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The Latest in ShowBiz News

Mack Chico

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2009/03/30 at 12:00am

Tobey Maguire: from Spider-Man to ‘The Limit’

03.30.2009 | By |

Tobey Maguire: from Spider-Man to 'The Limit'

Columbia Pictures is closing in on a deal to acquire screen rights to “The Limit,” with Tobey Maguire attached to star in the story of rival Grand Prix drivers.

Columbia is in negotiations to acquire Michael Cannell’s forthcoming novel, which Tony Peckham will adapt. Maguire will star as Phil Hill, who went against his good friend and Ferrari teammate Wolfgang von Trips in the 1961 Drivers Championship.

Move coincides with Maguire’s Columbia-based shingle beefing up its ranks by hiring veteran producer Jenno Topping, who will produce “The Limit.” Topping will oversee day-to-day production for the company and will produce movies for the company with Maguire.

Topping has had a first-look deal with the studio, either partnered with director Betty Thomas or by herself, for nearly a decade. Most recently, she produced the Jennifer Garner starrer “Catch and Release.”

At Maguire Entertainment, she will oversee a development slate that includes the Gary Ross helming vehicle “Tokyo Suckerpunch,” the bigscreen adaptation of 1980s TV series “Robotech” and the crime thriller “Good People,” which is based on a Marcus Sakey novel.

“We have worked with Jenno for a very long time,” Columbia prexy Matt Tolmach said. “She is a member of our studio family, so joining forces with Tobey is truly serendipitous. … There is an enormous comfort level creatively.”

Maguire is also producing “The Limit” alongside Cathy Schulman and Scarlett Lacey for Mandalay Pictures. Nick Reimond from Maguire Entertainment brought the project to the company.

“The Limit” will be published in the fall by the Hachette Publishing division Twelve.

Peckham recently scripted “The Human Factor,” the Clint Eastwood-directed Warner Bros. film, as well as a rewrite on “Sherlock Holmes,” the Guy Ritchie-directed film.

Topping’s other producer credits include “Guess Who,” the “Charlie’s Angels” movies and “28 Days.”

CAA brokered the film rights deal and Peckham is repped by WMA.

Pau Brunet

By

2009/03/30 at 12:00am

‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ is #1 at the box office!

03.30.2009 | By |

'Monsters vs. Aliens' is #1 at the box office!

DreamWorks Animation’s action comedy “Monsters vs. Aliens,” which features creatures from 1950s flicks in a showdown with invading extraterrestrials, launched itself into the No. 1 spot with a $58.2 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It was the biggest debut so far in 2009, topping the $55.2 million first weekend of “Watchmen” in early March.

Opening in second place was Lionsgate’s ghost story “The Haunting in Connecticut” with $23 million in ticket sales.

The previous weekend’s top movie, Summit Entertainment’s apocalyptic thriller “Knowing,” slipped to third with $14.7 million, raising its 10-day total to $46.2 million.

The big opening for “Monsters vs. Aliens” boosted Hollywood revenues after a couple of down weekends.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” was the latest success story for digital 3-D projection. While the 2,080 3-D screens accounted for just 28 percent of the roughly 7,300 on which the movie played, they made up 56 percent of its total box-office haul, said Anne Globe, head of marketing for DreamWorks Animation.

Tickets for 3-D movies typically cost a few dollars more than the 2-D version.

1. “Monsters vs. Aliens,” $58.2 million.

2. “The Haunting in Connecticut,” $23 million.

3. “Knowing,” $14.7 million.

4. “I Love You, Man,” $12.6 million.

5. “Duplicity,” $7.6 million.

6. “Race to Witch Mountain,” $5.6 million.

7. “12 Rounds,” $5.3 million.

8. “Watchmen,” $2.755 million.

9. “Taken,” $2.75 million.

10. “The Last House on the Left,” $2.6 million.

Jack Rico

By

2009/03/27 at 12:00am

Monsters vs. Aliens

03.27.2009 | By |

Rated: PG for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language.
Release Date: 2009-03-27
Starring: Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.monstersvsaliens.com/

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Monsters vs. Aliens
Jack Rico

By

2009/03/27 at 12:00am

12 Rounds

03.27.2009 | By |

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.
Release Date: 2009-03-27
Starring: Daniel Kunka
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://12rounds-movie.com/

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12 Rounds

‘12 Rounds’ is a surprisingly fun movie. I would actually say it is a great ‘B’ movie that many will enjoy. It possesses action from beginning to end and an interesting and plausible plot line that will keep your ADD at bay.

 

The story centers on a New Orleans police detective (John Cena) whose girlfriend (Ashley Scott) is kidnapped. He must play a sinister game lasting 12 rounds with a vicious and heartless killer (Aidan Gillen) to save the love of his life.

