Charles Bramesco
Now You See the ‘Now You See Me 2’ Trailer, Now You Don’t
Magicians: they’re no longer just people who remind of you of the good choices you made in life when seen at children’s birthday parties. Magicians are now “cool” and “sexy” and “played by Lizzy Caplan.” She’s taking the place of Isla Fisher, who was presumably busy keeping a brave face as she watched her husband of six years crawl into an elephant’s vagina, as one of two new key acquisitions for the fledgling franchise. As the newly released trailer embedded above indicates, she’s one of three newcomers, along with Chinese singer Jay Chou and actual boy wizard Daniel Radcliffe, showing a little range by portraying a character who cannot do magic, but does somehow have access to every single computer in the world, which is slightly more implausible.
Warner Bros. Jump-Starts ‘Cannonball Run’ Remake
The original film collected Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Farrah Fawcett, Jackie Chan, Jamie Farr, and Peter Fonda in a cameo role, which means this new Cannonball Run will be required to cast at least nine beloved famous people if they want to get this up and running. Truly, the Fast and Furious parallels could not be more glaring.
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.
Ken Adam, Production Designer Behind Bond and ‘Dr. Strangelove,’ Dies at 95
Sir Kenneth Adam, the celebrated production designer responsible for the iconic sets from the James Bond franchise, Dr. Strangelove, and a host of other fine films, has died. He passed away last night in his London home following a brief stay in the hospital. He was 95 year old.
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...
J.J. Abrams Dispels Fan Theory About Rey and Leia
Fan theories, a perplexing recent trend in which devotees of a work of fiction claim to unearth hidden truths about it through elaborate and often nonsensical analyses of minor peripheral details, are bigger than all of us. They serve no real purpose other than giving denizens of the internet something to occupy our time while we wait for the sweet release of death, and in some instances can even detract from actual criticism, but for the most part they’re harmless fun. In recent weeks, however, they’ve caused J.J. Abrams a bit of frustration.
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Documentary to Premiere at SXSW
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the sun around which a vast galaxy of tie-ins revolve. The latest installment of the Star Wars franchise is only a piece of a much larger system of products and supplemental material, from the endless rollout of merchandising (that somehow excludes the main character of the film) to the various tidbits of trivia dropped during interviews that fans have hungrily gobb
‘The Ring vs. The Grudge’ Trailer Is Terrifying, Presumably
It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like — the creepy, wet-haired girl from The Ring will do battle with the creepy, bowl-cut-haired boy from The Grudge.
Zack Snyder’s ‘Justice League’ Begins Shooting in April
Like single-cell organisms slowly complexifying and dragging themselves out of the primordial soup that was early Earth, details on the hotly-anticipated upcoming Justice League movie have begun to collect. Some specifics of the film were self-evidently obvious from the start — there will be a league, they will spread justice, the usual cast of characters including Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa) will appear — and some were revealed right out the gate, such as that the Justice League project will screen in two separate parts, both of which will be directed by Zack Snyder. Now, Warner Bros. has set progress on their hopeful Avengers competitor in motion. An exclusive over at Entertainment Weekly breathlessly relates that Justice League will commence principal photography on April 11.
‘Ghostbusters’ Toy Reveals What the Reboot’s Villain Will Look Like
There is a significant figurine for sale at the New York Toy Fair, currently in progress. The convention brings together toy and collectible enthusiasts from far and wide to gape in amazement at next season’s releases and peruse the wares of rows and rows of vendors...
‘Police Academy’ and ‘Punky Brewster’ Actor George Gaynes Dies at 98
Surrounded by family at his daughter’s home in North Bend, Washington, Gaynes died on Monday. He was 98 years old.
‘Pee-wee’s Big Holiday’ Trailer Promises Fun, Antics, Wordplay
There are few TV shows as purely, innocently, and energetically delightful as Pee-wee’s Playhouse, the Saturday morning vehicle for Paul Reubens’ grey-suited man-child. An adult perpetually trapped at the stage of early boyhood in which kids mostly say funny nonsensical things and that’s it, Pee-Wee and his colorful gang of anthropomorphic pals brought a hefty dose of camp humor to the happy shiny