Film Junk » Industry News

Kevin Smith’s SModcast Pictures to Distribute Other People’s Films

Sean — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:25:24 +0000

It was almost exactly a year ago that Kevin Smith announced at Sundance that he would self-distribute Red State by personally taking it on tour across the U.S. It's clear that, thus far, the move hasn't torn down the Hollywood system or really changed how anyone else does business, but it did allow him to make a profit with Red State and got him plenty of attention for a movie that arguably didn't really deserve it. Now he is announcing what appears to be the next stage in his master plan to eventually retire from filmmaking: he will begin to release other people's movies through his "Kevin Smith and SModcast Pictures Presents" label with the help of Canadian distributor Phase 4. They will distribute up to twelve films per year via traditional and digital methods, with four of them being given the live tour treatment accompanied by Smith himself. Here is what Smith had to say about the deal:

"I had the most fun I’ve ever had in my entire career touring Red State last year... Watching the movie with an enthusiastic audience and then doing a longer Q&A than the flick itself, jumping on the tour bus and waking up in another city where we’d do it all over again – it felt less like boring ol’ film exhibition and more like punk rock. We learned (and made) lots touring Red State, so now, SModcast Pictures wants to put that experience to good use for other films and filmmakers on smaller road shows for their flicks. We’ll do four or five cities per film, where I’ll intro the movie and do a Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening. At SModcast Pictures, we aim to be the Island of Misfit Toys for flicks!"

Obviously the movies will also benefit from promotion via Kevin Smith's vast podcast network and online radio station. I'm pretty curious to see the kinds of films that Smith will be championing, although if it's anything like the indie flicks he distributed through View Askew like Drawing Flies and Vulgar, I don't think I'm that interested. Still, I think the man is smart enough to diversify and pick projects that he will be able to sell to his fans. On the other side of the coin, however, I'm wondering how many filmmakers will want to attach themselves to Kevin Smith. It seems like it could be both a blessing and a curse. In other Kevin Smith news, on February 2nd he is doing a live episode of Jay & Silent Bob Get Old followed by a Q&A that will be broadcast to theatres across North America called Kevin Smith: Live from Behind. He also has a new book coming out in March called Tough Shit: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good and his reality show Comic Book Men premieres on AMC on Feb. 12th. What do you think, is this announcement a good move for his career?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters Delayed to 2013

Sean — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:28:55 +0000

Believe it or not, we've got yet another fairytale being reinvented for the big screen, this time taking the well-known German story Hansel and Gretel and putting a genre spin on it. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the titular brother and sister who narrowly escape being eaten by an evil witch living in a house made out of candy. Picking up fifteen years later, this movie finds the duo now making a living as bounty hunters who kill supernatural beings. Because, of course they would! Although we hadn't heard much about it, the film was due to be released in March; alas, production problems seem to have pushed the theatrical release back another whole year. Entertainment Weekly debuted the first official photo from Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters last month, and at the time they mentioned that a trailer would be soon to follow. That trailer never came, which definitely seemed to indicate that something was wrong. Now this week Paramount has announced that the movie will hit theatres on January 11th, 2013 instead, although a full explanation for the delay was not given. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is being directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow). Despite Jeremy Renner's involvement, I can't say I had high expectations for this project to begin with, and the new January release date doesn't indicate much confidence from Paramount either. The delay may also cause some confusion as Michael Bay is working on a Hansel and Gretel 3D movie of his own and it could also potentially release sometime in 2013. Are you interested in seeing Hansel & Gretel as bounty hunters or are you already getting sick of fairy tale flicks and high-concept genre mash-ups?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Sony Pictures Classics Will Distribute Woody Allen’s Nero Fiddled

