Charles Bramesco
Everyone Remain Calm, James Wan Isn’t Leaving ‘Aquaman’
The rumors of James Wan’s production squabbles on the set of Aquaman have been greatly exaggerated. An item about the DC superhero film universe posted over the weekend on Birth.Movies.Death cited “multiple, reliable sources” as claiming that director James Wan has been having some misgivings about the process, and may depart the project entirely if the friction between him and studio brass doesn't clear up. Writer Devin Faraci’s exact words were “a tremendous amount of trepidation,” speculating that the Jason Momoa-led Aquaman needs Wan much more than he needs the movie, having already laid claim to Warner Bros.’ summer slate with The Conjuring 2 and Lights Out, the latter of which he produced.
Superman Only Has 43 Lines of Dialogue in ‘Batman vs. Superman’
The number 43 has held many different significances over the years. The newest significance of the number will surely eclipse any previous, however: heretofore, the number 43 shall be known as the exact number of lines of dialogue spoken by Henry Cavill‘s Superman in Batman vs...
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‘The Phantom Menace’ Star Jake Lloyd Admitted to Psychiatric Facility Following Arrest Last Year
Revisiting Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, it’s easy to hate li’l Annie Skywalker, the hero-to-be of the film. He says a lot of dumb stuff, mostly about sand, or angels, or whether or not this is podracing. (To clarify: it is, indeed, podracing...
‘Ninja Turtles 2’ Trailer: They’re Turtles, Whether You Like It or Not
It’s only been a few weeks since the most recent trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the sequel to the Michael Bay-produced TMNT picture of 2014, and though it also nicks the Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” for the soundtrack, there are a handful of key differences that distinguish one from the other. Specifically, that this latest spot is chockablock with soundbites that, when taken out of context, could be used by audio editors to form scathing critiques of this film. As the trailer timecounter ticks on, the negative review puns basically write themselves: “We‘re turtles, whether you like it or not.” “This isn’t working!” “We keep failing.” It’s almost like they’re challenging their harshest critics to do their worst.
Tracy Morgan May Star Opposite Ed Helms and Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Clapper’
It hasn’t been two years since the six-car collision that threw Tracy Morgan’s whole future into question, but the actor has already begun his comeback. He appeared in the Christmas comedy The Night Before back in the winter as the omniscient narrator, and will soon appear in the ensemble comedy Fist Fight with Charlie Day, Christina Hendricks, and Ice Cube...
Is This Rick Ross, Skrillex Track the Official ‘Suicide Squad’ Theme Song?
This past weekend, some brave soul with the wherewithal to actually attend a Skrillex DJ set at Atlantic City‘s Wav Nightclub shot a brief video of the celebrity EDM icon spinning an unreleased track featuring hip-hop heavyweight Rick Ross...
‘Batman vs. Superman’ Simultaneously Conquers, Flounders at Box Office
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Batman vs. Superman at the very least occupies an interesting space in the pop-cultural landscape: a polarizing film loathed by critics but fiercely defended by a cult fanbase while simultaneously achieving mainstream success, but now facing an unanticipated challenge...
Familiar Faces Return in New ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ TV Spot
Why do audiences turn out in droves for epically proportioned blockbusters every summer? Is it for the ten-stories-tall feeling of spectacle, that rush of pure cinematic thrill that every cinephile spends their whole life chasing? To escape the mundanities of everyday life and turn to a plane where all is entertaining, orderly, rational, and tightly edited...
Kevin James to Suit Up for Inspirational Football Movie ‘44’
A firm believer that it’s never too late to teach an old dog some new tricks, a 44-year-old Tennessee man named Joey Williams returned to college in 2003 to complete the degree he never finished. While enrolled at Jackson, Tennessee’s own Lambuth University, he decided to get the full collegiate experience by joining the football team as a lineman and playing alongside the young bucks — one of whom, in a stranger-than-fiction twist, just so happened to be Williams’ son. Fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing college ball that was once stymied by a busted knee in his senior year of high school, Williams provided NPR with an inspirational human-interest story for their segment “A Lineman At 44.”
In-Home Screening Room Draws Support From Major Filmmakers
Last week, we took note of a new business venture called Screening Room spearheaded by Napster founder Sean Parker. The proposed service would digitally stream the latest major-studio theatrical releases into the confines of private American homes for a hefty estimated fee of $50 on the same day as in-theater premieres, rendering a trip to the local cineplex less necessary than ever. Naturally, this radical new strategy would change the entire face of the industry, and has accordingly raised hackles on the production, distribution, and exhibition sides of Hollywood. As movie theaters struggle to stay relevant and profitable, Parker’s every press conference sounds like a death knell. And this weekend, both sides of this instantly contentious debate dug in their heels on their positions.
Would You Pay $50 to Watch ‘Batman vs. Superman’ at Home on Opening Night?
Leaving your house, driving to the nearest movie theater (or, if you want to find a film other than a wide-release studio picture, driving what could be very far away), dropping $13 on a ticket, spending $8 more on a soda and popcorn, watching fifteen minutes of commercials and trailers, and staring daggers at jagwagons using their cell phones in the theater is cool...
‘Suicide Squad 2’ Confirmed, Will Smith and Director David Ayer Set to Return
The expression ‘burying the lede’ refers to the practice of hiding key information deep in the body of an article while front-loading less pressing details. Variety did just that in a new report on an upcoming film called Bright (more on that in a moment), but allow us to go right ahead and exhume the lede they buried: the schedule for Bright has been contoured to free up star Will Smith and direc