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DiCaprio image from BODY OF LIES

Posted by Matt Holmes on December 11, 2007 – 9:46 am

Filed under Body-of-Lies, Movie News, Thriller

Here’s the first official still from Ridley Scott’s next movie BODY OF LIES. Yes, I know… he is that far into production on another movie already.

Based on a David Ignatius novel of the same name and written into a screenplay by THE DEPARTED scribe William Monahan, the movie will see Leonardo DiCaprio star alongside Russell Crowe for the first time in 12 years. The plot involves a manipulative CIA boss (Crowe) who teams with an operative (DiCaprio) to trap a deadly Al Qaeda leader by framing him with a false rumor to his people that the bomber is in cahoots with the U.S.

It’s a political/thriller and after Scott’s AMERICAN GANGSTER, it should hopefully be filmed by a director who is brimming with confidence after some prior failures.

BLACK BOOK’S Carice Van Houten co-stars as Leo’s wife, with the movie set to open sometime late next year.

source – worst previews

Ridley Scott talks BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT

Posted by Will Reynolds on October 1, 2007 – 6:35 pm

Filed under Movie News

I wonder if this new version of BLADE RUNNER will actually be the “final cut”. It’s one film that Warner Bros and Ridley Scott keep returning to time and time again. There’s a huge cult following for the film and I think they realise that everytime they put a new DVD out they’ll make some sweet, sweet cash.

Wired don’t cover film enough for my liking, but this excellent interview with Ridley Scott makes up for their lack of prolificacy.

Whenever this film comes up, talk inevitably turns to replicants – Is he? Isn’t he? Ridley answers below:-

Wired: It was never on paper that Deckard is a replicant.

Scott: It was, actually. That’s the whole point of Gaff, the guy who makes origami and leaves little matchstick figures around. He doesn’t like Deckard, and we don’t really know why. If you take for granted for a moment that, let’s say, Deckard is a Nexus 7, he probably has an unknown life span and therefore is starting to get awfully human. Gaff, at the very end, leaves an origami, which is a piece of silver paper you might find in a cigarette packet, and it’s a unicorn. Now, the unicorn in Deckard’s daydream tells me that Deckard wouldn’t normally talk about such a thing to anyone. If Gaff knew about that, it’s Gaff’s message to say, “I’ve read your file, mate.” That relates to Deckard’s first speech to Rachael when he says, “That’s not your imagination, that’s Tyrell’s niece’s daydream.” And he describes a little spider on a bush outside the window. The spider is an implanted piece of imagination. And therefore Deckard, too, has imagination and even history implanted in his head.

source – wired

Grumpy Old Ridley: Part II

Posted by Will Reynolds on September 3, 2007 – 9:06 pm

Filed under Movie News

Just a few days back Ridley Scott was sounding off about how poor he thought modern science-fiction was. Now Scott has taken a shot at technology and its effect on the cinema experience.

“We try to do films which are in support of cinema, in a large room with good sound and a big picture. But we’re fighting technology,” Scott tells the BBC.

Scott it seems, is not someone who’ll be watching movies on an iPod or mobile phone any time soon.

The Hollywood studio system also couldn’t escape the Wrath of Ridley:

“I think movies are getting dumber, actually. Where it used to be 50/50, now it’s 3% good, 97% stupid.

“I’m not criticising Hollywood because I work there. But I’m saying this is the way it is, commerce is taking over art.”

Scott has always been pretty honest and forthright in his views, but has he always been this grumpy and negative? It’s almost as if he’s your grumpy old relative sitting in the corner who occasionally blurts out something that gets everyone else talking.

I hope old age isn’t causing him to turn into Brit cinema’s version of Prince Philip. If that is the case, I suppose it’s only a matter of time now before Scott says something highly offensive that will cause a diplomatic incident.

source – bbc

Ridley Scott confirms Monopoly movie!

Posted by Matt Holmes on August 6, 2007 – 10:05 am

Filed under Movie News

There were some rumors flying around a couple of months back that Ridley Scott was developing a movie based on the popular property winning game Monopoly which I totally laughed off as false. Well the joke’s on me because Scott has confirmed the project is going ahead although I can’t help but think the joke will be on them when it’s finally released.

A movie based on a fairly boring board game which no-one ever completes sounds a little weak as a film to me. I’m dumbfounded as how to this movie will work and Scott’s comments below to The LA Times make me laugh at the whole thought of it…

Monopoly is still the most popular board game — I might be misquoting! — in the world. So it’s really finding the universe for that game. Because clearly it ought to be humorous and for the family — the funny way it brings out, particularly when your uncle suddenly gets Park Lane and — in England, we have Park Lane, Mayfair and Barclay Square, what’s it in America? Park and Madison? So you watch people change. You’re witness to Jekyll and Hyde. Somewhere in that is a hysterically amusing and I think rather exciting film.

Not for my money Ridley. You might be the only one on the planet who was ever played that board game and thought… EUREKA, this would make a great movie. Think of the drama of trying to avoid two houses on Mayfair! That would make some great character tension… we’ll hire Russell Crowe and the Oscars are ours!

