Linkbusters
Monday, June 9, 2014 at 9:31PM The Daily Beast the sexual politics of Ghostbusters, 30 years later
The Wire the career of Lorraine Toussaint before Orange is the New Black
BFI let's kill the buzzword "hybrid" when it comes to documentaries
/Film there might be a sequel to Neighbors... which wouldn't surprise anyone
Variety Kino-Lorber has picked up one of Sundance's buzziest titles A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, an Iranian vampire movie, for US distribution (Glenn's review icymi)
In Contention on an new animated contender from GKids, Boy vs. World
Pajiba celebrates Emily Blunt's greatness as an action star in Edge of Tomorrow
Guardian The director and his muse will try for more Oscars in 2016 with a biopic called Joy about the creator of the Miracle Mop. She was 12 years out of college with 3 children when all this stuff happened. Eventually Jennifer Lawrence will be old enough for the parts David O. Russell keeps casting her in.
MTV Channing Tatum still super excited about Gambit prospects. Everyone wants their superhero dollars
AV Club rumors abound that it's either Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy or Jared Leto for Doctor Strange. I worry that Marvel has no clear vision of what they want. What connects any of those actors beyond fame? Very different gifts and styles. (I love Hardy as an actor but he seems like a terrible fit for that character)
Off Cinema
Variety on the explosion of new TV shows in summer now that the game has changed
Cinema Blend Steven Spielberg wants to turn Bryan Cranston's tony winning performance into a tv miniseries
Playbill shares the Tony "In Memoriam" segment that strangely didn't air
Playbill collects all the Tony performances in one place (seriously, it's like no one even needs to watch live tv anymore)
And finally I just want to say a big congratulations to Peyton Reed for his new gig. I've been rooting for him ever since the one-two punch of Bring It On and Down With Love, two stylish, absorbing, joyful, funny movies with a real vision behind them. I was bummed when his proposed retro version of Fantastic Four was cancelled in the Aughts and for what: A low-rent generic lousy f/x heavy version? But it's been so long since he was in the news that I figured his career was over. But now he'll direct Ant-Man. There's been a lot of online sniping calling him a hack, even from sites I otherwise like, but those writers should really think before they type and consider his filmography. There's some "for hire" business yes, but he's a good director. It's an unexpected choice but a good one... even if I'm still deeply suspicious of the project considering Wright's departure and Marvel's current game plans.
Reader Comments (11)
I thought the playing of the In Memoriam segment during a commercial break was beyond tacky. And to what purpose? To make room for the rap version of the opening number from The Music Man or worse yet Sting? To honor those that have passed and acknowledge their lifelong contribution is a matter of respect and they deserve that last bow on the international stage.
I mean Julie freaking Harris die this year! While all the people in the tribute would have been worthy the woman was a legend of all different forms of media but Broadway was her home and she had six Tonys. Yet her name was never mentioned during the entire broadcast. Very weak.
As someone who emphatically did not go for Breaking Bad, I'm weirdly resentful of Cranston. Love him so much on Malcolm In The Middle but every time some bro starts talking at me about how he's the greatest actor ever I just want to stab myself in the face Winona-style. GO AWAY.
I don't think I could've rolled my eyes back any further after I read about Lawrence being cast for the Joy Mangano movie. I'm generally not negative about this sort of things, but the whole thing feels lazy to me. It's like I can already see what expressions Lawrence will use,and what angle they're gonna give to the film, and obviously it has already been given a release date for December 2015.
Peyton Reed is a perfect director for Ant Man - a stylish, intelligent artist who could use the work. A great call. I'm less enthused about Adam McKay coming in to rewrite the script further - I'm assuming that's about placating Paul Rudd, but who knows? Regardless, I'm very happy for Reed and anyone calling him a hack ought to be ashamed of themselves.
re: Lawrence and Russell
Ditto, one of the reasons why I'm still not completely sold on Lawrence's as an actress (although, as every other human being, I love her as a celebrity) is the fact that I just don't buy it when she plays characters 10 years her age. Russell's argument is that she has a timeless quality, but I still can't buy a 22-23yo as a mid-thirties LongIsland housewife, etc.
Tom Hardy: Why!? The dude is built and I would think one of the reasons to DO Doctor Strange is to help bring different musculatures into the genre. Right? Plus, he's never really done a northern American accent, so I wouldn't want this to be his first stab.
Benedict Cumberbatch: (Sigh) At least in build, this is closer to the right idea but the accent work on August was kind of sloppy and he's probably better as a more unstable character. Hopefully, he'll wind up as Dormammu.
Jared Leto: This is the one, of these three, that I'd buy the most. He's not total beef, he's American and he's around the right age, even if he PLAYS a bit younger.
Here's two more I'd toss out in addition to Leto:
Jon Hamm (I get some people would view this as a waste, but he at least looks like a decent match for the Vincent Price lookalike of the comics.)
Ty Burrell (Hear me out. He's the right build, comfortable doing voices, so also might sell the Vincent Price lookalike thing and try to sell the soundalike thing. (In case you can't tell, my dream Doctor Strange would involve cryogenically freezing Vincent Price in the 60s or 70s and waking him up now.) I say, why not.)
I loved Lorraine Toussaint back when I watched her on 'Any Day Now' as a tyke (yes, I watched Lifetime as a child, which explains a lot). I would have given her the 2012 Supporting Actress Oscar for 'Middle of Nowhere,' too. So happy to see her get such a great role on 'Orange is the New Black.'
Mike M -- is this where I should brag that i nominated her here at the film bitch awards?
I agree with TB about Cranston. I actually watched and enjoyed Breaking Bad, but enough is enough.
And yes on Toussaint. I binge-watched OITNB Season 2 this weekend and it was so brilliant (better than Season 1, I thought, darker and with richer, fuller characterizations) and she was just perfect.
Nathaniel--yes! We were on the Lorraine train early. What excellent taste we have. :)
Mark Strong IS Doctor Strange.