Aaron — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:35:43 +0000

It's been a banner year for Woody Allen as his Midnight in Paris received rave reviews and became his most financially successful film in 25 years. With that in mind, it makes sense that the distributer of that film, Sony Pictures Classics, would be interested in working with Allen again on his next film. And indeed, a deal has just been made for the studio to distribute Allen's 2012 comedy, Nero Fiddled, in North America and the UK. The film features an all-star cast which includes Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penelope Cruz, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page, Judy Davis, and Allen himself. As usual with the director, details on the plot have been kept to a minimum, although it is known that the film "consists of four separate vignettes — two with American characters, two with Italian characters — but the vignettes never intersect.” This film marks the fifth Woody Allen effort that Sony Pictures Classics has attached itself over the past few years. They plan on a summer release with a possible debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Allen's trend of picking a foreign city for his film's settings continues with Rome this time out, so we'll see if that inspires as much creativity as Paris. If nothing else, the cast certainly seems inspiring. Although, seeing Jesse Eisenberg in a Woody Allen movie might be hitting the nail on the head a bit too much; but I'm willing to give it a shot. What are your thoughts on Allen's latest project?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Universal Studios Orlando Closing Jaws Ride

Aaron — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:35:11 +0000

Of all the movie-related rides in the US, the Jaws ride at Universal Studios Orlando would probably rank among the most recognizable and popular. Unfortunately, the park has announced that on January 2nd the ride will officially be closed to make way for "an exciting, NEW experience." The decision is based on an effort to reinvigorate Universal Studios, which has been eclipsed in recent years by sister parks, Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Jaws ride has been a mainstay at the park since it opened in 1990 as well as the Amity-themed area surrounding the attraction. I suppose it's the nature of amusement parks to keep everything relevant and up to date, so a 20-plus year ride based on a 36 year-old film just doesn't make the cut anymore. Universal made an official statement on the news via their Facebook page:

Hey fans, we want you to be the first to know… JAWS! and the Amity area will officially close on January 2 to make room for an exciting, NEW, experience we’re planning for you. We know you love JAWS! and we do too. It has been an amazing attraction and after terrorizing the waters of Amity here at Universal Orlando for 20 years, it’s a VERY important part of our history. So, we’ve got a couple things planned to ensure we always remember and honor it. We know it’s hard to say goodbye, but we can’t express how EXCITED we are about the new, innovative & amazing experience we’re going to be bringing you.

Among the new attractions coming to Universal Studios Orlando qre a 3D ride based on Despicable Me and there's a rumor that a Hogwarts Express might be built to link all the parks together. What are your thoughts on the park updates?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Moneyball Returning to Theatres This Weekend

Sean — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:58:10 +0000

If you didn't catch one of the best movies of the year when it hit theatres back in September, you'll be getting another chance starting this Friday. 95% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes can't be wrong! Yesterday on Twitter, Jonah Hill announced that Sony would be re-releasing Moneyball back in theatres again this weekend. Although I have yet to see any official confirmation of this, it certainly seems to make a lot of sense. With the Oscars just around the corner and Moneyball snagging Best Screenplay from the New York Film Critics Circle yesterday, it's time to start their final awards push. With no other major releases hitting theatres this weekend, the field is wide open and they might even entice some people to see it again. Of course, in some places, Moneyball still hasn't stopped playing. According to Box Office Mojo, it was still playing on 187 screens as of last week. Either way, it will be interesting to see if Aaron Sorkin will make it two in a row at the Academy Awards this year, and whether or not Moneyball can swing nominations in any other categories. What do you think? Do you see it hitting a home run at the Oscars and will you be heading to theatres to see Moneyball one more time?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Martin Scorsese Wants to Shoot All Future Movies in 3D

