Aug 10 2009 'Iron Man 2' Comic Con Preview: I Think I See a Shoulder Gun Thing!
REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Want your first look at Don Cheadle's War Machine suit and Mickey Rourke's Star Trek: The Next Generation-inspired laser whips to be shaky, dark, and both visually and aurally indiscernible? Then enjoy the Iron Man 2 footage that was shown at the Comic Con. Besides the aforementioned War Machine and Whiplash scenes, it contains: Tony Stark put on trial by Larry Sanders, Scarlett Johansson jumping around, Sam Rockwell holding guns, and evidence that "I am Iron Man" is basically Tony Stark's equivalent of Urkel's "Did I do that?" What a treat for a Monday afternoon.
Feb 26 2009 Samuel L. Jackson Playing Nick Fury Until He Dies
Marvel still reportedly won't pay Mickey Rourke enough to put on a big metal suit and fight Iron Man, but the studio has signed Samuel L. Jackson to continue his role as Nick Fury for up to nine more films, locking the actor down for single, after-the-credits scenes for years to come. From Variety (thanks again, Joshua):
Jackson's deal is a long-term commitment to play Fury, the leader of the espionage unit the Shield. His deal contains an option to play the character in nine future Marvel superhero films, efforts that are expected to include "Captain America," "Thor," "The Avengers" and "The Shield" as well as potential sequels.Jackson introduced Fury in the closing moments of "Iron Man," when the character asked Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark to join his group. Fury is a natural to show up in multiple Marvel franchises, as he crosses paths with many Marvel superheroes in the comicbooks.
Jackson's Marvel future looked murky, after he reportedly expressed his displeasure with the producer-financier's initial offer to reprise his role. Jackson was hardly alone: Even though "Iron Man" grossed more than $600 million worldwide, Marvel brass has been sparing in offers to talent like Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell to play villains in the sequel, sources said.
With how cheap Marvel seems to be acting with everything, expect that, in the unlikely event of Jackson's illness or death, they'll make sure they get their contract's worth by using footage from Shaft and a lot of Deal or No Deal-style silhouetted phone calls.
Jan 14 2009 Sam Jackson Losing His Fury? (Nick Fury Role)
Samuel L. Jackson played Nick Fury in the Iron Man (you waited after the credits, right!?), and the "Ultimates" version of Fury doesn't attempt to hide that it's Jackson in an eyepatch (see above), so it's seemed reasonable for fans to expect the actor would reprise his role as it appeared in future Marvel projects. Right? No. Because according to the LA Times, Marvel doesn't want to pay Sam Jackson Sam Jackson Money (probably a lot of money), and negotiations are not going well:
There were cheers in theaters at the end of "Iron Man," when Jackson appeared as Fury, but when I asked the actor about it today he shook his head."I saw ['Iron Man' and 'Iron Man 2' director] Jon Favreau at the Scream Awards and we had a conversation. He said, 'I hope things are working out for you because we're writing stuff for you.' Then all of a sudden last week I talked to my agents and manager and things aren't really working that well."
"There was a huge kind of negotiation that broke down. I don't know. Maybe I won't be Nick Fury. Maybe somebody else will be Nick Fury or maybe Nick Fury won't be in it. There seems to be an economic crisis in the Marvel Comics world so [they're saying to me], 'We're not making that deal.'"
I called Marvel Comics and they gave me a statement that suggested that they still want to see Jackson wearing the eyepatch. "Marvel does not comment on active negotiations," was the boilerplate repsonse, but there was that emphasis on the word "active" in the voice of the spokesman who phoned me back.
I'm not sure I see the issue here. Fury is a black guy, right? Just get Don Cheadle.
Nov 19 2008 'The Spirit' Posters Poster
"Guys, I've got this great idea for a poster. OK, so it's a poster, right? But also, it has all these other posters within that poster. Posters within a poster. The sheer audacity will shock everyone into seeing the movie. It's just so many posters, how could you not?"
It's true. Meta posters of the stars' faces are the new standard posters of the stars' faces.
Final Poster for 'The Spirit' [Cinematical]
Nov 17 2008 'The Spirit' Still Attempting to Create Interest with Clips Set to Music
No one seems too convinced by the last few trailers for The Spirit, so Lionsgate has pushed out one more quickie to remind everyone that the film comes out CHRISTMAS DAY. If your gifts aren't enough of a let down for the family, pack the kids in the Aerostar and take them to The Spirit, show them the true meaning of Christmas (disappointment). I particularly like the rockin' version of "Carol of the Bells" in this. It makes me feel like I'm watching a ridiculous, noir-based Home Alone sequel.
Continue Reading " 'The Spirit' Still Attempting to Create Interest with Clips Set to Music "
Nov 6 2008 'Soul Men' Sprint at Supersonic Speeds Through a Babe-Filled Blue World
They had to get greedy. They could have used Roger Ebert's quote: "You want a good time? Soul Men will provide it," and I would have sort of believed it. Or the Hollywood Reporter's quote that "The late Bernie Mac scores big laughs in this raucous, music-filled comedy," and I might wonder if I'd misjudged the film. But no, they had to go with some guy from CBS-CW (I think?) Television Group saying Soul Men is "perhaps the best buddy picture EVER," a statement that no one will ever, ever consider. There is no way Soul Men is the best buddy picture ever, just as, despite Larry King's claims, Bringing Down the House is not "one of the funniest movies EVER." And as a tip, marketing guys, those kinds of hyperbolic quotes do not sell movies; they make me wonder if Larry King had ever seen a "talkie" before Bringing Down the House.
