The rumours have been abound on the internet for the past few week. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, actor Russell Crowe let slip that he has plans to play legendary comedian Bill Hicks in a forthcoming movie. And while the film is only at scripting stage, the internet is alight with protests.

Bill Hicks made his name in the late 80’s an early 90’s. While Hicks was undoubtedly political, his humour often ranged from the lofty to the downright base (anyone who knows his Goatboy routine will agree). He died in 1994 of cancer, but left a legacy of polemic comedy to many inspired individuals.

While many people are outraged at the prospect of Crowe playing Hicks, I for one welcome it. If there is one word to characterise Hicks, it was anger. Anger was the fuel of his routines. And we all know of Russell Crowe’s infamous temper. Also, while many write Crowe off as being limited in his range, often resorting to the superior, the tough guy with a sharp wit, one should bear in mind that Crowe pulled off a perfect performance in The Insider, as an aging scientist whose life is destroyed when he becomes a whistleblower. Indeed, we have seen comedian biopics work previously, with Dustin Hoffman being highly convincing in Lenny, the story of controversial stand-up Lenny Bruce. With the right script and some restraint in Crowe, a film of Hick could end up the perfect tribute.

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Giveaway details below!

Some martial arts enthusiasts have touted The Heroes of the East as the martial arts film to own. 

The story is about a Chinese man who marries a Japanese woman through an arranged marriage. Somehow he manages to insult her Japanese martial arts family by issuing a challenge to her that is misunderstood by the them and repercussions ensue. The newlywed must prove his Chinese Kung Fu skills as a fighter through a series of duels with the seven Japanese martial artists who come to meet the challenge.

To be enter the giveaway, post your name and I will draw the winner Friday, September 6, 2008.  Good luck!

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Okay, women leave the kids home with dad and go see The Women remake. 

When I first saw the original The Women(1939) with legendary stars Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Joan Fontaine and Paulette Goddard directed by George Cukor, I could not fathom a remake. The original movie is perfect.

I am sure you are aware of my view on remakes — “Don’t do that!”  Just make the movie and use a different title. Remakes are impossible.

The whole point I am trying to make is that the trailer for 2008 The Women is fabulous — I had a good laugh, brilliant timing, strikingly funny. 

I am so excited to have Meg Ryan back in a role that was meant to be hers. It’s actually refreshing.

Then, we have Annette Bening, Jada Pinket Smith and Eva Mendes directed by Diane English.  Yes, it’s all about women and men; but no men in the movie, just mentioned — even though they play a vital part.

If you are up on The Women, it originally started as a play about comedy of manners that is a bit caustic, by Clare Boothe Luce. 

A contemporary observation with hilarious action on-stage about the pampered lives and power struggles of various wealthy Manhattan socialites and up-and-comers and the back biting, gossip that drives and spoils their relationships. As men commonly are the subject of their lively discussions and play a significant part, they are strictly characters referred to yet never seen.

Will the reaction of this movie be similar to Thelm and Louise?

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I took a visit to AICN today to see if there was any cool news about the movie business. And lo and behold a link to a German interview with Sigourney Weaver about James Cameron’s AVATAR at Widescreen Vision.

Weaver’s comments are revealing and tantalizing. Of course, she is one of my favorites.

I am looking forward to AVATAR; it’s been too long since Cameron directed a film - he definitely makes a signature in the film business.

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Check this out because the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards is bringing out a bunch of stars as Michael Phelps, Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson, Ciara, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Christopher Mintz-Plasse have been confirmed to present at the awards program airing live from Paramount Pictures. 

In addition, DJ AM and Travis Barker will rock the party by mixing live drum beats to scratched records throughout the show.  The duo will collaborate with Katy Perry, T-Pain, Lupe Fiasco, The Ting Tings and additional special guests to perform new and past hits to celebrate the past 25 years of music. 

Rihanna, Pink, T.I., Kid Rock, Lil Wayne and the Jonas Brothers have already been added to the list of powerhouse performers at this year’s show. 

As previously announced, MTV’s 25th annual Video Music Awards will be hosted by comedian/actor Russell Brand and will air live and only one time in its original incarnation, on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 9PM SHARP (Live ET/Tape Delayed PT). 

Presenters and additional performers for the “2008 Video Music Awards” will be announced at a later date.

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iPhone Life, First iPhone Dedicated Print Magazine
StarCraft 2 to Get Fourth Race Through Expansion Pack
Epson EH-TW3800 Projector

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Moon has a new cast member, Kevin Spacey, directed by Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son.) Spacey is set to star with Sam Rockwell, Kaya Scodelario, Benedict Wong, Matt Berry, Malcolm Stewart and Dominique McElligott.

Spacey will play the voice of a robot.

The story is science fiction, of course, with a main character named Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell.) He is finishing up his contract with Lunar as a faithful employee for 3 long years.

Selene is his home, a moon base, where he has spent his faithful days alone, mining Helium 3, known as a precious gas that holds the key to reversing the Earth’s energy crisis.

