Willem Dafoe

Jon Favreau and Willem Dafoe Discuss the Legacy of JOHN CARTER in New Blu-ray Featurette Clip

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 25th, 2012 at 8:34 am

John Carter is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on June 5, and I hope it finds a second life in home release.  I don’t know what it would take to justify a sequel, but for the sake of ambitious, lush science fiction like this, it would be unfortunate if the lasting legacy was that of a flop.  The expansive universe, as designed by Edgar Rice Borroughs, is really built for serialization.  We have seen this potential realized on screen in the many properties that were inspired by John Carter of Mars.  Jon Favreau points to Star Wars and Superman as two indelible franchises that benefit from the Mars mythos in the featurette, “Influence of John Carter,” which will appear on the Blu-ray.  We were provided a one-minute clip from the featurette, with supporting remarks by Willem Dafoe (the voice of Tars Tarkas in the movie), and we’d like to share it with you after the jump.

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST and VANYA OF 42ND STREET Criterion Blu-ray Reviews

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: April 28th, 2012 at 6:00 am

The Martin Scorsese who put out The Last Temptation of Christ is not the Martin Scorsese we know today. He had yet to make Goodfellas, and though Raging Bull netted Robert De Niro an Oscar, Scorsese spent much of the 1980’s in the wilderness, making niche films which were considered disappointments, only to secure financing through directing a for-hire hit movie (The Color of Money). Christ was most notable for the controversy it engendered, as it was protested by a number of religious groups, which kept it out of most big chain theaters. Vanya of 42^nd Street is a project that transcends its set-up, and acts as a follow-up to Louis Malle’s My Dinner with Andre. It reunited Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn with a cast (that includes Julianne Moore) that performed Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya on the fly for years. Both have come out from Criterion on Blu-ray, and our reviews of both follow after the jump.

Casting Call: Willem Dafoe Joins OUT OF THE FURNACE, Rooney Mara Moves to BROOKLYN

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: April 26th, 2012 at 6:40 pm

Some big name casting news for you today.  Here are the headlines:

• Willem Dafoe will join Christian Bale and Casey Affleck in the dramatic thriller, Out of the Furnace, written and directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart).
• Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) will star in the 1950s period piece, Brooklyn, adapted from Colm Toibin’s best-selling novel about a woman torn between her family in Ireland and her new found love for an American.

Hit the jump for more on both projects.

JOHN CARTER Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 8th, 2012 at 4:09 pm

There’s a special place in my heart for big, bold adventure movies like John Carter.  In an age where detached irony seems to permeate every recess of our lives, John Carter throws out names like “Zodongan”, “Therns”, “Tharks”, and “Barsoom” and doesn’t blink an eye.  This is the world of John Carter and co-writer/director Andrew Stanton mostly lets the world open up at its own pace.  The conflicts are laid out cleanly, the lead characters are compelling, and eventually you’re not wondering about the difference between Zodongans and Heliumites and how a guy from 19th-century Earth was drawn into their conflict.  You’re too enraptured by the majesty of the red planet.  You’re also too busy laughing at the good-natured humor and being sucked into the exhilarating action.

Final Trailer for JOHN CARTER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 28th, 2012 at 10:07 am

I’ve heard good things about John Carter from people who have seen it, but sadly the film’s marketing has been a mess.  A recent featurette finally showed off the film’s scope and so does the final trailer.  But none of the trailers (except one that was fan-made, and far better than any of Disney’s trailers) took a single moment to explain who John Carter is, how he got to Mars, and why he has special powers.  Does any audience member who is unfamiliar with the source material, Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel A Princess of Mars, know anything about the character beyond “Shirtless Dude Who Fights Weird Creatures”?  The movie is titled “John Carter” and Disney never took the time to tell us anything about him.

Hit the jump to check out the final trailer.  The film stars Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Haden Church, and Willem Dafoe.  John Carter opens in IMAX and 3D on March 9th.

JOHN CARTER Battles White Apes, Saves the Princess in New Clip and Featurette

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 24th, 2012 at 5:25 pm

Disney has released a new clip and featurette for director Andrew Stanton’s John Carter that will satisfy your need for action and romance respectively. First up is a clip that shows the titular hero, played by Taylor Kitsch, as he battles for his life in the Barsoomian (ie Martian) version of gladiatorial games. Alongside Carter is a badly wounded Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe), a Martian warrior who is being tested for signs of weakness by pitting him against the ferocious White Apes. Those of you who prefer the softer side of John Carter will be interested in the new featurette that highlights the relationship of Carter and the Martian princess, Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). If none of the above makes any sense to you, might I suggest you check out some posters, images, trailers, behind-the-scenes footage and set visit interviews. Better yet, just get caught up on everything here. John Carter releases in 3D on March 9^th. Hit the jump to see the new clip and featurette.

