witness Luther Nichols (Rudd).
I don't know whether this movie will be any good or not, but can we acknowledge that Jeff Daniels and Dave Coulier are now officially the same person? They are.
Aug 21 2008 'Nights in Rodanthe' is the 'Citizen Kane' of Menoporn
Here's one for the ladies (over 40, who are lonely), or for anyone who likes laughing at menopause porn highlight reels composed entirely of melodrama moneyshots. "I made that to keep special things safe." "What keeps you safe?" God, Diane Lane, just let Richard Gere take care of you! You're special too! Why can't intentional comedy be this funny?
The only thing that could make this more perfect is if the black friend is revealed to be the ghost of a patient Richard Gere killed in surgery, but since every other predictable plot point is divulged in this four minute trailer, I have to assume she's corporeal.
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Aug 8 2008 'Superbad'/'Pineapple Express' Crossover Movie? Really?
Freddy and Jason, Alien and Predator, that time Urkel was on Step by Step: if there's one thing audiences will tolerate, it's pointless crossovers. So how about a Pineapple Express/Superbad crossover, even though Seth Rogen is in both films playing different roles, which would probably lead to some kind of confusing, Tommy Westphall-style paradox? Well, regardless, James Franco says it might be happening. From MTV:
Even before ‘Superbad’ came out, I think the studio was trying to get [Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg] to write a sequel, but they really didn’t want to write a sequel. I guess the kids would go to college or something like that [that was the studio's idea],” Franco said. “And so, an answer to that was to do a ‘Superbad’/'Pineapple Express’ crossover, an unprecedented crossover movie with two directors, Greg Motolla and David Gordon Green, each directing half of the movie and somehow these characters get together, which doesn’t make sense at all, but could work.”
I have to agree that this doesn't make sense at all, but, yeah, it could work--especially if they follow the example of crossovers that worked in the past. Because Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen definitely read this blog, I've helpfully made a list of the top five crossovers of all time. Study these, guys, and you can do no wrong. Thank me later.
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Jul 23 2008 'Pineapple Express' Still Looks Good (with Clips as Proof)
IESB has posted six (6!) new clips from Pineapple Express that have assured me more than ever that this movie will be really good, and that I won't have built it up to myself and everyone else only to be horribly disappointed. Right? Watch them and tell me I'm right.
Jul 16 2008 'Pineapple Express' TV Spots Are Effective
There are few movies in which the knowledge that I'll probably have to endure hearing stoned dudes imitate a high-pitched "who is it?" for a few months can't detract from my enthusiasm. These new TV spots for Pineapple Express have cemented it firmly among those narrow ranks. Somehow James Franco's simulated stoned mumbling paired with an overplayed M.I.A. song proves much more effective in practice than in theory. See for yourself, under the cut.
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Jul 1 2008 'Pineapple Express' Character Posters Clear Up Confusion That It's a Hawaiian Wrestling Movie
Looks like producer Judd Apatow (who I'm only familiar with as a nameless "guy" who brought me something else) is sticking with the tried and true "here's someone's head" model of poster design for Pineapple Express. Placing this side-by-side with the Knocked Up poster gives you a retrospective glance at high school, remembering the chubby, awkward kid who transformed into a complete stoner by senior year. Following this progression, I can only assume the next poster will somehow imply Seth Rogen is nearing 30 but still attending high school parties to deal drugs and attempt statutory rape.
Under the cut: stoned James Franco!
Apr 3 2008 'Pineapple Express' Poster References Criminal Act
How many ways can the Pineapple Express poster find to work in not-so-subtle references to marijuana? I count five.
1. The title, which the trailer explains is a type of the marijuana drug.
2. The "Put this in your pipe and smoke it" tagline. Because the marijuana drug is smoked, sometimes in a pipe.
3. Actual, physical smoke surrounding the characters, as is produced by the marijuana drug.
4. James Franco's look of jovial euphoria, as may be caused by the marijuana drug.
5. The second tagline, "From the guys who brought you Superbad." Because any time the term "from the guys who brought you..." is used, the only logical response to the instant rage it creates is to either escape through drug use or destroy something beautiful.
Pineapple Poster! [JoBlo]
Mar 13 2008 New 'Pineapple Express' Trailer
I've already professed my unbridled enthusiasm for the Seth Rogen/James Franco action-buddy-stoner-comedy Pineapple Express, so I won't continue assaulting you with reasons this is one of the few summer films I have genuine expectations for. Suffice to say, there's a new trailer under the cut, and an official, finished version of the leaked R-rated one from last month.
Feb 13 2008 'Pineapple Express' R-Rated Trailer Good Even Non-Stoned
The stoner-buddy-action-comedy genre is not, inherently, a good one. When someone likes weed enough to write an entire movie about being stoned, there's an implication that they were most likely stoned while writing it, meaning there's a good chance the jokes are only funny when stoned. (e.g., in stoned reality, it's f***ed up how birds can fly! In reality reality, birds: not f***ed up.)
I have no evidence whether or not Superbad writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were stoned while writing Pineapple Express, but after seeing this trailer, I can safely say it doesn't matter. It pretty much looks really, really good--funny, action-filled, and includes that laugh where you just make a noise. Along with producer Judd Apatow, these guys had already proven their talent, but bringing along indie-favorite David Gordon Green for directorial duties has added a level of naturalism reminiscent of vintage Ivan Reitman.
Highly recommended for viewing, and it's below the cut. (Thanks to everyone who sent this.)
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Dec 3 2007 'Pineapple Express' Preview Feels Like It's Totally Long, Man
Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen continue their tradition of making funny things to watch with Pineapple Express, a jaunt into the world of stoner buddy action comedy. This clip looks funny enough, but it seems pretty slow-paced for something being called an action comedy. Unless it's some kind of post-modern stoner thing, where the pacing is meant to replicate the sense of prolonged time when stoned, in which case it's amazing.
And can you believe this is directed by David Gordon Green? If you know who that is, you wouldn't believe it.
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