Mila Kunis

First Synopsis for Sam Raimi’s OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL Starring James Franco

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 26th, 2011 at 11:34 am

Principal photography has begun on Sam Raimi’s next film, Oz The Great and Powerful and now we have the first official synopsis for the film.  We now know that the eponymous’ wizard’s real name is Oscar Diggs.  Diggs is “a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics” who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  The film also stars Zach Braff as Diggs’ circus assistant, and Braff will also lend his vocal talents to one of the CGI creatures in the story — Finley, the winged monkey who accompanies the magician on his journey to Oz.  I’ve always said that the only thing better than a monkey sidekick is a flying monkey sidekick.

Hit the jump for the full synopsis and press release.  Oz The Great and Powerful is set to open on March 8, 2013.

Exclusive: Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis Talk FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, TED and IN TIME

by Hunter Daniels    Posted: July 19th, 2011 at 2:23 pm

Opening Friday is Friends with Benefits, which is Will Gluck’s follow up to Easy A. Not to be confused with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher’s similarly themed No Strings Attached, FWB is a hip, sharply written and very R-rated romantic comedy about casual sex starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis.

Recently, I sat down with Timberlake and Kunis to discuss the film. During our interview they told me about their thoughts on the viability of casual sex relationships, acting in the nude, some of their favorite songs going up, Kunis’s upcoming Seth McFarlane directed Ted and Timberlake’s Andrew Niccol directed In Time and more.  Hit the jump to watch.

New Red Band Trailer for FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 15th, 2011 at 12:17 pm

Since it’s apparently the year of the sex buddy comedy, a new red band trailer for Friends with Benefits has been released. While I’m a fan of Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, and quite enjoyed director Will Gluck’s Easy A, this movie just looks painfully unfunny. The newest red band trailer really doesn’t do much to change my mind. The highlights (ie. only amusing parts) are Emma Stone and Andy Samberg, but it seems they only appear for small cameo-ish roles. However, Hunter saw the film and enjoyed it—he’s even mentioned in the ad—so maybe it works better as a whole. But I’m not holding my breath.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. The film also stars Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson and Richard Jenkins. Friends with Benefits opens July 22^nd.

INCEPTION Wins Big at the 2011 Saturn Awards

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 24th, 2011 at 9:00 am

The 37^th Annual Saturn Awards were held last night. The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films honored the best in film, television, special effects and more. Inception was the big winner of the night, taking home five awards including Best Science Fiction Film. Other winners in the top categories include Fringe for Best Network Series, Breaking Bad for best Cable Series, Let Me In for Best Horror Film, Alice in Wonderland for Best Fantasy Film and Salt for Best Action/Adventure Film.

Hit the jump to see the full list of winners, and don’t forget to check out Collider’s interviews from the red carpet at the event. We spoke with Brandon Routh, Fringe’s Lance Reddick, and producer Dean Devlin.

International Trailer for FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 25th, 2011 at 8:21 pm

Screen Gems kicked off the marketing campaign for Friends with Benefits with a red band trailer, then followed up with a green band trailer.  This new international trailer (the text is Portuguese, so I’m assuming Brazil) lies somewhere in between on the dirty scale.  In fact, I believe if the studio turned this into the MPAA, it would come back stamped in red.  There’s plenty of new footage, but I think I need to forego any further exposure to before seeing the movie.  Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis are affable stars, and I trust writer/director Will Gluck (Easy A) with the colorful subject matter.  But this kind of comedy struggles to charm in such short, concentrated bursts.

I don’t have to last too long: Friends with Benefits opens in the U.S. on July 22.  Patricia Clarkson, Richard Jenkins, and Woody Harrelson also star.  Watch the trailer after the break.

Sam Raimi’s OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL Set for March 8, 2013

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 25th, 2011 at 9:37 am

Filming on Sam Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful is scheduled to begin shooting this July but audiences won’t be seeing any flying monkeys for a while.  Deadline reports that Disney has set the film’s release date for March 8, 2013.  While it seems a little odd that the movie wouldn’t be a summer tentpole, it could provide Disney a boost in the spring.

