NOVEMBER, 27


UNDER THE GUN

Action

The Cast: Orlando Bloom, Monica Bellucci, James Gandolfini, Robert De Niro, Chow Yun-Fat, Ray Stevenson

The Director and Producer: Quentin Tarantino
The Screenwriter: David Makalaster

The Plot:

After the events of ‘Drawing Dead’, Michael (Bloom) and Rick (Gandolfini) are once again at the mercy of Zen Lim (Yun-Fat). They are thrown in a van and taken to a triad controlled warehouse where, after a beating, Zen locks them up in an old office while taunting them by saying how he'll save them for a rainy day. They look for a way out, but are interrupted when another prisoner, Hannah (Bellucci), is thrown in the room. She figures since they're locked up together, they're on the same side and tells them they have to get out of there before the metaphorical shit hits the fan. With her help they lure the guard into the room by acting like Michael has snapped and killed Hannah in his rage. Seeing as how she was the important of the three, the guard is fooled and promptly beat down by Rick and jumped by Michael. That is, until Hannah finishes him of, all the while scolding the guys for being noisy.

They make their way through the warehouse, surprised at the lack of resistance, until they get to an indoor loading dock where there is a standoff between the Triad with Zen Lim at the head and the mob, led by Mr. Jackson (De Niro). Hannah instinctively calls out "Dad!", causing him to run for her. Unfortunately this also causes Zen Lim to shoot him and a firefight breaks out between the thugs. Hannah screams after Mr. Jackson and Michael has to drag her out of the building where they steal a mob car and race out of there. Hannah screams at them that they have to go back for her father and, when Michael finally manages to calm her down, explains that she is Hannah Jackson.

She was kidnapped from a party after the mob had gotten their hands on the dragon after a dirty deal in a turf war, and was going to be held at ransom for it. Now, more than ever, she wants Zen Lim dead to avenge her imprisonment AND the death of her father. They stop and get a room in a motel off the beaten path to rest for the night. Michael and Rick just want to leave the state and never look back but come around when Hannah convinces them that they will never lead normal lives as long as Zen Lim and his Triad cell is chasing them.

The next night they head to a "Friend-Of-The-Family", "Sunshine" Ray Bianco (Stevenson) who, out of loyalty, puts himself and his goons under Hannah's command. However, he tells her that other lieutenants who would've joined up out of loyalty have been missing since the same morning. Hannah, fearing that the Triad is moving in on family turf now that Mr. Jackson is out of the picture, wants to move in right away. Rick laments how if he messes up normally, he'd only have to deal with angry guests, but when he messes up when he's with Michael, he gets a 12 gauge in the face.

The small army head for the "Fortune at Mt. Fuji" casino, a known Triad hangout but are surprised when it is already being evacuated by panicking tourists and gunshots are heard inside. Fortunately, the only cop that's arrived on the scene so far is in Sunshine's pocket and is persuaded to let them through. As they carefully enter the lobby they are set upon by both the Triad and an unknown group of people. Everybody is after everybody and in the chaos, Michael and Rick get cornered behind a row of slot machines. Rick comments that the casino's in town will probably all ban Michael now, because he brings only gunfights wherever he goes.

They finally manage to whittle down their assailants but only Sunshine, Hannah, Rick and Michael remains when Michael is shot in the leg by Zen who is ducking inside an office off to the side. However, this bares him to Hannah who exacts her revenge with a shot through Zen's chest.

As they check for live ones, Sunshine recognizes one of the unknown goons as another mob lieutenant and soon after, Hannah finds her father. He's patched up where he was shot by Zen Lim in the warehouse, otherwise bleeding heavily but still alive. He says that if he doesn't make it, he is now confident that Hannah is capable of inheriting his position. "I'm proud of you,honey.".

Meanwhile, Michael has hobbled over to Zen Lim, who is amazingly alive, and kicks his gun away. He is about to shoot him when Rick stops him and whispers something to him and points into the office. Michael laughs and enters, only to return with the golden dragon that started it all."I believe this is yours." he says, before he bludgeons the last life out of Zen.

Hannah, who still sits with her father tells them that their debt to the mob is cleared and the Triad wouldn't dare show their faces there again. She tells them to get out of there before too many more cops arrive and try to get on with their lives. After her hushed "Thank you.", they leave through a back door and manage to miss the big grouping of squad cars that arrive on the scene. As the two walk down the street they start talking.

