IFC Plows In To Some "Dead Snow"

One of my favorite ladies, Anne Thompson has reported on IFC acquiring the U.S. film distribution rights to Norwegian horror comedy Dead Snow. The plot involves; skiiing, zombie Nazis, and co-eds, even though I can't stand the "Zombie Genre" I'm now sold. See the official poster below and head over to Anne Thompson's Blog to view the trailer.

View Trailer Here:

http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/01/sundance-ifc-acquires-dead-snow.html

New Street Fighter Poster

Apparently there is a Street Fighter movie happening, yes I really did know about it before, but because I didn't care before...I forgot about it.  Today "Trailer Addict" released a new poster for Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li. Two reasons I might see this movie: Kristin Kreuk and Kristin Kreuk playing Chun Li. As video games have gotten better in the pixel department so has Chun Li.

New "Up" Poster & Video Clip

I don't know about you but I am "Up" for Disney * Pixar's new animated feature. I'm a sucker for these new animated flicks. I pretty much love them all, except for that "Space Monkeys" one, that just scared me. It was a pretty good concept though, I just might have been vulnerable that night.

See the poster and read the synopsis below and head over to www.latinoreview.com to check out the video clip.

From Disney•Pixar comes "Up," a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. From the Academy Award®-nominated director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc."), Disney•Pixar's "Up" invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. "Up" will be presented in Disney Digital 3-D™ in select theaters.

Oscar Nomimations Announced

The Nominations for for the 81st Academy Awards were made today and the biggest snubs went to 'The Wrestler' and 'The Dark Knight'. Arnofosky's gritty but brilliant movie was obviously too edgy for the Academy much like his Requiem for a Dream, and he was denied a best director nom and the film a best picture nom.

As I suspected all along, TDK was snubbed due to it's genre, the film has vastly greater review scores than 'The Reader' yet somehow it is overlooked ? in fact it has a better review score than anything else nominated, the truth is by nominating a poorly reviewed arthouse film like 'The Reader' the Academy are saying loudly "We are better than you", it's an act of cowardice and regression in my opinion. This year was a chance for the Acadmey to change the pereception the mainstream has of it being redundent.

However even the Academy could not deny Heath Ledger a best supproting actor nomination, or Mickey Rourke a best actor nomination, so there is some measure of satisifaction, the only question now is if the Academy will actually follow through and award them on the big night.

Kate Winslet must be having mixed emotions right now, she was nominated for best actress for her role in 'The Reader' NOT as suspected for her role in 'Revolutionary Road', general consensus is that the latter was the strong performance, the same thing happened to Leonardo DiCaprio when he was nominated for the 'Blood Diamond' instead of his role in 'The Departed'.

Most of the other nominations were as expected although Clint Eastwood, who is an Academy favourite, failed to slip into the best actor category at the last minute for Gran Torino, as some had predicted.

The Full list is below:

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:

Richard Jenkins - THE VISITOR
Frank Langella - FROST/NIXON
Sean Penn - MILK
Brad Pitt - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Mickey Rourke - THE WRESTLER

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

Josh Brolin - MILK
Robert Downey Jr. - TROPIC THUNDER
Philip Seymour Hoffman - DOUBT
Heath Ledger - THE DARK KNIGHT
Michael Shannon - REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:

Anne Hathaway - RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Angelina Jolie - CHANGELING
Melissa Leo - FROZEN RIVER
Meryl Streep - DOUBT
Kate Winslet - THE READER

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

Amy Adams - DOUBT
Penélope Cruz - VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
Viola Davis - DOUBT
Taraji P. Henson - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Marisa Tomei - THE WRESTLER

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR

BOLT
KUNG FU PANDA
WALL-E

ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION:

CHANGELING
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
THE DUCHESS
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY:

CHANGELING
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
THE READER
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN:

AUSTRALIA
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DUCHESS
MILK
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
FROST/NIXON
MILK
THE READER
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON)
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD
THE GARDEN
MAN ON WIRE
TROUBLE THE WATER

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT:

THE CONSCIENCE OF NHEM EN
THE FINAL INCH
SMILE PINKI
THE WITNESS - FROM THE BALCONY OF ROOM 306

ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
FROST/NIXON
MILK
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR:

THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX
THE CLASS
DEPARTURES
REVANCHE
WALTZ WITH BASHIRWALTZ WITH BASHIR

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SCORE):

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
DEFIANCE
MILK
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
WALL-EWALL-E

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SONG):

WALL-E - "Down to Earth"
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - "Jai Ho"
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - "O Saya"

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
FROST/NIXON
MILK
THE READER
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM:

LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES
LAVATORY - LOVESTORY
OKTAPODI
PRESTO
THIS WAY UP

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:

AUF DER STRECKE (ON THE LINE)
MANON ON THE ASPHALT
NEW BOY
THE PIG
SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND)

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING:

THE DARK KNIGHT
IRON MAN
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
WALL-E
WANTED

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
WALL-E
WANTED

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
IRON MAN

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
DOUBT
FROST/NIXON
THE READER
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRES

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

FROZEN RIVER
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
IN BRUGES
MILK
WALL-E

Update on Thu, January 22, 2009 by Peter Georgiou

Some surprises, some of the nominations we all expected, but I am going to have to disagree with Rob on The Dark Knight being snubbed. The Dark Knight received eight Oscar nominations, sure it might not be in what some consider the "bigger categories", but eight nominations is eight nominations.

