The Seth Rogen-Zac Efron comedy Neighbors has done what few films have ever been able to do: Keep a superhero picture to only one week atop the box office. The Nick Stoller-directed flick about a frat battling a family partied past The Amazing Spider-Man 2 to the tune of $51.1 million in its opening weekend.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 came off its almost $100 million weekend and saw a huge drop in earnings. Most movies out there would be thrilled with its $37.2 million haul -- bringing its total to $147.9 million -- but most movies aren’t superhero movies!
Third place belonged to a previous number one from a few weeks ago, the Cameron Diaz-starring The Other Woman. Its third week of release found it adding $9.3 million to its total of $61.7 million.
Fourth belonged to the religious true story flick, Heaven Is For Real. The story of faith has been going strong in its month of being out in theaters and in its fourth week earned $7 million. Its total: An impressive $75.2 million.
Closing out the top five is another superhero movie that spent three weeks atop the box office back in April. Captain America: The Winter Soldier banked $5.6 million in its sixth week of release. Cap’s latest adventure has totaled $245 million.
Fox has been brilliantly marketing the latest X-Men movie from that first X-Men: Days of Future Past trailer through its last and now with its character featurettes.
Last week we saw the one on Quicksilver and today we’re premiering a look at Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence).
Mystique plays a huge role in X-Men: Days of Future Past and considering the acting chops of Lawrence, the Oscar winner brings the power needed to the role that might have been missing in the past.
X-Men: Days of Future Past hits theaters May 23. And considering how huge of a role Lawrence has in this latest flick, might we suggest you watch X-Men: First Class online to see her first turn as the mighty mutant.
Paramount has released three new pics of our favorite two Transformers from Transformers: Age of Extinction. And from the looks of things, they've gotten a pretty bad ass slight upgrade.
We've got two stills of Optimus Prime and one of Bumblebee, and one thing is clear, these aren't quite the same Transformers seen in the previous three films from Michael Bay.
Check them out in the Transformers: Age of Extinction trailer and it is merely teased, but it is this trio of new photos that truly let it be known: Our Transformers have gotten a new jolt of awesomeness!
Transformers: Age of Extinction features Mark Wahlberg stepping in for Shia LaBeouf and our villain this time out is a shady looking Kelsey Grammer. Look for the fourth film in the Michael Bay franchise on June 27 and until then, watch Transformers online to see how it all started.
The first clip from Jupiter Ascending has us thinking that the Wachowskis know exactly what it was about that Jupiter Ascending trailer that had us intrigued.
When Channing Tatum grabbed Mila Kunis and took off with his gravity boots flying through the streets of Chicago at breathtaking speed, viewers raised a collective eyebrow!
I know we did!
The filmmakers behind one of our favorites (you can see it when you watch The Matrix online) are back with a sci-fi tale of destiny, otherworldly special effects and a pair of leading actors who appear to have all sorts of chemistry in Kunis and Tatum.
The first clip has debuted from Jupiter Ascending and it features Tatum explaining just how those uber-awesome gravity boots work.
Tom Cruise takes a serious beating in scenes included in a featurette released by Warner Bros. for their latest release, the sci-fi epic Edge of Tomorrow.
Cruise portrays a soldier who has to relive the same day where he dies in battle over and over, until he gets it right. His fate is tied to our fate and being able to survive an alien invasion.
In the clip, stars Emily Blunt and Cruise talk about how Cruise’s character finds Blunt and how she is training him each day after he awakes from his death the night before. One of these days, he will be ready to help lead the charge that will win this war.
Emily Blunt gets the spotlight in the Edge of Tomorrow banner.
3.
Emily Blunt & Tom Cruise Set for Battle
Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise are more than ready for war in Edge of Tomorrow. Or, are they?
4.
Emily Blunt Character Poster
The Emily Blunt character poster for Edge of Tomorrow. Is it us, or does she look pretty bad ass?!
5.
Edge of Tomorrow Tom Cruise Character Poster
Edge of Tomorrow has released the Tom Cruise character poster. Poor Cruise has to live and die and experience that over and over until he gets it right.
6.
Live. Die. Repeat!
Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt on the character poster for Edge of Tomorrow.
