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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Sarandon joins The Company You Keep

Susan Sarandon has signed on to star in the new Robert Redford film The Company You Keep.

Sarandon isn’t the only new casting for the Redford flick as Richard Jenkins and Julie Christie have also agreed to take part in the new feature.

The director and star has also signed up a whole new host of fresh talent to join the experienced movie stars on the film as well.

The film has been adapted from a Neil Gordon novel. The picture will see a former member of the militant organisation Weather Underground, who has been hiding from the FBI for 30 years, forced to go on the run after his identity is exposed by a young reporter, played by Shia LeBeouf.

Sarandon will be playing a former Weather Underground type along with Christie, who are noticed after Redford’s character has been exposed. Jenkins will be playing a college with links to the radicals.

The film, which also stars Nick Nolte and Brit Marling will begin shooting next month.

Snipes interested in Blade 4

Wesley Snipes has announced that he would be interested in staring in a fourth instalment of the Blade franchise.

The star, who is currently serving three years in prison for failure to file tax income returns told IGN, "Getting asked this question all the time, my response is: 'Under the right circumstances, with the right team, yes, I'd do another one.' But don't get me wrong, I'm not waiting around for the opportunity. I've got plenty to do."

Although he said there were no current plans to resurrect the franchise, he did say there were ideas for the half human/half vampire character, "It would be nice to fulfill some of the really cool plans we had for Blade, but didn't get the chance to go live with.”

A new Blade film would be interesting, but since Snipes is going to be held up behind bars until July 2013, it looks as though we may be waiting a while for this one.

Review: Sucker Punch

Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

After managing to go the last few months without even seeing a trailer for the movie Sucker Punch I recently got the privilege of reviewing the recently released Blu-Ray edition of the Zack Snyder directed action/adventure/thriller movie.

Now as I hadn’t seen any trailers for the film and had only heard of the film through word of mouth I had no idea what to expect from my first viewing. The only thing I had to go on for the movie was the front cover of the Blu-Ray case, and my first reactions to this were no good to say the least, but don’t let that put you off as the film is actually quite good. Like they say never judge a book (or film in this case) by its cover.

The film itself is incredibly dark and intense from the get go. Within the first five minutes I was hooked, the opening scene of the movie is both gripping and intense, which is quite a feat considering there is hardly a word spoken during the dramatic opening, which only adds to the intensity of it as you wonder what’s about to happen.

The film’s plot sees a young girl put into a mental institution after the dramatic climax of the film’s opening scene, where she discovers that in five days she will receive a lobotomy even though she doesn’t require one (I’m not going to give too much away I promise). It’s after this that the whole fantasy action packed plan for survival begins as the lead character Babydoll enters into a fantasy world in order to help her escape the mental institution along with four other girls she acquires along her journey.

In the fantasy world the mental institution becomes a type of brothel where the girls must dance and do other favours for the male customers, and it is here that Babydoll begins her plan for escape. The film is very well done when acting out their plan as we are introduced to the war themed fight scenes that represent their plan and Babydoll’s dance in the fantasy world. As the film and the plan come to an end there is a slight twist in what happens that I didn’t really see coming but others may have.

A negative aspect of the film does however come from the fight scenes, as after awhile they become slightly repetitive and a little bit predictable. But overall the film is excellently shot and puts you in mind of a video game, especially during the fight scenes. This coupled up with an excellent soundtrack that features songs from the likes of Bjork, Queen, Skunk Anansie and the lead actress Emily Browning singing The Eurythmics classic “Sweet Dreams” really brings the film together, and to be honest I think the soundtrack is what made the film.

Credit where credit’s due has to go to Vanessa Hudgens who after playing the whiny Gabrielle in the High School Musical franchise finally breaks away from the wholesome image of Disney for this gritty role, and she’s actually quite good.

I was a little bit disappointed however by the extras on the Blu-Ray as I didn’t find them that interesting and there was an incredible lack of deleted scenes, as I’m sure there must have been plenty of scenes cut from this movie just like every other movie ever made, and who really needs four different versions of the same film in one case?

Overall the film was entertaining and keeps you gripped from the very beginning, you may stray slightly during some of the fight scenes but overall the film does what it set out to do, and that’s entertain.

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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Deathly Hallows Part 2 becomes third highest grossing film of all time

The final part of the Harry Potter franchise has grabbed third place in the list of the highest grossing films of all time.

The film has grossed $1.137 billion worldwide, which also makes it the most successful film of 2011.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 started its record-breaking path when it broke the opening weekend record for a film, taking $483.2 million worldwide.