I personally loved The Dark Knight, it really did blow me away and lived up to the hype, but I don't think it deserves a nomination for "Best Picture". I could see Nolan possibly getting a "Best Director" nod, but the competition was heavy this year with directors like Boyle and Fincher. Also a "Best Adapted Screenplay nod would have made sense, but it is what it is.

I think that Academy did what was right and what was deserved by nominating Heath Ledger, he was The Dark Knight, and he will win the award for "Best Supporting Actor". The fans, crew and executives involved with The Dark Knight should be proud of their 8 nominations. It is certainly a big score for WB, Legendary, and the comic book film industry as a whole.

Update on Thu, January 22, 2009 by Jamie Williams

My guess is many in the nerd community are wearing diapers right now after The Dark Knight snub(s).

But I disagree with Peter about Ledger. I've never been 100% sold that it's automatically his win. I mean, everyone thought TDK getting "Best Picture" and "Best Director" nominations was a "sure thing!" - except for Peter to be fair which he called months ago!

Was it a great film? Absolutely - easily one of the best from last year. But I'm "Meh!" towards what happened there.

The only thing I'm disappointed about was Wall-E (which I personally thought was the best film of 2008) missing out on the "Best Picture" race. But we all knew that was never going to happen anyway. So no harm, no foul.

Even with the God-knows-how-many Critics Awards it's won, I could never see Slumdog Millionaire nabbing the "Best Picture" Oscar, and I still don't to be honest.

There hasn't been a 100% Grade-A "Oscar-friendly" film to win (at least in my opinion) since Chicago back in 2003. And looking at how the Academy chose in terms of their nominations, my money's on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Tom & Jerry Movie On The Way!

After the success of Alvin and the Chipmunks I guess Warner Brothers figured it was worth a shot. Variety reports Plans are underway to make a Tom & Jerry movie in which the titular characters will be CGI interacting in a live action setting.

The script is being written by Eric Gravning, the movie is being produced by Dan Lin who is currently producing the Guy Ritchie directed 'Sherlock Holmes' revamp, and is an executive producer on the highly anticipated 'Terminator Salvation'.

The odd tidbit in the news article is that it is set to be an origin movie, is that rally necessary ? I mean the basics of Tom & Jerry are pretty simple and I am not sure it needs to establish "character motivation", Tom is a cat, Jerry is a mouse, cat's kill mice, it seems pretty straightforward to me, the success of the toon is in how much fun the battles between the clumsy Tom and shrewd Jerry are.

WB's output over the last few years has been very good though so I reckon this has a chance of at least being an entertaining update of the classic cartoon, as long as Jerry doesn't become an anti hero or whoever directs doesn't attmept a war allegory out of their battle for house supremecy.

Gasp! Actors To Receive Smaller Paychecks!

Yesterday, TMT's own Peter Georgiou reported on pink-slips being handed out at Warner Brothers.

Now according to Variety, studios all across the board are having to make cutbacks. Chief among them are the big "movie-star" paychecks being handed out to various name-actors:

Unless you’re Will Smith, Johnny Depp or a handful of others, nobody is earning their quote right now, said dealmakers. Stories of tough negotiations are widespread: Disney asked Nicolas Cage to cut his price on the next 'National Treasure' sequel, and that same studio cut loose a third 'Chronicles of Narnia' film.

Then there is comeback kid Mickey Rourke, who is poised to follow his Golden Globe-winning performance in 'The Wrestler' with an offer to play the main villain in 'Iron Man 2' — but at a lowball opening offer of $250,000 from Marvel; Marvel’s tactics have already prompted Samuel L. Jackson to swear off playing Nick Fury because of a similarly low offer.

Although this isn't exactly the best news (for some reading this!) It's also a bit reassuring that it's just not us "average folk" who are feeling the effects of our current economic predicament - which we will get through!

And to be fair, there are honestly very few actors who trully earn those $20+ million paydays - at least in my opinion.

The Horsemen Trailer

This movie was first announced back in February 2007, the fact it has taken this long to get a trailer probably does not bode well, but we shall see, I personally was interested in the concept behind the tried and test serial killer formula, and the pairing of Quaid and Ziyi guaranteed I'd see it.

Here is a plot synopsis:

Aidan Breslin (Quaid) is a bitter detective emotionally distanced from his two young sons following the untimely death of his devoted wife. While investigating a series of murders of rare violence, he discovers a terrifying link between himself and the suspects in a chain of murders that seem to be based on the Biblical prophecies concerning the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death.

