Sneak Peek at BREAKING BAD's Final Hoorah

March 6, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Television

While I’m sure no one is quite delighted to hear that their favorite AMC drama will only have a final run of eight episodes, we can all breathe that Breaking Bad didn’t outstay it’s welcome and eventually jump the shark. In only eight episodes, expect utter chaos to ensue and at least one coffin to be filled.

SPOILERS FOLLOW

Last time we saw Walter White, Jesse, Hank and the gang was at a cordial familial dinner at the White house, not to be confused with the White House. All was well and cheery. Walt had seemingly retired a rich man and his long estranged wife Skyler seemed to finally be a little cheery (or at least she wasn’t attempting to kill herself in front of her guests). But all these skippy-doo smiles come to an abrupt halt when Hank takes an inopportune bowel movement and discovers a decisive clue that WW is indeed the notorious methamphetamine kingpin, Heisenberg.

All that we know of what is to come thus far is that in the not too distant future, Walt will sit down by his lonesome in a little diner out of town for some bacon and a side of firearms in the parking lot to celebrate his 52nd birthday.

END SPOILERS

In this first look at the second installment of season 5, we don’t get any new footage but a chance to catch up with Brian Cranston, Aaron Paul, Bob Odenkirk and Dean Norris as they ensure us that this is a season that we don’t want to wait for re-runs of.

Check it out here:

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First Poster for HARRY….THE HANGOVER: PART 3

March 6, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Posters

The Hangover franchise may have banked quite a bit of cash for The Hangover: Part 2, $254.4 million following an epic $85.9 million opening weekend, but it didn’t leave a good taste in audience’s mouths and most have taken to slamming it for being an unimaginative do-over of the original. Well director Todd Phillips took this criticism to heart and has promised that the third and final installment, The Hangover: Part 3, won’t follow the blacked-out night followed by a hungover trail of clues formula. Instead, he’s suggested that it will involve the wolf pack breaking Alan out of a mental institution. Whether that’s how the chips will fall when the movie is finally released, we’ll see but the first marketing poster definitely suggests that they’re going a new route and are taking new inspiration.

This poster is clearly a tip of the hat to the poster art from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and I’m totally on-board the imitation bus. It worked tremendously with the marketing for The Muppets who spoofed Twilight, Paranormal Activity, Green Lantern and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. If the entirety of the Hangover media blitz follows suit and goes the mockery route, we could be in store for some good stuff.

Anyone unfamiliar with Zack Galifinikas‘ music video for Kayne West‘s ‘Cant Tell Me Nothing’ or his faux-cable-access talk show Between Two Ferns will be sure that the comedian actor isn’t unfamiliar with the art of mockery and should check them out here:

Zack Galifinikas’ version of Kayne West’s ‘Cant Tell Me Nothing’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2bCc0EGP6U

Zack Galifinikas interviewing Steve Carrell on Between Two Ferns

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Harrison Ford Joins ANCHORMAN 2

March 6, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Casting News

With all the hubbub surrounding casting news for Star Wars 7, a bit of unexpected casting news is sure to incite even more excitement from the mob of interneters- Harrison Ford has hopped onto the cast of Anchorman 2. Ford, who is now 70, will fill the alligator-skin-shoes of a “legendary newscaster” against original cast members Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner and Christina Applegate and will join franchise newcomers Kristen Wiig, James Marsden and John C Reilly.

While this news may not have broken today, I was hesitant to believe anything churning in the old rumor mill until I had more definitive proof. That proof is now here in the form of the first set picture.

While Ford is hardly known for his roles in full-blown comedies, he certainly has a knack for growly grumpsters and I’m hoping he gets a chance to riff along with the best of them. Anchorman 2 has a truly standup cast, employing the cream of the crop of comedy actors and if it can stand up to the weighty promise of the first installment, we will all be in store for another endlessly quotable, comedy classic. Thankfully, statistics are on our side as we know that adding new talent to an aging classic 60% of the time, it works every time.

To commemorate Ford’s addition, here are some of the finest Anchorman quotes for you to gnaw on.
_________________________________________________________________________________

“I would like to extend to you an invitation to the pants party.” — Brick Tamland

“Baxter, is that you? Baxter! Bark twice if you’re in Milwaukee.” — Ron Burgundy

“Milk was a bad choice.” — Ron Burgundy

“Guess what, I do. I know that one day Veronica and I are gonna to get married on top of a mountain, and there’s going to be flutes playing and trombones and flowers and garlands of fresh herbs. And we will dance till the sun rises. And then our children will form a family band. And we will tour the countryside and you won’t be invited.” -Ron Burgundy