This mean that the eighth Potter film sits behind James Cameron’s Avatar which grossed $2.78 billion and Titanic, which grossed $1.78 billion, and this is just a month after the film’s initial release.

And with fans still queuing up at movie theatres across the world, the film looks set to make a lot more money before its theatrical run ends. However it doesn’t look as though it will surpass either of Cameron’s pictures at the moment.

The Potter franchise has grossed billions of dollars worldwide since the release of the first film back in 2001, which took a staggering $974.8 million, even the lowest performing film in the series took an outstanding $796.7 million, a box office performance most films could only dream of.

It has also been confirmed that an Oscar campaign is being launched for the final instalment in the hopes that it will follow in the footsteps of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.

So can Potter’s magic help him scoop an Oscar? It looks like we will have to wait and see.

Wahlberg for 2 Guns?

Actor Mark Wahlberg is apparently in talks to star in a film version of comic book 2 Guns.

The comic was originally signed by Universal Picture in 2008 would have seen it have Vince Vaughn as the lead actor.

But recent speculation has suggested that both Vaughn and the director David O. Russell have pulled out of the project.

It is thought that the direct Russell pulled out of the movie due scheduling conflicts as he will be directing The Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley cooper and Jennifer Lawrence later this year, when 2 Guns is expected to shoot.

2 Guns was written by Steven Grant and follows the story of a Naval Intelligence officer and a DEA agent who go undercover and steal money from the mob.

With comic book adaptations being all the rage recently with a number of the recent blockbuster hits originating from the comic book, it looks like it would be an excellent film for Wahlberg to sign on to.

Watch this space for more updates …

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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Stephanie Szostak Lands R.I.P.D

Stephanie Szostak has landed the lead female role in the film adaptation of eerie comic book R.I.P.D.

The actress who was last seen playing Paul Rudd’s girlfriend in comedy Dinner for Schmucks will be playing the wife of Ryan Reynolds.

Reynolds, who heads up the cast will be playing a police officer, who after being killed in the line of duty is recruited by the Rest In Peace Department, who happen to be a team of undead officers.

As the wife of the dead Reynolds, Szostak’s characters can still sense her dead husband as he tries to communicate with her whilst delving into his own murder. It sounds like a creepier version of the film classic Ghost, don’t you think?

Also joining the cast will be Jeff Bridges, who plays Reynolds’ partner, and Kevin Bacon who has been cast in the role of the film’s villain.

The film is currently in pre-production with Robert Schwentke at the helm of it all.

Get Ready for Sin City 2

Film director Robert Rodriguez has claimed that the financing for Sin City 2 has been agreed.

It has been a few years since Sin City hit the big screens and filled comic book fans with joy, so fans were made up when the director announced at comic-con that Frank Miller had written a script for a follow up and the film could start shooting later this year.

When talking in San Diego, Rodriguez announced that the money was now in place to begin shooting. He told We Got This Covered, "Sin City 2 is going good, we're just finishing the script for that, we already got the money. We have everything we need so we can just start shooting as soon as we get the pages.”

The sequel to the hit film is based on the comic book A Dame To Kill For, which was also created by Miller.

If this is true the character Marv and Nancy would be returning as they both feature in the comic, which could lead to the return of both Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke.

There has been no confirmation yet about the stars signing on, so watch this space …

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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Brit Marling is Hot Property

New girl on the block Brit Marling is becoming one to watch in Hollywood.

After making a huge impact at the Sundance Film Festival with indie flicks Another Earth and Sound of My Voice, the woman of multiple talents (she’s also a writer and a producer) has caught the eye of Robert Redford, who wants her to star in The Company You Keep.

The actress is currently in talks to take the film’s female lead.

The film finds Redford, a former militant who has been hiding from the FBI for years. But after years of hiding a young journalist (Shia LaBeouf) uncovers his identity forcing Redford’s character to go on the run again.

Marling however hasn’t made any decisions yet and the word on the street is that she is also considering a film offer from Steven Soderbergh, where she would star in stripper film Magic Mike. Christopher McQuarrie also wants the actress to star opposite Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher adaptation One Shot.

With this many offer who knows what she will do next.

Even if she doesn’t sign on, filming for the Redford flick will begin next month.

McAvoy, Cumming and Bell To Unite

Actors James McAvoy, Alan Cumming and Jamie Bell are set to join forces on the cast of the film Filth, an adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel of the same name.

This fourth Irvine Welsh novel to get a film adaptation, following Trainspotting, The Acid House and the forth coming feature Ecstasy.