Rick: "You know,I could've been a mob boss."
Michael: "Well, yeah kinda. You've got the mannerisms and dialect and everything."
Rick: "Exactly."
Michael: "You wouldn't be a big time Vegas boss, though.More like a New Jersey small-timer."
Rick: "Hey!"


Stark’s Comment:
This Chinese Dragon franchise started in a modest and quiet way with ‘3’s and 7’s’. But I have the feeling that its popularity has kept growing with time and I expect this third movie of the saga to become a big hit. Tarantino is an expert in creating cult products and I am convinced that his millions of fans all over the world will loyally pay a ticket to watch his new creation.

Behind The Scenes:
-The titles of the movies of this saga always refer to the game of poker. ‘Under The Gun’ refers to the first player to act in a betting round in poker.
-Tarantino recently stated that he and David Makalaster have always conceived De Niro's character in these movies as a tribute to the mafia boss he already played in 'The Heirs' franchise.

THE BLACKSMITH’S SWORD

Action / Adventure

The Cast: Thomas Sangster, Kenneth Branagh, Colin Firth, Clive Owen, Eric Bana, Emma Watson, Gaspard Ulliel, Rosamund Pike.

The Director: Alfonso Cuaron
The Screenwriter: Trent Nielsen

The Plot:

18-year-old Benny Gallagher (T.Sangster) is a normal orphan living with his uncle, Paul (C.Firth), on a remote seaside English town. A group of pirates led by Captain Rushop (C.Owen) attacked their town but a wise swordsman named Larry Saints (K.Branagh) rescues Benny. Paul dies in the attack.

Larry and Benny moves to another seaside village in which Benny makes friend with a young swordsman named Henry (G.Ulliel). Larry tells Benny that Benny’s father was also a swordsman just like him and that he was the best blacksmith he had ever seen.

Benny learns on how to use swords in a swordsman training school in the village. He also tries to grasp the basics of blacksmithing but he cannot seem to stand the heat.

Henry talks with Benny about London. Henry talks about another villager in town named Ellie (E.Watson). He tells Benny about his adoration for Ellie. Benny, however, dismisses the subject, telling Henry that his swordsmanship should be in the top priority.

While practicing his swordsmanship in the forest one day, Benny accidentally slashes a traveling blacksmith in the name of Rupert (E.Bana). Rupert travels with his wife, Elizabeth (R.Pike). Benny offered them a place in Larry’s home while Rupert’s wounds are healing.

Larry seemed furious that Benny brought home a wounded man. Rupert and Elizabeth was welcomed to the village warmly by the villagers. Elizabeth, however, catches Larry’s eyes.

Late one night, Benny finds Rupert ransacking their house. Rupert takes everything valuable and wakes up Elizabeth. Benny takes his sword and attacks Rupert. Unfortunately, Rupert gets away fast but he left Elizabeth behind.

Benny ties Elizabeth and he confronts her. She admits that they are traveling thieves who helps the pirates led by Rushop in scouting the villages in the area. Benny plans to turn over Elizabeth to the local authority but Larry insists that they keep Elizabeth.

Benny warns the village council of a possible pirate attack, leaving Larry and Elizabeth alone with each other. Larry keeps an eyes on Elizabeth. Elizabeth tells him that the pirates are after a treasure that is said to be buried under a house in this village. Larry tells her that the said treasure is just a hoax. It isn’t.

Rushop and his crew attacks the village from Rupert’s false tips. Rupert told them that there was a treasure buried under Larry’s house only to free Elizabeth from the villagers. While Rushop’s crew is on full fledged attack against the whole village, Rushop attacks Larry and during the duel, Elizabeth manages to escape. Elizabeth and Rupert reunites in the village’s pub.

When Larry got unconscious, Rushop digs in the cottage. There’s no sign of treasure in the place. He goes out of the cottage and launches himself in to the village battle. He searches for Rupert and finds him trying to break in Rushop’s ship with Elizabeth.

Rushop kills Rupert with one slash of his sword. He also kills Elizabeth. He throws Rupert and Elizabeth’s body to the ocean.

In the end, we see him raising the flag of retreat and Benny watches the flag being raised, dead pirates at his feet.


