Thoughts

Hello all. I'm back in India and in exam mode. I would skip this post but too much has happened in the world of cinema and etc.

1) So Edgar Wright isn't making Ant-Man anymore because Marvel is officially gone crazy. I knew the "films planned till 2028" was a sign of bad things to come. This especially sucks because Wright has been involved since phase 1 of MCU but due to creative differences, he won't be directing it. Joss Whedon tweeted this in support-

Apparently, things aren't great with him too and I've read in a few sites about how he won't return after The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Just when I thought Marvel will experiment with other unique filmmakers too, it goes and shits over everything. I still love the cast of Ant-Man, IF they remain, and so I will watch it but I am v. v. v. sad about Wright leaving. Ant-Man was my most anticipated film of next year but though it will still release on the same day, I don't care about it half as much.

2) Cannes '14 just wrapped up. You can go to a million film sites and read all about it. All I have to write about is firstly, how Lost River apparently is as bad as I thought it would be. However, if I was being honest, this is all I was thinking of. Like seriously, I spent a day just looking at videos and pictures of the Gos's magnificent return to Cannes. HOW is anyone that sexy? It blows my mind. Anyways, back to the movie stuff or whatever, I am actually very happy about Xavier Dolan winning the Jury Prize (along with Jean-Luc Godard of all the cinematic legends) for Mommy. It's officially become one of my most anticipated films of this year. Other films I am excited to check out are Foxcatcher, Mr. Turner, Maps to the Stars, Two Days, One Night, Lost River (I still *have* to see it), The Wonders, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Clouds of Sils Maria.

3) I don't know where my brain has been lately but there are a number of awesome-sounding films that are in production and I know NOTHING about them. First, there's Trainwreck, the new Judd Apatow film. Okay, I'm not the world's biggest Apatow fan so I can understand why I overlooked it but HOLY SHIT, it has an amazing cast! Brie Larson, Tilda Swinton, Ezra Miller (!!!), Bill Hader, Amy Schumer and Vanessa Bayer. Woah! Also Tilda and Ezra back in a movie together! Then there is Tulip Fever which has Dane DeHaan, Jack O'Connell, Christoph Waltz, Zach Galifianakis and Alicia Vikander. It is romance set in 17th century and it's all about tulips and art, all of which sounds pretty and obviously it will be pretty because it has DeHaan, O'Connell and Vikander. Galifianakis is also tied to three other really exciting sounding projects- Richard Linklater's Larry Kidney, which will also star Will Ferrel, Michel Hazanavicius' Will, which might have Paul Rudd also, and Jared Hess' Loomis Fargo along with Owen Wilson and Kristen Wiig. Woah again! Linklater is one of the most exciting filmmakers EVER, and though Hazanavicius' The Search didn't get very good reviews from Cannes, his return to what I think is a comedy, (the story is about a man whose life changes when his "author" in Heaven quits) is good news. As for Hess' film, it's based on a true story about one of the biggest heists in American history and all you or I really need to care about is that it will have Wiig's character using her "feminine wiles" to lure these other characters into thieving and THAT. SOUNDS. AMAZEBALLS. Luca Guidagnino's last movie I Am Love was stunning and his next one, which is apparently a "sexy thriller", will also star Tilda Swinton along with Margot Robbie, Ralph Fiennes and Matthias Schoenaerts. There are all these movies too, most of which sound pretty good but I don't have the energy to write about them.

4) Other casting news- Michael Shannon has joined the lesbian drama Freeheld which also stars Ellen Page and Julianne Moore. That's one powerful trio, right there. Emma Stone might just become Woody Allen's new muse (YAAAAAAYYYY!!!) as she's going to star in his next film with Joaquin Phoenix also. Ben Wheatley's next, High Rise, which already has Tom Hiddleston and is therefore highly anticipated, will now also boast of Jeremy Irons and Sienna Miller among its cast members. I really like both of them and the project keeps sounding more and more exciting. The second collaboration between Jonathan Levine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen, after their adorable and touching 50/50, has a new addition to it in the form of Anthony Mackie. I approve of this. The Helen Mirren movie about a Holocaust survivor fighting to retrieve lost Klimt paintings called The Woman in Gold will now also star Tatiana Maslany who will play Mirren's character's younger self. You all have probably read this in a lot of places already but let me do my bit- Maslany is one of the best actresses out there right now and deserves to be a major star. She's amazing and I love her and those who don't watch Orphan Black should. Finally, Benedict Cumberbatch has replaced Guy Pearce in the Johnny Depp-Joel Edgerton gangster flick Black Mass, and it will also star Adam Scott. The biggest thing about this casting news is that I am officially more excited about Cumberbatch and Scott being in a movie together than the fact that it has Depp. #timeschange

