AVATAR 2 and 3 due in 2014 and 2015 – don’t hold your breath

… or you’ll go blue in the face. Ahem.

Everyone’s favourite megalomaniacal tyrant is just about ready to knuckle down and start writing two sequels to the highest-grossing movie in the history of movies, grosses, and movie grosses. So when is Number Two due? 2014. Yikes

2014 looks like a fake date from a science fiction book. Won’t we all be grown up and married with kids and / or retired by then? Will anyone even remember Avatar that far into the future? Only time — lots of time — will tell.

As for the sequels’ subject matter, that remains up in the air until the writing actually takes place. Writer / director / producer / Almighty Creator of the Universe James Cameron wants each sequel to be “self-contained” but also to fit into some kind of greater narrative arc. There’s been talk of moving to a different primary setting — a different moon, or the ocean, or something — but again, it’s all up in the air for now.

I don’t think I’ve ever been aware of a movie this far ahead of release. (Star Wars and Harry Potter don’t count, because they came regularly, without 5-year gaps between instalments.) Is this the beginning of something special in the history of cinema, or is this the first step on a long and exhausting road of marketing and publicity? You be the judge.

First trailer for RABBIT HOLE starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart

Lionsgate have released the first trailer for John Cameron Mitchell‘s Rabbit Hole, starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, Thank You For Smoking) and Dianne Wiest (Edward Scissorhands, I Am Sam). Watch the trailer embedded below.

Moving cello, thoughtful posturing and ferocious acting ensure the Rabbit Hole trailer cannot be mistaken for anything else but a deep and powerful moody drama. But don’t worry, there’s also a strumming guitar and clips of some happy times, albeit coupled with even more though-provoking posturing.

I’m still not sure how I feel about this one. The subject matter– a young couple dealing with the loss of a child– isn’t exactly something I’d seek out to be entertained while watching a film. I’m sure it’s very confronting and causes great reflect, but as a father of two very young boys, I’m thinking I’d rather spend two hours watching something else entirely. That is, until they grow older and I don’t have to live in fear of that situation taking place.

I’m scared enough and already over-protective as a parent. Last thing I need is a Nicole Kidman film to inject an intolerable amount of fear into me.

Rabbit Hole opens to limited screens in the US on 17 December 2010.
Expect to see it Down Under early 2011.

Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, Oprah Winfrey starring a film being directed by the Sex and the City guy

Comingsoon reports Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock will co-star with Oscar nominee Oprah Winfrey in a new comedy film (currently untitled) being directed by Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City) at Universal Pictures.

Talk about winning over the majority female audience in a single heartbeat. Cast lady-favorites Bullock, Streep and TV legend Winfrey in a film directed by ‘the Sex and the City guy’. They don’t even need to name him, just display the title card during the trailer: From the director of Sex and the City. Then the already-intrigued will see who it stars and BAM! Universal’s work is done. Cash it in.

Plot? Story? Those things will only be added bonus. But in case you are actually interested, the film will be set around the world of a home shopping TV network and follows the characters as they make their way through the maze of mania that surrounds marketing, marriages and the media. I can already hear the girlie cackles.

Director Michael Patrick King is also writing. No word on when the film is expected to arrive, nor who the hunky male co-stars will be.

Peter Jackson will direct THE HOBBIT after all, but probably not in New Zealand

The last few months have seen The Hobbit (the two-film prequel project to The Lord of the Rings) undergo some pretty traumatic challenges. First Guillermo Del Toro quit as director, then Peter Jackson didn’t want to direct, then the studio was too poor to afford funding the film, then people said the film was greenlit, but it wasn’t, and then an Australian / New Zealand actors’ union protested the film’s shooting conditions, and then everybody was confused… The Hobbit has been in and out of news headlines on a daily basis, but there hasn’t actually been anything worth reporting until now.

Peter Jackson is directing The Hobbit. He’s even announced who will play Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit‘s protagonist): Martin Freeman. He played Arthur Dent in the generally depressing Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy movie, and as such occupies a place in the dark corner of my brain I reserve for people associated with grave and upsetting memories. He’s probably a great actor, though; hopefully I can pull him out of that dark corner by the time the film arrives.

This is what a Martin Freeman looks like.

Jackson also mentioned a bunch of names attached to half of the films’ 13 dwarves; check out the announcement here and see if you recognise any of them. Andy Serkis and Ian McKellan are “expected” to return as Gollum and Gandalf respectively, but we’ll believe that when we see it.

So the project is officially underway. But it probably won’t be shot in New Zealand. The Australian-driven “blacklist” imposed on the film alarmed the studio and producers, so Warner Bros. is looking overseas (even though sets are already under construction): there’s been talk of “Eastern Europe” (which stood in for Narnia in the, er, Narnia movies), as well as the Leavesdon studios in London, where Harry Potter recently wrapped. Warner Bros. was planning to open the Leavesdon studios as a tourist-attraction / museum of Harry Potter sets — now it’ll probably become a Harry Potter / Hobbit double-headliner. If the film leaves New Zealand — it’s all still up-in-the-air.

