Oscar Nominee Bradley Cooper to play a talking raccoon....I'm serious.

Listen I don't pretend to be the biggest comicbook fan in the world.  Far from it.  Yeah I have a few graphic novels here and there but do I own a regular subscription to "Batman" or know the complete backstory of Ultron?  No.  So it's not surprising that when I learned that part of Marvel's Phase II would be Guardians of the Galaxy, my first thought was (you guessed it!) who the Hell are the Guardians of the Galaxy??

Suffice it to say that the more I hear about them, the less appealing I find them to be.  It's very kid oriented and there's a talking tree...and a talking raccoon...named Rocket Raccoon.  I....oy...I got nothing.  Can you sense my lack of enthusiasm here? 

Like it or not, Guardians of the Galaxy is currently filming with plenty of well known actors like Glenn Close, John C. Reilly, and Christopher Platt.  Well you can now add Bradley Cooper to that list.  Deadline reports that  Cooper will provide the voice to the wise cracking and sarcastic Rocket Raccoon.  Who exactly is Rocket Raccoon?  Well why don't I edify you with this piece of info:

Rocket Raccoon acts as the "Guardian of the Keystone Quadrant", an area of outer space sealed off from the rest of the cosmos by the so-called Galacian Wall. Rocket is captain of the starship Rack 'n' Ruin, and he and his first mate Wal Russ (a talking walrus) come from the planet Halfworld in the Keystone Quadrant, an abandoned colony for the mentally ill where the animal companions were genetically manipulated to grant them human level intelligence and bipedal body construction for many to become caretakers of the inmates. Rocket was Halfworld's chief law officer ("ranger") who protected the colony against various threats.


Now I may be way off base here but it doesn't seem like this film is going to appeal to anyone over the age of ten, unless you are a diehard Marvel fanatic.  Marvel is definitely taking a risk with this one and this could very well turn out to be their first major flop.

Guardians of the Galaxy, directed by James Gunn, releases August 1st, 2014.

Casting news for Kurt and Kathleen, Russell joins Fast 7 and Turner joins Dumb and Dumber sequel

It's been awhile since Kurt Russell or Kathleen Turner* did anything significant. In the last six years Russell has appeared in only four films while Turner...well she's probably made some appearances at Dunkin' Donuts but beyond that I really can't say.

In any event, both actors are about to make splashes in some very high profile sequels.  "Variety" reports that Russell has just signed on for a role in Fast And Furious 7 alongside Paul Walker and Vin Diesel.  While the role wasn't disclosed, "Bleeding Cool" states that Russell's role will be the one originally offered to Denzel Washington and modeled after Liam Neeson...whatever that means.  Could be a villain but I'm guessing not considering Jason Statham is primed to play the baddie.

"Variety" also reports that directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly have cast Turner in an undisclosed role in Dumber and Dumber To.  The movie begins shooting this Fall and is set to release sometime in 2014, just in time for the original's 20th anniversary. 

Russell can next be seen in The Art of the Steal currently in post-production and Turner will hopefully be seen somewhere by somebody soon.  "Friends" reunion anyone?

*I couldn't put up a newer photo of Kathleen Turner.  I just...couldn't...do it. 

In other casting news...James Spader is Ultron!

In case you forgot in the midst of the Batman/Superman movie whirlwind, there's another little Indie pic coming out the same summer called The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

 Just as the Batfleck diatribes begin to die down on the Internet, Marvel ups and gives audiences another bit of casting news to ponder.  While this one certainly isn't as controversial it is certainly...interesting.

According to "Deadline" Emmy Award winning actor James Spader will play the villain Ultron in the followup to the 2012 box office hit.  While many speculated that Paul Bettany, the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S from Iron Man would take on the role, it's apparently not to be. 

Spader has made a career of eclectic weird roles, everything from an elitist douche in Pretty In Pink to a sex deviant who gets off at car crash sites in David Cronenberg's Crash.  This role seems right up Spader's alley.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron releases May 1st, 2015.

Batty over Ben: Analyzing the choice of Ben Affleck for Batman

It's a fact of life that sometimes things happen at the most inopportune times.  You forget your umbrella and it starts to storm.  Your car breaks down on your way to the big interview.  Amazon has the complete Blu Ray set of LOST on sale for $50 and  your bank account shows a zero balance.  Sometimes it's enough to make Alanis Morissette cry.

And sometimes big movie stories break when you're on vacation.  That was the case with me last week when Warner Bros. dropped a bomb bigger than Gigli on the unknowing masses, casting Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Zack Snyder's upcoming Batman/Superman movie.  If I didn't know better I would've thought Warner Bros. was trying to break the Internet.

In retrospect, I think it was a good thing that I was on vacation and no where near a computer when the news broke.  While I wasn't against the casting, it certainly came out of left field.  I mean seriously.  Anybody who saw this coming raise your hands.  Oh no one did?  That's what I thought.  But to get back to my initial thought, the timing was a good thing personally because it gave me a chance to reflect rationally on the casting choice.  (In case you didn't notice some people had slight emotional overreactions to the news.)