You remember that line from The Who song where they sing “meet the new boss, same as the old boss?” Well, that could apply to the picture that Zack Snyder just posted on his social media pages teasing his new Batmobile for Ben Affleck as Batman.
We say that because, and maybe it’s just us, but the Batmobile for Snyder’s Batman vs. Superman looks an awful lot like the Bat Tumbler from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.
Hey, that’s fine and we have no problem with it. If it works, don’t fix it!
Snyder is set to start filming Superman vs. Batman any week now. And with the cast filling out with not only Batman in the Man of Steel sequel, but also Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Ray Fisher as Cyborg, that ought to be one table read we’d like to be a fly on the wall for!
Get ready for the sequel and watch Man of Steel online! Now, if we could just get a pic of the new Batsuit, we'd be happy as pie.
And speaking of Batman, here are our favorite quotes from the Dark Knight himself!
As we saw from the triumph of Neighbors at the box office, audiences love an awful neighbor on the big screen.
Movies have a long history of bad neighbors that come in all shapes, forms, sizes and even what drives them.
Inspired by the success of Zac Efron and his fraternity in Neighbors, we look at 11 of the all time worst movie neighbors in history -- do Efron and his brothers make the list?
Click through our 11 worst movie neighbors and become instantly thankful for the people who live next door to you! Bet you they look pretty good right now, no?!
Samuel L. Jackson plays an LAPD officer who is utter wickedness as a human being, and especially as a neighbor. And when there's no one to call about your neighbors (i.e. the cops), because your next door neighbor is one… what is there left to do other than suffer? Or, get revenge!
Samuel L. Jackson plays an LAPD officer who is utter wickedness as a human being, and especially as a neighbor. And when there's no one to call about your neighbors (i.e. the cops), because your next door neighbor is one… what is there left to do other than suffer? Or, get revenge!
2.
Sid Phillips in Toy Story
Sid Phillips is a torturer of toys, what more needs to be said? The only thing more scary is thinking of the adult he would grow up to be.
3.
Jerry Dandridge in Fright Night
Although we adore Chris Sarandon in the original, there is something even scarier about the turn by Colin Farrell in the 2011 remake. Either way, Jerry is one bad neighbor.
4.
Zac Efron's Fraternity in Neighbors
Zac Efron moves into the most idyllic of suburban neighborhoods where Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne have spent all their money buying their dream house to raise their little baby girl. One problem, Efron is the president of a fraternity and Rogen and Byrne's life immediately becomes a living hell. Let the frat versus family war begin. That frat, although seemingly fun from the outside, does not a good neighbor make.
5.
Robbie in Paranormal Activity 4
He seems innocent enough, but once you scratch the surface, that next door neighbor kid named Robbie in the fourth Paranormal Activity movie is downright frightening. And, he will kind of ruin your day – and your life.
6.
All the Neighbors in Rosemary's Baby
Everyone around Mia Farrow’s character in Rosemary's Baby in her apartment building is thrilled for her upcoming arrival into motherhood. There's just one issue: They're all a bunch of devil worshipers who believe that she's carrying the son of Satan. That'll make for some awkward monthly tenant meetings.
7.
Arthur Denker/Kurt Dussander in Apt Pupil
Ian McKellen could not have made a better choice to be the ex-Nazi neighbor of Brad Renfro's Todd Bowden. At first Todd suspects his neighbor is a former Nazi and everyone thinks he's crazy. But, then, we -- and Todd -- find out the truth!
8.
Lars Thorwald in Rear Window
Jimmie Stewart always knew something was off about his neighbor. At first, he was thought to be paranoid and delusional -- too much time in that wheelchair confined to his apartment. But we the audience knew, Stewart was right. His neighbor Lars Thorwald was a murderer.
9.
The Langs in Arlington Road
Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack were downright welcoming/haunting as the Langs in Arlington Road. Jeff Bridges welcomed the new neighbors and found them a delight. But then, he started to discover a darker side. And if you don’t know how this movie ends, run to see it now.
10.
The Griswolds in Christmas Vacation
For that Christmas light show alone, the Griswolds would be the worst neighbors in Christmas Vacation. That blinding light for several weeks each December would make us want to go anywhere other than home!
11.
Louis Tully in Ghostbusters
Rick Moranis was a little clingy as a neighbor of Sigourney Weaver in Ghostbusters. That, we can almost forgive. But, when he turns into a possessed demon, that, well, that we cannot overlook.
