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NYFA Film Buzz
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See Iron Man Again
May 9, 2008 •
Last weekend Iron Man dazzled moviegoers and smashed expectations, raking in uber-respectable numbers at the box office. Looking at this weekend's slated film releases, it seems as though the studios are resigned to let the superhero vehicle rake in another $40-65 million and leave all other comers in the dust yet again. Only two new films start in wide release this weekend and only one of them seems the least bit interesting and it doesn't star Ashton Kutcher.
The Wachowski Brothers famous for their success with the Matrix try their hand at an adaptation of cartoon favorite, Speed Racer. The film looks quite intriguing if just for it's two lead actors Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci. Along with the acting chops present, the trailer makes the film out to be quite the unique visual feast. Despite these winning elements, I'm still not fully sold on the punch this one is packing. There's something that always rubs me the wrong way about live action adaptations.
As for the other film opening in wide release, Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz star in the run of the mill romantic comedy, What Happens In Vegas. I have a few questions here: "Who comes up with this crap?” "Why should any of us care?" and "Does Demi get script approval before she lets her son star in movies?" Furthermore, I can remember a day when Cameron Diaz was a reputable film actress, well except for The Sweetest Thing and those atrocious Charlie's Angels movies. This is a role better left for an actress looking to get her big break in a bad movie. The trailer alone makes me want this film to finish with negative dollars at the box office thanks to its omnipresence on TV and that horrible "Richard Banger" joke. In other words, even if you've already seen Iron Man, go see it again.
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Iron Man Lives Up To The Hype
May 9, 2008 •
After a huge weekend at the box office it seems that film fans have Iron-Mania. Grossing nearly $200 million at the worldwide box office, Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of this comic book hero surprised nearly everyone with his take.
While I had originally vowed not to get caught up in the hype of another one of what seems like a constant string of superhero films, I bit the bullet and took to the multiplex this Monday to see if Iron Man was worth the hype. My usual apprehension towards big budget studio films seemed to quickly melt away in the early moments of the film.
Downey's portrayal of cocky jetsetting billionaire Tony Stark was never dull thanks to his whip smart delivery. Combined with Jon Favreau's direction, the film really seemed to do a great job of focusing on Stark's character flaws without making it seem too heavy handed. The transition into his Iron Man persona also seemed so natural thanks to Downey's tremendous ability.
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Stoners vs. Sketch-ers
May 9, 2008 •
This weekend at the box office was a true battle of the comedic, uh, wits with the stoners facing off versus the Sketch-ers. While this writer predicted that the former would come out en masse to take Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay to the top of the box office charts it simply wasn't to be.
Unfortunately, I forgot to take into account that most of the film's audience probably had Harold and Kumar Goes To White Castle on DVD and a bong on their coffee table. They could simply sit on their couch and think about the munchies with their finger calmly hovering above the button that would speed dial Dominos, which is imminently more filling than buttered popcorn.
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Marvel unveils super schedule
May 7, 2008 •
After a boffo bow for its first pic, "Iron Man," Marvel Studios has skedded a series of superhero follow-ups through 2011.
First up from the film division of the Marvel comicbook giant is an "Iron Man" sequel aimed to bow on April 30, 2010, planting the flag again on the start of the summer movie sesh.
Also for that year, Marvel plans to bow "Thor" on June 4, based on the Norse god who wields a giant hammer. Matthew Vaughn is set to helm.
In 2011, company will unspool "The First Avenger: Captain America" on May 6; and "The Avengers," which will team up the Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor characters, in July. Zak Penn is writing the latter.
Paramount will distrib all the pics, as part of its pact with Marvel.
Studios have yet to set a major tentpole on any of those dates, so the superhero pics face little if any competition so far.
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Cinematical Seven: Awesome Ideas for New 'Iron Man' Characters!
May 7, 2008 •
The critics loved it, the audiences seem to dig it even more, and the sequel has officially claimed a 2010 release date already: This weekend we're all about the Iron Man. (I was gonna say "This weekend we're all about the iron, man," but it was way too corny.) So while we've already been promised the arrivals of characters called War Machine, Mandarin, and Nick Fury, I hope that the fine folks at Marvel Entertainment will consider tossing a few of these guys into the mix:
Alloy Boy -- Desperate to become Iron Man's first sidekick, young Alfred Loye decides to build himself a suit made of several disparate components. A big fan of TV dinners and collectible unicorns, Alfred fuses tin with pewter and creates an outfit that proves to be as effective as a suit made of tissue paper and smoke. His demise at Bessemer mansion inspires Tony Stark to avoid future sidekicks.
Irony Man -- Although he and Tony Stark shared similar talents for pith and witty banter, Irony Man proved to be an undeniably difficult ally to deal with. The two heroes had a massive falling out after, in a fit of rare sincerity, Irony Man referred to Stark's newest suit as "quite nice, actually." Irony Man was killed by Lord Caustic of Sardonica. His remains are buried in Sarr Chasm.
