Not seeing Darren Aronofsky's "The Fountain" is easily my biggest cinematic omission of 2006. In my defense, and these are pretty weak excuses I'll admit, Hollywood released about 100 flicks for the last three months of the year and this one only played in my little corner of the world for a week or so.
It's still not out on DVD so I can rectify this, but now comes news of another big-studio opportunity for Aronofsky. He's in negotiations to direct Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon in the boxing drama "The Fighter" for Paramount Pictures. The pic is based on the rise of Boston boxer "Irish" Micky Ward, who nabbed the world lightweight title with the help of his once down-and-out half-brother Dicky, who became a trainer.
If Wahlberg and Damon give the greenlight to a rewtite by Paul Attanasio, filming could begin by early summer in Massachusetts.
This sounds awfully straightforward for Aronofsky, but after "Requiem for a Dream" I'll follow him just about anywhere. Besides, the seedy world of boxing offers all kinds of opportunities for a mind as active as his. I can't wait to see what comes out of all this.
Onion launching video newscast
Bosses of the world beware: The Onion has come up with perhaps the best time-wasting opportunity of all time.
The satirical weekly is launching a video newscast dubbed Onion News Network, or ONN, a 24-hour fake news net marketing itself as, "faster, harder, scarier and all-knowing."
"Our competitors are MSNBC and CNN," said the Onion's Sean Mills. "Those are parody shows, and this is serious news. There's no studio audience, and no one's in on the joke. What we are trying to create is a broadcast-quality newscast on the Internet." Sounds perfect to me.
Starting today, ONN began releasing segments on Theonion.com, and it will encourage fans to disseminate ad-supported clips around the Web.
Clips from the newscast will be available as free podcasts on iTunes, and the Onion is discussing content partnerships with YouTube, Joost, MySpace and TiVo in which they'll split the ad revenue with the distributor.
I'm not sure the Onion schtick can transfer to video, but they make me laugh, so I'm not gonna doubt them now. Round about 2 p.m., when I'm badly in need of a break, I'll definitely be checking this out.
"Ratatouille" trailer
Speaking of wasting time, what better way to do it than by watching the trailer for what just might be this summer's best movie (and yes, I do feel more than a little dirty pimping for Pixar.)
Here, as long as it lasts on YouTube (which, given Disney's clingy hands, probably won't be long) is a fantastic looking trailer. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Arofonsky the "Fighter"
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15 comments:
"Ratatouille" seems like a clever concept, but alot less kid friendly than some of Pixar's other films. I wonder if that will hurt at the box office.
"The Fountain" was beautiful. I think you will enjoy it.
I'm sure I will, Kookie ... Like I said, I do feel guilty about being among the masses who missed it at the movie theater ... From the look of Ratatouille, I think there will be enough humor aimed at both big and little kids that this will be an all-around winner
Arofonsky could make a porn and I'd watch it. One thing I've learned about this guy is not to underestimate the apparent straightforwardness of the story.
You're right there, Marina .. With "Requiem" there was plenty of opportunity to churn out something we had just seen so many times before, but of course he came up with so much more
I have to say, I can't get very excited about CG animation. I'm just tired of it...anymore they all tend to look the same, sound the same and have the same frenetic, gag-a-minute pacing and no real substance. So I tend to dismiss them all right off the bat, even if it is a Pixar film. Having Brad Bird behind it is the only reason I'd even give Ratatouille a shot. At least I know it'll probably have a halfway decent story, and from the trailer it definitely seems to have Brad's trademark of really solid, sharp writing. I just hope the rest of it is as good as the trailer.
I'm interested in seeing what you think of The Fountain after you watch it. Everyone I know that saw it seems to have mixed thoughts on it. It's definitely an 'art piece' and not made as a movie you can logically decipher and figure everything out. Visually it's awesome, but if you're expecting to completely understand everything linearly or make connections between everything, you might be disappointed.
I rarely need to have everything sewed up neatly for me, Chalupa, so if it is as visually stunning as everyone promises, I almost certainly will like it .. I'll have to post a review if and when it ever hits DVD, but I couldn't tell this morning just when that might be
I haven't gotten to see The Fountain either. It only stayed in Columbia briefly. At any rate, it will be interesting to see what Arofonsky does with the story of Micky Ward. As straight forward as the movie sounds now, I bet the direction he takes it in will be anything but that.
Like you, I don't know if the Onion can take their act to video, but I am willing to give them a try. I've always loved reading the Onion.
Don't look at it as your pimping for Pixar... look at it as you're pimping for Brad Bird! That's something far less to be ashamed of as Bird is one of the few really creative forces behind animation today (he also happens to come from my home town of Corvallis, Oregon).
I'm always happy to promote Brad Bird, Damian, because he directed my single favorite animated movie of all time, Iron Giant .. every time I watch that one I find something new to love
This looks great and the animation is superb. I like it that it ain't so "kiddish" (as if that would stop me from watching Pixar stuff).. I am looking forward to this :D
Speaking of CG, have you ever watched Final Fantasy: Advent Children? You should... it is possibly the best CG movie ever.
I haven't, KJ, but I soon will ... My favorite thing about is writing this is the movie recommendations I get on a regular basis
''Besides, the seedy world of boxing offers all kinds of opportunities for a mind as active as his. I can't wait to see what comes out of all this.''
Considering the team that is being built for this project, the subject matter (Irish boxer in Boston!) and the location (Boston!) I couldn't be more excited about the possibilities here..bring it on.
i totally am impressed with brad bird (iron giant!!!!).
i missed the fountain too...seems to be a common theme among your readers.
i guess we can expect the dvd to do well.
tahnks for commenting on my site - motovresmovies - i've pretty much given up on it since my mp3 blog was getting about 100 times the traffic, but movie blogging is so fun, i may start it up again.
anyway, this is a great site an di will be bookmarking it for sure.
i'm posting here because of the aranofsky story - i hadn't heard that! could be good!
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