Helloo! How is everyone? Before Midnight has released in some part of the world, not sure where but not in any third world countries, which is where I live. So Operation AVOIDALLSPOILERSERMAHGERD is go! I hope I don't have to wait too long. 1) I had spoken of this exactly a year back, about how Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska have been cast in the adaptation of a Patricia Highsmith's novel, which will be called Carol. Boy A director John Crowley was going to helm the project that was about two women in the 50s in a relationship. Crowley has unfortunately left the project, but replacing him is none other than Todd Haynes. Haynes has made films like Velvet Goldmine, Far From Heaven and I'm Not There and I feel is more than capable for a story and cast like this. This is v.v.v. exciting news indeed. 2) Evan Peters of the American Horror Story fame is going to star as Quick Silver in X-Men: Days of Future Past. This is sort of unfortunate, even though I quite like Peters, as Joss Whedon had earlier announced that the character of Quick Silver and his sibling hero Scarlet Witch will be joining The Avengers 2. As much as I enjoyed X-Men: First Class, it was more because of the combined beauty and bromance of McFassy and very little else. And let's not get into how much I loved The Avengers. It will now be interesting to watch how they settle this whole dilemma. 3) The Fault in Our Stars movie has cast its Augustus Waters. Ansel Elgort, who will also be seen in the new Carrie and the new sci-fi film Divergent is going to play the beloved character of Gus. Funnily, Elgort is playing the brother of Shailene Woodley, who has been cast as TFiOS's protagonist Hazel Grace, in Divergent. I am not that impressed by this casting choice as he just doesn't look like the Gus I had imagined. Also, I wish I had seen him in something. We'll see how this works out. I really hope they do the book justice, and a big part of that will be having the right Gus. 4) Posters and pictures- Woody Allen's next Blue Jasmine has a poster out. It's an okay poster on its own, but gosh I want this film!!! Pictures-wise, instead of linking to some new promotional pics, I want to share these incredible 100 behind-the-scenes pictures from 100 movies. Some of them are just gob-smacking. 2001, GoldenEye, Kill Bill Vol. 1- everything!!! 5) The second episode of Across the Universe Podcast is up. We discuss The Great Gatsby. 6) So if you did hear the podcast, I bitched a little about the unnecessary lingerie shot of Alice Eve in Star Trek Into Darkness. Apparently, so did a lot of others, which is why J.J. Abrams apologised and spoke about how the film was actually going to have a small scene of Benedict Cumberbatch's character showering to balance it. YES IT SHOULD HAVE!
7) Trailers- My most anticipated film of the year, The World's End has a full trailer out now. If I had to choose only two films to watch this entire year, it would be this and Before Midnight. I need them. Even though I audibly groaned when I saw Jennifer Aniston's name in the cast, We're The Millers actually looks really hilarious. Mostly 'cuz Nick Offerman is awesome. Ain't Them Bodies Saints looks really, really good. I love the look and the cast, and I swear I had thought of a similar idea for a story a few years back. Ah well, c'est la vie. I want to watch Metallica Through the Never for Dane DeHaan but I am really not a Metallica person :/ The trailer of the week is Don Jon, which is the directorial debut of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is also the lead. Co-starring are Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore. I think this is going to be weird and hilarious and JGL and ScarJo look brilliant. 8) Finally, I saw this on Tumblr yesterday and haven't stopped laughing since-
As excited as I am about May 8th being the day our podcast starts, and also because it's my mother's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!), there is yet another reason why I have been looking forward to it. Director Edgar Wright, on his Twitter page, announced that the trailer to The World's End, the last part in his Blood and Ice Cream/Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, will be released on May 8th. AND TODAY IS THAT DAY!!
This film topped my most anticipated films of 2013 list, and with good reason too. I absolutely worship the first two films in this v.v.v.v. vaguely linked trilogy, which are Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The first is at #10 of my 100-ish favourite films list, and the second is my 101st favourite film of all time and hence the one I regret the most for not having in the list. Edgar Wright is one of my most beloved directors because his ability to make something awesome and exciting out of almost boring genres, aliens and the apocalypse in the case of The World's End. There is a lot of humour and fun action in his films, and they have the most unexpected of heroes in them. Speaking of, The World's End also sees the return of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, aka, BEST ONSCREEN COUPLE EVER! There's also my husband Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan and Rosamund Pike, who are all excellent.