But while we're on the subject of "best buddy picture," I think this might be it:
Continue Reading " 'Soul Men' Sprint at Supersonic Speeds Through a Babe-Filled Blue World "
Oct 30 2008 Sam Jackson Playing Badass Again? Sho'nuff
Oh, brother. Someone made the mistake of briefly remembering the 1985 cult film The Last Dragon and now it's being willed into modern remake. The original director's son is producing alongside the RZA, and now Samuel L. Jackson has gotten involved:
Jackson will play Sho'nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, a role played in the original by the late Julius Carry, whose spiel included asking ego-driven questions like "Am I the baddest mofo lowdown around this town?" Each time his gang of thugs answered, "Sho 'nuff!"The updated plot will be along the same lines of the original, centering on young martial arts student Leroy Green in his quest through the streets of New York to achieve the highest level of martial arts accomplishment, known as the Last Dragon. Those who achieve the high ranking possess the Glow, making them the greatest fighter alive.
It's becoming more and more obvious that Samuel L. Jackson's only stipulation for taking a role is that he gets to play it as a goofy, exaggerated version of himself. Just look at this clip of the original Sho'nuff. This couldn't be a more Sam Jacksoney role. This role is a pair of sunglasses and a backwards newsies hat just waiting for his bald head to fill in the gaps.
Continue Reading " Sam Jackson Playing Badass Again? Sho'nuff "
Sep 29 2008 'The Spirit' Trailer Continues Frank Miller's Love Affair with Beautiful Women, Ridiculous Dialog, and Monochromatic Ties
In case you haven't given up entirely on Frank Miller's The Spirit adaptation, here's the latest trailer. I swear, every time I start to get any hope this could not be horrible, I get punched in the face with another flagrantly, obnoxiously Frank Miller-esque line ("Get me a tie--and make sure it's RED"? Oh, brother), or catch a glimpse of Samuel L. Jackson, his face streaked with mascara and sideburns, in front of an explosion of fire and redness, and realize, no, this will probably be bad. Never forget the comic booklet convention footage.
Sep 19 2008 'The Spirit' Posters Make You Feel Like YOU ARE (Near) The Spirit
New character posters for The Spirit have taken a novel approach to showing the opposition of the film's hero and villain. For the first poster, we get a bullet-riddled Spirit as seen from the perspective his arch-nemesis, The Octopus. So naturally, for the second, we see The Octopus, this time from the viewpoint of... an unseen third-party observer whose view is being obscured by The Spirit's flapping tie? Yes:
Continue Reading " 'The Spirit' Posters Make You Feel Like YOU ARE (Near) The Spirit "
Sep 5 2008 'Soul Men' Trailer Might Not Be Best Memorial
In the years to come, when you look back on the careers of Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac, let these be the testicles hits, toothless blowjob gags, and Viagra jokes you remember them by. But please, don't really, because it looks pretty bad.
Continue Reading " 'Soul Men' Trailer Might Not Be Best Memorial "
Aug 14 2008 'Soul Men' Clips--Starring Two Recently-Deceased Actors!
Honor the memories of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes with choppy streaming clips of a movie you wouldn't care about if its stars were alive.
Soul Men clips here.
Aug 12 2008 'The Spirit' is Looking Really, Really Bad
Though I've still never picked it up, I always hear how Will Eisner's The Spirit is a groundbreaking, must-read comic series for anyone at all interested in the medium. That information directly contradicts what I'm seeing in this fight scene that was shown at Comic Con, which paints The Spirit as a slapstick comedy with more getting-hit-with-objects-for-comedic-reactions than Home Alone. Also, it takes place in a sewage nebula? Just watch it.
Continue Reading " 'The Spirit' is Looking Really, Really Bad "
Jul 23 2008 Ohhhh Yeah: The 'Lakeview Terrace' Poster
In what seems like a made-for-TV movie based on a true story, Samuel L. Jackson stars as a cop living inside the peaceful community of Lakeview Terrace. But here's the kicker: he hates interracial couples! So you can guess what he does when a couple with both black and white elements move to the neighborhood. I don't actually know, so seriously, guess. Solely based on the poster, I'm saying he drives past their house with his sunglasses lowered, blasting Yello's "Oh Yeah" at unreasonable volumes.
'Lakeview Terrace' Poster Premiere [Cinematical]
May 13 2008 The Octopus from 'The Spirit' Must be One of Two Things
Admittedly, I've never read Will Eisner's The Spirit, so someone will have to tell me: is Spirit's arch-nemesis The Octopus like a '70s pimp with Mickey Mouse's hands or an eccentric grandma who you pray will never pick you up from school? Whichever the case, hopefully he also acts exactly like Samuel L. Jackson, because I have a feeling that's what we're going to get.
