UPDATE: This film has been pushed back to February 19th, 2010.
Like Sergio Leone with westerns or Alfred Hitchcock with thrillers, Martin Scorsese has become synonymous with the crime genre. Such movies like Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed have easily become the most movies of the genre. However, it’s unfair to simply label Scorsese with crime movies when he has a proven track record of doing other things like dramas (The Aviator), documentaries (The Last Waltz) and historical epics (Gangs of New York). Easily his best non-crime movie would be Raging Bull, sometimes considered his best overall. I’m glad to see Scorsese change it up yet again, with a thriller called Shutter Island, his first thriller since the remake of Cape Fear in 1991. It actually even borders the horror genre, which would be a first for Scorsese. Shutter Island stars Leonardo DiCaprio making it the fourth time they’ve worked together (like DeNiro before), the others being, Gangs of New York, The Aviator and The Departed. Shutter Island was adapted from a book of the same name, written by Dennis Lehane in 2003. Lehane’s other work includes the adapted Gone Baby Gone and Mystic River as well as having been a writer for HBOs great “The Wire.”
Ashes, ashes, we all fall DOWN.
Set in 1954, DiCaprio plays Teddy Daniels, a U.S. marshal investigating the vanishing of a patient from a mental hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island, much like Alcatraz. Joining him is his partner, U.S. marshal Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo, Zodiac). They are looking for an escaped patient named Rachel Soldano (Emily Mortimer, Match Point), who just disappeared a mere 24 hours after they got there. Helping with the investigation is Dr. John Cawley, (Ben Kingsley, Sexy Beast) the hospital’s administrator and main physician. While searching for Rachel, they get suspicious of what Dr. Cawley is telling them and soon question his story. Before they can start a truthful investigation, the island is struck by a hurricane, which traps the marshals and a cell riot ensues. They now have to deal with their own sanity amongst the insane and find the real truth behind Shutter Island.
The movie will also co-star Michelle Williams (Synecdoche, New York), Max Von Sydow (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), Patricia Clarkson (Pieces of April), Elias Koteas (Shooter) and the Zodiac killer himself, John Carroll Lynch (Zodiac). Martin Scorsese (obviously) directs Shutter Island and works from the adapted screenplay written by Laeta Kalogridis (Pathfinder).
"The better to shoot inmates with, my dear."
This looks sweet and you can count on me seeing it. Scorsese is a legend and is still one the best directors going. I’ll probably enjoy this a little more than normal because it brings the horror element into it. Since his last movie, The Departed, was such a commercial success, I think this should do well having Scorsese’s name on it. Plus, the horror/thriller genre has always been popular with audiences. Lock me down, because I’m ready to visit Shutter Island.
This has been kind of rumored for a while, or at least hoped for by many, but it appears that the news is confirmed, Goodfellas Director Martin Scorsese will indeed helm a biopic on the legendary entertainer, Frank Sinatra. It has been reported in all the major dailies, though over at Living In Cinema, there seems to be dissension about the possibility with at least a little hope for what it might cover:
Scorsese already did The Stones (I still wish he’d do a proper biography…not sure there’s anything left to be told there, but still) so his take on Sinatra would be a welcome treat.
If it happens, I hope the movie covers the pre-Rat Pack Sinatra from his late ’40s decline to his ’50s resurgence with Capitol Records, including his turn as Maggio in From Here to Eternity, but that’s just me.
Obviously, most things Scorsese are considered appointment viewing (I did not see the RS doc), from my favorite aforementioned mob flick ever to his more recent The Departed remake, Marty does fans right. To wit, I was on Sunset Blvd. one day at an eatery when I saw a few guys imitating the Wayne’s World “we’re not worthy” bowing motion across the street. Who was standing there? Marty, of course. While I didn’t join the duo (tell me honestly, if you would), I do agree that he gets and deserves mad respect. Sinatra meanwhile, is one of few larger than life subjects that would make for a great biopic, though I believe it to be a difficult task. I guess if anyone can pull it off, Scorsese is the guy. Agree?
A lot of news to get to today, so let’s just dive in.