First Trailer and Image from Apocalyptic Drama 4:44 LAST DAY ON EARTH Starring Willem Dafoe

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 23rd, 2012 at 11:38 am

Seeing as how Armageddon and Deep Impact are almost 15 years old now, it’s apparently time for movies to tackle the apocalypse again. This time, however, the apocalypse-centered films are more interested in understated drama than exploding your eyeballs. The Steve Carell dramedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World opens this May, and today the first trailer for the drama 4:44 Last Day on Earth hit the web. The film stars Willem Dafoe and looks to be quite the downer, as the story takes place the night before the world is set to end at 4:44 am. The protagonists of the film aren’t trying to find a means of escape or a way out, but have wholly accepted the fact that they will cease to exist in one day’s time. It’s heavy stuff that should make for an intriguing cinematic experience, but I may be in need of a hefty pick-me-up once the credits roll. Space Jam watch party, anyone?

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. 4:44 Last Day on Earth opens in limited release and VOD on March 23rd.

New Posters for MEN IN BLACK 3 and BATTLESHIP with a New Mondo IMAX Poster for JOHN CARTER

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 21st, 2012 at 11:32 pm

We have three new posters from three big movies for you today. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll be brief and let the artwork speak for itself:

• First up is a new poster for Men in Black 3 featuring Josh Brolin, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. The film, by director Barry Sonnenfeld, opens in 3D on May 25^th.
• Next is an up-close-and-personal look at star Taylor Kitsch in his second of three 2012 releases, Battleship. Also starring Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker and Rihanna, Battleship opens May 18^th.
• Saving the best for last is the Mondo poster that is supposedly being given away at special IMAX screenings of John Carter. Starring Taylor Kitsch, Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds and Bryan Cranston, John Carter opens March 9^th.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.

New Fan-Made Trailer for JOHN CARTER Sells the Movie Better Than the Film’s Previous Trailers

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 21st, 2012 at 10:44 am

We’re merely a couple weeks away from the release of Disney’s John Carter and I’m willing to bet that a good deal of the general public still has no idea what this movie is about. The previous trailers and TV spots have tried in vain to sell the film as a big action-adventure pic, but none of that matters if your audience doesn’t understand why there are a bunch of CG people monsters hanging out in the desert. A fan-made trailer for the film has recently hit the web and it’s leagues better than what the Disney marketing machine has come up with. It clearly sets up the story and rightly sells the Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation as the precursor to basically the entire sci-fi genre. From Star Wars to Avatar, Burroughs’ source material served as the inspiration for some of the world’s most beloved sci-fi stories, and finally the tale that started it all is getting a film adaptation of its own. That’s how the movie should have been sold.

Despite the air of cynicism surrounding John Carter, I’m really pulling for the film to be a success. Having absolutely loved all of director Andrew Stanton’s previous work (Wall-E, Finding Nemo), I sincerely hope he delivers an entertaining, epic sci-fi adventure. Hit the jump to watch the impressive fan-made trailer. John Carter opens in 3D on March 9th.

Watch 13 Minutes of Behind-the-Scenes Footage to See How JOHN CARTER Was Brought to Life; Plus 3 New Clips

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 16th, 2012 at 6:10 pm

Disney’s John Carter is a movie that’s been in development for over two decades. Numerous filmmakers have attempted to tackle Edgar Rice Burroughs’s source material (published 100 years ago), and Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) is the director who finally brought the story to life. In order to transport Taylor Kitsch’s title character to a creature-infested Mars, a great deal of visual effects work was needed. Nearly 13 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage from the making of John Carter have been released that give us a glimpse into how Stanton pulled it all off. We see models built during the conception stage, Willem Dafoe walking around on stilts in order to portray a towering Thark, how Stanton got Kitsch to make those giant leaps, and even composer Michael Giacchino (Lost, Star Trek) hard at work on the film’s score.