Before I get to my thoughts however, I'd like to take a moment and assess the fan reaction.  Granted some of the memes that  have come out have been pretty hilarious, but I have never seen such vitriol and hatred spewed on the Internet like I have for Ben Affleck.  You'd think someone had hired the lead singer of Gwar to play Jesus Christ in a reboot of The Passion of the Christ.  People actually put up a petition on the White House website to have him removed from the film.  THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE.  Are you freakin' kidding me???  All I could think of was Shatner on SNL saying "It's just a TV show!"  People need to relax and remember at the end of the day it's just a movie.  And if we're going to be completely honest here, whoever Warner Bros. picked, somebody would've found a reason to bitch.  Because that's what the Internet and social media have become--places to gripe and moan anonymously.  But that's a post for a different day and probably a different blog.  In the interim 300 lb guy wearing a Justice League of America shirt, playing Call of Duty in your Mom's basement, and freebasing Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, why don't you dial it down a notch ok?  Your hatred is not appreciated.

Now as to my thoughts on the casting choice.  I don't hate the pick, but I can't say that I'm enthusiastic about it either.  Could Warner Bros. have cast someone more appropriate?  Probably.  However, could they have picked someone with more talent?  That's up for debate.  While fanboys may bitch and moan that Affleck ruined Daredevil (seriously guys it wasn't that bad) you can't deny the leaps and bounds that Affleck has made in the movie industry over the last couple years.  Here's a guy who had a lot of success early on and was really given the keys to the Bentley.  And what did Affleck do with those keys?  He gave the world Gigli, Reindeer Games, Surviving Christmas, and Phantoms.  The dude became a Hollywood joke, ripped by everyone, from Internet bloggers to Seth MacFarlane on "Family Guy." 

And then something magical happened.  Affleck turned it around.

In the last five years he's become quite the Hollywood professional.  His stint in Hollywoodland (where ironically he played George Reeves, television's Superman) was excellent and he's directed three superb films--Gone Baby Gone, The Town and Argo.  It's still a travesty that he didn't win Best Director, let alone get nominated for Argo.  Moreover, he's learned to embrace his essence as an actor.  Affleck is that moody, inward, aloof Clint Eastwood type.  (Let's face it the guy isn't going to up and do Hamlet anytime soon.)  From that perspective the casting of Ben Affleck as Batman makes a lot of sense.  Batman is a stoic, withdrawn man tormented by his past.  Batman doesn't really have to show a wide range of emotions.  Furthermore, Affleck also makes an ideal Bruce Wayne.  He's handsome, charming, funny, and could easily pass for a playboy billionaire.

Affleck detractors will site his earlier movies and his relationship with Jennifer Lopez as a reason to hate him in the role of Batman.  I think they are being myopic.  How long can you condemn a man for choices he made in his mid twenties?  I'm not sure about you but I know I made a lot of stupid mistakes in my twenties.  But you learn and you grow.  It's called maturity.  Fanboys and the like are quick to forget that audiences reacted in a similar fashion when Michael Keaton was cast as Batman.  People were even angrier when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker.  (The guy from Ten Things I Hate About You?  Really?)  Both of those decisions panned out pretty well, especially the latter.  Conversely, when George Clooney was cast as Batman/Bruce Wayne everyone rejoiced because he seemed to fit the image so well.  Guess what?  We got Batnipples and a movie that singlehandedly destroyed the franchise for the better part of a decade.

The point I'm trying to make here is that I'm neutral on the casting choice.  I'm willing to give Ben Affleck the benefit of the doubt until he proves me wrong in July 2015.  Until such time however, I'm going to reserve judgement.  It would be one thing if Warner Bros. had cast Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, or Bobcat Goldthwait in the role.  That's not the case though.  It's Ben Affleck.  If anything I wish Warner Bros. would have taken it one step farther and made Affleck the director.  When it's all said and done I think Affleck will be remembered more for his work behind the camera rather than in front of it.

Although I'm neutral on the casting, I actually am rooting for Affleck to do well.  In fact I think the perfect revenge against all his Internet haters would be to go and give the performance of his life.  Shut the fanboys* up and give them a great movie.  I sincerely hope that's what happens.  Then again in two years I may be eating a massive plate of crow.  (Or should I say bat?)  However, if I do, I'll also be the first to say the naysayers were right and I was wrong.  Until then let's withhold the Batarangs to Ben Affleck's groin and see how this plays out.

*Fanboys who say they are going to boycott this film because of Affleck--I call bullshit.  You guys have had a giant nerd boner since Warner Bros. revealed they were making a Batman/Superman movie at Comicon.  So don't give me your righteous indignation you hypocrites.

Could Elizabeth Olsen be playing Scarlet Witch in The Avengers: Age of Ultron???

Whoa call Uncle Jesse, and Joey, and Kimmy Gibbler and....oh shit wrong Olsen.

Joss Whedon confirmed several weeks ago that the character of Scarlet Witch would appear in The Avengers: Age of Ultron.  Although actress Saoirse Ronan was offered the part, she passed, leaving Whedon to go after his second choice--Elizabeth Olsen.

