While Jake Kasdan had moderate success with last year’s Bad Teacher — a couple of folks even said it was funny, too — he’s bounced around quite a bit in the time since. In this mere, not-so-long span, there have been offers for Sex Tape, Family Getaway, an untitled comedy, and the Shawn Levy-produced Man Made. That’s plenty (actually, too much) for anybody, but even David O. Russell can give us some hint as to what’s coming next.
Add one to the pile, since Variety reports that Kasdan and Universal are planning to join forces on an espionage comedy, My Spy, a piece said to be in the vein of ’80s classics such as Weird Science and Risky Business. Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less) and Jeremy Slater wrote the original script for CBS Films, but, with Universal’s pending acquisition, Kasdan and his brother, Jon, will give the thing another polish.
Add one to the pile, since Variety reports that Kasdan and Universal are planning to join forces on an espionage comedy, My Spy, a piece said to be in the vein of ’80s classics such as Weird Science and Risky Business. Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less) and Jeremy Slater wrote the original script for CBS Films, but, with Universal’s pending acquisition, Kasdan and his brother, Jon, will give the thing another polish.
- 7/10/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
It’s been a little over a year now since we heard that Neil Labute was set to direct an adaptation of famed mystery writer Agatha Christie’s “Crooked House,” which he would be bringing to life from a script he co-wrote with Academy Award-winning “Gosford Park” writer Julian Fellowes and Tim Rose Price. There was word shortly after that an impressive ensemble of talent in Julie Andrews, Matthew Goode, Gemma Arterton, and Gabriel Byrne would be filling out the plum roles the film had to offer – but it looks as if that may have changed entirely. THR reports Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has acquired all rights in the U.S., Canada and internationally for the film, which could help secure it a pretty nice release – but it should also be noted the report states that casting is about to gear up in London as the film is set for a fall production start,...
- 7/10/2012
- by Benjamin Wright
- The Playlist
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has acquired North American and select international rights to Neil Labute's upcoming adaptation of Agatha Christie’s murder mystery "Crooked House" says Screen International.
One of Christie's few stories that doesn't involve her recurring characters Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot, it's also one of the few works by author Christie that has yet to see either a film or television adaptation.
The story is set against the backdrop of three generations of an eccentric family that lives together in a large house. When the multi-millionaire patriarch is found murdered, it seems that everyone has reasons to kill him.
“It’s been far too long since we’ve seen Agatha Christie’s work on the big screen. Crooked House is one of her best and most surprising murder mysteries. It’s the perfect title with which to bring a whole new audience to Christie, while at...
One of Christie's few stories that doesn't involve her recurring characters Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot, it's also one of the few works by author Christie that has yet to see either a film or television adaptation.
The story is set against the backdrop of three generations of an eccentric family that lives together in a large house. When the multi-millionaire patriarch is found murdered, it seems that everyone has reasons to kill him.
“It’s been far too long since we’ve seen Agatha Christie’s work on the big screen. Crooked House is one of her best and most surprising murder mysteries. It’s the perfect title with which to bring a whole new audience to Christie, while at...
- 7/10/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has acquired U.S. and Canada rights, along with select international territories, on Crooked House, the Neil Labute-directed adaptation of the Agatha Christie’s murder mystery novel that is being made by Ealing Metro International. Script is by Gosford Park and Downton Abbey scribe Julian Fellowes, Tim Rose Price and Labute. “It’s been far too long since we’ve seen Agatha Christie’s work on the big screen,” Labute said. “Crooked House is one of her best and most surprising murder mysteries. It’s the perfect title with which to bring a whole new audience to Christie, while at the same time delivering a wonderfully suspenseful experience to her legions of existing fans.” Shooting will start in the fall in London, with Brilliant Films’ Joe Abrams and Rory Gilmartin producing with Marc Samuelson of Samuelson Productions.
- 7/10/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has acquired all rights in the U.S., Canada and select international territories to Crooked House, an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel from Ealing Metro International. Photos: 11 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years Neil Labute is slated to direct the project from a script he wrote with Oscar winner Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park, Downton Abbey) and Tim Rose Price. House is gearing up to cast with an eye on a fall start in London. Joe Abrams and Rory Gilmartin of Brilliant Films are producing, with Marc Samuelson of
read more...
read more...
- 7/10/2012
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Is there a greater film than "Lawrence of Arabia?" Perhaps. There are certainly few longer ones, or few that are more epic and sweeping in their scope (thanks to the timeless Panavision 70 photography by Freddie Young). But even if the film isn't your absolute favorite, it is the number one of many, including Steven Spielberg, who credits the picture with making him want to be a filmmaker.