Hit the jump to check out the footage, as well as three new clips from the film. The sci-fi pic also stars Thomas Haden Church, Mark Strong, Lynn Collins, and Samantha Morton. John Carter opens in 3D on March 9th.

New Clip, Featurette, and Exclusive TV Spot for JOHN CARTER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 15th, 2012 at 11:04 pm

Disney has released a new clip, featurette, and provided us with an exclusive TV spot from director Andrew Stanton‘s John Carter.  The film stars Taylor Kitsch as the eponymous hero, a Civil War veteran who’s transported to the surface of the moon [Correction: Mars, not the moon.  I personally blame Disney for removing "of Mars" from the title] and thrown into a new battle between warring tribes.  This new clip and the featurette finally provide what I’ve been looking for in the story: scope.  Even on my computer monitor, the film finally seems bigger with diverse settings and set pieces.  I assume Disney held off on showing this stuff because the effects weren’t completed, because this footage would have been worth the Super Bowl ad-time.

Hit the jump to check out the clip, the featurette, and an exclusive TV spot.  The film also stars Lynn Collins, Mark Strong, Samantha Morton, Thomas Haden Church, and Willem Dafoe.  John Carter opens in 3D on March 9th.

Over 95 High Resolution Images from JOHN CARTER

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 15th, 2012 at 5:49 pm

We’re only a few weeks away from the release of Disney’s epic John Carter, and a large batch of high resolution images have been released. We’ve seen some of the images before, but we also get some really cool behind-the-scenes images that show just how director Andrew Stanton captured many of the effects-heavy portions of the film. While the initial trailer had me wary, I’ve been impressed by each new trailer and clip released this far. Stanton’s previously directorial resume is stellar, so I’m really hoping he delivers when we get a chance to check out the full film.

Hit the jump to check out the images. If you missed it, be sure to check out Matt’s set visit coverage including his full recap and interviews with co-writer/director Andrew Stanton, Taylor Kitsch, Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church, Lynn Collins, and Samantha Morton. The film also stars Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, and Bryan Cranston. John Carter opens in 3D on March 9th.

TOP 5: JOHN CARTER Set Visit, STAR WARS, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, THE BOURNE LEGACY, Super Bowl XLVI Movie Ad Recap

by Jason Barr    Posted: February 11th, 2012 at 11:50 am

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I can’t help but think that Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum’s The Vow is Hollywood’s way of saying, “We know you suck at planning romantic Valentine’s dates, so why not pay us to take care of that for you?”. And you know what? They’re right. I’ve already reserved a couple of tix for the pic and, just like that, I’m basically a romance deity (Note: “Romance deity” may be a slight exaggeration”).

All romantic escapades aside, this week’s “Top 5″ brings you all of our John Carter set visit coverage, a plethora of Star Wars items, a new trailer for director Marc Webb‘s The Amazing Spider-Man, the first trailer and poster from Jeremy Renner‘s The Bourne Legacy, and all of Super Bowl XLVI’s movie ads in one place. You can find a brief recap and link to each after the jump.

Collider Visits the Set of JOHN CARTER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 9:07 am

“Barsoom” reads a sign on the outskirts of the movie set we’re about to visit.  “Barsoom” is what Martians call their planet in Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ A Princess of Mars.  A group of my fellow online movie journalists and I are headed to the set of Andrew Stanton‘s adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel, John Carter.  Mars may technically be in Big Water, Utah, but today we’ll be walking the ruins of an ancient Martian city, meeting a princess who bleeds blue, and a nine-foot-tall nomad tribe of warriors.  Hit the jump to take a trip to the red planet and find out about my visit to the set of John Carter.

Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church JOHN CARTER Set Visit Intervew

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 9:06 am

Tharks, the green-skinned, six-limbed creatures living on Mars in John Carter are about nine feet tall.  Great actors though they are, Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church, are not nine feet tall.  Even though they’re wearing the standard motion-capture grey leotards and tracking dots, there’s no accounting for height…unless you add stilts.  Watching Dafoe and Church march around on stilts is one of the high-lights of any set visit I’ve gone to.

With a sandstorm whipping into our faces and into our microphones, my fellow movie journalists and I spoke to Dafoe and Church on the set of John Carter.  In addition to talking about the stilts, we spoke about the scene they were currently filming, their characters, how doing motion-capture on set helped their performances, and more.  Hit the jump to check out the interview.  John Carter opens in 3D on March 9th.

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