Filth is about the immoral police officer Bruce Robertson, who is investigating a racial murder, trying to gain promotion and lots of overtime, makes sexually harassing phone calls to his friend’s wife in another person’s voice, ploughs through a drug fuelled bender in Amsterdam and to top it all off is afflicted by a tapeworm who also acts as his conscience. Yes it does sound complicated but enthralling all the same.

McAvoy will be playing Robertson, with Bell portraying his younger partner Lennox (who subsequently got his own follow up story in the 2008 novel Crime). Finally Cumming will be playing the role of Robertson’s boss, Bob Toal.

Welsh, who wrote the novel will be acting as the film’s producer and John S Baird will be directing.

The film will begin filming in January of next year.

We Remember – Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in the World

Originally posted on www.differentscene.co.uk

This week we are remembering the hilarious lego-esque capers of Rick and Steve the happiest gay couple in the world, as they deal with the issues of everyday life in the fictional gay ghetto of West Lahunga Beach.

The programme is in the vein of other American adult orientated cartoons such as Family Guy and South Park with its politically incorrect humour and shockingly hilarious scenes that would only be possible in a show like this.

The show focuses on the couple Rick and Steve who as the title suggests are the happiest gay couple in the world, however the title is laced with irony, as they deal with typical spats that all couples experience and the issue of Steve actively seeking a threesome with his boyfriend Rick, that ends with some hilarious circumstances.

The show typically focuses on three couples, the first being Rick and Steve and the other two being the lesbian couple Dana (the man hating butch lesbian stereotype) and Kirsten (a typical lipstick lesbian), who deal with the issues of getting pregnant with Rick’s sperm and having a baby. Just be aware having a baby isn’t as straight forward when a lego lesbian gets pregnant.

The last couple are the HIV positive and paraplegic Chuck and the drug taking scene queen Evan, who struggle with their relationship due to the 31-year age gap between them. I told you it wasn’t very politically correct.

As a whole the programme is hilarious, shocking, laugh out loud, at times a little disgusting and cringe worthy in parts when you realise what’s about to happen. But as it is a cartoon you can sit back and relax with the satisfaction that this wouldn’t happen in real life … well at least you hope it wouldn’t.

The show ran from 2007-2009 and there are currently no plans for a third series, which is a shame as a gay equivalent to the Seth MacFarlane franchise would have been nice. But then again Family Guy was cancelled and brought back so there is hope.

Rory Bremner's Career History

Originally posted on www.the-experts.co.uk

Born in Edinburgh in 1961 Rory Bremner was educated at Clifton Hall school and wellington College, before studying Moder Languages at King’s College London.

The first step on his long career came when he released the song “N-N-Nineteen Not Out” in 1985 as The Commentators. The song was a parody of Paul Hardcastle’s number one single  “19.” Although pretty much-unknown Bremner’s single became a hit in the UK spending seven weeks in the charts and peaking at number 13.

After his musical success Bremner later began his career in comedy when he contributed to television shows Spitting Image and Week Ending during the mid 1980s, and by 1987 he had been given his own BBC Two show called Now – Something Else. After his venture with the BBC, Bremner then moved over to Channel 4 where he cemented his trademark satirical comedy in the television show Rory Bremner, Who Else?

As the 1990s began Bremmer had a semi-regular cameo role on the Channel 4 improvisation television series Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Towards the end of the 90s Bremner enjoyed his biggest success when he joined forces with John Bird and John Fortune to host; Bremner, Bird and Fortune, which went on to win numerous awards and is still running today. This is where Bremmer’s trademark impersonation of Tony Blair was born.

He has since lent his comedic talents to television shows like Mock The Week, when he became a team captain in 2005.

Bremner has since ventured out in to a number of different mediums such as radio, where he has performed on Sunday AM, once again impersonating politicians, and presented his own BBC Radio 4 series, titled, Rory Bremner’s International Satirists.

He has also presented his own BBC Four documentary based around the history of the Scouts helping the British Army called Rory Bremner and the Fighting Scouts.

Most recently in his career Bremner embarked on a 20 date Election Battlebus Tour, which was done in conjunction with the 2010 general election, and was his first tour in five years. He has also translated two operas and Bertolt Brecht play into English.

Review: Baron Bane - Midthing

Originally post on www.soundblab.com

'Midthing' is the latest single to be released from the LPTO album by Baron Bane. Originating from Stockholm, the band infuses a mix of electronica, pop and rock into their songs and this single really strikes out for the band. The song starts with a brilliant melancholy beat which continues throughout the track, adding to its relaxed yet eerie feel, putting me in mind a little of Massive Attack and their hit single 'Teardrop'.

