Saturday, November 14

• Roger Corman to Receive Honorary Oscar

  Even Roger Corman admits that his name was unlikely to be associated with an Academy Award. Yet the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to give Corman an honorary lifetime achievement Oscar, nonetheless. Corman told The Associated Press that he was surprised by the announcement.

  I predicted that I would not win because I make low-budget films, and I felt the Academy would not give an award to someone who made low-budget films. I was truly surprised when I got the call.

  Corman began his career producing and directing low-budget fare like 1955's Swamp Women and Monsters from the Ocean Floor, Corman quickly found that what he did best was provide opportunities to young director and actors like Martin Scorsese (1972's Boxcar Bertha), Jack Nicholson (1960's Little Shop of Horrors), Robert De Niro (1970's Bloody Mama), Francis Ford Coppola (Dementia 13), and Ron Howard (1977's Grand Theft Auto). Sylvester Stallone starred in two Corman movies, 1975's Death Race 2000 and Capone, and told Entertainment Weekly that he owes his career to Corman.

  If I hadn't done those parts I probably wouldn't be here today. He provided a forum for a lot of us to grow. We were the seeds and he owned the farm. If you look at those early movies with Jack Nicholson, you can see it — that he was building his rhythm back then. You can see that he had it. He would allow out-of-the-box people like Scorsese and De Niro to flourish. He didn't go with the status quo. He was a master at spotting talent.

  It was his eye for finding talent that Corman is the most proud of.

  I know that they all would have achieved the same level if they had never met me, but I think what I was able to do was to give them a start and help them a little bit in their careers, and I take great pride in that.

  Corman receives his Honorary Oscar at a ceremony today.

  
  
  

  Death Race 2000 - Trailer

  Posted 11/14/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Jack Nicholson | Martin Scorsese | Roger Corman | Ron Howard | Sylvester Stallone | Robert DeNiro | Francis Ford Coppola

Friday, November 13

• Scorsese to Receive Honorary Golden Globe

  The Hollywood Foreign Press will bestow its honorary Cecil B. DeMille Award to Martin Scorsese during the Golden Globes on January 17, according to Variety.

  Scorsese, who is a few days from his 67th birthday, is responsible for several movies legendary for their gritty, sometimes expressionistic, portrayals of violence. These include Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and GoodFellas.

  He also crafted many underrated gems that explored various social and cultural issues. These include The King of Comedy (the obsessions of celebrity culture), The Last Temptation of Christ (a non-Gospel, first-person telling of Jesus's internal struggle), Kundun (the life of the Dalai Lama), and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (the trials of single-motherhood).

  The DeMille Award recognizes the lifetime achievement of various actors and directors. Recent recipients include Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, and Al Pacino. Earlier recipients include Walt Disney, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and Alfred Hitchcock, among others. You can see the complete list of winners here.

  During his career, Scorsese twice won the Golden Globe for Best Director (for Gangs of New York and The Departed), so the award thankfully won't seem like a consolation prize. As many of you probably remember, fans were bitterly disappointed when the Oscars did not award Scorsese its directing award for Gangs of New York, going instead with Roman Polanski and The Pianist.

  Thank goodness Scorsese finally won for The Departed. Now, any lifetime achievement award he wins at the Academy Awards won't feel like adding insult to injury, some conciliatory gesture that says, "Sorry we never gave you the real thing, but here ya go."

  Scorsese's next release is Shutter Island, which arrives on February 19, and he is also at work on Sinatra and The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, both due sometime in 2011.

  
  

  Posted 11/13/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Martin Scorsese | Cecil DeMille | Shutter Island

• Harvey Keitel Joins Robert De Niro in Little Fockers

  Are there no good dramatic roles left in Hollywood? Harvey Keitel has signed on to star in Little Fockers opposite Robert De Niro, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

  Remember the '70s, when Keitel and DeNiro were starring in edgy, challenging movies like Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver? Now, both seem to be confined to less-than-original comedies. Thankfully, at least DeNiro has a role in Robert Rodriguez's upcoming Machete.

  And how about Dustin Hoffman? Is a possible appearance in Little Fockers the best he can expect? We recently overheard the tour-guide of a museum refer to Hoffman as "the guy from Meet the Fockers." Our thoughts: Anyone who knows Hoffman only from that movie should immediately be sent home with copies of The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, and Little Big Man.

  
  

  Posted 11/13/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Dustin Hoffman | Harvey Keitel | Martin Scorsese | Robert DeNiro | Little Fockers | Taxi Driver

Monday, October 5

• Second Trailer for Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island

  Originally scheduled to have opened this past weekend, Martin Scorsese's gothic thriller Shutter Island has been delayed until February 19, 2010. Instead, the studio is offering us another trailer with new glimpses of the mysteries and horrors lurking inside this Alcatraz-like asylum for the criminally insane.

  Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo play 1950's federal marshals sent to investigate the disappearance of an inmate who, the chief physician (Ben Kingsley) informs them, appears to have "evaporated, right through the walls." Once they arrive, they find themselves treated almost like patients themselves and nothing is as it seems. The nightmarish, apparently drug-induced, visions don't appear to be helping their investigation much either. Check it out below.

  
  

  Posted 10/05/2009 by Bill

  Related: Martin Scorsese | Leonardo DiCaprio | Mark Ruffalo | Ben Kingsley | Shutter Island

Tuesday, September 29

• Leonardo DiCaprio Joins The Deep Blue Goodbye

  Here's some shocking news: Leonardo DiCaprio is setting up a possible franchise for himself at Fox that has zero input from Martin Scorsese ... at least so far.

  Variety reports that DiCaprio is set to star in an adaptation of The Deep Blue Goodbye, where he will portray Floridian "salvage consultant" Travis McGee in the first of what was to become a 21-book series by the late mystery novelist John D. MacDonald. In the book, DiCaprio's character, who recovers lost or stolen items or money for clients, tracks down a psychotic murderer in possession of a soldier's treasure lost somewhere in the Florida Keys. No details were given on how Dana Steven has altered the story in her screenplay.

  No director is currently attached to The Deep Blue Goodbye, but with DiCaprio also serving as producer, it's expected that DiCaprio will find a suitable candidate. Considering his almost constant working relationship with Scorsese, could he be along for the ride? Their first joint effort on a thriller, Shutter Island, has been pushed back for a February 19, 2010, release, usually not a good sign. However, bringing on Scorsese might help DiCaprio seal himself into a franchise, though with his current schedule loaded with movies like Brave New World, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (with Scorsese), and about 24 others, who knows when DiCaprio will find the time to complete The Deep Blue Goodbye, much less 21 more crime movies.

  
  

  Posted 09/29/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Martin Scorsese | Leonardo DiCaprio | Dana Stevens | Shutter Island | The Deep Blue Goodbye

Sunday, August 23

• Scorsese's Shutter Island Bumped to February

  Sadly, we won't be seeing Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island this fall.

  On Friday, just six weeks before the movie was to be released, Variety reported that Paramount decided to push back the release date from October 2 to February 19. This, of course, eliminates it from consideration for the next Academy Awards. Good thing Scorsese has his Best Director Award.

  The studio cited economic concerns as the reason for the delay. Paramount chairman-CEO Brad Grey had this to say when he spoke to the press:

  Our 2009 slate was greenlit in a very different economic climate and as a result we must remain flexible and willing to recalibrate and adapt to a changing environment.

  This is a situation facing every single studio as we all work through the financial pressures associated with the broader downturn. Like every business, we must make difficult choices to maximize our overall success and to best manage Paramount's business in a way that serves Viacom and its shareholders, while providing the film with every possible chance to succeed both creatively and financially.

  Shutter Island stars Leonardo DiCaprio as an investigator who is assigned to a case involving a dangerous woman who escapes from a prison for the criminally insane. The movie also stars Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, and Jackie Earle Haley.

  
  

  Posted 08/23/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Martin Scorsese | Shutter Island

Thursday, June 11

• New Trailer for Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island

  Martin Scorsese's latest, Shutter Island, was originally a project for director David Fincher, who has made a career out of dark, psychological thrillers like Seven. It's an adaptation of the book written by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River).

  Shutter Island stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo as U.S. Marshals sent to investigate the disappearance of a patient from a mental hospital where the doctors (Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow) are performing radical treatments.

  
  

  Posted 06/11/2009 by Ryan

  Related: David Fincher | Martin Scorsese | Max von Sydow | Leonardo DiCaprio | Ben Kingsley | Dennis Lehane | Shutter Island | Mystic River | Seven

Friday, May 15

• Scorsese to Tackle Frank Sinatra

  Universal and Mandalay will bring the first feature-length biopic of Frank Sinatra to the big screen, with the legendary Martin Scorsese directing. No actors are yet attached to the untitled project, but Leonardo DiCaprio should be considered a prime candidate, since he has starred in Scorsese's last four movies.

  "Ol' Blue Eyes" received the small-screen treatment in 1992 with the TV miniseries Sinatra, which starred Philip Casnoff and won two Golden Globes. However, bringing a big-screen movie to fruition proved a daunting task. Executive producers Peter Guber and Cathy Schulman apparently worked for several years to acquire all the necessary rights to Sinatra's music and life story, Schulman told Variety:

  The responsibility we are taking on to tell his story ... that would cause anyone to be very careful about who they grant these rights to.... Everyone knows that Marty Scorsese is a final-cut director. So there had to be a lot of trust that he would tell this story in a way that didn't destroy [Sinatra's] memory.

