Robert Downey Jr. in Drag in New 'Sherlock Holmes 2' Video

Entertainment Tonighthas made available their visit to London and the set of the untitledSherlock Holmessequel.

The video has some standard behind-the-scenes banter from returning starsRobert Downey Jr.andJude Law(as well as some light ribbing from director Guy Ritchie), but one section in particular focuses on the former dressed in drag.

The female getup is one of Sherlock’s many disguises, Downey Jr. explains with a smirk. It’s hisSome Like It Hotmoment to infiltrate the forces of his nemesis, Professor Moriarty. Though the E.T. host is quick to point out RDJ is shirtless (again) immediately after.  You know, for the ladies.

Once you get past the smarmy television personality and whiz-bang graphics, there is actually plenty to see in this set visit video. Stunt work of RDJ and Law scaling the outside of a moving train is heavily featured, but there are shots of a bloody Sherlock in the midst of a gunfight, a bare knuckle forest melee, and someone being thrown through a second story window.

Plus another look at Swedish actressNoomi Rapace— who we’re about to see much more of as the high profile offers roll in— and some praise from her fellow stars.

Take a look behind the scenes ofSherlock Holmes 2:

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Brad Pitt, Sam Rockwell Confirmed for 'Cogan's Trade'

Brad Pitt and Sam Rockwell are officially reteaming withThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fordwriter-director Andrew Dominik for a comedic crime saga titledCogan’s Tradeand based on the book by George V. Higgins.

According toDeadline, Pitt will play Jackie Cogan, a professional enforcer investigating a stick-up at a high-stakes poker game run by the mob. Rockwell’s role is undetermined at this point, but he’s committed to the ensemble cast. TheirJesse Jamesco-star Casey Affleck may also join the film.

Others rumored in the mix are Josh Brolin, Bill Murray, Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo, and Zoe Saldana. Even a select few of those additions would make this one of the more interesting casts in recent memory, though Ruffalo may be out due to scheduling issues with playing the Hulk inThe Avengers. Filming is expected to start shooting in March around New Orleans.

We don’t have many details on the movie’s plot yet, but here is the Amazon description of Higgins’ novel:

Cogan’s Trade is the top-notch crime novel rated by the New Yorker as the“best” from“the Balzac of the Boston underworld.” Crackling dialogue, mordant humor, and unremitting tension drive the suspenseful stakes of the game higher in Boston’s precarious underworld of small-time mobsters, crooked lawyers, and political gofers as George V. Higgins, the writer who boiled crime fiction harder, tracks Jackie Cogan’s career in a gangland version of law and order. For Cogan is an enforcer; and when the Mob’s rules get broken, he gets hired to ply his trade—murder. In the gritty, tough-talking pages of Higgins’s 1974 national best-seller, Cogan is called in when a high-stake card game under the protection of the Mob is heisted. Expertly, with a ruthless businessman’s efficiency, a shrewd sense of other people’s weaknesses,and a style as cold as his stare, Cogan moves with reliable precision to restore the status quo as ill-conceived capers and double-dealing shenanigans erupt into high-voltage violence.

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First Spider-Man Reboot Set Pictures

A few shots have surfaced of Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone on the set today shooting Marc Webb’s still untitled Spider-Manreboot. They aren’t much to look at, aside from a smooch on the high school bleachers, unless you haven’t seen Stone in her platinum blonde look.

At what point will Sony finally throw comic book fans a real title? Referring to it as the Spider-Man reboot is a joke at this point and a constant reminder of its status as a retread of Peter Parker’s origins. How hard is it to draw up a logo design that saysUltimate Spider-Manor whatever and throw it up on the official website? Plus a shot of Garfield in costume might be nice, especially since the paparazzi are circling now.  We saw what happened with Captain America, where someone snapped a spy photo of amere stunt doubleon the set, suited up. I’m no marketing expert, but those two things seem like no brainers when promoting a summer tentpole, especially one with this much skepticism.

As for the images, well, it must be nice to get paid the big bucks to kiss Emma Stone. For the latest news on the latest Spider-Man,click here. Pictures coming to you fromJust Jared:

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'Bullitt' Director Peter Yates Has Died at 82

British filmmaker and four-time Oscar nominee Peter Yates has passed away after a long illness.  He was 82.

Yates is best known for directing the 1968 thrillerBullittfeaturing Steve McQueen and one of the best car chase sequences in cinema history, but the talent also helmed the Robert Redford-starrerThe Hot Rock, the 1983 cult fantasy flickKrull, the Shakespearean dramaThe Dresser, and the coming of age cycling filmBreaking Away.

His final feature was the aptly-titledCurtain Callin 1999, after which he directed two made-for-television moviesA Separate PieceandDon Quixote.

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Directors Guild Announces 2011 Nominations

The Directors Guild of America unveiled their nominations this week for their annual ceremony, and the five selections (as much as the omissions) underscored just how competitive this year will be for filmmakers vying for an Oscar.

