OCTOBER, 22
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
Romance / War
The Cast: James Franco, Carey Mulligan, Emily Blunt, Nicole Kidman, Francesco Scianna, Gael Garcia Bernal.
The Director: Martin Scorsese
The Screenwriter: Chad Taylor
The Plot:
World War I.Frederic Henry(Franco) is an American serving as a Lieutenant of an ambulance division in the Italian Army. Fred goes on leave to Naples and returns. Through his friend, Lt. Rinaldi(Scianna), he meets a British nurses' aide named Catherine Barkley(Mulligan) whose fiancee perished the previous year in the Somme. A bond is immediatley kindled between Fred and Catherine and he spends a lot of time courting her.
At the mess hall, other officers poke fun at the Priest(Garcia Bernal).The Priest is a working man,who can't seem to catch a break. Fred decides to befriend him, and the Priest offers his spiritual guidance.As the snows clear, it is time for the offensive to begin again, and Fred goes with his three ambulances to a post in the mountains. During the first night here, there is a bombardment and Fred is seriously wounded in the legs. One of his drivers is also wounded and another is killed. Fred is then shipped to an American hospital in Milan.
Fred is not expected by the hospital, but they receive him anyway. Several doctors recommend that he stay in bed for six months and then undergo a necessary operation on his knee. Unable to accept such a long period of recovery, Henry finds a bold, garrulous surgeon named Dr. Valentini who agrees to operate immediately. Henry learns happily that Catherine,along with her friend Miss Ferguson(Blunt), has been transferred to Milan and begins his recuperation under her care. During the following months, his relationship with Catherine intensifies. Before long, Fred is walking on crutches and going to restaurants with Catherine. She works the night shift so they can be together at night. Their relationship shifts from cute and playful to powerful and real.
But Fred has began to drink too much. Once recovered, Fred is granted a three week leave after which he is scheduled to return to the front. He tries to plan a trip with Catherine, who reveals to him that she is pregnant.The following day, Fred is diagnosed with jaundice, and Miss Van Campen(Kidman), the superintendent of the hospital, accuses him of bringing the disease on himself through excessive drinking. Believing Henry’s illness to be an attempt to avoid his duty as a serviceman, Miss Van Campen has Henry’s leave revoked, and he is sent to the front once the jaundice has cleared. Before he is to return to the front, Fred and Catherine spend a night together in a hotel. He leaves on a train in the middle of the night to return to Gorizia.
There are fewer people at Gorizia and the town is not as cheerful. Lt. Rinaldi has become more depressed. He makes a scene in the mess hall,and then afterwards The Priest and Fred talk about life and war. The next day Fred reports to a mountain post to find his ambulance team. That night there is an Austrian attack and they are forced to retreat. After a couple of days, a traffic jam is created from all the people retreating. Fred directs his three trucks to take a side road. Soon after, the trucks become stuck.When one of their vehicles bogs down in the mud, Fred orders the two engineers to help in the effort to free the vehicle. When they refuse, he shoots one of them.They must continue on foot.Soon after, another driver wanders off to surrender himself .
After a day, Fred and his last driver finally reach the Italian army.When they rejoin the retreat the following day, chaos has broken out: soldiers, angered by the Italian defeat, pull commanding officers from the melee and execute them on sight. The Italian officers, afraid of German spies, are interrogating and shooting anyone who is not Italian. Fred jumps into a river to escape execution,and floats for some time. He jumps a train and rides it to Milan. He hides under a tarp used for artillery, hoping his war efforts are over, and dreams of a return to his love.
In Milan, he finds out that Catherine has gone to a town called Stresa near the Swiss border. He gets some new clothing from a friend and takes a train to Stresa. He checks into a hotel and finds Catherine with her friend Miss Ferguson. They are happy to be reunited. However, Miss Ferguson isn't happy to see Fred because she doesn't trust him. They stay in Stresa for a day, but one night the bartender, who is Fred's friend, warns him that he is to be arrested in the morning. He offers them his boat to row to Switzerland. The couple rows all night and arrives in Switzerland where they are first arrested, but later issued provisional visas.
Together, Catherine and Fred stay in a remote mountain town called Montreux. They spend all of their time together reading, hiking, and talking. Catherine's pregnancy has matured and when the spring comes they move into a larger town. When Catherine goes into labor, they rush to the hospital. Even though it is early in the morning when they arrive, Catherine still hasn't delivered the baby by noon. The doctor suggests a caesarian. The delivery is exceptionally painful and complicated. The operation seems to go well, but Fred soon finds out that Catherine has hemorrhaged and that the child was born dead, choked by its own umbilical cord. Later in the night, Catherine dies from repeated hemorrhaging. Fred stays at her side until she is gone. He attempts to say goodbye but cannot. He walks back to his hotel in the rain.
Stark’s Comment:
Beautiful movie. Not so sure about box office’s reaction to this classic concept. But I hope audiences will surrender to another splendid work by Mr. Scorsese.
Behind The Scenes:
-Based on the 1929 Ernest Hemingway’s novel. The novel has been adapted to the big screen twice before: in 1932, Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes were the starring couple; in 1957, Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones starred.
-The movie has been shot in different European locations in Italy, Austria and Switzerland.
-This is the sixth movie directed by Scorsese for CMP. The latest one was the Best Picture GMA Winner ‘American Tabloid’.
-James Franco won the Best Supporting Actor GMA with his previous work for the Studio, ‘The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier and Clay’.
-GMA Winner Nicole Kidman has already worked with Scorsese in CMP before in ‘The Heirs’ trilogy.
FANTASY WORLD
Comedy / Adventure
The Cast: Steve Carell, Jack Black, Charlize Theron, Bill Murray, Ron Perlman. Voice-only cameo by Eddie Murphy
The Director: David Zucker
The Screenwriter: Steve Connors
The Plot:
Bill (S.Carell) is a most ordinary man. He works as a high school teacher and not even his pupils respect him. Boring and shy, he lives by himself in a small house in a small town and his only hobby is to take care of his small garden. But things begin to change when he begins to hear strange noises at his garden during the nights. Until, one night, he discovers the reason: an artistic garden dwarf he had recently bought has come alive!
The dwarf presents himself as Harz (J.Black). He is a rude, nasty guy. He tells Bill that he has come from his fantasy world to make the prophecy come true: only a knight from an outer world will be capable of saving Princess Zara from the evil Violet Knight. So he took a magic potion to come to our world to find that knight. And, although it looks hard to believe even for him, all the signs point out as if Bill is the chosen one.
When Bill resists taking a potion to travel to the Fantasy World with Harz, the dwarf immobilizes him with a judo hold and obliges him to drink it.
Bill and Harz are kind of tele-transported to the beautiful fantasy world. All the landscapes and everything are so idyllic in a most corny way.
Harz, now dressed as a mini-warrior, takes Bill to see Yarmash (B.Murray), a sorcerer that lives inside a magic tree. In fact, once you enter, you step into the most luxurious manor. Yarmash explains Bill that Princess Zara has been captured by the evil Violet Knight and, to save her, Bill will have to collect the Three Golden Keys, surviving to three different missions. After that, Yarmash tells them that, to go on speaking, they will have to pay him 200 golden coins. ‘Can you imagine the rent I have to pay for this manor?’, he complains. Reluctantly, Harz accepts to pay him.
So Yarmash takes them 200 coins for all the information about the missions, another 200 for the needed maps and a 5% of it all for what he calls ‘sorcerer tax’.
The three missions Bill and Harz will go through are:
1.Getting inside a volcano of burning sugar to get a key hidden in it (where Harz and Bill will end up kind of surfing over the lava using a flat stone).
2.Climbing a giant tree to take the second key from the nest of a big - and very aggressive - fantastic colored bird (that will capture Bill with his claws and fly him all over a valley).
3.Win a card game against the toughest guys in the toughest tavern of the fantasy world (with the help of Harz’s cheats, Bill wins the third key, right before having a big fight with the guys)
During these missions, we’ll see how Bill transforms from the weak shy guy he is into a brave knight while a friendship based in their mutual dislike grows between him and Harz.
Once the three keys have been collected, they travel to the Sinister Castle, where Princess Zara is captive. They get in at night and hide from all the guardians (terrifying entities half human half wild dogs with armors) until they reach Zara’s bedroom. They finally meet Zara (C. Theron) and Bill is impressed by both her beauty and all the swearing she uses to speak.
Bill, Zara and Harz escape from the castle. They run away through a swampy forest. There, Bill falls into moving sands and, while he is sinking, Zara and Harz discuss if they should save him or not (Zara considers they don’t need him anymore, but Harz tells the Princess he can help feeling some sympathy for him). Finally, they rescue Bill.
The night before they would arrive to Zara’s Palace, the three of them are sleeping in a beautiful hill. Bill and Zara talk and rebuild a bit their relationship (damaged by the moving sands incident) and Zara is impressed by what Bill tells her about his world: the cars, tv, airplanes, computers… and specially the fancy boutiques.
But the conversation is interrupted when the Violet Knight (R.Perlman) suddenly appears riding his magnificent horse and holding his baroque sword. It’s the time for the final duel between Bill and the Violet Knight.
Before the fight, the Violet Knight takes off his helmet. ‘I like everybody to see my evil face. I am tired of not being recognizable’, he says.
Bill and the Violet Knight have a violent sword duel. The Violet Knight is about to kill Bill when a flash shines in the night and a ray coming from the near trees pulverizes him. The Violet Knight is reduced to dust.
From out the trees, comes out Yarmash. It’s him who has killed the Violet Knight with a magic ray coming out from his hands. ‘That will be the regular fee for saving a life, 500 golden coins, plus another 100 for the energy expenses’, he says.