5) Since I have already bitched about Marvel, let me spread the love around and also talk about DC. The new Superman-Batman movie is going to be called Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. BAHAHAHAHHAAHAHA WHAT?!! What's with the V? I do not get it. At all. My favourite tweet about this title was this:

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: LAWN OF JUSTICE pic.twitter.com/HCHZM4SuX3
— Ali Arikan (@aliarikan) May 21, 2014

6) Lars von Trier wants to make an action movie next. I don't even know. I have been trying to imagine what it would be like but I'm failing completely, which is fine because even if I come up with some concept, I have fully believe that LvT will totally upend it and do something else entirely which is part of his charm *hehe*. He's also writing a horror movie set in Detroit for Kristian Levring. LvT has already made one of the most terrifying movies I have ever seen, Antichrist, which is a movie I never, ever, ever want to rewatch, ever. I would honestly rather eat my own leg than watch it again. According to Levring though, this new one called Detroit, will have more classic American horror elements than whatever the fuck LvT does. Let's see how both of these pan out.

7) The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trilogy might have found their director already. Reports say that Warner Bros are asking OSCAR-WINNER Alfonso Cuarón (the caps bring me joy, okay?) to direct the three films based on the Harry Potter companion book of the same name. Cuarón is responsible for one of the most celebrated installments in the Harry Potter franchise, Prizoner of Azkaban and is certainly the filmmaker who set the path for the kind of direction the films then took. I will be incredibly happy if this comes to pass. They still haven't cast the films yet but hopefully they will do so soon.

8) I recently stumbled upon this video of Jennifer Aniston's opening SNL monologue in the 90s which is all about Fight Club because she was dating Brad Pitt at the time. It's super strange. Also, it is hard to believe that Fight Club was so topical at a point of time that Jennifer Aniston, of all people (I mean, she's still spoken of in relation to a type of hairstyle :/), did a skit on it.

9) Posters and pictures- Everyone has freaked out about the Fassy-Cotillard (but mostly Fassy) Macbeth posters, yes? Good. This link has all the new pictures, first clip and the poster of the Daniel Radcliffe-Zoe Kazan starrer What If? This film will give me diabetes. Also the first official images of the majorly awaited Todd Haynes' Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as a lesbian couple on the run in the 1950s have arrived. This film will rock!

10) Trailers- Let's get television out of the way. The Doctor Who series 8 teaser is totally pointless but I need this show in my life already. I have missed you, TARDIS. Speaking of Doctor Who, Karen Gillan's new TV show Selfie, which is based on Pygmalion looks really silly but really cute at the same time, especially Gillan. I laugh at the Gwyneth Paltrow and Lady Gaga jokes every time. The trailer of the last season of True Blood doesn't feature Eric AT ALL! Whyyyyyyy?!! Also, sue me but Flash looks adorable! The guy is so cute. Can't wait :D And Gotham doesn't look too terrible either. Coming to movies, I guess this puts me in the minority but I wasn't too buzzed about the Interstellar trailer except perhaps the last bit in the space. I am obviously dying to see the movie and I do love everyone in it (in other words, put down your pitchforks, internet) but just the trailer itself isn't as awesome as I expected it to be. The Clouds of Sils Maria trailer looks interesting enough but it is really the actresses that are drawing all the attention. I can't help but think that Moretz was born to play roles like this. I haven't seen Drinking Buddies yet but I still think that I will love Happy Christmas, if not for anything else other than Anna Kendrick. I love her. The Life of Crime trailer reminded me just how much I need a Jackie Brown rewatch. I'm most excited about Isla Fisher in this, 'cuz she's ab fab. Disney's Big Hero 6 looks like the cutest thing ever, AND it's a superhero movie too! Yaay! It could very easily be awful but The Riot Club looks exactly like the kind of movie I will eat up, at least for now. I mean, rich, hot, spoilt, British boys doing bad things *swoons*. As I wrote above, no matter how it is, I will be watching Lost River when it comes out. Its teaser is incredibly strange but Matt Smith saying "Look at my muscles" over and over again does win it some points because duh. I don't know about you all, but I have liked/loved all the films that Matthew Vaughn has made so far and Kingsman: The Secret Service looks like it will continue that tradition. Colin Firth looks dapper as fuck. Ditto for his role in Magic in the Moonlight, the trailer of which is also out. I think it looks absolutely charming. Could Emma Stone be any cuter? Finally, my favourite trailer since the last thoughts post and a strong candidate for my favourite trailer of the year is that of Guardians of the Galaxy. I have watched it some 57 times and I love it to bits. So funny, so entertaining and it really gives nothing away. I love the music, I love that it features a space raccoon tugging at its own crotch and *obviously* Chris Pratt is my new dream man. I'm hooked (on a feeling)!

