Public Enemies - What Did You Think?
Javier Bardem Joining Oliver Stone’s Wall Street 2
Posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 by Russ Fischer
Javier Bardem is joining the cast of Oliver Stone’s Wall Street 2, according to Nikki Finke. He’ll join Michael Douglas, who returns as Gordon Gekko, and Shia LaBeouf, who plays a young trader who is engaged to marry Gekko’s daughter. If Finke’s sources are correct, that will nearly solidify the primary lineup of this sequel with only Gekko’s daughter left to cast. Read More »
Javier Bardem in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Biutiful
Posted on Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men) will star in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s (21 Grams, Babel) Biutiful, which begins shooting in Barcelona next week. Inarritu wrote the script himself, his first stand alone effort after much-publicized break-up with screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga.
According to Variety, Spanish-language film is about “a man embroiled in shady dealings who is confronted by a childhood friend, now a policeman.” Argentine actress Maricel Álvarez is also rumored to be involved with the project. Rodrigo Prieto will return as director of photography. Prieto was the cinematographer on all Inarritu’s films, Brokeback Mountain, 25th Hour, 8 Mile and Frida. The music will be composed by Gustavo Santaolalla, Academy Award Winner for Brokeback Mountain and Babel.
Joe Carnahan Casts Edgar Ramirez as Pablo Escobar in Killing Pablo
Posted on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
I wonder how they celebrated? Smoking Aces director, Joe Carnahan, has hired Edgar Ramirez (right) for his Colombian nose candy kingpin, Pablo Escobar, in the true-crime epic Killing Pablo. Ramirez plays the revolutionary, Ciro Redondo, in both of Steven Soderbergh’s Che biopics, and he previously starred in The Bourne Ultimatum and Vantage Point. Our friends at CHUD got the scoop from a clearly amped Smokin’ Joe…
“…I couldn’t be more fired up by the prospect. He’s coming at it with boundless enthusiasm, conviction to the role and and the understanding that he’s going to have to pack on anywhere from 35 to 40lbs.”
My favorite part in the book, Killing Pablo, is when an especially tubby Escobar is at wit’s end, his crime syndicates fragmented or sniped, and he’s juggling phones and smoking joints by himself in bed. Carnahan’s going to rock this material, and I’m confident in his casting choice. Earlier this month we reported that Javier Bardem had dropped out of the titular role. CHUD didn’t discuss Christian Bale’s involvement, but he remains attached to play Steve Jacoby, the U.S. authority who lead the agonizingly complex hunt for Escobar. In a twist, on IMDB Ramierz is listed to play Escobar in Antoine Fuqua’s competing 2009 film Escobar, produced by Oliver Stone. I wonder how this switch played out?
Javier Bardem Not Starring in Killing Pablo Opposite Christian Bale
Posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
Javier Bardem, undoubtedly stirred by Vinny Chase’s stunning portrayal of Pablo Escobar, has decided not to star as the Colombian kingpin in Joe Carnahan’s Killing Pablo opposite Christian Bale. Coming Soon reports that Bardem shot down questions about his involvement at a recent press junket, calling the rumors a “mistake.” His attachment to the film goes back to 2007, and he remains listed for the part on IMDB.
What’s more, some online press outlets have noted that Bale is not mentioning the project during his rounds for The Dark Knight, choosing instead to discuss his role in the new Terminator franchise. Update: Latino Review via Twitter says Bale recently confirmed to them that he’s still on board. The film is due to begin filming this fall, and days ago, a clearly stoked Carnahan (Smoking Aces, Narc) posted a huge photo on his blog on location in Medellin, standing where Escobar was shot dead by authorities. The director makes no mention of casting in this post.
Having read Mark Bowden’s Killing Pablo, the source material for the film, I feel this is definitely a story that needs to be told on screen. The sheer scale of Escobar’s drug empire makes Al Pacino’s Scarface look as intimidating as a Scarface airbrushed t-shirt, and it set precedent for how far the United States was willing to go to capture an international terrorist, which Escobar was. Bardem was a good choice for the role. Other actors who would do the role justice: Benicio Del Toro (obviously), Jordi Molla (but he already played similar roles in Blow and Bad Boys 2), Seth Rogen and Andy Dick.
Discuss: What actor is perfect for Pablo Escobar?
The Weinstein Co has released a new trailer for Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The story follows “two young American women, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) come to Barcelona for a summer holiday. Vicky is sensible and engaged to be married; Cristina is emotionally and sexually adventurous. In Barcelona, they’re drawn into a series of unconventional romantic entanglements with Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), a charismatic painter, who is still involved with his tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz). Set against the luscious Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is Woody Allen’s funny and open-minded celebration of love in all its configurations.” The film premiered at Cannes and was well reviewed. Kim Voynar called is “a lovely gift from a filmmaker who, when he’s on his game, truly hits the mark.” And Emanuel Levy called it Allen’s “most entertaining and commercial work since Bullets Over Broadway”.
