Super Glut

Entertainment Weekly introduces Henry Cavill, our new Superman, on the cover of their Oscar prediction issue. Cavill, for what it's worth, has been in the running for several super-people but this is the first time he's actually been cast. But shouldn't the cover be something more Oscariffic?

The hit whores were out in force this morning labelling this photo Official First Photo of Cavill as Superman. Hilarious. Especially since they haven't even started filming -- and rumors abound that the studio is still not happy with the script -- and there's no way the new superhero costume is a pre-faded t-shirt ;)

It's always this way with superhero films. There are generally about 731,000 "exclusive" everythings and 11 or so "first official" everythings. For example, we've already had two instances of "official first photo of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man." and I'm willing to bet we get a third given that the other two are more promotional and not "actual" shot from the movie! The first he was in the costume with the mask off. The second also labelled "first official photo of Garfield as Spider-Man" is the one where he's masked. If all things are cyclical when is the superhero craze going to die down? Right now it seems infallible. Even movies people don't end up liking open well and get sequels. Will the upcoming barrage finally be overkill?

Here's what's (supposedly) coming our way after this new Thor trailer which is quite a bit different than the original sneak and seems to be leaning more comedic (Hi, Kat Dennings!)

May 2011 Thor
June 2011 X-Men: First Class (further reading)
June 2011 Green Lantern
July 2011 Captain America: The First Avenger (further reading)
May 2012 The Avengers (not filming yet. I have always doubted this movie will ever happen. Too many contracts. Too many characters. Too many schedules having to lined up. Too much. Too much.)
July 2012 The Amazing Spider-Man (filming)
July 2012 The Dark Knight Rises (in casting mode)
Dec 2012 Superman: Man of Steel (pre-production)
TBA 2012 The Wolverine (pre-production)

Nine in the next 24 months. And that's just the high profile ones. I have a feeling I've forgotten something. There are umpteen more in development not to mention superhero projects that are coming to the small screen like Wonder Woman (which sounds completely confusing/messy). But can the market really sustain all of those at the grosses they've become accustomed to? If it can't -- and I doubt it can; no "Most Popular Genre" lasts forever as any perusal of screen history will tell you --  expect several of the other ones in various stages of development including but by no means limited to The Flash, Iron Man 3, Luke Cage and Doctor Strange, to be aborted.

The only one of the future maybes after 2012 that I would be thrilled to see is Doctor Strange, IF and only if Pixar does it as has been rumored. Still dying to see Pixar try a different genre altogether than the adventure comedies for families.

Link in Sixty Seconds

Carpetbagger Oscar envelopes get a makeover. Er... it looks like McDonalds is handing out the prizes.
AV Club Michel Gondry is adapting Philip K Dick's Ubik. I predict that before the end of civilization every sentence Philip K Dick ever wrote will be put on the big screen.
The Wrap Adrianne Palicki will be TV's next Wonder Woman. I wish nothing but happiness and success for everyone who has ever been on Friday Night Lights. I do.
Just Jared another collaboration for Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. They just won't stop!
i09 Zach Snyder's Superman may be in trouble.
fourfour "wagon wheel watusi" Oh, Burlesque.
My New Plaid Pants the moment I fell for.... Andrew Garfield
Scott Feinberg is still pushing Melissa Leo for the gold. Here are some statistics to consider.

Finally Empire Online is hosting a "Done in 60 Seconds" contest in which readers have submitted one minute films spoofing some of hte greatest movies of all time. There are 20 finalists, one is even made by a regular Film Experience reader (who alerted me to the contest -Congrats!). Quite a few of them show real ingenuity but my favorites are the ones that don't merely recreate but remold the film in some other image. There's a spoof of The Terminator that cleverly uses Toy Story characters. It obviously cost nothing but, then, neither did the original Terminator. Ghost is similarly lowfi with teddy bears but totally works and I loved the voicework even if it did seem to be taking its cue from those 30 second bunny films.  The Wizard of Oz short is really more of a redo of a trailer of a hugely popular 90s movie (I'll leave you to guess which one). And there's two Social Network films. One of them (contestant #9) is an amusing send up of Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher rather than the movie itself.

Did you like Benjamin Button? Do you wanna go back to that?

It totally had me giggling. The last musical cue is hilarious. So, that's the one I voted for. Are you going to vote?

