Bernie Mac

BERNIE MAC 1957 - 2008

The Surrogates Filming In Boston

Story is set in the near future, where humans live in isolation and interact vicariously through surrogate robots who are better-looking versions of themselves. Willis plays a cop who, through his surrogate, investigates the murders of others’ surrogates. The cop is forced to venture from his own home for the first time in years and unravels a conspiracy.

Sound good? Does to me. Just received a notice that they will be filming in and around my home town, see below. I might have to go check it out and see if I can catch a chat with Bruce Willis or Ving Rhames.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/IronGiant29/Surrogates.jpg

"The Long Way Out" For Zach Stone

Zach's got my vote. Good luck bud.

Teen filmmaker Zach Stone wants to go to Hollywood and he’s asking everyone in Beverly to send him there — just vote for a film he helped make and if it wins the competition, Stone’s off to the left coast. The 14-year-old incoming Beverly High freshman was one of 11 local teens Fresh Films chose to make a short action film in just one-week in Boston this summer. View the Film “The Long Way Out”, made by a crew of Boston area teen filmmakers, including 14-year-old Zach Stone of Beverly, at the Fresh Films Website:http://www.fresh-films.com/

From Aug. 7 to 13, vote on-line for the best Action Hero film. Or text “BOSTON” to 95615.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/beverly/fun/entertainment/arts/x1262918930/From-Beverly-Mass-to-Beverly-Hills

Chicago Overcoat

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Charles at a barbeque. Chris Charles works for Beverly Ridge Pictures and served as an assistant director and was in charge of casting for their new film, "Chicago Overcoat". I was treated to an exclusive trailer that really blew me away, I am definately looking forward to seeing this movie which features some big players, Frank Vincent and Armand Assante. See synopsis below.


Frank Vincent As LOU MARAZANO

Chicago Overcoat is a chilling look into the remains of the most powerful organized crime syndicate in the second half of the twentieth century. They were known as "The Outfit" and controlled the city of Chicago.

Lou Marazano, the Outfit's most deadly hit man is getting old. He gave up doing hits years ago and struggles to maintain a shylock business with the occasional card game. A life filled with regret and nothing to show for it. Lou is reminiscent of Al Pacino's portrayal of aging gangster Lefty Ruggiero in Donnie Brasco. A month before the Outfit's top boss goes on trial, Joe Barbone, a corrupt union representative is arrested for income tax fraud. The boss orders him to be silenced before the government can unfold an intricate scheme to siphon money through labor unions, involving millions of dollars in expressway construction contracts with the city. The scandal involves the Outfit's top bosses, city officials and police officers, all of whom the Outfit bosses are convinced would turn witness to avoid charges of their own. When Lou finds out about the contract he sees an opportunity to finance his retirement and decides it's time to reprise his role as the mob's top hitter.

On the other side of the law, homicide detective Ralph Maloney scrapes by on an honest cop's salary. Maloney has been working homicide for years; he's seen corrupt police and judges sweep plenty of mob hits under the carpet. Maloney isn't the type to rat but has always been too honest to climb the ladder of success in the Chicago Police Department. In the 80s he had a suspicion that a series of gangland slayings were connected. All of the victim's widows had received flowers from their husbands in the days before they died. Some at work, others at home, the flowers were all anonymously ordered and paid for at different flower shops all over the city. Working on his last year before retirement Maloney gets called to a bloody crime scene outside a downtown bar. When Maloney discovers that Joe Barbone's car was found abandoned outside the bar he decides to pay a visit to the Barbone residence. Inside he finds a fresh bouquet of flowers that was sent to Mrs. Barbone days earlier. Maloney remembers the connection to the killer from the 1980s and sets out to find his old nemesis before he retires. When Maloney proposes a connection to the approaching mafia trials, he finds that his old partner, now the residing Police Commissioner, wants to sweep the whole thing under the carpet. Fueled by his desire to catch "The Flowerman", Maloney digs deeper into Barbone's connection with the Outfit.

