All Articles by Matt Goldberg

DARK SHADOWS Review

Posted: May 10th, 2012 at 11:35 am

Tim Burton‘s Dark Shadows is a series of flawed assumptions resulting from remarkable incompetence.  Burton believes he’s blended a gothic style with a campy comedy, but his film is neither.  The characters act at being a bunch of kooky, Addams Family-style misfits, but they’re nothing more than vague, one-dimensional sketches or, in the case of the protagonist, a confused contradiction.  Seth Grahame-Smith‘s script thinks it has balanced out the story elements into a compelling narrative, but it’s a poorly plotted mess that eschews character development in favor of a softball joke or clumsy dark humor.  With the exception of a great performance from Eva Green, Dark Shadows flails wildly at concocting a strange brew, and only comes up with weak tea.

Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro to Star in AGENT: CENTURY 21

Posted: May 10th, 2012 at 10:39 am

Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro are attached to lead the action-comedy Agent: Century 21.  Diaz will play a real estate agent and recent divorcee who ends up getting kidnapped and thrown into the middle of a Mexican drug war.  She must then use her “maternal instincts and a streak of pure dumb luck” to make it back home.  Action-comedies are well within Diaz’ wheelhouse, but it’s a nice change of pace for Del Toro, who has mostly stuck to dramas and thrillers.  Greg Brooker (Stuart Little) wrote the script, and Adam Hashemi will make his feature directing debut.

Hit the jump for the press release.  Diaz will next be seen in What to Expect When You’re Expecting and Gambit.  A couple days ago we reported that she had signed on to co-star in Ridley Scott‘s drama The Counselor.  As for Del Toro, he’ll be seen in theaters later this summer in Oliver Stone‘s Savages.

First Image of Hasbro’s STAR TREK 2 Kre-O Figures

Posted: May 10th, 2012 at 10:15 am

In February, we reported that Hasbro had picked up the toy license for Star Trek beginning in 2013.  Specifically, Hasbro would be bringing Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise gang into the toy company’s “Kre-O” line of LEGO-style playsets.  The image with the press release was more of a slapdash, “Hey, these will exist” work, but a new image shows a better representation of what we can expect next year.  As you can see, these figurines will really nail down the chiseled jaws and Kirk’s patented smirk.  While these figures are all well and good, I’m interested in seeing how Kre-O will handle the Enterprise.

Hit the jump to check out the full image.  Star Trek 2 opens May 17, 2013.  Click here for all our coverage on the sequel.

First Clip from KILLING THEM SOFTLY Starring Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, and Sam Shepard

Posted: May 10th, 2012 at 9:38 am

The first clip from Andrew Dominik‘s Killing Them Softly has gone online.  The film (formerly titled Cogan’s Trade) stars Brad Pitt as a mob enforcer who’s tasked with investigating the robbery of a high-stakes poker game.  The terrific cast also includes Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, Richard Jenkins, Ben Mendelsohn, Scoot McNairy, Bella Heathcote, and Sam Shepard.  The clip shows Shepard’s character roughing up Liotta, and it gives an indication of the tone Dominik’s trying to strike.  There’s some clever camerawork culminating in a bit of dark comedy, and I’m curious to see if the rest of the film has the same attitude.

Hit the jump to check out the clip, and click here to check out some images from the movie.  Killing Them Softly will premiere at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, and hit theaters stateside on September 21st.

Guillermo Del Toro to Co-Direct 3D Stop-Motion Animated PINOCCHIO

Posted: May 10th, 2012 at 8:48 am

In February 2011, we reported that Guillermo Del Toro was developing a 3D stop-motion animated adaptation of Pinocchio with author Gris Grimly and Mark Gustafson co-directing based off Grimly’s 2002 book.  Today, Variety reports that Del Toro has now stepped in to co-direct with Gustafson (there’s no mention of Grimly).  Del Toro is currently in post-production on the blockbuster monster movie Pacific Rim, which is due out July 12, 2013.  He and Gustafson (animation director for Fantastic Mr. Fox) plan to start a year-long shoot for Pinocchio in summer 2013.  Del Toro wrote the script with Grimly and Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark co-writer Matthew Robbins.