So here's the trailer and the stuff I loved in it-
All the pubs.
And this.
And all the awesome-looking aliens
And this.
And all the action.
And this.
And the fact that the trailer's tagline is this.
And of course, this.
EEEP SO EXCITED! I'M TOTES PREPARED TO GET ANNIHILATED!
Happy New Year folkses. And with this new year, we have a whole slew of films that need to be seen. 2013 seems pretty awesome all in all. I am going to dub it "The Year of the Cumberbatch". These are some of the films I really want to see in 2013- Prisoners, The Place Beyond the Pines, Gangster Squad, Pain and Gain, Man of Steel, The Double, To the Wonder, The F Word, Horns, The Butler, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola, The Dallas Buyer's Club, Diana, Nightingale, The Railway Man, Lovelace, This is the End, White Bird in a Blizzard, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Warm Bodies, I'm So Excited, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Elysium, Pacific Rim, Now You See Me, Oldboy, Jack Ryan, Blood Ties, Monsters University, Admission, 42, Movie 43, Kick Ass 2, 300: Rise of an Empire, Thor: The Dark World, The Wolverine, The Lone Ranger, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, World War Z, Nymphomaniac, The Zero Theorem, The Young and Prodigious Spivet, Venus in Fur, Frances Ha, Frank, Trance.
And my 25 most-anticipated films of 2013 are-
25) Iron Man 3
The Avengers is still my favourite film of last year, and RDJesus as Iron Man was a big reason for that. In spite of the slightly disastrous Iron Man 2, I am really looking forward to this movie. Yes, it looks like it is going down the "dark, tortured superhero" path (thanks Batman), but I am sure it will be very funny too.
24) August: Osage County
I have heard great things about the play and the cast is to die for. Plus, Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch in one film- Hey!
23) Don Juan's Addiction
Seeing how good Argo was, I have a new-found respect for actors-turned-directors. And I adore JGL as it is.
22) Untitled Woody Allen film
It is a normal thing to go gaga over the cast of a Woody Allen film. But I am especially psyched about Cate Blanchett headlining this. Also I think it will be a drama, which just increases my excitement.
21) The Wolf of Wall Street
Leo is back with Martin Scorsese in this. Though more than anything, I am excited about the Matthew McConaughey role, since that man has made me a fan post-2012.
20) The Counselor
The first of the Pitt-Fassy collaborations of the year. It is written by Cormac McCarthy and being directed by Ridley Scott, so good stuff all around.
19) The Monuments Men
This film has one helluva cast and I usually like George Clooney's directorial features a lot. Very intriguing plot too.
18) Her
I have really liked/loved everything that Spike Jonze has made, and this sounds very endearing. A man who falls in love with a computer reminds me of Jonze's lovely short, I'm Here. Can't wait.
17) The Great Gatsby
Originally slated to come out in 2012, this adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic will at least be very interesting, and very stunning to look at. Still not sure about the 3D though.
16) Side Effects
Steven Soderbergh's last theatrical feature. 'Nuff said.
15) Fading Gigolo
John Turturro's directorial debut starring Woody Allen. It can go eitherway, but I have an inkling that it will be excellent.
14) Labor Day
Jason Reitman is one of my most favourite directors and I love all his films. This one stars Kate Winslet. WANT!
13) Untitled Terrence Malick film
It has Ryan Gosling and Michael Fassbender sharing the same screenspace (hopefully! Control your editing tendencies, Malick!) and this is MY list. Plus it will be pretty. (Only the shallow know themselves etc.)
12) Kill Your Darlings
I love a cast of young actors and this film has some of the best around- Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Elizabeth Olsen, Jack Huston. Plus the Beat movement is always fascinating.
11) Anchorman : The Legend Continues
Because I love lamp.
10) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
This one will have Benedict Cumberbatch's voice and Lee Pace being a pretty elf. And of course, my fake husband (well, one of them) Martin Freeman. Yaay! And definitely going to watch this one in 24 FPS.
9) Much Ado About Nothing
No, I am not much of a Shakespeare fan. But after 2012, I am definitely a Joss Whedon fan. And he made this film randomly while on a holiday, in twelve days. And it's in black and white.
8) Twelve Years a Slave
This film has one of the best casts EVER. The second Pitt-Fassy collaboration of the year, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Quvenzhané Wallis, Adepero Oduye, Sarah Paulson and so on. Of course, the star of the show would be one of today's most daring and capable directors, Steve McQueen.