Only six times since its inception in 1949 has the DGA’s“Outstanding Directorial Achievements in Motion Pictures” award not matched the Academy Award for“Best Director.”

Christopher Nolan (Inception), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), David Fincher (The Social Network), David O. Russell (The Fighter), and Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) received nods for the top prize.

But this leaves worthy directors standing on the outside, like Joel and Ethan Coen who won the award three years ago forNo Country for Old Menand are witnessing a new financial peak in their careers with the $100+ million success ofTrue Grit. It also unfortunately meansThe Kids Are All Right’s Lisa Cholodenko is on the other side of the bubble looking in just one year after Kathryn Bigelow’s groundbreaking win as the first female honoree.

Snubs aside, the five listed men present their own conundrum: any of them could win. Each displayed a near masterful command of the medium, leaning on their respective strengths of storytelling, visuals, and ability to draw great performances, but no one stands out as the clear frontrunner in this crop of immense talent.

Could it be Fincher, whose zeitgeist-capturing drama is the probable pick for“Best Picture?” Or Aronofsky for his genre-twisting mind bender?  Or Nolan for his own thinking man’s thriller? Then you have Hooper and Russell who directed some of the best performances 2010 had to offer, like Colin Firth and Christian Bale’s memorable turns, among others.

Who do you think it should be?

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List of Actresses Testing for 'The Dark Knight Rises'

Christopher Nolan is preparing to test a shortlist of actresses for the two female leads inThe Dark Knight Rises, the third and final installment of his Batman trilogy.

Among those testing for the roles, according to the Hollywood Reporter, areKeira KnightleyandAnne Hathaway, who werepreviously reported, as well asJessica Biel,Kate Mara(pictured right),Charlotte Riley, and possibly ubiquitous British star Gemma Arterton.

The women are vying to play either a love interest (potentially Vicki Vale) or a villain (potentially Talia al Ghul, the daughter of theBatman Beginsbaddie Ra’s al Ghul), though their exact roles are speculation at this point. Warner Bros and Nolan will not comment on the production, which is expected to start shooting in May.

Knightley, Hathaway and Biel are recognizable Hollywood faces, as isClash of the Titansactress Arterton, who may be out of the Batman mix aftersigning on toHansel& Gretel: Witch Hunters. But Mara has only had supporting roles in films like127 HoursandIron Man 2and TV shows such as“Entourage” and“24.” 28-year-old Riley is even lesser known, though she’s engaged to Tom Hardy (who starred in Nolan’sInception) so she has an“in” already. Hardy hasbeen rumoredas a cast member inTDKRas well.

Naomi WattsandEva Greenwere also rumored earlier today atCollider, but THR says they have not been cast (hence the upcoming screen tests). Of course, no one knows anything for sure given Nolan’s intense secrecy when making films, particularly of the Batman variety.

Your thoughts? Who should be cast and who should they play?

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James Bond 23 Scheduled, Sam Mendes to Direct

With MGM’s financial situation settled, the studio is pushing forward with its major, moneymaking titles, and aside fromThe Hobbitthat means one name in particular: James Bond.

After months of delays, the twenty-third James Bond movie has been officially handed the green light to start production in late 2011. MGM is aiming to release the continuation, temporarily titledBond 23, on November 9, 2012.

Sam Mendes (American Beauty,Road to Perdition) has long been attached as a“consultant,” due to MGM’s crippling debt, but is now officially directing the movie, which is expected to pick up after Quantum of Solace. Daniel Craig is returning to play 007.

Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan wrote the script.

Of course, this opens the floodgates for Bond girl rumors for the next six months or so where every“it” actress is named as a possible temptress. So let’s get started, shall we? Any favorites for the coveted Bond girl role?  Rachel Weisz?  Ashley Greene?  A career resurgence for Jennifer Connelly?  Joan Rivers?  Who would you pick?

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First Look: Rooney Mara in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

W Magazinehas the first official images of Rooney Mara’s drastic transformation from the fed up girlfriend at the start ofThe Social Networkto the tattooed, gothic Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher’sThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The kind of girl you bring home to Mom.

The article, which includes interviews with Fincher and Mara, says Steven Zaillian’s script departs“rather dramatically” from the original book by Stieg Larsson, notably“Blomkvist {played by Daniel Craig} is less promiscuous, Salander is more aggressive, and the ending-the resolution of the drama-has been completely changed.”

Maralanded the coveted roleafter an exhaustive search that included rumored A-listers Carey Mulligan and Ellen Page, as well as a few other relative unknowns. Fincher, never one to shy away from potentially provocative material with films likeSe7enandFight Club, had the actresses audition with the most brutal scene in the film. ”It was hard. We had five or six girls audition with the rape scene. The girls had to kick a dildo up his ass. That’s Salander’s big scene, and we had to see if they could do it.”

To become Salander, Mara had her eyebrows bleached, her hair chopped, and pierced her lip, brow, nose and nipple. ”I didn’t even have pierced ears. They put four holes in each ear, and, weirdly, that hurt the most,” Mara said about the“intense” day.