Hit the jump for more.

HARRY POTTER Producer David Heyman to Bring PADDINGTON BEAR to the Big Screen

Posted: May 10th, 2012 at 8:04 am

Harry Potter producer David Heyman has found a new beloved literary character to bring to movie theaters.  According to THR, Paul King will direct a live-action/CGI-animated adaptation based on the children’s book character Paddington Bear.  For those unfamiliar with Paddington, Michael Bond’s best selling books center on “a brown bear from Peru who is found at Paddington station by the Brown family.”  Paddington also wears an adorable raincoat and hat.  I’m not sure why it can’t be a straight-up animated film, but I guess children will have seizures if they don’t see live-action humans interacting with a CGI creature in a family film.  Of course, I could be getting it wrong with this adaptation.  Perhaps Paddington will be live-action and the family will be CGI-animated, in which case this film would be brilliant.

Hit the jump for more on Paddington Bear, and click here for what Heyman told Steve about the project last year.

New Featurette for PROMETHEUS

Posted: May 9th, 2012 at 10:15 am

A new featurette for Ridley Scott‘s Prometheus has gone online.  While I don’t think the three-minute trailer laid out any major spoilers, I feel like we’re getting to the advertising-spoils-everything point, so I’m going dark on the movie.  I can’t tell you what’s in this new featurette except that it’s entitled “Origins”.

Hit the jump to check out the featurette.  As we reported earlier this week, the film will be Rated-R for “sci-fi violence including some intense images, and brief language.”  The movie stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Rafe Spall, Sean Harris, Logan Marshall-Green, Guy Pearce, and Charlize Theron.  Prometheus opens in 3D on June 8th.

BURN NOTICE Lets Fans Decide the Show’s New Opening Credits

Posted: May 9th, 2012 at 10:04 am

USA’s Burn Notice is about to enter its sixth season, and the show is letting fans vote for the new opening credits.  I’ve felt that it’s long overdue to remove Fiona’s “Should we shoot them?” since she’s talking in an Irish accent she hasn’t used since the series premiere.

Hit the jump for a special message from star Jeffrey Donovan, and to find out how you can vote for the new opening credits.  The sixth season of Burn Notice premieres on USA on Thursday, June 14th at 9/8c.

After Scoring Big with THE AVENGERS, Joss Whedon Thanks His Fans

Posted: May 9th, 2012 at 9:26 am

Before The Avengers, Joss Whedon had created three canceled TV series, but still found ways to wrap up Angel and Dollhouse despite the lack of a series renewal, and Firefly got a big screen ending with Serenity (Buffy the Vampire Slayer wasn’t canceled and continues to live on in comics).  Despite never landing a big, mainstream hit, his fans have always stuck by Whedon and revered him with a fervent devotion.  Now that The Avengers has set the record for highest-grossing opening weekend ($207 million was the final tally), his career is about to change dramatically.  However, he hasn’t forgotten his loyal following, and he took to his official fan site to thank his beloved Whedonites.

Hit the jump for Whedon’s Thank-You letter for his fans, and look for my editorial tomorrow about why Marvel needs to lock down Whedon for The Avengers 2.

Hayley Atwell to Star in 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU Sequel, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT LIFE

Posted: May 9th, 2012 at 8:59 am

Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger) is set to lead the romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About Life.  According to Variety, Gil Junger, who wrote 1999′s 10 Things I Hate About You, which was based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, will direct from his own script.  The new film will advance situations from the original film, which starred Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Strangely, Junger said that the inspiration for the sequel came from “coming across a man who had committed suicide at a scenic overlook.”  Keep in mind that this is a sequel to a high school comedy.

Hit the jump for more.