Now I actually think it looks pretty intense and exciting from the trailer, the cold wintry setting appeals to me and I really didn't see the part coming where Ziyi turns out to be one of the killers, it seems her role will be in the vein of Hannibal Lecter and that just makes it all the more interesting than I figured it would be, the kind of role not often afforded women in this type of film, add to that the ever reliable Quaid as the veteran detective and i have hopes it will at least be entertaining, the Saw'ish stuff at the end is not my type of thing but hopefully that will only be a brief part of the film.

'The Horsemen' opens on limited release on March 13th in the US and is slated for a Summer release over seas, check the trailer out below.

Warner Bros: A Message About Pink Slips

A couple of weeks ago the LA Times reported that Time Warner would be cutting jobs at the studio level...

Although details of the layoffs at Warner are still to be determined, they are nonetheless expected to affect scores of "back office" workers in management information systems, finance and accounting.

Many of those jobs will be outsourced, according to people familiar with the situation.

...and today Nikki Finke provides the message from Barry Meyer and Alan Horn themselves. Here are some exerpts:

We’d like to take a moment and provide some follow-up information to the memo you received earlier this month regarding cost containment at the Studio. We are very sad to announce that based on the global economic situation and current business forecasts, the Studio will have to make staff reductions in the coming weeks in order to control costs.

We want to reiterate that these staff reductions and organizational changes, which are being made at every level across both corporate and divisional businesses, were our last resort to help position the company for its future.

You can read the rest at the link below.

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/as-expected-warner-bros-announces-layoffs/

You'd think that The Dark Knight made enough money at the box office to pay these poor people, but I guess Batman can't save everybody. Now I'm not trying to make light of a delicate situation, but since this is going to happen under Obama's watch, isn't he going to just pay the people laid off out of pocket? I heard that somewhere.

To be serious, this is going on all over the country at big and small companies. We are all feeling the economic downturn in one way or another. If the highest grossing studio of 08 is making cuts, you can imagine how the "Joe Plumbers" of the world are dealing with this. Let's hope this "change" we have been hearing about takes place sooner rather than later.

I guess the question is how does this effect WB's upcoming movie slate? WB had already previously announced they would be cutting down the number of films they will do per year, which other studios are also doing, not a big surprise. However, it seems that WB is taking their time with their tentpoles, especially their comic book films. Everything coming from WB in regards to comic book films has been as vague as the backstory for Superman Returns. Will Superman in fact return? When? Green Lantern? Batman? 

Brooklyn's Finest First Sale At Sundance

Variety previously reported the first sale at Sundance, and as later reiterated by Anne Thompson, this could be an award winner.

Senator Distribution nabbed North American rights to Antoine Fuqua's cop drama "Brooklyn's Finest" on Saturday night, 24 hours after its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Sources close to the deal said Senator paid under $5 million, but made an eight-figure P&A commitment. Senator says it will release the film in the fourth quarter for awards consideration.

Pic's cast includes Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, and Don Cheadle as cops battling their own ethical and moral dilemmas.

I'm a huge Don Cheadle fan, you put him in anything and I am hooked. Cheadle even had me hooked during that episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air where he plays Will's friend from Philly "Ice Tray". Heck I could go for a Philly Cheesesteak right now.

Richard Gere has his ups and downs in my eyes. I'm still trying to figure out when his hair wasn't speckled with gray. I keep thinking back and doing research and I feel like it was always that way. I can picture him in elementary school raising his hand and his teachers swooning as his perfect grayish hair stayed in place. On second thought, Richard Gere is awesome.

Ethan Hawke seems like a pretty cool guy, but right now I just can't think of anything he was in that I loved. I am however looking forward to his performance in What Doesn't Kill You which was filmed in my home town of Boston. People in Boston call cheesesteaks, "steak & cheeses". Bizzare.

For some reason I feel like getting these three guys together is going to be a recipe for success. I know they'll be knocking down my door hoping that I can be their spokesperson, so I better get home.

Brooklyn's Finest Synopsis:

Three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location, despite enduring vastly different career paths.

'Scot Pilgrim' vs. Superman & the Human Torch?

Take a look at any of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels, and tell me you're not curious to see how director Edgar Wright is gonna pull this off.

Granted, I have faith he will. But it's for that reason I'm looking forward to the film.

Not to mention, it's his first feature-length film that doesn't include Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in the cast (Note: I'm a huge fan of them and their collaborations with Wright. It's just important for him to prove he can make a film without them!)

The plot is simple....enough so, at least. The title character (Michael Cera, an actor I enjoyed the Hell out of from TVs Arrested Development and Superbad) falls in love with the girl of his dreams (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), but must do battle with her seven evil ex-boyfriends in order to win her heart.

Again tell me, you're not curious to see how this film is gonna look!

And now the cast is starting to line up for the project - which begins production this March.

Superman himself Brandon Routh and Chris Evans from the Fantastic Four films have been lined up to play two of the seven perspective exes.

Evans (the only positive note from the other-wise abysmal FF films) will play Ex #2 - a skater turned actor (think Jason Lee!)

Meanwhile, Routh is Ex #3 - a rock-star with vegan psychic powers. Uh, okay.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how audiences react to this film...