Saved and happy, all of them attend to a big welcome party in Zara’s Palace. There, Bill asks Harz when will he give him a potion to go back home. Harz gives him the potion. But, when Bill is about to drink it, Zara winks at him from the distance. Bill leaves the potion in his pocket… ‘Maybe I’ll wait until the party ends…’, he says before walking to Zara.
AFTER THE CREDITS
Bill is wandering around a beautiful garden when somebody appears. It’s Donkey, Shrek’s friend. Bill looks at him with dislike and tells him: ‘What are you doing here? This is not your movie, you know…’ Donkey looks around and finally nods. ‘Oops. Sorry, man… I must have got lost.’, Donkey says. Bill stares at him with surprise and curiosity and finally says: ‘Eddie? Is that you?’
The screen goes black.
Stark’s Comment:
I have had a great time watching this movie. So I have the highest expectations about it. It’s a great parody.
Behind The Scenes:
-Zucker, Carell, Black and Theron all worked together in the classic CMP’s comedy hit ‘Lieutenant USA and his Warm Steel Gang’.
-Steve Connors worked with Carell and Eddie Murphy before in the very successful superheroes’ parody ‘The Revengers’.
-Jack Black and Bill Murray met before in ‘Borgel’.
-Jack Black has been digitally manipulated to look like a dwarf.
-Bill Murray had to go through very tough and long make up sessions to be characterized as the sorcerer.
-Connors has admitted that the joke of Ron Perlman willing to show his face was inspired by Perlman’s own words at a GMA ceremony about always working under tons of latex and make up.
-David Zucker’s movies for CMP (‘Lieutenant USA and his Warm Steel Gang’, ‘Q*Bert’ and ‘Bond Scam’) have always been a box office’s hit.
-Charlize Theron has already broken records this Season with ‘Metroid’.
THE PLEDGES
Drama / Human Spirit
The Cast: Brandon T. Jackson, Rob Brown, Derek Luke, Tyrese Gibson, Olivia Thirlby, Mehcad Brooks. Cameo by Jada Pinkett Smith.
The Directors: Allen and Albert Hughes
The Screenwriter: Dawson Edwards
The Plot:
BLACK. These words appear on the screen:
"When attending a historically black college or university, you can not escape the Greek life. Academics come first, THIS comes shortly after."
We hear screams of a massive crowd as the screen fades into our scene. The school's arena is packed full of students, staff and even the fortunate citizens that were lucky enough to get in. This is the Pan-Hellenic Step Show where all the Greek fraternities & sororities show off their skill. The greeks on stage, the reason why the crowd is so excited, is the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. As they are voted the winners, we focus on a trio of freshmen/first year friends & students in the crowd. Brandon (B.T.Jackson), Steven (M.Brooks), and Marcus (R.Brown). Brandon watches with amazement, jumping up and down while screaming. Marcus lets him know that he looks like a groupie, and should stop before he ruins his own chances of ever becoming one of those illustrious men of crimson and creme colors.
As the show ends, the trio walk back to their dorm talking about what it would mean to become a member of the KAPsi frat. Marcus tells the two that there are rumors that the Fraternity hazes its potential members. Ignorantly, Brandon asks what the hell hazing is, to which Steven slaps him across the face. "Its like that, but more often and a lot more harder." They laugh, and Brandon says that he's willing to do whatever it takes to be a "Kappa Man." As he says this, he bumps into a senior student, Mike Morton (T.Gibson), who overhears him. Twirling his crimson and creme Kappa cane, Mike smirks as he looks down on Brandon. He looks up to see Steven and Marcus, both of which are trying not to look Mike in the eyes.
Brandon starts apologizing frantically, and Steven walks up and extends his hand for a handshake, introducing the trio calmly. Mike twirls his cane once more, and says "Duly noted, now move along boys." The trio does so. Mike turns to a few of his fraternity brothers, one in particular, and says "Fresh meat, yo."
As the school year begins, the interest meeting or "Recruitment" for Kappa Alpha Psi approaches. Brandon meets a girl named Ashley (O.Thirlby), the student council president. They quickly hit things off. Its not long before they get into a relationship, and they eventually share their aspirations to become a member of a Greek fraternity or sorority. Meanwhile, Steven tells Marcus that he's having doubts about joining that fraternity, especially when he's guranteed spot in another fraternity due to his family history. Marcus says "Legacy members are punks. They go the easy route, and aren't REAL brothers. They don't deserve to be where they are." Over the course of a few weeks, we see a fast paced scene of Steven, Brandon and Marcus all talking with Kappa men pledging their willingness to hopefully become a Kappa one day.
It is now night out on the campus, Steven is walking alone and very few people are outside. The ones that are seem to scatter, making Steven nervous. He looks behind him, and is punched in the face and stomach. A black bag is thrown over his head so he can't see, and he's put into a car, and they drive off. We then see Marcus in the library studying. He receives a message on his phone from an unknown number simply reading "Phi Nu Pi...11pm at the flame". Marcus rushes out of the library towards the flame that burns in the center of the college campus. When he gets there, he suffers the same as Steven.
Elsewhere, Brandon and Ashley are having sex in his dorm room. There's a knock on the door. Brandon ignores it. Then another knock, so Brandon screams "Come back in 20 minutes!" The door is busted in and 5 black hooded figures grab the naked Brandon and pull him down stairs and into their car. In the car, Brandon can see nothing as the people who snatched him have covered their faces with white masks. He guesses what is going on, so he smirks. One of the men in masks take theirs off, its Mike. He smirks back at Brandon and then punches him in the face repeatedly.
When Brandon is conscious again, he finds himself still naked but no longer in a moving car. Now he's in an abandonded building lined up next to 20 other naked students. Some he's never seen before, others, like Marcus and Steven, he has. Brandon notices that there are only 5 Kappa men in masks standing before them. Mike begins to speak to the line of potential members.
"Some of you will make it. MOST will not. Most CAN NOT make it. Most of you don't know and will never know what it means to cross as a Kappa. I'm here to make the most of you quit. And you will quit. You will see things you have never seen and do things you never dreamed possible. All in the name of your brothers. We expect you to know all things K-A-Psi and we expect you LIVE all things K-A-Psi. Failure to do so will have your ass out that fucking door quicker than a hoe going home with no money!"
That first night was pretty tame. The potential Kappa men sounded off their names, swore themselves to secrecy, recited various facts about the Fraternity's history, and then relayed stories about their first time having sex. One student professed that he was a virgin, and was almost sent home, if were not for one masked Kappa whispering into Mike's ear. That same mask seemed to be watching Brandon all night. The next day, when Brandon got a chance to speak to Ashley she asked him so many questions. She told him that there were so many rumors going around campus about who was and who wasn't a Pledge for the Kappas this year. Besides telling her that he can no longer talk on the phone, he told her nothing. Brandon was not about to ruin this opportunity for greatness because he couldn't keep a secret.
Steven on the other hand, still hadn't gotten any sleep. He struggled with the idea of pledging to a fraternity that wasn't right for him. He looked at the Egyptian King tattoo on his arm and then to some black book in his hand. Marcus was extremely happy, this was what he wanted more than a diploma. He couldn't wait for the next time...Which was later that night. Same routine, the trio is found, hit, and hooded. They arrive back in the abandoned building once more, with slightly less pledges than before. Only now there were a few more masked men, all of which carried red and white Kappa canes.
Once more, the group shared stories of their lives. Some comedic, some romantic, and some even disturbing. Mike turned some music on, and pledges were told to take off their clothes. "Strip? We gotta strip for you?" said one pledge. Mike walked over to him, twirling his cane and smiled in his face. Then he spit in it. "No. I want you all to cover your ears as the music plays. I want you to remember these words. I want you to remember this night. You will NOT forget the road to Kappa Land. It takes a HELLUVA man to make it through!"
The pledges got naked, lined up with very little room between one mans back and the others front, and covered their ears with their hands. As the Kappa hymns played loudly through the speakers, each of the masked men swung their canes into the first mans stomach. As he eventually fell to the floor, he was told to take a lap around the building and come back for more. Each of the 15 pledges were hit that night by 15 different men on 5 separate courses. The pledges would never forget that night.
The school year went on. The pledges numbers dwindled everyday. If you didn't receive any contact throughout the course of an entire day, you weren't Kappa material. Pledges are beaten, taught to sing Kappa hymns, taught unknown secrets of elder Fraternity brothers. By day, the pledges would limp their way to classes, all while trying to hide their pain. By night, they were facing that long road to Kappa land with canes across the back and punches to the gut. Brandon and Marcus noticed that Steven was absent from tonight's meeting. When Brandon publicly asked why the brothers thought of Steven as unfit, the masked Kappa who was usually by Mike's side revealed himself as Jay Harris (D.Luke), then he spoke.
"Your friend made all the right moves, he was just going down the wrong road. It was his decision to leave" he said. Brandon shook his head in denial refusing to believe that Steven would abandon his best friend...his brother. As time went on and the time to cross into Kappa men drew near, the beatings became less harsh for all...except Marcus, who was still getting hit hard and often. The beatings were taking their toll on Marcus, and he grew increasingly upset with the fraternity.
Brandon took it upon himself to see what was up despite the warnings from Ashley about potential backlash. Brandon found Jay walking alone one night, and the two shared a few drinks then called over their respectful girlfriends. As the four of them enjoy themselves, Brandon takes the chance to ask about Marcus. Jay pulls him into another room and tells him that he should beat the shit out of him right now. But he doesn't. Instead he tells him that Marcus asked for it because he didn't deem himself worthy as a legacy member. He never had to go through any of the pledging process but specifically asked to be treated like the others and beaten worse.
Just a week away from the "come out" day, a bomb drops on the campus. Not literally, but the news of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity pledge process is revealed to everyone. Marcus Jones visited his parents over the weekend, and they were exposed to his injuries. He snitched everything to the police and named Mike Morton and Jay Harris specifically in a criminal charge of HAZING. We then see three separate windows showing different scenes. The first takes over the screen showing Brandon destroying his room by knocking everything over as Ashley looks on sadly, with her sorority jacket on. Brandon breaks down and starts crying in her arms.