Godzilla is back and in the biggest of ways! The legendary "king of the monsters" hits theaters with special 7 p.m. screenings on Thursday, May 15 and starts everywhere on Friday, May 16.
The feel of Godzilla is epic, but it still very much has a whole lot of heart, generated by its stellar cast led by Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Ken Watanabe -- teased in the Godzilla trailer. The story of Godzilla spans decades and will enthrall viewers even more with every passing second.
To celebrate the return of one of our favorite monsters to the big screen, we're presenting a Godzilla prize pack that is downright monstrous, and includes passes to see the film on IMAX screens!
Canvas Men's Godzilla Nautilus 24 Vintage Black T-Shirt
Godzilla Adjustable Flat Bill Black Hat
Full Color Godzilla Towel
Set of 4 Godzilla Mighty Magnets in Clear Box
Red Robin $25 Gift Card
Red Robin, the Gourmet Burger Authority™, is famous for serving craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries™. April 1st through June 1st, Red Robin is offering a FREE* Godzilla movie ticket (*value up to $12) with the purchase of a $25 Limited Edition Gift Card. Visit www.redrobin.com/giftcards to get started and get your FREE* Godzilla movie ticket!
Godzilla Die Cut Key Chain
Godzilla Notebook
Godzilla Magnet Set
Godzilla Hoody
Godzilla Soundtrack CD
Godzilla: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Music by Golden Globe Award and Grammy Award Winner: Alexandre Desplat. For more on the soundtrack, click here and here.
Godzilla Messenger Bag
Godzilla iPhone Case
Godzilla Dog Tag 8GB USB
2 IMAX Tickets
IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation. For more on seeing Godzilla in IMAX, click here!
Our Grand prize and runner-up winners will receive:
Godzilla Die Cut Key Chain
Godzilla Notebook
Godzilla Magnet Set
Use the widget below to enter on Facebook or Twitter. There are three unique ways to enter, and by entering all three ways you can increase your chance at winning!
Be sure to enter now as the sweepstakes runs through May 19.
You can also sign up for Warner Bros. special offers, be the first to know movie news, updates and more at:
Godzilla will arrive in theaters on April 18.
Godzilla Synopsis:
The world’s most revered monster is reborn as Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures unleash the epic action adventure Godzilla. From visionary new director Gareth Edwards (Monsters) comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.
The film stars an international ensemble cast led by Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Inception), Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Oscar winner Juliette Binoche (The English Patient, Cosmopolis), and Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine), with Oscar nominee David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck, The Bourne Legacy) and Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Bryan Cranston (Argo, TV’s Breaking Bad).
Edwards directed Godzilla from a screenplay by Max Borenstein, story by David Callaham, based on the character Godzilla owned and created by TOHO CO., LTD. Thomas Tull produced the film, along with Jon Jashni, Mary Parent and Brian Rogers. Patricia Whitcher and Alex Garcia served as executive producers, alongside Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira.
The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC (Anna Karenina, The Avengers); production designer Owen Paterson (The Matrix trilogy); film editor Bob Ducsay (Looper); Oscar-nominated costume designer Sharen Davis (Dreamgirls, Django Unchained); and Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy). Allen Maris is the visual effects producer. Dave Jordan was the music supervisor. The score was composed and conducted by Oscar-nominated composer Alexandre Desplat (Argo, The King’s Speech).
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures present a Legendary Pictures production, a Gareth Edwards film, Godzilla. The film will be presented in 3D, 2D and IMAX® in select theatres and is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, except in Japan, where it is distributed by Toho Co., Ltd.
Legendary Pictures is a division of Legendary Entertainment.
The film has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of destruction, mayhem and creature violence.
Godzilla Prize Pack Release and Indemnification:
By entering the sweepstakes, entrants release and hold harmless Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and each of its respective parents, divisions, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents and advertising agencies (collectively, “WBEI” ) from and against any and all losses, damages, rights, claims, and actions of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the sweepstakes or participation in any sweepstakes-related activity (including without limitation the removal from the site of, or discontinuation of access to, any materials), or resulting directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize awarded in connection with the sweepstakes, including without limitation personal injury, death, and/or property damage, as well as claims based on publicity rights, defamation, and/or invasion of privacy.
