DAVID DUNN

Indy’s coming back to the movie theaters, and this time, he’s hopefully leaving the aliens behind.

Disney announced a few hours ago that producer Kathleen Kennedy, director Steven Spielberg, and actor Harrison Ford are returning to collaborate on a fifth Indiana Jones movie. While a title has not yet been decided upon, Disney did confirm that the movie would be released in July 2019.

The last time we got an Indiana Jones movie was with The Kingdom of Crystal Skull, which was also produced by Kennedy and directed by Spielberg.  The movie was panned by both critics and fans alike, with many people criticizing the fact that Indy went head to head against Soviet spies and… aliens?  Weird combination, to say the least.

Kennedy, Spielberg, and Ford collaborated on all four Indy movies prior to this announcement, so this new production can go one of two ways. 1) It will be a hit, just like the first one, or 2) It will flop as badly as the fourth. Here’s to hoping it’s the first instead of the latter.

What do you think? Are you excited that we’re getting another Indy adventure, or do you think the series should stay in the snake pit? Comment below, let me know.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: Deadline, The Guardian

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. And now, we know who they are.

Stephen King fans have been waiting a long time for a film adaptation of his critically-acclaimed Dark Tower series, which is considered by many as his magnus opus. Circling around filmmakers such as J.J. Abrams and Ron Howard, The Dark Tower has been stuck in development hell since 2007.

Now, not only do we have a release date: we also have our gunslinger and our man in black.

British actor Idris Elba (Pacific Rim, Beasts of No Nation) has been cast as Roland Deschain, the lonely gunslinger who treks through the land in pursuit of Randall Flagg, a twisted man who forces Deschain into a terrible fate. Actor Matthew McConaughey has been cast as Flagg, who previously won an Academy Award for portraying HIV victim Ron Woodroof in the 2013 picture Dallas Buyers Club.

This is big news for Dark Tower fans. We’ve had casting announcements for this project before, including a time when Russel Crowe was set to portray Deschain. All of those plans fell through though. This announcement, along with the movie’s upcoming release date, shows that the project is making legitimate progress. Stephen King fans may finally have their Dark Tower movie.

However, King did make a statement that the movie would not start with his entry novel, The Gunslinger. Rather, it would start at mid-point somewhere in his complex series, and while King thinks this might upset some fans a little bit, they’ll get behind it, because it is the story he intended.

What do you think? Are you excited that Elba and McConaughey are on-board for this science-fiction western epic? Sound your thoughts off below. The first Dark Tower film is due for release in January 2017.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: Cinemablend, Entertainment Weekly

Brace yourselves: the director of Tron: Legacy is teaming up with the writer behind Black Hawk Down and the producer behind Transformers to make a firefighter drama titled No Exit.

I don’t know whether this is good news or bad news, but right now, I’m excited nonetheless.

The drama is based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, an Arizona firefighting team who risked their lives to combat the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, one of the deadliest wildfires in the state’s history. The film is being directed by Tron: Legacy and Oblivion director Joseph Kosinski, produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and written by Black Hawk Down scribe Ken Nolan, who also wrote the 2007 Cold War miniseries “The Company.”

How this news sounds to you depends on your opinions of these figures. I like Joseph Kosinski, but I know overall opinions are mixed between Tron: Legacy and Oblivion. Black Hawk Down was an amazing survival story, but that’s been Nolan’s only movie credit since 2001. And I absolutely despite Transformers, as well as all of di Bonaventura’s other credits, which include RED, G.I. Joe, The Last Stand, Salt, Man On A Ledge, and other shabby productions that haven’t earned a recognition beyond a people’s choice award (though the producer isn’t as responsible for those works as the filmmakers themselves are).

All the same, I’m excited for No Exit. The firefighter’s story of bravery and survival is one primed and ready to be told through film, and since Kosinski won’t be overloading his movie with special effects, it may force him to focus more on the actors and tell a more grounded, human story as opposing to a science-fiction fantasy.

We’ll see how good No Exit will be come its release date. Until then, I will leave these filmmakers to it and make my own exit.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: Screenrant, Collider.com

Colin Trevorrow is looking to make Star Wars: Episode IX a great film. Literally.

The Jurassic World director, who is helming the ninth entry in the Star Wars saga, announced today that he will be shooting the sequel on film, as opposed to the digital format most filmmakers have conformed to in today’s industry. Trevorrow is following filmmaker J.J. Abrams’ lead on this decision, as the director filmed The Force Awakens on 35 mm and 65 mm film. Trevorrow made the announcement during a panel discussion at the Sundance Film Festival, where he talked about film on traditional stock versus digital cameras.