David Lean's tale of T.E. Lawrence's adventures in Arabia in World War I is fifty years old this year, and ahead of a brand-spanking-new Blu-ray release next month, a glorious new 4K restoration of the film is screening at Cannes tomorrow night. To mark the occasion, as well as the anniversary of the death of Lawrence himself, who died 77 years ago tomorrow, we've assembled five things you might not know about Lean's unassailable classic.
1. David Lean nearly directed a biopic of...
David Lean's tale of T.E. Lawrence's adventures in Arabia in World War I is fifty years old this year, and ahead of a brand-spanking-new Blu-ray release next month, a glorious new 4K restoration of the film is screening at Cannes tomorrow night. To mark the occasion, as well as the anniversary of the death of Lawrence himself, who died 77 years ago tomorrow, we've assembled five things you might not know about Lean's unassailable classic.
1. David Lean nearly directed a biopic of...
- 5/18/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Hey, who doesn’t like a good old fashion murder mystery? And no one writes or plots out a good old fashion murder mystery better than Agatha Christie, whose 1949 crime novel “Crooked House” is being adapted for the big screen by director Neil Labute (“Death at a Funeral”), and will star Julie Andrews, Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode and Gabriel Byrne. The story of “Crooked House” is set in the family home of the Leonides, an eccentric family that live together in a big, seemingly “crooked” house. When the family’s ailing patriarch is murdered with his own medicine, it’s up to WWII veteran Charles to solve the case, since his fiance Sophia won’t marry him unless the whole matter is all cleared up first. Women, am I right, guys? It’s do this, do that, solve my father’s murder, etc. Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park”) and Tim Rose Price...
- 8/10/2011
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
The latest addition to the cast of Dexter's sixth season is a great one: Edward James Olmos has signed on to play "a brilliant, charismatic professor of religious studies." Colin Hanks and Mos Def are other recent additions [1] to the core cast of the show, which begins shooting on May 25 and will premiere in the fall, likely in mid to late September. Being the definition of a good sport, Mr. Olmos tweeted [2] right after the news broke: "It's true... I'm coming for you Dexter...." [Deadline [3]] After the break, the ever-great Richard Jenkins joins Elizabeth Olson in an indie, and we catch up with the extensive casting of Crooked House. Adding Richard Jenkins to the cast of a film is nearly a surefire way to get me to see it, no matter what the subject matter may be. The latest project to bring his talent to bear is Liberal Arts, the second...
- 5/24/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
American director, Neil Labute, has cast four of the lead roles for the upcoming film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Crooked House with some of the finest English and Irish actors, Variety reports.
Now signing on to the project are Dame Julie Andrews, Gemma Arterton, Gabriel Byrne, and Matthew Goode, a great mix of classic talent and upcoming stars.
The film is set in 1947 in London. The lead character, Charles Hayward (most likely to be played by Goode) is told by his fiancé, Sophia (most likely Arterton), that the two cannot be wed until the murderer of her grandfather is found. As such, Hayward makes it his business to discover Sophia’s grandfather’s murderer.
Andrews is perhaps most likely to play the role of Sophia’s great-aunt, with Byrne either playing Sophia’s father or uncle. As is natural in Christie’s novels, everyone has a motive, and it...
Now signing on to the project are Dame Julie Andrews, Gemma Arterton, Gabriel Byrne, and Matthew Goode, a great mix of classic talent and upcoming stars.
The film is set in 1947 in London. The lead character, Charles Hayward (most likely to be played by Goode) is told by his fiancé, Sophia (most likely Arterton), that the two cannot be wed until the murderer of her grandfather is found. As such, Hayward makes it his business to discover Sophia’s grandfather’s murderer.
Andrews is perhaps most likely to play the role of Sophia’s great-aunt, with Byrne either playing Sophia’s father or uncle. As is natural in Christie’s novels, everyone has a motive, and it...
- 5/17/2011
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Last March we reported that director Neil Labute signed on to helm the first big-screen adaptation of Agatha Christie’s family-drama/murder-mystery Crooked House. Now it seems Tim Rose Price, whose last screen credit is 1997′s Serpent’s Kiss, will be joining Julian Fellowes, who co-wrote the critically reviled The Tourist, in adapting the thick tome which centers on a intensely wealthy family and the murder of a millionaire in the midst of their massive mansion – which is presumably crooked. While the investigating detective makes his way through three generations of possible suspects, he must also determine who might be next.
Like much of Christie’s work, Crooked features a bevy of characters, and Labute has already begun filling out the expansive cast. So far Julie Andrews, Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode and Gabriel Byrne have signed on. No word yet on what roles they’ve taken on. Crooked House, which...
Like much of Christie’s work, Crooked features a bevy of characters, and Labute has already begun filling out the expansive cast. So far Julie Andrews, Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode and Gabriel Byrne have signed on. No word yet on what roles they’ve taken on. Crooked House, which...
