News from the world of Cinema

**bahador_romeo** · 05-08-05, 05:50

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Sequel news for Sin City, Harry Potter, X-Men, M:I and Pirates

One (and sometimes four) is never enough when it comes to Hollywood heavy-hitters, so we've got a new page for Sin City 2, again directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, with returning cast members Brittany Murphy and Mickey Rourke; info for Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates 3; plus cast and crew updates for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Mission: Impossible 3, Superman Returns and X-Men 3.

**bahador_romeo** · 05-08-05, 05:51

50 Cent gets a movie & 'Saw' gets a sequel

Like Eminem before him, rapper 50 Cent will star in a movie inspired by his life story with an Oscar-nominated director at the helm in this fall's Get Rich of Die Tryin'. Plus, the serial killer called 'Jigsaw' from last year's surprise horror hit will return in Saw 2, hitting theaters in time for Holloween.

**bahador_romeo** · 05-08-05, 05:52

The man in the suit is back in 'The Transporter 2'

Jason Statham returns to his break-out role in The Transporter 2 (and you can check out the trailer while you're at it). Also, Nicolas Cage plays an arms dealer in Lord of War (from Andrew Niccol, director of 'Gattaca') and George Clooney directs and stars in Good Night. And, Good Luck. (a black-and-white drama about news anchor Edward R. Murrow).

**bahador_romeo** · 05-08-05, 05:52

Vin Diesel will be Agent 47 in the adaptation of the videogame 'Hitman'

Big, bald and tough-as-nails? Of course, it's got to be Vin Diesel, who'll play the lead in the movie version of Eidos' violent videogame series Hitman. Plus, a new page for Just Like Heaven (a romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo), a new title for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (another clay animated feature from the director of 'Chicken Run'), and cast additions for Mission: Impossible 3 (with Keri Russell as the new recruit).

**bahador_romeo** · 05-08-05, 05:52

Bill Murray teams with Jim Jarmusch, and other big premieres from Cannes

In today's update you'll find a slew of new films from some of the world's top directors which are premiering this week at the Cannes Film Festival: Broken Flowers (starring Bill Murray, directed by Jim Jarmusch), Don't Come Knocking (starring Sam Shepard, directed by Wim Wenders), A History of Violence (starring Viggo Mortensen, directed by David Cronenberg), Last Days (starring Michael Pitt, directed by Gus Van Sant), Manderlay (starring Bryce Dallas Howard, directed by Lars von Trier), Match Point (starring Scarlett Johansson, directed by Woody Allen) and more. You can follow the fest at Yahoo! Movies' Cannes Film Festival Coverage.

**bahador_romeo** · 07-08-05, 04:38

Coppola, Salles 'On the Road' with Kerouac novel

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - After a tortuous trek, Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" is coming to the big screen courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola and the Brazilian director of "The Motorcycle Diaries."

Coppola's American Zoetrope production company has owned the film rights to the novel since 1979. According to Coppola, the novel has had many suitors over the years.

"The book is inherently difficult to adapt to the screen, and we've never quite found the right combination of director and writer to do it justice until now," said Coppola, who will serve as an executive producer.

That "right combination" is director Walter Salles and screenwriter Jose Rivera. They previously collaborated on "The Motorcycle Diaries," the 2004 film recounting the political awakening of Latin American guerrilla Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Salles just released his English-language debut "Dark Water," starring Jennifer Connelly.

"On the Road," published in 1957, played a role in giving rise to the Beat movement. It is narrated by Kerouac's thinly veiled alter ego Sal Paradise, who gets inspired to hit the road and see America. The story follows his ups and downs as he hitchhikes, hops trains, meets other travelers, struggles for meals and explores the themes of freedom and longing.

"'On the Road' is a seminal book that gave voice to a whole generation -- capturing its hunger for experience, unwillingness to accept imposed truths and dissatisfaction with the status quo," Salles said. "It is as modern today as it was four decades ago."

Casting and production is expected to begin in 2006.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

**bahador_romeo** · 15-08-05, 01:55

Oscar in August!

Award season shouldn't start 'til the end of summer, but just like Christmas, it just keeps creeping up earlier and earlier. Even in August, Oscar talk bubbles to the surface in La-La-land. With end of the year contenders like "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Walk the Line," and "Jarhead" already screened in some form or another (thank you, my spies), the races are really starting. A number of these candidates will be shown at next month's Toronto Film Festival (yes, look for complete coverage here at MSN Movies and Hitlist), but before we trek to the Great White North, here are 10 questions that can already be answered about this year's award season.

Is Steven Spielberg's "Munich" this year's "Million Dollar Baby"?

Yes. One advantage to being the last major Oscar contender screened is that it benefits from award season fatigue. With its late December release date, Spielberg's retelling of the 1972 Olympic hostage crisis is primed to take the reigns of the Oscar race just like "Baby" did last year.

Will the Best Picture race be dominated by the studios this year?

No. Well, more so than last year, but an independent feature has been nominated for Best Picture every year since 1993. That's not going to change now.

Will George Clooney prove his directing chops aren't a one-time fluke?

Yes. Clooney impressed many with his first directing effort, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." His follow up, "Good Night. And, Good Luck," has been chosen as the opening night film at the New York Film Festival (a prestigious slot) and it may become this year's "Quiz Show."

Is Peter Sarsgaard this year's Jude Law?

