FESTIVAL SEASON ANYONE?
The 65th Annual Venice Film Festival opens on August 27 with the world premiere of the Coen Brothers' follow-up to NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, last year's Oscar winner for Best Picture, BURN AFTER READING. The pic stars Coen regulars George Clooney and Frances McDormand as well as Coen newbiews, Brad Pitt and Tilda Swinton. Like the Cannes festival, the line-up is short on American fare due to the wrtier's strike that halted productions that would have ordinarily been ready for festival season. Other high profile Hollywood pics include Darren Aronofsky's THE WRESTLER (starring Mickey Rourke), Kathryn Bigelow's HURT LOCKER (an Iraq war film with Ralph Fiennes) and Jonathan Demme's RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, starring Anne Hathaway as a struggling addict who goes home after ten years. The latter two will go on to screen at the Toronto Film Festival days later and all four titles find themselves in competition for the Lion d'Or.
Source: Variety
WHITE KEYS BOND
It has already been reported that Alicia Keys had been tapped to sing the theme from the upcoming Bond feature, QUANTUM OF SOLACE. This week, more information about the song itself has surfaced. The song, entitled, "Another Way to Die", was written and produced by White Stripes frontman, Jack White. White also plays drums on the tune which happens to be the first Bond theme duet in the franchise history. The soundtrack will be available October 28 and the film itself hits theatres November 7.
Source: Billboard
THE MARTIAN IS LANDING
Warner Brothers has given the green light to a movie based on the popular Looney Tunes character, Marvin the Martian. The project, which will be specifically aimed at the prepubescent crowd, will be a mix of CGI and live action. Marvin will make his way to earth with the intention of destroying Christmas, only to find his plans foiled when he gets trapped in a wrapped present. There is no word yet on who will helm the project nor whether Bugs Bunny will be making a cameo.
Source: Variety
TIM AND JOHNNY DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE?
Last week, Tim Burton confirmed that he has cast his Alice in his upcoming mixed CGI/live action remake of ALICE IN WONDERLAND. The actress is young, Australian, Mia Wasikowska. She might now have her Madhatter. In what would be a seventh pairing between director and star, Johnny Depp is reumoured to be in talks to take on this iconoclastic character. Burton and Depp first worked together on EDWARD SCISSORHANDS in 1990.
Source: Internet Movie Database
WHATEVER, WOODY
Woody Allen's 40th feature, VICKI CHRISTINA BARCELONA, is about to hit theatres but news regarding his 41st feature, currently in post-production, is already starting to surface. As per usual, details are scarce but Allen has revealed the title to be WHATEVER WORKS. The story itself supposedly centers around a relationship between Larry David (61) and Evan Rachel Wood (21). Gotta hand it to Woody .. he never shies away from exploring his own demons.
Source: JoBlo