Archive for August, 2008
THE JEW HUNTER HAS BEEN CAST !
They start wars over women like her.
A quick update. I’ve been going in 10 different directions this week, working on my man Tim Hyten’s new film, writing my feature (27 pages in, stay on target!) and the usual partying and hanging with the hottest chick on the planet.
Variety has reported that Quentin Tarantino has found his Jew Hunter, Col. Hans Landa, for “Inglorious Bastards” in 51-year-old German TV actor Christoph Waltz and the character of German movie star turned Allied Spy, Bridget Von Hammersmark, will not be filled by Nasstasja Kinski (which I welcomed but felt perhaps too old) but will be played by the hot blond from Troy Diane Kruger.
With shooting to begin in less than two weeks for a 2009 Cannes premiere, roles yet cast include Shoshanna Dreyfus, her projectionist friend Marcel, the German-born maniac Bastard Stiglitz and the wily Gestapo major Deiter Hellstrom.
The Cast so far:
Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine, a hillbilly from Tennessee who puts together a team of eight Jewish-American soldiers.
Mike Myers as Gen. Ed Fenech, a British “military mastermind” who provides a plot to kill Nazi leadership.
Eli Roth as Sgt. Donnie Donowitz, “a baseball bat-swinging Nazi hunter”.
German TV Star about to go Mainstream.
Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa, a Nazi officer nicknamed the “Jew Hunter” in reference to his keen ability to locate Jews hiding throughout France.
Diane Kruger as Bridget Von Hammersmark.
Michael Fassbender (From 300) British officer Archie Hicox, orignally intended for Simon Pegg (I’m totally bummed about this one.)
Daniel Brühl in a yet, unidentified role.
Paul Rust in a yet, unidentified role.
Tarantino is also in talks with B. J. Novak to portray PFC Utivich, a soldier that hails from New York, David Krumholtz to portray a member of Raine’s team.
Can’t wait, Can’t wait, Can’t wait.
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If you like this then please subscribe to the CRONENBERG, SHORE AND A NEW PRINT OF THE FLY ! AFI – ArcLight Hollywood CINERAMA DOME. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 8:00 PM
Check this out first:
A Q&A with David Cronenberg and Howard Shore will precede the screening!
Okay, now read on.
I was 16 years old when I first saw this engaging remake of the 1958 sci-fi horror film, a project originally slated for Tim Burton (Shudder to think), but instead going to Master Filmmaker David Cronenberg (The Brood, The Dead Zone, A History of Violence, Eastern Promises).
A Sci Fi Horror Love story telling a tale of (Like many of Cronenberg’s films) of metamorphosis and the darker aspects of human emotions and behavior. But the most intriguing element is the doomed love affair between Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. Cronenberg was at the Top of his game during this period.
Be Afraid.
The film is a creepy, synthesized gorefest which is simply one of the more underrated films of the last 20 years. No CGI creature effects here, The Fly boasts Oscar Winning Makeup FX from Chris Walas & Stephan Dupuis.
Bravo list’s it at #33 in their 100 Scariest Movie Moments. I think that is reason enough; if you haven’t seen this on the big screen (I did!), then here’s your chance at the film in all it’s glory and a remastered print. Read on or check out the official site for more information, here.
AFI’s Directors Screenings presented by Audi – ArcLight Hollywood CINERAMA DOME
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 8:00 PM
THE FLY
1986 95 MIN RATED R
DIR David Cronenberg
THE FLY is an extraordinary example of Cronenberg’s particular brand of “body horror”; flesh transformed by disease. Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is an eccentric scientist, whose experiments with teleportation go awry, leading to one of the horror genre’s most disgusting and gory physical transformations. Ultimately, David Cronenberg’s version of THE FLY – based on a short story by George Langelaan and the 1958 film that starred Vincent Price — is a dark romantic tragedy about the wasting away of a brilliant man who mutates into an insect as his loved one looks on helplessly.
AFI, in association with the LA Opera, presents a brand new print , to coincide with the US premiere of the opera The Fly.
AFI’s DISRESPECT AND SHUNNING OF THE HORROR FILM.
AFI. The American Film Institute. Recently gave us yet another list, the 10 Top 10. Covering categories from Comedy to Drama to Animation and Western, Sports and Mystery. Noticeably off the list ? The category of Horror.
Horror and the art of scaring audiences has been around for a hundred years, not too mention old legends of folklore and Fairy Tales for children. The genre is a staple of Cinema and storytelling as a whole. Why the omission ?