“I’m in a glass case of emotion!” — Ron Burgundy

“I love lamp.” — Brick Tamland

“What? You pooped in the refrigerator? And you ate the whole wheel of cheese? How’d you do that? Heck, I’m not even mad; that’s amazing.” — Ron Burgundy

“Well, I could be wrong, but I believe, uh, diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.” – Ron Burgandy

“I love scotch. Scotchy scotch scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly.” – Ron Burgandy

“There were horses, and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident.” — Brick Tamland

“It’s called Sex Panther by Odeon. It’s illegal in nine countries… Yep, it’s made with bits of real panther, so you know it’s good.” – Brian Fantana

“I read somewhere their periods attract bears. Bears can smell the menstruation.” — Brick Tamland

“I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.” — Ron Burgundy

And finally…

“Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale’s vagina.” -Ron Burgandy
“No, there’s no way that’s correct.” -Veronica Corningstone
“I’m sorry, I was trying to impress you. I don’t know what it means. I’ll be honest, I don’t think anyone knows what it means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago.” -Ron Burgandy
“Doesn’t it mean Saint Diego?” -Veronica Corningstone
“No. No.” -Ron Burgandy
“No, that’s – that’s what it means. Really.” -Veronica Corningstone
“Agree to disagree.” -Ron Burgandy

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GAME OF THRONES Season 3 Looks Crazy Good

March 5, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Television

As a massive fan of everything to do with Game of Thrones, I really can’t anticipate the third season any more than I already do. My historical obsession with GoT started when the first season of the HBO series released and I fell in love with the story and the characters and after attempting to wait for the next season, was seduced into reading the books, which I tore through like a ravaging White Walker.

Having read all of the massively sized novels, the third book, A Storm of Swords, was my absolute favorite. HBO has made an executive decision that I can stand behind to split George R.R. Martin‘s third tome into two seasons. Since this literary installment is chock full of excitement, it’s certainly a good call that will enable the show runners to really flesh out the character and plot developments instead of charging through them.

The latest trailer features a first look at Mance Rayder, the king of beyond the wall, Beric Dondarrion and his flaming sword and Daenerys’ and new eunuch-laden army, The Unsullied, as well as series’ favorites Tyrion Lannister, Robb Stark, Brann Stark, Kaitlin Stark, John Snow, King Joffrey, Arya Stark, Jorah Mormont, Jaime Lanister, Brienne of Tarth and, naturally, dragons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBtkdje5OfY

Coming on the heels of this latest trailer is a bit of info churning around the rumor mill that season four of Game of Thrones has already received a green light. Charles Dance who plays Tywin Lannister, when talking to Den of Geek, had the following to say:

“We’re about to start season four aren’t we? This year. We get scripts pretty early on, much earlier on than in similar series, usually you get perhaps one episode and you just have to trust that what’s going to come in subsequent episodes is going to be as good as the one you’ve got, but in this I think there are six scripts already written, and we will probably be able to see them with more than adequate time to prepare before we start shooting.”

In my opinion, the sooner this is green lit the better, even if production gets shut down after season 4, which I’m still hoping beyond hope never actually happens, we need to at least see the entirety of a Storm of Swordsthrough.

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Han Solo and Boba Fett Films Now on The Star Wars Platter

February 6, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Announcements

Ok, I promise from here on out I won’t be exclusively reporting Star Wars news anymore but this one is just too big to pass up. As of yesterday, a Yoda spinoff was reportedly in the pipes but today’s news is much, much more important- a pair of spin-offs for fan favorites Han Solo and Boba Fett. [EW]

Any true fan of the Star Wars saga will list Han and Boba Fett amongst their favorite characters so the prospect of a spin-off for these guys is a good move to get butts in the seat but it’s also inherently risky.If they give Han Solo an origin story in the same vein as they did with Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker in the prequels, they’ll risk sacrificing both his and the original franchise’s coolness, dealing a damaging blow to the relative worth of the franchise. But if they manage to pull it off, you could have an entire stand alone series on the side.

With Disney coming out and confirming that these stand alone movies are a go just yesterday [RopeofSilicon], you can hold the salt and take these things with some real credence.

“There’s been speculation about some standalone films in development, and I can confirm to you today that in fact we are working on a few standalone films. [Lawrence] Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are both working on films, derived from great Star Wars characters that are not part of the overall saga. So we still plan to make Star Wars 7, 8 and 9 roughly over a six year period of time, starting 2015. But there are going to be a few other films released in that period of time, too.”

What we know so far about this proposed spin-offs is that they will take place between the original trilogies. Expect to see an even rogue-ier Han Solo swindling and smuggling his way across the galaxy, wracking up some debt with Jabba the Hutt, fighting off bounty hunters and probably even making that legendary Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. Casting advice: Ryan Gosling…the man’s a rogue.

