Some weekend casting news for you:

• Oscar Isaac (Drive) has landed the lead in Lincoln Lawyer director Brad Furman’s Pablo Escobar biopic.
• Glenn Close, Taryn Manning (Hustle & Flow) and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been confirmed to join Low Down, a 1960s-set drama about a jazz musician (John Hawkes) struggling with addiction.
• Nicolas Cage will star in horror-thriller Hotel 33, based on a “real-life” mass-vanishing that took place at a Pennsylvania hotel.
• Timothy Olyphant looks set for the role of a border-town sheriff dealing with the aftermath of a cartel deal gone bad in Gonzalo López-Gallego’s crime thriller The Man on Carrion Road.

Hit the jump for more on each project.

At this point, it’s surprising when DreamWorks Animation doesn’t make a sequel out of one of its properties.  While the studio was decidedly more nervous than usual for the release of last month’s prehistoric pic The Croods following the commercial disappointment of Rise of the Guardians, audiences flocked to the cavepeople-centric animated film.  The Croods’ worldwide box office total now stands at over $385 million, and THR reports that DreamWorks Animation has officially greenlit a sequel.

Writers/directors Kirk De Micco and Chris Sanders will return for The Croods 2, and the studio is currently in negotiations with certain key voice actors to return as well.  The first pic boasts a voice cast that includes Emma Stone, Nicolas Cage, and Ryan Reynolds, and we can reasonably expect a fair amount of the actors to come back.  Next on the DWA release docket is the snail racing pic Turbo this July, which also features the voice of Reynolds.

The nationwide expansion of Harmony Korine‘s Spring Breakers meant that I had the opportunity to catch the film last night at my local theater. We’ll talk a more specifically about our coverage of the film after the jump. For now, I’d like to make a futile attempt at encapsulating my feelings on the pic in the next few sentences. There’s a lot to like about Breakers whether it be the performances (James Franco‘s especially), the music, the slick editing and use of foreshadowing, etc. Nevertheless, for me this isn’t a movie that I “liked” as much as it’s one I respect. It’s beautiful, surreal, challenging, abhorrent, and vapid all at the same time. In other words, it’s art.

I could go on for days about the pic but that’s not why we’re here. In this week’s Top 5 we’ll take a look at our Breakers coverage, some Transformers 4 plot details, Olympus Has Fallen interviews with Gerard Butler and Antoine Fuqua just to name a few, a new trailer and poster for Star Trek Into Darkness, and The Croods interviews with Nicolas Cage and more. As is standard, a brief recap and link to each awaits after the jump.

“Crude” is a half-appropriate description of DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods.  The word couldn’t apply less to the gorgeous animation, which not only paints a broad, beautiful canvas for the setting, but also revels in meticulous detail.  But the film’s sense of humor and thinly-drawn characters are rarely worthy of their magnificent surroundings.  Although the film doesn’t resort to fart humor (which DreamWorks Animation has never been hesitant to employ), it’s mostly slapstick that renders the characters’ need to survive less than compelling when they can be tossed 80 feet in the air and land with nary a scratch.  The story may preach about looking to tomorrow, but the tired story and themes are rooted firmly in the past.

One of my favorite Saturday Night Live sketches from the past few years was “Get in the Cage.”  The sketch featured Andy Samberg as Nicolas Cage, and each episode would have “Cage” talking with fellow thespians about their craft and their recent work.  Some of the episodes included Bradley Cooper, Jude Law, Jake Gyllenhaal, Liam Neeson, and would you believe the real Nicolas Cage. About a year ago, when Cage was promoting Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance, he stopped by SNL and did the sketch with Samberg.  Not only was it a huge surprise, it was also incredibly funny.

At the recent New York City press day for DreamWorks Animations The Croods, I asked Cage about appearing in the sketch and mentioned how funny it was.  While I was a bit nervous that he wouldn’t want to talk about it, this was not the case at all.  In fact, it seemed like he might have been waiting for someone to ask him about it, as he wanted to go on record that not everything he says is a whisper or a scream.   Hit the jump to watch the sketch and to see Cage talk about appearing on SNL.  Look for my full interview with Cage tomorrow.

Just a few hours ago, I sat down with Nicolas Cage for a fantastic interview about DreamWorks Animations The Croods.  While I’ve spoken to Cage a number of times, today was definitely the best interview by a mile.  Not only was he excited to talk about The Croods and how happy he was with the finished film, when I asked him about Superman, SNL’s Get in the Cage with Nicolas Cage, and even possible future projects like Ghost Rider 3, he was more than happy to talk.  I can’t wait to share the full interview.  However, rather than having you wait till the week of March 22nd (when The Croods gets released), fans of the Ghost Rider movie franchise will be happy to know that I’m posting what he said about that franchise today.  The big news is when I asked him if the movie is on the drawing board, or if it’s a possibility, he told me:

“It’s possible, but it won’t be with me.”

Continued after the jump.

We’ve got eight clips from DreamWorks Animations’ The Croods to share with you today. Directed by Kirk De Micco (Space Chimps) and Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon), The Croods centers on the titular prehistoric family embarking on the world’s first  road trip through an uncharted, fantastical and dangerous world.  Featuring the voice talents of Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage, Clark Duke, Catherine Keener and Cloris Leachman, The Croods opens March 22nd.  Hit the jump to watch all eight clips.

We’ve got a couple of casting stories to share this afternoon.  First up, Nicolas Cage has boarded yet another thriller as he’s set to star in Tokarev.  THR reports that Cage was instrumental in choosing the film’s director—spanish filmmaker Paco Cabezas—and will play a former criminal who sets out in search of his daughter’s kidnappers.  Jim Agnew and Sean Keller wrote the script, and production is looking to get underway this May in Spokane, Washington.  Cage will next be seen voicing a character in the DreamWorks Animation comedy The Croods.