- 5/16/2011
- by Kristy Puchko
- The Film Stage
Gemma Arterton has signed up to star in Agatha Christie's 'Crooked House'. The British actress will join Julie Andrews, Matthew Goode and Gabriel Byrne in an all-star cast of Neil Labute's adaptation of the murder mystery. Rewritten for screen by 'Downton Abbey' creator Julian Fellowes and Tim Rose Price, the film will feature a crime scene set against the backdrop of three generations of a family who live together in a large, seemingly crooked house. All members of the family - who each have their own eccentricities - become suspects when their multimillionaire relative is killed and...
- 5/16/2011
- Virgin Media - Movies
It was announced back in March that Neil Labute – who last brought us the Us remake of Death at a Funeral – is working on a version of crime novel legend Agatha Christie’s Crooked House. Now he has a cast in place, with Gemma Arterton, Gabriel Byrne, Julie Andrews and Matthew Goode signing on. Adapted for the big screen by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and Tim Rose Price, the new cinematic version of the tale will roughly follow the book's plot, which finds a murder happening in the strange old house that is home to three generations of the same family.One of them just happens to be an eccentric multi-millionaire, and suspicion falls on a young female member of the family. A detective who takes the case must figure out if she’s really the killer – or simply being framed, with her life on the line."The story...
- 5/15/2011
- EmpireOnline
Julie Andrews, Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode and Gabriel Byrne have all signed up to star in Neil Labute's adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Crooked House" reports the trades.
The story is set against the backdrop of three generations of an eccentric family that lives together in a large house. When the multi-millionaire patriarch is found murdered, it seems that everyone has reasons to kill him.
An investigating detective must determine if one of the family's younger female members is either the killer or the next victim.
'House' is one of the few works by author Christie that has yet to see either a film or television adaptation, and is also one of the few that doesn't involve either of her famous detectives Hercules Poirot or Miss Marple.
"Gosford Park" scribe Julian Fellowes and Tim Rose Price adapted the script for the $20 million production which shoots in the UK this Summer.
The story is set against the backdrop of three generations of an eccentric family that lives together in a large house. When the multi-millionaire patriarch is found murdered, it seems that everyone has reasons to kill him.
An investigating detective must determine if one of the family's younger female members is either the killer or the next victim.
'House' is one of the few works by author Christie that has yet to see either a film or television adaptation, and is also one of the few that doesn't involve either of her famous detectives Hercules Poirot or Miss Marple.
"Gosford Park" scribe Julian Fellowes and Tim Rose Price adapted the script for the $20 million production which shoots in the UK this Summer.
- 5/14/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Kevin Reynolds' Easter Island epic "Rapa Nui" works hard to dazzle one with its vision of a crumbling 17th-century Polynesian society cut off from the world. And like "The Last of the Mohicans", the Warner Bros. release successfully mixes ultra-romantic situations with detailed storytelling and rock-'em/sock-'em action sequences.
The exciting, unique film has sex appeal (lots of bare flesh), beautiful imagery and relevant messages about humankind's folly, but with no major stars, the film will be searching for an audience. Viewer reaction should be mixed, with the positive heralds prevailing. Getting the word out to twenty- and thirtysomethings is the secret to marketing this island adventure.
Produced by Kevin Costner and Jim Wilson, the sumptuously mounted "Rapa Nui" (the native islanders' name for Easter Island) imagines a Stone Age people self-destructing through environmental mismanagement and festering social inequity.
Discovered by Europeans in 1722, the complete story of Easter Island and the inhabitants who built the hundreds of striking "moai" stone statues has remained a tantalizing mystery ever since.
Reynolds, who wanted to make a film about the subject since childhood, and co-writer Tim Rose Price stick with the prevailing winds and make the island inhabitants long-lost Polynesian seafarers divided between the ruling-class Long Ears and working-class Short Ears.
Ostensibly ruled by an aging figurehead and opportunistic priest, the Long Ears order the carving and moving of relatively huge stone statues, but leave the grunt work to the Short Ears.
The multi-track plot concerns the rivalry between a fun-loving Long Ear Jason Scott Lee) and a smoldering Short Ear (Esai Morales), both of whom love a gorgeous Short Ear maid (Sandrine Holt). The longtime friends quickly become adversaries when Morales' character strikes a deal to enter the annual ritual race that decides who will rule the island. Meanwhile, the desperate creation of more "moai" continues to deforest the island and signal a looming disaster.
Cecil B. De Mille would have been proud of spectacular scenes showing the hauling and eventual toppling of the "moai." The dangerous race over volcanic cliffs and shark-infested waters that climaxes the film is a great payoff, while the concluding strife is grim and apocalyptic.