Stark’s Comment:
Trent Nielsen finally makes his debut in CMP with this classic pirates movie. The conception of this movie is closer to CMP’s ‘Corsairs’ than to the fantasy vision of ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’. It may be a bit old fashioned kind of movie. But I trust in Cuaron’s talent to put up profitable movies after his success with ‘The Fantastic Mansion’ and ‘Zoids’.

Behind The Scenes:
-The original title of this movie was ‘Swords & Pirates’. It was the Studio that asked Nielsen to change it for ‘The Blacksmith’s Sword’
-Eric Bana, usually lead star of many big budget CMP’s productions, accepted to be in this movie as an attempt to avoid being typecast in sci-fi heroes characters.
-Emma Watson has already worked with Cuaron in the Harry Potter’s movies.

THE MISTAKEN

Drama / Crime

The Cast: Brad Pitt, Diane Lane, Timothy Olyphant, Val Kilmer

The Director and Producer: Brad Pitt
The Screenwriter: Josh Collins

The Plot:

In the world where mistaken identity happens more often than not, the mistaken tells the story of an ordinary simple family man, John Wallace (B.Pitt), is jailed for a crime he didn't commit, just because he has the same name of the criminal they're looking for. But their ignorant mistake leads to an even bigger mess of things when John is killed in prison by inmates and the guards allow it before they realize they put an innocent man in prison.

The other John Wallace (T.Olyphant) is a sick murderer whose gimmick is filming the rape and murder of his victims(usually women and children) and sending the victim's families the tape.

While John sits and rots for no reason, his wife (D.Lane) is on the outside trying to fight to get her husband out. She goes so far as to get in touch with a bounty hunter (V.Kilmer) to search for the real murderer while the cops do nothing and assume the case is closed. She also threatens to sue.

It all comes to an end in the standoff between the bounty hunter and the other John Wallace, who is eventually put in the hunter's custody. But it was too late, but the time he brings his suspect in, the other John Wallace is dead.


Stark’s Comment:
A film with a message to the judicial system to wake the heck up and arrest the right people. A complicated release here. This is the kind of low budget drama that may become either a nice box office’s surprise or a predictable flop. I simply do not dare to bet strongly on what will happen.

Behind The Scenes:
-Robert Downey Jr. was considered initially to star this movie. But as soon as Brad Pitt showed his interest in it, the Studio preferred to go for him.
-Originally, the plan was that Josh Collins would direct this movie. But he had to abandon the idea because he will be directing another movie this Season and CMP does not allow anybody to direct more than one movie per Season.
-It was Brad Pitt who asked Harry Stark to let him not only star but also direct and produce the movie too. Collins immediately agreed with the idea when Stark told him.
-Pitt has never directed a movie for CMP before but he has produced two CMP’s movies: ‘Dakota North’, that flopped in box office, and past Season’s ‘Deadly Force’, that became a box office’s hit.


THE BEATLES: Green light for the most ambitious and beloved story by Chad Taylor. A biopic of the most famous band ever. Only one week after winning the Best Director GMA, Sam Mendes returns to work with this project. He was chosen by Taylor before he won the award and after considering so many candidates, including Alan Parker, Danny Boyle, Cameron Crowe or Guy Ritchie, among others. Taylor tells the story of the Beatles from the perspective of one of them, George Harrison. In his last days before his death, Harrison looks back at all the story of the band, told by Taylor through a complex structure of flashbacks and flashforwards. One of the most difficult things during the pre-production of this movie was choosing the right talents to play the Fab Four. Two different talents will play Harrison: Jamie Bell will be Harrison in his younger days, while Liam Neeson will play him in his last days. The movie is expected to become one of the main events of this new Season.

AMERICAN TABLOID: Most of the characters in this movie directed by Martin Scorsese and written by James Bradley will be real life characters. Robert De Niro, who will be seen in this week’s release ‘Under The Gun’, will play again a mafia boss in this one. This time, he will be Carlos Morello, a mobster that becomes both a collaborator and the main enemy of the CIA and the FBI. And John Travolta, not seen in CMP since ‘Wild Cards: Battle Of The Rox’, will be Jack Ruby, the man that shot JFK’s assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. Both talents have gained weight and will be aged by make up to adapt his look to their characters.