Filming is currently underway in Sweden for a December 21, 2011 release.

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'Social Network' Tops 2011 Golden Globes

There were few surprise at the 68th Annual Golden Globes on Sunday night as awards season frontrunner The Social Networktook home four awards including“Best Motion Picture– Drama.”

The David Fincher-directed film also won“Best Director,”“Best Original Score” for Trent Reznor’s musical contributions, and“Best Screenplay” for Aaron Sorkin’s brilliant adaptation.

The Kids Are All Righttopped“Best Comedy or Musical” along with some much-needed recognition for Annette Benning in the specialty“Best Actress” category. Oscar frontrunner Natalie Portman picked up the dramatic counterpart for her turn in Black Swan.

The Globes aren’t exactly the best bellwether for Oscar glory, but the wins seemed to line up rather predictably with awards season favorites as the night progressed.  Also not surprising were the scathing punchlines flying from returning host Ricky Gervais.

The British comedian took easy shots at closeted Scientologists,The Tourist, and even the Hollywood Foreign Press Associations’ (HFPA) reputation for accepting bribes. If anything, though, the jokes weren’t overly harsh, but especially predictable.  Random zingers about Hugh Hefner’s young fiancé and Angelina Jolie’s litter of foreign kids seemed all too easy. Judge for yourself.  Someone took the time to assemble a video of Gervais’best jokes.

Gervais and the HFPA have already responded to the“controversy” by downplaying his“mean-spirited”— as Robert Downey Jr. put it— jokes, which he claims were at the expense of the good-humored. ”I was allowed to choose who I would introduce in advance. I obviously chose presenters who I had the best jokes for. (And who I knew had a good sense of humor),” said Gervais on Monday. The HFPA said they“loved the show” even if Gervais“pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far.”

Enough about Gervais. Here are the winners:

Best Supporting Actor:
Christian Bale, The Fighter
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech
Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Best Mini-series
Carlos
The Pacific
Temple Grandin
You Don’t Know Jack
Pillars of the Earth

Best Supporting Actor, TV:
Chris Colfer,Glee
Chris Noth, The Good Wife
Scott Caan, Hawaii- 5-0
David Strathairn, Temple Grandin
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best Actor, TV Drama:
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House

TV Series, Drama:
Mad Men
Dexter
Boardwalk Empire
The Good Wife
The Walking Dead

Best Original Song:
“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” by Diane Warren, Burlesque
“Bound to You,” Burlesque
“Coming Home”,Country Strong
“I See the Light,” by Alan Menken, Tangled
“There’s a Place for Us,” Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Best Score
Alexandre Desplat, The King’s Speech
Danny Elfman, Alice in Wonderland
A.R. Rahman, 127 Hours
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, The Social Network
Hans Zimmer, Inception

Best Animated Film:
Tangled
Toy Story 3
How To Train Your Dragon
Despicable Me
The Illusionist

Best Actress, Comedy:
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie, The Tourist
Emma Stone, Easy A
Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right

Best Actor in a Mini-series or TV Movie
Idris Elba, Luther
Ian McShane, Pillars of the Earth
Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack
Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship
Edgar Ramirez, Carlos

Best Actress in a Mini-series or TV Movie
Hayley Atwell, Pillars of the Earth
Claire Danes, Temple Grandin
Judi Dench, Return to Cranford
Romola Garai, Emma
Jennifer Love Hewitt,The Client List

Best Screenplay
Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Christopher Nolan, Inception
Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, The Kids Are All Right
David Seidler, The King’s Speech
Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, 127 Hours

Best Supporting Actress, TV:
Hope Davis, The Special Relationship
Jane Lynch, Glee
Kelly MacDonald, Boardwalk Empire
Julia Stiles, Dexter
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Best Foreign-Language Film:
I Am Love
Biutiful
The Concert
The Edge
In a Better World

Best Actress, TV Comedy:
Toni Collette, The United States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Lea Michele, Glee

Best Actor, TV Comedy:
Alec Baldwin,30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matthew Morrison, Glee
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Best Director:
David Fincher, The Social Network
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
Christopher Nolan, Inception
David O. Russell, The Fighter

TV Series, Comedy:
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
The Big C
Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie

Best Actor, Comedy:
Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack
Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs
Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp, The Tourist
Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version

Best Actress, Drama:
Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine
Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Best Picture, Comedy/Musical:
Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
The Kids Are All Right
Red
The Tourist

Best Actor, Drama:
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

Best Picture, Drama:

Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network

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Will Smith May Remake 'Annie' for Willow, Jay-Z

Just as he did with hisKarate Kidredux, Will Smith is remaking yet another’80s classic as a starring vehicle for his offspring. Ah, the warm comfort of nepotism…

According toVariety, Smith is“exploring” with Sony Pictures an“updated” version of the 1982 musicalAnnieto star his 10-year-old daughter, Willow Smith. Like her brother, Jaden Smith, she made her silver screen debut in (what else) a Will Smith movie (in this case I Am Legend).

