MARCH, 28

ON THEATRES NEXT WEEK

1-MISPLACED AFFECTION

Drama / Horror

The Cast: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Kirsten Dunst, Alan Alda

The Director: Joe Wright
The Producer and Screenwriter: John Daws

The Plot: David Sutherland (James McAvoy) has moved to America with his fiancee Sarah Connell (Keira Knightley). They are very much in love and really enjoy everything. David is hard working as is Sarah and their new life in America is hard. They work over 2 hours away and Sarah travels a lot in her new role.

Things quickly start to get strained in the relationship and David starts to feel second best. He bestfriends Lucy Hallows (Kirsten Dunst) whom he works with and instantly bond. She is similar to him and they quickly become close.

Sarah meanwhile feels that perhaps there is something wrong and wonders why David is distant now. David feels that he is having more care from other people and starts to wonder if things are right.

One night he tells Sarah that he is going out for a few drinks with his work but really it is with Lucy. They drink and talk about his problems and Lucy takes advantage of this and kisses the drunk David. He feels terrible but also loves the affection shown by Lucy. He decides that he should break things off with Sarah. He no longer feels ready to commit his future while still so young as he believes that the kiss with Lucy shows he is not mature enough.

He struggles and finds it hard to tell Sarah. Meanwhile Lucy is getting increasingly angry about the fact that she is not the main person in his life. She decides to take matters into her own hands and things start change for the sinister.

Sarah is working in Boston for a week and David is worried because he is likely to wonder to Lucy. He does not want this but he cannot stop himself.

However Lucy is not at work. She is tracking Sarah to Boston. Twisted and evil she waits till the evening and when Sarah is asleep she breaks into her room. She walks over and Sarah wakes startled. Lucy holds a knife to her throat and tells her that she is the only one who can have David. Lucy screams. Next door a Steve Pollack (Alan Alda) wakes and quickly hurries next door. He finds the door ajar and bursts in. He sees a pool of blood and Sarahs dead body lying there. Lucy has killed her and got away.

Steve is mortified. A nice man and retired detective he takes to finding and tracing the killer. Meanwhile David is devastated and cannot believe what has happened. Lucy is there to console him and it brings them closer. She quickly takes Sarah’s place and just as quickly starts to become his 'Boss'. She orders him and shouts at him and her jealousy and twisted mind is what scares him immensely.

Steve meanwhile has drawn a dead end from clues that were found. He has no CCTV evidence and no idea why this girl was murdered in cold blood. He decides to come to see David but is quickly shut out by Lucy. This is strange to Steve and he is suspicious of Lucy. He starts to enquire about her and her past and discovers that she has a long history of mental issues and wherever she has been there have also been a lot of deaths. With this new found evidence he starts putting things in place. He starts to come to the conclusion it was Lucy and goes to confront David with the evidence. When he arrives Lucy warns him away but he barges in. He shouts for David who comes rushing downstairs. When he gets their though he sees Lucy thrusting a knife into Steve’s back. He quickly turns around and throws the knife at David going straight into his chest and piercing his heart. She slowly and calmly turns around and leaves the two men dead on the floor. With no one left who knows her secret she turns and smiles. She leaves the town and goes to start a new life and a new terror somewhere else.


Stark’s Comment: Daws returns after the outstanding success of ‘Game Boy 2’. Now, it’s an intense dark thriller with crossed passions and psycho killer included. An allstars cast for a story with an uncertain future in box office. The appealing cast may push up this release. Also, some steamy sex scenes may be a good hook to attract audiences.

2-SYNDROME: NEW EDEN

Horror / Zombie

The Cast: Ben Affleck, Kurt Russell, Abigail Breslin, Thomas Haden Church, Emma Watson, P.Patton, Freddie Highmore, Jordan-Claire Green, Sarah Paxton

The Director: Rob Cohen
The Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick

The Plot: Our survivors soon run out of gase in their camper and after not being able to find anymore decide that they have to brave the wild and a series of zombie attacks in which Samantha (S.Paxton) is killed, which almost make her best friend (E. Watson) lose her mind. After burying her and holding a small funeral they continue on there way. Days later they find a small encampment that has been fortified with fences full of people. It is a joy for them to find living people after all these months and they are taken in where they meet the mayor by the name of Romero (K.Russell). They learn that this new group are trying to keep society going by hanging onto the old ways. Stephen (B.Affleck) meets a lady by the name of Janice (P.Patton) and soon they fall in love with each other. Amber (A.Breslin) meets a young brother and sister named Kevin (F.Highmore) and Monica (J-C.Green). Christopher (T.H.Church) decides to form a hunting party that would regularly go into towns to scavenge for food and supplies. During the night a shocking turn of events happen when the encampment is attacked by raiders and Amber is kidnapped late in the night.