As for Boba Fett, we can probably assume that his feature would focus on bounty hunting and wearing space suits and jetting Slave 1 across the galaxy. Considering that Boba Fett didn’t really ever say a word in the original series, they’re really gonna have to do more than let him run rampant in his iconic suit. Casting advice: Denzel Washington…because it would be awesome to see that mask come off and have Denzel Denzeling all over the place.

While I find the prospect of these spinoffs potentially promising, I’m gonna hold my breathe until we see a lot, a lot, a lot more information.

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Star Wars Rumor Du Jour: Yoda Standalone Movie

February 5, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Announcements

The Star Wars rumor mill is buzzing again, this time on Yoda focus it shall. Ain’t It Cool News has reported the scoop that the Dagobah dwelling halfling will be getting an origin story all of his own per the massive four billion dollar Disney buyout which gave them exclusive rights to anything and everything Star Wars.

WithJJ Abrams confirmed to direct Episode 7 of the new trilogy and a rumoredZack Synder Star Wars/Samurai mash up, this just goes to show that Disney is really throwing all that it’s got at their newly acquired property.

While I’d admit to being a little interested to see the roots of the lil green waddler, an entire movie with Yoda’s wacky syntax might just be a little much. Add that to the fact that Yoda would be a CGI lead character in a live action movie and the house of cards is already a little more than wobbly. However, if Disney worked a little magic and put this Yoda project under the capable hands of Pixar, we might have quite a prospect on our hands.

I’m just hoping Disney doesn’t follow Yoda’s philosophy of — “Try not. Do or not do, there is no try” — because I’d really rather see them actually try and not just do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ4yd2W50No

What do you think, would you rather see a Star Wars Origins: WolverYoda or see the franchise focus on some new unexplored characters? Or better yet, a featurette on a carbonite-encapsulated Han Solo all done in dream sequence. Hey, at least it’s not Roots 2: JJ Binks.

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Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Finds Superhero in Chris Pratt

February 5, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Casting News

You might know Chris Pratt from NBC’s hit comedy, Parks and Recreation, as shoe-shining extraordinaire slash undercover, and make believe, FBI agent Andy Dwyer but get ready to know him in a whole new capacity as he has snagged the lead role for Marvel‘s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Pratt will assume the role of Peter Quill, or Star-Lord, the leader of the Guardians. Since this feature is more focused on a team of heroes, a la Avengers, rather than a one-off character, a la Iron Man, except to see the cast fill out quite a bit.

The casting of Pratt, whose got a keen sense for comedy relief, seems to suggest that Marvel will try and go more the Tony Stark route with this intergalactic ensemble of superheros, a risky maneuver that seems likely to pay off.

Although Pratt’s no stranger to the big screen, this will definitely be his most forward and high profile Hollywood role. Up to this point Pratt’s expertise outside of the prime-time television realm seems to be having small roles in acclaimed films. He recently had a bit part in Zero Dark Thirty as a member of the Navy SEAL team and also played a resurrected ball player in last year’s Moneyball.

Directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy will be part of Marvel’s Phase Two and will deal with a group of space warriors who eventually are set to team up with the Avengers. Considering that one of the Guardian members is a gun wielding talking raccoon named Rocket Raccoon, you can see why this property is a tad on the risky side.

Seeing that Pratt has proved to be diverse in his roles, juggling comedy, drama and action, and has a built in fan base with men and women alike for Parks and Recs, his casting seems like a really smart move on Marvel’s part. What do you think? Can Chris Pratt be your hero…baby?

Paul Thomas Anderson to Fast Track INHERENT VICE with Joaquin Phoenix

January 31, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Casting News

Paul Thomas Anderson, or PTA, has long been known as a slow director. Like fellow auteurs Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson, he writes and directs his films so they’re usually long in the pipes and take a high level of meticulous planning. Frequent Anderson collaborator and producer JoAnne Sellar confirmed that PTA’s next film, Inherent Vice, however will begin filming as early as April.

I started reading the novel Inherent Vice nearly three years ago because I’d heard that it was next on PTA’s playlist with Robert Downey Jr. set to star. Instead of moving into production on that project though, he pursued The Master and released it to much critical acclaim but staggeringly low monetary result.

I myself was not a huge fan of the film per se but found the performances spot on and the cinematography excellent. However, I felt it allowed PTA too much of a chance to haphazardly riff in a stiff-upper lipped, pretentious manner, falling trap to what his films always skirt closely to but never fall victim to.

