Okay, Transformers 2, that makes sense. Iron Man 2 does as well. But Donnie Darko 2?!?

For those who haven’t seen it, Donnie Darko is a strange little indie film, written and directed by newcomer Richard Kelly, and starring Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. It was a mix of sci-fi and teen drama, about a teenager who is visited by a giant rabbit-creature who guides him out of his house before a jet crashes into it. It didn’t particularly do well in theatres, but it became quite the success story on DVD, making it a cult classic. And for some reason, the powers that be see fit to make a sequel.

Screen Daily reported that S. Darko is already in production. It follows Donnie’s younger sister, Samantha (played by Daviegh Chase in both films), 7 years after the events of the first film. On a road trip to LA she starts having bizarre visions.

It doesn’t help that the sequel is being directed by Chris Fisher, whose three films, Nightstalker, Dirty, and Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders, were neither critical nor commercial successes. In fact, they were quite the opposite.

Richard Kelly is reported to have no participation in the film, and I can understand why. Donnie Darko was a nice little self-enclosed film about coming to terms with one’s place in life, and death. It’s not the kind of film that warrents more. Indeed, Kelly went on to make a director’s cut of the film, which to me felt inferior to the original, adding unnecessary elements to the enigmatic tale. So in light of that, here’s a few other pointless sequels we’ree probably be hearing about shortly:

No Country for Hit Men- If you thought No Country for Old Men was about the omnipresence of violence in human society, as a force that is beyond our control or comprehension, think again. Sherrif Bell is back on the job, for one last case. Chigurrh is back, and this time Bell’s gonna settle the score.

There Will Be No More Blood- A moving melodrama about Daniel Plainview’s attempt to deal with his problems, and try to get through each day without killing someone.

Control 2: The Eternal- If you thought the biopic of Ian Curtis ended with his suicide, think again. Raised from the dead, Curtis infiltrates the seedy world of New Wave by posing as New Order’s roadie, in an attempt to save the world from drugs and hair-spray. The villain is played Martin Kemp.

United 94- The terrorists are back. But this time, The Rock is ready for them….

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  Halle Berry is set to star in and produce psychological drama “Frankie and Alice.”Story focuses on a young woman struggling with personal issues that leave her torn between who she is and a racist Caucasian alter-personality that preys upon her mind. It sounds wild and farfetched.

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Chloe Sevigny and Zooey Deschanel (I haven’t heard about them in a while) are set to star in indie comedy “Divorce Ranch,” produced, directed and written by veteran director Michael Lindsay-Hogg. “Divorce Ranch,” speaks for itself, set in Nevada just after WWII, when a quickie divorce is granted once residency was established.

Sevigny plays an actress who comes to the ranch with her 6-year-old son. She wants a quickie divorce to marry a wealthy man. Deschanel plays her assistant.

Variety.com  

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It seems that in the world of cinema, all roads do lead to the US. Even in China, with a self-sustainable film industry and an audience base of over one billion, many of its directors immigrate. One of the best examples is Ang Lee, who after the success of Eat Drink Man Woman went on to make Sense and Sensibility, the Ice Storm, and eventually win an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain. Another example is the lesser -known but equally-talented Wong Kar Wai, who made the touching drama Chungking Express and the beautiful and atmospheric In the Mood for Love. And following suit, this week sees the release of Wong Kar Wai’s first English-language film, My Blueberry Nights.

The film attempts to embrace one of the US’s most typical genres: the road movie. Elizabeth (Norah Jones. Yes, that one) attempts to exorcise the ghosts of her last relationship by going on a journey of self discovery. Starting in New York, as she discusses her past with a lonely café-owner (Jude Law), her journeys have her encounter a cop who resorts to alcoholism to block out his ex-wife, and a gambling addict with a miserable history of her own.

If this doesn’t sound particularly interesting, that’s because it isn’t. Of course, Wong Kar-Wai’s films never sound like much on paper. Read on »

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Looks like Scrooge is going country with the casting of Country star Trace Adkins, who will make a ghostly appearance opposite Kelsey Grammer indie Christmas comedy “American Carol.” Jon Voight, Leslie Nielsen and Dennis Hopper have cameos in the takeoff on Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale. The Adkins is set to play the Spirit of Christmas Future, Grim Reaper. Reaper who uses his musical abilities to help Scrooge (Grammer) be saved from tragedy.