Comic-Con Magazine Spring 2008 [Official Site]
Apr 24 2008 Here Comes 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown: The Movie'! I'm Serious.
35 years ago, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" was at the top of the charts. Its performer, Jim Croce, died in a plane crash the same year. It was tragic he wouldn't live to fully enjoy his fame, but perhaps more tragic that he'll never get to see the "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" action-comedy franchise being developed by the producer of Final Destination. It's true.
But how will this fondly-remembered song become the next Rush Hour? What will this vision of bad badness look like? Let me offer a treatment...
Continue Reading " Here Comes 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown: The Movie'! I'm Serious. "
Apr 11 2008 First 'The Spirit' Photos Stop Making Sense
Lionsgate has provided some new stills from Frank Miller's adaptation of Will Eisner's The Spirit, and I have to say I'm pretty excited. All the green-screening going on gave me the sense they would have a similar look to Sin City, but I had no idea the film would take place on the stage of a Talking Heads concert!
One more of a pretty girl I'm dubbing "Scar-Jo" below the cut.
Continue Reading " First 'The Spirit' Photos Stop Making Sense "
Dec 10 2007 'Jumper' Trailer Fails to Employ Kris Kross, House of Pain Tracks
As far as movies about Hayden Christensen teleporting to famous landmarks then standing around looking arrogant go, this actually looks pretty decent. Maybe part of my optimism stems from the assurance it provides that, if a teleporting Hayden Christensen were to even spawn, I now know there would be a Samuel L. Jackson/Evil Uncle Ben character to foil his his smug spacial manipulation.
Does anyone else think the Irish/Scottish guy is definitely going to have a heroic death?
Thanks for the tip, Joe.
Continue Reading " 'Jumper' Trailer Fails to Employ Kris Kross, House of Pain Tracks "
Dec 5 2007 Some Other Crap That Happened...
- Adam Brody has been more-or-less confirmed as The Flash in Justice League of America. In related news, I've added a dash more paprika to my pot of boiled shit. [Cinematical]
- Rudy and Hoosiers director David Anspaugh has signed on for Phenom, the Chris Brown-starring tale of a high school basketball player who goes pro after discovering his father is the NBA's top player. No word on whether Judith Light or William Devane will be reprising their roles. [Variety]
- Edward Norton will take on the Eddie Murphy-style task of playing dual roles in Leaves of Grass, a comedic thriller written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. According to Variety, "Norton will play identical twins, one an Ivy League classics professor and the other a hedonistic pot-smoking career criminal." And you said no one could make a stupider version of The Patty Duke Show.
- Samuel L. Jackson has signed on to star in Unfinished Country, where he'll play "the chief administrator of an overcrowded hospital located in the middle of South Africa's violent Soweto ghettos." But I bet he's totally a bad-ass chief administrator of an overcrowded hospital. [Hollywood Reporter]
- French actor Mathieu Amalric (above) has scored the lead villain role in Bond 22. Also, he's won the role of "creepy sexual predator" in every Dateline reenactment from here on. [Empire]
Oct 10 2007 Liveblogging the 'Jumper' Trailer
00:05 - Hayden Christensen is watching TV. That must be what this movie is about. Hey, wait, I watch TV, too! I'm immediately invested in this easily-relatable and likable character.
00:10 - There was just a jarring cut that made it seem like Hayden may have teleported to a different position on the couch. But that's silly, because teleporting is impossible, and stupid at such short distances. I forgive the edit because he just changed the channel to Family Guy, which should have some hilarious off-topic jokes.
00:14 - OK, he definitely teleported this time. Or they're abruptly cutting out a seizure that began at the kitchen and ended at the fridge.
00:25 - The doorman doesn't think Hayden needs an umbrella. Hayden seems to think he will for some reason. Perhaps his teleportation powers also give him meteorological insight.
00:30 - It turns out the doorman didn't take into account that Hayden would be teleporting to Big Ben to stand dramatically in the rain.
00:45 - Hayden has a life others only dream of--no limits, no boundaries, says the narrator. He may be quoting a Nissan commercial.
00:55 - Some asshole drove a car at Hayden and implied he can also teleport. Naturally, the two begin cruising, likely to find more participants for a gay teleportation orgy.
1:05 - "Freedom comes at a price," says the narrator. Apparently that price is a nagging girlfriend who keeps hassling him about his gay teleportation orgies.
1:30 - Samuel L. Jackson, visually channeling Uncle Ben of rice fame, has special sticks and chains that are good for beating up teleporting guys.
2:10 - A lot of running, teleporting, and using the special sticks/chains has happened.
2:12 - Thankfully, they show us how Jumper can be abbreviated for quicker text messaging. (example: omg u c JMPR yet?)
A better quality version is at the official site. Thanks to Joe for the link.
Jun 22 2007 Sam Jackson is in Everything, 'Iron Man'
Aw shit, someone bet Sam Jackson a dollar again
The headline says it all, folks. According to AICN, Sam Jackson is playing Nick Fury. The script must be really good for them to get Sam Jackson. Either that or they promised his agent "a real powerhouse fruitbasket."
