Film Junk » Music http://www.filmjunk.com Blog and Podcast Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:09:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en Kate Winslet and Catherine Keener Join Charlie Kaufman’s Frank or Francis http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/kate-winslet-and-catherine-keener-join-charlie-kaufmans-frank-or-francis/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/kate-winslet-and-catherine-keener-join-charlie-kaufmans-frank-or-francis/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:30:09 +0000 Aaron http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70091 It's been a few months since we've heard anything regarding Charlie Kaufman's upcoming film Frank or Francis, but today news broke that both Kate Winslet and Catherine Keener will join the already impressive cast that includes Jack Black, Steve Carell, Nicolas Cage, and Kevin Kline. There's no word on which parts they will play as of yet, though if Kaufman's previous directorial effort Synecdoche, New York is any indication, there will be a multitude of possibilities. Each actress has worked on Kaufman-scripted films before (Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Keener in Being John Malkovich) and earned Academy Award nominations for their efforts. It's no surprise that such prestigious performers want to collaborate with Kaufman again since he brings such a unique voice to filmmaking, writing the kind of parts most people would never dream of. With the present cast in place, I'm very much looking forward to Frank or Francis, especially since it seems more Kaufman-esque than usual. Described as a "meta musical comedy," the story centers on a successful director (Carell) who becomes obsessed with a message board commenter (Black) who disparages his work. Cage plays a washed up actor who is hosting the Academy Awards and Kevin Kline plays a man who invents a mechanical head with the purpose of generating the perfect screenplay (Kline will also play the head). The whole thing sounds like a bizarre knock on Hollywood, although knowing Kaufman there's bound to be dozens of other ideas crammed in for good measure. How much are you anticipating the latest from Charlie Kaufman?

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]]> It's been a few months since we've heard anything regarding Charlie Kaufman's upcoming film Frank or Francis, but today news broke that both Kate Winslet and Catherine Keener will join the already impressive cast that includes Jack Black, Steve Carell, Nicolas Cage, and Kevin Kline. There's no word on which parts they will play as of yet, though if Kaufman's previous directorial effort Synecdoche, New York is any indication, there will be a multitude of possibilities. Each actress has worked on Kaufman-scripted films before (Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Keener in Being John Malkovich) and earned Academy Award nominations for their efforts. It's no surprise that such prestigious performers want to collaborate with Kaufman again since he brings such a unique voice to filmmaking, writing the kind of parts most people would never dream of. With the present cast in place, I'm very much looking forward to Frank or Francis, especially since it seems more Kaufman-esque than usual. Described as a "meta musical comedy," the story centers on a successful director (Carell) who becomes obsessed with a message board commenter (Black) who disparages his work. Cage plays a washed up actor who is hosting the Academy Awards and Kevin Kline plays a man who invents a mechanical head with the purpose of generating the perfect screenplay (Kline will also play the head). The whole thing sounds like a bizarre knock on Hollywood, although knowing Kaufman there's bound to be dozens of other ideas crammed in for good measure. How much are you anticipating the latest from Charlie Kaufman?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/kate-winslet-and-catherine-keener-join-charlie-kaufmans-frank-or-francis/feed/ Rob Marshall to Direct Adaptation of Into the Woods http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/13/rob-marshall-to-direct-adaptation-of-into-the-woods/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/13/rob-marshall-to-direct-adaptation-of-into-the-woods/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:40:49 +0000 Aaron http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=69493 Director Rob Marshall may not be a fanboy favorite after Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides, but since that film earned over $1 billion at the box office, Disney is eager to work with him again. To that end, they've annouced that Marshall has been tapped to direct an adaptation of the Broadway hit Into the Woods for the studio. Written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, the musical "intertwines several classic fairytale characters, including Cinderella, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood, with the story of a baker and his wife’s attempt to have a family." Interestingly, Lapine and Sondheim will be collaborating with Marshall on the project with the former penning the script and the latter expected to write new songs. Into the Woods will return Marshall to the genre that gave him success with Best Picture winner Chicago (although there's also Nine to consider as well...). So, we now have another potential big budget fairytale film in development after hearing about Tim Burton's possible Pinocchio movie earlier this week. I have a feeling that with Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman hitting later this year, this trend will probably die down before either Marshall or Burton start shooting their films. That is, if Marshall even makes Into the Woods his next film. He also has a remake of The Thin Man in development with Johnny Depp already on board. As for the next Pirates movie, it seems a ways off with the script still being polished. Which film would you most like to see Marshall take on next?