This report comes via "Bleeding Cool" and while nothing is set in stone yet, I'm encouraged by the news.  Elizabeth Olsen certainly has more dedication and focus on acting than her older sisters (New York Minute anyone?) and has really made a name for herself in Indie films like Silent House and Martha Marcy May Marlene.  Plus she's not averse to summer tentpole films, as she'll star in next summer's Godzilla.  I could see this being an excellent role for her.

Olsen's next film Oldboy releases November 27th while The Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters May 1, 2015.

Director Guy Ritchie may helm an Empire State building movie

While audiences wait with baited breath for a third Sherlock Holmes movie, they'll have to content themselves with director Guy Ritchie's next film, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.  While Ritchie has been tied to numerous projects over the last year or so (including an Cannonball Run remake believe it or not) his next project may be about the building that made King Kong famous.

"Deadline" reports that Warner Bros. has just acquired the rights to the 2006 book "Empire Rising" which describes the construction of NYC's Empire State building.  Warner Bros. is currently circling Ritchie to helm the project if he's interested.  Thomas Kelly's historical fiction novel tells:

...the tale of a love triangle between Johnny Farrell, an important aide to the mayor; Johnny's artist girlfriend, Grace Masterson; and construction worker and part-time boxer Michael Briody. Each of these characters represents, without the flatness of type, a significant element of the fabric of New York City as the Empire State Building rises ethereally above the street-level realities of hard economic times and how big-city government works. Kelly successfully melds actual historical figures and fictional ones, but in the end, it is New York City itself that emerges as the central character here: a place that makes people the way they are.

Sounds intriguing. Seems like the kind of stuff that the Academy eats up for Oscar time too.  Also it has a criminal element and anybody who knows Ritchie knows he does crime dramas very well.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. does not yet have a release date.

Who let the dogs out? Playstation game Watch Dogs coming to the big screen

PS4 doesn't hit stores for another 2 1/2 months, but already Sony and Ubisoft are looking to bring one of the new console's games to the big screen.

"Watch Dogs" focuses on the ever popular open world motif, similar to the "Grand Theft Auto" games and has some amazing graphics.  The desire for a feature film based off the video game may have something to do with the game's plot:

Watch Dogs centers on Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker bent on revenge and inflicting his own brand of justice after a violent family tragedy. Using all of his skills, Pearce hacks into Chicago’s Central Operating System (ctOS), which controls the city’s infrastructure, including security cameras, traffic lights, and public transportation, as well as databases containing key information on the city’s residents. In the game, Pearce turns the entire city of Chicago into his ultimate weapon.

Seems like action movie magic to me.  I could totally see Karl Urban playing Aiden Pearce.  While I think there's never been a truly successful videogame to film adaptation, I believe audiences are bound to experience a good one sooner rather than later.  The storylines in some of these videogames rival movie scripts for content and suspense.  Don't believe me?  Try asking someone who's played "The Last of Us," "Mass Effect 3," or "Tomb Raider" lately and see what they think.  I see no reason why "Watch Dogs" couldn't be the first great video game adaptation.

Playstation 4 hits store shelves November 15th.

Sean Connery's final film will be animated

While Sean Connery announced his retirement almost a decade ago, it turns out The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen will not be his final swan song.

In 2010 Connery lent his voice to the animated feature Sir Billi, which after three years in development, finally has a release date.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for the States) at this time it will only be overseas.  Fans of your favorite Scot will be able to see (or in this case hear) Connery when Sir Billi releases September 13th.  The film hits home video a few days afterwards but there's no news as to whether this film will ever be seen in America.

Here's a brief plot description:

An aging, skateboarding vet, Sir Billi goes above and beyond the call of duty fighting villainous policemen and powerful lairds in a battle to save an illegal fugitive - Bessie Boo the beaver! A heart warming and action packed family movie where thrilling car chases, heroic skydiving and daring stunts from this octogenarian, fueled with encounters with a hostile submarine, will keep you at the edge of your seat!

I'll take "Sounds like a Shit Sandwich for $1000 Alex." 

Seriously this sounds like an awful, awful movie.  Now granted it is the first animated feature film made completely in Scotland, which is commendable, but dear God this sounds like 90 minutes of rip your eyes out dreck. 

I for one am extremely disappointed that Connery* would be involved in something like this.  I wish he would come out of retirement.  I still believe he has a lot to offer even though he's in his eighties.  Oh well.  Nobody ever said an actor's final film had to be great.  Not everyone can go out like Peter Finch or Henry Fonda.

*Connery turned down the role of Morpheus in The Matrix and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings because he didn't understand the scripts.  But he did this film?  Guh??

Preacher preacher number 9 when's your movie comin' down the line....

Been awhile since we had an update on the adaptation of the "Preacher" comic book but "iamRouge" recently had an interview with director D.J. Caruso (The Salton Sea).  Caruso reports that while Preacher is still in development, it's definitely on the back burner for now.  Caruso is currently working in conjunction with Sony trying to get the action film Invertigo off the ground.  (Was that a semi-pun?  I'm not sure). 