Sean — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:22:56 +0000

There hasn't been a ton of discussion about Martin Scorsese's Hugo around these parts as of yet, mainly because most of us still haven't seen it -- and judging from the box office numbers, a lot of other people still haven't seen it yet either. It's probably both a blessing and a curse that the only thing people seem to be talking about is the fact that it's Scorsese's first time shooting in 3D. Of course, as it turns out, that's the only thing he seems to be talking about either. Over the past week or two he has done a handful of interviews and talks about the future of 3D movies, and he definitely seems to have bought into the technology wholeheartedly. Just how much does he love 3D? He even went so far as to say that he would prefer to continue working exclusively with 3D from here on in. Hit the jump to see the full quote and his reasoning behind it. In a recent interview with Deadline, he was asked if he would prefer to shoot all of his movies in 3D moving forward. Here is his response:

"Quite honestly, I would. I don’t think there’s a subject matter that can’t absorb 3D; that can’t tolerate the addition of depth as a storytelling technique. We view everyday life with depth. I think certain subject matters aren’t meant for 3D but you have to go back to Technicolor; when it was used in 1935 with Becky Sharp. For about 10-15 years, Technicolor was relegated to musicals, comedies and westerns. It wasn’t intended for the serious genres, but now everything is in color. And so it’s just a different mindset. Granted once the technology advances and you can eliminates glasses that are hindrances to some moviegoers, so why not? It’s just a natural progression."

He was also asked which of his previous movies would benefit most from 3D, to which he replied:

"That’s an interesting question. Let’s see…Aviator, maybe? Maybe Taxi Driver… because of the intimidation of the main character , his presence is everywhere, a frightening kind of presence."

We kind of expect to hear this sort of stuff coming from James Cameron's mouth, but now to hear Scorsese praising 3D it definitely adds a little more credibility to the medium. Somehow Martin Scorsese doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would hide any ulterior motives or work with a format that he didn't truly believe in. On the other hand, maybe he's just excited to have a new toy to play with as a filmmaker. What do you think, does this change your mind about 3D or does it just make you worried about the future of cinema?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Arrested Development Will Return with New Season Exclusively on Netflix

Sean — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:03:00 +0000

It's official: the Bluths are coming back to television... sort of. In a huge move, the streaming movie rental giant Netflix has stolen Arrested Development away from Fox and even pay TV networks like Showtime who were also trying to land the rights to air the new season of the show. The cult comedy will return in the first half of 2013 with a fourth season, and the new episodes will be exclusively available to Netflix subscribers. The plan, as previously rumoured, is for the fourth season to lead into a feature film, although details are still a bit murky on that front. The new season is expected to be a 10 episode run and will be produced by Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television. The folks over at Fox took this opportunity to toot their own horn a little:

Netflix’s bold entrance into original programming presents an exciting new opportunity for our two companies... Bringing a classic show back to production on new episodes exclusively for Netflix customers is a game changer, and illustrates the incredible potential the new digital landscape affords great content providers like 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine.

"We build brands at this studio which are so distinctive that audiences still clamor for them years after they go off the air. Arrested Development is a great example of that—it has stood the test of time. This innovative deal with Netflix represents a new business model that is extremely exciting and opens the door for a wide range of new collaborations."

I find it funny that they are taking credit for "building the brand" when they are also the ones who canceled the show. For that very reason, it seems only appropriate that Mitch Hurwitz should take Arrested Development to an online streaming service like Netflix, since the internet is where fan interest has fluorished and kept the show alive over the last few years. It's not the first step Netflix has taken towards original content either; they picked up David Fincher's House of Cards series earlier this year and they are also pursuing Orange is the New Black, the new series from Weeds creator Jenji Kohan. So what do you think, is this deal really a "game changer" as they have so boldly proclaimed? And more importantly, will Arrested Development be even more successful now than when it originally aired on Fox?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Ricky Gervais Confirmed as Host of Golden Globes for Third Year in a Row