The second scene shows Steven crossing into a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Students cheer, and family surrounds him with congrats. He looks into the distance and sees a tree branded with the K-A-Psi emblem. A single tear rolls down his face. The final scene shows Marcus in the courtroom telling the judge everything that happened. Mike and Jay look on with disgust. The judge stated "I want to save the victims who will quietly go along because they want to belong." At the school, Ashley sits on stage as Student Council President with her head down as the President of the university (J.P.Smith) is wrapping up her speech about how the fraternity has been suspended indefinitely. The screen goes black as a Kappa hymn plays in the background and these words appear on the screen...
"Mike Morton and Jay Harris both received two year prison sentences. They served every single day. Brandon and the rest of his pledge brothers went on to be affectionately named 'THE LOST BOYS' "
Stark’s Comment:
I have two fears about this movie. First, it may be too oriented to the afro-american audience and that can limit box office. And second, the world of college’s fraternities and what the pledges mean are pretty unknown out of the US and that can difficult the movie’s reception in the foreign market. We’ll see…
Behind The Scenes:
-Edwards and the Hughes brothers already teamed up past Season with ‘Rebel’. The movie was critically acclaimed but it didn’t work in box office.
-‘Rebel’ was starred by Jaden Smith, son of Jada Pinkett Smith, who makes her CMP’s debut in this movie.
-As usual, Edwards has counted for this movie with some of the members of his regular squad of stars: this is the seventh time that he casts GMA Winner Derek Luke and Rob Brown could be seen in ‘Get Down’.
-Olivia Thirlby has already worked this Season for CMP in ‘Based On Real Life’ while Tyrese Gibson played a minor role in ‘Turn Of A Friendly Card’.
DARK THEY WERE, AND GOLDEN EYED: This is the peculiar title of a short story by sci-fi
master Ray Bradbury and also of the new Chad Taylor’s movie based in that story. It tells the disturbing story of a group of colonizers in Mars. And the main names attached to this project are: Jack Bender, in his first directional job for CMP; JJ Abrams, only producer of the movie this time; and Mathew Fox, seen past Season in ‘The Orphanage’. That makes this movie look as an old friends’ reunion as the three of them already teamed up in the tv series ‘Lost’.
DRAGONLANCE: DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT: Green light for this second installment of the Richard Franzwa’s fantasy saga based on Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis’ books. The first movie of this franchise made a box office of 132 millions in Season 13. Guillermo Del Toro returns as director and most of the cast of the first movie is expected to be back in this one too.
JUSTICE LEAGUE 2: Some critics were surprised that Lex Luthor didn’t show up in ‘Superman:
Last Son’. Well, in case you missed him, don’t worry: Luthor will be in this one. And the talent chosen to play this character previously played by Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey is no other than the GMA Winner Joseph Fiennes. Fiennes worked with Chad Taylor before past Season in ‘One Night Stand’ and he has also met before in CMP with director Christopher Nolan in the acclaimed ‘Human Axis’.
NEW WORLD II: HEROES OF THE REBELLION: And while younger brother Joseph plays the villain in ‘Justice League 2’, older brother Ralph Fiennes repeats as one of the villains of this John Daws’ saga. Ralph has already played a remarkable villain this Season as a mean Pope and main enemy of Colin Farrell in the megahit ‘Assassin’s Creed II’.
HOUSTATLANTAVEGAS: Chris Pine is making his debut in CMP in this Dawson Edwards’
comedy being directed by Todd Philips. Together with him, we will also see some sexy chicks around: Sienna Miller returns to CMP after the acclaimed comedy ‘Crossovers’; Rachel Bilson, seen in ‘Faction 12’, plays Adam Brody’s ex-girlfriend; and Mila Kunis makes her debut too in CMP joining Pine, Brody and Emma Stone in their wild trip.
MEGA MAN: Saoirse Ronan (‘Bedtime Stories’) plays Roll, a robot and sister of Rock, the robot played by Taylor Lautner, in this Renny Harlin’s adaptation of the video game. I know: put together the name of the siblings and… let’s rock and roll!
OTTO RAHN: French star Vincent Cassel, never seen before in a CMP’s movie, plays an archeologist and best friend of the lead character played by David Strathairn in this biopic. Together, they will look for the Holy Grial. Werner Herzog directs and Steven Spielberg (who has searched for the Holy Grial before…) produces this movie written by Matt Kubrick.
MOUSE GUARD: Here comes the second animated production of the Season after the disaster of ‘Toons’. Dawson Edwards, definitely hyper-active this Season, has adapted the comic books written and illustrated by David Petersen about a colony of intelligent mice during the medieval era. Joe Carnahan, who has recently succeeded out of CMP with ‘The A-Team’, will direct the movie in his first work for the Studio.
SON OF THE BRIDE: Two young actresses join the cast of this dramedy starred and directed by
Ben Stiller. Abbie Cornish will play Stiller’s young lover. James Bradley has stated that he decided to cast her after watching her in her CMP’s debut ‘Sunshine On Lonely Street’. Emma Stone will be Stiller’s daughter. Stone had to shoot quickly her sequences before joining the shootage of ‘Houstatlantavegas’. Also in the film, an almost inevitable presence in Bradley’s movies: Paul Giamatti. GMA Winner Giamatti plays here Stiller’s best friend in what will be his sixth work with Bradley.
IT’S JUST NOT WORKING OUT: Emily Blunt can be seen in this week’s release ‘A Farewell To Arms’. And she will be seen again in this romantic comedy written by Josh Collins and directed by James L. Brooks playing Jason Bateman’s girlfriend. Blunt has worked with Collins before in ‘Blink’, ‘Goldmine Killers’ and ‘The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time’.
STEVE CONNORS – ‘FANTASY WORLD’
Although he may be better known for his sci-fi movies and his console games adaptations, Steve Connors has always liked to try luck with comedy from time to time. In fact, his biggest personal triumph came with a comedy, ‘Mary’s Dark Side’. That movie meant his first and only Best Screenplay GMA. ‘Fantasy World’ retakes the parodic spirit Connors has shown before in movies like ‘The Revengers’ We have talked with him about this release.
1.What specific CMP’s movies did you want to laugh at with ‘Fantasy World’?
Well, ‘Fantasy World’ is not exactly a spoof movie. It does not make jokes about specific movies like spoof movies usually do. It is more a parody in general of all those fantasy movies that have come out after ‘The Lord Of The Rings’. You know, all those movies always have heroic characters and complex plots and strange creatures and all kind of magic things… CMP has developed a few movies like that so I thought it would be fun to laugh at that genre the same way I laughed at superheroes movies with ‘The Revengers’ and all the Ultraman’s movies.
2.Was it hard to choose the talents for the movie?
I wrote the story with Carell and Black already in mind. Carell is perfect to play an ordinary man that
gets involved in problems bigger than him. And Black was perfect to play that nasty and angry dwarf. Perlman was a must. I am a big fan of Bill Murray and I have always wanted him in one of my movies. And then I had to choose between Charlize and Kate Beckinsale to play that sexy, beautiful but also selfish and egotistic princess. I think Charlize won just because she is blonde and fairy tales’ princesses are usually blonde… *laughs* It all came pretty naturally. I wasn’t sure about the director but then Harry Stark reminded me how successful has been David Zucker in CMP with parodic movies and I thought he was a good choice for this movie.
3.I love the cameo by Donkey…
Yeah. That idea came to me in the very last moment. It is also a private joke about ‘The Revengers’. Carell and Murphy were the starring couple of that one. I considered other cameos but then I thought that was funny enough.
4.Moving to other projects… What new games adaptations can we expect from you in the near future, besides the already announced ‘Heavy Rain’?
You know? I am not sure if I like to be considered the official ‘game adaptator’ in CMP *laughs* I have been checking out at CMMDB and I have written nearly 25 movies and only three or four games adaptations… But that’s the only thing I read about me at CMP’s blog. Adapting games is easy for someone with language problems like me, cause I can partially work directly on English when adapting a console game, besides the usual translating help from Stark. But I feel more proud of other ones of my stories, mainly the original ones. Anyway, yes… there are more game adaptations coming up. I am working really hard on ‘Heavy Rain’ because it is a very difficult game to adapt. And, of course, I want to make a third ‘Assassin’s Creed’ movie.
5.When will we have the sequel of ‘Invasion’?
You see? That’s a movie I feel very proud of. ‘Invasion’ was a big story. It was so difficult to write. I
think it is the best movie I have written. Writing the sequel is being such a complex work. I want to put so many things in the story that I have to work very hard on the plot not to lose control on it. I have already sent a couple of drafts of the screenplay to Harry Stark but I still want to make some minor changes in the story. I hope I will consider it finished soon. I loved ‘Invasion’ so I don’t want to make a bad sequel of it.
JAMES FRANCO
He is one of those stars whose prestige in CMP has kept growing from his first works for the Studio to the latest ones. Winner of the Best Supporting Actor GMA in Season 13, Franco usually plays supporting roles in CMP but his filmography is full of wise choices and remarkable movies. As a curiosity, Franco has been in the two most awarded movies ever at the GMA. This week, James Franco releases his most ambitious acting work so far in CMP, leading the cast of Martin Scorsese’s version of the classic Hemingway’s novel ‘A Farewell To Arms’. Maybe, his time to play lead roles has definitely come.
SAVING SAMANTHA MOSS
Season 3
David Fincher / Ted Froats
B.O.: 17 mill. / N. L: 15 mill.
Franco made his debut in CMP playing a supporting role in this sick thriller starred by Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and Robin Williams. Ted Froats was the author of this oppressive story about a fake kidnapping that ended up in a real crime. The movie didn’t work in box office. But it is the only box office’s flop in Franco’s career in CMP.