11) And last but not the least, you all totally expected me to post these, right?

I mean, I had to. Just look at the man.

My reaction to all this, btw-

:'( Byeeee.

Thoughts

        I think I am definitely turning these posts into a fortnight thing which is better than them being a month thing. In this way you guys get a bigger, meatier, possibly crazier post and I get to feel less bad about my laziness. Win-win, probably. Anyways, onto the post!

1) Matt Smith is going to star in the Terminator reboot, Terminator: Genesis and will also be a major part of its 2 sequels. I'll be honest, I was kind of going to skip these movies. I like the original and really like Judgement Day but my interest had fizzled out. I would not have watched them even for Emilia Clarke (sorry Khaleesi fans) but yeah, the addition of my favourite television actor does change everything. His character is someone who will be working close to John Connor, who will be played by Jason Clarke. I am sincerely praying he doesn't play some gangly nerd dude and that he does get to bulk up a bit, especially after this :) I am happy to see at least two members of Karen and the Babes (i.e., Karen Gillan, Matt, Arthur Darvill) getting breakout roles in these blockbuster movies. Now all I need is for Darvill to get cast as Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trilogy because he will be *perfect*.

2) David Fincher won't be making the Sorkin-Jobs movie after all, which sucks! But they're probably going to replace him with Danny Boyle, which is awesome! The last time Boyle made a sorta biopic, it was 127 Hours which I loved (coincidentally, it was my second favourite movie of 2010 right below Fincher's The Social Network). Boyle apparently wants Leonardo DiCaprio to play Jobs though and that is not great news. I really want Leo to stop doing biopics already. Yes WoWS was kind of a biopic and so is the next movie he is making with Jonah Hill but man, I thought Leo was finally embracing his comedic side! Gahhhhhh. So yes to Boyle and no to Leo.

3) Woody Allen's next movie after Magic in the Moonlight will star Joaquin Phoenix. Fuck yes!! I love Phoenix and with his recent career choices, he can do no wrong in my eyes, and Woody is still my favourite filmmaker. I can imagine the film being Sweet and Lowdown-esque for some reason, not that we know anything about the plot or whether it is a comedy or tragedy or a dramedy. It's just that Phoenix would be really great in a role like that although he can honestly do anything with that face of his. #favcinematicface

4) Oh since my last post, the Cannes 2014 lineup has been announced. Here is the full list. Some really exciting movies here like Foxcatcher, Maps to the Stars, Clouds of Sils Maria, Mommy, The Search, Saint Laurent (which stars Gaspard Ulliel, Lea Seydoux and Louis Garrel!! Their combined beauty will blind us) and most importantly for me, Ryan Gosling's directorial debut Lost River, which is the boring name they replaced How to Catch A Monster with. Anywhoo, I am super stoked about it still even though I am 97.6849203% sure I will hate it. Oh and the Cannes jury has been announced as well. It's pretty amazing. It will be headed by Jane Campion and has Sofia Coppola, Gael García Bernal, Nicolas Winding-Refn and Leila Hatami (who was in the incredible A Separation) among others. On a sidenote, I totally had a dream about Sofia Coppola the other day where I was trying to befriend her 'cuz duh. It also had Kelly Preston and Peter Sarsgaard :/

5) Jessica Chastain will be playing Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik's next, Blonde. This is pretty fantastic news. I don't think anyone can *really* look like Monroe but I think Chastain can get the mannerisms right. And it's not a proper biopic but rather based on the book of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates where he has reimagined her tale of glamour and rise and fall in Hollywood and all that. Dominik has called it "a really sprawling, emotional nightmare fairy-tale type movie" so that's interesting. Naomi Watts was previously attached to this project but in La Chastain we trust. Chastain is also apparently being courted to play the co-lead in the next Mission Impossible film, which is exciting news.