Although comic book adaptations are all the rage and have been now for almost a decade and a half, "Preacher" is out there even by comic book standards:

Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a preacher in the small Texas town of Annville. Custer was accidentally possessed by the supernatural creature named Genesis in an incident which killed his entire congregation and flattened his church.
Genesis, the product of the unauthorized, unnatural coupling of an angel and a demon, is an infant with no sense of individual will. However, as it is composed of both pure goodness and pure evil, it might have enough power to rival that of God Himself. In other words, Jesse Custer, bonded to Genesis, may have become the most powerful being in the whole of living existence.
Custer, driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, goes on a journey across the United States attempting to (literally) find God, who abandoned Heaven the moment Genesis was born. He also begins to discover the truth about his new powers. They allow him, when he wills it, to command the obedience of those who hear and comprehend his words. He is joined by his old girlfriend Tulip O'Hare, as well as a hard-drinking Irish vampire named Cassidy.
During the course of their journeys, the three encounter enemies and obstacles both sacred and profane, including: the Saint of Killers, an invincible, quick-drawing, perfect-aiming, come-lately Angel of Death answering only to "He who sits on the throne"; a disfigured suicide attempt survivor turned rock-star named Arseface; a serial-killer called the 'Reaver-Cleaver'; The Grail, a secret organization controlling the governments of the world and protecting the bloodline of Jesus; Herr Starr, ostensible Allfather of the Grail, a megalomaniac with a penchant for prostitutes, who wishes to use Custer for his own ends; several fallen angels; and Jesse's own redneck 'family' — particularly his nasty Cajun grandmother, her mighty bodyguard Jody, and the 'animal-loving' T.C.

Now to me this sounds all kinds of awesome.  It has a certain amount of kookiness and violence mixed in with the right amount of the supernatural.  And the Holy Grail??  Sold.  However, I tend to agree with Joblo.com writer Nikki Stephens in that this seems more suited for television--FX or Showtime maybe. 

Not sure where this movie is going but I wouldn't look for "Preacher" to hit the big or small screen any time soon.

Review: Elysium

Plot:  In the year 2154 Earth has become an overpopulated, poor, and polluted police state.  Most muddle through a dismal existence trying to eek out a living.  For the financially bereft the dream inevitably involves a spot on Elysium, a highly advanced orbital space station where only the extremely wealthy live.  There's no crime, war, or pollution on Elysium, and a highly advanced medical device can cure everything from a hangnail to leukemia.  And for Elysium's Secretary of Defense Jessica Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her cruel military agent C.M. Kruger (Sharlto Copley), they'll do anything necessary to make sure the 1% always occupy Elysium.  For factory worker and ex-con Max DeCosta (Matt Damon), Elysium is a dream he gave up on years ago.  But when an accident at a factory exposes Max to a lethal dose of radiation, he turns to his criminal friends to get to the fabled space station.  However, Max soon discovers that his journey may not only save himself and his childhood friend Frey's (Alice Braga's) daughter from certain death, but could alter the course of every man, woman, and child on Earth.

Review:  Bad science fiction films annoy, good science fiction films merely entertain, but great science fiction like The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Blade Runner hold a mirror up to society and really make the viewer think.

Director Neil Blomkamp's latest film Elysium falls into the third category.

Easily the best film I've seen so far this year, Elysium is a gritty, honest, and vicious look at a scarily plausible Earth of the future.  Filled with strong performances, intense action, and an underlying message that asks audiences to look beyond the surface, Elysium provokes societal scrutiny as well entertains.

Fans of Blomkamp's first film District 9 are sure to enjoy his followup.  As with District 9, Blomkamp examines a larger social issue through the lens of science fiction.  However, whereas District 9 was an allegory of South Africa's apartheid, Elysium examines the ever burgeoning gap between the haves and havenots in American society.  It's a harrowing vision made real by a 22nd century Los Angeles that looks more like a third world Rio de Janeiro.  In point of fact, Blomkamp's script seems to imply that most of the world has devolved into third world poverty.  (And in reality is that so beyond the scope of possibility?  Look at the severe poverty in the Ozarks.)  Earth dwellers have become plodding humans as expendable to the people of Elysium as their robot overseers.  While humans toil, executives reap higher bonuses and increase their stock options.  Meanwhile, residents of Earth are constantly being offered pills to calm down, amp up, or focus more on performing their menial jobs.  (Any of this starting to sound familiar?)

Damon's Da Costa's is another victim of the system.  Damon succeeds well in the role totally immersing himself in Max.  He's an ex-con trying to reform himself yet is constantly thwarted by the circumstances around him, whether it's an uptight foreman, a violent police robot, or a snarky robot parole officer.  He also pines after his lost love Frey (Braga) who wants to distance herself from her old friend.  Braga's performance is an understated yet entrancing role.  She's a nurse who strives to bring good amidst the chaos while dealing with her daughter's own personal sickness.  Max unfortunately is just a reminder of a life she'd rather not go back to.