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]]> Director Rob Marshall may not be a fanboy favorite after Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides, but since that film earned over $1 billion at the box office, Disney is eager to work with him again. To that end, they've annouced that Marshall has been tapped to direct an adaptation of the Broadway hit Into the Woods for the studio. Written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, the musical "intertwines several classic fairytale characters, including Cinderella, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood, with the story of a baker and his wife’s attempt to have a family." Interestingly, Lapine and Sondheim will be collaborating with Marshall on the project with the former penning the script and the latter expected to write new songs. Into the Woods will return Marshall to the genre that gave him success with Best Picture winner Chicago (although there's also Nine to consider as well...). So, we now have another potential big budget fairytale film in development after hearing about Tim Burton's possible Pinocchio movie earlier this week. I have a feeling that with Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman hitting later this year, this trend will probably die down before either Marshall or Burton start shooting their films. That is, if Marshall even makes Into the Woods his next film. He also has a remake of The Thin Man in development with Johnny Depp already on board. As for the next Pirates movie, it seems a ways off with the script still being polished. Which film would you most like to see Marshall take on next?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/13/rob-marshall-to-direct-adaptation-of-into-the-woods/feed/ Mike Myers Writing an Austin Powers Stage Musical http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/12/14/mike-myers-writing-an-austin-powers-stage-musical/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/12/14/mike-myers-writing-an-austin-powers-stage-musical/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:13:35 +0000 Aaron http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=68206 If you've been wondering what Mike Myers has been busy with lately, the answer you're about to get may not seem very promising. It seems the former SNL star is returning to familiar territory, writing an Austin Powers musical for the stage. The show won't be an adaptation of any of the films, but rather a prequel which will be set in '60s London and "detail how Powers first acquired his mighty mojo." Myers will not be starring in the production himself, although one person who has signed on is Casey Nicholaw, who will take on directing duties. Nicholaw has recently co-directed Matt Stone and Trey Parker's The Book of Mormon on Broadway. While not considered musicals, the Powers films certainly contained many musically-driven sequences which added to their charm. The stage show will be set to the music of Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, two staples of the movies. But whatever happened to the supposed Austin Powers sequel that had been rumored some time ago? Word on the street is that Myers is still developing a fourth film, but it hasn't even gotten to the writing stage yet. So, from the looks of it, we'll be seeing Austin Powers on stage before we see him on screen again. As for the idea of an Austin Powers musical, it may not be way off base given the nature of the films, but it still comes across as lazy or desperate to me. The past few years have provided a wave of musical adaptations of films and the trend is getting old. Would an Austin Powers musical be your kind of bag, baby?