CAROUSEL
Season 4
Sam Mendes / Ted Froats
B.O.: 84 mill. / N. G.: 62 mill.
This musical is famous for being the most awarded movie at the Golden Moon Awards (5 statues) for a long time until ‘Kavalier and Clay’ (also with Franco in it) stole it the throne. Jim Carrey and Claire Danes were the main stars of the show but at least Franco had the chance to show that he can also sing and dance.
WEIGH ANCHOR
Season 10
Peter Weir / Josh Collins
B.O.: 38 mill. / N. G.: 28 mill.
Again, after 6 Seasons away from CMP, Franco had to accept being just a supporting character of the story while Joseph Gordon-Levitt made here his impressive debut in CMP, Best Actor GMA included. This was the first time that Franco met in a cast with Emile Hirsh before ‘Kavalier and Clay’. James’ glory days were still to come.
PSYCHO: BLOODLINE
Season 10
Brian De Palma / Matt Kubrick
B.O: 43 mill. / N.G.: 17 mill.
Maybe tired of only getting supporting roles, Franco finally made a risky bet. He accepted to play Norman Bates’ son in this revamp of the ‘Psycho’ saga. This was one of those works that can lift up or definitely ruin an actor’s career. Franco survived decently to the challenge and the movie wasn’t as horrendous as it could have been.
DEADLY FORCE
Season 11
Jack Hammer / Jack Hammer
B.O.: 197 mill. / N.G.: 224 mill.
Another supporting role, this time in the third installment of the ‘Hot Iron’ franchise, starred by Brad Pitt. A tense cops action movie. And the biggest box office’s hit in Franco’s career. His CMP’s filmography enriched with this blockbuster and CMP’s authors kept considering him for their casts.
NUDE!
Season 13
James Bradley / James Bradley
B.O.: 32 mill. / N.G.: 36 mill.
And Franco’s filmography in CMP kept fulfilling with quality movies. This was a great comedy starred by Ellen Page. Franco played again a minor role but at least he was part again of an acclaimed CMP’s movie. He proved again that he is very intelligent selecting the movies he wants to be in.
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY
Season 13
Steven Spielberg / Joey Stark
B.O.: 41 mill. / N.G.: 6 mill.
Again, an intelligent choice from Franco. The most nominated and the most awarded movie ever at the Golden Moon Awards. Franco played once more a supporting role, a gay rising movie star, and his work brought him the Best Supporting Actor GMA.
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
Season 15
Martin Scorsese / Chad Taylor
Awaiting release
Second lead role for Franco in CMP. Another quality production and, without doubt, his biggest personal challenge in the Studio. Not every actor can say that Scorsese has chosen him to star one of his movies. If things go right, this movie could definitely take Franco to the A-list of talents in CMP’s world.
Writer-GMA Travesties
Just about every current CMP screenwriter has either been nominated or won the coveted 'Best Screenplay' award. In CMP, it is one of the most important awards. Screenwriters are just as much stars as the actors in their films. Good for everyone! But today, let's take a look at the poor individuals who had never even gotten that chance in the slot.
5. DAGGLE
The only screenwriter in CMP to go by one name, Daggle is also known in CMP for only doing one film: The Mogulers, which is somewhat of a parody film about the computer game, Hollywood Mogul. It was a first season film, and it was also the season when we were unsure just how many
films and seasons CMP would last. You might consider it a big joke of a film not to be taken seriously, but at its time, it was one of the biggest grossing films of the entire season. Very few films nowadays even hit the 200 mark; but this esoteric film written by the anonymous 'Daggle' wasn't even considered for a GMA. Not that we necessarily think it deserves one: we just know that Daggle is one of the few writers to be left out of the GMA ceremony.
4. MAX ARILIUS
Max is best known for his Silent Hill film series, and like Daggle, Max saw great success with a
high grossing film in his debut. Unfortunately, money doesn't matter to GMA voters, so Silent Hill was shunned and looked down on as 'just another horror movie;' a genre that gets as much attention as the crazy guy who shouts weird things on the side of the street when it comes to GMAs. But unlike Daggle, Max has potential to return to CMP and if he really wants to reach out for a GMA, he has the talent to do so.
3. BILL COUGAN
Has more film credits than the previously mentioned writers, Bill's tragedy was more along the lines of mysteriously disappearing from the studio after Season 6. A writer who we thought was going to stick around for a while and eventually become a CMP star, his film credits usually consisted of
70's film/tv show remakes: another No-No if you're looking to get GMA notice. He didn't seem to mind not getting recognition for his projects, and even one earned its own nominations: McMillan and Wife earned a best starring couple/most wanted sequel. Should he of stuck around longer, I know he would have earned a few nods for the screen writer slot. It's a tragedy he didn't stick around and pursue his talent.
2. RICHARD FRANZWA
What the bloody heck is wrong with GMA voters? Are they out to get Richard or something? His most loved GMA film earned a best picture, director, supporting actress, adaptation awards, but the voters failed to vote for Richard's Metropolis as a best screenplay. Of the five writers listed here, he is at least still around as an active writer: he's done his fair share of big budget action shows and little-drama movies. He hardly ever adapts films and comes up with his own original ideas. It's a shame that the man's films can earn actor nominations, but you have to remember a lot of those words were just put into an actor's mouth by a writer. The refusal to recognize Richard as a
GMA-worthy screenwriter time and time again is a complete travesty. Sure, you can have interviews with him and he'll tell you it's not all about the awards; good for him for displaying his humility: but what screenwriter isn't disappointed when the GMA nominations come along and one of the three writers nominated isn't you? It is an important award for CMP: every active writer has earned at least one GMA nomination..except Richard.
1.MARCUS TRAX
30 films under his wings. Marcus Trax is the biggest travesty. He is no longer an active writer in CMP and you can't deny his unfair treatment from voters when it comes to GMAs. How many of those 30 films did he do that actually deserve a proper spot in the nomination? Any one of the Depp/Mamet/Trax trio films, Nagasaki Daydreams, Omega. Sadly even Marcus felt the voters ignoring him from time to time. We all know it's a terrible tragedy that Marcus never saw the recognition he deserved: How many other films would it have taken for voters to finally remember
him? If there's one writer who should be given an honorable mention for a career achievement award, it's Marcus; no matter if he's active in CMP or not. If he still checks in to see how the studio is doing, if he's reading this but not pitching films; Marcus, it was a terrible thing voters did to you, to deny you of a worthy nomination. I do hope someday you will be recognized. Perhaps even a future 'Total Recall' dedicated to you as well.
Here is how the starring couple of ‘Fantasy World’ looked at the premiere of the movie. Carell shows a good boy smile while Black showed up with faked muscles and a reproduction of one of the arms his character uses during the movie. What a couple…
Sometimes things go slow, sometimes things go fast. CMP has not had any new screenwriter joining its team since Trent Nielsen’s debut back in Season 12. Now, in just one week, two new
authors have presented their first screenplays to Harry Stark. Michael Banno and Lawrence Abernathy are the names of the two new writers added to the CMP’s squad of writing talents. Both will make their debut some time during Season 16. Banno’s first work is a zombies story while Abernathy has chosen sci-fi as the genre of his first work for the Studio. Welcome, guys!
‘Amedia’ hit the screens past week with contradictory reviews: some critics loved it, some critics hated it. Anyway, it looks as a most awardable movie. But I wonder if Chad Taylor has considered one thing. At the GMA’s nomination phase, CMP’s authors are not allowed to vote for their own movies. That means that not one or two but three CMP’s authors won’t be allowed to vote for ‘Amedia’. That will make it really hard for the movie to pick up the nominations it might deserve. On the other side, if it finally gets nominations, there will be three authors that may support them without hesitation and that will make it pretty easy to win. A peculiar situation, isn’t it?
First ego problems at the Justice League or just kidding? In a recent interview, Ryan Reynolds pretended to look deeply upset when he said: ‘Green Lantern is the only member of the Justice League that does not have his own movie. I feel mistreated and discriminated. Even Aquaman had its own movie at CMP and he is not even a member of the League! That makes me feel as the poor relative of the gang…’ Reynolds laughed later at his own words, so maybe there are not inside the Justice League the same problems that ended up destroying the Avengers… at least, not yet.
After their first work together, the acclaimed ‘Fallen Kings’, Dawson Edwards and Spike Lee have not been too successful when teaming up. ’24 Hours To Live’ and ‘Get Down’, their two latest collaborations, got a cold reception from both audiences and critics. But that does not seem to have discouraged them. Lee and Edwards are already working in their fourth movie together. And a peculiar one. Edwards has written and Lee will direct an action movie based on the songs of rap singer Lupe Fiasco. Spike Lee has presented the project with these words: ‘The movie won’t be a musical. But, at the same time, it will be the first ‘rap opera’ ever made’. Whatever that means, it sounds intriguing.
Another working team also plans to go on together. This week, Chad Taylor and Martin Scorsese release their first work together, the epic war drama ‘A Farewell To Arms’. It is already known that Taylor and Scorsese have already agreed on developing another project together. But they have connected so well that now they have announced that they are already working on a third movie written by Taylor and directed by Scorsese. So we have another stable creative alliance here.
And talking about stable working teams… Joey Stark and Matt Kubrick have worked together quite some times before. Stark has written some movies developed by Midnight Movies, Kubrick’s production company, like some of the ‘Wild Cards’ movies and the two sequels of ‘Reform School Girls’. But the only screenplay signed together by these two CMP’s veterans has been so far ‘Wild Cards: Battle Of The Rox’, the last installment of the legendary Wild Cards saga. Now there are more co-written stories from them coming up. Stark and Kubrick will appear soon as co-writers not only of the new Silver Sable’s movie but also of another story – a remake of a violent movie from the 1980s – to be released next Season.