No. With four movies coming out before the end of the year ("The Skeleton Key," "Flightplan," "Jarhead" and "The Dying Gaul") Sarsgaard is certainly duplicating Law's multiple picture overload from 2004. Luckily, they are mostly supporting roles and his turn in "Jarhead" might just get him the Oscar nod he missed out on for "Kinsey."

Which movie is more of a serious Oscar contender: "Crash" or "Cinderella Man"?

"Crash." Supporters of the Paul Haggis drama are very passionate about it and while there are those that dislike it (myself included), don't be surprised by nominations for Don Cheadle, Thandie Newton, Screenplay and (gasp) even Best Picture. "Cinderella Man" may suffer from "Million Dollar Baby" backlash and Rusell Crowe's recent arrest won't help. "Cinderella" is far more likely to follow "The Road to Perdition" (not many) than "Seabiscuit" (a bunch) in its pursuit of nominations.

Could Keira Knightley and Reese Witherspoon get their first nominations?

Yes. Word is Knightley carries the charming "Pride and Prejudice" and Witherspoon is exemplary as June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line."

Is this the year of the ladies?

Yes. Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh ( "Memoirs of a Geisha"), Diane Keaton ("The Family Stone"), Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand ( "North Country"), Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette ("In Her Shoes"), Maria Bello ("A History of Violence"), Kate Winslet ("All The King's Men"), Uma Thurman ("The Producers"), Judi Dench ("Mrs. Henderson Presents"), Felicity Huffman ("Transamerica"), and previously mentioned Witherspoon ("Walk The Line") and Knightley ("Pride & Prejudice") are just the beginning of a very crowded field.

Could Steve Martin finally get his first Academy Award nomination?

Yes. The legendary comedian may find himself in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for "Shopgirl," which is based on his own novel. Hopefully, the upcoming "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" isn't a blemish on his campaign.

Are there seriously good movies and performances we haven't seen that are already in danger of being overlooked?

Yes. The excellent "The Squid and the Whale" and Robin Wright Penn's amazing turn in "Nine Lives" deserve the same buzz as the big dogs out there.

Is this the year that a remake is nominated for best picture?

Yes. "All The King's Men," "The Producers" and "King Kong" (too many prognosticators are counting this one out) all have a legitimate shot. Remakes are rarely nominated, but this year could buck that trend.

**bahador_romeo** · 15-08-05, 01:56

Casting News: Meryl, Annette & Gwyneth Team Up

Filmmaker Ryan Murphy just can't get enough of his leading ladies. Fresh off of filming "Running With Scissors" with Annette Bening and Gwyneth Paltrow, the "Nip/Tuck" creator is planning on re-teaming with them and adding Meryl Streep to the mix. According to Variety, Murphy will write and direct an adaptation of John Jeter's play "Dirty Tricks" with Streep playing Martha Mitchell, the whistle-blowing wife of Nixon chief of staff John Mitchell. Bening will portray White House correspondent Helen Thomas (Helen, you never looked so good) who was the recipient of many of Mitchell's leaks. Paltrow will play Maureen Dean, the wife of John Dean, who unlike Mitchell, stood by her man as Nixon's administration went down in flames. Paramount and Plan B (that busy Brad Pitt) will produce the project and Murphy hopes to begin shooting sometime next spring.

Billy Bob Thornton is sticking to comedy for his next project. The "Bad News Bears" star has signed on to star in a remake of the 1960 British comedy "School for Scoundrels" opposite "Napoleon Dynamite" star Jon Heder. Variety reports the production features Heder as a meter reader who takes a confidence-building class to try and win over his dream girl. The class turns into something completely different when it becomes clear the professor (Thornton) has eyes for the same woman. Todd Phillips ("Old School") will direct and production will begin this October for a spring release. The movie is one of the first original productions for the new Weinstein Co. and will be released under the Dimension Films label.

Casey Affleck has joined the cast of "The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford" according to Variety. Affleck will play the infamous Ford who went from idolizing the famed gunslinger (Brad Pitt) to resenting him enough that he figured he could make his rep by killing him. Stupidly, Ford shot James in the back thus labeling himself as the most famous coward around. Andrew Dominik ("Chopper") is directing another Plan B production that should begin shooting in two weeks. The big question is: Between Angelina, the kids, his charitable efforts, the movies he stars in and the movies he produces -- when does Brad Pitt sleep?

Recommended: Certainly one of the more enjoyable popcorn-thrillers of the year, "The Skeleton Key" is definitely worth checking out. It's nice to see Kate Hudson roll up her sleeves in something other than a romantic comedy, plus Gena Rowlands pretty much steals the show -- not to mention chews up the scenery -- whenever she's on screen.

Next Week: Matt Damon and Heath Ledger on "The Brothers Grimm"; a set visit to "Yours, Mine and Ours" with Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo; and the buzz on the surprise thriller "The Constant Gardener."

**bahador_romeo** · 15-08-05, 03:32

Irish actor Colin Farrell speaks to reporters during a news conrference in Tokyo in this Jan. 14, 2005 file photo. A judge extended a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005, barring an ex-girlfriend of Farrell's from marketing a tape of them having sex. Farrell's lawsuit against Playboy Playmate Nicole Narain says they made the videotape 2 years ago with the understanding that it would never be made public.

**bahador_romeo** · 15-08-05, 03:33

In this undated publicity photo released by HBO, Michael, left, and Kirk Douglas pose for a portrait in Los Angeles on April 12, 2005. The documentary film "A Father, A Son: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" profiles the two actors and their relationship. Directed by actress and filmmaker Lee Grant, the film debuts Saturday, Aug. 13, on HBO.