Incidentally, Trevorrow also filmed Jurassic World in 35 and 65 mm film, so it’ll be nice to see him bring this experience into filming Star Wars. I for one applaud the decision. Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the most visually fresh and authentic film of the year, and a big part of that was because of Abrams’ decision to not only film on traditional stock, but also to use practical effects over CGI, such as the elaborate costume and makeup work and making BB-8 a mechanical puppet as opposed to a CGI creation. I’m happy to see that Trevorrow is looking to follow in Abrams’ footsteps, and I’m hoping that Episode VIII director Rian Johnson will hop on board for using film stock and practical effects as well.

What do you guys think? Are you happy to hear that Episode IX will be shot on film, or do you just want to see jedi throw it down during lightsaber duels? Comment below, let me know.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: Screenrant, Roadshow

Hollywood has lost another icon.

British actor Alan Rickman, most known for roles including Hans Gruber in Die Hard and Severus Snape in Harry Potter, passed away this morning at the age of 69 from cancer. Members of his family said that he was surrounded by family and friends at the time of his passing.

Members of the film community have mourned for the loss of Rickman. Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling tweeted about him. Hermoine actress Emma Watson posted on Facebook. Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe himself posted a lengthy post on Google Plus on the late actor’s impact on his life.

“As an actor, he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child,” Radcliffe wrote. “Working with him at such a formative age was incredibly important and I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career.” 

In his lifetime, Rickman has acted in over 68 films and has won numerous accolades, including a screen actors guild award for his performance in “Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.” In honor of him, let’s remember him not as an iconic movie supervillian, but as a talented actor and a good man who held a passionate love for cinema, broadway, and acting.

Rest in peace, Alan Rickman.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: New York Daily News, Reuters

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has just broken $1 billion dollars at the box office, and it isn’t even two weeks into its theatrical run.

The seventh installment in the highly regarded sci-fi franchise passed the billion dollar mark this Sunday, the fastest any film has done so in just under 12 days. The film to hold the record before that was Universal’s Jurassic World, which grossed over $1 billion in the 13th day of its release.

“You almost have to rewrite all the record books for this movie,” Paul Dergarabedian, Rentrak box office analyst, said. “It’s absolutely mind-blowing that ‘Star Wars’ could get to a billion dollars in 12 days and it hasn’t even opened in China, the second biggest movie market in the world.”

It’s no surprise that Star Wars is doing so well financially. The series as a whole has grossed more than $4 billion globally, with the highest grossing film before The Force Awakens being the very first Star Wars, which also grossed over $1 billion after being adjusted for inflation. Tie that in with the fact that this is the first live-action film in 10 years that also acts as a sequel to Return of the Jedi more than 30 years ago, and you have a film that was almost destined for success.

With the massive anticipation building behind the film, I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that this film is doing so well at the box office. What is a surprise is how quickly it reached that success. There are currently 24 films that have crossed the billion dollar mark at the box office. Such titles include Avatar, Titanic, and The Avengers. None of those 23 films have reached that milestone that quickly. Some of them crossed the mark about halfway through their theatrical run, like Toy Story 3. Others barely skimmed by near the end of their run, like The Dark Knight. But none shattered the box office as quickly as Star Wars: The Force Awakens did. And as Dergarabedian said, The Force Awakens is also set for release in China on Jan. 9. It’s theatrical run is only beginning.

There’s no telling where Star Wars: The Force Awakens can go from here. With as much popularity as it has amassed so quickly, it is very possible that The Force Awakens will go on to break many more box office records, even possibly breaking the $2 billion dollar mark alongside Avatar and Titanic. Where it will go from here depends on the love of the fans and the staying power of the force.

In either case, congratulation to J.J. Abrams, Walt Disney Studios, LucasFilm, and the rest of the cast and crew involved with this wonderful film. You have certainly awakened something within many moviegoing audiences out there.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: Associated Press, Box Office Mojo

Hey girl.

(Or guy, I don’t judge.)

Guess what?

Ryan Gosling is the new Blade Runner.

The 35-year-old actor confirmed that his next film would Blade Runner 2, although he refused to go into any more details beyond that.

“There’s a chip in me, and if I say anything more, I’ll explode if I say anything else,” Gosling joked.

The project as a whole has been heavily kept under wraps. We know that filmmaker Dennis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario) is slated to direct the project, while cinematographer Roger Deakins (Skyfall, True Grit, The Shawshank Redemption) is set to shoot the picture. The director of the original film Ridley Scott is set to produce, and Harrison Ford is expecting to reprise his role as well. All othere elements of the plot, however, are a complete mystery. We don’t know what the premise is, nor how Ford or Gosling play into it.