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
Romance / War
The Cast: James Franco, Carey Mulligan, Emily Blunt, Nicole Kidman, Francesco Scianna, Gael Garcia Bernal.
The Director: Martin Scorsese
The Screenwriter: Chad Taylor
The Plot:
World War I.Frederic Henry(Franco) is an American serving as a Lieutenant of an ambulance division in the Italian Army. Fred goes on leave to Naples and returns. Through his friend, Lt. Rinaldi(Scianna), he meets a British nurses' aide named Catherine Barkley(Mulligan) whose fiancee perished the previous year in the Somme. A bond is immediatley kindled between Fred and Catherine and he spends a lot of time courting her.
At the mess hall, other officers poke fun at the Priest(Garcia Bernal).The Priest is a working man,who can't seem to catch a break. Fred decides to befriend him, and the Priest offers his spiritual guidance.As the snows clear, it is time for the offensive to begin again, and Fred goes with his three ambulances to a post in the mountains. During the first night here, there is a bombardment and Fred is seriously wounded in the legs. One of his drivers is also wounded and another is killed. Fred is then shipped to an American hospital in Milan.
Fred is not expected by the hospital, but they receive him anyway. Several doctors recommend that he stay in bed for six months and then undergo a necessary operation on his knee. Unable to accept such a long period of recovery, Henry finds a bold, garrulous surgeon named Dr. Valentini who agrees to operate immediately. Henry learns happily that Catherine,along with her friend Miss Ferguson(Blunt), has been transferred to Milan and begins his recuperation under her care. During the following months, his relationship with Catherine intensifies. Before long, Fred is walking on crutches and going to restaurants with Catherine. She works the night shift so they can be together at night. Their relationship shifts from cute and playful to powerful and real.
But Fred has began to drink too much. Once recovered, Fred is granted a three week leave after which he is scheduled to return to the front. He tries to plan a trip with Catherine, who reveals to him that she is pregnant.The following day, Fred is diagnosed with jaundice, and Miss Van Campen(Kidman), the superintendent of the hospital, accuses him of bringing the disease on himself through excessive drinking. Believing Henry’s illness to be an attempt to avoid his duty as a serviceman, Miss Van Campen has Henry’s leave revoked, and he is sent to the front once the jaundice has cleared. Before he is to return to the front, Fred and Catherine spend a night together in a hotel. He leaves on a train in the middle of the night to return to Gorizia.
There are fewer people at Gorizia and the town is not as cheerful. Lt. Rinaldi has become more depressed. He makes a scene in the mess hall,and then afterwards The Priest and Fred talk about life and war. The next day Fred reports to a mountain post to find his ambulance team. That night there is an Austrian attack and they are forced to retreat. After a couple of days, a traffic jam is created from all the people retreating. Fred directs his three trucks to take a side road. Soon after, the trucks become stuck.When one of their vehicles bogs down in the mud, Fred orders the two engineers to help in the effort to free the vehicle. When they refuse, he shoots one of them.They must continue on foot.Soon after, another driver wanders off to surrender himself .
After a day, Fred and his last driver finally reach the Italian army.When they rejoin the retreat the following day, chaos has broken out: soldiers, angered by the Italian defeat, pull commanding officers from the melee and execute them on sight. The Italian officers, afraid of German spies, are interrogating and shooting anyone who is not Italian. Fred jumps into a river to escape execution,and floats for some time. He jumps a train and rides it to Milan. He hides under a tarp used for artillery, hoping his war efforts are over, and dreams of a return to his love.
In Milan, he finds out that Catherine has gone to a town called Stresa near the Swiss border. He gets some new clothing from a friend and takes a train to Stresa. He checks into a hotel and finds Catherine with her friend Miss Ferguson. They are happy to be reunited. However, Miss Ferguson isn't happy to see Fred because she doesn't trust him. They stay in Stresa for a day, but one night the bartender, who is Fred's friend, warns him that he is to be arrested in the morning. He offers them his boat to row to Switzerland. The couple rows all night and arrives in Switzerland where they are first arrested, but later issued provisional visas.
Together, Catherine and Fred stay in a remote mountain town called Montreux. They spend all of their time together reading, hiking, and talking. Catherine's pregnancy has matured and when the spring comes they move into a larger town. When Catherine goes into labor, they rush to the hospital. Even though it is early in the morning when they arrive, Catherine still hasn't delivered the baby by noon. The doctor suggests a caesarian. The delivery is exceptionally painful and complicated. The operation seems to go well, but Fred soon finds out that Catherine has hemorrhaged and that the child was born dead, choked by its own umbilical cord. Later in the night, Catherine dies from repeated hemorrhaging. Fred stays at her side until she is gone. He attempts to say goodbye but cannot. He walks back to his hotel in the rain.
Stark’s Comment:
Beautiful movie. Not so sure about box office’s reaction to this classic concept. But I hope audiences will surrender to another splendid work by Mr. Scorsese.
Behind The Scenes:
-Based on the 1929 Ernest Hemingway’s novel. The novel has been adapted to the big screen twice before: in 1932, Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes were the starring couple; in 1957, Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones starred.
-The movie has been shot in different European locations in Italy, Austria and Switzerland.
-This is the sixth movie directed by Scorsese for CMP. The latest one was the Best Picture GMA Winner ‘American Tabloid’.
-James Franco won the Best Supporting Actor GMA with his previous work for the Studio, ‘The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier and Clay’.
-GMA Winner Nicole Kidman has already worked with Scorsese in CMP before in ‘The Heirs’ trilogy.
FANTASY WORLD
Comedy / Adventure
The Cast: Steve Carell, Jack Black, Charlize Theron, Bill Murray, Ron Perlman. Voice-only cameo by Eddie Murphy
The Director: David Zucker
The Screenwriter: Steve Connors
The Plot:
Bill (S.Carell) is a most ordinary man. He works as a high school teacher and not even his pupils respect him. Boring and shy, he lives by himself in a small house in a small town and his only hobby is to take care of his small garden. But things begin to change when he begins to hear strange noises at his garden during the nights. Until, one night, he discovers the reason: an artistic garden dwarf he had recently bought has come alive!
The dwarf presents himself as Harz (J.Black). He is a rude, nasty guy. He tells Bill that he has come from his fantasy world to make the prophecy come true: only a knight from an outer world will be capable of saving Princess Zara from the evil Violet Knight. So he took a magic potion to come to our world to find that knight. And, although it looks hard to believe even for him, all the signs point out as if Bill is the chosen one.
When Bill resists taking a potion to travel to the Fantasy World with Harz, the dwarf immobilizes him with a judo hold and obliges him to drink it.
Bill and Harz are kind of tele-transported to the beautiful fantasy world. All the landscapes and everything are so idyllic in a most corny way.
Harz, now dressed as a mini-warrior, takes Bill to see Yarmash (B.Murray), a sorcerer that lives inside a magic tree. In fact, once you enter, you step into the most luxurious manor. Yarmash explains Bill that Princess Zara has been captured by the evil Violet Knight and, to save her, Bill will have to collect the Three Golden Keys, surviving to three different missions. After that, Yarmash tells them that, to go on speaking, they will have to pay him 200 golden coins. ‘Can you imagine the rent I have to pay for this manor?’, he complains. Reluctantly, Harz accepts to pay him.
So Yarmash takes them 200 coins for all the information about the missions, another 200 for the needed maps and a 5% of it all for what he calls ‘sorcerer tax’.
The three missions Bill and Harz will go through are:
1.Getting inside a volcano of burning sugar to get a key hidden in it (where Harz and Bill will end up kind of surfing over the lava using a flat stone).
2.Climbing a giant tree to take the second key from the nest of a big - and very aggressive - fantastic colored bird (that will capture Bill with his claws and fly him all over a valley).
3.Win a card game against the toughest guys in the toughest tavern of the fantasy world (with the help of Harz’s cheats, Bill wins the third key, right before having a big fight with the guys)
During these missions, we’ll see how Bill transforms from the weak shy guy he is into a brave knight while a friendship based in their mutual dislike grows between him and Harz.
Once the three keys have been collected, they travel to the Sinister Castle, where Princess Zara is captive. They get in at night and hide from all the guardians (terrifying entities half human half wild dogs with armors) until they reach Zara’s bedroom. They finally meet Zara (C. Theron) and Bill is impressed by both her beauty and all the swearing she uses to speak.
Bill, Zara and Harz escape from the castle. They run away through a swampy forest. There, Bill falls into moving sands and, while he is sinking, Zara and Harz discuss if they should save him or not (Zara considers they don’t need him anymore, but Harz tells the Princess he can help feeling some sympathy for him). Finally, they rescue Bill.
The night before they would arrive to Zara’s Palace, the three of them are sleeping in a beautiful hill. Bill and Zara talk and rebuild a bit their relationship (damaged by the moving sands incident) and Zara is impressed by what Bill tells her about his world: the cars, tv, airplanes, computers… and specially the fancy boutiques.
But the conversation is interrupted when the Violet Knight (R.Perlman) suddenly appears riding his magnificent horse and holding his baroque sword. It’s the time for the final duel between Bill and the Violet Knight.
Before the fight, the Violet Knight takes off his helmet. ‘I like everybody to see my evil face. I am tired of not being recognizable’, he says.
Bill and the Violet Knight have a violent sword duel. The Violet Knight is about to kill Bill when a flash shines in the night and a ray coming from the near trees pulverizes him. The Violet Knight is reduced to dust.
From out the trees, comes out Yarmash. It’s him who has killed the Violet Knight with a magic ray coming out from his hands. ‘That will be the regular fee for saving a life, 500 golden coins, plus another 100 for the energy expenses’, he says.