6) The cast of Star Wars Episode 7 has finally been revealed and it is quite an impressive one. Like in the case of the Terminator reboot, I wasn't all that psyched about this movie but hot damn, that is one cool cast! John Boyega who was excellent in Attack the Block, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac and Domnhnall Gleeson, who are all becoming some of my favourite actors to watch, Andy Serkins who is awesome, Max von Sydow who is a legend, and the returning cast members that include Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew. The only person I don't know is Daisy Ridley but it's just good to know that there is more than one female character in this.

7) Other news- So Zach Snyder will be directing the Justice League movie as well as the Superman VS Batman movie. This isn't even the worst part of it. Apparently Matt Damon is in talks to play someone called Aquaman? On one hand, I desperately want this to happen because it will be HILARIOUS and oh so cute because Ben and Matt forever OMG, but on the other hand, I like Damon and this sounds *awful*. There is a movie called Genius about writer Thomas Wolfe and editor Max Perkins that is being made. Originally, Michael Fassbender was slated to play Wolfe but he has now been replaced by Jude Law, while Perkins will be played by Colin Firth. The film will also star Nicole Kidman. I like Law though of course Fassy would have been a cooler choice. Lessee how this works. The new Jungle Book movie will have Lupita Nyong'o and Scarlett Johansson voicing some of the animals which is kind of silly because if you are going to have those two women in a film, at least make it live action. Joe Wright's Pan continues to baffle as it will now also star Amanda Seyfried and Cara Delevigne. The cast has really out-whited itself but I still have faith in Wright. Justin Kurtzel, who is directing the Fassy-Cotilard Macbeth movie will next direct the Assassin's Creed movie which will also star Fassy. I can get behind this. JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy is going to become a TV series that will be shown in BBC and HBO. I wasn't too big a fan of the book but I can see it working as a show and the studios are cool. Finally, Steven Spielberg will be directing the movie adaptation of Roald Dahl's BFG. It is one of the only Dahl books I haven't read but my brother ensures me it is brilliant and therefore this is awesome news.

8) There are sooooo many videos I want to share, from the McAvoy-Fassbender-Jackman interviews to Emma Stone's awesome awesomeness, but in order to be as current as possible, I give you this-

So funny. Especially the part he screams and the hand bit. Also, I want to be Beyonce when I grow up.

9) Pictures- A number of images from Magic in the Moonlight have been released. Though Stone's and Firth's age difference is a bit big, I can feel the chemistry already and they are both just so charming. New pictures from the aforementioned Macbeth movie. I am kind of sick of watching Macbeth adaptations but I do like the look of this a lot. A few stills from Gosling's Lost River have also been released. God, this film will be weird. Still, where's Matt Smith yo? And Robert Downey Jr. has tweeted this slice of fried gold from the shooting of Avengers 2. ZOMG SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

10) Trailers- Some good/great ones here. Maps to the Stars looks sufficiently strange but I do love the cast and as long as there are no giant rats in this one, I'm good. The Trip to Italy is funny, obviously. We can never have too many Michael Caine impressions. And the food looks wow. Let's Be Cops has Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. and looks pretty funny albeit a little stupid. Still, I adore Johnson too much. They Came Together has another of my favourite TV comedians, Amy Poehler, teaming up with the always adorable Paul Rudd. This too seems a little crazy but parodies can be fun and these two are awesome! Boyhood maybe doesn't have a super fantabulous trailer but I cannot wait for this movie! It will be beautiful and amazing and the best thing ever! Accio! My two favourite trailers in *sigh* the last month are What We Do in the Shadows and Gone Girl. In case of the former, it just looks so funny and brilliant and in case of the latter, well, it just *sounds* so funny and brilliant. Seriously, I love Fincher to death! That song and the stuff shown in the trailer is like something out of Amy's diary. It goes with the "perfect" image of the Dunnes and has enough creepiness to keep us wondering. Pure, unadulterated love.

11) Finally, the Graham Norton-Fassy-McAvoy-Jackman might be the greatest interview ever conducted. It's definitely hottest. Here are some gems from it-

These three are the only people that make "Blurred Lines" classy.

McAvoy was on fire.

McBender 4eva.

Sorry Benny, but 'tis true.

And that's it. Tata!