I wouldn’t expect Scott to direct this. He has a ton of projects on his schedule right now (Nottingham, Body of Lies, Blood Meridian, vampire flick The Passage) and this doesn’t sound like his stuff. I would expect another director to helm this thing but if I’m wrong it will be a good number of years before Scott helms this one because the other projects are more of a priority for him… surely?

source – coming soon

Scott says Deckard is a replicant?

Posted by Matt Holmes on July 29, 2007 – 10:27 am

Filed under Movie News

The same debate people are still having over twenty five years after Blade Runner’s theatrical release is the question “Is Deckard a replicant?”. For the longest time I’ve always thought he was. It made sense for the character, it answered the question of why he was so dark and brooding all the time and I like the idea that humans are not so different from the ‘half-human’ world.

I thought that it was a big mistake in Alex Proya’s geeky fun I, Robot movie when they showed Will Smith’s robotic arm that they should have made him a robot… which would again explain why he hated them so much and was so desperate to see them extinct. He resented the fact that he was actually one of them, when all along he wanted to be human so he disguised himself as such and almost made himself believe he was one.

Now, with the new release of Ridley Scott’s final cut of the film this December, many people are wondering whether what ends up on screen from Scott will heavily indicate whether he is a replicant or not? Well, some preview clips from the DVD have turned up online (all of which you can see for yourselves here) but the one below is the most interesting.

Although I don’t quite understand why this is the case, Scott (possibly with a jokingly smirk) possibly gives us a ‘George Lucas’ revisionist answer to the age old question of Deckard’s true identity….

Can anyone explain to me how that is show from that explanation? I still think the movie is so much better for being ambiguous and letting each person come up with their own conclusions and that’s all my opinion of him being a replicant is… just my opinion. Whether you want to believe he isn’t one is up to you and don’t let what Ridley Scott says some 25 years later change your stance on the matter.

Is this the greatest DVD release of all time?

Posted by Matt Holmes on July 26, 2007 – 10:07 am

Filed under Movie News

Full specs of the new Blade Runner DVD’s have found their way to DVD Times. This could well be the greatest DVD release of all time (it has a fucking 3 hour documentary on all aspects of the film). George Lucas, Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg… you all talk bullshit about what your going to release with your DVDs but you will never have the balls to release something like this…

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT SPECIAL EDITION (2-DISC)

Disc One
RIDLEY SCOTT’S ALL-NEW “FINAL CUT” VERSION OF THE FILM
Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also includes:

Commentary by Ridley Scott
Commentary by Executive Producer/ Co-Screenwriter Hampton Fancher and Co-Screenwriter David Peoples; Producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber
Commentaries by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer

Disc Two
DOCUMENTARY DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER
A feature-length authoritative documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this hugely influential cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film — from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its controversial legacy and place in Hollywood history.

BLADE RUNNER: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (4-DISC)

The Four-Disc Collector’s Edition includes everything from the 2-Disc Special Edition plus three additional versions of the film, as well as an “Enhancement Archive” bonus disc of enhanced content that includes 90 minutes of deleted footage and rare or never-before-seen items in featurettes and galleries that cover the film’s amazing history, production teams, special effects, impact on society, promotional trailers, TV spots, and much more.

Disc Three
1982 THEATRICAL VERSION
This is the version that introduced U.S. movie-going audiences to a revolutionary film with a new and excitingly provocative vision of the near-future. It contains Deckard/Harrison Ford’s character narration and has Deckard and Rachel’s (Sean Young) “happy ending” escape scene.

1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.

1992 DIRECTOR’S CUT
The Director’s Cut omits Deckard’s voiceover narration and removes the “happy ending” finale. It adds the famously-controversial “unicorn” sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.

Disc Four
BONUS DISC – “Enhancement Archive”

Featurette The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick
Featurette Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film
Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (Audio)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (Images)
The Art of Blade Runner (Image Galleries)
Featurette Signs of the Times: Graphic Design
Featurette Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling
Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
Featurette The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth
Unit Photography Gallery
Deleted & Alternate Scenes
1982 Promotional Featurettes
Trailers & TV Spots
Featurette Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art
Marketing & Merchandise Gallery (Images)
Featurette Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard
Featurette Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers

BLADE RUNNER: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (5-DISC)
The 5-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition includes everything from the previously described 4-Disc Edition, plus the ultra-rare, near-legendary WORKPRINT version of the film, newly remastered. The Ultimate Collector’s Edition will be presented in a unique 5-disc digi-package with handle which is a stylish version of Rick Deckard’s own briefcase, in addition each briefcase will be individually numbered and in limited supply. Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature, miniature origami unicorn figurine, miniature replica spinner car, collector’s photographs as well as a signed personal letter from Sir Ridley Scott.

Disc Five
WORKPRINT VERSION
This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no “unicorn” sequence, no Deckard/Rachel “happy ending,” altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more.

Also includes:

Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
Featurette All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut

Studio’s splash out seven figure deal for vampire trilogy The Passage

Posted by Matt Holmes on July 20, 2007 – 9:50 am

Filed under Movie News

There’s a real big vampire movement in Hollywood right now and I can’t put my finger on why. It’s not like the genre has even been that successful lately with only 28 Weeks Later making any money, and even that didn’t set the world a light to start this kind of movement.