Ironically, Max considers himself a pretty average guy.  Yet average people can often be forced into extraordinary circumstances.  Max finds himself in just such a spot when he's exposed to a lethal dose of radiation and implores  his old boss Spider (Wagner Moura) to help him get to Elysium.  But Spider's plan quickly becomes an amazing opportunity.  I don't want to ruin the plot so suffice it to say that nothing less than the future of the human race is at stake.

I don't mean to make it sound like Elysium is one long diatribe about financial disparity, the greed of executives, or the dangers of pollution and overpopulation.  Far from it.  The action in Elysium is a heart pounding adrenaline rush that grips you by the throat.  Once Max is modified by an exo-suit that vastly increases his strength, speed, and stamina, the intensity really kicks in.  The fights between Max and Kruger are epic.  Copley's Kruger is a malevolent, murdering sociopath that will make you completely forget about his mild mannered and sympathetic role in District 9.  In fact Kruger in many ways is the embodiment of the ugliness of 22nd century society.

Visually Elysium is stunning.  The third world nature of mid 22nd century Los Angeles is equally as impressive as the sleek, futuristic look of Elysium.  The visual wizards behind Elysium realize Blomkamp's vision on every level, creating a futuristic Earth that is as believable as it is visually captivating.

I have only two real complaints about Elysium.  Trent Opaloch's camerawork is extremely shaky at times, to the point where I had to look away.  I feel Elysium would have been much better served if many of the shots were more fluid.  Secondly Jodie Foster kind of disappointed as Delacourt.  In no way was Foster bad, but I think she could have pushed the character a little bit further.  And her pseudo-French accent was laughable.

Elysium is an intriguing, introspective, and visually stunning sophomore effort by director Neil Blomkamp, one that I will be thinking about for weeks to come.

My rating:  9.5/10

There's a signpost up ahead for director Joseph Kosinski's next film....

"The Twilight Zone" is still one of my favorite television shows even though its run ended almost a decade and a half before I was born.  So many talented actors got their start on the show including Burgess Meredith, Robert Redford, Dennis Hopper and William Shatner.  Plus it's ability to reflect society while simultaneously scaring and entertaining was a triumph in itself.  Hollywood even managed to bring the film to the big screen in 1983.  The movie involved four separate vignette's and I believe is one of the most severely overlooked movies of the 1980s.

Well it looks like Tinseltown wants old Rod Serling's* classic television show back on the big screen.  "The Hollywood Reporter" reveals that Oblivion director Joseph Kosinski's is in negotiations to helm the film.  The film with be produced under Leonardo DiCaprio's banner Appian Way via Warner Bros.  No details have been released on a possible plot line as of yet.

Kosinski's two films have both been science fiction so I think this movie fits well with the director.  I hope they do a vignette type film like the 1983 version but this time make all the stories somehow interconnected.

No timetable yet on principle photography or a release date.

*Fun fact:  My great uncle Don graduated high school with Rod Serling, the show's creator.

Yet ANOTHER Lance Armstrong picture set to cycle into theaters

Another day another Lance Armstrong picture.  This time involving Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper.

Cooper is currently in negotiations to star in director Jay Roach's Lance Armstrong biopic, Red Blooded American.  Strangely however, there's no definitive answer as to who Cooper might play.  Reports speculate that Cooper could play Armstrong or Tyler Hamilton, a former Armstrong teammate who blew the whistle on Armstrong's doping.

Apparently the film is being fast tracked, but between Cooper promoting his next film American Hustle, shooting set to begin on director Cameron Crowe's new film in the fall, and trying to find a new home for "American Sniper" after Steven Spielberg bailed last month, "fast tracked" is a relative term.

Red Blooded American will also compete with two other Armstrong biopics, one starring Ben Foster and directed by John Hodge, and another produced by J.J. Abrams and based on Juliet Macur's book "Cycle of Lies:  The Fall of Lance Armstrong."  In my opinion only one of these will probably make it to the big screen.  Seriously do we need three Lance Armstrong pics?  And are audiences going to shell out money for three different ones?

Cooper's next film, director David O. Russell's American Hustle, hits theaters in wide release on Christmas Day.

Jim Halpert dinosaur tamer?

For better or worse (hopefully better) audiences will soon experience a fourth edition to the Jurassic Park franchise, and if director Colin Trevorrow has his way, actor John Krasinski may play a major part.

"Movieweb" reports that Krasinski (best known for his role as Jim Halpert on "The Office") is up for a role as a dinosaur "tamer" in Jurassic Park IV.*  For those of you unaware the basic plot of the fourth films involves Jurassic Park becoming an actual tourist park, just like original developer John Hammond envisioned....but of course something goes horribly wrong.

"Movieweb" went on to say that Krasinski's role would be similar to that of Dennis Quaid in Jaws 3.  Umm yeah....about that...just spit balling here but that's probably not the best comparison to make.

Personally I think this would be a horrible fit for Krasinski.  Far be it from me to try to pigeonhole an actor but Krasinski seems best suited for romantic comedies, Disney films, or movies where he is playing a sarcastic smart ass.  To me a dinosaur tamer involves a man's man and I don't see that in Krasinski.

