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Latest James Bond Flick Bumped Back a Week
Filed under: Action, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Thrillers, Sony, Universal, RumorMonger, Distribution, 20th Century Fox, Family Films, Dreamworks, James Bond, Harry Potter, Remakes and Sequels, Nicole Kidman
In what appears to be part of a most thorough campaign to botch Entertainment Weekly's Fall Movie Preview, a recent press release wholly admits that the North American opening of the 22nd James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, back from November 7th to the 14th marks an effort to capitalize on last week's sudden Harry Potter shift.
Although the removal of the 007th from any coming marketing blitz sure is a shame, it does place this film closer to the release of its predecessor, Casino Royale, which opened on November 17, 2006 to the tune of almost $600 million worldwide. Solace will still premiere in the United Kingdom on October 31.
For those keeping track at home, this now leaves Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and the just now shifted Paul Rudd comedy Role Models on November 7th, and the 14th is now between Bond, Baz Luhrmann's epic drama Australia, and Bernie Mac's final film, Soul Men.
Now, think fast! When does Something of Boris open again?!
Three Dazzling New Posters for 'Australia'
Filed under: Drama, Romance, 20th Century Fox, Movie Marketing, Images, War, Nicole Kidman, Posters
Three new posters for Baz Luhrmann's Australia have hit the net -- and they are predictably lush, romantic, and easy on the eyes. Why, they even leave some room for interpretation! See if you can find the connection between Hugh Jackman and fire, dear readers. The other two are after the jump, and all three are clickable for larger versions.
And if you haven't already, be sure to visit the official site and check out the gallery and the podcast series. They have ones on cinematography up now, and if nothing else, the film is going to be top notch in that department. I'm trying not to raise my expectations too high, but every new glimpse I get just leaves me really excited for November, and certain that it will be as breathtaking as I want it to be.
Australia opens November 14, 2008.
And if you haven't already, be sure to visit the official site and check out the gallery and the podcast series. They have ones on cinematography up now, and if nothing else, the film is going to be top notch in that department. I'm trying not to raise my expectations too high, but every new glimpse I get just leaves me really excited for November, and certain that it will be as breathtaking as I want it to be.
Australia opens November 14, 2008.
Steamy New Photo From Baz Luhrmann's 'Australia'
Filed under: Drama, Romance, 20th Century Fox, Movie Marketing, Images, Nicole Kidman
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Ladies (and gentlemen), start your drooling. Entertainment Weekly has two new photos from Baz Luhrmann's romantic epic Australia, and if the photo to your right is any indication; this is going to be one sexy flick. Back in June the film was the subject of a photo shoot for Vogue, and those images were stunning (and pretty romantic). This latest photo, though, has a little more carnality on the brain. Mind you, I'm not complaining; anything that facilitates a half-naked Hugh Jackman is okay by me.News about the film has been pretty scarce, but we do know that Stuart Beattie's (G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra) script centers on an English lady (Nicole Kidman) left in control of a cattle station in Australia during WWII. When a drover (played by Jackman) shows up to help her bring the cattle across the country, their relationship becomes something more -- and judging from that photo, there's going to be a lot more.
Its been a bumpy road for Luhrmann's epic; there have been casting changes, and the occasional act of god. But don't feel bad, the film also has a lot of things going for it: namely that epic romances sell, especially during Oscar season. Australia will arrive in theaters on November 14th, 2008.
Now it's your turn, do you think Australia could be the landlubber's Titanic at the box-office this fall? Sound off below...
Cinematical Seven: Actors Who Could Play Siblings, etc.