The film stars James Franco as a charlatan circus magician in our world, but when he’s transported to Oz, he becomes recognized as a Wizard and finds himself embroiled in a battle between the land’s three witches: Theodora (Mila Kunis), Glinda (Michelle Williams), and Evanora (Rachel Weisz).  The only other film currently set for March 8, 2013 is Neill Blomkamp’s follow-up to District 9, the sci-fi flick Elysium starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Wagner Moura, and possibly William Fichtner.

New Posters for REAL STEEL, FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, and LIFE IN A DAY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 23rd, 2011 at 10:13 am

New posters have been released for Real Steel, Friends with Benefits, and Life in a Day.  Real Steel stars Hugh Jackman but there’s a cardinal rule of teaser posters that you don’t just come out and show the star’s face.  But Real Steel, for as bad as the plot looks, does have some interesting robot designs.  The robot DreamWorks has chosen to showcase is apparently Camel-Toe Fist.  I fierce competitor, I’m sure. (Note: For clarity reasons, I have to say I don’t think there’s actually a robot called “Camel-Toe Fist” in the movie)  The posters for Friends with Benefits are bland, and the film has to overcome the stigma of following up No Strings Attached even though Friends with Benefits looks like the better film.  Finally, the poster for Life in a Day has a fun design and I can’t wait to see the part of the movie where a guy eats a watermelon.  We can all relate to that.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.  Real Steel opens October 7th, Friends with Benefits opens July 22nd, and Life in a Day opens July 24th.

Michelle Williams to Play Glinda in Sam Raimi’s OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 17th, 2011 at 3:23 pm

The triumvirate of witches in Sam Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful is complete.  The film stars James Franco as the future-wizard of Oz, Mila Kunis as Theodora (Wicked Witch of the West), Rachel Weisz as Evanora (Wicked Witch of the East), and now Variety reports that Michelle Williams has been cast as Glinda, the Good Witch.  So it looks like Disney won their battle with Raimi who wanted Hilary Swank for the role, but Disney wanted Williams.

In this re-imagining/prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Franco is a snake-oil salesman who is transported to Oz and teams up with Glinda to fight her evil sisters in a power struggle for control of the magical land.  While Raimi obviously knows the script better than I do, I think Williams is talented actress who adds value to any film.  She tends to gravitate to serious indie fare so this is a nice change of pace for what is sure to be one of Disney’s 2012 tentpoles.  Williams will next be seen as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn and opposite Seth Rogen in Sarah Polley’s bittersweet comedy Take This Waltz.

BLACK SWAN Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: April 27th, 2011 at 11:01 am

For the first time in his career, Darren Aronofsky directed a hit film. All the more strange, he did it with a tale about a ballet dancer. Black Swan stars Natalie Portman – who won an Oscar for her efforts – as Nina Sayers, the dancer picked for the lead role in Swan Lake. The director (Vincent Cassel) knows she can play the more innocent white swan, but does she have the passion/evil/freedom/aggression to play the black swan, the evil doppelganger? Perhaps with some help from the more sexually suggestive dancer Lily (Mila Kunis). Hit the jump for my review of Black Swan on Blu-ray.

Confirmed: Mila Kunis Joins James Franco in OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL as Theodora

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 25th, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Last month, it was reported that Mila Kunis was set to join James Franco in director Sam Raimi’s Oz, the Great and Powerful. Today, Variety confirmed Kunis’ casting, announcing that the actress will take on the role of Theodora (aka The Wicked Witch of the West). In this prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Franco will portray a traveling salesman and illusionist who is whisked away to Oz in a hot air balloon, landing in the middle of a battle between three sisters for control of the land. His character eventually becomes the Wizard we know from the 1939 film.

Theodora is initially a good witch, alongside sister Glinda, but is convinced by bad witch Evanora to switch sides after being jilted by Franco’s character. Theodora and Evanora then set out on a quest to rule Oz themselves.  David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit-Hole) recently performed a rewrite on the script for Disney. The studio is now searching for actresses to play the other two witches in the film, with Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley and Rebecca Hall all under consideration.