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]]> If you've been wondering what Mike Myers has been busy with lately, the answer you're about to get may not seem very promising. It seems the former SNL star is returning to familiar territory, writing an Austin Powers musical for the stage. The show won't be an adaptation of any of the films, but rather a prequel which will be set in '60s London and "detail how Powers first acquired his mighty mojo." Myers will not be starring in the production himself, although one person who has signed on is Casey Nicholaw, who will take on directing duties. Nicholaw has recently co-directed Matt Stone and Trey Parker's The Book of Mormon on Broadway. While not considered musicals, the Powers films certainly contained many musically-driven sequences which added to their charm. The stage show will be set to the music of Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, two staples of the movies. But whatever happened to the supposed Austin Powers sequel that had been rumored some time ago? Word on the street is that Myers is still developing a fourth film, but it hasn't even gotten to the writing stage yet. So, from the looks of it, we'll be seeing Austin Powers on stage before we see him on screen again. As for the idea of an Austin Powers musical, it may not be way off base given the nature of the films, but it still comes across as lazy or desperate to me. The past few years have provided a wave of musical adaptations of films and the trend is getting old. Would an Austin Powers musical be your kind of bag, baby?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/12/14/mike-myers-writing-an-austin-powers-stage-musical/feed/ Rock of Ages Trailer Starring Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/12/13/rock-of-ages-trailer-starring-tom-cruise-and-alec-baldwin/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/12/13/rock-of-ages-trailer-starring-tom-cruise-and-alec-baldwin/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:37:38 +0000 Sean http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=68173 There are at least a handful of Broadway musicals that have been major successes on the big screen over the last few years, and something tells me that Adam Shankman's adaptation of Rock of Ages has the potential to be one of the biggest ones yet. It has a star-studded cast and the crossover appeal of classic '80s rock songs, and it could even catch on with the Glee crowd (although Glee: The 3D Concert Movie tanked at the box office, so maybe that's not a good thing to rely on). But there is one big risk associated with this movie: it also happens to star Tom Cruise in a headlining role as legendary rocker Stacee Jaxx. The first trailer for Rock of Ages cautiously dances around that fact, attempting to win you over with a sense of humour before eventually building up to the reveal of Tom Cruise on stage. I have to admit, I didn't think I would have any interest in this at all, but seeing Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Paul Giamatti hamming it up almost changed my mind. Cruise's character seems to be mostly in the background, which is probably a good thing. I honestly have no idea what the reaction to this trailer will be, but one thing's for sure: the musical renditions of some of these songs are pretty terrible. Rock of Ages hits theatres on June 1st, 2012; check out the trailer after the jump.

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]]> There are at least a handful of Broadway musicals that have been major successes on the big screen over the last few years, and something tells me that Adam Shankman's adaptation of Rock of Ages has the potential to be one of the biggest ones yet. It has a star-studded cast and the crossover appeal of classic '80s rock songs, and it could even catch on with the Glee crowd (although Glee: The 3D Concert Movie tanked at the box office, so maybe that's not a good thing to rely on). But there is one big risk associated with this movie: it also happens to star Tom Cruise in a headlining role as legendary rocker Stacee Jaxx. The first trailer for Rock of Ages cautiously dances around that fact, attempting to win you over with a sense of humour before eventually building up to the reveal of Tom Cruise on stage. I have to admit, I didn't think I would have any interest in this at all, but seeing Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Paul Giamatti hamming it up almost changed my mind. Cruise's character seems to be mostly in the background, which is probably a good thing. I honestly have no idea what the reaction to this trailer will be, but one thing's for sure: the musical renditions of some of these songs are pretty terrible. Rock of Ages hits theatres on June 1st, 2012; check out the trailer after the jump.

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/12/13/rock-of-ages-trailer-starring-tom-cruise-and-alec-baldwin/feed/ Sylvester Stallone is Producing a Rocky Musical http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/28/sylvester-stallone-is-producing-a-rocky-musical/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/28/sylvester-stallone-is-producing-a-rocky-musical/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000 Sean http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=67167 Nowadays it seems like a given that almost every hit musical will eventually get turned into a movie, and increasingly we've been finding that the reverse is also true: a lot of popular movies are being turned into musicals. Everything from The Evil Dead to The Toxic Avenger to Spider-Man have recently received stage adaptations, partially in an attempt to woo genre fans and other folks who wouldn't normally be interested in musicals. Now it appears that one of the manliest franchises of all time is finally about to get turned into a musical: the tale of the Italian Stallion himself, Rocky Balboa. Yes, it's true, Rocky: The Musical is set to open next year in Germany, and Sylvester Stallone is even involved as a co-producer. Who's in? When you think about it, Rocky is actually a perfect movie to turn into a musical since music has played such a large role in all of the films. Songs like "Gonna Fly Now" and "Eye of the Tiger," will indeed be included in the production. Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime) will re-interpret the songs while Tony-award winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers) will write the book. As you might also expect, a lot more emphasis will be placed on the love story between Rocky and Adrian. The weird thing is that it sounds like the choreography will be based partially on boxing moves with Ukranian boxing stars Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko helping to train the cast. No word on plans to bring it to America, but if it's a hit overseas, I'm sure the U.S. would be the next stop. Either way, let's hope it's not another fiasco on par with Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark. Would you pay to see a Rocky musical?