Soon enough Lou realizes that Lorenzo, the acting street boss who wants to make his promotion permanent, is working against him. With Maloney nipping at his heels Lou must perform his second hit: a high profile Alderman. When the Alderman turns up dead, Maloney suspects Lou will be nearby. He puts out an APB and Lou is picked up in the area. Little does Lou know that Maloney has a witness, a kid that Lou paid to have a bouquet of flowers sent to the Barbone residence. The kid, understanding the code of the street does not identify Lou. Although Maloney can't prove anything he is sure that Lou is the hitman and determined to lock him up. When Lorenzo finds out that Lou has been questioned in connection with the hits he decides to revoke Lou's Outfit membership. With one last hit to perform, a mob contract out on his head, and a relentless detective investigating him, Lou must prove he is worthy being the Outfit's most deadly hit man. A title he held over twenty years ago.

http://www.beverlyridgepictures.com/

http://www.beverlyridgepictures.com/chicago_overcoat/

http://www.myspace.com/chicagoovercoatthemovie

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-Overcoat/15334222146

"Simply" To Be Screened In Boston

This sounds like an amazing film, I'll be sure to attend the screening and pass on a review.

An Iranian film 'Simply' directed by Reza Mirkarimi will be screened in the 24th Boston Film Festival from November 14-30 in Boston, US.The films will also be screened in Hamburg, Bulgaria, Yari (Sweden) and Antalya (Turkey) film festivals.The film already won the 'White Elephant Award' by Russian critics in the Moscow International Film Festival.The film 'Simply', a joint production of Mirkarimi and Iran's Cinema Development Organization, was warmly received by the audience and critics in the festival.The film depicts a day in the life of a woman from a middle class family.The film won the Best Film and Best Screenplay Awards and Hengameh Qaziani received the Best Actress award in February 2008 at Iran's Fajr International Film Festival. --IRNA

http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=600010

David Hayter Lands On Lost Planet

Looks like David Hayter is working with WB, but it isn't a Superman sequel. David Hayter has been commisioned to pen "Lost Planet" for WB. Looks like this will take him out of the running for Superman: Man of Steel, if he was even in the running in the first place.

Warner Bros. and Capcom are traveling to "Lost Planet." The studio will distribute a pic based on the hit vidgame that will be co-financed by the Japanese publisher. David Hayter, who is coming off the Zack Snyder-directed WB pic "Watchmen," will pen the screenplay. Project is set to be announced today at the E3 videogame confab held in downtown L.A. Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul will produce through Seaside Entertainment, the shingle they formed to produce fantasy fare.

Scream...Again?

I really enjoyed Scream, but the sequels left something to be desired in my opinon. That being said, the Weinsteins feel that the franchise still has some "Screams" yet to be belted out.

CBS-owned Showtime already had an output deal with Weinstein imprint Dimension Films, which forms part of the new exclusive agreement. Other releases from TWC that will be in the deal include All Good Things, a modern remake of Seventh Samurai, The Alchemist and Panic. Dimension films in the deal mix include a remake of Scanners and Scream 4, the latest in that slasher-film series.

Sydney Pollack

Sydney Pollack 1934-2008

John Williams Scoring Superman Sequel.

I was talking to one of my friends last week who happens to be a writer from a movie website. We were discussing the Superman Returns sequel and passing info back and forth, and it came up that I had some info that John Williams is in line to score a Superman Returns sequel. Low and behold, around the same time a poster on http://www.superherohype.com/ also was talking about Williams being in line for the sequel.

http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=14751545&postcount=110

Now the Boston Globe is reporting that Williams is indeed going to be the next composer for Man of Steel. See below.

Ready for a new round of Indy music? Film composer John Williams will be in town this week to reunite with his old friends the Boston Pops, and he'll be premiering selections from his soundtrack to the new "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which opens in

Williams is laureate conductor of the Pops and a longtime collaborator with Steven Spielberg, director of the "Indiana Jones" series. He will conduct Film Night performances at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. On tap is memorable movie music including Williams's work from the "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" series. Actress Lynn Redgrave will join in each night to narrate what's being called the "Harry Potter Grande Suite."

The program will include a tribute to David Lean, the visionary director behind "Doctor Zhivago," "Lawrence of Arabia," and "Oliver Twist." Film clips will be featured along with music.
The Pops' Film Nights events are typically evenings of good fun. Two years ago, when Williams led a similar event, "a roar of welcome from a sold-out Symphony Hall" greeted him when he took the stage, wrote Globe reviewer Richard Dyer. "Thirty years on, the special effects in the early 'Star Wars' films are beginning to look a little cheesy, but the music is still stirring," Dyer wrote.