Rapper Jay-Z, who signed lil’ Smith to his record label and helped with the earworm“Whip My Hair,” is said to be collaborating on the music. Representatives for Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment would not confirm if the musical redo would contain some of the original tunes, like“Hard Knock Life” which Jay-Z sampled in one of his worldwide hit songs.

It’s also unclear if the film will be based on the comic strip“Little Orphan Annie,” the 1977 Broadway musical, or the feature film starring Shirley Temple.

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'X-Men' Marketing Blitz Brings Poster, Images

With the leaked, unimpressivecostumed cast imagespread to the ends of the Internet this week, Fox is hurrying out an unexpected wave of marketing materials to keep fans excited about Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class.

What’s particularly strange about the timing is that Vaughn hasn’t finished shooting the movie, which Fox has slated for release on June 3, 2011, according to his recent interview with theLA Times. ”I’m at that stage where I feel like a boxer against the ropes,” said Vaughn, who has had the luxury of his own pace on his previous films likeKick-AssandStardustdue to independent financing. But this is Vaughn’s step into the big leagues of comic book fantasy, an opportunity he passed on twice before when offered directing duties on X-Men: The Last StandandThor.“I’m just throwing punches and taking them as they come and making sure I don’t hit the canvas.”

But Vaughn isn’t the only one talking aboutFirst Class, a quasi-prequel set in the swinging’60s and centered on the divergence relationship between Charles Xavier— a.k.a. Professor X and portrayed byJames McAvoy— and Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto), played byMichael Fassbender. ToMSN, Fassbender said of Magneto,“He’s an extremist, and that’s always a dangerous place to be. By the time we leave him at the end of this movie, he’s become very clear about what he wants and his decisions and his game plan.” He also assured fans his costume (and helmet) stays true to the purple and red of the comics.

Kevin Baconalso had plenty to say toMoviefoneabout his villainous character Sebastian Shaw, the leader of the rival Hellfire Club that includes the chest Emma Frost (January Jones, pictured below). ”You don’t see much {of his backstory} in the movie, but he’s kind of a self-made man,” Bacon explained. ”He lost his father as a young man, made his first million by the time he was 30 and first billion by time he was 40. He’s a very powerful billionaire and also, as it turns out, a mutant. He’s the leader of the Hellfire Club, which is a nightclub for the rich and extremely powerful. And he has a plot to take over the world, so that’s really fun. He’s incredibly good at manipulating people.”

Bacon continued by saying his look and costume differs from the classic look of Shaw, typically drawn with a ponytail and mutton chops. He also sets the stage for the conflict, saying it takes place during the Cuban Missile Crisis but before the key Civil Rights movement often linked to the mutants’ plight.

20-year-old rising star (and potential Oscar nominee)Jennifer Lawrencespilled about being painted blue every day to play Mystique. She told theHollywood Reportershe spent nearly half of the five month shoot enduring a diet and eight hours of full-body make-up.“Those girls and I got so close. They were painting me naked every day for months. It was kind of like going to a really bizarre sleepover.”

Here’s a shot of Lawrence amongst the rest of her young cast mates:

From left to right:Caleb Landry Jones(Banshee),Michael Fassbender(Magneto),Jennifer Lawrence(Mystique),Rose Byrne(Moira MacTaggert),Nicholas Hoult(Beast),James McAvoy(Charles Xavier), andLucas Till(Havok).

Teaser poster viaAICN:

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First Look: Cast of 'X-Men: First Class' Suited Up

Earlier today, MSN released the first official image of theX-Men: First Classline-up only for the image to quickly disappear. For whatever reason, Fox doesn’t want you to see the picture below (rescued byBleeding Cool). Perhaps they weren’t done adding shading?

From left to right:Michael Fassbender(Magneto),Rose Byrne(Moira MacTaggert),January Jones(Emma Frost), Jason Flemyng(Azazel),Nicolas Hoult(Beast),Lucas Till(Havoc),Zoe Kravitz(Angel),Jennifer Lawrence(Mystique), andJames McAvoy(Charles Xavier with luscious locks).  Not pictured:Kevin Bacon(Sebastian Shaw),Edi Gathegi(Darwin),Caleb Landry Jones(Banshee) andOliver Platt(Man in Black).

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Writers Return for Sequel to 'Red'

Summit Entertainment has re-hired screenwriters and brothers Jon and Erich Hoeber to pen a sequel to Red.

Colliderreports a sequel has not been greenlit yet, nor have their been any negotiations with Bruce Willis or his co-stars Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Karl Urban or Mary-Louise Parker.

The original, made for roughly $60 million, has grossed just over $90 million in the U.S. and $165 million worldwide. It also picked up a (rather meaningless) Golden Globe nomination for“Best Motion Picture– Comedy or Musical,” though it lost toThe Kids Are All Righton Sunday.