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]]> Nowadays it seems like a given that almost every hit musical will eventually get turned into a movie, and increasingly we've been finding that the reverse is also true: a lot of popular movies are being turned into musicals. Everything from The Evil Dead to The Toxic Avenger to Spider-Man have recently received stage adaptations, partially in an attempt to woo genre fans and other folks who wouldn't normally be interested in musicals. Now it appears that one of the manliest franchises of all time is finally about to get turned into a musical: the tale of the Italian Stallion himself, Rocky Balboa. Yes, it's true, Rocky: The Musical is set to open next year in Germany, and Sylvester Stallone is even involved as a co-producer. Who's in? When you think about it, Rocky is actually a perfect movie to turn into a musical since music has played such a large role in all of the films. Songs like "Gonna Fly Now" and "Eye of the Tiger," will indeed be included in the production. Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime) will re-interpret the songs while Tony-award winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers) will write the book. As you might also expect, a lot more emphasis will be placed on the love story between Rocky and Adrian. The weird thing is that it sounds like the choreography will be based partially on boxing moves with Ukranian boxing stars Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko helping to train the cast. No word on plans to bring it to America, but if it's a hit overseas, I'm sure the U.S. would be the next stop. Either way, let's hope it's not another fiasco on par with Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark. Would you pay to see a Rocky musical?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/28/sylvester-stallone-is-producing-a-rocky-musical/feed/ Flight of the Conchords Movie Could Happen http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/25/flight-of-the-conchords-movie-could-happen/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/25/flight-of-the-conchords-movie-could-happen/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:32:46 +0000 Sean http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=67220 With Arrested Development finally set to make its TV comeback and (eventually) a big screen debut, there are a handful of other TV shows that are waiting in the wings for a movie comeback of their own. In particular, we've been hearing rumours about movies based on two Rob Thomas shows, Veronica Mars and Party Down,being in development for a while now. This week we've got yet another juicy rumour to add to the mix. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter at The Muppets premiere, actor / comedian / musician Bret McKenzie revealed that a Flight of the Conchords feature film might also be in the cards. It's difficult to tell just how serious he was, but he did say, "We’re gonna try and do a movie... We just need a story." McKenzie then went on to joke that the movie might be closer than we think:
"I’m gonna go back to New Zealand tomorrow, maybe film it next week. And then edit it the week after... I don’t know how familiar you are with movies, but there’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff that could take one or two weeks. Probably in about a month we’ll have a premiere."
Still, it's an interesting proposition, especially considering that the show wasn't flat out canceled, they just decided not to do a third season. HBO also seems to be open to turning their shows into movie franchises thanks to the success of the Sex and the City films (Entourage is expected to be the next one to make the jump). On the other hand, Conchords was definitely not a huge ratings hit for HBO and it's hard to imagine that a movie would draw much of a crowd. Complicating things further, Jemaine's career has kind of taken off in the past year or so (he has a big role in Men in Black III this summer) and Bret is starring in The Hobbit. Will it happen? I'm not sure but I'd love to see it. Would you be interested in a Flight of the Conchords movie?