7) Gravity
Another film that was supposed to come out in 2012. Love Alfonso Cuarón and apparently the visuals of this film will blow our minds.
6) The Bling Ring
Sofia Coppola is one of my most favourite filmmakers, and in this film she will show a group of high-life loving robbers. Plus, Emma Watson was born to be in a Sofia Coppola film.
5) Only God Forgives
Drive ranks high in my top 100 films of all time and the Gos and the Refn are back again! All the beaten-up Gosling photos are so hot, it's killing me.
4) Stoker
Fucked-up family films are literally the best. And this looks batshit crazy. Gorgeous cast and please let this be Matthew Goode's big role.
3) Star Trek Into Darkness
Star Trek is still one of my best cinematic experiences. I had so much fun in that film that when the sequel was confirmed, I was going crazy with excitement. Then they announced that Benedict Cumberbatch will play the probable villain...
2) Before Midnight
The sequel everyone wants and doesn't want. How does one improve on perfection, except that that actually happened the last time around. If this is done well, this might be the last part of one of the greatest film trilogies ever made, and with my second-favourite onscreen couple.
1) The World's End
Speaking of greatest film trilogies and favourite onscreen pairs, THIS FILM IS IT! I have been waiting for this film ever since I heard that Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are a part of the Three Favours Cornetto trilogy. Every announcement of this film has had me screaming like a fangirl. Added to the dynamic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (BEST ONSCREEN COUPLE EVER), my husband Martin Freeman is there too. I have no doubt that I will love this film. We just have to see how much.
This has taken a while. I call this THE MOTHER OF ALL THOUGHTS POST! Just think it is catchy...
1) Personal update- Yes people, I am alive. I have just been v.v.v.v.v.v. sick. I had a seriously bad case of viral fever and I was/am really weak. I am about the worst person in the world to ever fall sick, since I cannot swallow pills and literally prefer dying but yeah I was nursed back to health by my family. I then had to travel from Calcutta to Dubai in my fragile condition. They put me in a wheelchair which was super embarrassing and just added motion sickness to my list of discomforts. The plane journey itself was extremely boring. I have a history of discovering awesome shows in flights like Doctor Who and Luther. This time there was Kenneth Branagh and apparently Tom Hiddleston-starrer Wallander though the latter wasn't there and the show was boring as fuck. Also the only new film to watch was People Like Us (which was again very boring and overly dramatic) and Beasts of a Southern Wild, a film that has been on my to-watch list ever since I saw its trailer, was showing on the return flight so rats! The only good thing about this whole journey was that this unbelievably hot guy was there in my plane but yeah that led to nothing. Another thing I liked about it was in the five hours I seemed to have stood in the passport control line, there was a group of really quaint old British men behind me who were hilarious and right now while reading JK Rowling's latest The Casual Vacancy, I cannot quite stop picturing the men as part of the book. Right now my mother is force-feeding me back to health (or so she wishes) and I keep thinking back on the days of the illness where I was this close to finally being my own Tyler Durden but eh whatever. At least I can blog now.
2) Posters and pictures- Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, part 2 has the most hilarious poster of all time. I cannot get over how ridiculous it looks. Speaking of, Carrie looks plenty terrible too. What is a good poster is that of my most anticipated sequel of all time, The World's End. This film will be so epic. My darling Daniel Radcliffe is doing two films. There is a poster for his romcom The F Word with Zoe Kazan which looks sweet. There is also the released picture of him avec horns in Horns. It does look kind of retarded, but this film sounds cool. Also since we're talking about weird pointy things (TWSS), the new Wolverine picture looks mental. Hugh Jackman does not need to be that photoshopped. He is a beautiful man as it is.
3) Okay so you know how long I've been gone? Back when Seth MacFarlaine hosting the Oscars was big news. I haven't actually seen anything he has done (Family Guy, Ted) but it seems like a weirdly ballsy move by the AMPAS so we'll see where this goes. What is great hosting news is that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will host the Golden Globes. YESSSS! I just keep thinking of Mean Girls for this, even though they are more famous for Saturday Night Live and Baby Mama together. Still, epicly awesome funny ladies FTW!