The wrestling organization, WWE, has been in the movie making business for some time now creating film vehicles for its top stars such as Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Roddy Piper and Steve Austin, all with the intention of creating extra financial revenue and branching their brand to non-wrestling masses. Cena’s ‘12 Rounds’ is perhaps the best of their cinematic efforts. For years, these films featuring wrestling stars, have been mocked for their facially exaggerated acting and asinine dialogue. But things are changing for the better. ‘The Rock’ achieved #1 status with 2007’s The Game Plan and most recently again with Race to Witch Mountain. From the looks of it, people are warming up to them and ‘12 Rounds’ could very well be in the top 3 in this week’s box office. This film, unlike the previous WWE Studios projects, offers a legitimate movie that can crossover to mainstream audiences with Cena providing a toned down dramatic demeanor as opposed to his flamboyant and hip hop persona on Monday Night Raw.

I must admit though, it will be a tough sell for audiences that are not wrestling fans simply because of the unknown cast, but to its credit, the movie moves at a fast pace with many twists and turns accompanied by explosions, car chases and gun fights. Few action movies do that anymore. Alas, the acting is not up to par, but it is not by any means blinding. Cena is decent and not over the top and his co-star assassin is suave and dynamic. If you are looking to escape in a movie that offers plausible, non-stop action, this is definitely worth checking out.

Mack Chico

By

2009/03/27 at 12:00am

The Haunting in Connecticut

03.27.2009 | By |

Rated: PG-13 for some intense sequences of terror and disturbing images.
Release Date: 2009-03-27
Starring: Adam Simon, Tim Metcalfe
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.hauntinginconnecticut.com/

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The Haunting in Connecticut

The Haunting in Connecticut is a tedious and pedestrian film that gives ghost stories a bad name. Director Peter Cornwell‘s film is so bereft of substance that when it comes to generating atmosphere and scares, an inordinate abundance of “frightful” moments are needed to keep viewers attentive. Assessing the film’s capacity for entertainment,  ‘The Haunting in Connecticut’ is a tough task to like.

The film relies on the “based on a true story” crutch, which is a good indication that the movie is in trouble. This story focuses on a family forced to relocate near a clinic where their teenage son was being treated for cancer. The family begins experiencing violent, supernatural events that the parents first blame on stress from the illness, but they later discover that their new home is a former mortuary with a dark past.

Perhaps most vexing is the script’s directives of having the protagonists go back to their separate beds and try to sleep amongst all the specters and spooky occurrences that are happening in their new quarters. Have any of the filmmakers ever heard of rational when it comes to writing these horror movies? Besides that, the ‘mystery’ is void of mystery, flashback sequences are laughable and the special effects for the ectoplasm are sad. Follow that with some over-the-top acting and unintentionally hilarious dialogue and you have yourself a monumental failure.

It’s hard to imagine horror fans will like this. It’s poorly made and badly written. Nevertheless, it does offer some suspenseful moments, but never enough to justify the price of admission. The PG-13 rating assures that nothing overtly gruesome or shocking is shown. Everything is sanitized so younger viewers can gaze upon it without going blind.

Jack Rico

By

2009/03/27 at 12:00am

John Cena quits WWE for Hollywood?!

03.27.2009 | By |

John Cena quits WWE for Hollywood?!

Wrestler turned film actor, John Cena, took time out of his busy schedule to talk to us, ShowBizCafe.com, about his second movie, 12 Rounds.

The film, a mix between the movies ‘Speed‘ and ‘Die Hard‘, is “action personified” from beginning to end. He seemed to be aware of this opinion and agreed with us that it, perhaps, is the best Hollywood film where a WWE wrestler has starred in.

In a very revealing moment, he promised that, unlike Hulk Hogan and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, he will never leave the WWE to pursue a full-time career as an actor. So he says… I guess only time will tell.

Expect to see Cena out of wrestling (due to an unforeseen injury, wink, wink) this June thru September shooting a new action flick. Check out the interview in it’s entirety right now!

Mack Chico

By

2009/03/26 at 12:00am

Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn & Jim Carrey are ‘The Three Stooges’!

03.26.2009 | By |

Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn & Jim Carrey are 'The Three Stooges'!

MGM and the Farrelly brothers are closing in on their cast for “The Three Stooges.”

Studio has set Sean Penn to play Larry, and negotiations are underway with Jim Carrey to play Curly, with the actor already making plans to gain 40 pounds to approximate the physical dimensions of Jerome “Curly” Howard.

The studio is zeroing in on Benicio Del Toro to play Moe.

The film is not a biopic, but rather a comedy built around the antics of the three characters that Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Howard played in the Columbia Pictures shorts.

The quest by the Peter and Bobby Farrelly to harness the project spans more than a decade and three studios. They first tried at Columbia, again at Warner Bros., and finally at MGM, where Worldwide Motion Picture Group chairman Mary Parent championed the cause and bought the WB-owned scripts and made a deal with Stooges rights holders C3.