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]]> With Arrested Development finally set to make its TV comeback and (eventually) a big screen debut, there are a handful of other TV shows that are waiting in the wings for a movie comeback of their own. In particular, we've been hearing rumours about movies based on two Rob Thomas shows, Veronica Mars and Party Down,being in development for a while now. This week we've got yet another juicy rumour to add to the mix. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter at The Muppets premiere, actor / comedian / musician Bret McKenzie revealed that a Flight of the Conchords feature film might also be in the cards. It's difficult to tell just how serious he was, but he did say, "We’re gonna try and do a movie... We just need a story." McKenzie then went on to joke that the movie might be closer than we think:
"I’m gonna go back to New Zealand tomorrow, maybe film it next week. And then edit it the week after... I don’t know how familiar you are with movies, but there’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff that could take one or two weeks. Probably in about a month we’ll have a premiere."
Still, it's an interesting proposition, especially considering that the show wasn't flat out canceled, they just decided not to do a third season. HBO also seems to be open to turning their shows into movie franchises thanks to the success of the Sex and the City films (Entourage is expected to be the next one to make the jump). On the other hand, Conchords was definitely not a huge ratings hit for HBO and it's hard to imagine that a movie would draw much of a crowd. Complicating things further, Jemaine's career has kind of taken off in the past year or so (he has a big role in Men in Black III this summer) and Bret is starring in The Hobbit. Will it happen? I'm not sure but I'd love to see it. Would you be interested in a Flight of the Conchords movie?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/25/flight-of-the-conchords-movie-could-happen/feed/ John Goodman and Justin Timberlake Join the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/01/john-goodman-and-justin-timberlake-join-the-coen-brothers-inside-llewyn-davis/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/01/john-goodman-and-justin-timberlake-join-the-coen-brothers-inside-llewyn-davis/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:29:30 +0000 Aaron http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=65960 As the Coen Brothers prepare their next film, an exploration into the '60s New York folk scene called Inside Llewyn Davis, the cast list continues to grow. They've already picked Oscar Isaac for the title role and Carey Mulligan has also signed on. This week, there's two exciting new additions - one a newcomer to Coen-land, the other an old favorite. Starting off with the new blood, the Coens have reportedly offered a sizable part to Justin Timberlake, who will play a musician and husband to Mulligan's character. Considering that we've heard that the Coens may shoot scenes "with live music played by the performers on set and overlapping, naturalistic dialogue," Timberlake's background as a singer could come in handy. Though the choice may seem like an odd fit, the Coens have a knack for casting and Timberlake has proven himself, at least in ensemble films. The other bit of casting news will be sure to delight long-time Coen fans. After an absence of over a decade, John Goodman will finally return to work with the dynamic duo. His last appearance in one of their films came in 2000's O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Currently, it's unclear what part Goodman will play, but knowing the Coens, I'm sure they will have another memorable role for him. Shooting for the film is scheduled for early 2012, which hopefully means it will be ready for a late year awards run. Financed without studio backing and described as "The Mighty Wind with ominous twists," how much are you anticipating Inside Llewyn Davis? What do you think of the latest casting additions?

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]]> As the Coen Brothers prepare their next film, an exploration into the '60s New York folk scene called Inside Llewyn Davis, the cast list continues to grow. They've already picked Oscar Isaac for the title role and Carey Mulligan has also signed on. This week, there's two exciting new additions - one a newcomer to Coen-land, the other an old favorite. Starting off with the new blood, the Coens have reportedly offered a sizable part to Justin Timberlake, who will play a musician and husband to Mulligan's character. Considering that we've heard that the Coens may shoot scenes "with live music played by the performers on set and overlapping, naturalistic dialogue," Timberlake's background as a singer could come in handy. Though the choice may seem like an odd fit, the Coens have a knack for casting and Timberlake has proven himself, at least in ensemble films. The other bit of casting news will be sure to delight long-time Coen fans. After an absence of over a decade, John Goodman will finally return to work with the dynamic duo. His last appearance in one of their films came in 2000's O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Currently, it's unclear what part Goodman will play, but knowing the Coens, I'm sure they will have another memorable role for him. Shooting for the film is scheduled for early 2012, which hopefully means it will be ready for a late year awards run. Financed without studio backing and described as "The Mighty Wind with ominous twists," how much are you anticipating Inside Llewyn Davis? What do you think of the latest casting additions?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/01/john-goodman-and-justin-timberlake-join-the-coen-brothers-inside-llewyn-davis/feed/ The Coen Brothers’ Latest Film Gets Funding and a Title http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/09/02/the-coen-brothers-latest-film-gets-funding-and-a-title/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/09/02/the-coen-brothers-latest-film-gets-funding-and-a-title/#comments Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:47:22 +0000 Aaron http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=63027 Back in June, the Coen Brothers dropped a few tidbits on their upcoming film while being interviewed by Noah Baumbach, saying that it would be set in the 1960s New York folk scene and that it would feature live music performances. Now that StudioCanal has announced they will co-finance the film, a little more information has come to light. The film is entitled Inside Llewyn Davis and will be adapted from the "posthumous memoir The Mayor of MacDougal Street by folk singer Dave van Ronk, a central figure in New York-based folk revival of the 1960s." In addition, we now know that Scott Rudin and Robert Graf will come on board as producers. They've previously worked with the Coens on True Grit and No Country for Old Men. Inside Llewyn Davis is sounding like more and more of a departure for the Coens, although with O Brother, Where Art Thou? in their filmography, they're no strangers to music-heavy films. With the commercial success of True Grit, I suppose now is the time for them to experiment and try something different. The brothers have commented that, in addition to live music, the film will feature naturalistic dialog, giving viewers more of a documentary-like sense of being in the setting. I'm not sure what the film will turn out like, but I'm already curious to find out. There's currently no word on casting or a shooting schedule, so we'll all have some time to imagine what the duo will come up with. How much are you looking forward to Inside Llewyn Davis?