Review aside, it’s good to hear that PTA will be offering himself a chance at redemption sooner rather than later and will have heir apparent collaborator, Joaquin Phoenix, by his side again. Phoenix is a modern day method actor and certainly has a particular style. His animalistic approach and complete physical and emotional involvement in his role as Freddy in The Master is to be admired but I think he could be even better suited for a PTA film with a more straight-forward linear progression. As for who else will join the cast, you have to expect that some of PTA’s tried and true ensemble will be rushing back for more.

To get more details of what to expect from the movie, check out this brief synopsis from the Thomas Pychon novel–

“Part noir, part psychedelic romp, all Thomas Pynchon- private eye Doc Sportello surfaces, occasionally, out of a marijuana haze to watch the end of an era.”

I liked the tone of the book but the whole meta-noir feel kind of got away from me so I abandoned the book which thankfully leaves me more opportunity to be surprised and hopefully impressed by PTA’s effort.

There is no official release date for Inherent Vice.

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ENTOURAGE Confirmed for Movie Treatment

January 30, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Announcements

HBO‘s Entourage ended its small screen run back in 2011 with a cliffhanger of a series finale. There had been speculation from the get-go of a movie in the pipes but no immediate plans for a follow-up film. That all changed today though as Warner Brothers has given the movie adaptation of the popular television series a green light. [Deadline]

While Entourage never tried to present itself as challenging television, it gained fans for being a window into the Hollywood dream-scape. Characterized by the epitome of all that is cool- sex, drugs and rock n’ roll – Entourage essentially was every man’s dream-life– our mantasy. Entourage was for men what Sex and the City was for women. We wanted that life.

Unlike other shows that grab a movie deal over cancellation, Entourage went out on its own terms and the show-runners and cast had decided eight seasons was quite enough. Still, fans of the series will be happy to hear that Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Dillon and Jeremy Piven are all expected to return so Vince, E, Turtle, Drama and Ari Gold will all be back for more.

Series creator and director Doug Ellin will direct the film and also wrote the screenplay. Executive producers Mark Walkberg and Stephen Levinson will remain on for the film as well. While there’s no official confirmation of what the film is likely to be about expect it to pick up where it left off.

For those that don’t remember, Ari had just pledged his undying devotion to his life and had decided to sacrifice his illustrious career to run off with her and finally be the husband she deserved. Happy ending right? Well in the very closing moments, Ari gets a phone call offering him the position of a major studio head. What was does he go? No one knows. Expect the movie to at least tackle this while also trying to go a little more mainstream, familiarizing newcomers to the characters and their oft-kilter lifestyles.

All we can hope for now is Vince in James Cameron‘s Aquaman.

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EVIL DEAD Makes Cuts to Go from NC-17 to R-Rating

January 30, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Announcements

The notorious NC-17 is both alluring and repelling, the rating alone stands as a statement and a double-dog-dare. While some of our jaded generation may see a film just to see what exactly made it so explicit, most won’t even be able to see it because the bottom line is many theaters just won’t put it on the roster because of said rating. So the unfortunate fact of the matter is a NC-17 stamp kills a film’s chances at the box office. Since money talks, studios avoid that NC-17 like a plague.

This brings us to The Evil Dead which fell at my number five spot for my Most Anticipated Films of 2013. Even The Evil Dead trailer needed a Red-Band rating and the MPAA came down hard on the film, stamping it with the much condemning NC-17 rating. After this initial rating some necessary (to box office results) cuts were made to snag that R-rating for strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language.

This brings up an interesting point of debate: why is the Nc-17 rating unacceptable? If you look at it from a purist perspective, it really is a shame that all NC-17 films are cut down to that R-rating. This isn’t to say that I need to see any egregious violence or explicit porno in my movies but I want to see what the filmmaker intended me to see not a watered down MPAA approved cut.

The whole stigma around the rating is silly to say the least as there really should be something that’s a step above R. Argo and The Kings Speech for instance are ‘soft’ R ratings. The only reason they snag the R-rating is because of that terrible F-word. Aside from that, they’re perfectly suitable films for any age group.

Other movies like Cronenberg‘s Crash, Tarantino‘s Django Unchained or even Kick-Ass are ‘hard’ R. But they’ve got torrents of blood, excessive language or gaudy nudity. They are not films for children or even certain impressionable teenagers. So what’s with the lack of contrast between these R ratings? In 1969, Midnight Cowboy was given an X-rating because it was not easy material and yet managed to win Best Picture. It was a hard R and it made sense to be in a different class from the Argo‘s and King Speech‘s. Isn’t it more than a little silly that the MPAA doesn’t just make this distinction between ‘soft R’ and ‘hard R’ more clear with the NC-17 rating? Unfortunately, with the massive stigma surrounding the rating, don’t expect the problem to end anytime soon.

Tangent aside, expect Evil Dead to debut under the audience friendly and theater acceptable R-rating on April 12.

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