Chris Evans, aka Johnny Blaze, joins Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) and The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in a DC/Vertigo comic adaptation for The Losers. It’s about a special ops team betrayed by their superiors having to do what they do best and enact stealthy revenge. I like the cast. I’m getting flashbacks of playing “Rainbow 6″ on the PC back in the day. Could be cool. [Mania]
If you like yourself some Twilight, you can see the new photo of the famed Wolf Pack for the upcoming Twilight sequel, New Moon. [Twilight-Movie.org]
Angelina Jolie is on the verge of acquiring the rights to a series of Patricia Cornwell novels involving a character named Dr. Kay Scarpetta who’s a medical examiner that solves crimes. I accidentally wrote “crap” when I was writing “crimes.” Maybe subconsciously that’s what I think this “franchise” will be. [Ace Showbiz]
In more Twilight-related news, director David Slade is confirmed to be helming the third film in the franchise, Eclipse. Slade’s directorial debut in Hard Candy was great. I thought he’d do something better than this, but Alfonso Cuaron directy a Harry Potter film. It could be a great move for the franchise. [Twilight Lexicon]
“Empire” is at it again, releasing new set pics. This time it’s for the new Scorsese/DiCaprio collaboration, Shutter Island. It’s another one of our anticipated films of the year. Be sure to check it out. [Beyond Hollywood]
Another new set pic is revealed via [Film School Rejects] for the upcoming Matthew Vaughn adaptation of the graphic novel, “Kick-Ass.” This is one I’m pretty hyped about. Vaughn’s Layer Cake is pretty dope, and I like the concept for this one.
[Dread Central] has some news on Vanessa Hudgens gearing up to star in an update of Beauty and the Beast alongside Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser and Keri Russell in Beastly. The animated Disney film is the ultimate telling of the tale and Belle is the hottest Disney princess ever created. Agree or disagree?
Want to see the first pic of Mel Gibson’s return to acting? [Coming Soon] has the first set pic for Edge of Darkness.
Here’s your big rumor for the day: Remember how Steven Spielberg is going to direct the first Tintin film and Peter Jackson is going to direct the second in a trilogy? The third film was supposedly going to be co-directed, but now the name Edgar Wright is being bandied about. He says he doesn’t know anything about it, but Shia LeBeouf said the same thing about his role in the last Indiana Jones film until he was, of course, in it. [Rama's Screen]
Are you hyped for the new Pixar film, Up, like I am? We shared the first screengrab of the short that will show before it, Partly Cloudy,last week. Now, thanks to [Cartoon Brew] we have a bit of a description of the short and a couple other images. One more month, baby!
Finally, Director Henry Selick (Coraline) foresees film advancing past 3-D and into “holograms.” One of my friends and I have always discussed this possibility, but for now the industry will almost certainly stay focused on 3-D. After all, Hollywood still hasn’t embraced Maxivision. [Thompson on Hollywood]
…as French New Wave cinema (that’s 50′s and 60′s, kids).
These four-minute clips are actually advertisements for Stella Artois (the adult beverage), but that isn’t revealed at all until the end with a title of their website.
The two reimagined films are Curtis Hanson’s 8 Mile (as 8 Kilometres) and Die Hard: With a Vengeance (as Dial Hard), which was directed by John McTiernan. 8 Kilometres features two guys a in a beatnik type club sitting across from each other and lightly insulting the other. It’s mainly a recreation of the final battle from 8 Mile, although I assure you, not nearly as impressive. Dial Hard, you might imagine takes place between Jean Meglain and an antagonist, Simone, over the course of a few telephone conversations. Simone rattles off a couple of riddles, much like The Riddler would.
In truth, these clips are a bit more underwhelming than I was hoping for. However, it is fun to see some familiar scenes transposed to another time and era. Here they are, and thanks to [Cinematical] for the heads-up.
What did you think? Out of this whole film-as-ad genre (you might remember the Roman Polanski-directed Michelle Williams/Natalie Portman catfight video from a couple of months ago), I think my favorite right now is the Martin Scorsese-directed Alfred Hitchcock homage, The Key to Reserva, for it’s pitch-perfect direction. It’s from a year or two ago, but I think still the best. Check it out, below:
