Hollywood News & Notes
REPO!
Repo! the Genetic Opera just opened and has already been marketed by Lionsgate as the cult successor to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The movie opened this weekend in just eight theaters and earned $51,000, averaging an impressive $6450 per screen.
Director Darren Lynn Bousman told Moviehole he’s already planning a sequel to the Paris Hilton, Alex Vega film.
”I want to start a sequel next year. But again, everything — I’ll end my whole thing on a soapbox, which I love to get on,” Bousman told the site. “This movie is all about support from the Internet, and support from fans. This is not a movie where you’ll see billboards or bus stop ads or trailers on TV. It’s a movie that exists in a grass roots kind of a fashion. It exists when fans go and see it, and they go on message boards and talk about it.
"I would love to follow up Repo and finish the story, because it was conceived as a three-part movie. But I’m doing an action film next. I can’t say exactly what it is yet. It’ll be announced next week. But I’m doing a big action film next, which is really exciting."
ANIMATED OSCARS
The year isn’t even over but already 14 movies have been submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for consideration in the best animated feature category. Only three will get the nomination.
The contenders are Bolt, Delgo, Dragon Hunters, Fly Me to the Moon, Igor, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $9.99, The Sky Crawlers, Sword of the Stranger, The Tale of Despereaux, Waltz With Bashir, WALL-E, and Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!
While Disney’s Wall-E is the hands down favorite among the masses, the other two spots will receive tremendous competition.
The Oscar nominations will be announced January 22 according to The Hollywood Reporter.
JADEN SMITH IS THE NEXT ‘KARATE KID’
The parade of unnecessary film remakes continues as Variety reports that Will Smith’s son Jaden Smith will star in a new take on The Karate Kid.
The 1984 film with Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue spawned three sequels and was a major hit for Columbia Pictures. The final film in the series proved to be the big screen debut for Hilary Swank. Morita was nominated as the best supporting actor by the Acamdey Awards and Golden Globe Awards for his work as the teacher, Mr. Miyagi. The film also spawned many of-trepeated one-liners and images making it a true pop culutral phenomenon.
The new script is coming from newcomer Chris Murphy and will be set in China with filming set for Beijing among other locales. No director was named.
Jerry Weintraub returns to the franchise to produce the new version working alongside Overbrook Entertainment’s James Lassiter, Will Smith and Ken Stovitz. Jaden Smith made his screen debut as his father’s son in last year’s hit, The Pursuit of Happyness. He will next be seen in December’s other unnecessary remake, The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Down with the Animation Oscar! Let 'em compete for the real Best Picture fair and square. We reject any patronizing separate award and fart in their general direction.
"We reject any patronizing separate award and fart in their general direction."Who's we?Look, I understand why those who're opposed to the existence of the Best Animated Feature Oscar category feel they way they do, but (1) the existence of the category doesn't prevent an animated feature from being nominated as a Best Picture (it may make it less likely, but that's arguable) and (2) the existence of a Best Animated Feature Oscar category guarantees that there will be some Oscar attention given to Animated Features every year; without it, there would be plenty of years without any Oscar attention for animated movies. I understand why some feel that "ghetto-izes" animation, but I do appreciate the current set-up that guarantees at least some attention for animation.
We is, of course, my fine self. (wait for applause)(1) I think animation was about to win a Best Picture and make everyone think (ugh, the effort) about just what a Picture is. I would be one of those who would suggest the Best Animated Feature category puts that day off somewhat. I wanted Robin Williams and the key Aladdin animator to get Best Actor. I'm on the edge. I'm getting pronoun trouble.(2) I think animation is demeaned by an automatic award. Animation doesn't want for attention when it brings something to the screen people want to see. It has been robbed for Best Picture at least, um, let's say twice. But as long as we're talking and thinking about the movies, Oscar is doing it's job.
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