Check out a video below covering the union-dispute, with input from Peter Jackson himself, and editorialised stuffed-shirt villain Hellen Kelley. The shooting of The Hobbit is kind of a big deal in New Zealand; it looks like it’s consuming the entire country — Jackson wants the Prime Minister himself to back him up. Is it too early to trademark the term Hobbit-gate?

The Hobbit will come out sooner or later; patience is probably in order. Stay tuned for casting and location updates, etc.

Darren Aronofsky’s WOLVERINE 2 will be ‘meaty’ and thought-provoking

Strange things happen in Hollywood every day, but this has got to be one of the strangest. Possibly taking a cue from Christopher Nolan’s dark Batman reboot (re-bat?), Marvel has tapped Darren Aronofsky — Darren “The Wrestler” Aronofsky — to direct Wolverine 2 – Wolverine “Sequel to one of the worst movies ever” 2.

A lot of people (myself included) are burned out on comic book movies, but this kind of news helps to foster small hope that there’s some good left in the genre in a post-Ratner world. Aronofosky has a track record of dark, powerful movies, and even his failures (The Fountain) are fascinating and beautiful.

So anyway, Hugh Jackman reckons, having read Wolverine 2‘s script (by The Usual Suspects scribe Chris McQuarrie), that “There will be something to think about as you leave the theater, for sure.” Plus he’s worked with Aronofsky before, on The Fountain, and even if the film itself didn’t make sense, Jackman’s performance in it was pretty damn solid. Wolverine 2 is still a mile away from release, but it might just be worth the wait.

Wolverine 2 starts shooting next March. Part of the film will take place in Japan, where Wolverine learns the hallowed tradition of Japanese ass-whoopery from the very same people who design and manufacture cans of whoop-ass — the Keepers of the Whoop-Ass, if you will — or something.

This is what a Darren Aronofosky looks like in its natural habitat.

DRIVE ANGRY 3D trailer is angry, drivey

There’s something about Nicolas Cage that makes him the ideal everyman-in-dire-trouble; audiences just buy that he’s really a good guy, caught up in the wrong crowd or put in a bad situation or an accidental murderer or something.

So it makes sense that he’s the star of Drive Angry 3D, directed by Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine). He ticks both the “action” and “honest man” boxes. What doesn’t make sense is the movie’s plot. Satan decides to give Cage’s character a chance to prove he doesn’t really belong in Hell, so he sends him back to Earth to… kill people? Right.

As an action movie in 3D starring Nicolas Cage, Drive Angry 3D has potential to do decent box office. As an action movie in 3D starring Nicolas Cage, however, Drive Angry 3D has potential to be a pretty bad movie.

Drive Angry isn’t due to drive audiences up the wall till 11 February 2011 in the States; expect a similar release date elsewhere.

Second trailer for THE TOURIST: the sexy, action-packed version

Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp are starring in a movie together. That’s the majority of the box office taken care of right there.

The film, The Tourist, has potential to really take off should it turn out to actually be good. If the first trailer felt kind of OK and enjoyable, this second trailer plays it up like a sexy non-stop action packed thrill-fest starring two of the sexiest people in Hollywood. That goes a long way to helping its cause.

Then there’s that blatantly plain and obvious poster (below).

I still don’t know if I’m looking forward to this because of the people it stars or the fruity plot. Wither way, I’m going to see it.

The Tourist opens 10 December, 2010 in the States, Boxing Day in Australia (for all those unAustralians who won’t be at or watching the cricket).

New trailer and poster for Danny Boyle’s 127 HOURS starring James Franco

After winning 2009′s Best Picture Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire, director Danny Boyle’s string of successful films seems set to continue with 127 Hours, starring James Franco (Spider-Man, Milk).

A second trailer has arrived online and shows Boyle is still on a roll with his unique and damn-interesting-to-watch style is at the forefront. 127 Hours is based on the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah.

127 Hours opens 5 November, 2010 in the States.
No Aussie dates have been announced yet.

New character posters for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS get seriously dark and ominous

Oh my, how these characters (actors) have grown. Check it out: Harry Potter has facial stubble!

Warner Brothers have released a series of dark and ominous character posters ahead of their epic part 1-of-2 Harry Potter conclusion, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1. You can’t make these titles up, people. (I guess J.K. Rowling can, though).

Must give credit to this series, though, for (seemingly) maturing with its audience. They seem to get darker with each new instalment, something obviously derived from the books (although I’ll never know). An 11-year-old who saw the first Harry Potter would be seeing this latest film as a 22-year-old. Interesting thought, no?

