Thursday, August 7

• David Gordon Green Talks Suspiria with ReelzChannel
  

  The web is abuzz today with word that Natalie Portman has been cast in David Gordon Green's Suspiria remake. Bloody-Disgusting says it's true. As big fans of the original horror classic, we're pretty excited to hear that this movie is happening. Gordon Green is certainly an interesting directorial choice and Natalie Portman's involvement gives the project an added level of credibility.

  During ReelzChannel's recent interview with Gordon Green, we asked about the Suspiria remake. Although he didn't mention Portman at the time, he was smiling pretty big when we asked who the girl would be. "I can't say yet. It's pretty awesome. We're in good shape. It could be fun."

  Gordon Green went on to say that Dario Argento is not involved with the remake and that he is going for a "beautiful horror movie."

  "It's great," Green told ReelzChannel. "I've written [Suspira] with my sound designer. You just have to see it. [I'm going for] the vivid technicolor achievement of The Red Shoes with the intensity and fear and anxiety of The Silence of the Lambs."

  Gordon Green is a big fan of the original and hopes his version will be a fitting homage. The big question, of course, is will he still use the red paint for blood? "Yeah! I love it! It's a pretty heightened reality, what we've engineered here. It's not a cartoon, but it's definitely in the spirit of what Argento was doing."

  Read our full interview with Gordon Green for more on Pineapple Express, his history with Danny McBride and some other future projects he's kicking around.

  
  

  Posted 08/07/2008 by Jeff

  David Gordon Green | Dario Argento | Suspiria | Suspiria

Wednesday, August 6

• Kevin Smith Wins Porno Battle
  

  Director Kevin Smith has won his battle with the Motion Picture Association of America to change the rating on his upcoming Zack and Miri Make a Porno from NC-17 to R. An appeals board overturned the decision on Tuesday.

  Smith seems to have a certain amount of charm with the MPAA, having successfully appealed decisions on three of his movies -- Clerks, Jersey Girl and now Zack and Miri.

  Perhaps Smith should share his secrets with the thousands of poor indie schleps who have been unjustly marked with the dreaded NC-17 by the wildly inconsistent band of housewives and geezers that make up the MPAA.

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 08/06/2008 by Jeff

  Kevin Smith | Zack and Miri Make a Porno

• Russell Crowe's Robin Hood Flick in Peril

  It was just over a week ago that The Hollywood Reporter declared that Nottingham, Ridley Scott's high-profile Robin Hood movie starring Russell Crowe as the Sherriff of Nottingham, had been postponed. Now it appears that the flick could soon be downgraded from "postponed" to "doomed."

  According to Patrick Goldstein of The Los Angeles Times, Nottingham is battling a three-headed Hollywood hydra of project-killing obstacles: creative issues, scheduling hurdles and problems with its star. The latter refers to Crowe, whose apparent abandonment of his "fight your way to fitness" program has left him a bit too bloated to realistically chase down a swift, svelte medievel crusader for the poor.

  At best, Goldstein says production on Nottingham could start this October, with the release date pushed to 2010. Considering the project's array of hurdles, a more realistic date might be "never."

  
  

  Posted 08/06/2008 by Thomas

  Russell Crowe | Ridley Scott | Nottingham

• Eli Roth Adds Stamp of Legitimacy to Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards

  Leonardo DiCaprio may not be starring in Inglorious Bastards, but don't weep for director Quentin Tarantino, because he went out and got someone even better. Variety reports today that none other than Hostel director Eli Roth has signed on to play a "baseball bat-swinging Nazi hunter" in Tarantino's remake of Enzo Castellari's cult World War II flick. Casting an actor of Roth's caliber will no doubt come as welcome news to Brad Pitt, who's reportedly in negotiations to star in the flick. This bit of news should almost certainly seal the deal for the Assassination of Jesse James star.

  
  

  Posted 08/06/2008 by Thomas

  Quentin Tarantino | Eli Roth | Inglorious Bastards

• Early Fan Reactions -- Pineapple Express

  

  The latest offering from the Apatow crew seeks to combine classic Cheech and Chong stoner humor with heavy doses of camp-action. Does the combination work or is the movie left just -- blowing smoke? We caught up with fans' reactions to Pineapple Express.

  See also: our review

  Next Tuesday night, August 12th, it's 'welcome to the jungle' with Tropic Thunder.

  
  

  Posted 08/06/2008 by reelz

  Judd Apatow | Pineapple Express

Tuesday, August 5

• Pineapple Express Review
  

  Does this stoner action comedy hold the goods for the sober-minded individual as well as a blissful cult of inebriated moviegoers?

  Check out our full Pineapple Express review to find out.

  
  

  Posted 08/05/2008 by Jeff

  Pineapple Express

• Pineapple Express Propels M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" Up the Charts

  Thanks largely to its inclusion in the trailer for Pineapple Express, "Paper Planes," British hip-hop artist M.I.A.'s irresistibly catchy paean to drug use, larceny and other wholesome youth activities, has rocketed to #1 on iTunes. It's welcome news for an artist whose album failed to catch fire when it first debuted in States almost a year ago, despite strong studio backing and near-universal adoration from critics.

  Hoping for a similar career boost from Pineapple Express are rockin' '80s bad boys Huey Lewis and the News, who recorded the film's official theme song. It's no "Heart and Soul," but it does contain traces of the magic that their 1983 opus "Sports" go platinum seven times over.

  Pineapple Express opens in theaters tomorrow, but don't expect to hear M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" if you see it. The song is only being used in marketing for Seth Rogen's stoner comedy and isn't included on its soundtrack. Bummer.

  
  

  Posted 08/05/2008 by Thomas

  Pineapple Express

• Seth Rogen: Superhero

  Perhaps in an effort to show that he really is superhero material, a surprisingly well-groomed Seth Rogen long-jumped into a swimming pool on The Late Show last night. And since he didn't drown, didn't appear to break any bones, and remained airborne for at least three seconds, we feel confident that he will indeed make a convincing crimefighter in his upcoming role as the Green Hornet. At least if he, as the movie's co-writer, limits the action to mostly jumping in swimming pools. And keeps the pools shark-free.

  
  

  Posted 08/05/2008 by reelz

  The Green Hornet | Seth Rogen