Stark’s Comment: Besides all the controversy around the shooting, let’s remember now that the first movie of the saga made a nice box office of 78 millions and really good net gains of 91 millions. So I still expect this sequel may become a more than decent success.

3-BABES IN TOYLAND

Family / Musical

The Cast: Jimmy Bennett, Abigail Breslin, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Sarsgaard, Kevin Kline, Adam Sandler, Amy Adams, Joshua Jackson

The Director: Michel Gondry
The Screenwriter: Josh Collins

The Plot: Jane and Alan, two unhappy children, run away from home. Their parents, who are always putting work and discipline before play and pleasure, are too busy for them, so the young siblings set out for a place where they will be understood. The children believe that Toyland, a magical land of spirited toys, will deliver them from their hardships. When they arrive, the Toymaker welcomes them with open arms. He warns them not to become too caught up in the fantasy, but soon the toys of Toyland draw them in with their singing and dancing.

The busy parents must find a way to bring the young runaways back home. They send a private eye to search for their children, but he sees an opportunity for personal gain in his trip to Toyland; he forces Jane and Alan to help him steal the Toymaker’s plans for a new marching toy soldier. When the parents arrive in Toyland via hot air balloon, they too fall under the spell of the mystical land. Arguments break out, toys are wounded, and Jane and Alan get lost and frightened in the dark woods outside of Toyland. As the parents and toys search for the children, the characters and audience alike discover the true meaning of Christmas.

Throughout the adventure the kids meet familiar names such as Mary Contrary, Tom-Tom and even those toy soldiers.

Director: Michel Gondry
Alan: Jimmy Bennett
Jane: Abigail Breslin
Mom: Reese Witherspoon
Dad: Peter Sarsgaard
Toymaker: Kevin Kline
Private Eye: Adam Sandler
Mary Contrary: Amy Adams
Tom-Tom: Joshua Jackson


Stark’s Comment: Collins leaves aside his usual dramas to try luck with a musical for all the family. What is an experimental director like Michel Gondry doing in a movie like this? And, most of all, will this remake of the classic kid’s tale work in box office? Three uncertain releases this week… let’s cross fingers.

MOVIES IN DEVELOPMENT

THE METAL: Not very often an afroamerican is the drummer of a heavy metal band, but that’s exactly what Shawn Wayans will be in his debut for CMP. Also, GMA winner Robin Williams has accepted to make a special appearance. And no others than Jack Black and Kyle Glass will make a cameo being again JB and KG, the rock duo ‘Tenacious D’.

CELL MATES 2: All the members of the original cast have confirmed the presence in the sequel. That means that we will have the chance to see again talents like Elle Fanning, Woody Harrelson and the last Best Supporting Actress GMA winner, Winona Ryder.

ULTRAMAN: AFRAID OF THE CLONES: In so many ways, this third episode is trying to be a kind of redefinition of the franchise, as some characters from the two first movies disappear (mainly due to the refusal of the talents to play them again). That means that new characters will be introduced replacing the ones in the previous episodes. The peculiar cast will include CMP’s debutantes like Rob Scheider, Jackie Chan and Tia Carrere.

FIVE THUNDERBOLTS: Collins gets into action with this story about the organized crime in China. The main peculiarity of the movie is that it will be spoken in Chinese and subtitled in English (a real challenge for box office). Ang Lee (‘An American Stroll’) is directing what pretends to be a quality approach to the action genre.

FACTION 12: Nicholas Cage, producer of the movie, wanted Ridley Scott to direct it. But Scott has rejected the offer, as he wants to take some time before returning to CMP after ‘The Holders’. Anyway, a replacement has been quickly found. J.J. Abrams will make his debut in CMP with this sci-fi action adventure. And he has already confirmed a lead female star joining the cast: GMA Winner Nicole Kidman, not seen in CMP since the end of ‘The Heirs’ saga.

WHEN DREAMS DIE: First screenplay from a new writer, Ralph Franzwa. A teen drama that will be directed by Sam Mendes (‘Carousel’). The story of the rise and fall of a young and promising football quarterback will be starred by Haley Joel Osment (‘American Heartland’, ‘Goths: A Love Story’) and Ellen Page (‘Blood Beach’).