Isolated, strong-minded and steadfast, Sam followed the rulebook dutifully while his time on the moon enlightened him - yet still uneventful. 

The isolation gave him time to reflect on his past mistakes and work on his raging temper. He does his job mechanically, and spends most of his available time dreaming of his imminent return to Earth, to his wife, young daughter and an early retirement.

However, 2 weeks out from his departure from Selene, Sam starts seeing things, hearing things and feeling strange.

And when a routine extraction goes horribly wrong, Sam discovers that Lunar have their own plans for replacing him… and the new recruit is eerily familiar. Before he can return to Earth, Sam has to confront him and the discovery that the life he created may not be his own.

It’s more than his contract that is set to expire.

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A young couple (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) moved into their California dream home - life couldn’t be better. Then, they become the target of their next-door neighbor, who objects to their interracial relationship.

A strict, single father, who is a tightly rigid LAPD officer (Samuel L. Jackson), appoints himself the watchdog of the neighborhood.  He takes nightly foot patrols; but his overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some.  He becomes increasingly harassing to the newlyweds.  He uses persistent intrusions into their lives causes the couple to fight back.  Movie opens September 19, 2008.

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Post #515, Gianna, won the SOAPnet.com Gift Card Giveaway. Congratulations!

Disney-ABC Television Group announced a completely redesigned SOAPnet.com, the new home of celebrity and TV drama. In addition to covering the world of daytime, the new site, which launched recently in a beta version, expands its focus to include coverage of entertainment, stars, pop culture, and beauty and fashion news in an informed, engaging editorial style.

Because of the re-launch of SOAPnet.com, Screenhead is teaming up to host a Giveaway. The prizes include Marc Jacobs’ wallets, Barney’s Gift Cards ($25), Pinkberry Gift Cards ($15), and iTunes Gift Cards ($15).

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Ricky Schroder is set to direct a telefilm Hellhounds, which is set to air next year on Sci Fi Channel.

According to Hollywood Reporter, the story takes place in 500 B.C., stars Scott Elrod (”Men in Trees”) as Kleitos, a Greek warrior who with his companions fights against the hellhounds of Hades to rescue his bride from the Underworld and bring her back to life. The telefilm, written by Paul A. Birkett, is said to be full of CGI and special effects.

Schroder plans to start filming Sunday in Romania.

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No surprises for this week’s box office tally.  Tropic Thunder is first, then The House Bunny and Death Race. Quite a few movies are opening this weekend. To name a few: Traitor, Babylon A.D., Hamlet 2 and College.

August 22, 2008 - August 28, 2008(*millions)

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In case you didn’t get the full blow-by-blow of the plot Burn After Reading: 

It’s a comedy thriller from Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men, Fargo, The Big Lebowski), is world-premiering as the opening-night film of the 2008 Venice International Film Festival.  

At the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Arlington, Va., analyst Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) arrives for a top-secret meeting. Unfortunately for Cox, the secret is soon out: he is being ousted. Cox does not take the news particularly well and returns to his Georgetown home to work on his memoirs and his drinking, not necessarily in that order. His wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) is dismayed, though not particularly surprised; she is already well into an illicit affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney), a married federal marshal, and sets about making plans to leave Cox for Harry.  

Elsewhere in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and seemingly worlds apart, Hardbodies Fitness Centers employee Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) can barely concentrate on her work. She is consumed with her life plan for extensive cosmetic surgery, and confides her mission to can-do colleague Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt). Linda is all but oblivious to the fact that the gym’s manager Ted Treffon (Richard Jenkins) pines for her even as she arranges dates via the Internet with other men.  

When a computer disc containing material for the CIA analyst’s memoirs accidentally falls into the hands of Linda and Chad, the duo are intent on exploiting their find. As Ted frets, “No good can come of this,” events spiral out of everyone’s and anyone’s control, in a cascading series of darkly hilarious encounters.

In Theatres September 12^th.

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Pixar Studios opens their doors to the public but once a year in hopes of raising money for the one and only Cartoon Art Museum in the western United States.

The event is in its fifth year and a very popular and educating experience for those who attend.  Anyone who as a slight interest in seeing where all the magic happens to make Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Toy Story and so forth better come to this event.

The tickets are $200 per person. Don’t be shocked by the price - it’s for an excellent cause - cartoons.  Call, now, 415-227-8666, ext. 300 to get your tickets.

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The Burrowers is a story centering on half a dozen heroic pioneers lived in isolated settlements in the badlands beyond the civilized world known as the Dakota Territories in 1879.
A pioneer family is tragically abducted in a nighttime attack, a posse comes together to rescue the missing from the suspected Native Americans of performing the crime.
An Irish immigrant searches for his lost beloved, a greenhorn teenager hoping to prove himself, an ex-slave looking for his freedom, and a pair of aging Indian-fighters turn themselves against all the perils of the Old West, contend nature and aggressive tribes.
But as each man vanishes during the night, and horrific evidence escalates with the dead and dying, the group discovers that their prey is far more terrifying than anything human, and their opponents are far more dreadful than death.
It’s a horror film that takes place in the Old West. I saw the trailer at Bloody Disgusting and it’s scary. Here’s the link if you want to see it - The Burrowers.

