Jim Carrey kicks Kick-Ass 2 in the ass
Despite the anticipation built for Kick-Ass 2 from both fans of the original film and the comic book series it's adapted from, a large piece of the promotional puzzle for the project involved banking on the prestige that comes with Jim Carrey's (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) name. After all, while appearing in a variety of both dramas and comedies over the past decade, Kick-Ass 2 represents his return to the superhero action genre since 1995's Batman Forever. However, it appears that Kick-Ass 2 will have to endure the promotional rounds without the actor.
Early yesterday, Carrey tweeted the following:
I did Kickass a month b4 Sandy Hook and now in all good conscience I cannot support that level of violence. My apologies to e
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) June 23, 2013
I meant to say my apologies to others involve with the film. I am not ashamed of it but recent events have caused a change in my heart.
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) June 23, 2013
It comes as a shocker, especially as the film is set to increase its promotional visibility. Carrey's heart is in the right place, but his refusal to support and promote the film could negatively affect the film's box office intake. Kick-Ass writer/co-creator Mark Millar also shared a public response to Carrey's statements. Hopefully Carrey will reconsider, or at least offer some support for the film instead of outright blackballing the project he and many others have spent a lot of time and money creating.
[via Jim Carrey's Twitter]
[Trailer] Jobs
[yahoo id="movies.yahoo.com/video/jobs-trailer-161011991" mode="normal" align="center"]
Last year, when Ashton Kutcher was announced to portray the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, many met the news with mixed reactions. After all, with Kutcher best known as a wayward ladies man in That 70's Show, it's no surprise that his attachment to the film wouldn't be well-received. With this first trailer released, Jobs is looking a bit iffy. Directed by Joshua Michael Stern, the film covers a four decade span of Jobs' life with a focus on some of the landmark achievements during his illustrious career.
Its Sundance premiere earlier didn't receive a great response, but there should still be appeal for the Apple crowd. I feel mixed about the film myself, especially given the mixed tone of the trailer that is desperate to leave an emotional mark on viewers. And while I have nothing against Kutcher, I just can't dive into this without being able to separate him from Steve Jobs, which is never a good sign for a film, biopic or otherwise.
We can all take a bite out of Jobs when it hits theaters on August 16th.
[via Yahoo]
Rumor: Dwayne Johnson might lay the smackdown on Terminator 5
With the original Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, returning for Terminator 5, excitement was already high for the popular sci-fi franchise. However, rumors have begun to swirl that the upcoming sequel just might be getting even bigger. According to a few of the WWE Examiner's sources, a script is being produced specifically with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in mind for a role. While nothing has been confirmed, as words from anonymous sources should always be taken with a grain of salt, an action blockbuster pairing Schwarzenegger and Johnson together would practically print money. Terminator 5 could function as a passing of the torch as Johnson has proven his ability to both revive and drive floundering franchises (re: G.I. Joe and Fast & Furious).
Furthermore, a few potential plot details have leaked out that could counter my worries about Schwarzenegger playing a Terminator. The aforementioned source claims the new plot takes place during the 40s and 50s with Schwarzenegger's character playing a savior character of sorts with some connection to the Connor family. It's his character's bravado and heroism that the future Skynet models their Terminator line after. Theoretically, Schwarzenegger would be playing a Terminator in the sense that his character would be the precursor for the killing machines.
There's still plenty of time before production begins on Terminator 5, and while all of this is just rumors and speculation, it would be great for the franchise and movie audiences if The Rock does join the film. Imagine The Rock and Arnold Schwarzenegger in a fist fight. Oh man...
[via WWE Examiner]
[Trailer] Drinking Buddies
http://youtu.be/wxuxkQF7Bak
Drinking Buddies was one of my favorite films as this year's SXSW. Written and directed by Joe Swanberg (V/H/S), the comedy is about two co-workers, played by Olivia Wilde and Jake M. Johnson, with a questionable friendship that borders on a flirtatious relationship. When they go on a weekend trip with their respective significant others (played by Anna Kendrick and Ron Livingston), the bonds between the couples get entangled and complicated.