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]]> Back in June, the Coen Brothers dropped a few tidbits on their upcoming film while being interviewed by Noah Baumbach, saying that it would be set in the 1960s New York folk scene and that it would feature live music performances. Now that StudioCanal has announced they will co-finance the film, a little more information has come to light. The film is entitled Inside Llewyn Davis and will be adapted from the "posthumous memoir The Mayor of MacDougal Street by folk singer Dave van Ronk, a central figure in New York-based folk revival of the 1960s." In addition, we now know that Scott Rudin and Robert Graf will come on board as producers. They've previously worked with the Coens on True Grit and No Country for Old Men. Inside Llewyn Davis is sounding like more and more of a departure for the Coens, although with O Brother, Where Art Thou? in their filmography, they're no strangers to music-heavy films. With the commercial success of True Grit, I suppose now is the time for them to experiment and try something different. The brothers have commented that, in addition to live music, the film will feature naturalistic dialog, giving viewers more of a documentary-like sense of being in the setting. I'm not sure what the film will turn out like, but I'm already curious to find out. There's currently no word on casting or a shooting schedule, so we'll all have some time to imagine what the duo will come up with. How much are you looking forward to Inside Llewyn Davis?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/09/02/the-coen-brothers-latest-film-gets-funding-and-a-title/feed/ Hear a Clip from Trent Reznor’s Score for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/08/12/hear-a-clip-from-trent-reznors-score-for-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/08/12/hear-a-clip-from-trent-reznors-score-for-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:46:05 +0000 Sean http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=61820 As we anxiously await a new trailer for David Fincher's upcoming adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, it seems that any little tidbit that comes out about the film gives us more reason to be excited. Sony recently updated the film's official website with images and bios for 18 different characters from the film. It's a lot to absorb, but if you haven't read the book or seen the original film, you may benefit from checking these out. I've seen the original and I don't even remember half of these people. More importantly, however, they've also added a piece of the score from the film in the background, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The duo won an Oscar for their score for Fincher's last film, The Social Network, but this is much more subdued and much less electronic. Which is, I suppose, only appropriate. While it may not blow your mind, it certainly sets an eerie and sinister tone for the film. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hits theatres on Dec. 23rd; listen to the track after the jump and see what you think.

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]]> As we anxiously await a new trailer for David Fincher's upcoming adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, it seems that any little tidbit that comes out about the film gives us more reason to be excited. Sony recently updated the film's official website with images and bios for 18 different characters from the film. It's a lot to absorb, but if you haven't read the book or seen the original film, you may benefit from checking these out. I've seen the original and I don't even remember half of these people. More importantly, however, they've also added a piece of the score from the film in the background, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The duo won an Oscar for their score for Fincher's last film, The Social Network, but this is much more subdued and much less electronic. Which is, I suppose, only appropriate. While it may not blow your mind, it certainly sets an eerie and sinister tone for the film. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hits theatres on Dec. 23rd; listen to the track after the jump and see what you think.