Limitation of liability:
In no event will the WBEI be responsible or liable for any damages or losses of any kind, including without limitation direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, arising out of any access to and/or use of the sweepstakes site, the downloading from and/or printing material downloaded from the sweepstakes site, the removal from the sweepstakes site of, or discontinuation of access to, any materials, or the acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of, or any harm resulting from the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of, or participation in, any prize awarded in connection with the sweepstakes. Without limiting the foregoing, the sweepstakes, all prizes, and all materials provided on or through the site “are provided as is” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including without limitation the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
George Lucas and Quentin Tarantino could not be more different as filmmakers. That is pretty much a given. But, what if Tarantino directed that first Star Wars movie and released a trailer -- what would it look like?
That was the thought behind a YouTube user named Bobby Burns who put together a little trailer that takes us to a galaxy far, far away in Tarantino’s mind.
We adore the use of the Tarantino-type music, and Burns even imagines who the filmmaker would have used to fill out the parts of Leia (Uma Thurman), Darth Vader (Samuel L. Jackson, who else?) and Obi-Wan (Harvey Keitel)!
After watching the above teaser, we’re guessing that you’re not only in the mood for the December 18, 2015 release of J.J. Abrams’ latest with its newly released Star Wars: Episode VII cast, but also a Tarantino movie or two!
Maybe it was how it was written. Perhaps, it was how it was played by Jake Lloyd... and maybe it was both. But young Anakin Skywalker, known as Ani, was just plain awful. .. and annoying!
Maybe it was how it was written. Perhaps, it was how it was played by Jake Lloyd... and maybe it was both. But young Anakin Skywalker, known as Ani, was just plain awful. .. and annoying!
2.
Jar Jar Binks
Surprised? Hardly! Jar Jar Binks was not only annoying, but his portrayal also flirted with being a little racist. We know Lucas wanted to give the kids another fun character, but this guy?!
3.
Yarna D'al Gargan
In Return of the Jedi there were many exotic characters in Jabba's lair. Yarna D'al Gargan was not exotic... just annoying.
4.
Bail Organa
On paper, Bail Organa should have been a compelling character. Perhaps it was how it was written or how Lucas directed star Jimmy Smits, but how it came to be in the second trilogy... Bail was stale, stiff and just frankly irked us.
5.
General Grievous
How is General Grievous supposed to be one of the most feared villains in the Star Wars world? He coughs all the time and he appears like a frail robot who could be taken out by a blaster. We find Grievous not fear-inducing... just funny.
6.
Jedis Who Get Wiped Out in Revenge of the Sith
All those wasted Jedis! Supposedly, they're the most trained warriors in the galaxy, yet Lucas wastes hundreds of them in one scene that simply annoys us more than anything. These "soldiers" look like they just picked up a lightsaber last week!
7.
Watto
That thing kept Ani and his mother as slaves. Couldn't they have just grabbed him and then beaten the crap out of him and escaped? Surely, Ani's menacing slave master could have been more... menacing?
8.
The Neimoidians
If Jar Jar Binks was a slightly racially offensive effort, then we must also consider the Asian stereotypes that were truly insulting with the existence of the Neimoidians. Surely, Lucas could have done something better for these legislators.
9.
Fode
Was it us, or did this guy seem completely out of place? And we get the play by play and comedic color commentary, but why not create two vastly different characters instead of having one with two heads? Just. Silly. And annoying!
Million Dollar Arm star Jon Hamm talks exclusively to us about why the film was the perfect vehicle for him as his hit TV show Mad Men wraps up its successful run.
As seen in the Million Dollar Arm trailer, Hamm is JB Bernstein, and his story is an extraordinary true tale.
Bernstein is a sports agent who is about out of money. With his future teetering on the edge of a cliff, he came up with an outrageous idea that might just save his firm. He headed to India to start a reality competition called the Million Dollar Arm. Its goal: To find the next great Major League pitcher from a group of Indian athletes who are just slightly crazy about the game of cricket.
Hamm is joined in the cast by the always awesome Alan Arkin, as well as Bill Paxton and Lake Bell.
Stay with Movie Fanatic all week for all our exclusive interviews with the entire Million Dollar Arm cast -- and even the real life Bernstein and the hotshot pitcher he discovered!
