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One would think Speedy Gonzales is a Looney Tunes cartoon character that Warner Brothers would be than happy to push under the rug in these far-more-politically-correct times. We all thought wrong. New Line/Warner Bros. is revamping the cartoon into a live-action/CGI/potential race relations disaster feature! 

But WAIT...the film's producers are taking steps to ensure that the film isn't the racist cartoon of the 1950s by casting a George Lopez (host of Lopez Tonight) as the voice of Speedy Gonzales, stamping the project with Lopez's "Latino seal of approval." Oh, okay. We're all good then, right?

I can't wait to see who they get to voice Speedy's cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez. Because, if a '50s characterization of a "lazy Mexican" is voiced by a Latino, it's not racist, right? The train wreck does not have a release date yet, so hopefully New Line execs will take the time to get off this track--and fast--¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!" Oh God.

--Jessica Hixson
 
 
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Rumors and casting news has been swirling for a while now around the gestating fourth Pirates of the Caribbean flick. With director Gore Verbinski long gone and Chicago director Rob Marshall in, it's no wonder why the speculation has started reaching a fever pitch. So, who's in, and who's no more?

Well, Johnny Depp is definitely in. Duh. That's the understatement of the century, as the whole franchise depends on him. Both Keira Knightly (who has too many other period pieces to join) and Orlando "Where Did My Career Go?" Bloom jumped ship a while back. Last week the word on the street is that one of Marshalls'Nine stars would join the film, and Penelope Cruz is allegedly negotiating to set sail along with Depp. No word yet on what character she'll potentially play. 

Today it was announced that Ian McShane of HBO's foulmouthed Deadwood series could be climbing aboard (don't you just love pirate puns?!) the film as Blackbeard, the infamous pirate and villain that Captain Jack Sparrow will face off against as he seeks out the Fountain of Youth. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will venture out into open seas May 20, 2011. What do you think about these casting nuggets?

--Darcie Duttweiler 
 
 
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Die Hard 5 could begin filming next year. That's according to John McClane himself, Mr. Bruce Willis, in an interview with MTV.

Beyond that tidbit, Willis finally confirms once and for all that fictional super-cop John McClane is indeed fictional, telling MTV: "There is no John McClane. The John McClane that exists is only in film and in people's minds. And it continues to grow, that mythology continues to grow."

As for Die Hard 5, Willis said he would bring back Live Free or Die Hard director Len Wiseman. But after being trapped in a building, trapped in an airport, trapped in  New York City and being screwed with by hackers, Willis said Die Hard 5 could only go one place.

"Well, it's got to go worldwide," Willis said. "That would be my contribution to [the next movie]."

While trying to figure out what the hell that will entail, you can check out a less nonsensical, more scripted Willis in Cop Out, in theaters Friday.

--Eric Pulsifer
 
 
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When organizations like DARE and the 'federal government' want to scare people away from drugs they tell stories about crack whores giving hand jobs to strangers, reasonable men murdering their family and bee keeping gone awry. But what today's news seems to indicate is that not only do successful Harvard graduates, like Natalie Portman, smoke weed every day, but make shitloads of money doing it.

Portman played a supporting role in the upcoming stoner movie Your Highness (starring James Franco, who claims to not smoke weed but was also the drug dealer in Pineapple Express and has been on the cover ofHigh Times magazine. Sense a trend here?) and also made outrageous comments in a Saturday Night Livemock interview with Chris Parnell that may or may not have been fictional, depending on how far you let your fantasies take you.

So how does Portman one-up herself? By not only starring in, but also producing, a not-so-thinly-veiled-weed-referenced movie titled Best Buds. The marijuana-inspired romp is billed as a film about "two best female friends who take a road trip to their friend's wedding in order to save her by bringing her weed."

See kids, not ALL drugs are bad.

--Mark Collins
 
 
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Yes, folks, with the completion of the British Academy of Film and Telelvision Arts this weekend we are another step closer to the pinnacle of of award season: the Oscars. So, who one? Well, Kathryn Bigelow's war drama picked up 6 trophies, including Best Film, Director AND Screenplay, while Bigelow's ex, James Cameron, only picked up a pair for technical awards. 

Most awards were fairly straightforward with the Best Acting categories being the only exceptions. With home turf advantage, two Brits, Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan, took home the trophies over their Yank front-runners. 

Check out the full list after the jump!

--Darcie Duttweiler
 
 
Controversial director Roman Polanski's latest effort had its premiere at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival this past Friday. Polanski, who is currently under house arrest in Gstaad, was unable to walk the red carpet at the festival. Based on the novel, The Ghost by Robert Harris, the film tells the story of a successful ghostwriter (played by Ewan McGregor) hired to finish the memoirs of former British Prime Minister, Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), after Lang's former ghostwriter meets an untimely and suspicious death. As the ghost writes, he discovers clues that lead him to believe his predecessor may have uncovered incriminating evidence from Lang's term as P.M. that may have caused his "accidental" death--and that could cost the present ghostwriter his life.

