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Eye on Film: Nov. 16-22

EYE ON FILM
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22


New Movies:

Director Peter Weir is coming aboard Fox 2000’s “Shadow Divers” and is in negotiations to helm the film based on Robert Kurson’s best-selling nonfiction book “Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Discovered Hitler’s Lost Sub.”  The pic revolves around two of the world’s foremost deep-sea wreck divers who discover a sunken U-boat 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey. Despite considerable danger, the young divers risk their lives in their obsession to identify the submarine over the period of six years.  Bill Broyles (“Cast Away”) wrote the script and is executive producing.

Tim Firth has been hired to adapt Ahmet Zappa’s kids’ book “The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless” for Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Walt Disney Pictures.  Pic concerns a young brother and sister who learn their family is part of a long line of monster hungers.  Despite their constant squabbling, the pair must band together against the most diabolical creature in the universe.

The former James Bond, Pierce Brosnan, is going back to the spy world, signing on to star in “Spy vs. Stu,” a comedy for New Line Cinema.  Brosnan will also also produce the movie through his Irish Dream production shingle.  The comedy centers on Stu, a commitment-phobe who plans to propose to his girlfriend during an island vacation. Unbeknownst to him, a handsome, debonair spy (Brosnan) is on the other end of the island, having just finished saving the world.  When the bored spy takes a serious liking to Stu’s girl, Stu is forced to compete with the ultrasuave superspy.  No director is on board yet.

DreamWorks and Nick Movies are in final negotiations to acquire the rights to “Camp Creepy Time,” a children’s book by actress Gina Gershon and her brother Dann Gershon.  Richard LaGravenese is in final negotiations to write the adaptation, which he also might direct.  The story centers on an eccentric 13-year-old boy who must rescue fellow campers when he learns that aliens compromise the camp staff.

Anjelica Huston is headed back to the director’s chair for “Give Us a Kiss,” an adaptation of a Daniel Woodrell novel for Focus Features. “Junebug” writer Angus MacLachlan is writing the script, which will be produced by Paul L. Sandberg via his company, Ostensible Prods.  The story follows a struggling crime writer named Doyle who travels to his Ozarks hometown to track down his older brother Smoke, who is on the run from the law.  There, he falls for Smoke’s beautiful stepdaughter before helping Smoke in a criminal enterprise to pay off the law, while keeping a rival neighboring family at arm’s length.

Warner Bros. has picked up spec script “Funny Fat Guy” from Broken Lizard comedy troupe members Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme. Heffernan will topline the laffer. Storyline revolves around the stereotypical funny fat man who is the life of the party and everyone’smascot. Sick of his lovelorn status, he decides to transform himself, Eliza Doolittle-style.

Paramount Pictures has hired Ron Nyswaner to pen the screenplay for “Dover,” based on the landmark 2005 trial that stopped a Pennsylvania school board from teaching “intelligent design” – i.e. creationism – over evolution.  Lynda Obst is producing for the studio through her Par-based shingle.

Rainn Wilson and Jason Reitman are donning their ninja suits for “Bonzai Shadowhands.”  Fox Searchlight picked up the dark comedy, which Wilson is writing as a starring vehicle for himself and which Reitman will direct.  While plot details are being kept under wraps, it is known to be about a once-great ninja who is now living a life of mediocrity. Reitman and his Hard C partner Daniel Dubiecki will produce, and Wilson will serve as executive producer.

The Weinstein Co. and IFC Entertainment have co-acquired North American rights to the serial-killer drama “Out of the Blue.” “Blue,” tentatively scheduled for a May bow, tells the true story of New Zealander David Gray, who shot and killed more than a dozen people in his small hometown.

Armin Mueller-Stahl and Sinead Cusack will co-star opposite Viggo Mortenson and Naomi Watts in David Cronenberg’s crime drama “Eastern Promises.”  The Focus Features release is produced by Paul Webster of Kudos Pictures and Robert Lantos of Serendipity Point Films.  Principal photography begins this week in London. Mueller-Stahl (“Shine”) will play Semyon, the patriarch of a London-based organized crime family with ties to the mysterious Nikolai (Mortensen).  When Nikolai meets Anna (Watts), a midwife who stumbles upon incriminating evidence against the family, all hell breaks loose. Cusack (“V for Vendetta”) will play Anna’s mother.  Donald Sumpter (“The Constant Gardener”) will portray Anna’s uncle, and Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski (“Moonlighting”) will play a police officer involved with the case.