While Robert Schwentke’s Redturned out to be a surprisingly fun alternative to Sly Stallone’s over-seriousExpendables, the writing was easily the weakest link in that production chain. The script was a flimsy port of the Warren Ellis creation elevated by a particularly stellar ensemble.  This time they’ll be working without a net, since Ellis’ series ended after three issues. (Though original artist Cully Hammer is working on a prequel series.)  Hopefully Summit can entice/afford the great cast to return.

The Hoebers broke out with the universally-pannedWhiteoutbefore writing this comic book adaptation, but what should ultimately solidify their hackdom are their scripts for 2012’sBattleship, which is hilariously bad in every way, and the one-noteMan on a Ledgewith Sam Worthington (thinkPhone Boothonly without the booth).

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Producers Guild Announces 2011 Nominations

The Producers Guild of America has announced their nominations for the ten best motion pictures of 2010, which expanded to match the Academy Award’s“Best Picture” category last year. There aren’t many surprises in the list though, and it’s a safe bet to expect the Oscar nominations to shake out with the same films on top at the end of January.

The top PGA prize, the Darryl F. Zanuck award, has successfully predicted the“Best Picture” winner 14 out of the 21 years, including the last four in a row.

The PGA also revealed their picks for the best animated and documentary features, granting some much needed recognition to the delightfulDespicable Meand the under-appreciated doc Smash His Camera, as well as the usual suspects of frontrunners and favorites.

Individual awards will also be presented to James Cameron (the Milestone Award), Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman (Norman Lear Award) for their television work on the masterful HBO series“The Pacific,” super-producer Scott Rudin (David O. Selznick Award) for his contributions to film (his two PGA nods this year is a record), Laura Ziskin (Visionary Award), and RealD for their advancements in 3-D technology.

If you’re looking for snubs, the two films whose omissions jump out immediately areWinter’s Bonein the tight race for the top ten,Tangledamong the animated flicks, andExit Through the Gift Shopin the doc category. Any others?

Judd Apatow will host the Producers Guild Awards on January 22, 2011. Click over to theofficial PGA websitefor further details and the list of television nominations.

Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures:

127 HOURS, Producers: Danny Boyle, Christian Colson
BLACK SWAN, Producers: Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver
INCEPTION, Producers: Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas
THE FIGHTER, Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Mark Wahlberg
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, Producers: Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray
THE KING’S SPEECH, Producers: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin
THE SOCIAL NETWORK, Producers: Dana Brunetti, Ceán Chaffin, Michael De Luca, Scott Rudin
THE TOWN, Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Graham King
TOY STORY 3, Producer: Darla K. Anderson
TRUE GRIT, Producers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin

PGA Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

DESPICABLE ME, Producers: John Cohen, Janet Healy, Christopher Meledandri
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, Producer: Bonnie Arnold
TOY STORY 3, Producer: Darla K. Anderson

PGA Producer of the Year Award in Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:

CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER, Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination
EARTH MADE OF GLASS, Producers: Reid Carolin, Deborah Scranton
INSIDE JOB, Producers: Charles Ferguson, Audrey Marrs
SMASH HIS CAMERA, Producers: Linda Saffire, Adam Schlesinger
THE TILLMAN STORY, Producer: John Battsek
WAITING FOR‘SUPERMAN’, Producer: Lesley Chilcott

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Daniel's Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2010

I’ve put together a few of my favorites from what is now last year. I felt like too many films completely failed to meet their potential this year (exemplified by such  inane, lackluster summer blockbusters) so I’ve named a few who I feel not only met but surpassed my expectations. It’s an eclectic mix, as I feel these lists should be but each are entirely wholesome, worthwhile films. Unfortunately I missed a few.Rabbit Hole, 127 Hours, The King’s Speechare just the tip of the iceberg, but thankfully they aren’t going anywhere. So here, in no particular order, are some of my cinematic highlights of 2010:

Inception– Christopher Nolan’s latest outing is intelligent, original and almost perfectly executed. Impossible to omit on any best of list and refreshingly rewarding, especially compared to the summer’s other, rather lackluster offerings. With a breakout performance from Tom Hardy and DiCaprio on top form,Inceptionlead by example.

Machete– Robert Rodriguez’sMacheteoverflows with politics, tits and explosive“mexploitation” but if you quit complaining long enough to get on board you’ll discover one hell of a (hydraulic enhanced) ride, an undeniably enjoyable film rounded out by a strong, improbable cast.

Toy Story 3– Surely, there could have been no finer farewell to Woody, Buzz and the millions of fans who have followed the series? Not only isToy Story 3a fitting tribute to the franchise, but it’s an excellent film in its own right, packed with the Pixar/John Lasseter hallmarks that have made the series so great– with Michael Keaton to boot!

Monsters– A film that came out of nowhere, shot with a minimal crew and budget around Central America. A personal highlight of the year that marks an impressive talent in British newcomer writer/director/producer Gareth Edwards. Monsters is a film that won’t make many best of lists this year but a truly fantastic independent film that will inspire filmmakers for years to come.