Regardless of Polanski's legal battle and his efforts to direct this film while in jail/under house arrest, which have taken the spotlight away from the film thus far, I am curious to see if the film itself has the substance to overshadow its director's personal life. The Ghost Writer is scheduled to be on limited release in the U.S. starting February 19th. Preview Polasnki's latest story not having to do with 30 year old sex crimes with the trailer below and see what you think.

--Jessica Hixson
 
 
Have you seen the newest trailer for Toy Story 3 yet? It's pretty adorable. Check out the newest toys and what's in store for the child playthings come summertime--in 3-D no less!

--Darcie Duttweiler
 
 
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Much like the alleged sequel to the smash hit The Hangover, in which the project was greenlit before the film even graced theaters, Warner Bros. is already setting a follow-up to this weekend's sure-to-be panty dropper,Valentines Day. 

According to Finke, the film’s producers have hired screenwriter Katherine Fugate to write another holiday-themed film called New Years Eve. The spin-off will feature some of the Los Angeles-based characters fromValentine’s Day in New York City over the course of 24 hours surrounding the New Year.

We're sure the rom-com will make huge bank considering its all star cast--especially with ladies hungry for more after Dear John dethroned Avatar, but this seems a bit premature to us. Are you ready for more Valentine's Day?

--Darcie Duttweiler
 
 
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From Paris with Love - (32% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)
A personal aide to the U.S. Ambassador in France has a side job as low level operative for the CIA. When he's offered his first senior-level assignment, he can't believe his good luck - until he meets his new partner, trigger happy loose cannon special agent Charlie Wax (John Travolta).  Critics are saying though not without it's charms -- chief among them John Travolta's endearingly over-the-top performance -- From Paris with Love is too muddled and disjointed to satisfy.

Dear John - (28% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)
Director Lasse Hallstrom and screenwriter Jamie Lindon collaborate to adapt author Nicolas Sparks's novel about a young soldier who falls for an idealistic college girl. Critical consensus is the film is built from many of the same ingredients as other Nicholas Sparks tearjerkers, Dear John suffers from its cliched framework, as well as Lasse Hallstrom's curiously detached directing.
Disctrict 13: Ultimatum - (68% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)
Check out our review of it HERE.
 
 
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Official Press Release:
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the complete features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 12 – 20, 2010 in Austin, Texas.  Over the course of nine days, 119 features will screen at the festival, with 55 of those having their world premieres at SXSW 2010.  These films were selected from a record 1,572 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,206 U.S. and 366 international feature-length films.   
Among the major films added to the lineup are: Rogue’s MacGruber, from director Jorma Taccone, Jay & Mark Duplass’ Cyrus, Bernard Rose’s Mr. Nice, Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs, Michel Gondry’s The Thorn in the Heart, Alexandre O. Philippe’s The People vs. George Lucas, Shane Meadows’ Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee, Steven Soderbergh’s And Everything Is Going Fine, Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas’ American: The Bill Hicks Story, Mike Woolf’s Man on A Mission, Jacob Hatley’s Ain’t In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm, Mark Landsman’s Thunder Soul, Daniel Stamm’s Cotton, Chris D’Arienzo’s BARRY MUNDAY, and Floria Sigismondi’s The Runaways.  They join previously announced films such as Opening Night film Kick-Ass, as well as narrative features Cold Weather and Elektra Luxx, and documentaries Hubble 3D, Lemmy, SATURDAY NIGHT and The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights.  


“It was an incredibly competitive year with record submission numbers, and although we had to make really tough decisions, we are extremely excited about this lineup. I’m in awe of the talent on display throughout all the sections,” says Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson, “We feel we've achieved a great balance that continues our tradition of screening films across all budget lines and styles, and we take particular pride in witnessing the evolution of SXSW alumni as well as the vitality of fresh voices.”

The festival’s main competition categories once again find 8 Narrative Features and 8 Documentary Features, vying for their respective Grand Jury Prizes. The Narrative Feature Competition includes: Brotherhood, directed by Will Canon, Dance With The One, directed by Mike Dolan, Earthling, directed by Clay Liford, Helena from the Wedding, directed by Joseph Ifantolino, The Myth of the American Sleepover, directed by David Robert Mitchell, Phillip The Fossil, directed by Garth Donovan, Some Days are Better than Others, directed by Matt McCormick and Tiny Furniture, directed by Lena Dunham.  The Documentary Feature Competition includes: Beijing Taxi, directed by Miao Wang, Camp Victory, Afghanistan, directed by Carol Dysinger, The Canal Street Madam, directed by Cameron Yates, Dirty Pictures, directed by Etienne Sauret, For Once In My Life, directed by Jim Bigham and Mark Moormann, Marwencol, directed by Jeff Malmberg, Pelada, directed by Luke Boughen, Rebekah Fergusson, Gwendolyn Oxenham and Ryan White and War Don Don, directed by Rebecca Richman Cohen.

--Greg MacLennan