UNIVERSAL DEVELOPS ‘THE ROCKFORD FILES’ FOR VINCE VAUGHN TO PLAY JAMES GARNER ROLE
Universal can call it “The Rockford Files,” but it won’t be “The Rockford Files.” Vince Vaughn’s a good guy, but “The Rockford Files” IS James Garner — not a concept, not a story, not a title.
This is also intended to be a feature film, which is even further outside the whole idea of the show. Rockford was never involved in the kinds of larger-than-life adventures required to sustain a feature film. Part of his appeal was the fact that the weekly happenings were grounded in reality.
This is sacred ground. Hollywood has no respect for anything.
MILA KUNIS AND ASHTON KUTCHER NOT TOGETHER, SAYS REP
Normally, I don’t care about the personal lives of celebs, but for some reason I’m relieved to learn this.
TUPAC COACHELLA ‘HOLOGRAM’ MAY GO ON TOUR
Think about where this could go if this ends up a success.
EDWARD NORTON LAUNCHES EARTH DAY CONTEST
If the contest isn’t about how many tires you can burn in your driveway in that 24-hour period, count me out.
JULIA ROBERTS APPLAUDED FOR HER ONGOING DEVOTION TO HINDUISM
I just entered my fourth year as a Roman Catholic. Where’s my applause?
Oh, yeah. This is what happens when you join one of those “approved” religions; you’re applauded for choosing to not leave it.
A LOOK AT THE NEXT POSSIBLE AMC DRAMA
What a run AMC has had. Mad Men, Walking Dead, The Killing, Breaking Bad…. Networks can go a couple of decades without a single show that hits that kind of creative level.
RALPH MACCHIO JOINS THE CAST OF THE MAKING OF ‘PSYCHO‘
Macchio is somewhere around 93 years-old and still looks like the Karate Kid.
MONDAY CABLE RATINGS: ‘PAWN STARS,’ ‘WWE RAW,’ ‘BASKETBALL WIVES,’ ‘AMERICAN PICKERS’ & MORE
“Daily Show” and “Colbert Report” landed at right around 3.2 million viewers. Phenoms.
‘NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH’ STILL ON FOX SCHEDULE AS TRAYVON MARTIN CASE MOVES AHEAD
As long as the studio isn’t exploiting the real-life case, the audience isn’t going to hold a comedy about a neighborhood watch group besieged by aliens against anyone. A few prisses in the media might squawk in a self-righteous fit of sanctimony, but everyone hates the media, so who cares what they think.
NEW ‘LONE RANGER’ IMAGES: TONTO & RANGER MEET NAVAJO LEADERS
Hey, that looks like Monument Valley, and Monument Valley is most certainly a part of the Navajo Nation.
Not that I care, but I am surprised that Johnny Depp is playing Tonto, a Navajo. Having a Caucasian play an Indian is supposed to be a no-no these days. Personally, as long as the portrayal is respectful, that’s all that should matter. Wikipedia says that Depp’s great-grandmother was “quite a bit Native American,” whatever that means — but maybe that’s enough to soothe the PC beast.
Anyway, seeing Monument Valley on the big screen again will be a real treat.
ALEC BALDWIN CONFIRMS HE’S STAYING ON ’30 ROCK’
At $300k an episode for a ridiculously low-rated show, the word “welfare” should be somewhere in that headline.
‘EXPENDABLES 2’ PHOTO: DON’T MESS WITH CHUCK NORRIS
Norris is 70 years-old. 70 must be the new 45.
Oh wait, I’m 46 and he looks much better than I do.
Maybe I should’ve bought that Total Gym while I had the chance.
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS’ STOLEN GUITARS RECOVERED
Just posting this follow-up to a story posted yesterday.
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There’s no question that the centerpiece of the film comes when Cruise’s IMF Agent Ethan Hunt ascends and descends the side of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world at a staggering 2,723-feet. Of course, on the Blu-ray disc special features, the stuntmen explain that a mere 50-foot drop would kill a person, so the extra digits don’t really account for much if Cruise’s safety wires had snapped. Luckily the stunt was a success, with Cruise pulling off the amazing feat of performing the climb himself.
“When we were first talking about it we imagined we were gonna do it mostly with special effects,” said Bird. “Tom was determined to do it on the actual building, and then it was just about getting cooperation from the people of Dubai. I don’t think there’s another actor in the world who’d be willing to do the kind of stuff that Tom did.”