Finding Linker-Land

The Film Doctor 10 questions regarding 127 Hours
Cinebeats Tura Satana (RIP)
Slant  new book on Spike Lee's classic Do the Right Thing.
Latino Review EEEeeeee. "Ursa" could be the villainess of the rebooted Superman. Good luck trying to top Sarah Douglas's bitchery in Superman II (1980). Although, I'm heartened that Rosamund Pike is in the running. She deserves a big high profile movie star breakthrough.

Ursa (Sarah Douglas) and Zod (Terence Stamp) in Superman II

Go Fug Yourself reveals their SAG best & worst dressed from their substantial readership polling. Was I supposed to know that Rooney Mara was Kate Mara's sister? The things that slip by you...
Pajiba "Top 5" Stars Unworthy of Their Status
Cinema Blend wonders if James Franco isn't spreading himself dangerously thin. He might be Oz: The Great and Powerful now in addition to nine other projects.
Pop Matters reviews the box set "The Films of Rita Hayworth". Ugh, why didn't I get a copy for review? Incidentally, if you ever happen to see Tonight and Every Night (1945) you'll feel a strange sense of deja vu. It's the same story as Oscar nominee Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) albeit told in a different tone and from a different angle.

Finally, be very afraid: Finding Neverland The Musical is heading your way soon. I'm only joking about being afraid. The songwriting team employed here did the enchanting music to Grey Gardens and Peter Pan is a long time stage tradition so why stop now? Plus, if you think about it certain gaggy, twee or pushily sentimental projects could (hypothetically) work much better with the distance from reality that song and dance can provide in much the same way that animation lowers our guard to things we'd think weren't soggy with sentiment in live action. I actually think that The King's Speech, which I think is a good film but no "best", would make a fine musical; the King doesn't stutter when he sings so right there embedded in your concept is the opportunities to show songs as transcendent rescue from daily troubles.  Sounds perfect for a movie musical... though you'd have to have had a different cast. I'm not sure anyone would have wanted to see/hear Colin Firth (Mamma Mia) or Helena Bonham-Carter (Sweeney Todd) singing again, now would they?

P.S. Unrelated: Pixar's 25th anniversary was just a few days back. Some words coming up this week.

"I Have a Link!" "Yes You Do."

The Pixar Blog Toy Story 3 gets a huge billboard in LA.
Basket of Kisses John Barry, oft-Oscared composer passed away at 77. RIP. True story: When I first became obsessed with the movies in the mid 80s, Out of Africa was one of the first LP film scores I ever bought.
The Telegraph Should you revisit beloved Disney films from childhood? Retrospectives have Tim Robey wondering. I've been contemplating revisiting the Disney oeuvre myself.
Your Movie Buddy plays an Oscar nominee name game. Love the finale.
The House Next Door 'The Conversations' takes on Coen Bros True Grit What's the hashtag for this? Oh yes, #longreads
Cinema Blend offers up a Sundance Sales Guide. I've been waiting for someone to compile this rather than report solely on them as they happen. Thank you!
Kenneth in the (212) lusts after Henry Cavill, our new Superman. Agreed that Cavill (of The Tudors fame) is a fine specimen but Brandon Routh was so perfect in Superman Returns. And his recent cameo in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was so funny that I longed ridiculously for him to take back up the cape.
Boy Culture I've been so consumed with awards season I keep missing other stuff. Like Geri from The Facts of Life coming out of the closet. She can't even walk straight!

It's Bertie's World. You're Just Living In It.
Playbill The King's Speech was conceived as a play and may head to the stage.
Gawker The Best Picture nominees in Legos. Figures that TKS is the most boring one (but I love the one for 127 Hours.)

"why should i waste my time listening to you?" "BECAUSE I HAVE A VOICE"

Finally, Tom Shone, a critic I personally love, has an unfortunate affection for The King's Speech. But his piece about the Oscar race upheaval and the falsity of projected versions of Oscar as either old fuddy duddies or young hepcats is fun.

The academy haven't lost their taste for Oscar bait. They just haven't been let near a healthy enough specimen. They're like drunks who've managed to stay dry for several years not because they have lost their taste for alcohol but because nobody has offered them a drink.

Though I warn you: this may be a depressing read if you've been convincing yourself that the Academy has changed due to the last few winners.