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With St. Patrick’s Day preparations taking place around the world, what better time to take a look at Irish cinema? Last year I posted an article about my favourite Irish films. But, if there’s one thing that can madden an Irish person, it’s the perception that Hollywood often has about our little nation. Sure, it may be small in size, but we’ve produced some of the world’s greatest writers, not to mention Ireland has one of the strongest economies in the world at the moment, with Dublin rated as one of the world’s best cities to live in.

Which is all the more annoying when Hollywood has a history of portraying the Irish as rural and simple, with our Oirish exclamations (Bejaysus!) and our resident leprechauns. And while I didn’t enjoy the film, it was good to see Once fare so well, considering its modern depiction of Ireland’s capital city. But even still there’s numerous examples of how the old stereotype still squirms its way into representations of the Irish (the terrorists of Sin City being a good example). And of course there was Far and Away, possibly the most insulting film an Irish person could ever watch, with Tom Cruise portraying the Irishman as a rugged and passionate brute.

Below are what I consider to be some of the most convincing Irish accents made by a foreign actor, as well as a few of the worst examples that I can lure out of my memory. Enjoy. And Top O’ The Mornin to Ya. Read on »

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Well, I didn’t stay up late enough to watch the Oscars last night, but caught the reports. Needless to say, it was rather pleasing to finally see the year’s best film actually receiving the Best Film Award. In fact, No Country for Old Men picked up quite a few awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Daniel Day Lewis predictably, and deservedly, picked up Best Actor for There Will Be Blood. However, there were one or two surprises of the night. Marion Cotillard beat favourites Julie Christie and Ellen Page to nab the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie In Rose. The only real disappointment of the night was for Best Suporting Actress, which went to Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton. Her performance in that film was apt, but hardly memorable. Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett were much more deserving.

Finally, it was nice to see Once pick up best song. It’s always great to see the underdog triumph, especially this €100,000 film taking on the might of Disney.

The full list of winners are: Read on »

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Independent Spirit Awards honored “Juno” with three key wins at Saturday’s beach party including best picture.

The other key wins were “Juno’s” Ellen Page, best actress, and Diablo first screenplay.

Philip Seymour Hoffman won best actor honors. Julian Schnabel won the best director for “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.“

Chiwetel Ejiofor won for his supporting role in “Talk to Me.” As a bittersweet acceptance speech, Cate Blanchett won best supporting actress for “I’m Not There” dedicated her award to the late Heath Ledger.

For a complete list of winners go to Spirit Awards.

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Huge cast political thriller “Vantage Point” is opening in 3, 149 theaters this weekend; it will take in the dough, most likely, be the top box office draw.

Other movies opening this weekend include Jack Black offbeat comedy “Be Kind Rewind” (It sounds so crazily funny), R-rated teen drama-comedy “Charlie Bartlett”  and Larry the Cable Guy comedy “Witless Protection.”

“Vantage Point” more than likely will draw the bulk of the audience because according to Variety it has picked up traction among women and younger men as well twenty-five year old males. Movie centers on an attempted presidential assassination told from several different perspectives, stars Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt.

“Charlie Bartlett” is about a rich teenager, who becomes the unofficial, drug-dispensing therapist at his new high school. With the R rating the movie will not bring in the teenagers. It stars Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr. and Hope Davis.

“Rewind,” also stars Mos Def, Danny Glover and Mia Farrow, follows a man who inadvertently erases every videotape in his friend’s store. The two friends decide to remake the movies, including “Back to the Future,” “The Lion King” and “Robocop.” Somehow that sounds really funny. I saw a production photo of Mia Farrow and Danny Glover in a remake of “Driving Miss Daisy.”  I laughed until tears were coming down my cheeks.  

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Tomorrow afternoon on Santa Monica beach in a huge white tent is the Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the independent films the day before the starched Academy Awards. 

What are the Independent Spirit Awards? 

First of all, the word “Spirit” clearly defines the general feeling of the 1400 guests.  

Variety describes the festive occasion, “The show itself is freewheeling, allowing for rowdy, run-on speeches and the occasional F-bomb.

There are even sing-alongs.

When the indie film ceremony gets a one-day jump on the Oscars tomorrow, it is likely to again serve up a mix of willfully relaxed attire, cheeky dialogue and backstage shenanigans.”

Check out the full article at Variety.  Thank you for the picture Variety!

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