Just read some casting news today on Variety.com that caught my attention.
Why?
Well....it concerns funny, smart, handsome and talented Ryan Reynolds (most recently seen charming the nastiness out of Sandra Bullock in The Proposal).
Did I mention handsome?
Oh yeah, I did. Hmmm....guess you can see for yourself up above.
Ryan Reynolds has landed the coveted role of “Green Lantern,” getting the starring role in Warner Bros.' live-action film based on the DC Comics hero.
Martin Campbell will direct. The studio is still working on the picture’s budget, but production is expected to begin in January.
The news caps off a memorable summer for Reynolds, who played Deadpool in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” a performance that prompted Fox to begin development on a spinoff film. Reynolds followed that by starring opposite Sandra Bullock in the romantic comedy “The Proposal,” which crossed the $100 million mark this week.
Warners and Campbell chose Reynolds, who vied for the superhero role along with “The Hangover” star Bradley Cooper and Jared Leto. The momentum built for Reynolds in the last week, as he was the only actor whose option was extended.
The Variety article goes on to report that Ryan will next star in Buried, a dark indie drama that will begin filming shortly in Barcelona.
Coincidentally, Vicky Christina Barcelona is the title of the Oscar-winning flick that Ryan's lovely new wife Scarlett Johansson made for Woody Allen there last year.
If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth a rental for Javier Bardem's steamy performance alone. Yeah, yeah...Scarlett and Penelope Cruz are OK too.
Whatever.
So it seems that Buried has Reynolds portraying a civilian contractor who is kidnapped in Iraq and awakes in a coffin, struggling against time to coordinate a rescue even though he doesn’t know where he’s buried in the desert.
Seriously? That's Ryan's next flick?
Hmmm.....
Well, it's NOT a romantic-comedy.....but it IS hot in the desert.
Yep.
I'm guessin' those famous abs will be on display at some point in this flick as well.
Yep....apparently some hangovers aren't that bad after all.
And I saw this one comin' from a mile away.
While doing some serious, important research a while back (aka: surfing for movie gossip on the web), I read that Warner Brothers studio bosses had already given the green-light for a Hangover sequel to writer/director Todd Phillips.
Two months before the flick would even hit the theaters.
That kind of movie news makes me sit up & take notice, or at least stop clicking around for a moment.
Seriously, these dudes do NOT make major money decisions lightly.
(OK, Paris Hilton in The Hottie And The Nottie, doesn't count.)
While not common in the movie business, it is very uncharacteristic for a bunch of Hollywood "Suits" to make a decision like that on a property that isn't a well-known, proven commodity (e.g. Harry Potter,Twilight...or...uh, Weekend at Bernie's).
I'm just sayin'.
But the bosses had apparently been bowled over by the overwhelmingly positive responses they were receiving at early test screenings.
Hence, the early green-light for the sequel.
Good news for the studio AND the three lead bachelor party boys as well. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis were all invited to the next party, and they are now sequel-bound as well.
So, this is how I knew in early April that an outrageous and raunchy comedy hit was most likely on the horizon.
Now....preliminary box office numbers from The Hangover opening this weekend are proving those "suits" actually knew what they were doin'.
Go figure.
Check out the Saturday scoop from one of my fave box office-tracking websites, boxofficeguru.com --
"Riding a wave of strong reviews and electric early buzz, the post-bachelor party comedy The Hangover pushed aside the competition and opened triumphantly at number one on Friday with a stunning $16.5M in ticket sales, according to estimates, in its first day of release. The Warner Bros. hit grossed nearly as much on its opening day as other recent R-rated comedies like I Love You, Man and Role Models collected during their entire first weekends. Hangover even powered ahead of the $10.5M first day take of the raunchy 2005 summer smash Wedding Crashers, despite lacking the same kind of star names. A Friday-to-Sunday debut of about $45-50M seems likely for the groom-gone-missing comedy, putting it in a tight race for the top spot this weekend."
Hey, I'm a Movie Chick. (I'm actually the "Mix Flix Chick", but that's beside the point.)
Because I had advance knowledge that The Hangover was a hit waiting to happen, I am not at all surprised by this....and that's why I jumped at the chance a few weeks ago to check out The Hangover at an advance screening.
Guess what?
I liked it.
It's outrageous and raunchy, but it benefits from some seriously great casting. Ed Helms (Andy from The Office) is very funny as the nerdy, much put-upon dentist who loses a tooth, yet discovers himself in Vegas.
And bushy-bearded comedian Zach Galifianakis steals the flick as the bride's dangerously whacked-out brother. If you haven't heard of Zach yet, you will very soon.
The Hangover had some genuinely funny, laugh out loud moments....and some "oh no, they didn't" moments. While it's not the best comedy I've ever seen, it's certainly not the worst (that list is waaaay too long to post here).
OK, so The Hangover is shaping up to be a big comedy hit, but take notice folks....it is most definitely NOT for everyone.
Please do not go if you are at all offended by sex, drugs, bad language or full frontal nudity.
Everyone else, raise your hand.
Yep, y'all can go see it without worries.