Sean — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:19:12 +0000

Well it may seem hard to believe, but despite all of the controversy surrounding last year's Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has voted to bring back comedian Ricky Gervais to host for a third time. Last year he vowed not to hold anything back, and indeed it made for some awkward moments as he fired off many jokes that some felt were mean-spirited, poking fun at big Hollywood stars. Some loved it and others hated it, but one thing's for sure: it got people talking. So although both Gervais and the HFPA initially seemed to write off the idea of him hosting again, and although former HFPA president Philip Berk said he had "crossed the line", it clearly seems to be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Still, not all are in agreement; some sixteen of the 62 members of the HFPA still voted against the return of Gervais. As much as I love Ricky Gervais, I have to admit that I'm a little uneasy about the idea of him returning again. The fact that he is a Hollywood outsider definitely makes him an ideal person to host, but his comedic style makes the show all about him. It also creates an expectation that he's going to keep one-upping himself with more and more edgy material. He has even hinted on Twitter that he will be bringing holocaust and pedophile jokes this time around. So what do you think, is this a good move by the HFPA? The Golden Globes will air on January 15th on NBC, will you be tuning in to watch?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Atlas Shrugged DVD Recalled Due to Packaging Misprint

Sean — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:52:01 +0000

The big screen adaptation of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged may have bombed in theatres, but the film's producers were still holding out hope that maybe the movie would find an audience on home video. After all, the adaptation was planned as a trilogy, and when the first film failed to break $5 million at the box office it looked like the next two parts might never get made. Alas, it appears that Atlas Productions have shot themselves in the foot yet again, as they have announced that the DVD and Blu-rays will be recalled after hitting store shelves last week due to a misprint on the back cover. So what could be so damning that it would require a complete recall of the product? How about a synopsis of the film that completely contradicts the ideas conveyed in the book? According to the movie's official website, Atlas Productions LLC will be replacing over 100,000 title sheets for the film in order to correct the following statement: "AYN RAND's timeless novel of courage and self-sacrifice comes to life...". As it turns out, self-sacrifice is one of the very things that Ayn Rand was against, and the book promotes rational self-interest and the pursuit of one's own happiness above the common good. Harmon Kaslow, CEO of Atlas Productions, had this to say about the snafu:

"As we all well know, the ideas brought to life in Atlas Shrugged are entirely antithetical to the idea of 'self-sacrifice' as a virtue. Atlas is quite literally a story about the dangers of self-sacrifice. The error was an unfortunate one and fans of Ayn Rand and Atlas have every right to be upset... and we have every intention of making it right... To those that purchased the flawed cover, congratulations are in order. You’ve inadvertently got yourself a real collector’s item there."

Congratulations, indeed. If you already bought the DVD or Blu-ray, you can request a new insert sheet, free of charge. The rest of us can just sit back and look amused as we wonder how such a giant mistake can possibly slip by unnoticed. What a slap in the face to the few hardcore fans who are actually supporting this film.

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Billy Crystal Will Replace Eddie Murphy as the Next Host of the Oscars

Sean — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:46:19 +0000

Well I guess it was bound to happen, but in the wake of the controversy that forced Brett Ratner to resign as producer of the 84th Annual Academy Awards and Eddie Murphy to step down as host, the Academy has opted for the safest possible options to replace them: Brian Grazer and Billy Crystal. Grazer is a veteran movie producer and the co-founder of Imagine Entertainment with Ron Howard, while Crystal was the face of the Oscars throughout most of the '90s. This will be Billy Crystal's ninth time hosting the show; his last turn was back in 2004. Clearly the Academy was determined to act fast and to avoid any further fallout from this P.R. nightmare. Unfortunately, it seems that in their haste, they failed to pay any attention to an online campaign petitioning for The Muppets to host this year instead! Billy Crystal announced his return to the Oscars today with a short message on Twitter:

"Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show."