Jurassic Park IV releases summer 2015.

*I really hope they don't title this film Jurassic Park IV.  It should be something like Jurassic Park Into Dinosaur. 

Sony picks up wrestling chemical crime drama "Foxcatcher"

Yeah you read that movie description right.  Sounded just as kooky to me too.

Production company Sony has picked up the distribution rights to the film Foxcatcher starring Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum.  The two play Olympic wrestling champions Mark Schultz (Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Ruffalo).  The two somehow developed a relationship with the odd John du Pont (Steve Carrell) heir to the du Pont chemical fortune.  The relationship ultimately ended in murder.

The film has been in the can for quite some time, but unfortunately has been unable to find a distributor until Sony came along.  Seems strange to me, with three big names like Carrell, Ruffalo, and  Tatum involved.  Perhaps it was due to the quirkiness of the story?  Hard to swallow when you consider how Paul Thomas Anderson's movies always obtain distribution.

Foxcatcher hits theaters December 20th.  Somehow I don't think it is going to beat Anchorman 2 at the box office.

Could Mark Wahlberg get funky as the new Iron Man???

I think most fans are in agreement that after the third Avengers movie  Robert Downey Jr. is out as Iron Man.  In fact I think once production wraps on the last film he'll be off the Marvel Studio lot quicker than a sarcastic barb from Tony Stark.  It's pretty obvious from the last several interviews that he's ready to hang up the suit.  Yet the Iron Man franchise has never been more successful and the consensus is that with or without Downey, Iron Man will sail through the skies for years to come.  But who will replace Downey?

Apparently, Mark Wahlberg wants a shot.

In a recent interview with "Yahoo! Movies UK" Wahlberg says he would love to take over for Robert Downey Jr. once he exits the franchise.  The only reason he hasn't jumped at it is because he's never been asked and he freely admits he likes playing "real" people more.  Personally, I don't think it would work.  I love Mark Wahlberg.  I do.  Boogie Nights, Three Kings, The Departed, Ted; I like most things he's in.  However, I just don't think he possesses the sarcastic snarkiness, let alone the genius element that the character of Tony Stark needs.  Having said that I hope he gets involved in a comic book film somehow.

Wahlberg also made an interesting statement about CGI in movies:

You know, there’s so many effects-driven movies. What people have a tendency to forget, because you look at a lot of the trailers and the summer movies that came out… they all look very similar. Certainly all the end of the world movies. It’s like you can only do so much with effects. I don’t think any person sitting at home watching a television spot, a 15-second spot or a 30 second spot, is gonna say ‘Oh I’m gonna go see a movie because I haven’t seen that!’ You’ve seen it all before. People haven’t been wowed by effects since ‘Jurassic Park’ or ‘Perfect Storm’ with the wave, you know? It’s like now everybody does everything. It’s all kind of the same sh*t. They’re recycling a lot of the stuff.

Despite the fact that Wahlberg is starring in next year's new Transformers movie, I don't think this makes him a hypocrite.  Most actors have to deal with CGI at some point.  I agree with his sentiment though.  People now are less captivated by effects because they see it all the time.  Forget CGI. Give me a good character driven story anytime.

Mark Wahlberg can next be seen in Lone Survivor out in limited release on December 27th and nationwide January 10th, 2014.

Palpatine: Straight Sith Pimp or Force Ghost?

The other day I reported the rumor that Ian McDiarmid may be returning to the Star Wars universe. The question however was in what fashion?  A clone?  A miraculous survival after taking a header into the heart of the Death Star?  An ex-Sith trying to start again as a pimp for Jabba's homeless pleasure barge bitches?

How about neither?

"Latino Review" reports from a reliable "source" that Palpatine will return as a Force Ghost ala Obi-Wan and Yoda.  "LR" goes on to say that Palpatine's Force Ghost connects to a new apprentice he was training before he died.

Interesting.

I don't know how much I trust this rumor just from a logic standpoint.  If Episode VII is going to be set at least thirty years in the future as most suspect, why would the Emperor's Force Ghost wait three decades to reappear and train his apprentice?  It doesn't make any sense.

Maybe if he pairs up with Beetlejuice it could work....

Episode VII hits theaters summer 2015.

So let it be written, so let it be done. Joel Edgerton in talks to join Ridley Scott's "Exodus"

It's only a matter of time before Joel Edgerton wins an Oscar.  It's as inevitable as explosions in a Michael Bay film.  Any sports fan who saw Warrior and didn't cry at the end is a liar.  Ned Kelly, King Arthur, Animal Kingdom, The Great Gatsby--the guy has an impressive record.  (I even liked him in The Odd Life of Timothy Green but don't tell anyone I said that.)  Success often leads to better offers and better talent around you.

Well you can't get much more talented than actor Christian Bale and director Ridley Scott.

Although Scott has been attached to several projects, including sequels to Blade Runner and Prometheus, his next project will be a retelling of the story of Moses.  Christian Bale has already agreed to play Moses in the upcoming movie according to "THR" and now "The Hollywood Reporter" indicates that Scott is pursuing Edgerton for the role of Ramses. 