Filed under: Fandom, Cinematical Seven, Nicole Kidman
Occasionally Hollywood cobbles together random members of the A-list to play family members on film, even if their genes obviously come from opposite ends of the earth. If the actors are good enough or if the chemistry is there, sometimes the combo can work, such as Ethan Hawke and Philip Seymour Hoffman as brothers in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead or Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor in Cassandra's Dream. Other times, it stretches credibility, such as Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman in The Darjeeling Limited. My all-time favorite oddball casting is in Sidney Lumet's Family Business (1989), with Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick playing grandfather, father and son. (Huh?) At the same time, there are actor combos out there who just scream to be paired up in a family capacity. Remember Julia Roberts and Kyra Sedgwick in Something to Talk About? Well, neither do I, but that pairing was perfect. Here are a few others that could work:
1. Helen Hunt & Leelee Sobieski
They're so similar it's spooky, from their hair and foreheads, right down to the tonal quality of their voices. Anybody check the hospital records for mixed-up babies? (Helen is about 20 years older.) Not too long ago, both careers hit a peak: Helen won an Oscar while Leelee was working with Stanley Kubrick and playing Joan of Arc on TV. Now they're both in decline. For some reason, whenever Helen's name comes up, I hear "I HATE Helen Hunt!" And Leelee's last movie was for Uwe Boll. Now would be the perfect time for these two to team up in a mother-daughter drama. If they cooked up something along the lines of Terms of Endearment, with a good, solid writer and/or director, it could be interesting. Or better yet, how about something really strange and kooky with Spike Jonze or Harmony Korine? (Note: apparently the two once went head-to-head on "Celebrity Death Match.")
Why Baz Luhrman's 'Australia' Needs to Be Oscar-Worthy
Filed under: Drama, Awards, 20th Century Fox, Oscar Watch, Cinematical Indie, War, Nicole Kidman
I guess we won't be seeing the first female President of the United States in 2009, but we could at least see the first female cinematographer nominated for an Academy Award (in the cinematography category, that is). In the 80 years of the Oscars there hasn't been one female nominee for Best Cinematography. Shocking, isn't it? But fortunately there's a chance for next year's ceremony: Mandy Walker, who shot Baz Luhrman's war epic Australia, could be a shoo-in for one of the five nomination slots if the film is Oscar-worthy in general.The Oscar blog In Contention points out the possibility in a recent post celebrating Walker's reception Tuesday evening of the Kodak Vision Award at the Women in Film's Crystal + Lucy Awards (other honorees included Salma Hayek, Sherry Lansing, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Diane English and the ensemble of The Women). Clearly we only need to look at the trailer to see that Walker's work on the film is gorgeous and might have a shot. In Contention also notes Walker's previous achievements, such as her Independent Spirit Award nomination for Shattered Glass.
Gone with the Outback -- New Images From 'Australia'
Filed under: Drama, Romance, 20th Century Fox, Newsstand, Images, War, Nicole Kidman
Some new Australia photos have come by way of a Vogue photoshoot, shot by the legendary Annie Leibovitz -- and they are just the most gorgeous thing outside of the actual film. Normally, I wouldn't post a Vogue item as they hardly need a write-up, but as news on this film is rather scarce, I think it deserves a mention. Plus, everything about this film (even when by way of Leibovitz) is so ridiculously beautiful that I can't resist sharing what I find.
The photos accompany a Nicole Kidman interview about the film which is full of interesting tidbits. There are no spoilers for the wary, just a few more plot and character details. This is one of my most anticipated films of the year -- and as Christopher mentioned earlier, one that is already generating some Oscar buzz for Mandy Walker's cinematography. I'm nominating it for costumes as well -- such crisp lines!
Australia opens November 14th, 2008.
[via Dlisted, IESB, and Vogue]
The photos accompany a Nicole Kidman interview about the film which is full of interesting tidbits. There are no spoilers for the wary, just a few more plot and character details. This is one of my most anticipated films of the year -- and as Christopher mentioned earlier, one that is already generating some Oscar buzz for Mandy Walker's cinematography. I'm nominating it for costumes as well -- such crisp lines!
Australia opens November 14th, 2008.
[via Dlisted, IESB, and Vogue]
The Costumes of 'Australia'
Filed under: Drama, Romance, 20th Century Fox, Movie Marketing, War, Nicole Kidman, Trailers and Clips
I am as belated in posting this as Empire was -- and I thank them for reminding me. I stumbled across this direct link to the latest Australia podcast days ago, but honestly forgot to post it. (I blame all the attention they lavished on Hugh Jackman's moleskins.)