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LAST NIGHT’S SCREENING
The Last Boy Scout (1991) — When Tony Scott’s urban actioner was released over the 1991 Christmas season, all the hype surrounded hotter-than-hot screenwriter Shane Black’s huge payday ($2 million range) and Bruce Willis’ desperate need for a hit after “Hudson Hawk” enjoyed a notorious flop the previous summer. Not to mention the three that came before: “Bonfire of the Vanities,” “Mortal Thoughts,” and “Billy Bathgate.”
Unfortunately for all involved, even in 1991, a $60 million take was considered a disappointment, but as if to prove Christmas was a stupid time to release an obvious summer flick, “The Last Boy Scout” somewhat redeemed itself by doing well on home video.
Last night, for the first time in probably a decade, I gave it a go and enjoyed every second. Especially when compared to today’s mostly lousy action films, it was refreshing to see a couple of down-on-their-luck guys team up to solve a murder, kill people, and blow things up.
Plenty of catch-phrases, good performances, and all that 80’s fog.
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COMING SOON TO HOME VIDEO
THE Walt Disney Studios TO Release MORE THAN 30 Iconic Films FOR THE FIRST TIME on Blu-ray in 2012: Beaches, While You Were Sleeping, Pocahontas, The Santa Clause, Dead Poets Society, Evita, Dick Tracy, Hocus Pocus, Adventures in Babysitting, The Color of Money, Grosse Pointe Blank, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, The Rescuers, High Fidelity, Ed Wood, Judge Dredd, Ghost of the Abyss 3D, Lady And The Tramp 2: Scamp’s Adventure, Pocahontas, The Tigger Movie, The Aristocats, Pete’s Dragon, Arachnophobia, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Son of Flubber, Cold Creek Manor, The Santa Clause Trilogy, The Absent-Minded Professor, Flubber, While You Were Sleeping, Sweet Home Alabama, Beaches, Babes in Toyland, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Brother Bear and Dick Tracy.
Black Cobra May 22nd 2012 from Lionsgate: Travel on an international diamond heist as Lionsgate debuts Black Cobra on DVD, Digital Download and On Demand. An action-packed flick based on the book When the Cobra Strikes by Sebati Edward Mafate, the film stars T.J. Storm (TV’s The Bold and the Beautiful), Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa (Planet of the Apes), Jeff Wolfe (Green Lantern), Michael Chinyamurindi (George of the Jungle) and Damian Poitier (HBO’s True Blood). The DVD premiere also includes deleted scenes, an alternate ending and plenty of outtakes.
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SCOTTDS’ EPIC LINKTACULAR
KLAVAN’S “LAST THING I REMEMBER” WINS IOWA AWARD
.I.P. PRODUCER MARTIN POLL (“LION IN WINTER,” “THE FUGITIVE KIND”)
6 MOVIES FRANCHISES THAT KEPT GOING LONG AFTER PEOPLE STOPPED CARING
HBO DEVELOPING NEW COMEDY SERIES FROM “GRAN TORINO” WRITER AND “RESCUE ME” CO-CREATOR
WHERE THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE GETS IT WRONG WITH “THE THREE STOOGES”
MICHAEL DOUGLAS TO RETURN TO THE BIG SCREEN IN “LAST VEGAS”
NEW BOND SET DETAILS MAY EXPLAIN WHAT “SKYFAL’L MEANS
THE LAST AL PACINO/CHRISTOPHER WALKEN PICTURE YOU’LL EVER NEED
BING CROSBY ON ACID? 10 FILMS PLUCKED FROM OBSCURITY
NEW TRAILER FOR “TRON: UPRISING” CARTOON IS ALREADY BETTER THAN “TRON: LEGACY”
JULIANNE MOORE MAY BE THE DOMINEERING, FUNDAMENTALIST MOM IN “CARRIE”
WHAT “THE ARTIST” CAN TEACH US ABOUT PRAYER
THE BEST ARGUMENT FOR KEEPING “FRINGE” ON THE AIR
6 STUPID GUN MYTHS EVERYONE BELIEVES BECAUSE OF MOVIES
THE 10 SCARIEST SCI-FI PRISONS FROM MOVIES AND TV
“MY TWO HUSBANDS WAS TURNIPS”: THOUGHTS ON FILM NOIR DIALOGUE
A LOOK BACK AT ALBERT FINNEY IN “THE PICASSO SUMMER”
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CLASSIC PICK FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17
2:15 PM EST: Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) — A beautiful woman takes over a turn-of-the-century baseball team. Dir: Busby Berkeley Cast: Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly. C-93 mins, TV-G, CC.
No classic, but VERY entertaining, Kelly and Sinatra have terrific chemistry, and Williams is so beautiful you’ll ache for her right along with the fellas.
There’s also quite a few song and dance numbers that hit the sweet spot.
I bet the kids will love this one. I know I did when I was a kid. One of my favorites.
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