CELEBUTANTES: Green light for the movie version of the funny book by Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna K. Hopper (daughters of tv producer Leonard Goldberg and star Dennis Hopper). An acid satire of the Hollywood world through the eyes of a group of parishilton-esque girls. James Bradley makes his debut as director with this appealing pitch.

QUADROPHENIA: Finally, The Who won’t be re-recording the songs of the original album in which the movie is based as it was originally considered. Instead of that, the original recordings have been digitally treated to improve the quality of the sound. A special edition of the album will be released at the same time than the movie.

HITMAN: PAIN OF DESTINY: Kate Winslet returns after ‘Man In The Mirror’ in her first work in a non-James Badley’s story. Winslet succeeds Keira Knightley and Kate Beckinsale as one of the usually suffering women of the saga. Also, John Hurt joins the cast in his first work for the Studio.

DRAWING DREAMS:GMA Winner Robert Downey Jr. will play painter Johnny Depp’s agent in this drama. Downey Jr. previously worked with the Depp / Trax / Mamet team in ‘No Evil’. We have also seen him in other CMP’s movies like ‘Hot Iron’, ‘Home’ or ‘Piece Of My Heart’.

THE PROMO PIC

‘Misplaced Affection’ is a horror story about forbidden attractions and the price to pay for them if you choose the wrong person. The feature is mainly based on the appeal of the starring trio, the multi-demanded Keira Knightley, the CMP's debutante James McAvoy and the efficient talent of Kirsten Dunst. And to reinforce that appeal here is a promo pic of the movie.


A LOOK AT… KIRSTEN DUNST

Step by step, she is beginning to enter in the CMP’s Most Demanded Talents Club. Although still not demanded as much as regulars like Keira Knightley, Claire Danes or Scarlett Johansson, Kirsten is building up a slow but solid career in the Studio. One of the successful screenwriter John Daws’ muses (together with Keira), we have heard her voice as much as seen her disturbing beauty in quite a few CMP’s movies by now.

SINGLES (James L. Brooks, B.O.: 108): A successful romantic comedy directed by James L. Brooks. Kirsten’s debut in CMP was playing a supporting role as an eccentric single. The movie worked at box office and Kirsten got a GMA nomination as Best Supporting Actress.



CALVIN AND HOBBES (James L. Brooks, B.O.: 6 mill.): James L. Brooks called her back as one of the voices in this animated feature based on the comic strip. Sadly, the movie was a painful disaster.

SOUTH EAST (Neil Jordan, B.O.: 75 mill.): First character written by John Daws for Kirsten. She gained prestige with a great performance as a girl with a wild side that adds some more troubles to poor Daniel Radcliff’s life. A quality and critically acclaimed movie. Second nomination, this time as Best Actress, at the Golden Moon Awards.

GAME BOY (Robert Zemeckis, B.O.: 211 mill.): Daws wanted her back to join the group of starry voices in this mega-production. Kirsten gave her voice to sweet Toadstool. The rest is history…

GAME BOY 2: WARLANDS (Robert Zemeckis, B.O.: 265 mill.): After a rest, Kirsten repeats work in this sequel. And the success is even bigger. Now, her name is related to the CMP’s Worldwide Gross Top 1, which is always something nice to see in a talent’s filmography.

MISPLACED AFFECTION (Joe Wright, awaiting release): We don’t see a female villain often. A major challenge for an actress. This sexy and evil character looks as a wonderful chance for Kirsten to make a performance to be remembered.


TALK OF THE TOWN

Due to all the controversy around the sequels of ‘Syndrome’, Matt Kubrick felt he had to break his silence and this is what he has said about it in a recent interview: “I will take the blame for the problems of New Eden. I guess I overloaded my work load this season. I wrote so much stuff, Syndrome got lost in the shuffle. I feel kinda like I let the studio down with it, but it won't happen again.” What everyone at CMP wonders now is how or if all this problems and the temporary cancellation of the third episode will affect the box office breakdown of the upcoming ‘Syndrome: New Eden’.

An innovative initiative. Two CMP’s screenwriters team up to write and produce together a movie. Ben Tyler and Matt Kubrick work together in the movie version of the Marvel’s comic ‘Lobo’. The movie will be developed by the Matt Kubrick’s independent Production Company, ‘Midnight Movies’. An appealing joint venture.