IFC Entertainment and the Weinstein Co. have co-acquired North American rights to the artist documentary “Matthew Barney: No Restraint,” featuring Bjork

Eye on Film: Nov. 2 - 9

EYE ON FILM
Nov. 2 – Nov. 9


New Movies:

Robert De Niro and 50 cent are in final negotiations to co-star in “New Orleans,” a police thriller set to be directed by Tim Hunter.  The film centers on a cop who thinks his partner has died during Hurricane Katrina, only to discover that he was shot to death.  When he gets a new partner, the pair investigate the murder, which takes them on a journey into a world of police corruption.  De Niro is attached to play the lead, with 50 Cent as his new partner.  Production is tentatively scheduled to begin filming in February in New Orleans. Millennium Films, Emmett/Furla Films and Len Evans are producing.

Capitol Films is backing the Keira Knightley-Lindsay Lohan starrer “The Best Time of Our Lives,” set to begin shooting in the spring in Wales.  The film revolves around two free-spirited women connected by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who loves them both.  The movie will be produced by Rebekah Gilbertson and Sarah Radclyffe from a script penned by Sharman Macdonald.

Julia Roberts will topline family drama “The Friday Night Knitting Club” for Universal, with Roberts and Christine Peters producing. Roberts will produce through her Red Om production company and Peters through her CFP Prods. shingle. “Friday,” based on Kate Jacobs’ upcoming novel, centers on a single mom who juggles the demands of running a Manhattan knitting store with raising her spunky teen daughter.  No writer or director is attached as yet.

Directors Allen and Albert Hughes will square off in “Kung Fu,” the bigscreen adaptation of the 1970s classic TV series for Warner Bros.-based Legendary Pictures.  Cory Goodman (“Priest”) is rewriting the script.  Legendary’s Thomas Tull, Scott Mednick and Jon Jashni are producing; series creator Ed Spielman executive produces.  The film is on course for a production start next year with the goal of a 2008 release.

Spike Lee and Brian Grazer are developing a sequel to

Holiday Gift Ideas: Rocking Boat

There isn't a kid around that wouldn't love to have this in their play room. Plus, it's built for two - so if you want to combine a gift for a sibling duo that's easy to share, timelessly fun and classicaly designed, then this is for you. I can't hardly believe it's $139.

View the rest of my Holiday Gift Ideas on ThisNext.com

When Only Glossies Will Do

 

                    

 

A list of magazines I simply must read every month; and the ones I love to loose myself in over an over-priced latte while sitting in the sunshine.

Beep Loves The Hoff // Signing His Own iPod in a Home Video (??)

I lknow it's been a while, but it's Friday and I needed a dose of the Hoff. I love how he totally changes his expression at the end to wish us all a Merry Christmas.

Eye ON FILM October 26- November 1

EYE ON FILM
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1

New movies:

Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden are in negotiations to star in “Rails and Ties.” a Warner Independent Pictures drama that will mark the feature directorial debut of Alison Eastwood.  Eastwood is an actress and the daughter of filmmaker Clint Eastwood, whose Malpaso Prods. Is behind the film.  Malpaso’s Rob Lorenz is producing along with Peer Oppenheimer and Barrett Stuart.  The script by Micky Levy tells of the physical, emotional and psychological collision of two families that is set in motion when a suicidal mother parks her car, with her 9-year old son inside, on a railroad crossing and awaits the arrival of a speeding train.  Bacon will play the train engineer, while Harden will be his wife.  Production is to begin in early 2007 in Los Angeles.

Walden Media and director Mark Waters are getting into the magic game.  The Phil Anschutz-owned production company has attached Waters to develop an adventure film about a 14-year-old who discovers that he is a descendent of the great illusionist Harry Houdini.  Jessica Tuchinsky, Waters’ producing partner at Watermark Pictures, will produce along with her husband, Jason Hoffs (“The Terminal.”)

Heather Graham and Dylan McDermott have joined the cast of Brad Isaacs’ 1960s period drama “A West Texas Children’s Story.”  The indie film, from Thom Mount’s Whitsett Hill Entertainment, revolves around two 12-year-olds who embark on an adventure to improve their lives after living with abusive parents.

Charlize Theron will star in indie drama “Ferris Wheel,” starring along side Nick Stahl, AnnaSophia Robb, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Hopper and Deborra-Lee Furness.  Theron’s production shingle Denver and Delilah will produce with Film Engine and Infinity Features.  Bill Maher will make his feature-directing debut on a script by Zac Stanford (“The Chumscrubber”).