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/08/12/hear-a-clip-from-trent-reznors-score-for-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/feed/ Spike Jonze Directs Beastie Boys Action Figures in Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/07/19/spike-jonze-directs-beastie-boys-action-figures-in-dont-play-no-game-that-i-cant-win-video/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/07/19/spike-jonze-directs-beastie-boys-action-figures-in-dont-play-no-game-that-i-cant-win-video/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:54:48 +0000 Sean http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=60086 As many people know, Spike Jonze got his start directing TV commercials and music videos, including what is arguably one of the greatest music videos of all time, the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage". Now Spike Jonze and the Beastie Boys have teamed up again over a decade later for their latest video "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (feat. Santigold)", taken from the album Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two. The video was written by Adam Yauch and was shot entirely using Beastie Boys action figures... think Team America: World Police meets Fantastic Mr. Fox. Am I alone in wanting to see a full-blown Spike Jonze stop motion animated film after this? Check out the extended 11 minute cut after the jump.

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]]> As many people know, Spike Jonze got his start directing TV commercials and music videos, including what is arguably one of the greatest music videos of all time, the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage". Now Spike Jonze and the Beastie Boys have teamed up again over a decade later for their latest video "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (feat. Santigold)", taken from the album Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two. The video was written by Adam Yauch and was shot entirely using Beastie Boys action figures... think Team America: World Police meets Fantastic Mr. Fox. Am I alone in wanting to see a full-blown Spike Jonze stop motion animated film after this? Check out the extended 11 minute cut after the jump.

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/07/19/spike-jonze-directs-beastie-boys-action-figures-in-dont-play-no-game-that-i-cant-win-video/feed/ Eastwood Wants DiCaprio for A Star is Born Remake? http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/06/28/eastwood-wants-dicaprio-for-a-star-is-born-remake/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/06/28/eastwood-wants-dicaprio-for-a-star-is-born-remake/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:23:05 +0000 Aaron http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=58936 First Quentin Tarantino wants Leonardo DiCaprio for his next film and now Clint Eastwood reportedly wants him for his next project as well. After finishing up work on J. Edgar (due to be released in December), Eastwood will tackle a remake of the show biz drama/musical A Star is Born for Warner Bros. Yes, that's right, Clint Eastwood is directing a musical. For those unfamiliar, the story of A Star is Born centers on a movie star who helps a young singer/actress find fame, even as his own career wanes due to age and alcoholism. Beyonce Knowles has already joined the film as the up-and-coming star and Leo, should he sign on, would naturally play the established performer. The project has been kicking around Warner Bros. for a few years now and at one point Will Smith was in talks to star with Knowles. DiCaprio seems like an interesting choice for the lead, although the role seems like the kind of tortured soul character he's done before. I'm more interested in seeing how Clint Eastwood handles a musical, a genre he hasn't even touched since at least Honkytonk Man in 1982 or even more famously (or infamously) in Paint Your Wagon. The film actually kind of makes sense for him given his interest in music. Eastwood has scored several of his own films and has made his love of jazz known through films like Bird. Seen in that context, making a full-on musical feels less far removed from his body of work than first glance might suggest. But back to the casting, what are your thoughts on DiCaprio teaming with Beyonce? Can you picture him in a musical?