While some screenwriters become more and more prolific, others take a rest. Marcus Trax, usually a hyperactive and versatile author for CMP, slows down his writing rhythm for a while. Although not retiring, he has announced that he won’t be releasing so many movies as usual for a while. And same goes for Bill Cougan, who will take a temporary rest before returning to CMP. Luckily, both have confirmed that they will be back in the near future. Anyway, next Season there will still be pitches coming from both.

Production Schedule for Season 7 is almost closed, although minor changes could still be made. Harry Stark has only said about it that it will probably be the CMP’s Season with the lowest number of sequels. ‘We have so many new material that we have to make room for it”, he recently stated. So do not expect more than 3 or 4 sequels in the upcoming Season. Also, Stark proudly announced that it will be the Season with the highest number of screenwriters working for the Studio.

James Cameron has confirmed to be working on a special DVD edition of his latest CMP’s movie ‘Pompeii’. The DVD release will include a director’s cut with some scenes not included in the big screen version among other special contents. Cameron will wait until the end of this CMP’s Season to present the DVD, as he thinks that GMA nominations for his movie could help the success of the DVD’s release. Cameron expects ‘Pompeii’ to be one of the favourites in the upcoming edition of these awards.

Nudity at CMP at last? CMP has been fairly described as a pretty conservative Studio, as not many of its movies include nude scenes. Only ‘Dark’, released during Season 1, was directly defined as an erotic thriller. And ‘Red Light’ can be considered another hot release, although Demi Moore didn’t go further than playing implied nude scenes. This Season, the steamy scenes in the upcoming ‘Misplaced Affection’ – though not very explicit neither – and Kate Winslet’s back nude walking in the gym in ‘Man in the mirror’ can be considered as the hottest moments of the Season. But that could finally change in the future, as Harry Stark has received a couple of screenplays that include really explicit nude scenes.

As Season 6 gets close to its end, CMP has already begun working on the next Golden Moon Awards edition. As usual, the Studio has contacted two main CMP’s stars to present the nominations. Their names are being kept in secret by the moment but, following the tradition, it will be for sure two stars that have specially shined during the Season. Also, a location for the ceremony has to be chosen and internal sources confirm that it will probably cross the ocean again to take place in some European city. Remember that up until now three editions have taken place in Los Angeles, one in New York and one in London.

Director Anthony Minghella passed away past week. He was the prestigious and awarded director of ‘The English Patient’. In CMP, he only directed one movie, the epic ‘The Library’, starred by Anthony Hopkins, that unfortunately didn’t work at box office.

SALT AND PEPPER

SALT

ABIGAIL BRESLIN: Main challenger to the CMP’s Official Cute Girl’s throne, still occupied by Dakota Fanning. Abigail confirms her rising star appearing in two of this week’s releases, ‘Syndrome: New Eden’ and ‘Babes In Toyland’. Her brilliant acting work in ‘Hollyweird’ was the first evidence of Abigail’s talent and, since then, offers have multiplied for her. We have talked before about the cuteness factor and Abigail is the perfect embodiment of it. So now that Dakota is growing up, Ariel may become the inevitable name when a cute and talented young girl is needed in a cast (with the permission of another rising child star, Ariel Gade).

PEPPER

PITCHES: With seven releases making net gains in a row is hard to find someone to throw our pepper on lately. So let’s choose a general concept: pitches. The truth is that CMP’s screenplays are getting better and better but there are a few things that still could be improved. First, lack of originality when casting. Some names are becoming too repetitive. There are a lot of talents out there but it seems like only a few of them interest to CMP’s authors. And second, the genre. According to CMP’s internal sources, some writers still do not include the genre they want to describe their stories with. No big problems. But things are going so well at CMP that it is hard to find a target for our pepper these days…

WHAT HAPPENED WITH… WES CRAVEN?

He used to be the undisputed master of horror in the 80’s. Also, Craven was a pioneer in CMP’s horror movies. Craven directed the CMP’s horror classic ‘Fear the Darkness’, the first appearance on screen of the iconic character Darkman, who soon became as popular as another classic Craven’s creation, Freddy Krueger. Craven also took control both as director and producer of the first Darkman’s sequel, ‘The Long Dark Night’, considered a masterpiece of the horror genre due to its brilliant screenplay. Then, some creative differences between Craven and Matt Kubrick during the pre-production of the third Darkman’s adventure ended up with Craven abandoning the franchise. Since then, Craven has only returned as producer of one CMP’s movie, the correct ‘The Grotto’, directed by another classic of the genre, John Carpenter. A new generation of horror movies directors like Eli Roth or Rob Zombie seem to have taken his place and Craven is not anymore the obliged reference for the genre in CMP.