Williams, now 76, was conductor of the Pops from 1980 to 1993. According to industry reports, he remains a busy man, with soundtracks for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," "Jurassic Park IV," and "Superman: Man of Steel" all scheduled for his touch.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2008/05/17/the_music_indy_runs_on/

Iron Man Review

Iron Man has dropped and its eye popping action sequences are exciting fans, here is a review from Hunter Rider of Superherohype.com.

Just got back, I absolutely loved it, Ive got no complaints, RDJ for me gives the best lead performance in any comic book movie, his charisma and deft ability to shift from defiant to cocky to sincere and passionate is fantastic to watch and makes you care about Stark all the way.Paltrow was charming and sexy as Pepper and gave Tony that human link to himself, Jeff Bridges was all presence and menace as Stane, simply brilliant! For me the movie struck a great balance, the story was interesting and followed itself through in a smart and logical path while developing Stark and showcasing the creation of the armour and tech he uses. The humour worked in all the right places and never felt like it was shoved down my throat like in some other movies. It was also balanced well with some warm moments and some dramatic ones. The scenes between Stark and Yinsen were particularly well played, adding some real heft to the film.

The action and effects were awesome, great sequences shot with plenty of verve and money shots, in fact there were a lot of tremendous "money" shots that didn't even involve action. I also liked that the action and suit time didn't crowd out Stark, Pepper and Stane, it felt to me like they did a great job of spacing the action out into healthy doses. Terence Howard is a bit underused but it's clear he will expand his role in a sequel and there simply wasn't room to use him anymore than he was in this one.

The summer movie season is off to a great start. 9/10

Mike Dougherty Is Calling All Robots

Mike Dougherty is going to be busy the next couple years, I for one am happy for him. This project sounds pretty exciting if you ask me, and as for Mike, "Heck, I'm a fan."

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=5377

Call this "sci-fi." Call this "action." Call it unworthy of Shock coverage. But we're...

a.) Big fans of Mike Dougherty (Trick 'r Treat, Superman Returns).

b.) Fans of the creators involved in this project.

c.) Anyone who cites their movie is inspired by "Godzilla" flicks wins instant kudos in our bloody

book.

Dougherty is going to direct the animated feature Calling All Robots for Walt Disney Pictures and Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers. He's co-scripting with Breehn Burns and Simeon Wilkins. Furthermore, because of the scope of the project, he's using the same performance capture Zemeckis used on Beowulf."I grew up watching Godzilla movies. This film is very much rooted in those movies," Dougherty tells Variety. The plot is being kept secret at this time.We hoped that, with this news, will come a break in release date info for Warner Bros. Trick 'r Treat. Alas, Variety offered nothing new other than it was pushed from last October's slot to avoid competing with the slasher fare opening that month.

http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=20354

Disney is giving another shot at the whole "performance capture" style of computer animation with a new flick called CALLING ALL ROBOTS. The project comes from X2 and SUPERMAN RETURNS co-writer Mike Dougherty, who's teaming with Robert Zemeckis' company ImageMovers for the flick. Details on the story are scarce, but it's a sci-fi adventure that Dougherty (who hails from an animation background) cryptically describes as a "throwback to old Godzilla movies." Don't be too surprised if it's available in three dimensions as well.Zemeckis' company was also responsible for BEOWULF and POLAR EXPRESS, and is currently working on A CHRISTMAS CAROL with digitized Jim Carrey. Meanwhile, Dougherty's directing debut TRICK r TREAT was curiously not released last Halloween.

Extra Tidbit: One of the reasons the human characters in BEOWULF look so spooky and lifeless: nobody really blinks.

Jeepers Creepers...Another Sequel?

Blood Disgusting is reporting that a third Jeepers Creepers is in the works...I didn't even know there was a second one.

Phillips breaks the new exclusively to Bloody-Disgusting that she is in facts in talks to play a role in Victor Salva's third film. "I will say that, I can’t talk about it, but I can say we are in talks, she explains. "There is a script and there is work being done on it. Here’s the thing, I also produce films, when I have my producer hat on …that’s my job, and when I have my actor hat on, then that’s my job, I try not to intervene unless you have a director who wants your opinion. The great thing about Victor is that he is very collaborative. He not only wanted my input, he almost demanded it, It was always like what do you think what do you think. I trust him and I think he is a very talented writer. If things are to come together, and he wants my input… I have a lot to say!"