BEING BEN STILLER: As Ben Stiller plays himself in this comedy about him and a young boy exchanging their bodies, Christine Taylor will make her debut in CMP playing herself too: Stiller’s wife. Stiller is calling some friends he has worked with before in or out of CMP to join the cast. Vince Vaughan, who was directed by Stiller in CMP’s ‘Eureka!’ and worked with him too in ‘Woodland Creatures’, and GMA Winner Amy Adams, who has also worked with Stiller in ‘Woodland Creatures’ and ‘Night In The Museum 2’, will play the parents of the kid he exchanges his body (and life) with, Jake T. Austin. Shawn Levy is directing this comedy written by Matt Kubrick.

DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON: Two more Asian talents to add to the cast of this action movie starred by Halle Berry and Cameron Diaz and directed by McG: Jet Li, whose last work for CMP was ‘Dr. Jones and the Cursed Treasure’ and worked before with McG in ‘Yeoman’, and Gerald Okamura, seen in ‘G.I. Force’, making his debut in CMP.

TEENAGE WASTELAND: Matt Kubrick returns as director with this teen drama written by him. The latest directional job of Kubrick was the acclaimed ‘Foul Karma’. Josh Collins, who wrote with Kubrick ‘Foul Karma’, teams up with him again. This time, Collins will be the producer of the movie. Kubrick has admitted that this sentimental story about a troubled teenager has auto-biographical elements. To play the lead role, the chosen one has been Logan Lerman, who already worked with Collins past Season in ‘Fireflies In The Jelly-Jars’. Lerman made his debut in CMP in another Kubrick’s story, ‘Welcome To Summer Camp’.

IN SPIRIT: John August, a regular writer of Tim Burton’s movies, makes his debut as director in CMP with this ghost story written by Josh Collins. August has replaced behind the cameras the initially considered M. Night Shymalan. And a talent used to deal with the non-human world will be starring it: Benicio Del Toro, beginning his CMP’s career post-Darkman, will be a widower dealing with the memory of his death wife and a tormented young daughter.

THE PRINCESS AND THE CAPTAIN: Stephen Frears is directing this movie about the early romance of British Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth, played by Keira Knightley, with the charming Captain Pete Townsend. And the actor chosen to play the captain will be a debutante in CMP: Damian Lewis.

EDGE OF HUMAN: Ralph Fiennes (‘Corsairs: The Search For Nantayalah, ‘Star Wars: Balance Of The Force’, ‘HF’) returns to CMP playing the only character in this movie that was already seen in the original ‘Blade Runner’: the Blade Runner Unit’s chief Holden. The character wasn’t played by Fiennes in the original movie. Also in the movie, an actor that has been away from CMP since Season 5, when he worked in ‘Flashes Of Life’: William H. Macy. Macy will play the genetic engineer that creates the replicants. Jonathan Kasdan is directing this sequel of ‘Blade Runner’, Ridley Scott – director of the original movie – is producing it and Steve Connors is the author of the screenplay.

24 HOURS TO LIVE: Veteran star Danny Glover has never worked before in a CMP’s movie. He has joined the cast of this drama being directed by Spike Lee and written by Dawson Edwards. Kerry Washington will also be in the movie. She has worked before in CMP in ‘The Experience’, the biopic of Jimi Hendrix directed by Tood Haynes back in Season 9.

RIDERS ON THE STORM: Sometimes, it is surprising to realize that, after more than 300 movies released in CMP, some talents have never worked for the Studio before. That’s the case of John Turturro and Vincent Gallo, who will finally make their debut in CMP with this drama written by Chad Taylor and directed by Darren Aronofsky. A secret and surprising cameo at the end of the movie has also been announced but nobody knows who will it be.


DAVID MAKALASTER – ‘UNDER THE GUN’

Back in Season 7, Makalaster released ‘3’s and 7’s’, the first movie of the so called Chinese Dragon saga, directed by Quentin Tarantino. The movie was a decent hit, making a box office of 65 millions and getting 3 GMA’s nominations: Best Villain (Russell Crowe), Most Wanted Sequel and Best Production Design. In Season 9, the first sequel was released, ‘Drawing Dead’. Tarantino repeated as director and also became the producer of the movie. A box office of 118 millions proved that the fans of this saga had growned since the first movie. Tarantino got a Best Director GMA nomination for it.

Now, three Seasons after the second movie, here comes the third episode of this action saga, ‘Under The Gun’. Again, Tarantino directs and produces what might be the last episode of a cult franchise different from the usual sagas developed by the Studio. And we have talked with David Makalaster about it.