Hit the jump for casting news concerning a certain Downton Abbey alum landing a co-starring role opposite Liam Neeson.

The first image and a new synopsis have been released for David Gordon Green‘s upcoming southern thriller, Joe.  Nicolas Cage stars as the titular an ex-con who “becomes the unlikeliest of role models to 15 year old Gary Jones (Tye Sheridan), the oldest child of a homeless family ruled by a drunk, worthless father.”  Green delivered one of his best films in years with Prince Avalanche (click here for my review), and it looks like Joe will continue the director’s return to form.  I’m curious to see how Sheridan’s performance in Joe compares to his excellent work in Mud where he also plays a kid from a broken home who embraces a criminal as a role model.

Hit the jump to check out the image and synopsis.  WestEnd Films is handling international sales and will be shopping the films to buyers at this month’s European Film Market.

As we await the 85th Academy Award nominations announcement on Thursday morning, we now have a look at the opposite end of the 2012 film spectrum.  The 33rd Golden Raspberry Award nominations have been announced, celebrating the very worst of what 2012′s movie slate had to offer.  Leading the pack is The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 with 10 nominations, as the film landed a nomination in every single category.  The Twilight closer will go head-to-head with Battleship, A Thousand Words, That’s My Boy, and The Oogieloves in Big Balloon Adventure for the Worst Picture title.

It’s easy to beat up on the Twilight franchise, and even though I wouldn’t go so far as to call Breaking Dawn – Part 2 a good movie, it’s in no way the worst movie of the year.  The sheer amount of beheadings alone in director Bill Condon’s climactic fight sequence is enough to make the movie worth watching.  Anyway, hit the jump to check out the full list of Razzie Awards nominations.

A new trailer for DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming film The Croods has been released online.  Written and directed by Kirk De Micco (Space Chimps) and Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon), the film takes us back to “a previously undiscovered era in the history of our planet” and centers on the culture clash between a family of cavemen and a more evolved young man named Guy (Ryan Reynolds).  This trailer is much more DreamWorks-y than the first teaser in that it relies heavily on physical comedy and gags.  That said, there are a couple genuine laughs to be found and the animation looks great.

Hit the jump to watch the new trailer, and click here to read Dave’s recap from DreamWorks Animation’s recent sneak peek at their upcoming slate.  The film also features the voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman and Clark Duke.  The Croods opens March 22, 2013 in 3D.

Today, DreamWorks Animation presented a sneak peek at the three films set for release in 2013: The Croods, Turbo and Mr. Peabody & Sherman. While the films are in varying stages of completeness, clips from each movie were screened to give the audience a sense of tone, story and aesthetics. Not familiar with the movies in question? Here’s a look at the relevant directors and voice casts:

• The Croods – Directed by Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco, and featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman and Clark Duke, The Croods opens March 22, 2013 in 3D.
• Turbo – Directed by David Soren and featuring a voice cast including Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Peña, Luis Guzman, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Ken Jeong, Michelle Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Ben Schwartz, Kurtwood Smith, Snoop Dogg and Samuel L. Jackson, Turbo opens July 19, 2013 in 3D.
• Mr. Peabody & Sherman – Directed by Rob Minkoff and featuring the voices of Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Allison Janney, Stephen Colbert, Stephen Tobolowsky, Mel Brooks, Leslie Mann and Stanley Tucci, Mr. Peabody & Sherman opens November 1, 2013 in 3D.

Hit the jump for a recap of the sneak peeks.

It appears that Nicolas Cage has forgotten how to use the word “no.”  The actor has signed on to a large number of projects as of late, including a reboot of the Evangelical Christian series Left Behind.  He’s now adding another project to his slate, though this one is more in line with the fun Nic Cage of the 1990s.  We learned back in August that producers were trying to rope in some high profile names for the invetiable action sequel The Expendables 3, and Cage was on said wish list.  Now Sylvester Stallone has revealed a bit about the confirmed follow-up, stating that Cage is indeed onboard.  Hit the jump to see what he had to say. [Update: A new report indicates that Cage is not actually signed on.  Hit the jump for further explanation.]

When I think about actors I would want to lead a group of survivors after the cataclysmic events of the Rapture, I think of Kirk Cameron Nicolas Cage.  It looks like Paul LaLonde and his Stoney Lake Entertainment had the same thing in mind as Cage is in negotiations with the faith-based production company to topline a new Left Behind reboot.   Based on the bestselling book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, three previous movies were produced, all starring Kirk Cameron as one of many left behind when the Rapture occurs and all of Christ’s believers are transported to Heaven.  It looks like Cage will be taking over that role in the reboot.  South Park is going to have a field day.  Hit the jump for more. 

Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen are teaming up to star in a film set in 10th Century China.  The Wrap reports that Cage and Christensen are attached to star in Outcast, which centers on a warrior who attempts to redeem himself by saving a princess.  James Dormer is writing the script with stunt man Nick Powell set to make his directorial debut on the project.  The pic is being shopped to buyers with the hopes of starting production next year.  No other details are known about the plot, but one assumes that Christensen will play the aforementioned warrior.

Cage has been incredibly busy lately, attaching himself to star in David Gordon Green’s (Pineapple Express) southern drama Joe, director William Friedkin’s (Killer Joe) vigilante thriller I Am Wrath, and Richard Kelly’s (Donnie Darko) bizzare drama Amicus.  On the other hand, Christensen has been rather quiet as of late, most recently starring in the 2010 thriller Takers.