The important thing to know is that Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz get it on. Check out the new trailer below, and as always, share your thoughts in the comment section!
You can watch the new trailer in High Definition on Yahoo. Vicky Cristina Barcelona arrives in theaters on September 5th 2008.
Movie Trailer: Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
The movie trailer for Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona has hit the web, in preparation of the film’s premiere at Cannes. The story follows “two young American women, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) come to Barcelona for a summer holiday. Vicky is sensible and engaged to be married; Cristina is emotionally and sexually adventurous. In Barcelona, they’re drawn into a series of unconventional romantic entanglements with Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), a charismatic painter, who is still involved with his tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz). Set against the luscious Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is Woody Allen’s funny and open-minded celebration of love in all its configurations.”
It certainly looks like Woody Allen’s sexiest movie. I’m sure a lot of men will check it out just for the scene where Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz get it on. And apparently there’s apparently a sexy threesome scene between Bardem, Johansson and Cruz. Although there is something creepy about knowing that Woody Allen is standing behind the camera. Wait, didn’t he write this movie too? If you were a 72-year-old famous Hollywood director, what’s to stop you from essentially writing a dream porn where you could cast your fantasy starlets. I’m sure we’ll hear more about the movie when it premieres at Cannes.
Read More »
First Look: Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Posted on Monday, May 12th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
And the last photo we bring you from Festival De Cannes, is our first official look at Woody Allen’s next film Vicky Cristina Barcelona about two young American women, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson), who come to Barcelona for a summer holiday. Vicky is sensible and engaged to be married; Cristina is emotionally and sexually adventurous. In Barcelona, they’re drawn into a series of unconventional romantic entanglements with Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), a charismatic painter, who is still involved with his tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz). Of course, all of this is set against the luscious Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona. The official plot synopsis lists a 96 minute running time and calls the movie “Woody Allen’s funny and open-minded celebration of love in all its configurations…”
There’s a lot of minor news breaking today and falling in between the cushions of Slashfilm’s buttery soft couch. I’ve decided to reach in and present the tasty morsels for your enjoyment. Don’t like some of ‘em? Well, your dog doesn’t discriminate and if it does, surprise, it’s a kitty.
October’s Max Payne video adaptation continues to build a curious borderline-honor roll of a cast, with Chris O’Donnell (Robin) climbing out of the Where Are They Now File to star alongside Mark Wahlberg (title role), the foxy Mila Kunis (uh, assassin love interest), Beau friggin’ Bridges (mentor) and Donal Logue (not playing Jimmy the Cab Driver). O’Donnell will play nipple-free “executive Jason Colvin.” Exciting, innit? Now, if only the film was rated R. (EW)
Javier Bardem, the biggest star in born again director Francis Ford Coppola’s follow-up to Youth Without Youth, Tetro, has either dropped out or been replaced on a huge creative whim. Coppola will recast the role of Bardem’s mentor to Vincent Gallo’s title character with Carmen Maura, whom you may have caught in Volver. Hmmm, Coppola could have certainly used the awareness of the Oscar winner. Too bad. (HR) As we all do when a job falls through, Bardem is said to be considering a role as a respected wine critic in a film entitled The First Emperor starring naughty monkeys Helen Mirren and Hugh Grant. (DH)
The horror! Another fresh face from The O.C. has washed ashore on Crystal Lake. Amanda Rhigetti, an 8, is close to signing on as the female lead in Platinum Dunes’ Friday the 13th. How about a cameo by Adam Brody’s head? (Variety)
Latino Review sum up Sam Raimi’s script to his upcoming Drag Me to Hell with three words: Predictable as hell. Slashfilm previously summed up the entire movie even more succinctly with: Justin Long. Obviously we’re too smart to add “as hell” to that. However, that was before we caught Long’s performance in The Sasquatch Gang (now on DVD), which was maddeningly chuckle-inducing. “Predictable as hell” it is, then.
Billy Crudup is that guy you call when your film is looking good. He’ll play J. Edgar Hoover (kinky) in Michael Mann’s Public Enemies, which stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and the Dorf and has as much chance as sucking as UNC losing the Final Four. Jinx? Hardly. [Variety]
Where’s my sickly neighbor from 1988’s inhaler? Joshua Jackson says he will not be playing Fletch in the remake. Chevy Chase’s is one of my favorite Chevy Chase films. I say cast Michael Cera and let Jason Lee choke on a furball. [MTV]
The new film from Heathers writer/legend Daniel Waters opens tomorrow in select theaters. It’s called Sex and Death 101. Here’s an interview with Waters that’s so chockfull of amazingly pretentious, pseudo-intellectual name dropping it makes us realize how rarely we come across screenwriter interviews like this anymore. More Waters, please.