1.Your Chinese Dragon Saga reaches its third installment. What's new in this movie related to the two previous ones?

It's main function is as a continuation and conclusion (maybe not a final conclusion, but I'm getting ahead of myself) to the Chinese Dragon Franchise. It takes back some elements from part 1 that were absent in the second, like Monica Bellucci as the femme fatale with underworld connections, as well as Robert De Niro's character recieving more presence again.

2.Will there be new movies of this saga in the future?

Everybody cover your eyes and ears if you haven't seen the movie! Done? Ok.. I'm not sure, the end is a bit definitive.. I mean, Michael's reconciled with the mafia, the triad cell is wiped out and the dragon isn't as elusive any more. I may seem to be big on sequels (Heres hope MTG *does* get to 6!), but I know where I should stop if the story doesn't want to go on.

3.Past Season, you made your debut as movie director with 'Zann'. The movie wasn't as succesful as expected. Do you still plan to make new adaptations of Lovecraft's horror stories? And are you planning to direct them again?

Oh yes, definitely. The tentatively titled "The Begging God", based on a line from H.P. Lovecraft's commonplace book, is nearing submission. I'm not sure if I'll direct that specific one, but I will definitely continue directing. I have recently ressurected an old project called "The Eye That Hunts" which I feel would be an interesting project to direct, once I get it finished.

4.I have the feeling that the horror genre is living a slight change lately in CMP, moving from gore slashers to more suspense stories like 'Zann' or 'Silent Hill'. As both a fan and an author of the genre, what is your vision about it? Do you think that audiences are looking lately more for a classic style of horror movies and abandoning the trend of flesh and blood?

Yes, I've noticed that too and I for one think it's a good direction. Gore does have it's place in a horror movie, but given how desensitized everyone's become in this day and age you can't really muster alot of scares out of it anymore. Likewise you can't have just an unsettling atmosphere or a setting that is horrific to imagine yourself in without gory consequence to the characters' mistakes. I think that audiences would be most pleased by a return to the 80's/early 90's kind of horror movies. You know, kind of like "after Hammer's Snooze-fests but before the onset of gorno"-movies. I know I would.

5.What can we expect in the near future from your most famous franchise, 'Magic - The Gathering'?

Well, as most probably deduced after Innocent White; We're headed to the red Bloodletter Mountains next, home of Mojo Face. They were shown in the comic series that was published along with IW, "How I learned to stop worrying and love the troll", HOWEVER, and here I go with the spoilers again: Slivers have since overrun the region, making the build of this part markedly different. I don't think I should say more, actually, you can imagine some yourself.


JAMES BRADLEY
Best Screenplay GMA Winner

It is a tradition in CMP to make a long in-depth interview with the latest winner of the Best Screenplay GMA. This edition, the award went to an experienced CMP’s author, James Bradley, for his bittersweet comedy adventure ‘The Miracle Men’.

Bradley is the most awarded CMP’s writer, with four wins and another four nominations. He is a specialist in adult comedies, drama and books adaptations. And he knows CMP very well as he has been part of the Studio almost since its very beginning.

1.So here you are with your fourth Best Screenplay GMA…

Yes, and I must say it always comes as a surprise… You are never sure if people will remember your story. I have so much fun with the Golden Moon Awards and I must confess that I get pretty nervous about it during the week that goes from nominations to the final ceremony. It is so thrilling.

2.I have always had the feeling that you are a peculiar author in CMP. You don’t get involved in superheroes or big action and sci-fi franchises.

I feel strange sometimes too *laughs*. But when I see that people support my job at the awards I understand that there is room for me in CMP. No, I am not much of a fan of comic or sci-fi. I like writing stories very much based on the characters. In that sense I think I am closer to what Josh Collins writes. I enjoy creating peculiar characters involved in peculiar situations no matter if they are dramas or comedies. But I do not care much about special effects and everything.

3. You have tried so many different genres – thriller, comedy, drama, adventure and even a musical -, but which one are you more comfortable with?

Comedy. It is the most difficult one. But I like to write about serious issues using a comedy point of view. Love relationships, loneliness, failure are issues I care about. But I always try to put some sense of humor in the plot. Like ‘Crossovers’, where I wanted to talk about how hard it is to have a love relationship and how infidelity is a common thing in many of them but I turned this serious questions into a comedy.

4.You have written quite a few books adaptations lately.