Scott Pilgrim vs the World– Perhaps another film that will be unfortunately omitted from many top 10 lists this year. A great piece of film making that unabashedly wears its video game references on it’s sleeve. Stylistically refreshing and bursting with ingenuity, Edgar Wright’s film is perhaps a little lacking on character, but it makes up for that with energetic fight scenes, flaming swords and showers of gold coins.

The Town– Benny’s follow up toGone Baby Gonetakes us down the dirty streets of Charlestown, the bank robbery capital of the world. His brother Casey is out and Ben is in, joined by the likes of Jon Hamm, Blake Lively, Rebecca Hall, the late Pete Postlethwaite and an impeccable Jeremy Renner. The cast is superb andThe Townplays like an exercise in precision film making. Affleck’s sophomore effort showcases his directorial talents, effortlessly sculpting a nail-biting, high-octane thriller around an excellent script and his pitch perfect cast.

Cyrus– The Duplass brothers’Cyrusis a strange little film that pitches John C Reilly against Jonah Hill as both vie for Marisa Tomei’s attention, the former’s lover and the latter’s mother. It made my top 10 purely on the strength of its fizzing cast and the undeniable joy that it was to watch them in action. Though Catherine Keener deserves a mention as Reilly’s ex-wife and confidant. It’s not the most in-your-face comedy of the year, but a regular diamond-in-the-rough. Not to be missed!

The American– Not the action packed assassin’s tale that the trailer would have you believe but all the better for it. Anton Corbijn’s feature follow-up toControlis a beautifully shot adaptation of Martin Booth’s novelA Very Private Gentleman. Clooney’s restrained performance is a welcome change to his usual charm, showcasing his talents beyond his signature smile and magnetism. Visually striking and slow burning,The Americanis slightly“different” but a fine film nonetheless.

Kick Ass– You can’t argue with Nicolas Cage dressed to the hilt in Batman-esque armor, sporting an adhesive handlebar mustache. If that’s not enough then you’d be struggling to find fault with Jane Goldman’s script or Matthew Vaugn’s direction. Although I’ll be the first to admit Kick Ass is at times a little whiney between Cage’s excellent return to form, Mark Strong’s mob boss or Chloe Moretz’s Hit-Girl Kick-Ass is pure and simple fun, entertainment at its best.

Black Swan/The Fighter/True Grit– I’d have to split my last spot between Aronofsky’sBlack Swan, Russell’sThe Fighterand the Coen brothers’True Grit. All of which I saw too close to the end of the year to factor into my list, but each are fantastic  and worth a mention. (A total cop-out, I know.)

LEAST FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2010

There are also a few immensely poor cinematic offerings this year that I couldn’t resist the opportunity to bash one last time, here are my worst films of 2010– with luck they will spawn no sequels, prequels or spin-offs and we will never hear from them again!

Jonah Hex– Jonah Hex is perhaps one of the strangest films of 2010. The cast alone signals the potential: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Michael Fassbender are all big names capable of great things. They even tossed Megan Fox into the mix.  All directed by Jimmy Hayward’s (Horton Hears a Who!), whose experiences working as an animator onFinding NemoorMonsters Inc.perhaps hadn’t fully prepared him for his live-action debut.  We are faced with truly peculiar work, a film that seems to be based entirely around its own trailer. Jonah Hex revolves around the odd flaccid explosive shootout, plenty of grizzly scar close ups, jokes about thoroughly searching Megan Fox’s corset and a whole lot of entirely forgettable filler.  Brolin does what he can beneath his extensive prosthetics, but it isn’t enough.  Jonah Hex fell flat on its scarred face into the dirt, where it belongs, an entirely deserved box office bomb.

The Last Airbender–The genius behindThe HappeningandLady In the Waterreturns to the big screen with this adaptation of a Nickelodeon franchise.  M. Night Shyamalan, in what almost seems like a deliberate attempt to further his downward spiral, decides to take a beloved animated series with a worldwide fan base and $150 million dollars down with him.  The result is by far one of the worst films of the year, if not the decade. The Last Airbender’s grueling 103-minute runtime plays out like a prolonged bad joke. The butt of the joke is up for debate, though. Was it the unfortunate cinema-goers who contributed to its $131 million dollar gross or M. Night himself who has potentially slammed the inevitable final nail in his filmmaking coffin?The Last Airbenderis completely and utterly terrible, a runt among runts and an abhorrent disgrace.

Death Race 2: Frankenstein Lives– This entirely unnecessary prequel explores the origins of the masked Frankenstein– originally modeled by David Carradine inDeath Race 2000way back in 1975.  A bearded Sean Bean, a suited Ving Rhames and a shirtless ‘Jewish-Mexican’ Danny Trejo are all equally appalling in their supporting roles – perhaps an ill-conceived casting attempt to lend the project some B-list Hollywood credibility.  The script is pathetic, the acting below par, the plot is riddled with holes and the action –- perhaps the only draw for perspective DVD shoppers— is unfortunately lackluster. Death Race 2was never going to be the next big thing, but that is no excuse for shoddy filmmaking, the likes of which haven’t been seen since, well, Paul W.S. Anderson’sDeath Race. Unsurprisingly, the straight-to-DVD sequel is an absolute, unflinching pile of Shyamalan.