Oh Billy. It is a bit surprising that they were able to get him on board so quickly, especially since there were also rumours that Grazer had been asked to try to win back Eddie Murphy instead. Somehow this makes a lot more sense. Yeah, it's predictable and obvious, but in a way you can't blame the Academy for going back to a tried and tested host since most of their attempts to branch out have failed miserably. At any rate, at least we won't have endure weeks of speculation and rumours about something that most of us ultimately care very little about. What do you think, are you looking forward to watching Billy Crystal host the Oscars again? Would you have preferred The Muppets?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Eddie Murphy Follows Ratner and Exits the Oscars

Sean — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:03:44 +0000

And just like that, The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences finds itself back at square one with only three and a half months to go before next year's Oscar ceremony and telecast. After Brett Ratner decided to step down as producer of the 84th Academy Awards yesterday, host Eddie Murphy has now also followed suit as well. It was Ratner who originally pushed for him to take the job, and word on the street is that Eddie Murphy was somewhat reluctant to do it. They even brought in some of Murphy's writers to make him more comfortable, but now without Ratner there to reassure him, he has simply decided to bail on the whole thing. Today Murphy released the following short statement:

"First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job."

Now the race is on to find a new producer and host. Brian Grazer is rumoured to be in the running to replace Ratner and join the only remaining member of the original creative team, Don Mischer. Either way, it would seem that reports of a big Eddie Murphy comeback have been greatly exaggerated. Are you disappointed that Eddie Murphy will not be hosting the Oscars? Who would you like to see replace him?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Brett Ratner Bows Out of the Oscars

Sean — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:08:22 +0000

Well, that was quick. In the span of just one weekend, director Brett Ratner has somehow managed to unleash a P.R. nightmare of epic proportions, instantly turning most of the internet and Hollywood against him. (Well, okay that's not true... the internet was already against him.) After some questionable comments about his personal life on G4's Attack of the Show and The Howard Stern Show, the thing that really set people off was a homophobic remark made during a Q&A at the AFI Film Festival last Friday. When asked if he often rehearses scenes with his cast before committing them to film, he responded, "Rehearsal's for fags." He issued a public apology on the following Monday, but that didn't stop people from calling for his immediate dismissal as a producer of next year's Academy Award ceremony. Academy president Tom Sherak said that he would not be fired, but apparently the pressure was too much: The Rat has decided to step down himself. He has released the following statement:

Dear Colleagues, Over the last few days, I’ve gotten a well-deserved earful from many of the people I admire most in this industry expressing their outrage and disappointment over the hurtful and stupid things I said in a number of recent media appearances. To them, and to everyone I’ve hurt and offended, I’d like to apologize publicly and unreservedly. As difficult as the last few days have been for me, they cannot compare to the experience of any young man or woman who has been the target of offensive slurs or derogatory comments. And they pale in comparison to what any gay, lesbian, or transgender individual must deal with as they confront the many inequalities that continue to plague our world. So many artists and craftspeople in our business are members of the LGBT community, and it pains me deeply that I may have hurt them. I should have known this all along, but at least I know it now: words do matter. Having love in your heart doesn’t count for much if what comes out of your mouth is ugly and bigoted. With this in mind, and to all those who understandably feel that apologies are not enough, please know that I will be taking real action over the coming weeks and months in an effort to do everything I can both professionally and personally to help stamp out the kind of thoughtless bigotry I’ve so foolishly perpetuated. As a first step, I called Tom Sherak this morning and resigned as a producer of the 84th Academy Awards telecast. Being asked to help put on the Oscar show was the proudest moment of my career. But as painful as this may be for me, it would be worse if my association with the show were to be a distraction from the Academy and the high ideals it represents. I am grateful to GLAAD for engaging me in a dialogue about what we can do together to increase awareness of the important and troubling issues this episode has raised and I look forward to working with them. I am incredibly lucky to have a career in this business that I love with all of my heart and to be able to work alongside so many of my heroes. I deeply regret my actions and I am determined to learn from this experience. Sincerely, Brett Ratner

So there you have it. There has been no word on a replacement as of yet, but all eyes are now on Eddie Murphy as we wait to see whether or not he will remain on board as this year's host (Ratner was the one who originally recruited him). What do you think, did Ratner make the right decision here or did the situation simply get blown way out of proportion?

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!