Hard hitter producer Graham King (The Departed, Blood Diamond) and Warner Bros. hope to bring the Hugo Award-winning sci-fi series Hyperion Cantos to life on screen via a script by relative newcomer Trevor Sands. I’m not familiar with author Dan Simmons’s works, but the plot is said to be set on a planet called Hyperion that has lucid blue skies, “electricity-spewing trees,” and a mysterious region called the Time Tombs, where time travel evidently goes down amongst artifacts. And a very pissed off monster guards them. Ooh la la. Sands will combine the first two novels, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion in his script. An original, brainy sci-fi film? All for it. Any fans, please sounds off in the comments below. (HR)
Vincent Gallo to Star in Francis Ford Coppola’s Tetro, Javier Bardem to Co-Star
Posted on Saturday, March 8th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
Having apparently dropped out of Dario Argento’s giallo Giallo because he was disgusted that the director cast his daughter in the film and there after announced his retirement, actor and socialite Vincent Gallo is now set to star as the title character in Francis Ford Coppola’s Tetro. Maybe cockiness gets you somewhere in life after all. Also set to star in the film are Oscar winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) as a literary critic and Maribel Verdu (Pan’s Labyrinth) as Gallo/Tetro’s love interest. Intriguing cast to say the least.
The film is reportedly a familial epic set in Buenos Aires, Argentina and will follow actor Alden Ehrenreich, who’s done TV work on CSI, as a younger brother searching for his older brother, Tetro. The brothers belong to a long family history filled with back-stabbing and egos runs amok. At one time, Gallo’s role was rumored to be played by actor Matt Dillon, who worked with Coppola on 1983’s rather cool gang movie Rumble Fish. This is quite an interesting replacement, one that will definitely change the feel of the movie, such is Gallo’s crazy-eyed intensity.
Coppola’s film is set for release in 2009, and it’s another relatively low budget affair, set at $15 million, after his last outing, Youth Without Youth, which received rather savage reviews and toxic word of mouth. I didn’t see it, but it’s on the list. And maybe it’s just me, but there seems to be a little post-release upswing buzz for the film now.
Okay, can’t resist. Here’s the quote Gallo gave announcing that he wanted to leave Argento’s film (it’s worth noting that he was engaged to Asia Argento in 1998)…
“After they cast Asia Argento, I’ve been trying to get out of it. I’d rather not be in a movie with her. I’m not a fan. I was a fan of her father’s. I’m retiring.”
Discuss: Vincent Gallo working with Francis Ford Coppola. Do you care? And is the end near?
Vanity Fair decided to recreate some of the classic scenes from the films of Alfred Hitchcock using modern day actors and actresses. Imagine Charlize Theron in Dial M For Murder, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. in To Catch a Thief, Seth Rogen in North by Northwest, Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem in Rear Window, Niomi Watts in Marnie, Keira Knightley and Jennifer Jason Leigh in Rebecca, Emile Hirsch and James McAvoy in Strangers on a Train, Rene Zellweger in Vertigo, Jodie Foster in The Birds, or Tang Wei, Josh Brolin, Casey Affleck, Eva Marie Saint, Ben Foster, Omar Metwally and Julie Christie in Lifeboat.
Well stop imagining, the photos are after the jump. As always, click to enlarge. Pick up the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue for the full sized photo-spreads.
Scarlett Johansson’s Steamy Lesbian Sex Scene with Penelope Cruz!?
Posted on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
Men everywhere rejoice - Scarlett Johansson filmed a “steamy lesbian sex scene with Penelope Cruz” for Woody Allen’s new star filled porno film Vicky Cristina does Barcelona. A source tells the NY Post that the scene is “extremely erotic” and that “people will be blown away and even shocked.” Apparently, Penelope and Scarlett go at it in a red-tinted photography dark room, and “it will leave the audience gasping.” The duo later have a threesome with No Country For Old Men star Javier Bardem, who plays Penelope’s husband. I’m guessing that scene might be more creepy than hot.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona tells the story of a painter who enters a relationship with two American tourists, but conflict begins with the painter’s jealous ex-girlfriend. The film which also stars Patricia Clarkson, Rebecca Hall, Kevin Dunn and Chris Messina, has completed filming and will likely hit theaters in late-2008.
Most major city regions have a society or association of film critics, who each year join together to vote on the best films and performances of the year. This weekend the winners have been announced for the National Board of Review, Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), the New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO), The Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC), and the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA). Here is a round up of the results:
Here is the quick briefing:
The Cohen Brothers’ No Country For Old Men took the Best Film of the year award in three out of the five. Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood took the top award in the remaining. Anderson is leading the Best Director category with two wins. Daniel Day Lewis (There Will Be Blood) and George Clooney (Michael Clayton) are tied for Best Actor with two wins each.
Julie Christie took home three best actress wins for her performance in Away From Her, narrowly beating out Marion Cotillard who has two wins for La Vie en Rose. Javier Bardem was awarded three supporting actor wins for No Country for Old Men. Amy Ryan won four out of five for her performance in Gone Baby Gone. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly took home three out of five of the Best Foreign Film Awards. Pixar’s Ratatouille leads with three wins in the Animated category, narrowly beating out Persepolis, which currently has two wins. Diablo Cody is leading with two wins in the Best Original Screenplay section for Juno.
Read the full results after the jump.