Resident Evil: Afterlife– It is difficult to imagine what prompted Paul W.S. Anderson’s return to the Resident Evil series, besides maybe money. After bringing us the first installment back in 2002, Anderson, like any up-and-coming film director, moved on to bigger and“better” things. He honed and refined his art and brought us elegant and delicate cultural artifacts likeAVP: Alien vs. Predator, the aforementionedDeath Raceand the TV movie“Drift.” After finding such success outside the franchise, it must have been the desire to work in three dimensions that brought Anderson back amongst the ranks of the undead alongside his lovely wife, Milla Jovovich.

Nevertheless, the prodigal son returned, bringing with him a vision of several grand set pieces, a few characters and very little else. He neatly wraps up the matter of the Alice clones in the first few minutes with a large bomb– perhaps Anderson’s most revered plot device. Then we follow the remaining and presumably original (not that it matters) Alice in her quest to relocate her ragtag group of survivors and continue their search for sanctuary. What follows is a whole lot of filler sandwiched between the odd bout ofslow-motion ass kicking, which does, for what it’s worth, look decent. While the earlier films might have been about avoiding marauding plagues of zombies, Anderson ups the ante by pitting his crew against a 10-foot, hooded, hammer-wielding giant, leaving the threat of zombies out in the cold. While the fight scene between said giant and a dripping Ali Larter and Jovovich is arguably the film’s highpoint, by removing the threat of zombies Anderson has removed all palpable tension from the film and left the non-action sequences flat and a little bit boring. Perhaps the only positive thing aboutAfterlifeis the long-awaited inclusion of the character Chris Redfield, portrayed by“Prison Break” actor Wentworth Miller, who ironically spends much of his screen time behind bars.Afterlifefaithfully continues the Resident Evil tradition, staying true to the franchise as another indulgent vanity project not at all worth 97 minutes of your time.

Legion– Scott Stewart’s debut feature film is unfathomably terrible. Given the premise— an out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race when God loses faith in humankind— perhaps it isn’t hard to see why.“Unlikely” is the right word, though. While this is another film which was never destined for mass appreciation, it could have, in the right hands, found a cult following, or maybe I’m the only one that sees potential in an angel showing up at a truck stop loaded with guns and ready to do battle. It could have even been some good old-fashioned action packed fun, instead of this limp offering that falls at every hurdle and never quite takes off. The C-list cast fails to evokeeven a hint of emotion.Legionleaves audiences wondering what exactly just happened and why in the world Bettany and Stewart are inexplicably returning for another supernatural outing in 2011 with the vampire hunting escapadePriest.

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Elijah Wood Returning as Frodo in 'The Hobbit'

Elijah Wood is officially reprising his role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s two-part, $500 million adaptation ofThe Hobbit.

Wood and his representation have been in negotiations with Warner Bros since mid-December, but discussions shut down for the holidays.  This month, according toDeadline, talks were re-started with Wood, as well reps forAndy Serkis(Gollum),Ian McKellen(Gandalf), andOrlando Bloom, who was rumored to be returninga month agoas Legloas.

Elijah Wood’s involvement sparked some initial confusion with fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy series since the character, Frodo, wasn’t alive during the adventures of his older cousin, Bilbo Baggins (to be played byMartin Freemanin the upcoming prequels).

However,TheOneRinghas confirmed the circumstances of Frodo’s return. Spoilers:Frodo will appear at the opening of the two films as an aged Bilbo recounts his experiences, serving as a frame for the story and connecting these two movies to Jackson’s magnificent Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Obviously, this means Wood’s screen time will be relatively short, but this familiar bookend setup is a step in the right direction in bringing back casual and devoted fans alike by linking the two series without making significant changes to Tolkien’s beloved oeuvre.  Hopefully, McKellen and Serkis will return as well alongside thesignedCate Blanchett(as Galadriel), thenegotiating Bloom, and the unconfirmedHugo Weaving.

Update: Serkis has officially signed and McKellen is confirmed.  Full reports coming…

Jackson begins principal photography on the two-part adaptation in 3D next month in New Zealand for a release in December 2012 and December 2013.

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Six Facts You May Not Know About the Green Hornet

After decades in development, the big screen adaptation ofThe Green Hornetis finally opening this weekend, starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, and Cameron Diaz. Since our review of the film won’t be available until Friday, here are a few things you may not know about the masked hero and the movie’s arduous road to your local theater.

The Green Hornet is Related to the Lone Ranger

The Green Hornet character premiered on January 31, 1936 over the airwaves of Detroit radio station WXYZ, the same outlet that started broadcasting“The Lone Ranger” three years earlier. Though both featured masked heroes and helpful sidekicks (Tonto and Kato), this series was designed to feature one white-collar man taking down political corruption during the Great Depression.  Only in 1947, in an episode titled“Too Hot to Handle,” were the two heroes (both created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker) officially connected in the story.  The Lone Ranger (John Reid) was the uncle of newspaper tycoon Dan Reid, who was the father of Britt Reid, aka The Green Hornet.