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Diane Kruger of National Treasure is set to play German actress Bridget Von Hammersmark, a strong character in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards. She sabotages the Nazis. Natassja Kinski was first thought of for the role.  

Christoph Waltz is set to play Col. Hans Landa the main antagonist in the story.  Waltz is mainly known in Germany for his television work.

Other actors set to star in the film are Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Mike Myers, Michael Fassbender, B.J.Novak and Sam Levine.

Filming begins October 13 in Germany.

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The final poster for SAW V is wicked, in theaters October 24^th!

If It’s Halloween, It’s Saw! It’s scary!

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Dracula Year Zero has so far been an enigma for us, seeing as how not much is known about the project. However, Alex Proyas, the film’s director, recently sat down with MTV News to answer a couple of questions about what will and won’t be included in the coming vampiric film.

Proyas describes the story as “sort of the origin tale that mixes Prince Vlad of Transylvania (history) with sort of [fictionalized] Bram Stoker [take].” He also told audiences to expect teeth… lots of it!

"The teeth are really important. I think Frank Langella in the ‘Dracula’ movie that was made in the 70s, I think he didn’t want to have teeth in the movie,” he said. “But, no, I like the teeth. I want to see girls with a lot of teeth."

He added, however, that garlic, the thing vampires despise most, won’t be included as it is “kind of weird.”

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A biopic about legendary Beatles singer John Lennon is going to be directed by Sam Taylor-Wood. Dubbed Nowhere Boy, the film has been penned by Matt Greenhalgh (Control), which focuses on the singer’s childhood and the journey to stardom.

The film will depict Lennon as a lonely teenager growing up with his only escape being music, art and fateful friendship with Paul McCartney.

Casting is currently underway, with filming set to take place on location in Lennon’s hometown in Liverpool.

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Ananova reports that Dannii Minogue, sister of Kylie Minogue, has joined the cast of British spy thriller Vauxhall Crossed.

Her role is said to be small, but significant as MI6 agent Rio Ruse, a lab tech who also wields a pump action shot gun and saves a fellow agent during a shoot-out.

Hugo Speer, Ewen MacIntosh and Sarah Jayne Dunn are also part of the cast, with producers keen to cast Rhys Ifans as the film’s psychotic villain.

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In today’s silly movies news, Brett Ratner, the guy behind Rush Hour and Red Dragon, has revealed that he wants to make a movie based on the plastic guitar swinging video game Guitar Hero.

Ratner, speaking to MTV News, said, “I would love to do a Guitar Hero movie, if Activision would ever let me. I’m trying to convince them.”

And what exactly would the plot be? Some kid wanting to become a rock star and does so South Park-style by swinging a plastic axe? "It could be about a kid from a small town who dreams of being a rock star and he wins the Guitar Hero competition."

Holy shit, I was right!

Rattner is currently attached to direct the videogame film adaptation of God of War.

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From Variety comes word that Rogue Pictures is planning a sequel to The Strangers, a recently released low-budget horror film that was popular with audiences and critics alike.

The site notes that Bryan Bertino, who wrote and directed the original, is penning the sequel, though it is yet to be determined who will helm the film. The original took $9 million to make, but took over $54 million at the box office.

The story followed a terrorized couple whose home is invaded by three masked assailants. Liv Tyler along with several villains from the original are expected to return. The sequel is slated to begin shooting early next year.

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Marking a revolution for the online video sharing community, No End in Sight, the Oscar nominee for best feature-length deocumentary, will screen in its entirety on Youtube between September 1 and November 4.

The project was a winner of a special jury prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was originally released by Magnolia Pictures in 2007. It casts a rather critical eye on the decisions made during the early months of war in Iraq.

This will be the first widely released feature film to play in its entirety on the popular website.

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Surely having become bored of making action moves, legendary director John Woo has told attendees at a Beijing charity dinner that he hopes to create a sports movie.

"I want real athletes to be my lead actors so that we can portray the athlete’s spirit accurately," he said, though he wouldn’t offer any further details.

However, that sports movie might be far off in the future as Woo’s current schedule is highly packed. He is currently working on a Red Cliff sequel, Chinese Revolution epic 1949, and Caliber, a graphic novel adaptation with Johnny Depp.

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Variety reports that Werc Werk Works will finance and produce Todd Solondz’s next film, which is an as-of-yet untitled  part-sequel, part-companion piece to his controversial dark comedy Happiness.

Solondz himself has written the screenplay. The film focuses on a group of people who are struggling to find a place for themselves in an unpredictable and volatile world. But then again, who isn’t?

Emma Thompson, Demi Moore and Paul Reuben have been rumored to be attached, though nothing is concrete yet. Casting is currently underway and shooting is set to begin this October in San Juan.

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