Release Dates for A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR CHRISTMAS and TED; THE APPARITION Moves to 2012

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 16th, 2011 at 1:11 pm

For those who like to plan far in advance, we have some release date news for you.  First up, the comedies A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas has been set to be released in 3D on November 4th while Ted is currently set for July 13, 2012.  Meanwhile, the horror film The Apparition has been moved off September 9th and onto a currently unspecified date in 2012.

Hit the jump for more on all of these movies and which films Harold & Kumar and Ted will be sharing their new dates with.

New Trailer for FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: March 16th, 2011 at 11:08 am

A new green band trailer for Friends with Benefits has been released.  Directed and co-written by Will Gluck (Easy A), the romantic comedy stars Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins, and Patricia Clarkson.  As you might expect, the film tells the story of two friends (Timberlake and Kunis) who decide to give no-strings-attached-coitus the old college try.  The trailer is quite funny and definitely worth checking out.  Also, after The Social Network, hosting some great episodes of Saturday Night Live, and looking really funny in this trailer, I think Timberlake should move full time into making movies.  At least I hope he does.  Friends with Benefits is slated to hit theaters on July 22nd, 2011.

Joel McHale Joins Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in Seth MacFarlane’s TED

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 25th, 2011 at 11:06 am

Joel McHale is in final negotiations to join the cast of Seth MacFarlane’s upcoming comedy Ted.  The story centers on a man (Mark Wahlberg) who’s life is complicated when his childhood wish for his teddy bear, Ted (voiced and played by MacFarlane via motion capture), comes to life.  Kunis will play the girlfriend of Wahlberg’s character who wants marriage, but only if her boyfriend gets a handle on his relationship with his pot-smoking, foul-mouthed, now-alive teddy bear.  Deadline reports that “McHale will play Rex, the sleazy boss who is perpetually putting the moves on Kunis’ character.”

In addition to starring on NBC’s Community (the best comedy on TV that you’re not watching) and hosting E!’s The Soup, McHale has three films set to come out this year: Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World (August 19th), the Anna Faris comedy What’s Your Number (September 30th), and The Big Year co-starring Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson (October 14th).  He’s also hosting the Independent Spirit Awards, which air tomorrow night at 10pm on IFC.

Giovanni Ribisi Joins Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in Seth MacFarlane’s TED

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 23rd, 2011 at 6:56 am

Giovanni Ribisi has joined Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in Ted.  Directed and co-written by Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), the story centers on a man (Wahlberg) whose childhood wish that his teddy bear, Ted (played by MacFarlane using motion-capture), would come to life.  The wish finally comes true, but now the bear is a swearing, pot-smoking wreck that is wreaking havoc in the man’s life.  According to Variety, Ribisi will play “Donny, a man who’s obsessed with Ted.”

Ribisi is currently filming on the crime-thriller Contraband, which also stars Wahlberg.  Ribisi is also in the historical drama Waco and co-starring with Johnny Depp in the adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diary.

Mila Kunis to Play Wicked Witch of the West in Sam Raimi’s OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL; Plus Behind-the-Scenes Wrangling on AKIRA

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 17th, 2011 at 2:46 pm

Mila Kunis has signed on to play Theodora, the Wicked Witch of the West in Sam Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful.  Vulture reports that James Franco, who was previously in talks to play the Wizard, decided to sign on once Kunis came on board.  This new spin on The Wizard of Oz centers on the eponymous character’s origin as well as the backstory to Glenda, the Good Witch of the North, and Evanorah, the Wicked Witch of the East (aka the Wicked Witch of Getting Smushed by Dorothy Gale’s House).

Interestingly, Kunis was considering re-teaming with The Hughes Brothers (The Book of Eli) to play Kei, the love-interest of main character Kaneda, in his adaptation of the acclaimed manga/anime Akira.  According to Vulture, Warner Bros. was willing to have Kunis play the part but only if they could get a major star to play Kaneda due to the project’s hefty price tag.  The role was offered to Brad Pitt (who is waaaay too old to play the teenage Kaneda of the manga) but he passed and therefore the project can’t start because Warners needs to find an actor who’s right for the part (read: can draw a worldwide audience) and available (although with no set start date, it seems like the project would be built around the lead actor’s availability). Faced with an unknown start-date for Akira and a July start for Oz, Kunis chose the latter.

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