The lead singer's vocals seem to fit with what you would expect from a Swedish female star in the present day, and are very reminiscent of fellow country-woman and singer Lykke Li which, let's be honest, isn't a bad thing.

The song is definitely something you would expect to here as the backdrop to an underground indie film and you can definitely imagine it being a pretty big stand-out performance at any festival. My only criticism is that at six minutes and 44 seconds, some people may become a little depressed at the melancholy sounds and beats, but overall the song is definitely a winner.

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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Nick Frost joins Ice Age 4

Following in the footsteps of Simon Pegg, comic actor Nick Frost is lending his comedic vocal abilities the next chapter in the Ice Age franchise.

Ice Age: Continental Drift will also see a host of other new vocal talent, with the likes of R&B queen Nicki Minaj, Glee star Heather Morris, Josh Gad, Joy Behar and Job Smoove, Alan Tudyk and Kunal Nayyar all signing up to be part of the new film project.

There has only been a few details released regarding the plot for the next Ice Age adventure with Variety reporting that Scat’s latest acorn-hunting adventure will lead to a chain of events that will see Sid be reunited with his family for the very first time. Making him the latest Ice Age character to meet his relatives.

Regular voice actors Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Sean William Scott, Wanda Sykes, Denis Leary, Aziz Ansari, John Leguizamo and Drake and Josh Peck have all signed on to reprise their roles in the film.

Once again 20^th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios will be the heads behind the project, with Michael Thurmerier and Steve Martino co-directing.

The film is expected to hit cinema screens on July 6^th 2012.

Pet Cemetery gets a director 

After the announcement back in February that Paramount were looking to remake Pet Cemetery, the project now looks like it may have a director.

French director Alexandre Aja, who directed Switchblade Romance, is in talks with studio to bring the creed family back in a reboot of Stephen King’s horror classic.

It looks as though Aja is getting quite accustomed with Hollywood horror remakes after his revamped versions of films such as The Hills Have Eyes and Piranha.

Pet Cemetery, which was originally directed by Mary Lambert and was based on King’s own screenplay back in 1989, sees the Creed family move to a new home which just happens to be next to an ancient Native American burial ground that can bring the dead back to life, and in the classic Stephen King way whatever comes back to life becomes a murdering replica of what was originally buried.

Aja hasn’t officially signed on the dotted on line as of yet, but the reboot of the film has a screenplay written by Matthew Greenberg and is being produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Steven Schneider.

So watch this space to see whether Aja will be signing up for another classic horror remake

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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Doctor Strange coming your way

It looks as though Marvel’s Doctor Strange will be joining the likes of The X-Men as he becomes the latest comic book star to get his own feature film.

There has been confirmation on Marvel’s part that they will be going ahead with a movie version comic book sorcerer Doctor Strange.

Josh Oppennheimer and Thomas Dean, who wrote the films Conan and Sahara respectively, recently handed in their eagerly anticipated script to the comic book kings and it looks as though it has been deemed good enough to pursue further. At the moment it is now down to a short list of directors who will oversee the continued development of the film in question.

As a key character in the world of Marvel Stephen Strange represents the more magical and supernatural side of hero’s rather than the superpower mutants of The X-Men. As a surgeon who had his hands ruined in an accident, he became the world’s first defence against demons and spectres after turning to mysticism to compensate for his accident.

The film featuring Doctor Strange is expected to be arriving in cinemas around 2013, after Marvel’s feature length Avengers reboot.

There is currently no news on who will be directing or staring in the film yet, so watch this space for more details …

David Fincher to produce Dorothea Lange biopic

Director David Fincher is set to lend his support as a producer to a biopic based on the life of photographer Dorothea Lange.

Dorothea Lange was one of the best-known photographers of the depression era, and photographed the iconic image of the Migrant Mother.

Fincher is currently working on the post production of his version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and as he will be exec producing the future project, David B. Ginsberg will be producing.

The film’s script is currently being worked on by Angela Workman, while the director of the film will be documentary maker Leslie Dektor.

Lange, who was born in 1895 in New Jersey, became one of the most prominent photographers of the Great Depression, a considerable achievement considering she suffered from polio as a child and suffered ailments throughout her life relating to a limp she was left with following her bought with the disease.

The Migrant Mother image for which she is best known is said to be the inspiration behind John Steinbeck’s The Grapes Of Wrath.

The film should know hopefully reach a wider audience with Fincher helping to produce the biopic, and should hopefully bring a whole new audience to Miss Lange’s work.

Fincher’s current project The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will open on December 26^th of this year.