If Hamm's idea of finding a baseball star in India works, baseball can expect a billion new fans.
2.
Jon Hamm Heads to India
Jon Hamm stars in Million Dollar Arm and his character is desperate. In order to save his sports agency, he heads to India searching for the next big thing.
3.
We Might Have Something
Hamm and his team might have something!
4.
Lefty with Juice
As you can see, a lefty with juice is a very good thing.
5.
Jon Hamm Brings Lake Bell a Present
Jon Hamm comes back from India and brings his love interest, Lake Bell, a special guest.
Neighbors is a huge hit, thanks to its $51 million opening weekend at the box office.
The Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne starring comedy that features a battle royale between a frat and a family is from director Nick Stoller. And surprise, surprise -- it gave us great quotes!
Stoller is no stranger to his films joining the legion of quotable comedies!
Pete: Do you think maybe we've gone too far? I'm a child of divorce and I sympathize with them. Teddy Sanders: My parents love each other, and I think it's hilarious.
Teddy Sanders: We're throwing a Robert De Niro party. Pete: You call the cops, you violate the circle of trust, Focker. Mac Radner: Who are you? Garf: I'm Sam Jackson from Jackie Brown. Scoonie: [pause] Hoah! Garf: Hooah! Kelly Radner: That's actually Al Pacino. Garf: The Path of the righteous man. Mac Radner: That's the wrong Sam Jackson speech.
Rogen and Byrne are stunned at the Robert De Niro party happening next door. Especially since someone is dressed like Sam Jackson and saying the wrong line from the wrong movie!
Batman vs. Superman director Zack Snyder took to his social media pages and released our first photo of the Batsuit and the Batmobile from his sequel to Man of Steel.
This is our first look at Ben Affleck as Batman in that actual suit, and we have to say -- he looks pretty bad ass.
Batman vs. Superman is set to land in theaters May 6, 2016 and also features Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman as they are clearly gearing up for a Justice League movie.
Channing Tatum has long talked about his desire to be one of the mutants of X-Men, specifically Gambit. We think it’s perfect casting and clearly someone involved in that world does too as the superstar has been hired to play Gambit. He will first make an appearance as the hero in X-Men: Apocalypse -- the sequel to X-Men: Days of Future Past.
X-Men producer Lauren Shuler admitted to Total Film that the casting had been completed.
"Well you know he's a rogue, Channing. He's a rascal, just like Remy LeBeau, and he can handle the action, we all know that. He's got a really good heart, because I know him personally, I did a movie with him,” Shuler said.
“So I think he'll be great, he'll be great for Gambit, and he's a southerner too, he's not from New Orleans but he is a southerner and he understands that world, and you know Gambit loves New Orleans."
And while we have X-Men on the brain, meet the cast of characters from the film that comes before Tatum’s first appearance, X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Beast is superhuman, a genius and has sharp claws. Love to see what happens when he and Wolverine get together!
2.
Meet Bishop
Bishop is new to us in the X-Men movie world. His ability to absorb energy should come in quite handy.
3.
Meet Blink
Blink is another newbie to the X-Men movie world. She can teleport... not much else to say!
4.
Meet Bolivar Trask
Bolivar sees Mutants as a threat. He also founded Trask industries, which will play a huge part in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
5.
Meet Charles Xavier
We don't need to "meet" Charles Xavier! We know him too well. In X-Men: Days of Future Past, McAvoy's Xavier is not in a good place.
6.
Meet Colossus
Colossus likes walks in the moonlight... wait, no he doesn't! He has an organic steel body and super human strength.
7.
Meet Ian McKellen's Magneto
Ian McKellen's Magneto has straddled both sides of good and evil. We're thinking he's good in X-Men: Days of Future Past... but is he really?
8.
Meet Iceman
As you can get, Iceman can be kind of cold, perhaps even icy.
9.
Meet Kitty
Meow! Kitty can make her way through solid objects. That will be a priceless ability for our mutant heroes.
10.
Meet "Young" Magneto
Michael Fassbender is back as Magneto and in X-Men: Days of Future Past, to say he's conflicted is a gross understatement.
11.
Meet Mystique
Jennifer Lawrence is Mystique. Of all the mutant abilities, we'd kind of like hers of shapeshifting.
12.
