Woody & Scarlett, together again

Scarlett Johansson signs for third Woody Allen movie

The actress, who previously worked with the director on Match Point (2005) and Scoop (2006), has signed on for the director’s next, untitled project, to begin shooting in Spain this summer. No plot details were available, but Johansson joins a cast that already includes Academy Award nominees Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem. With this third collaboration, Johansson becomes the actress Allen has used the most since his salad days with Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow. (Variety)
Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that Johansson is in the running to play Nellie Forbush in a revival of South Pacific at Lincoln Center. (New York Post)

Undetected: Shattered Glass

This is another new feature which will highlight good/enjoyable films that may have gone unnoticed to the mainstream public. Once again, I ask that those reading this post feel free to comment leaving suggestion and concepts for further installments.

Why is it important?
Shattered Glass tells the story of Stephen Glass who shook up the world of Journalism in the late 90s. Glass was an editor for The New Republic as well as a writer for Rolling Stone, George and Harper’s, but he hid a deep secret. The movie spotlights the rise and fall of Glass with pin-point accuracy. Glass was discovered to be fabricating his stories/sources in a large portion of his writings. As time passed the lies became outnumber the truth as entire buildings and people were created to support his idea. Instead of reporting the truth, he handed in funny, witty and unusual pieces of fiction with the disguise of truth.

What is it about?
The film is about one of the most important moments in journalism, but unlike All the President’s Men, which highlighted the power of investigative journalism, Shattered Glass explores fabrication. At the age of 26, Glass had everything going for him: a prominent position at The New Republic and several steady freelance magazine jobs, but his web of lies would begin to unravel. The film chronicles this chain of events, including the rise of internet journalism – the outlet responsible for finally exposing Glass. This is an enthralling film that gives its viewers an intimate look at the inner working of the field.

Who is in it?
The cast includes Hank Azaria, Steve Zahn, Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevigny who are excellent in their supporting roles. Each actor brings something to the film aiding audiences along the journey. Hayden Christensen is fantastic as Glass, he manages to capture his sweet demeanor and hint to his dark side. But, it is Peter Sarsgaard as editor Chuck Lane who steals the show. He is the one are eyes are fixated on, especially during the film’s final reel. The role brough Sarsgaard numerous critical awards and his first Golden Globe nomination.

Final Thought…
Shattered Glass is a great drama that is engaging and thought-provoking. This is a film that all aspiring journalist should see to reinforce ethics among them. The film has taken its place alongside All the President’s Men and Network as movies that best capture the power and pitfalls of this great profession. There is something for everyone and if you are looking for a smart, subtle drama then look no further.
Here’s the first 9 minutes of Shattered Glass, if you like what you see … the rest can be found on youtube:

Mars star lands a new role

Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell has been cast as the title character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a comedy described by the filmmakers as a “romantic disaster movie.”
Jason Segel, a cast member on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, wrote the script and is starring in the film. He plays a man who gets dumped by his sitcom-star girlfriend (Bell). He heads to Hawaii to forget the relationship but learns that the girl, and her new boyfriend, are staying at his resort.
Nicholas Stoller, a writer on Fun With Dick and Jane and Just My Luck, is making his directing debut on the project, which Universal will release. Production begins in late April.
Bell will appear in the Weinstein Co.’s August 17 theatrical release Fanboys.
From: Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Bond star, Craig has eye on Blindness

James Bond star Daniel Craig is in talks to join Julianne Moore in Blindness, a drama based on Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago’s acclaimed novel.
The story chronicles an epidemic of blindness that sweeps through an unnamed contemporary city and pushes society to the brink of breakdown.
Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meirelles (The Constant Gardener) is directing the Focus Features International movie, which does not yet have a U.S. distribution deal.
Craig next appears in New Line Cinema’s The Golden Compass and Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Invasion.
Moore, whose upcoming credits include Next and Savage Grace, recently wrapped a Broadway run in David Hare’s The Vertical Hour.

From: Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

New Line’s first choice for Capt. Marvel is Gyllenhaal

Last week came news that arguably one of history’s silliest comic book heroes was heading to the screen (and no, it’s not a remake of that Shaquille O’Neal genie movie). Now it seems Jake Gyllenhaal is being tapped to play the red suited, cape-wearing boy-turned-superhero Shazam!
According to Rush & Molloy, Gyllenhaal is New Line’s top pick to play the role of Captain Marvel, known popularly as Shazam after the magical word that transforms him into a superbeing. Peter Segal (The Longest Yard) is at the helm, with a script being written by frequent Tim Burton scripter John August (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Go).
The DC Comics character is a holdover to the golden age of comics, when the unabashedly Superman-like Captain Marvel was one of the highest-selling series in all the land. The lore centers on a 13-year-old boy/radio reporter named Billy Batson who, given superpowers by a wizard, can transform into the adult Captain Marvel by saying the word “Shazam!” Much like Superman, Marvel is invulnerable, super strong, and super fast; unlike Superman, Marvel uses lightning bolts, doesn’t have X-Ray vision, and, if played by Gyllenhaal, may look more like a rumpled hangdog than a hunky man of steel.
The goss-slingers at Rush & Molloy speculate that New Line’s itching to get Gyllenhaal locked in fast before Spider-Man 4’s casting agents come calling to offer up Tobey Maguire’s spot in any upcoming sequels. Citing an “insider” informant, they also share that New Line hopes the “Shazam!” flick will kick start a blockbuster superhero franchise in the vein of recent moneymakers like Batman Begins, and that the studio might be willing to put $200 million on the line to make it happen.

