Couples Retreat - They're so money!

Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Faizon Love star in Universal Pictures’ upcoming comedy Couples Retreat. Based on an original idea of Vaughn’s, the comedy follows four Midwestern couples who embark on a journey to a tropical island resort. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the other three set out to jet ski, spa and enjoy some fun in the sun. They soon discover that participation in the resort’s couples therapy is not optional. Suddenly, their group-rate vacation comes at a price. What follows is a hilarious look at real world problems faced by all couples. The film also stars Kali Hawk and Jean Reno.

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Paul - Photos from Simon Pegg's and Nick Frost's alien film

Peggster.net have lots and lots of photos from behind the scenes of the Greg Mottola directed film, Paul.
Paul is the story of two British slackers (Pegg and Frost) who after visiting Comic-Con go on a road trip to Area 51 where they encounter a small alien named Paul (Seth Rogen), who enlists them to help him find his way home. Jason Batemen and Bill Hader play Government agents who are chasing Paul. Sigourney Weaver is also starring in it.
A recent look at the script suggest it is going to be very funny with lots of cool pop culture references. However, Pegg and Frost do look a little different from the character descriptions in the script (although they may not have been in costume for the photos).
I really like these photos. They give a good feel for the shoot and always good to see the cast and crew behind the camera. The photo at the bottom shows Rogen doing an Andy Serkis with the motion capture suit.


Check out the rest of the photos over at Peggster.net. How do you feel about the film after looking at the photos?

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Paul - The script for Nick Frost and Simon Pegg's new film has been seen

Rich Johnston over at Bleeding Cool has seen the script for Paul. This is the film where Pegg and Frost play two blokers who visit a comic convention and end up meeting an alien called Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen). Then it turns into a bit of a road trip featuring Sigourney Weaver, Jason Bateman and Bill Hader amongst others. It is directed by Greg Mottola and is due to start filming soon. They will be doing some shooting at the San Diego Comic Con, so if you are going keep an eye out for them. Here's what Rich has to say about it.

This script is chock full of gags, bursting at the seams. Comedy of repetition, plenty of pull-back-and-reveals and overflowing pop cultural references including one Back To The Future gag that had me gasping for breath I laughed so hard. But these references aren’t surface, they are used to describe the relationships that the characters have with each other. Why use words to explain how you feel, when you can just find a common episode of Star Trek that does the job a lot more effectively. It’s honest, it’s true, yes it’s mocking but in a way that both validadates and celebrates both the actual reality and the often unrealised potential of the geek lifestyle. Damn it if the screenplay isn’t moving and poignant in places. But mostly it’s Simon Pegg and Nick Frost revisiting their past screen partnership performances, the friends who know each other so well, forgive the other’s eccentricities as their own are forgiven and would likely die for each other. As long as they were trying to Capture the Flag. No one does bromance like these boys. It’s not surprising that Paul is the character who seems, well, most normal most of the time.

Sounds like it could be another excellent comedy from the Pegg / Frost duo.

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State of Play, 2009 - Movie Review

Director: Kevin MacdonaldStarring: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Michael Berresse, Viola Davis
Running Time: 127 minutes
Score: 8/10

This is a fantastic review by Don Fishies.

Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is helping with the government investigation of a shady military-based company when he receives word that his mistress has committed suicide. Visually distraught, he leaves a hearing in tears and sets off a media circus. Seasoned reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) was his roommate in college, and the two have remained friends. In a bid to quash the political blogging of junior reporter Della Frye (Rachel McAdams), McAffrey sets out to find the truth about the story.

State of Play sets itself up early on to be a cookie-cutter, predictable thriller. But as the film progresses, it rather quickly becomes the twisty and conniving thriller it needs to be. Despite being heavily dialogue driven, the film is an intense ride that will keep people on edge throughout. Some scenes are downright terrifying in their amped up suspense and political intrigue. This film really set out to be tense, and succeeds wonderfully. It knows just what punches to pull, and when to pull them.

The script, written by political scribes Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilory and Billy Ray, is insight and intriguing. It could have easily been made boring and inundated with rehashed politicalisms (like all of their last films), but this film revels in how interesting it becomes. It has laughs strung throughout (a genuine surprise), and lacks the nerve to become loaded to the brim with facts and innuendos. Instead, it expertly weaves between scenes, amping up the intensity of some scenes, and downplaying others.

But this is mainly due to the incredible performances by the cast. Crowe (who I usually loathe) and Affleck are simply outstanding in their roles. Age issues aside, both play their character with finesse and charisma. Affleck looks and acts like a confused wet-behind-the-ears, gunning-for-higher-office political pawn from beginning to end. Some of the reactions on his face are downright devastating in how excellently they are conveyed. And this is a guy critics once said could not act. Coupled with one-two shot of acting in Hollywoodland and directing Gone Baby Gone, we may be seeing a renewed resonance and importance for the Oscar-winner. Crowe on the other hand, delivers his strongest performance in years. While he has been downplayed and underused in his last few films, he carries this film. He is stubborn and vaguely likable, but he makes his character work for all of his idiosyncrasies and ethically-questionable tactics. He makes a seasoned journalist look like an amateur.

