Naomi Watts has joined Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins to star in the latest film from Woody Allen. The film, as-yet-untitled, will be financed by Mediapro, the Spain-based company that funded ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’.
Woody Allen’s next film, ‘Whatever Works’, returns Allen to his hometown of New York City. The untitled film starring Watts, Brolin and Hopkins will shoot in London.
‘Whatever Works’ is slated to come out on June 19th.
Source: Variety
Woody Allen’s summer project is written and scheduled to shoot in London and, as is typical, the title and plot are being kept secret. What isn’t a secret however, is that Sir Anthony Hopkins and Josh Brolin will be starring in the film, leading yet another awesome Woody Allen ensemble cast. Allen’s last film ‘Whatever Works’ recently got a deal for US distribution from Sony Pictures Classics, but nothing has been set yet for his new film. More news to come, I’m sure…
[source: Variety]
Let’s get one thing out of the way, if you see this, see it in IMAX 3-D. The 3-D is phenomenal and a must see for anyone that enjoys film or wants to see the future of the medium. The 3-D gives the movie a bit more life than it might normally have had, but you accept the look and it is a part of the film after the first Grendel attack.
Now the movie. Beowulf is a pretty good, with a classic story, a beautiful look and some amazing action scenes. The movie opens with a celebration of King Hrothgar and his people when Grendel, a beast of terrifying looks and brutality, barges in and kills pretty much everyone in the hall. This leads to a call for a “hero” to come and kill Grendel and Beowulf answers the call. To tell more would take away from the film and while it is a bit predictable and there aren’t any major twists, it is still probably best enjoyed knowing as little as possible.
This movie, as you might know is animated, which looks great, but is drawn to look like the actors who filmed the movie performance capture on a blue screen. This is the best way to tell this story I feel and I don’t think it would have looked as good or as doable as a live action film with CGI elements added in. The movie being animated also allows you to easily accept and not be taken aback by the scenes that would have been blatantly CGI enhanced as it looks just like everything else in the world.
The actors do alright work here, though Robin Wright Penn is a bit too wooden even for being a sad, sad character. Anthony Hopkins is also alright as the King with Ray Winstone playing an excellent bad ass in Beowulf. John Malkovich is also good as the sleazy Unferth with Brendan Gleeason being as great as he always is. Angelina Jolie also turns in some sexy and mysterious work as the mother to the best actor in the movie Crispin Glover. Glover as Grendel is terrifying and is a character that is truly freaky on screen. Glover throws together a performance that is unsettling and just eats away at you. I would love to find out how much of the physical performance he did as well.
Another bit to note with this movie, is that it is brutally violent and in no way is it possible that this is PG-13, I have no idea how it received that rating. Be warned if you are bringing little ones, it’s scary and messed up and there is plenty of blood and bodies tossed around the screen.
Any who, the movie is worth seeing just for the 3-D alone, but you will also be able to enjoy a classic tale, beautifully realized in this animated feature. The movie could have been trimmed up a bit and the acting could have been better, but the action and animation make up for it’s shortcomings easily and it’s ultimately an entertaining movie.
(4 out of 5)
It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve seen this year, but it was really unmoving. First, toss out most of what you know about the real Beowulf story because we don’t that mixed in here. Second, think of a video game cut scene that started off really well, and then extend it another hour and a half. Third, get ready to feel awkward checking out animated Angelina who isn’t technically naked, I don’t think.
Now, in that mindset, sit down and watch Beowulf and you’ll be far better prepared than I was. If I pretend I was ready for those three things, I can say that Beowulf was definitely interesting for its use of animated actors. Likewise there are some fantastic shots, and fun battle scenes that wouldn’t have been possible without the animation. However, the movie ends up feeling like a final-fantasy-esque cut scene with unrealistic and almost silly characters who’s emotions seem awkward and misplaced. If you’ve gone this long without seeing it, you might as well keep it that way. Maybe I’m a snob.
(2.5 out of 5)
[rating: 3.5/5]
“A dream within a dream,” a poem by Edgar Allen Poe, a line and a strange influence on this film that is mesmorizing and pleasing but also deeply cerebral and totally wacked. Anthony Hopkins stars as Felix Bonhoeffer, a screenwriter working on his latest mystery script, when his fictional world and his world of reality begin to collide, jumping in and out of time, people, places and events are playing leap-frog and he begins to question his own sanity. The story unfolds in a way that for many will be difficult, if not impossible, to fully comprehend after the first viewing. Much like many David Lynch films, I feel Slipstream will only improve with further viewings.
If nothing else, Slipstream is a really cool and intense visual joyride. The cinematography combines virtually all facets and styles imaginable, the editing is creatively stunning and also effective, given the intent of the film. The movie is mostly dramatic, but at times is humorous, and even a little frightening at moments. The story has elements that clearly play sarcastically upon Hopkins’ experience with making Hollywood movies. However, Hopkins’ story primarily delves into the mind of a writer who on some level is no longer in control of the very mind that is creating the story. Make sense? Exactly. Oh, did I also mention that Hopkins not only starred in the film, but also wrote, directed and composed the music for Slipstream? I was impressed. Then again, not everyone gets to go around with business cards reading Sir Anthony Hopkins.
I found Slipstream to be an exploration of a writer’s mind equivalent to Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, except with less drugs. The supporting cast also offers a great deal to the story, with virtually every actor playing at least two parts, all of which intermingle within the story. Jon Turturro, Michael Clarke Duncan and Christian Slater are among the sizable cast. Hopkins talks rather modestly in the Dreaming Slipstream featurette about his wife suggesting he write a movie, to which he replied he really didn’t have a desire to or even if he could. Well, this is one helluva writer-director debut, especially for someone as reluctantly willing as he claims to have been. Altogether, Slipstream isn’t the greatest film you’re going to see, but it is definitely worth taking in once, but likely twice, if you want to get the full effect. I did, bask-to-back actually, and it was certainly worth the effort. [Also, I recommend watching Slipstream all the way through to the end of the credits. Hopkins adds some little artistic bonuses for the viewer.]
[rating:3.5/5]
DVD Features:
So last week the director of the Universal remake of The Wolfman took a hike, citing “creative differences”. That was Mark Romanek, director of One Hour Photo and some truly great music videos (99 Problems, anyone?). The Wolfman remake stars Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins, but you already knew this, you clever reader.
However, since then Universal’s been courting a variety of replacements and the internet is all a twitter about who will step in replace him. Here are the current contenders who’ve made their way to Studio City (former home of the Back To The Future ride!) to talk to Universal. Read this list and imagine how different each version of this movie could be with one of them:
Brett Ratner (Rush Hour 3, X-Men 3)
Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, The Mist)
James Mangold (3:10 To Yuma)
Joe Johnston (Hidalgo, Jurassic Park 3)
Bill Condon (Dreamgirls)
Wow, that’s quite a range of filmmakers, eh? I guess the question is would you rather have your Wolfman remake full of moments like this:
Or moments like this:
Hmm. Of course, Collider.com is now reporting that John Landis is talking to Universal as well. You might remember he directed this little thing called An American Werewolf In London, it’s only THE BEST WEREWOLF FILM EVER MADE. Universal, don’t blow this one. If you trick me into watching another Van Helsing, I know where you live and I can get there in twenty minutes.