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/11630

Don't Move Creep...Robocop Reboot?

Moviehole is reporting on news from AICN that MGM is tossing around the idea of rebooting the Robocop franchise. I have to agree with Clint here, not only am I tired of all of the reboots, I am even more tired of bad reboots.

AintItCoolNews pointed out a press release from MGM that lists a new "RoboCop" movie alongside upcoming franchise films already in development like "Quantum of Solace," "The Thomas Crown Affair 2" (with "RoboCop" director Paul Verhoeven on board) and for some reason, "The Pink Panther 2" and 3. Unfortunately, it looks like MGM would rather reboot the "Robocop" franchise rather than give us an easily forgettable sequel. Great - I'm sure this new remake will totally miss the point with the shocking violence, sick humor and sharp satire of the original.

While we're at it, maybe we can put some bling and spinning rims on Robocop as he chases generic hoodlums all around Detroit.The thing is, the original couldn't get any darker or more relevant - it still holds up and is an amazing piece of societal satire. Why would someone want to ruin that and tarnish the name of "Robocop" for good?

http://www.moviehole.net/news/20080317_is_robocop_back_on_duty_1.html

JL(M) Is A Go For 2009

According to the juggernaut that is Variety "Justice League Mortal", which is the rumored new title, is fast tracked to drop in 2009. This is a almost a complete 180 to recent news floating around the internet the last couple days speculating that JLM might be pushed back to 2010 and moved to Canada. Even George Miller, the JLM director, called the movie's status "precarious". Exerpts from the Variety article below:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981504.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Now that the writers strike has been resolved, Warner Bros. is pushing ahead with its plans to make "Justice League" in time for a 2009 debut. Warners tried to get "Justice League" into production earlier, but put it on indefinite hold in January, allowing the cast options to expire. At the time, the studio said it didn't want to move ahead until the scribes had another shot at the script.

Scribes Kieran and Michele Mulroney are busy polishing up the script, which is expected back at the studio in several weeks, and the cast has been advised to keep training for their superhero roles. Director George Miller is in pre-production in Australia.

Now from all reports Adam Brody is playing The Flash, Common is playing Green Lantern, Megan Gale has won the role of Wonder Woman, and Arnie Hammer may or may not be playing Batman. What about Superman? As of now the actor who is supposed to strap on the cape as Superman seems to be shrouded in mystery. DJ Controna and Scott Porter seem to be the front runners to pull on the tights but I can already hear the Welling Rumors being whispered in my ear again.

What does this mean for Man of Steel, the sequel to Superman Returns? I assumed this might mean that a sequel to Superman Returns is completely dead. From what I am hearing that might not be so. There are now rumblings that Man of Steel may have finally found their writer(s). Interesting.

Cloverfield Review

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Cloverfield - or how I wasted an hour and a half of my life

By Brad L.

I'll be upfront with you. No mincing words in this blog. I didn't like Cloverfield. It was overhyped and underwhelming. And this is coming from someone who didn't even follow the hype. I saw that teaser in front of Transformers and I was instantly hooked. Too bad the movie couldn't live up to that short teaser.So let's get this bad boy under way.

The Plot:

Rob Hawkins is moving to Japan. His brother and a bunch of his friends throw him a going away party. He's in love with this girl Beth but is acting all non-chalant since he's leaving anyway and despite the fact that she loves him too, but God knows why. A monster attacks New York and madness ensues. People die. Jokes are told at inopportune times (for the characters but opportune times for the audience). Let's get this straight. THERE IS NOTHING REVOLUTIONARY ABOUT THIS MOVIE. It's Godzilla meets The Blair Witch Project. It's the Godzilla Witch Project. Period. Full Stop.

The Good:

1. The movie was meant to look like it was shot on a camcorder and Matt Reeves was successful in this. I applaud the filmmakers for taking so many long single takes and the actors for managing to get it right. It all looks very cohesive.

2. The special effects are top notch. From the destruction to the monster itself, all the effects are well integrated into the final product. It definitely does a good job of making you feel like you are in the middle of an actual monster invasion. Very visceral.