Meet (again) Professor X!
Professor X is at the heart of our story. He knows trouble is brewing at Trask industries and is the one who implores Wolverine to go back in time.
13.
Meet Quicksilver
Quicksilver can go faster than the speed of sound. Must be nice to be him when stuck in traffic.
14.
Meet Storm (again!)
No one can manipulate the weather like Storm. Period.
15.
Meet Sunspot
As you can gather from his name, Sunspot can absorb solar energy and rechannel it in the form of superhuman strength.
16.
Meet Warpath
Warpath is most likely on a warpath, yes, and he has superhuman speed, but it is hightened senses that will come into play the most.
17.
Wolverine
You don't need to meet Wolverine! After five movies, Hugh Jackman's mutant alter-ego has permeated pop culture. What you do need to know, is Wolverine bridges our two worlds in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
I, Frankenstein has to be given some props for hatching the idea to bring Frankenstein’s monster into modern times. And now that I, Frankenstein has landed on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download, more can check out the perfect casting that is Aaron Eckhart as the titular monster.
The film does a quick update where it chronicles what Eckhart’s monster has been up to these last several hundred years. Then, it truly gets going and shows that Eckhart is living in modern day Manhattan, trying his best to make it without bringing too much attention to himself. That doesn’t last too long -- as teased in the I, Frankenstein trailer -- as evil forces have other plans to cause mayhem in the Big Apple.
I, Frankenstein also stars Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto and Jai Courtney (recently cast in Terminator: Genesis!).
Otto leads a group of otherworldly souls who know that doom is coming. And as they are aware of Frankenstein’s monster, whom they name Adam, they find him and arm him as he is our best hope of fighting the forces of evil.
As our theatrical I, Frankenstein review reported, what works about this flick is how it has a firm foundation in that it is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Kevin Grevioux. It has a grounded sense that works for fans of the story. And for fans, the bonus features on I, Frankenstein should more than please.
The man who created the film, co-writer/director Stuart Beattie, provides an audio commentary that is priceless. Having his insight into the choices he made to bring the graphic novel to life is an invaluable window into the filmmaking process.
The audio commentary with filmmakers Gary Lucchesi, Richard Wright, James McQuaide and Kevin Grevioux is a little less needed with all that we get from the Beattie commentary.
Lastly, two featurettes arrive -- Creating a Monster and Frankenstein's Creatures -- and both should please not only fans of the graphic novel, but fans of the Frankenstein monster itself. Of the two, Creating a Monster is the most fascinating as it takes a look at the painstaking effort it took to make the uber-handsome Eckhart look monstrous.
After our Luc Besson exclusive interview, his Lucy has shot to the top of the list of our most anticipated movies of the year.
What that first Lucy trailer teased, the arrival of the international trailer today shows even more of the Scarlett Johansson starring vehicle that looks like a stunner.
Johansson is kidnapped and has a serious of pouches of drugs surgically inserted into her stomach. Upon delivery, she is punched in the stomach by a crew of baddies and it has the opposite desired effect of putting fear into her.
Instead, it unleashes the drugs into her system and turns her into something rather super-human.
Since the early days of Hollywood, when filmmakers turned the camera on the culture of the town itself, more often than not, greatness emerged.
Check out these Get Shorty quotes and one can see that the film that stars John Travolta as a gangster who becomes intertwined in the Hollywood movie making machine absolutely gets it right.
When Hollywood makes movies about itself, it is a chance for self reflection, self deprecation and above all else, a storytelling tool that, honestly, filmmakers could not know better because it is about them!
Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard, who clearly did his homework, the movie starring John Travolta totally nailed the sheep herd attitude here in Hollywood. Love it when Travolta drives a mini-van, then soon after every studio exec and power player is driving a... mini-van!
Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard, who clearly did his homework, the movie starring John Travolta totally nailed the sheep herd attitude here in Hollywood. Love it when Travolta drives a mini-van, then soon after every studio exec and power player is driving a... mini-van!
2.
Tropic Thunder
Where to start with Tropic Thunder? The actors making a movie (including Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller and Jack Black) who get sucked into a real life battle, or the look at Hollywood executives (like Tom Cruise's pitch perfect Len Grossman) or even characters like the one played by Matthew McConaughey -- it is cinematic Hollywood perfection.