New TV Spot for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Announces 4-Minute Super Preview

Posted: May 9th, 2012 at 8:34 am

Last week, Sony Pictures released a new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man, and now the studio has released a new TV spot for the superhero reboot.  There’s a few bits of new footage in the TV spot, but the big reveal is for a 4-minute “super preview”, which will premiere on Monday with the season premiere of America’s Got Talent.  All of the contestants will pale in comparison when compared to a guy who invented web-shooters and saves New York Cities.  But, you know, juggling is cool too.

Hit the jump to check out the TV spot.  The film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Sally Field, and Martin Sheen.  The Amazing Spider-Man opens in 3D on July 3rd.

Trailer for KILLER JOE Starring Matthew McConaughey

Posted: May 8th, 2012 at 10:15 am

The trailer for William Friedkin‘s Killer Joe has gone online.  The NC-17-rated film centers on a son (Emile Hirsch) and his father (Thomas Haden Church) who hire a cop moonlighting as a hitman (Matthew McConaughey) to murder their mother in order to get her insurance policy.  I caught Killer Joe last year at TIFF, and with the exception of McConaughey’s performance, the flick is pretty terrible.  However, the absolutely bonkers ending almost makes the film worth your time.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film also stars Juno Temple and Gina Gershon.  Killer Joe opens July 27th.

New Posters for G.I. JOE: RETALIATION

Posted: May 8th, 2012 at 9:04 am

Two new posters have been released for G.I. Joe: Retaliation.  The only movie this summer with a ninja avalanche, the second G.I. Joe film looks like all kinds of fun.  The story has the Joes striking back after almost being wiped out by Cobra forces under the direction of Cobra Commander and Presidential impersonator, Zartan (the President is played by Jonathan Pryce).  However, I’m not sure the Joes will succeed if they can’t even notice the giant Cobra Commander head behind them.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.  The film also stars Dwayne Johnson, Adrianne Palicki, Channing Tatum, Walton Goggins, Ray Park, Byung-hun Lee, Elodie Yung, RZA, Ray Stevenson, D.J. Cotrona, and Bruce Willis.  G.I. Joe: Retaliation opens June 29th.

New Making-Of Featurette for Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM

Posted: May 8th, 2012 at 8:49 am

Focus Features has released a new behind-the-scenes featurette for Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom.  The featurette does a good job of explaining the plot, and most of the adult cast– Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, and Jason Schwartzman—break down their respective characters.  The cast also talks up Anderson’s distinct visual style, but the style is large part of why I’m slightly wary of the film.  The movie looks cute and funny, but it also seems like its verging on self-parody.  Hopefully, the film’s heart and humor won’t be overshadowed by the style.

Hit the jump to check out the featurette, and click here for six clips from the movie.  The film also stars Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, and Bob Balaban.  Moonrise Kingdom will open the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, and open in limited release on May 25th.

THE COLLISION: Episode 6 – THE AVENGERS

Posted: May 8th, 2012 at 8:34 am

To the surprise of no one, Adam Chitwood, Dave Trumbore, and I gave The Avengers our full attention in the latest episode of Collider’s new podcast, The Collision.  We talked about the film, its record-breaking opening weekend, what it could mean for future Marvel movies, why Marvel needs to bring back Joss Whedon (provided he wants the gig), and the film’s epilogue (we put that at the end of the podcast to avoid spoiling it for people who haven’t seen the movie yet).  Finally, we finished up with our recommendations, and you can check out trailers for those recommendations after the jump.

Click here to listen to the new episode, click here for last week’s episode, and click here to add The Collision to your RSS feed.  Also, we are now on iTunes, and while it’s still not where we want it to be, we’re working on it and I thank everyone who helped us out.  Also, I’m in the process of looking for a new Skype recording program and a good mixing program for PC.  As always, please sound off in the comments section on how we can improve the show. [Special thanks to Jason Barr for mixing this week's podcast]

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