While I don't think Edgerton can fill Yul Brenner's shoes, I'm intrigued to see him in a meaty role like Ramses.  The Australian doesn't look particularly Egyptian I have to admit though.  Exodus plans to start shooting next month in Morocco, Spain, and England. 

Exodus is tentatively scheduled to release December 12, 2014.  Meanwhile Ridley Scott's next film, The Counselor hits multiplexes October 25th.

Blomkamp blowing up with a new movie starting this Fall!

Well it's less than 24 hours until I see Elysium and I am beyond stoked.  I believe Neil Blomkamp is well on his way to becoming this generation's Ridley Scott.  I also respect the fact that he refuses to attach himself to any major franchises--Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc--and focuses on original projects.  In an era where Hollywood focuses more on reboots and the same tired old crap we've seen ad nauseum, Blomkamp is a breath of fresh air.

Although his debut film District 9 and Elysium are four years apart, it appears that Blomkamp's next feature will hit theaters a little quicker.  Sony Pictures just announced today that Blomkamp will begin production on his new science fiction film Chappie later this fall starring (who else?) Sharlto Copley.  Here's a brief synopsis:

Chappie tells the story of a robot imbued with artificial intelligence who is stolen by two local gangsters who want to use him for their own nefarious purposes. The film will star Sharlto Copley as the voice of Chappie, with Ninja and Yolandi Visser, voices of the South African Zef counter-culture movement and members of rap-rave duo Die Antwoord, as the two gangsters.

Blomkamp co-wrote the screenplay with Terri Tatchell, and Simon Kinberg is set to produce.  Seems like Copley is starting to become to Blomkamp what Robert DeNiro once was to Martin Scorcese.  I don't mind as long as he continues to churn out strong performances. 

Chappie will release sometime in 2014.

Something, something, something Dark Side, something something Ian McDiarmid

Since nobody desires to provide tangible evidence that some actor, some where has signed on for Star Wars Episode VII, we are forced to settle for rumors.  And this rumor is a whopper the size of Ziost.  (That's the Sith's original home planet for those of you not in the know.)

"Jedi News" reports that a source close to the film states that actor Ian McDiarmid* will return for the seventh installment, presumably as Emperor Palpatine.  Since the 'ole Emperor took a high dive to the center of the Death Star in Return of the Jedi, I'm guessing that McDiarmid will play a clone of the original Palpatine.  It's important to note that there is a storyline in the Star Wars expanded universe where a clone of Palpatine re-emerges and temporarily converts Luke to the Dark Side.  However, this was only about six years after the events of Jedi if memory serves me, so it might not fit the timeline for Episode VII.  Although at this point there's been little to no indication that Abrams and company will even employ ANY material for the expanded universe. 

I'm kind of torn about this rumor.  On the one hand I loved McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine and am intrigued about his possible return.  On the other hand I really want Episode VII to go in a new direction with a new enemy.  The Sith don't necessarily have to come into play at all.  (Yuuzhan Vong anyone?)

Of course any speculation at this point is moot because we've had no official word from Disney.  The "source" for this rumor could be a meth addicted Uncle who thinks he really is Luke Skywalker for all I know.  We will just have to wait and see.  Honestly though, someone needs to sign on the dotted line.  I don't care if it is Warwick Davis reprising his role as Wicket the Ewok.  Somebody put pen to paper already please!

Star Wars Episode VII releases summer 2015.

*McDiarmid has a great little cameo as a Catholic priest in 1981's Dragonslayer.  If  you haven't seen it you might want to before the second Hobbit movie comes out in December.  It will be a nice baseline for how far dragons on screen have come.

Forget Batman vs. Superman..​.I want The Dark Knight Returns!

When DC dropped the bomb last month at San Diego Comic Con that the next film set in the DC Universe would be a Batman/Superman film, it sent reverberations throughout the Nerdverse. Most were thrilled, others wanted to slit their throats with a Batarang.

I kind of fell somewhere in the middle.

As excited as I am to see Supes and Bats on the big screen, there's something else I'd rather see--Frank Miller's graphic novel "The Dark Knight Returns" on the big screen.

Even if you're not a fan of comic books, you should really check this sucker out. Not only is it entertaining and gritty, it's deep, complex, and still relevant.

And Superman is in it.

For those of you not familiar with the material I'll break it down for you. Ten years have passed since the Batman retired and Gotham City is the worse for it. Crime has skyrocketed, even though the majority of supervillains--Two-Face, Joker, etc remain in Arkham Asylum. Still haunted by his past, a 55 year old Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement to fight a new crime gang in Gotham known as The Mutants. When Batman's crusade becomes too violent, the President tasks Superman to bring him in. The fight between the two is one for the ages.

What's also significant about the graphic novel is that it singlehandedly changed the tone of Batman comic books from that point onward. The campyness of the 70s and early 80s was swept aside in favor of darker, grittier stories. Without Miller's seminal work, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises never sees the light of day.