Production will begin in early fall for a release sometime in 2010. The Farrellys, who wrote the script, are producing with their Conundrum partner Bradley Thomas, and Charlie Wessler.

C3 Entertainment principals Earl and Robert Benjamin will be executive producers.

Project will get underway after Penn completes the Asger Leth-directed Universal/Imagine Entertainment drama “Cartel.” He hasn’t done a comedy since the 1989 laffer “We’re No Angels.”

The Farrellys have long had their eyes on Del Toro to play Moe. Del Toro, who’s coming off “Che,” showed comic chops in the Guy Ritchie-directed “Snatch.”

The surprise is the emergence of Carrey to play Curly. Howard established the character as a seminal physical comedian, from the first time he appeared in the first Stooges short in 1934 until he suffered a stroke on the set in 1946.

Mack Chico

By

2009/03/26 at 12:00am

Nicole Kidman joins new Woody Allen film!

03.26.2009 | By |

Nicole Kidman joins new Woody Allen film!

Nicole Kidman will star in Woody Allen‘s next film, joining the already announced cast of Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto and Naomi Watts.

The as-yet-untitled film is produced by Letty Aronson, Steve Tenenbaum and Jaume Roures. It is financed by Mediapro, the Spain-based company that also funded “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

Sony Pictures Classics will release Allen’s next completed film, “Whatever Works,” which opens theatrically on June 19.

Jack Rico

By

2009/03/24 at 12:00am

Quantum of Solace

03.24.2009 | By |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content.
Release Date: 2008-11-14
Starring: Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:UK, USA
Official Website: http://www.007.com/

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The new Bond film ‘Quantum of Solace‘ isn’t better than its predecessor ‘Casino Royale’, and its story not as fun as ‘Wanted’. So, where did the 225 million dollars that they spent on it go?

This 22nd James Bond adventure picks up the story just an hour after ‘Royale’ ends.  Fueled by the betrayal of Vesper, the woman he loved, agent 007 (Daniel Craig) fights back the temptation of making his new mission personal.  Treading through a minefield of betrayal and deceit, Bond aligns himself with old friends in search of the truth.  As you know, nothing is ever as it seems in the spy world.

In this high octane sequel, you’ll meet a colder and soulless version of Bond. Each time he murders someone, it’s his indifference that’ll strike you and not how violent the murder is itself. It’s a side of Bond we’re not used to seeing out of the 46 year old franchise, but it seems audiences have welcomed his ‘darker’ self.

The action sequences are always fun but do not live up to the ones in ‘Royale’. And just as disappointing are the lack of the high-tech gadgets that are so synonymous with the saga. 

But getting back to my original point. Where did they spend this exorbitant amount of money? It looks like a fair share was spent on the various filming locations throughout Latin America. Places like Panama City, the Atacama desert in Chile and the city of San Felipe in Mexico. 

Overall, the cast turns in performances worthy of the money in our pockets, but the bottom line is that the movie doesn’t deliver on the promise of being one of the best Bond movies ever.  This is a distinction we can make for ‘Royale’, a movie far superior in every aspect.

If you don’t get a chance to see ‘Quantum of Solace’ don’t fret. You’re not missing anything special.

Jack Rico

By

2009/03/24 at 12:00am

Bolt

03.24.2009 | By |

Rating: 3.5

Rated: PG for some mild action and peril.
Release Date: 2008-11-21
Starring: Chris Sanders
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/bolt/

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What a breath of fresh air…I had to redeem myself from Twilight people! (lol) Walt Disney has done it again with the adorable America White Shepherd, Bolt.
This movie has a great meaning – for the entire family. “If you put your mind to it – you can do anything!” It’s about a dog named Bolt (voice by John Travolta) and his “person”, Penny (voice by Miley Cyrus) who star in an action hit TV show. Now when the show ends – Penny goes home…but, Bolt…doesn’t. He doesn’t get to be a REAL dog…get this (lol) – the director keeps him locked in his trailer…that way – Bolt STAYS in character, which is better for the show. Are you following me? (lol) Good.
 
One day – Penny is kidnapped by the evil Dr. Calico. (in the TV show) As soon as they end the scene – Bolt is immediately taken to his trailer – STILL thinking Dr. Calico has Penny. Well, it’s time for action – the first chance he gets – he escapes the Hollywood studio lot…only to fall in a box and is shipped to New York City. (Yeah, poor Bolt)
 
While there in the Big Apple, he meets Mittens…a cat…who he thinks knows where Penny is. (KEEP IN MIND, BOLT THINKS HE IS LIVING THE TV SHOW) They decide to make a road trip BACK to L.A. – along the way – they meet a cool little kick butt hamster. (You gotta see him)
 
It’s a great family movie – you laugh and you even cry…yes, I DID tear up. Go see this movie people – – it’s a great and the kids will dig it.

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