Variety report that Fox 2000 and Scott Free have splashed out a seven figure deal to bring Jordan Ainsley’s bloodsucking series The Passage to the big screen, apparently beating off competition from several other studio’s.

When terminally ill cancer patients get healthy after being bitten by bats in South America, the government conducts secret tests with human subjects to see if a virus can cure illness. Instead, it unleashes a swarm of bloodthirsty vampires out of the test subjects, which include death row inmates.

Ridley Scott is said to have a great interest in the project and it was him that pushed through Scott Free’s part of the producing deal so it could turn out that he directs the flick when it eventually gets made.

The first book in the series (which is described as 28 Weeks Later meets The Stand) doesn’t even come out till early 2009, so it might be quite a wait until we see this on our movie screens. Deals like this happen all the time for upcoming books but this one in particular is newsworthy simply for the amount of money spent on it.

Scott changes title sequence for ‘final cut’ of Blade Runner?

Posted by Matt Holmes on July 15, 2007 – 2:04 pm

Filed under Movie News

UPDATED: Just as I was about to post this, I’ve stumbled across an article at Film Ick where Brendon confirms the sequence has been made by a college student, who he corresponded with by e-mail whilst investigating whether it was real or not.

I think as of July 2007, I’ve seen three different versions of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner and if I’m being totally honest they all kinda blend into one for me. That’s probably why I’m so much in favour of this new ‘final cut DVD’ he is releasing of his masterpiece so finally we all can see his one true vision of Blade Runner and not worry whether the version we are watching is the one he truly wanted us to see.

Of course the new DVD package that is being released will have all the other cuts of the film that have existed previously so I’m still likley to be confused in the end but knowing me I will watch them all in quick succession and that might be beneficial in me forever knowing what each cut is and what the main differences between them are.

Apparentaly on Wednesday night, AICN ran a post which showcased what was suppose to be the new title sequence of Scott’s film from his new cut but typically with Knowles site it was soon taken down with no explanation given as to why.

Below is the curious new sequence. Was it taken down because the studio complained? Was it taken down because it turned out to be fake? Whilst I don’t know for sure, I’m going with the latter as although this sequence is really well made, it just doesn’t feel Ridley Scott like to me.

Pretty cool huh, but it doesn’t seem real does it? A good job though to whoever made it.

Below is the original credits sequence of Blade Runner. It will be interesting to see if Scott really has changed this when it comes to the new DVD release and limited theatrical run, of which we are likely to hear more of at the Comic Con which begins next weekend.

source – cinematical, big screen little screen

Trade Confirmation: Russell Crowe in Body of Lies

Posted by Matt Holmes on June 28, 2007 – 11:29 am

Filed under Body-of-Lies, Movie News

Yesterday’s speculation that Russell Crowe had been cast in Ridley Scott’s movie Body of Lies has now been confirmed as being true by Variety, although Cindy was actually the first to confirm the story to us yesterday.

Crowe will play Ed Hoffman, the manipulative CIA boss who teams with operative Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) to trap a dangerous Al-Qaeda leader by planting a false rumor that the bomber is in cahoots with the Americans.

Cindy was also kind enough to tell me I had made a mistake in my post by saying that Crowe and DiCaprio would be teaming together for the first time in their careers which ISN’T TRUE. In 1995, when DiCaprio was only 20, they starred together in Sam Raimi’s super fun western The Quick and the Dead. A movie I actually have a great fondness for so it was strange that I forgot about that.

Russell Crowe is on a mission to work with the strongest actors in Hollywood right now as he is set to star alongside Christian Bale (3.10 to Yuma), Denzel Washington (American Gangster) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Body of Lies) which should make for some compelling viewing.

Body of Lies is currently going through a script re-write from American Gangster writer Steven Zaillian, from an original draft from William Monahan. Variety say Crowe won’t formally commit until he’s seen the revised script.

Has Russell Crowe been cast in Ridley Scott’s Penetration?

Posted by Matt Holmes on June 27, 2007 – 11:20 am

Filed under Movie News

This is far from confirmed but I think it’s a few notches above a fanciful rumor. We already know that Ridley Scott is next set to work on the “Robin Hood was actually evil” movie Nottingham which will again star his frequent lead Russell Crowe.

We also already know that his next movie after Nottingham will be the middle east drama Body of Lies starring Leonardo DiCaprio which was previously titled Penetration. What’s news today from Hollywood Elsewhere is that Ridley Scott could be set to use Russell Crowe once again, this time to star opposite DiCaprio for the first time in the actors careers.

Now granted, anyone could have printed out a page with “PENETRATION” written on the script and handwrote those names above but with Scott and Crowe working so well and so often together, it’s not much of a stretch to think that he has Crowe all lined up for this film also.

Some of you might recognize the name William Monahan on the script and rightfully so. He was of course the guy who recieved an Oscar for writing the script for The Departed.

Just look at those names on that script again. What incredible talent and to think we still have the awesome looking American Gangster and Nottingham to see before Body of Lies ever see’s the light of day!

source – film ick