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Comedies high on TV ratings
May 7, 2008 •
As the broadcasters limp to the finish line this season, there is at least some comic relief from the overall meager Nielsen numbers generated in this strike-interrupted frame.
Much as theatergoers have been chuckling more of late, TV viewers have been gravitating toward comedy -- at least relative to other primetime fare.
While May sweep ratings are down by double-digit percentages for virtually all other programming -- including sudsers, crime skeins and reality contests -- primetime's half-hour heavyweights are mostly flourishing.
The highest-rated comedies among young adults -- 9 o'clock anchors "Two and a Half Men" on CBS, "The Office" on NBC and "Family Guy" on Fox -- are all up vs. their showings to start the May sweep last year.
In contrast, "Grey's Anatomy," "House" and "CSI: Miami" haven't been the same since their return following the writers strike, with year-to-year declines of 25% or more.
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Warner spies possible Sci buy
May 2, 2008 •
In a move that could lead to its eventual purchase of the British videogame publisher, Warner Bros. has invested some $30 million to double its stake in Sci Entertainment to 20%.
As part of the deal, Warner will also start distributing and marketing all of Sci's games, which are published under the Eidos brand, in the U.S. and Canada. Warner already provided some logistical services in the U.S. to Eidos, which is best known for the "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" franchise.
WB's investment is part of a larger $119 million stock placement that Sci is undertaking; the vidgame publisher has been severely short on capital in the past few months and looking for investors or to be acquired. According to reports, both NBC Universal and Warner considered buying the publisher outright.
Deal would make it very easy for Warner to buy Sci in the future, however, and quite difficult for any other company to take control without its assent. Studio apparently wasn't willing to take control now given the publisher's financial problems but was sufficiently convinced of its potential to invest more money and help keep it alive.
"Sci recently announced a restructuring plan which includes a new management team as well as a number of strategic and operational changes," said Warner Home Entertainment Group topper Kevin Tsujihara, whose portfolio includes videogames. "We think the plan is a good one, and we're impressed by the new management team, so the best option for Warner Bros is to support management's decision and work with them to build Sci's business."
In a sign of how desperate Sci was for cash, the shares being bought by Warner Bros. and others represents a 37.5% discount over the publisher's trading price on Thursday. Sci stock fell 16% to 47 pence (93¢) on London Stock Exchange on Friday as a result.
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Mike Judge setting up 'Extract'
May 2, 2008 •
Mike Judge will direct and Jason Bateman will star in the comedy "Extract," the first project to be produced under Judge's new shingle, Ternion Prods., which he formed with writer-producers John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky.
Ternion is fully financed to develop film, TV, digital and new-media projects through a finance and development deal with Media Rights Capital. The shingle will also produce films and TV projects through the traditional studio and network route.
Penned by Judge, "Extract" explores what it's like to be the boss when everything seems to be shifting around you.
Miramax will distribute in North America.
Altschuler is producing alongside Michael Rotenberg. Tom Lassally and Krinsky exec produce.
Ternion is bringing its first series to the smallscreen under its deal with MRC. "The Goode Family," which will air on ABC, was created by Altschuler, Judge and Krinsky, who are also exec producing along with Rotenberg and Lassally. The series is currently in production on its first 13 episodes and will bow in the first quarter of 2009.
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Disney in green scene
Apr 29, 2008 •
The Mouse House kicked off Earth Day by unveiling Disneynature, a shingle focused on producing documentaries about the environment.
First pic to be released in the U.S. through the banner is "Earth," from British producer-director Alastair Fothergill, who produced the "Planet Earth" series for the BBC and the Discovery Channel. James Earl Jones narrates the docu that bows one year from today, April 22, 2009. The film will also be released under the Disneynature banner in Latin America.
Internationally, the first title to go out will be December's "The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos," by Matthew Aeberhard and Leander Ward.
Jean-Francois Camilleri, who has long served as senior VP-general manager for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures France, heads up the new unit (Variety, May 26, 2007).
Disneynature will be based in France, where Camilleri will oversee the development and acquisition of theatrical releases. Through Buena Vista France, he was one of the first backers of hit docu "March of the Penguins."
Productions will be supported across Disney's various businesses, including its theme parks, publications and licensing.
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Peter Bart to receive RAAM Award
Apr 28, 2008 •
Director Matthew Vaughn will present Variety vice president and editor-in-chief Peter Bart with the 2008 RAAM International Award at the opening ceremony of the 2008 RAAM Conference in London on April 29.
Following the award presentation, Bart will take part in a Q&A sharing highlights of his career as both a studio boss and a journalist in front of an invited audience.
Following the Q&A, Paramount Pictures Intl. will present its slate of upcoming films and an advance screening of “Iron Man.”
The two-day RAAM conference dedicated to the British and Irish film exhibition and distribution industry takes place April 29-May 1 at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ London headquarters in Piccadilly.
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