Saved and happy, all of them attend to a big welcome party in Zara’s Palace. There, Bill asks Harz when will he give him a potion to go back home. Harz gives him the potion. But, when Bill is about to drink it, Zara winks at him from the distance. Bill leaves the potion in his pocket… ‘Maybe I’ll wait until the party ends…’, he says before walking to Zara.
AFTER THE CREDITS
Bill is wandering around a beautiful garden when somebody appears. It’s Donkey, Shrek’s friend. Bill looks at him with dislike and tells him: ‘What are you doing here? This is not your movie, you know…’ Donkey looks around and finally nods. ‘Oops. Sorry, man… I must have got lost.’, Donkey says. Bill stares at him with surprise and curiosity and finally says: ‘Eddie? Is that you?’
The screen goes black.
Stark’s Comment:
I have had a great time watching this movie. So I have the highest expectations about it. It’s a great parody.
Behind The Scenes:
-Zucker, Carell, Black and Theron all worked together in the classic CMP’s comedy hit ‘Lieutenant USA and his Warm Steel Gang’.
-Steve Connors worked with Carell and Eddie Murphy before in the very successful superheroes’ parody ‘The Revengers’.
-Jack Black and Bill Murray met before in ‘Borgel’.
-Jack Black has been digitally manipulated to look like a dwarf.
-Bill Murray had to go through very tough and long make up sessions to be characterized as the sorcerer.
-Connors has admitted that the joke of Ron Perlman willing to show his face was inspired by Perlman’s own words at a GMA ceremony about always working under tons of latex and make up.
-David Zucker’s movies for CMP (‘Lieutenant USA and his Warm Steel Gang’, ‘Q*Bert’ and ‘Bond Scam’) have always been a box office’s hit.
-Charlize Theron has already broken records this Season with ‘Metroid’.
THE PLEDGES
Drama / Human Spirit
The Cast: Brandon T. Jackson, Rob Brown, Derek Luke, Tyrese Gibson, Olivia Thirlby, Mehcad Brooks. Cameo by Jada Pinkett Smith.
The Directors: Allen and Albert Hughes
The Screenwriter: Dawson Edwards
The Plot:
BLACK. These words appear on the screen:
"When attending a historically black college or university, you can not escape the Greek life. Academics come first, THIS comes shortly after."
We hear screams of a massive crowd as the screen fades into our scene. The school's arena is packed full of students, staff and even the fortunate citizens that were lucky enough to get in. This is the Pan-Hellenic Step Show where all the Greek fraternities & sororities show off their skill. The greeks on stage, the reason why the crowd is so excited, is the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. As they are voted the winners, we focus on a trio of freshmen/first year friends & students in the crowd. Brandon (B.T.Jackson), Steven (M.Brooks), and Marcus (R.Brown). Brandon watches with amazement, jumping up and down while screaming. Marcus lets him know that he looks like a groupie, and should stop before he ruins his own chances of ever becoming one of those illustrious men of crimson and creme colors.
As the show ends, the trio walk back to their dorm talking about what it would mean to become a member of the KAPsi frat. Marcus tells the two that there are rumors that the Fraternity hazes its potential members. Ignorantly, Brandon asks what the hell hazing is, to which Steven slaps him across the face. "Its like that, but more often and a lot more harder." They laugh, and Brandon says that he's willing to do whatever it takes to be a "Kappa Man." As he says this, he bumps into a senior student, Mike Morton (T.Gibson), who overhears him. Twirling his crimson and creme Kappa cane, Mike smirks as he looks down on Brandon. He looks up to see Steven and Marcus, both of which are trying not to look Mike in the eyes.
Brandon starts apologizing frantically, and Steven walks up and extends his hand for a handshake, introducing the trio calmly. Mike twirls his cane once more, and says "Duly noted, now move along boys." The trio does so. Mike turns to a few of his fraternity brothers, one in particular, and says "Fresh meat, yo."
As the school year begins, the interest meeting or "Recruitment" for Kappa Alpha Psi approaches. Brandon meets a girl named Ashley (O.Thirlby), the student council president. They quickly hit things off. Its not long before they get into a relationship, and they eventually share their aspirations to become a member of a Greek fraternity or sorority. Meanwhile, Steven tells Marcus that he's having doubts about joining that fraternity, especially when he's guranteed spot in another fraternity due to his family history. Marcus says "Legacy members are punks. They go the easy route, and aren't REAL brothers. They don't deserve to be where they are." Over the course of a few weeks, we see a fast paced scene of Steven, Brandon and Marcus all talking with Kappa men pledging their willingness to hopefully become a Kappa one day.
It is now night out on the campus, Steven is walking alone and very few people are outside. The ones that are seem to scatter, making Steven nervous. He looks behind him, and is punched in the face and stomach. A black bag is thrown over his head so he can't see, and he's put into a car, and they drive off. We then see Marcus in the library studying. He receives a message on his phone from an unknown number simply reading "Phi Nu Pi...11pm at the flame". Marcus rushes out of the library towards the flame that burns in the center of the college campus. When he gets there, he suffers the same as Steven.
Elsewhere, Brandon and Ashley are having sex in his dorm room. There's a knock on the door. Brandon ignores it. Then another knock, so Brandon screams "Come back in 20 minutes!" The door is busted in and 5 black hooded figures grab the naked Brandon and pull him down stairs and into their car. In the car, Brandon can see nothing as the people who snatched him have covered their faces with white masks. He guesses what is going on, so he smirks. One of the men in masks take theirs off, its Mike. He smirks back at Brandon and then punches him in the face repeatedly.
When Brandon is conscious again, he finds himself still naked but no longer in a moving car. Now he's in an abandonded building lined up next to 20 other naked students. Some he's never seen before, others, like Marcus and Steven, he has. Brandon notices that there are only 5 Kappa men in masks standing before them. Mike begins to speak to the line of potential members.
"Some of you will make it. MOST will not. Most CAN NOT make it. Most of you don't know and will never know what it means to cross as a Kappa. I'm here to make the most of you quit. And you will quit. You will see things you have never seen and do things you never dreamed possible. All in the name of your brothers. We expect you to know all things K-A-Psi and we expect you LIVE all things K-A-Psi. Failure to do so will have your ass out that fucking door quicker than a hoe going home with no money!"
That first night was pretty tame. The potential Kappa men sounded off their names, swore themselves to secrecy, recited various facts about the Fraternity's history, and then relayed stories about their first time having sex. One student professed that he was a virgin, and was almost sent home, if were not for one masked Kappa whispering into Mike's ear. That same mask seemed to be watching Brandon all night. The next day, when Brandon got a chance to speak to Ashley she asked him so many questions. She told him that there were so many rumors going around campus about who was and who wasn't a Pledge for the Kappas this year. Besides telling her that he can no longer talk on the phone, he told her nothing. Brandon was not about to ruin this opportunity for greatness because he couldn't keep a secret.
Steven on the other hand, still hadn't gotten any sleep. He struggled with the idea of pledging to a fraternity that wasn't right for him. He looked at the Egyptian King tattoo on his arm and then to some black book in his hand. Marcus was extremely happy, this was what he wanted more than a diploma. He couldn't wait for the next time...Which was later that night. Same routine, the trio is found, hit, and hooded. They arrive back in the abandoned building once more, with slightly less pledges than before. Only now there were a few more masked men, all of which carried red and white Kappa canes.
Once more, the group shared stories of their lives. Some comedic, some romantic, and some even disturbing. Mike turned some music on, and pledges were told to take off their clothes. "Strip? We gotta strip for you?" said one pledge. Mike walked over to him, twirling his cane and smiled in his face. Then he spit in it. "No. I want you all to cover your ears as the music plays. I want you to remember these words. I want you to remember this night. You will NOT forget the road to Kappa Land. It takes a HELLUVA man to make it through!"
The pledges got naked, lined up with very little room between one mans back and the others front, and covered their ears with their hands. As the Kappa hymns played loudly through the speakers, each of the masked men swung their canes into the first mans stomach. As he eventually fell to the floor, he was told to take a lap around the building and come back for more. Each of the 15 pledges were hit that night by 15 different men on 5 separate courses. The pledges would never forget that night.
The school year went on. The pledges numbers dwindled everyday. If you didn't receive any contact throughout the course of an entire day, you weren't Kappa material. Pledges are beaten, taught to sing Kappa hymns, taught unknown secrets of elder Fraternity brothers. By day, the pledges would limp their way to classes, all while trying to hide their pain. By night, they were facing that long road to Kappa land with canes across the back and punches to the gut. Brandon and Marcus noticed that Steven was absent from tonight's meeting. When Brandon publicly asked why the brothers thought of Steven as unfit, the masked Kappa who was usually by Mike's side revealed himself as Jay Harris (D.Luke), then he spoke.
"Your friend made all the right moves, he was just going down the wrong road. It was his decision to leave" he said. Brandon shook his head in denial refusing to believe that Steven would abandon his best friend...his brother. As time went on and the time to cross into Kappa men drew near, the beatings became less harsh for all...except Marcus, who was still getting hit hard and often. The beatings were taking their toll on Marcus, and he grew increasingly upset with the fraternity.
Brandon took it upon himself to see what was up despite the warnings from Ashley about potential backlash. Brandon found Jay walking alone one night, and the two shared a few drinks then called over their respectful girlfriends. As the four of them enjoy themselves, Brandon takes the chance to ask about Marcus. Jay pulls him into another room and tells him that he should beat the shit out of him right now. But he doesn't. Instead he tells him that Marcus asked for it because he didn't deem himself worthy as a legacy member. He never had to go through any of the pledging process but specifically asked to be treated like the others and beaten worse.
Just a week away from the "come out" day, a bomb drops on the campus. Not literally, but the news of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity pledge process is revealed to everyone. Marcus Jones visited his parents over the weekend, and they were exposed to his injuries. He snitched everything to the police and named Mike Morton and Jay Harris specifically in a criminal charge of HAZING. We then see three separate windows showing different scenes. The first takes over the screen showing Brandon destroying his room by knocking everything over as Ashley looks on sadly, with her sorority jacket on. Brandon breaks down and starts crying in her arms.