4) Continuing with my last weekly thoughts post about TV shows and movies- The Coen Brothers are making a Fargo movie. Woaaahh! I know right. I don't remember Fargo very well, just that wood chipper scene and saying "Yeah" like Frances McDormand for weeks after that. I am not big on Coen Brothers (yes I know blasphemy!) but this will be interesting. Also Alfonso Cuarón and JJ Abrams are making some sci-fi supernatural tv show together, whose premise is about "a girl in possession of a great gift/powers — which will come into their own in seven years — and the man who is sprung from prison to protect her from those trying to hunt her down ." Then David Fincher and Kevin Spacey have developed a political drama show called House of Cards. Why don't I know these things? It sounds pretty impressive. It also stars Robin Wright, Kate Mara and Corey Stall.
5) Casting news round-up- Daniel Radcliffe may be starring in Frankenstein which will bring a sci-fi spin on the classic horror story. It sounds very offbeat and cool and I like everything Radcliffe has been attaching himself to post-Potter so this can continue the trend. Ben Whishaw might star in Steven Spielberg's Robocalypse. I love Whishaw and think he's a wonderful actor and it will be very good for his career to be attached to a big project like this. Martin Freeman and Eddie Marsan have joined the already awesome cast of The World's End. I really cannot effing wait for this film. Not only will Marc Webb be returning to direct The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (YUCK), but Shailene Woodley is in talks to play Mary Jane Watson (DOUBLE YUCK). I like Woodley but I think I have made my animosity towards the first Amazing Spider-Man movie and the absolutely horrendous role of Mary Jane Watson be known far and wide. I will hate this film too. I know it. Robert Pattinson will star alongside Carey Mulligan in Hold on to Me which is about a real life femme fatale and seems like a juicy part for Pattinson to, pardon the pun, sink his teeth into. Amy Adams will star as Janis Joplin in a biopic directed by Lee Daniels, which sounds very interesting even though I have not seen any of Daniels's work yet. Also Natalie Portman may star as Jackie Kennedy in the biopic Jackie that was once a pet project of Darren Aronofsky and Rachel Weisz. I can see it happening.
6) Apparently Benedict Cumberbatch is the new James Bond villain for whenever Bond 24 will come out? What? Why do I read about these things in Indian tabloids? That's bloody amazing though. Just the thought of verbal and possibly physical sparring between two very attractive British men in suits *fans herself*.
7) Since when was Michael Fassbender part of the Terrence Malick film that also has Rooney Mara and Ryan Gosling? It's very hard to keep track since Malick is making like 50 movies, but this is the music festival one. But man, Fassy and Gosling in one movie together is not going to be good for my nerves. Still, who knows who will actually make the final cut (this thought keeps me up at night).
8) Everyone has heard this, yes? I kept hearing it even though it was triggering my headache back when I was sick-
9) Back when I was gone, Sati's absolutely brilliant site Cinematic Corner turned 1 year old. Her blog puts mine, and let's face it, probably yours to shame also. It is just that good and that pretty. And it's only a year old, a prospect that makes me sick and disgusted. Let's hope it continues to be this awesome for many many more years to come.
10) Edgar Wright will be definitely making the Ant-Man film so good on Marvel for officially becoming wayyyyyyy cooler than DC. Also Agent Coulson will be there in the S.H.I.E.L.D. tv show pilot so maybe he didn't die, which will be very sneaky on Nick Fury's part. Still yaay! because Agent Phil Coulson is ab fab.
11) Trailers- The Lone Ranger which looks wayyy too serious, and it should have more of Armie Hammer seeing that he is in fact the Lone Ranger. A proper trailer for Lincoln came out that does not make it look like War Horse with Daniel Day-Lewis. I like it so much more. Stoker that looks ahmazing and creepy and is definitely one of my most anticipated films of next year. Zero Dark Thirty also released an actual trailer that makes sense. I'm still not a hundred percent sold on this film but I do love me some Jessica Chastain and this is like her first proper big profile lead role so yaay! Hitchcock looks really good and fun. Anthony Hopkins is killing it as Alfred Hitchcock and Helen Mirren looks really good too. I love how Scarlett Johannson doesn't even get a mention. It ain't her movie! Carrie's teaser looks good until you actually get to Carrie, being played by Chloe Moretz. She looks stoopid. They will all laugh at her!! The new Gangster Squad trailer has a lot more Emma Stone to offer, but it looks the same to me. I have become so much lesser enthused about this film as time has gone by. Still, gotta love Gosling in a suit. Finally the latest Django Unchained trailer is all sorts of batshit crazy, especially in the form of one delicious Calvin Candie, played by Leonardo Di Caprio. This film will be fantastic.