  Speaking about the movie itself, Schulman added:

  It's not a cradle-to-the-grave traditional portrait of the consecutive events in a man's life. Instead, it's more of a collage, and in many ways, it will feel like an album itself. It's a collection of various moments and impressions in his life, and together, we hope they'll tell the full story and present full themes.

  The movie's screenwriter, Phil Alden Robinson, wrote and directed Field of Dreams. He's also executive producing with Sinatra's dauger, Tina Sinatra, and Gary LeMel, former president of worldwide music distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures.

  
  

  Posted 05/15/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Cathy Schulman | Frank Sinatra | Martin Scorsese | Peter Guber | Tina Sinatra | Leonardo DiCaprio | Phil Alden Robinson | Philip Casnoff

Tuesday, April 1

• Shine a Light Review

  The Stones live at the Beacon in a concert movie directed by Martin Scorsese? Am I dreaming or is this really happening?

  Yes it's true, one of the greatest living filmmakers is bringing the greatest living Rock N' Roll band to life in a way we've never seen before. Shine a Light chronicles the Stones 2006 Beacon show from every angle imaginable on a massive IMAX screen and it's quite an experience!

  Check out our full Shine a Light review!

  
  

  Posted 04/01/2008 by reelz

  Related: Martin Scorsese | Keith Richards | Mick Jagger

Tuesday, October 23

• Scorsese, DiCaprio reunite on Shutter Island

  The love affair between Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio will continue in 2008 with Shutter Island, a 1954-set drama about a U.S. Marshall investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a mental hospital.

  Presuming the deal goes through, DiCaprio will star and Scorsese will direct. The two have already worked together three times before--on The Departed, The Aviator, and Gangs of New York.

  Shutter Island is being adapted by Laeta Kalogridis (Alexander) from the novel by Dennis Lehane--who also wrote the novels upon which the acclamied Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone (now in theaters) were based. Sounds like a recipe for success to us.

  Source: Variety.

  
  
  Next Showing: Shutter Island will start production in March.
  

  Gone, Baby, Gone trailer

  The most recent Lehane novel to make it to film.

  Posted 10/23/2007 by reelz

  Related: Martin Scorsese | Leonardo DiCaprio | Shutter Island

Monday, August 13

• Movie news: Gandolfini goes back to HBO, Biggie Smalls has a director, and Scorsese's Stones doc gets pushed

  Actor James Gandolfini, aka Tony Soprano, is heading back to HBO. That's right, the man who defined the New Jersey mob (at least on TV) is doing a movie for the network that made him.

  Gandolofini has signed on to play another controversial Jerseyite-- basketball/athletic gear marketing figure Sonny Vaccaro, who signed Michael Jordan's first million-dollar deal with Nike and launched the careers of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant with his summer camp to showcase up and coming high school talent. The drama ABCD camp will be written by David Aaron Cohen (Friday Night Lights)...

  ...Notorious, the biopic about the Biggie Smalls,which started a national open casting this weekend for its lead, has found its director. Longtime Biggie Smalls fan George Tillman Jr. (Men of Honor, Soul Food) will direct the script by Cheo Hodari Coker (the journalist who wrote B.I.G.'s biography) and Reggie Rock Blythewood. Hip-hop musician and mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs will produce...

  ...Martin Scorsese's Shine a Light, has been postposed until April. The concert film about The Rolling Stones was originally supposed to open next month, but Paramount is claiming it wants more time to properly coordinate marketing with Scorses and the Stones, who are curently on tour in Europe.

  Source: Variety.

  
  

  Posted 08/13/2007 by reelz

  Related: Martin Scorsese | James Gandolfini | George Tillman Jr. | Notorious | ABCD Camp | Shine a Light

Monday, March 26

• Leo and Marty Team Up Again.    

  If it wasn't already apparent, Leo is the new apple of Marty's eye. Like Robert DeNiro before him, DiCaprio has forged an impressive kinship with the acclaimed director. The two have collaborated on the director's last three films, culminating is 2006's Best Picture winner, The Departed.

  Today Variety reports that Scorsese is planning to cast DiCaprio in the lead for a pic based on Jordan Belfort's upcoming tell-all autobiography "The Wolf of Wall Street." Warner Brothers will produce the pic, which will be adapted for the screen by Terence Winter (HBO's The Sopranos).

  It's unclear as of yet where the pic will fall in the director's slate of upcoming pics. As we reported earlier, rumors are still circulating of a potential Departed sequel. ReelzChannel.com will keep you posted as more news comes down the Hollywood pipeline.

  
  
  

  Reelz Clip

  Leonardo DiCaprio talks about Martin Scorsese and The Departed.
  

  Reelz Clip

  Costello (Nicholson) checks Costigan ( DiCaprio) for a wire.

  Posted 03/26/2007 by reelz

  Related: Martin Scorsese | Leonardo DiCaprio | The Departed