3.
The Player
Robert Altman sure can capture a city and what it does. He did it with Nashville and his look at country music, and Altman did it with Hollywood with The Player. Tim Robbins plays a Hollywood exec who accidentally murders a screenwriter. And then he gets away with it. They often say people in Hollywood get away with murder, Robbins' character literally did.
4.
The Stunt Man
The Stunt Man is a classic starring Peter O'Toole as a director who thinks he is helming the next big seismic Hollywood hit. The story is told through the eyes of The Stunt Man and it is powerful, unique and all-awesome.
5.
Sunset Blvd.
She was ready for her close-up, Mr. DeVille, but surely not in how she imagined! An impeccable look at the enormous change Hollywood went through when silent stars were sent to the curb in favor of other actors when sound came into flavor with moviemaking. It is a stunner.
6.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Sure it combined a Hollywood cartoon world with the real one, but few films capture the spirit of this town that lives for making movies like Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
7.
Singin' in the Rain
The making of a Hollywood musical was never so impeccably captured as it is in Singin' in the Rain. And in the process, it became one of the best Hollywood musicals of all-time.
8.
Barton Fink
The Coen brothers focus their cameras on the movie making business in post-war America and come up with a classic.
9.
A Star is Born
The 1954 A Star is Born is our favorite as a Hollywood star who is fading (James Mason) falls in love with a starlet (Judy Garland) who is becoming the next big thing.
10.
Adaptation
One of Nicolas Cage's best works, Spike Jonze's Adaptation also starred Meryl Street. But, the spotlight here is on Cage who plays twin brothers trying to get a screenplay made out of a magazine article.
11.
Mulholland Dr.
Hollywood moviemaking through the eyes of David Lynch. What more needs to be said?!
12.
Gods and Monsters
The incredible true story about the guy who directed Frankenstein (Ian McKellen), who is living his sunset years in happiness when he meets and falls in love with a Marine (Brendan Fraser). Oscar loved this movie!
13.
L.A. Confidential
Just as Hollywood was becoming the Mecca for movies, a seedy underside to the entire town started to emerge. L.A. Confidential captures that impeccably.
14.
Swimming with the Sharks
Before there was Ari Gold on Entourage, there was Kevin Spacey's character in Swimming with Sharks. He is beyond awful, and thanks to this comedy-revenge flick, his assistant is the one who gets the last laugh.
15.
The Artist
The Artist won Best Picture and rightfully so. It beautifully (and silently) captured the changing times that always happen in Hollywood that leaves the old guard gasping for career chances while the new guaard are the toast of the town.
The Harry Potter spin-off franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, has been given a release date by the studio. Look for the film to lands in theaters everywhere in a month quite familiar to the world of Harry Potter. Rowling will be penning the screenplay of the film that lands November 18, 2016.
The film delves into the world that is based on the “textbook” from Hogwarts of the same name. Its main character will be that book’s fictitious author, Newt Scamander, and it will explore the landscape where witches, beasts and wizards live.
When Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them lands in November of 2016, it will be the first in a planned trilogy.
At first when Godzilla star Aaron Taylor-Johnson was approached about joining the cast of the monster movie, he was not sure about taking the part. But then, he learned he would play an integral role in the movie as the son of co-star Bryan Cranston. As you can see from the Godzilla trailer, Cranston knows about the monster, and is not dealing too well with the government’s lies. Working closely with the Emmy winner was a huge plus for Taylor-Johnson.
“He ends up passing the baton on to me, and I have to finish off his dirty work,” he said to Movie Fanatic recently in New York City and laughed.
He was stunned how it was handled in the Godzilla script that his character would turn from skeptic to believer, all in an effort to carry on his father’s legacy and bring the truth of Godzilla to light.
“I think it’s a beautiful moment in which my character understands that family is the most important thing of all. I think that becomes clear in a natural disaster when everything is in chaos. If he was going to die tomorrow, what was it all about? What does it all mean? I think he knows about having the ones that you love there and protected. For him it’s his family and knowing that he needs to be a better father and a husband.”
As it’s handled in the script (no spoilers here!), Taylor-Johnson’s character has a history that is absent of a paternal connection. “He didn’t have that kind of bond (with his father) and he doesn’t want to give that to his son,” he added. “It’s a beautiful realization that he needs to keep that going.”