12) Finally, who else was devastated by the mid-season Doctor Who finale? I have never cried like that for a tv show ever. I will write about it but for now-
HOLY SHIT! I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANY OF THIS MEANS BUT I'M SO EXCITED!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
*after a few deep breaths*
This is the Comic Con teaser poster for the third and final film in Edgar Wright's Blood and Ice Cream/ Three Cornetto Flabours Trilogy, all starring my favourite onscreen couple, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost- The World's End. I live for the day when this releases.
The official synopsis-
“20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hell bent on trying the drinking marathon again. They are convinced to stage an encore by mate Gary King, a 40-year old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens, who drags his reluctant pals to their home town and once again attempts to reach the fabled pub, The World’s End. As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realize the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind’s. Reaching The World’s End is the least of their worries.”
Another week people. It rained here the other day and it was amazing. But then, the bugs came. Ugh Indian monsoon -.-
1) I have no one to watch The Avengers with. I hate this world. Team Loki forever! Also, speaking of other blockbusters and teams, Josh "Peeta" Hutcherson adopted a special needs puppy and named it Driver, after Ryan Gosling's mysterious character in the awesome Drive. So obviously, I am with the bakers now!
2) Okay am I the only one who hates studios revealing information on sequels before the first part has even been released? I mean as evident as it is that nothing will happen to Ironman and Black Widow in The Avengers, they can shut up about how RDJ and Scarlett Johannson are returning in Ironman 3 for a second. Especially considering The Avengers is what all the other Marvel films have been building up to. Having said that, I am beyond pumped about the other cast members joining Ironman 3- Sir Ben Kingsley as the villain, the always brilliant Guy Pearce and maybe even La Chastain, in some sexy scientist role. Also, it seems that The Amazing Spiderman 2 is already getting written by the Star Trek writers. The first part hasn't even released yet. It is okay to plan ahead, just release the news afterwards.
3) Best Film News of the Week- The World's End, which is said to be the last part in the Blood and Ice Cream/ Three Cornetto Flavours Trilogy, all directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, aka Best Onscreen Couple EVER, is being written. Or rather has already been written by Wright and Pegg and its second draft is ready. OMGOMGOMG! I live for the day it gets made, and I am seriously not exaggerating. Let the world literally end after that and I would not care at all.
4) And now for some bad news, at least for me- the much awaited Darren Aronofsky "Noah" movie has found its savior, in the form of Russel Crowe. Ai yai yai... I really do not like Crowe. He's my anti-Depp and I find it very difficult to sit through his films. Gladiator was good but I did fall sick after watching it. And I like L.A. Confidential because it is a great film and has Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey in it. I have only been looking forward to his next film Les Miserables because it will have the wonderful Hugh Jackman singing in it. I was quite excited and intrigued about the "Noah" film... I don't know how much I want to see it anymore.
5) Trailers- The trailer to Oliver Stone's Savages was released a few weeks back but I forgot to post it. It's a bit crazy, but I guess we expect that from a Stone movie. However, the block of stone that is Blake Lively telling us at the beginning of the trailer that she may die at the end of the story is a humongous faux pas. It just makes the film extremely predictable no matter how it ends unless she is somehow strapped onto a cow-shaped Death Star and oh I don't know... it's all bad!! I do like the fact that it has Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro though. Hope Springs, which has Queen Meryl reuniting with The Devil Wears Prada director, David Frankel. It looks sweet and also stars Tommy Lee Jones, who is always a delight in lighter roles like this one, and Steve Carell. The *hopefully* final trailer to Pixar's Brave has been released. I can't wait for this film and Merida's hair enough. Lawless has a friggin' awesome trailer out. Firstly it has an absolute dream cast- Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Mia Wasikowska, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce and oh so sexy Jessica Chastain. Secondly, I love Prohibition-era stuff, especially those big-ass tommy guns. Finally, the trailer of the week comes in the form of the lovely Ruby Sparks. I love Paul Dano! It is made by the wonderful people who made Little Miss Sunshine and I completely adore the premise of the story. I can see myself becoming obsessed with this film and hating reality even more after that. It also stars the likes of Annette Benning, Antonio Banderas and Steve Coogan.