What isn't made apparent in this trailer is the fact that Drinking Buddies is set in Chicago; in fact, the brewery where Wilde's and Johnson's characters work at is none other than Revolution Brewing. I actually had the chance to interview Wilde, Johnson, Kendrick, Livingston, and Swanberg while I was out in Austin where we talked about how pivotal it was that the film take place in Chicago, beer, and everything else.
Trust me when I say Drinking Buddies is a great comedy. Hopefully audiences will come out and support it when it hits iTunes on July 25th and traditional theaters on August 23rd.
[Trailer] The Spectacular Now
http://youtu.be/0dCfbBwFI2Y
For some, high school was a period of self-discovery where we would shape ourselves into the people we would become in our adult age. Along the way, however, we faced new challenges everyday, whether they involved girls, parties, school work, etc. For others, high school was a cesspool of debauchery that we didn't want to take part of, where we honed our talents and skills to prepare for college and beyond. Whether you peaked or flourished in high school, it's a rite of passage 99% of us go through on our way to growing up.
In James Ponsoldt's (Smashed) upcoming film, The Spectacular Now (based off of the novel of the same name by Tim Tharp), Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) is living it up during his Senior year of high school, doing everything he can in the eponymous "spectacular now." However, when a change in his lifestyle occurs and he meets a classmate named Aimee (Shailene Woodley), a girl who lives a completely different life from him, Sutter begins to wonder if living for the moment is really the path he wants to take in life.
The Spectacular Now is indie film bait with the common trope of self-discover, coming of age themes, but that's exactly what I'm attracted to. With both Teller and Woodley receiving actor awards following the film's premiere at Sundance, I'm definitely interested in the film, which will be coming to theaters this August.
[Trailer] Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
[youtube id="Elczv0ghqw0" mode="normal" align="center"]
The first official trailer for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is out, following the last teaser trailer that came out a month ago. The Channel 4 News team of Ron (Will Ferrell), Brian (Paul Rudd), Brick (Steve Carrell), Champ (David Koechner), and Veronica (Christina Applegate) find themselves greeting the 80s by moving to New York to take part in a 24-hour news network. Joining the cast are Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), James Marsden (X-Men), and Meagan Good (Brick).
The first Anchorman was surprisingly funny, considering it being a Will Ferrell movie, but this second one doesn't appear to have the same magic. With all of the opportunities that the 80s setting present, it's disappointing that the direction doesn't harp on all of the 80s cliches. Also, what's up with that unnecessarily racist "joke" at the end of the trailer? Ferrell's comedy stems on awkward scenarios, which results in very hit-or-miss results that tend to lean towards a definitive miss.
Hopefully the trailer doesn't represent the entirety of the film. We'll find out as we approach Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues' theatrical release date this Christmas.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is delayed until August 2014
In a surprising turn of events, the upcoming Sin City sequel, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For has been pushed back almost a year from October 2013 to August 2014. No official word has come out explaining the delay, but I'm assuming it's due to extensive post-production work necessary for the green screen shot film. It's terrible news for fans of both the original Sin City film as well as fans of Frank Miller's comics, but the extra production time should help with the film's use of special effects. I'm sure a more official reason will come out shortly, but for now, audiences can trust that director Robert Rodriguez (Machete) will do everything in his power to ensure the delay is worthwhile.
[via /Film]
[Trailer] Kick-Ass 2
http://youtu.be/Td921lYSBIA
The latest trailer for Kick-Ass 2 hit the internet recently, and it's looking... pretty alright. The first Kick-Ass strayed too far away from the comic, and as somebody who's just as much of a comic geek as he is a film geek, this was a big no-no. However, Kick-Ass 2, directed by Jeff Wadlow (Never Back Down), looks to stay as entertaining and fun as the original. This is a welcome change of pace for comic book film adaptations as the litany of recent superhero films that are desperately trying to be dark and deep.
Kick-Ass 2 takes place after the original film where masked vigilantes are widely accepted, leading to more "superheroes" coming out from the woodwork. However, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), now calling himself The Mother Fucker, is ready to take revenge out on Kick-Ass (Aaron Johnson) and Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz). However, with a large group of superheroes supporting him, including Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey), Kick-Ass is prepared to enter a war with his ex-comrade.
Kick-Ass 2 will kick asses when it comes to theaters on August 16th.