Film Gecko

"Horton" director moves to "Jonah Hex"

Jimmy Hayward, who directed the animated "Horton Hears a Who!" will take a different turn with his next project. He’ll be directing the live-action "Jonah Hex" from Warner Bros.

Josh Brolin is attached to star in the western-centric film, which previously had Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor ("Crank") on board as directors. The duo, who penned the script, bowed out over creative differences in November.

Hex is a DC Comics character known for having the right side of his face disfigured and wearing a Confederate army uniform. He’s a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood. There’s also a supernatural element to the character.

Quite the difference from "Horton"! And yeah, I can totally see Josh Brolin in that role.

"Jonah Hex" is scheduled for a 2010 release date.

Image: Jimmy Hayward, Horton Hears a Who, 20th Century Fox Film Corp., 2008; Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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Warner Bros. Pictures 2009 Film Preview

Here’s the Warner Bros. 2009 Film Preview. And woohoo that "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" will finally hit theaters on July 17, 2009. "The Dark Knight" hits theaters — AGAIN! Zac Efron gets a chance to be young again in "17 Again" (uh, haven’t we seen that plotline in about 20 movies?), John Connor comes back in "Terminator: Salvation," Robert Downey, Jr. plays Sherlock Holmes, and Clint Eastwood is nowhere near retiring. He begins AND ends 2009 with new movies. Check out the lineup:

GRAN TORINO
In theatres on December 12 (NY & LA)
December 19 (Expansion)
December 25 (Expansion)
January 9 (Wide)
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Screenplay by Nick Schenk, Story by Dave Johannson & Nick Schenk
Producers: Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Bill Gerber
Executive Producers: Jenette Kahn, Adam Richman, Tim Moore, Bruce Berman
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Christopher Carley, John Carroll Lynch

Drama. Clint Eastwood stars in "Gran Torino," marking his first film role since his Oscar®-winning "Million Dollar Baby." Eastwood plays retired auto worker Walt Kowalski, an iron-willed veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. The people he once called his neighbors have all moved or passed away, replaced by Hmong immigrants, from Southeast Asia, he despises. Resentful of virtually everything and everyone he sees, Walt is just waiting out the rest of his life…until the night his teenage neighbor Thao tries to steal his prized `72 Gran Torino, under pressure from Hmong gang-bangers. But Walt stands in the way of both the heist and the gang, making him the reluctant hero of the neighborhood–especially to Thao’s mother and older sister, Sue, who insist that Thao work for Walt as a way to make amends. Though he initially wants nothing to do with these people, Walt eventually gives in and puts the boy to work, setting into motion an unlikely friendship that will change both their lives.
This film has been rated R by the MPAA for language throughout and some violence.

www.thegrantorino.com

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Sony Pictures 2009 Film Preview

Here’s a look at what’s on tap from Sony Pictures for 2009. Some great films! 

I’m especially looking forward to "The Pink Panther 2," "The Ugly Truth," "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans," and "Angels & Demons." And I’m REALLY curious about "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," because that was one of my kids’ favorite books.

Which of these movies are YOU most looking forward to?  

"Not Easily Broken" – Jan. 9, 2009

"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" – Jan. 16, 2009

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" – Jan. 23, 2009

"The Pink Panther 2" – Feb. 6, 2009

"The International" – Feb. 13, 2009

"Fired Up" – Feb. 20, 2009

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"Burn After Reading" – Making Brad Pitt look dorky – VIDEO

I wasn’t all that crazy about "Burn After Reading." It was ok, but with the cast and filmmakers (Joel and Ethan Coen), I expected more. Still, just the cast alone – including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Frances McDormand – is worth seeing. Read my review here.

Here’s a bonus clip on the DVD (released Dec. 21, 2008) that tells a little about how they made Brad Pitt look dorky. No small feat, I’m sure.

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"Weather Girl" – Preview & Trailer

"Weather Girl" stars Kaitlin Olson as a Seattle weather girl who’s fired from her job after she learns her boyfriend is cheating on her. Forced to move in with her brother, she begins an unlikely romance with a younger man — her brother’s best friend. I haven’t heard much about this movie, but it looks like a cute romantic comedy. Mark Harmon, Jane Lynch, John Cryer, Marin Hinkle, and Blair Underwood also star. In theaters Jan. 17, 2009. Check out the official site for "Weather Girl," and watch the trailer:

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Johnny Depp in "Public Enemies" – New Images

Here’s a movie that looks like it couldn’t possibly bomb at the box office. "Public Enemies," starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis. How can you go wrong?!

Directed by Michael Mann (more bonus points), the movie follows the feds as they try to take down the notorious gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Pretty Boy Floyd (Channing Tatum) during a booming crime wave in the 1930’s.

Also stars Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover, Stephen Dorff as Homer Van Meter, and Stephen Lang as Charles Winstead. He played attorney David Abrams in one of my favorite Michael Mann TV shows, "Crime Story."

"Public Enemies" hits theaters July 1, 2009.

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"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" – Preview & Trailer

I was just telling someone that "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" looks like such a funny movie. In the trailer, check out the scene where Kevin James slides across the floor in slo-mo. He’s a master at the physical comedy, and clearly doesn’t take himself too seriously.

He stars as a single, suburban dad, trying to make ends meet as a security officer at a New Jersey mall. Though no one else takes his job seriously, Paul considers himself on the front lines of safety. When a heist shuts down the megaplex, Jersey’s most formidable mall cop will have to become a REAL cop to save the day. In theaters Jan. 16, 2009. Rated PG for some violence, mild crude and suggestive humor, and language. [Official site]

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"Monsters vs. Aliens" – New Image of Reese Witherspoon’s Character

Here’s a new image for "Monsters vs. Aliens," headed to theaters March 27, 2009. The DreamWorks movie follows a young girl (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) who turns into a monster after being hit by a meteorite from outer space. She’s then taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. Also features the voices of Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Keifer Sutherland, Hugh Laurie, and others.

Image: Newscom

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"New Moon" News: Vanessa Hudgens in for Leah?

Rumors are swirling that Vanessa Hudgens, cutie from the "High School Musical" movies might be close to signing as the character of Leah in "New Moon."

Wow, I really can’t see her in the role at all. What do you guys think about this? Maybe I need to stop thinking of her in terms of the HSM movies, since those are pretty much a done deal. I mean, she has to move on, right?

The "Twilight" sequel is in the works, with Chris Weitz in as director and filming scheduled to begin in March. Look for the vampire movie to be theaters on Nov. 20, 2009.

And if you haven’t yet checked out our "New Moon Casting News and Rumors" discussion, get over there and check it out!

Image: Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron; Newscom

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Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in for "Tintin"?

Simon Pegg revealed to the The Sunday Times back in September that Steven Spielberg had asked he and Nick Frost to play the Thompson Twins in "Tintin." 

At the time, it sounded more like a rumor than anything, but Ain’t It Cool News is reporting that it’s a done deal: "According to a reliable source not at all involved in the production, those rumblings we heard last fall about Simon Pegg and Nick Frost being cast as the Thomson and Thompson were right on the money. They’re in."

Ok, these guys don’t exactly look like twins (they’re pictured, in "Shaun of the Dead"), but word is that Spielberg will use motion capture technology, so we may not actually see them on screen, but will hear their voices and see their performances. Hmmm … it’ll be interesting to see how that shakes out.

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