Nate Yapp put it nicely over at Classic Horror with the following word bite on AFI’s Top 100 (100 Years, 100 Movies)
A scant four horror films were worthy of the AFI’s mention: Psycho (#14), King Kong (#41), Jaws (#56), and The Sixth Sense (#89). Significant amongst the omitted is Frankenstein, which held the 87th slot on the same list ten years ago.
I’m not sure which I’m more annoyed with — the poor representation of the genre in general, or the dropping of what I consider to be the cultural milestone in Hollywood Horror. I’m not going to dig into their other selections; each film on the list has its champions and they have spoken. It’s just a bummer that the AFI’s creative think tank is treating horror like the poor cousin. Given the glitzy Hollywood focus of the list, I’m not expecting Night of the Living Dead to make the cut, but why not Rosemary’s Baby? If not The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, what about The Exorcist (which is not a film I enjoy, but it made #3 on the AFI’s own 100 Years… 100 Thrills list)?
1922’s Nosferatu
Makes no sense to me and is a virtual slap in the face to all moviegoers. We’re not talking about harcore horror or cultish fanboy stuff, I’m talking about omitting some of the greatest films in history, films that scare people and leave legitimate impact on them.
Whether outright horror (looks like, tastes like, feels like; it must be …) or horror sub-genres, Great, great films have been made that are screaming for attention
Four films listed on this one, and not a single category of respect in their latest 10 Top 10. I personally don’t even consider Animated Films to be real films (it’s my own spin) and am wondering how they could not come up with the Top 10 Best ever horror films for the respect of the genre.
Many a director has gotten their start in horror while others, even great ones have built entire bodies of work in the subject matter.
The Masta
Masters of the genre:
John Carpenter (The Thing, Escape from New York, The Fog, Halloween), Alfred Hitchcock, forever known as the Master of Suspense (The Birds, Psycho) , Brian De Palma (Carrie, Dressed To Kill, Sisters), Cronenberg (Rabid, The Brood, Scanners, Videodrome, The Dead Zone, The Fly), George Romero (The Dead Trilogy), Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead Series), Dario Argento (Suspiria), Lucio Fulci, Wes Craven (The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm Street), Rob Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects) and Richard Donner (The Omen)
Not too mention, notable Directors who got their start in Horror
Peter Jackson (Bad Taste, Heavenly Creatures, The Frighteners) and Steven Spielberg (Jaws) come to mind. I would love to see Steven tackle a legitimate horror film.
Which brings me to my (and it seems many) all time favorite horror films. It takes a lot to scare m in a movie, to really have any kind of serious affect. I’m making this list an unofficial AFI list, it is authoritative.
10. Salem’s Lot
‘Salem’s Lot is a 1975 horror novel written by Stephen King, and was the author’s second published novel. The title King originally chose for his book was Second Coming, but he later decided on Jerusalem’s Lot. The publishers, Doubleday, shortened it to the current title, thinking the author’s choice sounded too religious.
I don’t think there’s ever been a film that scared me more that was a Made For TV movie. Directed by Tobe Hooper, this film left scars on my child hood ass.
9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film written, directed, and produced by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel. So bizarre it could happen. Which is exactly what makes a horror film scary. Realizing that it could be you.
8. Carrie
Carrie is a 1976 American horror film directed by Brian De Palma and written by Lawrence D. Cohen, based on the novel by Stephen King. The film and the novel deal with a socially outcast teenage girl, Carrie White, who discovers she possesses telekinetic powers after being subjected to both physical and mental harassment by her peers, teachers, and her mother. The film stars Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Betty Buckley, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, William Katt and John Travolta.
Regarded as a watershed in the horror genre and is arguably one of best feature film adaptations of a Stephen King work.
7. Rosemary’s Baby
Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse move into an apartment in a building with a bad reputation. They discover that their neighbours are a very friendly elderly couple named Roman and Minnie Castevet, and Guy begins to spend a lot of time with them. Strange things start to happen: a woman Rosemary meets in the washroom dies a mysterious death, Rosemary has strange dreams and hears strange noises and Guy becomes remote and distant. Then Rosemary falls pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbours have special plans for her child.
6. Jaws
Favorite film of all time, first film I remember seeing. My brother asked me “Jaws ? A horror film?” I said “Can you go in the ocean and not think for just one moment that Bruce is coming?”
5. Night of the Living Dead
Played to death in the public domain, I remember seeing this growing up and being mesmerized by how freaked out I was.
Here, watch the entire film for free
4. The Exorcist
Ain’t no intro needed
3. Psycho
2. The Shining
1. Halloween