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Could a Jonas Brother Become Captain America?
Just when you thought the whole Captain America situation couldn't get any stranger comes word of some pretty interesting people who may have also auditioned for a spot to play Marvel's next big superhero. Consider this a bizarre rumor for the time being, but the celeb site Hollywire claims (through their sources) that Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas have "read lines" and are "in contention for both Captain America and other characters in the film." Ahem…well, I'm sure there are people who think one of the Jonas brothers would be great in the role of Captain America, but hopefully neither of those people are reading this because I happen to think casting one of those guys in the lead role of a massive Marvel superhero movie would be like re-designing Spider-Man's...
This Week on DVD: 'Precious,' 'Up in the Air,' 'Capitalism: A Love Story,' More
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire One of the year's most critically acclaimed films and the one that won Mo'Nique a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, this is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a teenager in Harlem enduring insufferable abuse that leaves her twice pregnant by her own father, the mother of a Downs' Syndrome baby, infected with HIV and grasping at the chance to graduate from an alternative school. Mo'Nique stars as her mother in a gripping performance that will have you wondering how she could ever have played it for laughs in Soul Plane and Hair Show. Extras: Sidibe's terrific audition; audio commentary with the director, featurettes: "From Push to Precious" "A Precious Ensemble" "Oprah and...
Casting Corner: Keanu Reeves, Anna Faris, Chris Evans and More
Wanna keep up to date on all the latest casting news? Look no further than our new feature, Casting Corner, where we'll bring you all of the latest casting news and drop it off in one, easy-to-spot location. -- Another Bill and Ted movie for Keanu Reeves? Believe it: On the red carpet at the Oscars, MTV asked Reeves whether there'd be another Bill and Ted. He replied, "I'm trying, I'm trying." When pressed on whether he was joking, he said, "I'm not." Could you imagine Reeves reprising his dude-like character? I can't … not in a million years. -- Anna Faris and Chris Evans have signed up to star opposite one another in What's Your Number, a comedy about a woman who revisits all of her ex-boyfriends alongside her womanizing next door neighbor in...
Which Film Most Deserved to Win an Oscar, but Didn't?
We can probably go back and forth for hours when it comes to who deserved that Best Picture Oscar more, Avatar or The Hurt Locker, but when you get past the obvious frontrunners from last night's Academy Awards ceremony, there were a lot of films that should've totally taken home an Oscar but didn't. I mean, did The Hurt Locker really deserve six awards? Couldn't we have thrown another film or two a bone instead? While I personally feel that one of the films most deserving of an Oscar was Inglourious Basterds, we can't include it here because, technically, its actor Christoph Waltz won Best Supporting Actor. So, in theory, the film took home at least one Oscar … even if you and I both know it deserved more. What I'm interested in discussing is which film most deserved to win an...
Watch Your Favorite Oscars Acceptance Speeches All Over Again
Let's face it: The best part of the Oscars usually has something to do with all those great, unexpected, emotional acceptance speeches – and while the Academy attempted to cut down the "thank yous" on stage by asking nominees to stick more to what the award meant to them, most ignored the new rule and, as always, used that time to thank the people who helped them get to that stage. And aside from that weird Kanye "Imma let you finish" West moment during the acceptance speech for the Best Short Form Documentary (watch that here, and read about the aftermath here), the acceptance speeches last night were pretty tame, though highly emotional (lots of tears were flowing…but they were happy tears!). In case you missed any of the best ones, we've collected...
New 'Iron Man 2' Trailer Arrives Online!
Those upset that they stayed up way too late for a mediocre Oscars ceremony were rewarded with the premiere of a brand new Iron Man 2 trailer on Jimmy Kimmel's show last night, which was preceded by a guest appearance from Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr. The trailer itself is definitely a solid one, and it does its job by teasing you just enough that you're literally dying for more once it ends. And that's a good thing, because we don't want to know every big "money" shot way ahead of the May 7th release date – so here's hoping Paramount saves a few surprises for the theater. What we do get, though, is more of that race track scene with Whiplash and a very cool Iron Man automatic suit reveal at the end, as well as the first scenes with Sam...
The Oscars Backstage: Notes from the Press Room
Just so you get a better picture of the surroundings...The press room is housed in a grand ballroom adjacent to the Kodak Theater. Eight plasma screens surround the room, each hanging from the ceiling or adorning the podium. Speaking of the podium, it’s considered the Holy Grail; no one is allowed near it. Spot lights give it a magical glow with two larger than life Oscar statues as the backdrop. As talent enters and reaches the podium, we journalists quickly raise our assigned numbers so the moderator can instruct us on when to ask questions—I’m happy to say all reporters behaved. Our first victim was a blushing Ryan Bingham...no T-Bone insight; apparently he was feeling a bit ill. But the soft-spoken, young artist was overshadowed by Mo’Nique. The minute...