Lee and Morales are perfectly cast and equal to the considerable physical demands of their roles. Most of the major supporting roles are filled by Maori pros. Eru Potaka-Dewes ("The Piano") plays the island's aging patriarch as a near-senile dreamer. George Henare is also a solid presence as the smug priest.
Filmed on Easter Island locations, "Rapa Nui" is excellently lensed in wide-screen by Stephen F. Window and boasts huge outdoor sets from production designer George Liddle.
The film is frequently propelled (and almost overwhelmed) by Stewart Copeland's wall-to-wall score. Costumer John Bloomfield, with the help of makeup supervisor Peter Frampton and key hairstylist Paul D. Pattison, contributes the believable costumes, tattoos and elongated ears.
RAPA NUI
Warner Bros.
A TIG Productions/Majestic Films production
In association with RCS
A Film by Kevin Reynolds
Director Kevin Reynolds
Producers Kevin Costner, Jim Wilson
Screenplay Tim Rose Price, Kevin Reynolds
Executive producers Barrie M. Osborne, Guy East
Director of photography Stephen F. Window
Production designer George Liddle
Editor Peter Boyle
Music Stewart Copeland
Costume designer John Bloomfield
Casting Elisabeth Leustig
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Noro Jason Scott Lee
Make Esai Morales
Ramana Sandrine Holt
Tupa George Henare
Grandfather Eru Potaka-Dewes
Haoa Zac Wallace
Heke Faenza Reuben
Running time -- 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
The exciting, unique film has sex appeal (lots of bare flesh), beautiful imagery and relevant messages about humankind's folly, but with no major stars, the film will be searching for an audience. Viewer reaction should be mixed, with the positive heralds prevailing. Getting the word out to twenty- and thirtysomethings is the secret to marketing this island adventure.
Produced by Kevin Costner and Jim Wilson, the sumptuously mounted "Rapa Nui" (the native islanders' name for Easter Island) imagines a Stone Age people self-destructing through environmental mismanagement and festering social inequity.
Discovered by Europeans in 1722, the complete story of Easter Island and the inhabitants who built the hundreds of striking "moai" stone statues has remained a tantalizing mystery ever since.
Reynolds, who wanted to make a film about the subject since childhood, and co-writer Tim Rose Price stick with the prevailing winds and make the island inhabitants long-lost Polynesian seafarers divided between the ruling-class Long Ears and working-class Short Ears.
Ostensibly ruled by an aging figurehead and opportunistic priest, the Long Ears order the carving and moving of relatively huge stone statues, but leave the grunt work to the Short Ears.
The multi-track plot concerns the rivalry between a fun-loving Long Ear Jason Scott Lee) and a smoldering Short Ear (Esai Morales), both of whom love a gorgeous Short Ear maid (Sandrine Holt). The longtime friends quickly become adversaries when Morales' character strikes a deal to enter the annual ritual race that decides who will rule the island. Meanwhile, the desperate creation of more "moai" continues to deforest the island and signal a looming disaster.
Cecil B. De Mille would have been proud of spectacular scenes showing the hauling and eventual toppling of the "moai." The dangerous race over volcanic cliffs and shark-infested waters that climaxes the film is a great payoff, while the concluding strife is grim and apocalyptic.
Lee and Morales are perfectly cast and equal to the considerable physical demands of their roles. Most of the major supporting roles are filled by Maori pros. Eru Potaka-Dewes ("The Piano") plays the island's aging patriarch as a near-senile dreamer. George Henare is also a solid presence as the smug priest.
Filmed on Easter Island locations, "Rapa Nui" is excellently lensed in wide-screen by Stephen F. Window and boasts huge outdoor sets from production designer George Liddle.
The film is frequently propelled (and almost overwhelmed) by Stewart Copeland's wall-to-wall score. Costumer John Bloomfield, with the help of makeup supervisor Peter Frampton and key hairstylist Paul D. Pattison, contributes the believable costumes, tattoos and elongated ears.
RAPA NUI
Warner Bros.
A TIG Productions/Majestic Films production
In association with RCS
A Film by Kevin Reynolds
Director Kevin Reynolds
Producers Kevin Costner, Jim Wilson
Screenplay Tim Rose Price, Kevin Reynolds
Executive producers Barrie M. Osborne, Guy East
Director of photography Stephen F. Window
Production designer George Liddle
Editor Peter Boyle
Music Stewart Copeland
Costume designer John Bloomfield
Casting Elisabeth Leustig
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Noro Jason Scott Lee
Make Esai Morales
Ramana Sandrine Holt
Tupa George Henare
Grandfather Eru Potaka-Dewes
Haoa Zac Wallace
Heke Faenza Reuben
Running time -- 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.