The second scene shows Steven crossing into a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Students cheer, and family surrounds him with congrats. He looks into the distance and sees a tree branded with the K-A-Psi emblem. A single tear rolls down his face. The final scene shows Marcus in the courtroom telling the judge everything that happened. Mike and Jay look on with disgust. The judge stated "I want to save the victims who will quietly go along because they want to belong." At the school, Ashley sits on stage as Student Council President with her head down as the President of the university (J.P.Smith) is wrapping up her speech about how the fraternity has been suspended indefinitely. The screen goes black as a Kappa hymn plays in the background and these words appear on the screen...
"Mike Morton and Jay Harris both received two year prison sentences. They served every single day. Brandon and the rest of his pledge brothers went on to be affectionately named 'THE LOST BOYS' "
Stark’s Comment:
I have two fears about this movie. First, it may be too oriented to the afro-american audience and that can limit box office. And second, the world of college’s fraternities and what the pledges mean are pretty unknown out of the US and that can difficult the movie’s reception in the foreign market. We’ll see…
Behind The Scenes:
-Edwards and the Hughes brothers already teamed up past Season with ‘Rebel’. The movie was critically acclaimed but it didn’t work in box office.
-‘Rebel’ was starred by Jaden Smith, son of Jada Pinkett Smith, who makes her CMP’s debut in this movie.
-As usual, Edwards has counted for this movie with some of the members of his regular squad of stars: this is the seventh time that he casts GMA Winner Derek Luke and Rob Brown could be seen in ‘Get Down’.
-Olivia Thirlby has already worked this Season for CMP in ‘Based On Real Life’ while Tyrese Gibson played a minor role in ‘Turn Of A Friendly Card’.
DARK THEY WERE, AND GOLDEN EYED: This is the peculiar title of a short story by sci-fi
master Ray Bradbury and also of the new Chad Taylor’s movie based in that story. It tells the disturbing story of a group of colonizers in Mars. And the main names attached to this project are: Jack Bender, in his first directional job for CMP; JJ Abrams, only producer of the movie this time; and Mathew Fox, seen past Season in ‘The Orphanage’. That makes this movie look as an old friends’ reunion as the three of them already teamed up in the tv series ‘Lost’.DRAGONLANCE: DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT: Green light for this second installment of the Richard Franzwa’s fantasy saga based on Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis’ books. The first movie of this franchise made a box office of 132 millions in Season 13. Guillermo Del Toro returns as director and most of the cast of the first movie is expected to be back in this one too.
JUSTICE LEAGUE 2: Some critics were surprised that Lex Luthor didn’t show up in ‘Superman:
Last Son’. Well, in case you missed him, don’t worry: Luthor will be in this one. And the talent chosen to play this character previously played by Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey is no other than the GMA Winner Joseph Fiennes. Fiennes worked with Chad Taylor before past Season in ‘One Night Stand’ and he has also met before in CMP with director Christopher Nolan in the acclaimed ‘Human Axis’.NEW WORLD II: HEROES OF THE REBELLION: And while younger brother Joseph plays the villain in ‘Justice League 2’, older brother Ralph Fiennes repeats as one of the villains of this John Daws’ saga. Ralph has already played a remarkable villain this Season as a mean Pope and main enemy of Colin Farrell in the megahit ‘Assassin’s Creed II’.
HOUSTATLANTAVEGAS: Chris Pine is making his debut in CMP in this Dawson Edwards’
comedy being directed by Todd Philips. Together with him, we will also see some sexy chicks around: Sienna Miller returns to CMP after the acclaimed comedy ‘Crossovers’; Rachel Bilson, seen in ‘Faction 12’, plays Adam Brody’s ex-girlfriend; and Mila Kunis makes her debut too in CMP joining Pine, Brody and Emma Stone in their wild trip.MEGA MAN: Saoirse Ronan (‘Bedtime Stories’) plays Roll, a robot and sister of Rock, the robot played by Taylor Lautner, in this Renny Harlin’s adaptation of the video game. I know: put together the name of the siblings and… let’s rock and roll!
OTTO RAHN: French star Vincent Cassel, never seen before in a CMP’s movie, plays an archeologist and best friend of the lead character played by David Strathairn in this biopic. Together, they will look for the Holy Grial. Werner Herzog directs and Steven Spielberg (who has searched for the Holy Grial before…) produces this movie written by Matt Kubrick.
MOUSE GUARD: Here comes the second animated production of the Season after the disaster of ‘Toons’. Dawson Edwards, definitely hyper-active this Season, has adapted the comic books written and illustrated by David Petersen about a colony of intelligent mice during the medieval era. Joe Carnahan, who has recently succeeded out of CMP with ‘The A-Team’, will direct the movie in his first work for the Studio.
SON OF THE BRIDE: Two young actresses join the cast of this dramedy starred and directed by
Ben Stiller. Abbie Cornish will play Stiller’s young lover. James Bradley has stated that he decided to cast her after watching her in her CMP’s debut ‘Sunshine On Lonely Street’. Emma Stone will be Stiller’s daughter. Stone had to shoot quickly her sequences before joining the shootage of ‘Houstatlantavegas’. Also in the film, an almost inevitable presence in Bradley’s movies: Paul Giamatti. GMA Winner Giamatti plays here Stiller’s best friend in what will be his sixth work with Bradley.IT’S JUST NOT WORKING OUT: Emily Blunt can be seen in this week’s release ‘A Farewell To Arms’. And she will be seen again in this romantic comedy written by Josh Collins and directed by James L. Brooks playing Jason Bateman’s girlfriend. Blunt has worked with Collins before in ‘Blink’, ‘Goldmine Killers’ and ‘The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time’.
STEVE CONNORS – ‘FANTASY WORLD’
Although he may be better known for his sci-fi movies and his console games adaptations, Steve Connors has always liked to try luck with comedy from time to time. In fact, his biggest personal triumph came with a comedy, ‘Mary’s Dark Side’. That movie meant his first and only Best Screenplay GMA. ‘Fantasy World’ retakes the parodic spirit Connors has shown before in movies like ‘The Revengers’ We have talked with him about this release.
1.What specific CMP’s movies did you want to laugh at with ‘Fantasy World’?
Well, ‘Fantasy World’ is not exactly a spoof movie. It does not make jokes about specific movies like spoof movies usually do. It is more a parody in general of all those fantasy movies that have come out after ‘The Lord Of The Rings’. You know, all those movies always have heroic characters and complex plots and strange creatures and all kind of magic things… CMP has developed a few movies like that so I thought it would be fun to laugh at that genre the same way I laughed at superheroes movies with ‘The Revengers’ and all the Ultraman’s movies.
2.Was it hard to choose the talents for the movie?
I wrote the story with Carell and Black already in mind. Carell is perfect to play an ordinary man that
gets involved in problems bigger than him. And Black was perfect to play that nasty and angry dwarf. Perlman was a must. I am a big fan of Bill Murray and I have always wanted him in one of my movies. And then I had to choose between Charlize and Kate Beckinsale to play that sexy, beautiful but also selfish and egotistic princess. I think Charlize won just because she is blonde and fairy tales’ princesses are usually blonde… *laughs* It all came pretty naturally. I wasn’t sure about the director but then Harry Stark reminded me how successful has been David Zucker in CMP with parodic movies and I thought he was a good choice for this movie.3.I love the cameo by Donkey…
Yeah. That idea came to me in the very last moment. It is also a private joke about ‘The Revengers’. Carell and Murphy were the starring couple of that one. I considered other cameos but then I thought that was funny enough.
4.Moving to other projects… What new games adaptations can we expect from you in the near future, besides the already announced ‘Heavy Rain’?
You know? I am not sure if I like to be considered the official ‘game adaptator’ in CMP *laughs* I have been checking out at CMMDB and I have written nearly 25 movies and only three or four games adaptations… But that’s the only thing I read about me at CMP’s blog. Adapting games is easy for someone with language problems like me, cause I can partially work directly on English when adapting a console game, besides the usual translating help from Stark. But I feel more proud of other ones of my stories, mainly the original ones. Anyway, yes… there are more game adaptations coming up. I am working really hard on ‘Heavy Rain’ because it is a very difficult game to adapt. And, of course, I want to make a third ‘Assassin’s Creed’ movie.
5.When will we have the sequel of ‘Invasion’?
You see? That’s a movie I feel very proud of. ‘Invasion’ was a big story. It was so difficult to write. I
think it is the best movie I have written. Writing the sequel is being such a complex work. I want to put so many things in the story that I have to work very hard on the plot not to lose control on it. I have already sent a couple of drafts of the screenplay to Harry Stark but I still want to make some minor changes in the story. I hope I will consider it finished soon. I loved ‘Invasion’ so I don’t want to make a bad sequel of it.JAMES FRANCO
He is one of those stars whose prestige in CMP has kept growing from his first works for the Studio to the latest ones. Winner of the Best Supporting Actor GMA in Season 13, Franco usually plays supporting roles in CMP but his filmography is full of wise choices and remarkable movies. As a curiosity, Franco has been in the two most awarded movies ever at the GMA. This week, James Franco releases his most ambitious acting work so far in CMP, leading the cast of Martin Scorsese’s version of the classic Hemingway’s novel ‘A Farewell To Arms’. Maybe, his time to play lead roles has definitely come.
SAVING SAMANTHA MOSS
Season 3
David Fincher / Ted Froats
B.O.: 17 mill. / N. L: 15 mill.
Franco made his debut in CMP playing a supporting role in this sick thriller starred by Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and Robin Williams. Ted Froats was the author of this oppressive story about a fake kidnapping that ended up in a real crime. The movie didn’t work in box office. But it is the only box office’s flop in Franco’s career in CMP.