Rider Strong back for Cabin Fever 2

Reports of Rider Strong’s death in the horror film Cabin Fever have been exaggerated. Strong’s character, Paul, is alive and well and living in fear of his life in the sequel, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever.
Giuseppe Andrews returns as the oddball Deputy Winston, who dumped the ill Paul in a stream at the end of the 2003 original. In the sequel, the killer virus comes out of the woods and has a date at the high school prom.
Director Ti West steps in for Eli Roth on the sequel, which is shooting in North Carolina. Lionsgate will distribute.
Comedian Judah Friedlander (NBC’s 30 Rock) plays the Down Home Water security guard. Mark Borchardt (American Movie) portrays Winston’s cousin from Wombusaw, and fellow cult actor-director Larry Fessenden (Habit) plays an ill-fated water truck driver.
Noah Segan (Brick), Alexi Wasser (Factory Girl), Marc Senter (the upcoming I Know Who Killed Me) and Rusty Kelley play new potential victims.
Strong is perhaps best known for his role on the ABC series Boy Meets World, while West’s directing credits include The Roost and the upcoming Trigger Man.
From: Yahoo! Movies

Crossing Over: Courtney Love

This is a new feature about musicians who have made the leap to acting and the results. Some have gained acclaim while others have become Razzie hall-of-famers. Either way when a musician tackles the silver screen we all take notice and savor the outcome.

Courtney Love-Cobain
Born: July 9, 1964
Musicial Credits: As frontwoman of grunge act Hole.
1991: Pretty on the Inside (Never charted, 389,000)
1994: Live Through This (Peaked at #52, Double Platinum)
1995: Ask For It (Peaked at #172, 138,000)
1998: Celebrity Skin (Peaked at #9, Double Platinum)
As solo artist.
2004: America’s Sweetheart (Peaked at #53, 250,000)
2007: How Dirty Girls Get Clean (Out in Summer 2007)

Highlights:
Love got an early start on her acting career by landing roles in Alex Cox’s Sid & Nancy (1986) and Straight to Hell (1987). She followed that with another small role in 1988’s Tapeheads. Then she began to focus her attention onto music and took time away from acting. During this time, she had met Kurt Cobain, gotten married, had a child and won over a legion of grunge fans with her band, Hole. In the aftermath of her husband’s suicide and the sudden mainstream success of her music, Love returned to the silver screen. In 1996, she starred in two very different films with very distinct results. The first was a commercial disappointment, Feeling Minnesota starring Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz. Though her performances received a few positive reviews the film went unnoticed by the masses as a pulled a slender $3.1 million during its entire run. Her fortune would soon change with a raved performance in Milos Forman’s The People vs. Larry Flynt, which not only put Ms. Love on the map but also her up-n-coming co-star, a young Edward Norton. Love was unbelievable as Larry Flynt’s wife who dies of AIDS and this time it didn’t go unnoticed as she picked up various critic awards and even a Golden Globe nomination for her work. It seemed she rock star had crossed over to movie star, but poor choices in roles would soon derail Love.
After wrapping the tour in support of Hole’s Celebrity Skin, she returned to theaters, again with two films. 200 Cigarettes was a disposable comedy from MTV Studio and it completely failed to find an audiences in turn it quickly sank. The next pinned her with Jim Carrey in Man on the Moon. Whereas the movie was blessed with good reviews and more raves about her work as a thespians, audiences didn’t bite.
In 2000, Love began work on Beat playing the wife of author William Burroughs alongside Kiefer Sutherland and Ron Livingston. The independent movie created some buzz but didn’t catch onto the mainstream audience. The next project was Julie Johnson, a strong about a woman struggle to discover who she is. Love played Claire who was a friend of Julie (Lili Taylor) who ends up becoming more. The movie brought the actress a new audience as she won LA Outfest’s Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film.
After playing a lesbian, Love steps into the shoes of a grieving mother in 2002’s Trapped. Despite a cast which include Kevin Bacon, Charlize Theron and Stuart Townshend, the film only managed a meager $6.9 million during its run.
In 2008, Love will star in Lovelace as the title character, a role for which she beat out Angelina Jolie. The film is about Linda Lovelace who starred in one of the most successful prono film, Deep Throat.
Love has proven her talent as an actress, but she needs to pay more attention to the projects she selects.

Top Tracks
“Uncool”
“Dying” (Hole)
“Heaven Tonight” (Hole)
“Doll Parts” (Hole)
“Be A Man” (Hole)

Personal quotes from Ms. Love
>>“I’m not a woman, I’m a force of nature.”
>>“I’m not going to hurt anybody other than that dick who keeps writing songs about me” –about David Grohl in a Howard Stern interview.
>>“Cocaine is like really evil coffee.” (What she told her daughter about drugs.)
>>“You’re no one in the rock industry unless you’ve feuded with me or slept with Winona Ryder.
>>“Being famous is just like being in high school. But, I’m not interested in being the cheerleader. I’m not interested in being Gwen Stefani. She’s the cheerleader, and I’m out in the smoker shed. And plenty of you are out there in the smoker shed too. When it comes to rock ‘n’ roll, it’s just like high school” (From an interview in the August 2004 Seventeen magazine).
>>“Knowing me, I’d probably end up at a bar, asking some guy to get me another martini. Still bleaching my hair at 59.” (her response to what she thinks she’ll be like when she’s old.)

Here is a clip from her breakthrough film, The People Vs. Larry Flynt. (I wish I could have gotten a better clip but this was the best youtube had to offer):