In 1989, NOW Comics attempted to reconcile the different Hornets as a multi-generational persona and his ancestral link to the Lone Ranger. By its final issues, Paul Reid (Britt’s nephew) had assumed the identity alongside a fourth Kato.

George Clooney Was Originally Cast as the Green Hornet

Long before he won the Oscar and prior to his notorious turn as the nipple-fied Batman, George Clooney agreed to play the Green Hornet in Universal’s adaptation of the radio serial and comic books. The studio optioned the rights in 1992 and rebuffed open lobbying from Eddie Murphy for the part, instead naming Clooney of“ER” fame as the masked avenger. But Clooney soon bailed to makeThe PeacemakerandBatman& Robininstead and Universal attached Greg Kinnear, then a late night talk show host, along with martial artist Jason Scott Lee as his sidekick, Kato.

Michel Gondry Was Set to Direct Once Before

Michel Gondry, director of the incarnation hitting theaters this weekend, was already on board a Green Hornet movie once before. Then a French music video filmmaker, Gondry was hired in 1997 by Universal to make his feature film debut on the story, which he described as a quirky“futuristic fantasy” inspired bySuperman III. Gondry worked withRoboCopwriter Ed Neumeier on four drafts of the script over a year and a half. Mark Wahlberg was lined up for the lead— though Gondry wantedSwingersactor Vince Vaughn— and Jason Scott Lee stayed on as Kato from the Clooney/Kinnear days. But the studio balked at Gondry’s vision, which centered on a magical Asian crime lord that“ate human hearts” until he swallowed a pacemaker and was killed by a microwave.

When Gondry was mentioned to Sony for the Seth Rogen version, the studio said“never,” according to co-writer Evan Goldberg. But the director convinced executives with a“Kato-vision” fight sequence that he brought in to show he was capable of big-budget action.

Kevin Smith Wrote and Nearly Directed Green Hornet

Cult-favorite filmmaker Kevin Smith signed in 2004 to write and direct a Green Hornet. Miramax had acquired the rights for $3 million in 2001 after the property was put in turnaround at Universal.  Smith had an established relationship with Miramax co-founder Harvey Weinstein and was given the chance at the comics.  Smith’s version paired Britt Reid with a female Kato this time, and he discussed the lead with Jake Gyllenhaal. The project was later shelved, which Smith claims was because he“didn’t have the directing chops” to pull it off. His take on the character later became a Dynamite graphic novel series where Britt is killed off by The Black Hornet and Kato trains Britt Reid Jr. to take his place alongside Kato’s daughter, Mulan.

Stephen Chow Almost Directed and Played Kato

When Michel Gondry was brought on board (a second time), Hong Kong multi-hyphenate Stephen Chow had been removed as the project’s director because he wanted“too much control,” but still remained on board as Kato, Seth Rogen’s ass-kicking sidekick. Gondryrecountedheadaches trying to direct Chow on“why the character was special” and listening to his“ludicrous” ideas about the production.

One example was Chow’s desire to have Kato literally control Britt Reid. Rogen told theNY Times,“Stephen wanted Kato to implant a microchip in Britt’s brain and control him with a joystick.  Maybe they’re doing that in China, and I’m not aware of it. I don’t read the newspapers as much as I should.”

Taiwanese pop singer Jay Chou ultimately replaced Chow, though the studio was initially concerned about his fluency in English.  The producers later settled, saying the struggles with the language made him endearing.

Nicolas Cage is Crazy

Emerging from the turmoil over Stephen Chow’s departure was the news that hit-or-miss actor and comic book fanatic Nicolas Cage had beencast as the villain. The development came just in time to rescue a shaky production rocked by delays and pre-production problems, and as Cameron Diaz came aboard as the“love interest.” But, according to Gondry, he was unable to work with Cage who, for whatever reason, wanted to use a Jamaican accent as the gangster villain.  Cagedropped outroughly two months later, later telling the Canadian Press,“Seth Rogen and Michel had a different take on the character.”  He was immediately replaced by Christoph Waltz as shooting was already underway.

Sources:New York Times,The Playlist,Entertainment Weekly,NY Post, Screen Junkies

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First Look: Andrew Garfield in 'Spider-Man' Suit

Columbia Pictures has unveiled the first official image of a lean, battered Andrew Garfield partially suited up in Marc Webb’s untitled Spider-Man reboot. If you look closely, you’ll notice a slightly different material used on the suit, a newer, thinner Spidey logo, a scratch on his left cheek (presumably from the main villain, The Lizard), and bumps on his wrists that are probably Peter Parker’s homemade webslingers.

Marc Webb’s untitled 3D Spider-Man reboot is due out July 3, 2012.

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