Yes. There are some reasons for that. The first one is my difficulties with English. Adapting a book makes it easier for me to write the screenplay in my poor English for Joey Stark to translate it or correct it later. And the second one is that I am a compulsive reader and I have so much fun turning into a movie my favorite books. For instance, I just don’t understand why Hollywood hasn’t made yet movies based on the wonderful Flashman’s books. They only made one poor movie version of those books many years ago. It’s a wonderful material for movies. It has it all: adventure, exotic locations, sex, comedy… Step by step, I am trying to turn into CMP’s movies some of my favorite readings.

5.What is the screenplay you feel more satisfied of?

‘The 6th Avenue Castaways’. And maybe ‘The Toymaker’, ‘Chevrolet’ and of course ‘Bill and the Rocket Man’. All of those were original stories so I feel closer to them than to adaptations. I think ‘The Miracle Men’ also turned into a good story at the end, although I was not very sure of where it would go when I started writing it. And also making a rarity like ‘Things I Forgot To Tell You’ was fun.

6.You usually work repeatedly with some talents, like Kate Winslet or Scarlett Johansson. But it seems like Paul Giamatti is a kind of fetish talent for you.

To be honest, I wasn’t particularly a fan of Giamatti before I chose him for ‘Bill and the Rocket Man’ really. But, as I kept writing other stories for CMP, I just realized that he always came to my mind. I think he is perfect to play these ordinary guys and losers that show up in many of my stories. After so many movies together I thought I owed him to let him direct a movie and he made a wonderful job with ‘The Miracle Men’ so I hope we can repeat the experience again in the future.

7.As a veteran in the Studio, in what sense do you think that CMP has changed from the beginning until now?

It is always improving and, most of all, the quality of the pitches keeps getting better all the time. I remember the first Seasons when a plot was told in no more than a dozen of lines. Now, people develop the stories so much and it is getting more and more challenging to be at the needed level of quality. I often read the plots and wonder why Hollywood does not make as many good movies as CMP does. CMP is a fun and challenging experience. I really look forward every week to see what’s new.

8.What do you miss in CMP?

I wish we had a female screenwriter. I am not kidding. I think there is a big difference between the strength of male and female characters in CMP’s movies and that’s mainly because all of us are men. I have tried to create strong and interesting female characters in many of my pitches cause, in fact, I prefer watching Scarlett Johansson or Kate Winslet or any other actress I like in a movie than just George Clooney or Brad Pitt once and again. Yes, a female screenwriter would be a great addition to CMP.

9.What can we expect in the future from your most popular character, Harry Flashman?

There is a fourth movie on its way, I just don’t know when it will be green lighted. It will take Flashman to new and surprising territories and adventures. As you know, I love the character. He is as hateful as adorable. So, in the new movie, we will see again Flashman at his best: being a coward, having sex with as many women as possible, cheating and betraying everybody when needed and always coming out of his adventures as the hero he is not.

10.And, to finish, what can you tell us about your upcoming new movie, ‘American Tabloid’?

It is probably the most difficult screenplay I have ever written. The novel by James Ellroy is so complex, full of characters, plots and subplots. I have tried to simplify it a bit but, at the same time, to keep its twisted plot. The story is a great fictional but believable version of what might be happenning in the US during the Kennedy’s presidency. I hope everybody likes it. I have conceived it as an ambitious period recreation and a big production with big names in the cast and Scorsese directing and everything to make it look as the big movie I think that book deserved.


JOSH COLLINS’ YOUNG TALENTS SQUAD

Somebody said once that there wasn’t anything worse than working with kids in a movie. Well, obviously that wasn’t Josh Collins. Along his career both as screenwriter and director, Collins has become a specialist in offering young talents their best opportunity to show their talent. In fact, for some time, a suffering young girl victim of abuses has been almost a pattern in Collins’ most dramatic stories.

Many young stars have been introduced in CMP’s world by Josh Collins and some others have made their best works when being in one of his movies. But the main triumph of this squad of young talents came past week: thanks to Collins, Abigail Breslin won the Best Actress GMA. And that’s a good reason to look this week at all the young talents seen in Collins’ movies.