We’re expected to hear more about it once production rolls around. Until then, are you excited to see Gosling entering the fray of Blade Runner? Comment below, let me know.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: Collider

This is one piece of news I wish I could forget.

The Hollywood Reporter recently broke the news that Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed 2000 masterpiece, Memento, was greenlit for a remake. The announcement came from AMBI Pictures co-founders Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi, who said they were going to finance and produce the picture.

“‘Memento’ is a masterpiece that leaves audiences guessing not just throughout the film, but long after as well, which is a testament to its daring approach,” Bacardi said in a statement. “We intend to stay true to Christopher Nolan’s vision and deliver a memorable movie that is every bit as edgy, iconic and award-worthy as the original.”

Good luck with that.

For those of you unfamiliar, Memento tells the story of a man suffering from amnesia while trying to find and kill his wife’s murderer. What’s most unique about the motion picture is that it is narrated in reverse-chronological order, meaning it starts at the end and it ends at the beginning. It’s slightly confusing, but when you begin to piece events together, you notice a pattern and Nolan’s mastery at telling this incredibly fascinating story.

The fact that AMBI Pictures is remaking it is revolting, confounding, and absolutely unnecessary. Hey, let’s not stop there, guys! Why don’t we remake The Godfather next? How about Shawshank Redemption? Schindler’s List? Lord of the Rings? What about Batman Begins? It’s only been ten years, that’s enough time for a remake!

The fact these studio execs are remaking a masterpiece like Memento is 110% sickening and maddening. Masterpieces do not need to be remade. Their existence by themselves is timeless. Why would you lessen the value of this work by recycling it through the production process for profit?

The studio is currently searching for a director and writer to take on the project. They’re also looking for a soul, because clearly, they don’t already have one.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter, Screenrant

After a month of its release, Sony Pictures has decided to pull Steve Jobs from over 2,000 movie theaters across the nation.

Since its release in October, the Danny Boyle-directed biopic has grossed a measly $16 million. The James Bond epic Spectre, in comparison, has grossed over $73 million in its opening weekend.

With the total budget for Steve Jobs being $30 million dollars, that means Sony Pictures lost over $14 million on the project.

It’s safe to say that Steve Jobs is officially a box office bomb.

There’s no clear reason as to why Steve Jobs tanked so badly at the box office. I wrote in my review that Steve Jobs “…captures both the genius and fragility of Jobs, the sharpness in his words and the intimacy of his emotions.” I continue to attest to that despite the financial failure of the project. Steve Jobs was not a perfect film, but it was written well, the drama and tension was built excellently between its characters, and Michael Fassbender especially was mesmerizing in the lead role. The movie did not deserve to fail as much as it did.

So what happened? In my interview with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, he attested that while the film took liberties on what events took place, it was wholly accurate to the emotions that were being felt at the time. The film as a whole is aesthetically accurate to Steve Jobs. It is not literally accurate.

“This is a painting and not a photograph,” Sorkin said to me. “It’s not a piece of journalism. It’s a piece of art.” 

I think that, in the midst of hearing that Steve Jobs was not entirely factual, audiences were deterred by Steve Jobs and were prompted to spend their weekend differently. That is very sad if that is the case, because The Social Network was written similarly, yet no one judged Sorkin when he wrote that script. Indeed, he won the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for the liberties he took in writing that film. Along with that, The Social Network performed very well at the box office, grossing over $220 million during its theatrical run.

The Social Network and Steve Jobs are both very similar films. They both tell stories about eccentric geniuses who struggle with their personalities and with having human relationships with the people closest to them. Yet, one flourished and one tanked. Why?

Steve Jobs is in early talks to be nominated for many accolades during awards season. It is currently playing in only 421 theaters.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: Box Office Mojo, Cult of Mac

May the force be with you, Daniel.

Texas resident Daniel Fleetwood, the driving force behind the twitter campaign #forceforDaniel, passed away today to spindle cell carcinoma, a cancer that eats away at the tissues surrounding internal organs. He and his wife started the campaign in order to get Daniel to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens early before its December release.

Last week, director J.J. Abrams himself called him to tell him that he’s going to see the film. Daniel passed away a few days after, happy and content that he got to see his favorite characters, droids and jedi one last time.

“Daniel put up an amazing fight to the very end,” his wife Ashley said in a Facebook post. “He is now one with God and with the force. He will always be my idol and my hero. Rest in peace my love.”

– David Dunn

SOURCE: ABC Online, ScreenCrush