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]]> First Quentin Tarantino wants Leonardo DiCaprio for his next film and now Clint Eastwood reportedly wants him for his next project as well. After finishing up work on J. Edgar (due to be released in December), Eastwood will tackle a remake of the show biz drama/musical A Star is Born for Warner Bros. Yes, that's right, Clint Eastwood is directing a musical. For those unfamiliar, the story of A Star is Born centers on a movie star who helps a young singer/actress find fame, even as his own career wanes due to age and alcoholism. Beyonce Knowles has already joined the film as the up-and-coming star and Leo, should he sign on, would naturally play the established performer. The project has been kicking around Warner Bros. for a few years now and at one point Will Smith was in talks to star with Knowles. DiCaprio seems like an interesting choice for the lead, although the role seems like the kind of tortured soul character he's done before. I'm more interested in seeing how Clint Eastwood handles a musical, a genre he hasn't even touched since at least Honkytonk Man in 1982 or even more famously (or infamously) in Paint Your Wagon. The film actually kind of makes sense for him given his interest in music. Eastwood has scored several of his own films and has made his love of jazz known through films like Bird. Seen in that context, making a full-on musical feels less far removed from his body of work than first glance might suggest. But back to the casting, what are your thoughts on DiCaprio teaming with Beyonce? Can you picture him in a musical?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/06/28/eastwood-wants-dicaprio-for-a-star-is-born-remake/feed/ The Coen Brothers Planning Biopic on New York Folk Legend Dave Van Ronk http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/06/27/the-coen-brothers-planning-biopic-on-new-york-folk-legend-dave-van-ronk/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/06/27/the-coen-brothers-planning-biopic-on-new-york-folk-legend-dave-van-ronk/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:01:40 +0000 Sean http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=58865 Although they wrote the script for the upcoming Gambit remake that is currently in production right now, The Coen Brothers are not directing the heist flick themselves. Instead they are hard at work prepping their follow-up to True Grit, and although they've been somewhat tight-lipped about it, details are slowly starting to leak out. Earlier this month they revealed that their next film would focus heavily on music, and that it would potentially involve shooting a lot of live music. Since then, we have also learned that the movie will be set in New York City and that it will be about the folk scene from the 1960s as told from the perspective of one of the scene's most important founding fathers: folk and blues guitarist Dave Van Ronk. Dave Van Ronk was a key figure in the Greenwich Village coffeeshop scene of the '60s, and although he was not as well-known as some of the other musicians that he associated with, he was highly influential. He was good friends with luminaries like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Phil Ochs. He was also very active in left-wing politics and was arrested during the Stonewall Riots in 1969. According to the L.A. Times, a source close to the production said that the Coens are drawing in part from Van Ronk's memoir entitled The Mayor of Macdougal Street. The brothers themselves have also compared the movie to Noah Baumbach's Margot at the Wedding, implying that they are aiming for naturalistic dialogue and an almost documentary feel. Personally I'm excited to see them rely on folk music again like they did so heavily in O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Are you looking forward to this next project from The Coen Brothers?

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]]> Although they wrote the script for the upcoming Gambit remake that is currently in production right now, The Coen Brothers are not directing the heist flick themselves. Instead they are hard at work prepping their follow-up to True Grit, and although they've been somewhat tight-lipped about it, details are slowly starting to leak out. Earlier this month they revealed that their next film would focus heavily on music, and that it would potentially involve shooting a lot of live music. Since then, we have also learned that the movie will be set in New York City and that it will be about the folk scene from the 1960s as told from the perspective of one of the scene's most important founding fathers: folk and blues guitarist Dave Van Ronk. Dave Van Ronk was a key figure in the Greenwich Village coffeeshop scene of the '60s, and although he was not as well-known as some of the other musicians that he associated with, he was highly influential. He was good friends with luminaries like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Phil Ochs. He was also very active in left-wing politics and was arrested during the Stonewall Riots in 1969. According to the L.A. Times, a source close to the production said that the Coens are drawing in part from Van Ronk's memoir entitled The Mayor of Macdougal Street. The brothers themselves have also compared the movie to Noah Baumbach's Margot at the Wedding, implying that they are aiming for naturalistic dialogue and an almost documentary feel. Personally I'm excited to see them rely on folk music again like they did so heavily in O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Are you looking forward to this next project from The Coen Brothers?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/06/27/the-coen-brothers-planning-biopic-on-new-york-folk-legend-dave-van-ronk/feed/