CAROUSEL
Season 4
Sam Mendes / Ted Froats
B.O.: 84 mill. / N. G.: 62 mill.
This musical is famous for being the most awarded movie at the Golden Moon Awards (5 statues) for a long time until ‘Kavalier and Clay’ (also with Franco in it) stole it the throne. Jim Carrey and Claire Danes were the main stars of the show but at least Franco had the chance to show that he can also sing and dance.
WEIGH ANCHOR
Season 10
Peter Weir / Josh Collins
B.O.: 38 mill. / N. G.: 28 mill.
Again, after 6 Seasons away from CMP, Franco had to accept being just a supporting character of the story while Joseph Gordon-Levitt made here his impressive debut in CMP, Best Actor GMA included. This was the first time that Franco met in a cast with Emile Hirsh before ‘Kavalier and Clay’. James’ glory days were still to come.
PSYCHO: BLOODLINE
Season 10
Brian De Palma / Matt Kubrick
B.O: 43 mill. / N.G.: 17 mill.
Maybe tired of only getting supporting roles, Franco finally made a risky bet. He accepted to play Norman Bates’ son in this revamp of the ‘Psycho’ saga. This was one of those works that can lift up or definitely ruin an actor’s career. Franco survived decently to the challenge and the movie wasn’t as horrendous as it could have been.
DEADLY FORCE
Season 11
Jack Hammer / Jack Hammer
B.O.: 197 mill. / N.G.: 224 mill.
Another supporting role, this time in the third installment of the ‘Hot Iron’ franchise, starred by Brad Pitt. A tense cops action movie. And the biggest box office’s hit in Franco’s career. His CMP’s filmography enriched with this blockbuster and CMP’s authors kept considering him for their casts.
NUDE!
Season 13
James Bradley / James Bradley
B.O.: 32 mill. / N.G.: 36 mill.
And Franco’s filmography in CMP kept fulfilling with quality movies. This was a great comedy starred by Ellen Page. Franco played again a minor role but at least he was part again of an acclaimed CMP’s movie. He proved again that he is very intelligent selecting the movies he wants to be in.
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY
Season 13
Steven Spielberg / Joey Stark
B.O.: 41 mill. / N.G.: 6 mill.
Again, an intelligent choice from Franco. The most nominated and the most awarded movie ever at the Golden Moon Awards. Franco played once more a supporting role, a gay rising movie star, and his work brought him the Best Supporting Actor GMA.
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
Season 15
Martin Scorsese / Chad Taylor
Awaiting release
Second lead role for Franco in CMP. Another quality production and, without doubt, his biggest personal challenge in the Studio. Not every actor can say that Scorsese has chosen him to star one of his movies. If things go right, this movie could definitely take Franco to the A-list of talents in CMP’s world.
Writer-GMA Travesties
Just about every current CMP screenwriter has either been nominated or won the coveted 'Best Screenplay' award. In CMP, it is one of the most important awards. Screenwriters are just as much stars as the actors in their films. Good for everyone! But today, let's take a look at the poor individuals who had never even gotten that chance in the slot.
5. DAGGLE
The only screenwriter in CMP to go by one name, Daggle is also known in CMP for only doing one film: The Mogulers, which is somewhat of a parody film about the computer game, Hollywood Mogul. It was a first season film, and it was also the season when we were unsure just how many
films and seasons CMP would last. You might consider it a big joke of a film not to be taken seriously, but at its time, it was one of the biggest grossing films of the entire season. Very few films nowadays even hit the 200 mark; but this esoteric film written by the anonymous 'Daggle' wasn't even considered for a GMA. Not that we necessarily think it deserves one: we just know that Daggle is one of the few writers to be left out of the GMA ceremony.4. MAX ARILIUS
Max is best known for his Silent Hill film series, and like Daggle, Max saw great success with a
high grossing film in his debut. Unfortunately, money doesn't matter to GMA voters, so Silent Hill was shunned and looked down on as 'just another horror movie;' a genre that gets as much attention as the crazy guy who shouts weird things on the side of the street when it comes to GMAs. But unlike Daggle, Max has potential to return to CMP and if he really wants to reach out for a GMA, he has the talent to do so.3. BILL COUGAN
Has more film credits than the previously mentioned writers, Bill's tragedy was more along the lines of mysteriously disappearing from the studio after Season 6. A writer who we thought was going to stick around for a while and eventually become a CMP star, his film credits usually consisted of
70's film/tv show remakes: another No-No if you're looking to get GMA notice. He didn't seem to mind not getting recognition for his projects, and even one earned its own nominations: McMillan and Wife earned a best starring couple/most wanted sequel. Should he of stuck around longer, I know he would have earned a few nods for the screen writer slot. It's a tragedy he didn't stick around and pursue his talent.2. RICHARD FRANZWA
What the bloody heck is wrong with GMA voters? Are they out to get Richard or something? His most loved GMA film earned a best picture, director, supporting actress, adaptation awards, but the voters failed to vote for Richard's Metropolis as a best screenplay. Of the five writers listed here, he is at least still around as an active writer: he's done his fair share of big budget action shows and little-drama movies. He hardly ever adapts films and comes up with his own original ideas. It's a shame that the man's films can earn actor nominations, but you have to remember a lot of those words were just put into an actor's mouth by a writer. The refusal to recognize Richard as a
GMA-worthy screenwriter time and time again is a complete travesty. Sure, you can have interviews with him and he'll tell you it's not all about the awards; good for him for displaying his humility: but what screenwriter isn't disappointed when the GMA nominations come along and one of the three writers nominated isn't you? It is an important award for CMP: every active writer has earned at least one GMA nomination..except Richard.1.MARCUS TRAX
30 films under his wings. Marcus Trax is the biggest travesty. He is no longer an active writer in CMP and you can't deny his unfair treatment from voters when it comes to GMAs. How many of those 30 films did he do that actually deserve a proper spot in the nomination? Any one of the Depp/Mamet/Trax trio films, Nagasaki Daydreams, Omega. Sadly even Marcus felt the voters ignoring him from time to time. We all know it's a terrible tragedy that Marcus never saw the recognition he deserved: How many other films would it have taken for voters to finally remember
him? If there's one writer who should be given an honorable mention for a career achievement award, it's Marcus; no matter if he's active in CMP or not. If he still checks in to see how the studio is doing, if he's reading this but not pitching films; Marcus, it was a terrible thing voters did to you, to deny you of a worthy nomination. I do hope someday you will be recognized. Perhaps even a future 'Total Recall' dedicated to you as well.Here is how the starring couple of ‘Fantasy World’ looked at the premiere of the movie. Carell shows a good boy smile while Black showed up with faked muscles and a reproduction of one of the arms his character uses during the movie. What a couple…
Sometimes things go slow, sometimes things go fast. CMP has not had any new screenwriter joining its team since Trent Nielsen’s debut back in Season 12. Now, in just one week, two new
authors have presented their first screenplays to Harry Stark. Michael Banno and Lawrence Abernathy are the names of the two new writers added to the CMP’s squad of writing talents. Both will make their debut some time during Season 16. Banno’s first work is a zombies story while Abernathy has chosen sci-fi as the genre of his first work for the Studio. Welcome, guys!‘Amedia’ hit the screens past week with contradictory reviews: some critics loved it, some critics hated it. Anyway, it looks as a most awardable movie. But I wonder if Chad Taylor has considered one thing. At the GMA’s nomination phase, CMP’s authors are not allowed to vote for their own movies. That means that not one or two but three CMP’s authors won’t be allowed to vote for ‘Amedia’. That will make it really hard for the movie to pick up the nominations it might deserve. On the other side, if it finally gets nominations, there will be three authors that may support them without hesitation and that will make it pretty easy to win. A peculiar situation, isn’t it?
First ego problems at the Justice League or just kidding? In a recent interview, Ryan Reynolds pretended to look deeply upset when he said: ‘Green Lantern is the only member of the Justice League that does not have his own movie. I feel mistreated and discriminated. Even Aquaman had its own movie at CMP and he is not even a member of the League! That makes me feel as the poor relative of the gang…’ Reynolds laughed later at his own words, so maybe there are not inside the Justice League the same problems that ended up destroying the Avengers… at least, not yet.
After their first work together, the acclaimed ‘Fallen Kings’, Dawson Edwards and Spike Lee have not been too successful when teaming up. ’24 Hours To Live’ and ‘Get Down’, their two latest collaborations, got a cold reception from both audiences and critics. But that does not seem to have discouraged them. Lee and Edwards are already working in their fourth movie together. And a peculiar one. Edwards has written and Lee will direct an action movie based on the songs of rap singer Lupe Fiasco. Spike Lee has presented the project with these words: ‘The movie won’t be a musical. But, at the same time, it will be the first ‘rap opera’ ever made’. Whatever that means, it sounds intriguing.
Another working team also plans to go on together. This week, Chad Taylor and Martin Scorsese release their first work together, the epic war drama ‘A Farewell To Arms’. It is already known that Taylor and Scorsese have already agreed on developing another project together. But they have connected so well that now they have announced that they are already working on a third movie written by Taylor and directed by Scorsese. So we have another stable creative alliance here.And talking about stable working teams… Joey Stark and Matt Kubrick have worked together quite some times before. Stark has written some movies developed by Midnight Movies, Kubrick’s production company, like some of the ‘Wild Cards’ movies and the two sequels of ‘Reform School Girls’. But the only screenplay signed together by these two CMP’s veterans has been so far ‘Wild Cards: Battle Of The Rox’, the last installment of the legendary Wild Cards saga. Now there are more co-written stories from them coming up. Stark and Kubrick will appear soon as co-writers not only of the new Silver Sable’s movie but also of another story – a remake of a violent movie from the 1980s – to be released next Season.
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