3. Hud. Get it? The guy behind the camera is named Hud. You know, like your Heads Up Display in a first person shooter. How clever. Seriously though. The guy is funny and his comic relief is much needed and appreciated.

The Bad:

1. The actors. Besides Hud and Marlena, everyone was superficial. It did not cease to amaze me that the crappiest of the actors was also the lead role. Bad decision making.

2. The characters. Not only were the actors bad but the characters were written poorly. I never got a chance to actually develop any feelings towards Rob and Beth nor cared if they ended up together. And sure, Beth might have been easy on the eyes but she was not established enough that I would believe someone as weak willed as Rob would actually grow balls and traverse a monster infested Manhattan for her. And I think there were other characters too but they were equally forgettable.

3. No resolution. First of all, I don't want to hear that it was so gutsy for the filmmakers to leave the movie so open ended, not explaining anything about the monster and having the main characters die. It's not cool or "indie" of them. It's been done many times over in film history. Just look to Romero's original Night of the Living Dead and you'll see no explanations for the zombies or where they came from. And the major characters die. The difference? Night of the Living Dead actually has a resolution, even if it is cynical. Cloverfield does not.

Overall, the movie feels cheap. It feels like a cheap thrill. It feels like the camcorder look was used to avoid having to light the project well and worry about cinematography. The ending felt like a cheap cop out and a way to get audiences hooked into a possible sequel. It felt like the writers Googled "monster movie" and just copied and pasted clichés and plot threads. The characters were poorly developed and on top of that, the actors did a piss-poor job portraying them.

What a waste, really.The filmmakers said that their inspiration for the teaser trailer and resulting hype was Close Encounters of the Third Kind. That trailer teased you with the different kinds of Encounters but really gave you nothing of the movie itself. It put audiences into a frenzy with excitement for the project. Spielberg knew this and actually made a satisfying film. Matt Reeves certainly captured the teaser correctly. He should have taken another page out of Spielberg's book and created a film to match expectation.

Moviehole talked to ''Sweeney Todd'''s Timothy Spall who confirmed he'll be back as Peter Pettigrew in another ''Harry Potter''.

“Well I'm actually.... yes... I'm in the next one”, reveals the British actor. ''And I'm also in the one at the end – I have a very big scene in that. I think they might be shooting two of them back-to-back – hard to know though, what with this writer's strike and all. They're shooting the penultimate one at the moment – which I have a brief appearance in it. I should be doing that soon.''

Spall appeared as Peter Pettigrew in ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' and ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban''.

http://www.moviehole.net/news/20080118_spall_talks_his_harry_potter_f_1.html

The Cloverfield Monster Revealed!

Cloverfield is dropping this coming Friday and I am extremely excited for this film. I think they did a fantastic job with the marketing campaign especially in regards to keeping the look of the monster a mystery...up until now.

Hollywood Kryptonite Foils Man of Steel?

The build up toward Superman Returns was a fantastic experience for me. I was found myself scouring the internet for news throughout casting, pre-production, production, and I am still discussing this movie on forums across the internet even now. Fortunately, I was able to get close to some of the people involved in production of Superman Returns on both sides of the fence along with others in the industry who had first hand knowledge of production. Naturally said industry insiders were also able to give me some information on a possible sequel, which now seems to be in jeopardy. Below is a message I received on August 26th of 2007 from a internet message board I frequent. I have blocked out some of the message as well as the identity of the poster in order to protect their identity.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/IronGiant29/ManofSteel.jpg

The next day Film Ick ran the same story which you read if you click the link below. Either Film Ick had the same source on this one, or they ran with my story.

http://www.filmick.co.uk/2007/08/whats-gonna-come-of-man-of-steel.html

What really surprised me looking back at the message, is the information on Tom Welling and JLA. The source introduces the idea of Welling being cast in JLA after season 8 is completed. Obviously the strike has changed things and Welling might be free to sign on sooner than that. We'll all find out where this project is going by tomorrow.

Fade In

Many of you know me and some of you don't, so here is your opportunity. I have decided to share my thoughts and insights with you whether you like it or not. I will be discussing the film and television industry and I hope to provide you with news and notes on my upcoming projects as well as insight concerning the entire entertainment industry. I hope to sprinkle in some entertainment and top it off with some of my acquired knowledge as a screenwriter.