McAdams, all but a ghost recently, holds her own against the two heavy-hitters and delivers a performance that is both inspired and emotional. It gives her a lot of room to act, and she delivers in every instance. The rest of the cast is a bit mixed however, as so little of them is given that much to do. Harry Lennix, Robin Wright Penn, Jeff Daniels, the horrifying Michael Berresse and especially Jason Bateman, all deliver noteworthy performances, but never get to really shine in them. They all have their traits and motivations, but get little screen time to truly express them. They each are developed quite strongly, but they lack the movement afforded to Crowe, Affleck and McAdams. I simply loved Helen Mirren's scenery-gauging editor and all of her subtleties. But she too, is downplayed to the point of almost barely being in the film.

Despite its intensity, the film is bogged down by its dialogue-heavy scenes and consistent character additions. It is easy to keep track of everyone, but so many people are introduced that the film loses its focus on more than one occasion. It makes for a few scenes that are merely filler between the scenes of useful heavy acting. It just feels so tiring. I understand now how daunting a task it must have been to convert six hours of British television into a 127-minute film, but there are scenes that are just too easy to not have been cut out (some entire mildly useful subplots may have helped). Adding characters in makes sense for a story about two journalists frantically searching to lift the lid on a story, but there needs to be more emphasis on what was needed and not needed. A brilliant montage in the middle of the film goes almost entirely to waste because the filmmakers lack the knowledge of what should be cut. Limiting the preposterous and silly climax could have also done wonders. The scenes that are left in the film (including the finale) are great, but they could have been stronger if they were as tightly wound as the film wants itself to be. A little less shaky hand camera movement could have also significantly benefited the film.

Even with its problems, it is clear from the on-set of the first shot in the bullpen at the Washington Globe that the filmmakers are going for a very keen sense of homage to All the President's Men. While the on-going and very professional relationship between McAffrey and Frye is very similar to Woodward and Bernstein, the fabric of journalistic integrity and researching are the core of State of Play. The film is loaded with allusions to the Oscar-winning film, and even mimics shots right out of the film. While it is obvious for anyone who has seen Men, this film's nods are done in such a delicate and unique way that they never become distracting or blatant. The film is its own, and does not ever feel like it is living in its big-brother's shadow. It is a fresh take on old-fashioned reporting in a very digital age, and frequently walks the tight line of old versus new.

State of Play looked interesting, and surprisingly delivers on almost every count. It is not a perfect film, but it is a solid example of great film-making. It wants to be more, but seems content at being a twisty and suspenseful modern thriller.

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Extract - Trailer for Mike Judge's latest film

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Jeff Goldblum holds The Baster

Jeff Goldblum has joined the cast of the romantic comedy "The Baster" for Mandate Pictures says The Hollywood Reporter.

Directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon, the story follows a man (Jason Bateman) whose female best friend (Jennifer Aniston) plans to become pregnant with artificial insemination, but he replaces the preferred sample with his own.

Seven years later, she returns to New York with her son, and he is forced to live with the secret that he is the child's real father.

Goldblum will play Bateman's business partner and confidant, whose idea of working out is walking slowly on the treadmill while eating a candy bar.

I do like Jeff Goldblum but he doesn't seem to have done anything that was good for ages. This film doesn't sound as if it will be breaking that trend. The plot of this film sounds truly dreadful and Jason Bateman is at risk of flushing away all his current success in recent years by starring in it. That's just my opinion of course.

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Up in the Air - Behind the scenes footage of George Clooney's latest film

Shooting begun this week in St. Louis for George Clooney's film, Up in the Air. News 4 spotted Clooney filming a scene downtown. The film will make use of more than 50 locations in the St. Louis area, including Lambert St. Louis-International Airport.

The film, which stars Clooney, tells the story of a man on a mission to rack up a million frequent flyer miles.

In January, approximately 2,000 extras were cast for the film. Thousands more lined up to audition.

The film is expected to create about 500 jobs, produce 6,000 hotel bookings and create an economic impact of at least $5 million in St. Louis.

Production should conclude by the end of April.

Director: Jason Reitman
Writer: Jason Reitman
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
Cast: George Clooney, Jason Bateman, Vera Farmiga

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Bill Hader, Anna Farris, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann - The Honeymooners

Another great photo from Vanity Fair. Photographed by Norman Jean Roy in Los Angeles.
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State of Play - New Photo

A rising congressman and an investigative journalist are embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. With Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels and Helen Mirren. Directed by Kevin Macdonald. Screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan and Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray.

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