The Oscars Are Over! What Did You Think?
That's it! The Oscars are over! Now that the 82nd Academy Awards are over, it's time to spend days (weeks? months?) analyzing each and every second until, say, about this time next year? Whaddya think? There were some pretty big changes heading into this years Oscars ceremony, but in the end things didn't really feel all that different. Longer, yes. But different? Eh. You know it's a tame year when the biggest Oscar snubs come from the screenplay categories. Obviously The Hurt Locker was the big winner of the night (taking home Best Picture and Best Director Oscars, among many others), and, unfortunately, I feel like Inglourious Basterds was the biggest loser of the night (it's the one film that really did deserve to win more awards). What about the rest? Did the double host set up...
The Full List - Oscar Winners!
In case you missed it, here is the full list of Oscar winners from the show...for the full scoop, red carpet pics and lots more good stuff, check out our Awards Watch! Best Motion Picture of the Year Avatar The Blind Side District 9 An Education The Hurt Locker (WINNER) Inglourious Basterds Precious A Serious Man Up Up in the Air Achievement in Directing James Cameron, Avatar Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker (WINNER) Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds Lee Daniels, Precious Jason Reitman, Up in the Air Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart (WINNER) George Clooney, Up in the Air Colin Firth, A Single Man Morgan Freeman...
Upcoming 3D Movies: 'Green Lantern', 'Alien' Sequel & 'Sucker Punch'
As I've said previously on this here blog, James Cameron's Avatar has officially changed the way studios handle their big films from here on out … and, honestly, I'm not sure yet if it's for the better. Regardless of what folks like Cameron say about the right and wrong ways to use 3D (ie: films should be shot in 3D and not converted to 3D after the fact), studios like Warner Bros. are still plowing ahead – becoming one of the first to really embrace 3D and make it a part of a whole bunch of their upcoming films. We already know that Clash of the Titans and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be converted to 3D, but now we're learning that The Green Lantern and Zack Snyder's (300, Watchmen) Sucker Punch will also be converted to 3D. (Note that Green Lantern has...
Johnny Depp Wants Seven 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Movies?!
We already know Johnny Depp will be reprising the role of Captain Jack Sparrow for a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, but what about beyond that? Will Depp and Disney continue the franchise, or will the fourth installment turn out to be a final farewell to one of the most memorable movie characters from the past decade? Well, if you ask Johnny Depp himself, it seems he'd keep doing Pirates movies forever and ever. Speaking to Parade, Depp said this about future Pirates installments: "I can't wait to get back in costume. Some people will say, 'Aha, Depp sold out by doing the sequels.' But it was never an issue for me. I love Captain Jack so much I'd do Pirates 7 if they asked me." Seven Pirates movies? Geez, would we even want seven Pirates movies? If it means...
Oscar Predictions: Best Picture
Yes folks, the time has finally come to dole out our final predications before the 82nd Academy Awards ceremony arrives on our doorstep (well, actually, on our television sets) this Sunday night. Of course we've left off the biggest and baddest category for last; the one that separates the men from the boys, the films you simply must see right away from the ones you can maybe catch some day down the line when they show up on basic cable. Was the Academy's decision to extend the Best Picture category to 10 films the right idea? Will it help the Oscars nab their biggest ratings in years, or will it just turn out to be another failed experiment in television marketing? Whatever the case may be, there's no denying that these 10 films are some of the best 2009 had to offer. But which one...
Oscar Predictions: Best Actor and Best Actress
We're back again with another round of Oscar predictions; our last before we dive in and ask you the most important question of all: which film should win Best Picture. But before we get to that, we have to finish off our predictions for the Best Actor and Best Actress categories. Not as easy to predict as the supporting categories, but there are still some clear frontrunners and maybe an actor or actress who could totally play spoiler once the ceremony finally gets underway this Sunday night. Let's take a look at each category … Best Actor Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) George Clooney (Up in the Air) Colin Firth (A Single Man) Morgan Freeman (Invictus) Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) My Prediction: This is a category that's been all over the place for months now, with...
Exclusive Debut: The Final Poster for 'The Runaways'!