Take a preview look at the posters now, before they stare you down in the cinema isles any day from now. You’ll see Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron, Emma Watson as Hermione, Dave Legeno as Fenrir Grayback, Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, Helena Bonhan Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange and Alan Rickman as Snape.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 hits cinemas worldwide from 18 November.

First feature trailer for Coen Brothers TRUE GRIT is impressive and revealing

The first feature trailer for the Coen Brothers adaptation of True Grit has been released (watch it embedded below).

I’m on board with any Coen Brothers film, I never need snazzy posters and trailers to get me convinced. This particular snazzy trailer for True Grit should have any movie goer convinced to see it.

The trailer is definitely geared toward the general consumer, as it uses some traditional trailer techniques and pretty much rolls out the entire plot of the film for all to see. This is almost essential for the person who only goes to the movies five times a year and wants reassurance that the film will be worth the price of admission. Names like The Coen Brothers, Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin and Matt Damon mean little to them.

It appears to be wonderfully shot, too. Could this be the best-looking Coen Brothers film to date?

True Grit opens Christmas Day in the States, and 20 January Down Under.

BURIED review

Buried is a surprisingly thrilling portrait of a middle-class American man held hostage in Iraq, completely contained within a wooden coffin. Its originality is only outdone by its ambitious attempt to hold an audience’s interest in one small and dark location, on one subject, for 90-plus minutes.

It succeeds.

I’ve decided that, in the few hours since seeing the film today, Buried works because of one key element. While filmmaking is a collaborate effort, and many factors need to gel for an entire film to succeed (especially in the case of an independent film such as this), Buried had something that exceeded expectations and carried the film from the realms of barely-passable to convincing.

For instance, Ryan Reynolds is convincing as contracted truck driver Paul Conroy– he had to be. I normally don’t dig on Reynolds’ performances, he hasn’t turned in a gig yet that I was overly entertained by, let alone convinced. Until now. Reynolds turns in a performance that is grounded and believable, and one for which he should be commended. If I were him, I’d keep this at the top of my resumè (but we all know that spots is reserved for Green Lantern, right after I Get To Sleep With Scarlett Johansson, So There). However, Reynolds is not the ultimate reason Buried works.

Director Rodrigo Cortés has paced his film perfectly, and rinsed every ounce of reality out of Reynolds. That’s the most important thing he had to do. Thanks to its low budget, the grit and style of Buried is a given, and, while it may have been testing to keep things fresh from scene to scene, the director’s vision seems to have been drawn from the creativity found in the writing, rather than personal expression.

Screenwriter Chris Sparling had his work cut out for him: Only one performance, in one box, for an entire film? The premise is delicious at first, but a bitch to pitch to an audience (let alone a studio head), and even more difficult to actually write over ninety pages. With the aid of some helpful items left in the coffin with Paul, the character is able to contact the outside world and negotiate the terms of his release while continually leaving us in the dark about his future (thanks to a time-limit set very early on). Nice move. These elements allow director Cortés to carefully handle story elements that are political, primal and heartfelt, without being overly obvious.

Save for a few questionable character decisions, the writing and direction are definitely solid, but they are still is not the winning factor for Buried.

I have no doubt Buried ultimately works because of the masterful work of Cinematographer Eduard Grau. The creative way he used his camera to conjure very real feelings of claustrophobia, anxiety and desperation are a testament to his attention to detail. A simple focus pull might be affective in a two-shot for a ‘normal’ film, but here, it becomes heart-stoppingly genius and new. And this is just one example. Clearly a fan of ‘Hitchcokian’ style, this is one setting where such a style makes complete sense without being pure copycat.

Thank you, Grau, for not being weak and predictable by resorting to a shaky hand-held camera like so many young, ambitious filmmakers would have done. Thank you for carefully selecting your shots with deliberate composition. Even when the frame became frantic, it was still superbly composed.

Without this masterful camera work keeping things visually fresh, Buried would have gotten stale very quickly. Thankfully, it doesn’t.

Buried is engaging to sit through and leaves space for conversation with fellow viewers afterwards. You’ll only ever need to watch it once, though. I can’t anticipate it being anywhere near as engaging on repeat viewings, thanks mostly to the film’s somewhat unsatisfying conclusion.

Trailer: AVATAR Extended Collector’s Edition Fan-Service Extravaganza Blu-Ray / DVD

3 discs. 3 versions of the film. 45 minutes of deleted scenes. Several hours of making-of featurettes. Neat packaging. It almost makes me wish I was a fan of Avatar.

I like that James Cameron‘s vision of future-Earth has been reinstated for this release, because its absence hurt the theatrical cut of the film. The making-of docos also pique my interest; it’s always fascinating to see a master at work. Then I remember that the movie is mostly a generic cartoon about blue people and then I wonder why I was interested in the first place.

Get some more blue alien lovin’ on 16 November 2010, on Blu-Ray and DVD. Go here for an exhaustive list of features.