ABIGAIL BRESLIN
WHEN: Collins’ favorite young star has worked with him in five movies: ‘Hollyweird’, ‘Babes In Toyland’, ‘Dare To Be Perfect’, ‘The Fantastic Mansion’ and ‘Fireflies In The Jelly-Jars’
THE REWARD: Becoming the first young talent to win the Best Actress GMA, together with a Best Starring Couple nomination. Collins has made of her the undisputable Queen of Young Talents in CMP.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: Collins almost does not let her free time to work with other moviemakers. She was seen in the Kubrick’s Syndrome franchise and Tyler’s ‘The Running Man’.

DAKOTA FANNING
WHEN: The girl raped and murdered in ‘Blink’ and the co-star of ‘The Fantastic Mansion’
THE REWARD: A GMA nomination for Best Starring Couple together with Abigail for ‘The Fantastic Mansion’. She used to be the number one young talent in CMP. But Abigail’s career in the Studio looks much stronger than hers lately.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: Her biggest personal success didn’t come working with Collins: a GMA for her work in ‘Carousel’, written by the now retired Ted Froats.

IVANA BAQUERO
WHEN: ‘Blink’ and ‘United I Stand’
THE REWARD: Collins made her win the Best Supporting Actress GMA with ‘Blink’
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: Minor characters in ‘Bedtime Stories’ and ‘Hitman: Shadow Of A Legend’.

ARIEL GADE
WHEN: ‘72 Hours’ and ‘Change Of Heart’
THE REWARD: Not much from those movies. And her recent work at ‘Silent Hill’ showed how much she is growing up to keep playing cute little girls.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: Her biggest hit has come from a non-Collins movie: a GMA nomination for Marcus Trax’s ‘No Evil’.

JIMMY BENNETT
WHEN: ‘Babes In Toyland’ and ‘A Man Called Dan’
THE REWARD: A talented young star not seen lately in CMP.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: Only ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night’

ANNASOPHIA ROBB
WHEN: ‘Paternal Nightmare’
THE REWARD: An acclaimed debut in CMP and an invitation to present an award at the GMA’s ceremony
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: She played a lead role in the blockbuster and awarded 'Devil Trigger' and has showed up in the two movies of the mega-successful franchise ‘Silver Sable’.

ELLE FANNING
WHEN: ‘Velcro’
THE REWARD: She is working in CMP more often lately than her sister Dakota.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: She has worked in a few CMP’s recent hits like ‘The Green Children’ and ‘Yogi Bear’.

ALLISON COLLINS
WHEN: ‘After The Storm’ and ‘The Rock Star’
THE REWARD: Not much by the moment. Collins’ daughter has not had luck at box office yet.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: Difficult for obvious reasons.

ALEXANDER GOULD
WHEN: ‘Lyra’
THE REWARD: Being part of one of the most nominated movies at the GMA ever.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: His most remembered work was in ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’. And he was also in ‘Maleficarum’.

JOSH HUTCHERSON
WHEN: ‘After The Storm’
THE REWARD: Not much from that movie.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: He starred the mega-hit ‘The Land Of Nod’.

THOMAS SANGSTER
WHEN: ‘The Dead Walk’
THE REWARD: Nobody will ever remember that terrible zombies movie…
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: He is starring this week’s release ‘The Blacksmith’s Sword’

LOGAN LERMAN
WHEN: ‘Fireflies In The Jelly-Jars’
THE REWARD: Being part of one of the most acclaimed Collins’ dramas.
LIFE BEYOND COLLINS: He is already starring the new Matt Kubrick’s movie ‘Teenage Wasteland’, produced by Josh Collins.

And also in the squad…

CAMERON BRIGHT: ’72 Hours’ and ‘Married To The Supervillain’
RYAN SIMPKINS: ‘Married To The Supervillain’
JESSE JAMES: ‘Lyra’
CHLOE MORETZ: ‘Velcro’
CHASE ELLISON: ‘Dare To be Perfect’
SAMMI HANRATTY: ‘The Dead Walk’
JADEN SMITH: ‘Woodland Creatures’
MACKENZIE VEGA: ‘Woodland Creatures’


She does not work often in CMP. Before ‘Under The Gun’, she has only been seen in ‘Bullit’, ‘The Toymaker’ and ‘Nine’. Direct heir of the main Italian ‘maggioratas’ – classic stars like Sofia Loren or Gina Lollobrigida -, Bellucci always surprises for her screen presence and sex appeal. Without doubt, she is one of the sexiest women alive. And to prove it, we bring this week to our pictures section not one but four sexy pics of a woman hard to forget.