This latest installment in Baz Luhrmann's Set to Screen series deals entirely with costume design, and is simply a visual feast. And if you are an aspiring costume designer, they are giving you the chance to enter a design for Nicole Kidman.
Trailer for Baz Luhrmann's 'Australia'
Filed under: Drama, Romance, Movie Marketing, Nicole Kidman, Trailers and Clips
Well, we have the first snippets of footage from Baz Luhrmann's Australia, currently occupying the plum November 14th slot this fall, and surprise! It looks pretty. The trailer's now up at Apple. It's a lovely little piece, giving away none of the story but setting the mood nicely. It's not clear (at least not from the trailer) what Kidman and Jackman are talking about when they agree that "we can't let them win," but I'm ready to root for them.Australia looks surprisingly placid for a Luhrmann film -- the camera seems to stay still for entire seconds at a time, and the outdoor settings don't (always) look like freakish circus versions of themselves. Weird. Has Luhrmann made a normal, Academy-friendly prestige period piece? Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing: I loved Moulin Rouge! the first time I saw it, but found myself irritated by its resemblance to a hyperactive puppy when I saw it again on DVD. I wouldn't begrudge the man his style, but nor would I object to him drinking some decaf.
Meanwhile, those Australia "Set to Screen" podcasts are still coming out every couple of weeks over on iTunes. (Here's their home base.) There, you can hear about the movie's production straight from the crazy Aussie and his underlings.
Nicole Kidman to Play Dusty Springfield?
Filed under: Drama, Music & Musicals, Casting, RumorMonger, Nicole Kidman
So Nicole Kidman might have already proven she can sing (a little), but is she really good enough to tackle the White Queen of Soul? Michael Cunningham, writer of The Hours and A Home at the End of the World, told NY Magazine that Kidman will star as singing legend Dusty Springfield in a music biopic that he is currently writing the screenplay for. Springfield began her career at the tender age of 11, and by 1963 she had recorded her first major hit, I Only Want to Be With You. By 1967, the star had tired of show business and proceeded to record a string of flops from 1971 to 1986. Her comeback came in 1987 when The Pet Shop Boys asked her to sing on their hit What Have I Done to Deserve This? Springfield passed away from breast cancer in 1995 at the age of 60.
I will say it's about time that some more female vocalists got the biopic treatment (because Lady Sings the Blues and Coal Miner's Daughter are just not cutting it). Springfield had a tumultuous life full of addictions to drugs and alcohol, not to mention the pervasive stories of her struggles with her sexuality -- plenty of fodder for a juicy biopic. Considering working with Cunningham earned the actress her first Oscar, this project seems like a slam dunk for Kidman. Lord knows, she could use a hit.
New Set Photos From 'Australia' -- and Podcasts!
Filed under: Drama, Romance, 20th Century Fox, Newsstand, Movie Marketing, Images, War, Nicole Kidman, Trailers and Clips
You know, I am pretty happy to be me. But every once and awhile, I see something like this, and I am possessed with fury that I wasn't born Nicole Kidman -- or at least an Australian actress who could have stolen the part from her. Damn. That photo is just all kinds of sexy. And there's more gorgeous stills from Australia over on IESB.net as well as a few over on the film's official site.
ITunes and 20th Century Fox have also paired up to bring ten Set to Screen with Baz Luhurman podcasts, which document all aspects of the upcoming film. This actually debuted yesterday, but because I couldn't access the podcast, there wasn't any way to properly write about it. If you're as technologically ill-equipped as I, the podcasts have been put up on MovieWeb. There are two up now, and both are worth watching for the gorgeous scenery (no, I'm not talking about Jackman) and the glimpses of the film. The one on still photography is especially stunning -- pure art!
ITunes and 20th Century Fox have also paired up to bring ten Set to Screen with Baz Luhurman podcasts, which document all aspects of the upcoming film. This actually debuted yesterday, but because I couldn't access the podcast, there wasn't any way to properly write about it. If you're as technologically ill-equipped as I, the podcasts have been put up on MovieWeb. There are two up now, and both are worth watching for the gorgeous scenery (no, I'm not talking about Jackman) and the glimpses of the film. The one on still photography is especially stunning -- pure art!