Rock and Rollers & K-Stew fans! Below is the exclusive debut of the final poster for The Runaways (opens in select cities March 19. everywhere April 9), featuring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning as rock and roll icons Joan Jett and Cherie Currie during their formative years in '70s rock band The Runaways. We've actually seen this image before as a previously released still, but, what the heck, it definitely holds up as a poster image of two young, tough and no-bull rocker girls. The film's already been well received at this year's Sundance Film Fest...what do you think? Game to see K-Stew flex her acting chops in a role that's pretty far removed from Twilight?
'Eclipse' Editor Removed? Are There Problems with the Film?
Only one week before the first trailer for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is set to debut in theaters in front of Robert Pattinson's Remember Me comes this bit of controversy from within the post-production offices. Apparently Summit Entertainment has replaced the original Eclipse editor, Art Jones, with Nancy Robinson, who edited the first Twilight film. So why the switch? Well, the studio isn't blaming Jones at all; what they're saying is that the film needed a "stronger edit" and, according to Summit, Robinson understands the "emotion of the characters and is an ace at balancing action with the other elements of the film." Previously, Jones had worked with Eclipse director David Slade on both Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night, and if you want my opinion I bet both guys...
Your Five: Favorite Best Picture Winners
For the first time in the history of this weekly column, I’m turning it around on you, the reader, and asking for your five favorite Best Picture Oscar winners (hence the title change from The Five to Your Five!). The Academy Awards date all the way back to 1927/1928 when the film Wings took home the first ever Best Picture award, and so, naturally, there are a lot of films to choose from. But which ones really, truly stand out for you? Let’s face it: not all of the Best Picture winners go on to become movies we can watch over and over again. I mean, more times than not the film that takes home that award is nowhere near the film that made the most money at the box office that year (though Avatar could prove to be the exception in 2010). Still, I’m sure most of these...
'Alice in Wonderland' Collector's Set Giveaway
We have another blog treat for all of you Alice in Wonderland fans out there. If you haven't seen our four new Fandango Bucks Limited Edition Alice in Wonderland Series yet, check 'em out below. They should make an excellent addition to any Alice in Wonderland fan collection, and they can be used for any movie available -- Alice or otherwise -- for ticketing on Fandango. The cards come in four designs - The Mad Hatter, Red Queen, White Queen and Alice, and can be sent via e-mail or mail. To celebrate the release of our cards, and the opening of Alice in Wonderland, we're giving away four full sets to four lucky winners. Each prize includes four $25 cards, for each of the four Alice in Wonderland collector cards - so, total, that's $100 in Fandango movie...
Fanboy Fix: 'The Avengers,' 'Captain America' and 'Indiana Jones 5'
Script Done for 'The Avengers?' It's not much, but we know you hardcore fanboys like updates on any and all forms of progress, so here's the latest: Yesterday, Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada tweeted the following: "Definition of 'goose bumps.' Pressing enter and watching a screenplay entitled "AVENGERS" come out of my printer." Hmmm, sounds to us like the first draft for that Avengers movie has finally been handed in. Zak Penn (who wrote The Incredible Hulk before Edward Norton hijacked it and re-wrote the script) is the one in charge of scripting Avengers, and though it's still way too early to start getting too excited, it's nice to know that train is moving at a steady pace. Are you excited for the Avengers movie? Official...
Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Film
Next up on our Oscar Predictions list is a little category called Best Animated Film. Now, over the past few years, it’s pretty much been a given that the winner of this category will be whatever film Pixar decided to shovel into theaters the previous year. But seeing as 2009 was quite possibly the best year of animation on record, Pixar could be facing some of its heftiest competition yet. Here’s how the nominees break down: Best Animated Feature Coraline Fantastic Mr. Fox The Princess and the Frog The Secret of Kells Up I know, I didn’t see The Secret of Kells either (though I heard it’s a really splendid little flick), and if it were up to me, the pretty fabulous Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballswould’ve also been nominated. Both...
Would You See a Film Called Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer?
Yes? Maybe? No? Well, what if I told you that Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted) were behind it … then would you watch it? Maybe you've already heard about this new trend, but it started in book form with Pride & Prejudice & Zombies – a novel that re-told the classic story, but with the added twist that zombies were hanging around at the same time. The weird popularity of that then spawned a series of new books, like Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and now Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer. On paper they sound (and read) sorta ridiculous, but when I heard that both Burton and Bekmambetov were teaming up on a feature film version that will no doubt look pretty creepily wicked, my mind soon sang a toon called Wow, Now That's Something I'm...