Kate is mad. But no, it is not that she has lost her mind due to the happiness for her recent Best Actress nomination at the GMA. Kate Beckinsale is mad at Josh Collins, writer of the movie that has turned her into a respected actress in CMP, ‘The Rock Star’. The reason? Something written by Collins in his Grand Island Movies’ blog (and repeated at the CMP’s Forum) about her. Collins wrote a bad taste comment about Kate Beckinsale: ‘If she wins it's because she showed her Ta-Ta's’. And Kate, of course, didn’t like it. ‘I had a wonderful relationship with Mr. Collins during the shooting of the movie’, she has stated, ‘so I am strongly surprised by his unkind and sexist comment. I know he was strongly supporting Abigail Breslin to win the GMA and I accepted that although I was nominated for a movie written by him too. But he didn’t need to despise my work in ‘The Rock Star’ that way…’ Beckinsale remembered that she accepted to play the nude scene in the movie by herself and not using a body double ‘because I thought the movie deserved my whole commitment with my character’. Hurt and offended, Beckinsale has also added that it will be very hard for her to accept working with Collins again after this disappointing experience. (And, oh, you know I love these controversies…)

And let’s go on with controversies. Steve Connors has reacted to the complaints made by John Daws (and written by me here a few weeks ago) about the use of the character he created, Lieutenant USA, in ‘The Revengers’ without his permission. Connors has stated in a press release: ‘I did not realize there could be any problem including that character in my movie. Maybe I should have. But I thought that the Studio would take care of all the possible legal problems with that. I want to apologize to Mr. Daws for any inconvenience that this question may have caused him.’ Harry Stark, the real guilty guy of this controversy, has not been as polite as Mr. Connors. Asked about it during a recent press conference, Mr. Stark coldly said: ‘I think ‘The Revengers’ was a great and funny movie. The movie respected very much the parodic spirit of the character. And I don’t consider it any kind of obstacle for John Daws writing new adventures of Lieutenant USA in the future if he wants to.’ Nice guy as usual, this Mr. Stark.

And I go on with another controversial relationship (man, I’m having fun this week…) that may have got to an end. You know the old problems between Jack Hammer and two main CMP’s stars, Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Hammer and Pitt had a tense (to tell it in a soft way) relationship during the making of ‘Deadly Force’, a movie that Pitt starred and produced. It seemed like the origin of that bad relationship was the flop of ‘Dakota North’, a western written by Hammer, starred by Angelina Jolie and produced by Pitt too, a few Seasons before. Hammer and Pitt had creative differences then. And Pitt complicated things when he made a statement saying that wrong advises from his friend Clooney about that movie were the reason why things didn’t went well with ‘Dakota North’. So that put Clooney – who had worked with Hammer in ‘The Little Sister’ some Seasons before – in the middle of the Hammer / Pitt fight. Well, I am sad to say that this juicy clash between all of them may have ended. According to my confidential sources, the three of them will smoke the pipe of peace working all together – Angelina included too – in a future Hammer’s project. I hate it when stories like this have a happy ending…

Of course, if I am making a Controversies Special this week, I have to write about the most controversial issue ever in CMP: The Avengers. A few weeks ago I announced that Edward Norton was definitely leaving the franchise. Now I can officially announce another desertion: Gore Verbinski, director and producer of the three Avengers movies, has publicly announced that he won’t get involved in ‘The Avengers 4’. Tired of all the internal conflicts, he has decided to abandon the franchise. A new director will replace him. It is not decided yet who will it be, but I remember Matt Kubrick mentioning once Rob Cohen – with whom he worked before in the Syndrome franchise – as his preference to replace Verbinski.

And ‘Justice League’ is not the field of any ego controversy – at least not yet -, but it is already suffering so many delays that Chad Taylor has decided to develop first another superhero movie while he keeps waiting the green light for that. ‘Booster Gold’ is the character chosen by Taylor to make his debut in the superheroes genre before ‘Justice League’ is developed at last. For what I know, the screenplay is ready, the cast is chosen and there are only some doubts about who will be directing it.

Oh! And I end up with a curiosity I just noticed… The recent Best Supporting Actor nominee for his work in ‘Altered States’, Bob Balaban, already appeared in the original ‘Altered States’ movie, directed by Ken Russell back in 1980. Franzwa, author of the new version, never mentioned it but it is a curiosity that deserves to be remarked.