If you're interested in my quick review & thoughts on The Hangover, along with some other miscellaneous flick chat -- click on the video below to listen to my introduction on Thursday, June 4th as the new "Mix Flix Chick" for morning DJ Mark Dantzer on 107.9 FM in Columbus, Ohio.
Or, you can just read this:
What happens in Vegas....is funny and gonna make a lot of money.
**UPDATE : Sunday afternoon(12:30pm)box office figures courtesy of Variety.com:
"Warner Bros.' R-rated comedy The Hangover grossed a boffo $43.3 million in its debut, although Disney-Pixar holdover Up remained No. 1 at the domestic box office at $44.2 million."
(Hmmm.....looks like the bachelor party boys couldn't quitebeat the old man with the balloons. Oh well, close guys....very close.We'll see ya in the sequel.)
Well.....she's made The Proposal, so I'm willing to accept it & hope that it makes me laugh.
I first saw the trailer for this flick a few months ago in the theater, and I have to admit....I let out a small groan.
The concept just didn't seem all that fresh or creative. A mismatched couple who dislike each other, but pretend to love each other....in order to win a prize (her Green Card, his job).
We've all seen variations on this story before, good AND bad,but I'm willing to hold on to a glimmer of hope because Bullock is still one of my faves (even AFTER a long...very long...string of disappointing flicks).
I also really like the tagline: "Here Comes The Bribe" (Just hope that's not the best part of the flick)
And....I must admit that I have always liked Ryan Reynolds. No, not just because of THAT.....
Yes, he is a cutie....but he is also very funny, charming and smart.
Hey, I happen to like that in a guy....even better in a leading man.
From the looks of the trailer, the two of them seem to have good chemistry. Sometimes that makes up for lack of originality in the script.
Sometimes.
I mean, don't we know that they're gonna end up together? Seriously, who are we kiddin' here? It's a romantic-comedy for goodness sake...with two very attractive leads, forced together in a somewhat silly quest.
Yeah, we know they're gonna be a couple in the end. Let's just hope the road getting there is as fun & charming as possible.
Speaking of fun, Betty White's supporting role looks to be pretty hilarious and against type. Let's just hope it's outrageous...but not uncomfortably so. Ya know what I mean?
Hey, granny sex jokes get old REAL quick.
I'm just sayin'.
OK, so I'm gonna give Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds and The Proposal a shot when it opens in theaters on June 19th.
Take a look at the trailer below and see what YOU think:
Oh yeah, before I forget --I was tipped off that the Funny or Die website just posted a pretty funny, yet somewhatoff-color "behind-the-scenes" video from The Proposal set.
There are more than a few choice curse words (bleeped out, I must add), and Betty White pretty much steals the show. If you're in the mood for something a little more funny & racy.....click the link below to head over to that site and check it out:
Because boy, oh boy.....did I ever LOVE this new Star Trek flick!
Wait, before you stop reading because you don't like Sci-Fi....listen up.
I wrote a few posts back that I was really psyched to see the new Star Trek prequel. I listed detailed reasons and I added some fun visuals.
I admitted that I had never been a "Trekkie", but all of the elements behind this new version had really made me sit up & take notice. I'd fallen for the fab trailer, and now I was hooked.
(If ya wanna know ALL of my reasons, skip back to 2 posts ago. Basically....I'm in love with director J.J. Abrams and all of his work, AND I think actor Chris Pine (young Capt. Kirk) is a cutie. So much for deep thoughts.)
Anyways -- I was all ready to go see this flick on opening weekend like any other self-respecting movie-lovin' geek like me would do.....but then something on Twitter caught my eye.
Yes, Twitter.
("Hello, my name is Kelly G. and I am a Twitter-holic.")
I know y'all are tired of hearin' me yammer on & on about Twitter. And now with Oprah & Ashton talkin' about it all the time, it seems like it's about to "jump the shark."
Believe me, it's not.
I happen to follow "ColumbusMovies" (duh....) on Twitter. Around midday Monday, ColumbusMovies tweets that anyone interested in seeing a free screening of Star Trek at the Campus Gateway Theater on Wednesday night, should email them for free passes.
Seriously, I never typed so fast in my life.
Long story short.....I successfully scored the free passes and I quickly rounded up a fun group of other Columbus Tweeps to attend the screening with me. Most, like me, were interested in the flick but not necessarily Trekkies.
Uh.....most, like me, were very interested in a FREE movie.
Here's(L to R) Jason Blanton (@Blantonious), Clancy Bevington (@ClancyBevington), Cheryl Harrison (@CherylHarrison) and Demetrius Hall (@DemetriusHall). Julie Castell (@jujuburd), Rich Haynam (@Rehcmh) and Mike Gingery (a non-tweep, who we allowed to join us) were there as well.
I must admit, I have been to more than a handful of movie screenings like this in my life. The best part (ya know, other than it being....FREE) is that most of the people in the audience are movie-lovers as well & just as excited to be there and seeing it early, before the general public.
For me, this always makes the movie-going experience SO much better. I don't know about y'all....but I do talk a lot here about my desire to see big flicks such as this with opening weekend crowds.
