Y’see, y’see, we don’t quite forget about everything here at WITATaS. We promised weekly movie news and – oh whadya know – you’re getting…fortnightly movie news.
Close enough.
Close enough.
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| 'A eyeless death-mask on a stick.' Billy Connolly; the man of cheers. |
Another week another awards ceremony, if there was a global ego meter a la South Park it would doubtlessly be off the chart come every January. So far there’s already been the Golden Globes and the various Guild awards (Critics, Actors, Directors, Producers, Writers) and now, as we enter the most voluptuous month of the year, it’s BAFTA’s turn with the golden envelopes.
It was a mostly by-the-numbers ceremony so far as the winners went; Argo picked up the Picture, Director, Editor trio in a further blow to the Academy’s ludicrous nominations. Anne Hathaway and Daniel Day-Lewis continued their dominance in their respective acting fields (Supporting Actress and Actor respectively) while Christoph Waltz won his second Best Supporting Actor award of the season to boost his chances in the run-up to the Oscars.
Elswhere however Emmanuelle Riva emerged from the leftest field to falconpunch the Best Actress category deeper into the ‘who the hell knows!’ territory before the Oscars. Jessica Chastain (Golden Globes) and Jennifer Lawrence (SAG Awards) have also picked up a major award, so rather than making a bet on the Oscar this year you’d be better served throwing a needle into a haystack.
Stephen Fry was in imperious form all night and managed to charm the socks off pretty much everyone ever and their dog while Samuel L. Jackson reminded the world that he is, in fact, a badass motherf****r: ‘can I just say – of course I can, I’m Samuel L. Jackson!’
For a full list of winners have a gander here.
‘I’m going to give you a film,’ ‘I know.’: Han Solo and Boba Fett standalone Star Wars films confirmed, punning destroys the planet.
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| 'You want to play me? Bring it on, bro!' |
First reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence Kasdan (he of Empire Strikes Back and, to a lesser furry extent, Return of the Jedi fame) and Simon Kinberg have both been brought on to helm a galactic project each. Just who will get what is still floating in the ether far, far away but we do know that the films will focus on everybody’s favourite loveable rogue/ornament Han Solo and loquacious bounty hunter Boba Fett.
For a bit more tasty speculation, Solo’s film is rumoured to focus on his younger days – so at some point between episodes III and IV – when, at least in the extended Star Wars universe, he worked as some form of space marine. Because we don’t have too many of them these days. So long as Chewbacca shows up at some point (if they don’t do a meet-cute I’ll slap a hamster) then we can all be happy.
Boba Fett’s vehicle will also focus on his early days, possibly showing his growth from whiny child to badass bounty hunter between episodes II and IV. The prequels already did an outstanding job of ruining pretty much everything that made Boba Fett an interesting character (note: his elusive ambiguity) so we can at least be safe in the knowledge that this film can't make things any worse.
As a closing exciting tid-bit, if the films do focus on the gap between the two trilogies then there’s a prime opportunity for some more Vader action. There is absolutely nothing confirmed just yet, but some more of the liquid sugar that is James Earle Jones’ voice can only be a good thing.
Next up: Lion King 4: Mufasa’s Revenge.
‘Wake up Mr. Freeman’: Half-Life and Portal films confirmed
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In continuation of his one man crusade against anybody else actually getting work in Hollywood, J. J. Abrams has been drafted in to helm the upcoming Half-Lifeand Portal films.
Valve’s classic series’ don’t naturally equate to cinematic adaptation – one being an effectively narrativeless puzzle game, the other sporting a silent protagonist – and video games traditionally have a torrid time on the big screen, but we can perhaps covet a modicum of hope for these.
Similar to the ‘cautiously optimistic’ vein that welcomed Abrams commandeering of Star Wars, the sci-fi maestro’s filmic track record bodes well for a faithful retelling of these mammoth series’. Valve’s fans are famously ultra-dedicated to their titles – sensitive to the minutest balls-up – so Abrams will have to tread mightily steady. Even more so than with Star Wars, at least there he has the reassurance that the brand can’t be shoved any further into the filthy mire.
In an interview with Polygon, Abram’s stated:
"We're…aware of the cautionary tales of movies that became games and vice versa. Our goal here to is to treat the world Valve has created in both these properties like anyone would a book or some great story that comes from a pitch or original script — just to treat it with the respect they treat their games and their players with."
See, he’s a smart guy that J. J.
From the Page to the Screen: Ellen Page’s directorial debut unveiled.
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| There's no wind in this picture. Hairstyling is simply remarkable in Hollywood these days. |
She’s evolved from the sweetheart of Indy cinema (Juno) to a stalwart of the Hollywood blockbuster scene (X-Men 3, Inception) and she’s about to make the Blastoise jump to the ultimate cinematic form: director.
Titled Miss Stevens, Ellen Page’s first flick finds Anna Faris in the leading role playing a teacher who’s life is up defecation creak without any means of propulsion. The film follows the currently nameless teacher as she chaperones a clan of High School kiddywinkles on a trip to a state drama competition.
Not the most engaging of concepts perhaps, but Page’s acting credentials bode well for a charming, entertaining and touching production with a finger very much pressed to the pulse of popular culture.
Elsewhere, Page will soon be starring in The East – which premiered at Sundance – before moving on to the production X-Men: Days of Future Past. It’s going to be a busy year for one of Hollywood’s hottest properties.
He Just Won’t Stop Swimming: Finding Nemo 2is coming together nicely
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| You see those dilated eyes? That's the effects of pollution. |
Cars 2, Monster’s University, the Toy Story Trilogy: yep, Pixar are definitely a product of Disney, the master of the assembly line.
Finding Nemo 2 is the latest treasured childhood memory to be thrown naked and crying into the unwanted limelight but at least the original A-Team are reforming for it.
Andrew Stanton, still licking his wounds after the majestic failure of John Carter, will be sat in the director’s chair while Elen DeGeneres (Dory) and Albert Brooks (Marlin) have signed up to reprise their scaly roles.
In what is proving to be a delightfully infuriating theme, very little is known about the film at this time; with several projects still in the pipeline, the provisionally titled Finding Nemo 2 is still resolutely in pre-production.
But still, more fishy fabulousness, huzzah! Let’s celebrate down the chippy.
Feeling a bit down? Relive your childhood:
As a final note, please follow me on Twitter: @smariman. You'll get told of updates and new posts as soon as they happen as well as the odd desperate attempt at being funny, entertaining and likeable. Such is life.
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