The other aspect, and perhaps the largest one, about Taylor Johnson joining the cast, was the fact that Godzilla would be directed by Gareth Edwards.
“I first got involved because of Gareth. Before that, it was like, ‘Why would they make Godzilla again?’ If it was another monster movie, I would probably try to stay away from it. I loved Monsters (Edwards’ first film). It’s a story about these two characters that come together, and the monsters are like a natural disaster,” Taylor Johnson said.
“I just thought, ‘Wow, I’m intrigued how he might take this story.’ And truly enough, he told me everything about how he wanted to do it. Looking back now, he was right on the money. Nothing really changed. His whole heart and soul is in it. It’s got a real emotional journey throughout this big major catastrophe.”
In hindsight, Taylor-Johnson was supremely impressed with his helmer. “He took on a monstrous project, but you know instantly with Gareth that he will deliver. He’s someone who understands actors and gives them the time, and gets great performances because he really collaborates, and gives great ideas, and doesn’t really stop experimenting until you have so many variations,” Taylor-Johnson said.
“It was a big step up from him, but he’s someone that’s got real strong visions and ideas. And I think Legendary (Pictures) had a huge part of that as well with a body of work in the last two, three, five years with great directors, big movies, but with such heart and soul. Gareth is someone you put that risk on. He gives it that naturalistic look and feel and it always works from an emotional standpoint.”
When they started the process of making Godzilla with Taylor Johnson, there wasn’t a true script in place. Cranston and the actor were able to add so much that Edwards took in and interwove into the story.
“I think everyone on this film really collaborated. Bryan brought a lot to his role, and we tried to figure out a lot about the family. He wanted a whole sort of backstory that the marriage was on the rocks, and (the character) couldn’t quite come to terms with being a father who is around for his child -- because he couldn’t figure out how to accept his father,” Taylor-Johnson said.
“So there was a lot of backstory for the characters. A lot of that got condensed down, but I think the undertones are kind of there, so that’s great.”
And the catalyst for all of this… is Godzilla!
“In this case, he’s our hero,” Taylor Johnson said. “He’s our mascot!”
Million Dollar Arm star Lake Bell visited with us for an exclusive video interview and we had to start by asking her to give us something unique about her co-star, Jon Hamm.
It seems that Hamm loves computer games. “He plays Candy Crush all the time, nobody knows that,” Bell said. “You don’t think of Don Draper being like crushing candies! He knows techie games.”
As seen in the Million Dollar Arm trailer, the true story follows Hamm's sports agent as he head sto India in search of the next great major league pitcher. Bell portrays his guest house renter -- and potential love interest and had a front row seat to the movie's magic.
Bell also shares her delight in finally appearing in a Disney movie. “I am so thankful that this is a project that I can have any family member in any age range -- anyone can see it and be moved. And… they’ll probably cry at the end.”
Bell does! “I will cry every time I see this movie,” she admitted. “Even if you don’t know diddy about baseball, which I do not, in a sports movie you relate to the physical, raw talent that and hard work that someone has to endure to get to that space.”
She also updates us on if she’s working on something to follow up her writing-directing-starring charmer In a World!
If Hamm's idea of finding a baseball star in India works, baseball can expect a billion new fans.
2.
Jon Hamm Heads to India
Jon Hamm stars in Million Dollar Arm and his character is desperate. In order to save his sports agency, he heads to India searching for the next big thing.
3.
We Might Have Something
Hamm and his team might have something!
4.
Lefty with Juice
As you can see, a lefty with juice is a very good thing.
5.
Jon Hamm Brings Lake Bell a Present
Jon Hamm comes back from India and brings his love interest, Lake Bell, a special guest.
DreamWorks Animation has released a clip from their highly anticipated How to Train Your Dragon 2. It features our favorite dragon tamer, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and he’s sharing a moment with his dear friend Astrid (America Ferrera).
Now, although it doesn’t show it in the above clip – it does has us wondering something. Do Hiccup and Astrid become an item in How to Train Your Dragon 2? There’s a warmth and caring there that screams, “We’re a couple!”
The sequel to How to Train Your Dragon quotes lands in theaters June 13 and brings back Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Kristen Wiig. Also joining the cast is Cate Blanchett as Hiccup’s Mom!