Not only is it important for me to support films I like & believe in on opening weekend (because those are the box office numbers that the Hollywood suits really pay attention to when deciding future projects), but it's also fun for me to experience a film with other movie lovers. Especially a fun, adventure flick such as this.
Helloooo.....this is a T-shirt that I created and often wear:
I have always loved the laughing, ooohing & ahhhing and most of all -- the audience applause when great movie moments occur.
Last night during Star Trek, we experienced all of the above.
So, I'm not gonna really review the flick here...heck, there are reviews (mostly great) ALL over the internet for you to read.
Instead, I'm just gonna say this:
I saw Star Trek last night.....and it was really great. I'm not a Sci-Fi lover, just a good movie-lover. I never really watched the series, but I understood it all. It introduces all of the characters that we think we know so well. It's a fun "popcorn" flick in the tradition of Star Wars & Indiana Jones. (With a little Top Gun thrown in for good measure) It can be enjoyed by all ages, men AND women. Yes, things blow up and there are space chases & gunfights.... But there are very humorous & touching moments as well. The casting is great (especially Kirk & Spock) -- And Dr. Bones & Scotty almost steal the show. (And they say their famous lines, and we'd be mad if they didn't) It's fun spotting a few interesting cameo appearances.... And one in particular gets a rousing round of applause. If you do go see it...I recommend this weekend, with a fun crowd. And if you do go see it, please....as always, let me know what you think.
OK folks, those are my morning after thoughts....
(See Manolo? I promised....no spoilers.)
Basically, I realize that I am now proud to call myself a Trekkie, as I formally try to recruit others as well.
Hey, if ya wanna be a Trekkie AND join me on Twitter, you'd seriously make my day.
(Wait, that's a totally other flick.)
Whatever.
That's all I got for now. So you know I gotta say it......
I really like Anne.....and I think she has made some very smart choices in her relatively short career (are you listening, La Lohan? Coulda been you girlie, I'm just sayin').
So I was especially intrigued this morning when I read that Hathaway will be tackling the biopic of a very iconic, beloved performer.......
Miss Judy Garland.
Apparently, Anne will be playing Judy on the stage AND the screen. That piques my interest even more.
The performance will be based on the 2000 Judy Garland biography titled Get Happy: The Lifeof Judy Garland, by Gerald Clarke.
Personally.....I think Hathaway will totally knock this one out of the park.
She's shown her ability to play comedy and drama, she can be goofy and vulnerable......
and she can sing!
Remember, the lovely Miss Hathaway proved she has some serious stage chops when she surprisingly held her own with Mr. Showman himself, Hugh Jackman, during the opening number at this year's Academy Awards.
I am totally psyched to see this new Star Trek "prequel".
Hmmm.....I'm thinkin' it could be for many reasons:
1. It just seems fun, escapist and the special effects look awesome.
2. Cute Chris Pine (playing the young Captain James T. Kirk) is very easy on the eyes:
Oh yeah....and he happens to look NOTHING like this:
3. I just can't get enough of Mr. Spock's crazy eyebrows.
4. I just plain love,LOVE director/producer J.J. Abrams, and most anything he creates.
J.J. is a creative & cool geek who seriously knows how to make great popcorn flicks and engrossing television, without sparing important character development.
(e.g. Felicity, Alias, LOST, Fringe, Mission Impossible III,Cloverfield.....you get the picture.)
OK.
So I've decided......
I'm not formally a Trekkie -- but I'm very excited to see this new Star Trek, and plan to go on opening weekend, May 8th.
So......I guess I'm somewhat -- Trekkie-ish.
Why not take a look at the new full-length trailer below, and let me know what you think.
(Hey, if you want...I'll save you a seat on opening weekend, and even share some of my popcorn.)
Seriously, when it comes to fun flicks like this one....opening weekend is best, and the more the merrier, I always say!
Oh yeah....and sometimes, a girl's just gotta get her geek on.
For a girl who lives for movies and the Oscars.......
it sure takes me a long time to comment on them afterward.
I can't help it.
I think it's just that the whole build-up to the big event.....and then the big event itself, it just takes a lot outta me.
Kinda like a marathon or an Iron Man competition.
Yeah......that's it.
Ya see, I train for months & months (see all the nominated flicks, pickthe winners for the local paper) and then participate in the actual event (watch the show & do a LIVE-blog).......
And then I'm just beat.
I enjoyed it all immensely, don't get me wrong......but I just need to go away for a little while afterward, and not even read or talk about it anymore.
Like an athlete. A trained professional athlete.
Well...one who sits in the dark for days and eats LOTS and LOTS of buttered popcorn.
But I digress.
Here's the deal peeps.......
I am workin' on an Oscars 2009 musical video montage.
I've got the pics and I've got the tunes.
What I don't got is the time.
So......until I'm able to get on my hard drive what I have in my head, I thought I would share with you all an Oscar recap video from one of my favorite funny gals, Sarah Haskins from current.com
It's all about the supposed Oscar night "EX-plosion" between our favorite, fabulous feudin' foursome.......
+0+00+23-12.jpg)
Posts