Moreover, the graphic novel has a timelessness that would make adapting it into a film virtually seamless. That way the film won't come across as dated.

With the success of Batman on film over the last two decades, I wholeheartedly believe that eventually this movie will get made.  In fact I'm shocked studios haven't jumped all over this idea. I'd love to see a director like David Fincher take the reigns and I think Jeffery Dean Morgan would be perfect as an older Batman. Making the President Lex Luthor wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Until The Dark Knight Returns grapels into theaters however, I highly suggest the animated feature with Peter Weller. It stays very close to the source material and is all kinds of entertaining.

The Batman/Superman movie hits theaters summer 2015.

The Desperado to join Expendables 3; Mel Gibson confirmed as the villain!

 

 

I'm doing an awful lot of updated on the third Expendables film lately, despite the fact that I've never seen the second. But I'm happy to keep doing it if the cast continues to be this impressive.

"Entertainment Tonight" confirmed two powerful bullets of information. The first is that Puss and Boots---er Antonio Banderas will join the cast and add a bit of Latino flavor to an already badass group of mercenaries. (Although now that I think about it I believe Chuck Norris does have a Hispanic heritage.) The role is unknown at this point. Maybe it will be a badass assassin who carries guns in his guitar! Oh wait...

More importantly however, Mel Gibson has been confirmed as the villain for the film. He will play Adolph Hitler. BAZINGA! I kid. I kid. The fact that Gibson is an American and the last two films have involved foreign enemies makes me wonder if Expendables 3 will be set in America. Granted the majority of the film will be filmed in Bulgaria but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. A lot of US production companies make movies in foreign markets because of the tax breaks.

The Expendables 3 opens August next year and Banderas and Gibson can both be seen in the upcoming Machete Kills.

 



Abra Abra Cadabra I Wanna Reach out and Grab Ya--Sequel Coming to Now You See Me

I remember walking out of Now You See Me a couple months ago and feeling fairly entertained. Overall, I thought it was a decent film. The cast jelled well, it had a pretty strong plot, and the magic scenes were highly entertaining.

As I left the theater I remember my good friend Mike turning to me and saying something to the effect of, "Wow they really left that wide open for a sequel. I hope they make one."

Well, message received Mike.

According to "The Hollywood Reporter" the film's producers are going ahead with a sequel to the film. For a movie that had a modest budget ($75 million) it made almost $250 million when you combine domestic and global returns. More than tripling your investment is usually a good reason to make a sequel.

Having said that, I hope the only reason the producers are making a sequel is not because the film made money. They could really examine the whole Eye of Horus angle. There are a lot of possibilties and paths to take. Hopefully, they can get the whole cast back and maybe director Louis Letterier as well.

In terms of a title it has to be Now you Don't right?

Review: The Heat

Plot: Uptight, straightedge FBI agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) plays by the rules and dreams of promotion. The problem is her co-workers despise her and her boss Hale (Demian Bichir) isn't convinced of her suitability for the new position. In an attempt to have her prove herself worthy, Hale assigns her to a case in Boston alongside loose cannon detective Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy). Despite having nothing in common and personalities that are polar opposites, the two must work together to bring down a notorious drug dealer and murderer.

Review: I must be one of the few people who wasn't a fan of Bridesmaids. I just thought it was very overrated and aside from a few instances, not very funny. I wasn't expecting much from director Paul Feig's followup. Throw in the fact that I loathe Sandra Bullock as an actress (don't get me started on her Oscar for The Blind Side) and my expectations were virtually nil.

Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised.

The Heat is a consistently funny film with some fantastic dialogue and surprisingly good action sequences. It is the female equivalent of Lethal Weapon with Bullock in the Murtaugh role and McCarthy squarely ensconced in the Riggs role. Their byplay and chemistry is a sight to see, although McCarthy gets the lion's share of the good lines. The part where Bullock tried to speak Bulgarian to someone and McCarthy said, "Move over Rosetta Stone!" cracked me the hell up.

Great comedies come down to great writing and screenplay writer Katie Dippold deliver in spades. Whether it's McCarthy chasing down a family man trying to solicit a prostitute or the Sarah and Shannon letting their hair down at the local watering hole, The Heat rarely fails to induce laughter. Oh and spoiler alert: McCarthy's extended family is hysterical. Just think of your stereotypical Irish Boston family and then multiply it by a billion. The accents, the obsession with Boston sports, the frequent use of "wicked awesome" and the f-bomb--it's all there. Whenever Mullins' family is involved hilarity follows. My only complaint would be that SNL veteran Jane Curtain hardly features at all as Mullins' mother. Not sure if her role was reduced in the film or if Dippold just didn't give her enough juicy material.

If the script suffers anywhere it's that Ashburn and Mullins are very stereotypical characters. I mean come on. The loose cannon detective paired with the straight edge, by-the-book FBI agent? Tell me if you've heard this story before. And believe me there are points where Mullins and Ashburn's character traits are over the top. Yet in spite of all that, Bullock and McCarthy manage to create a depth to their characters despite what little they are given to work with.  Ashburn is desperately lonely though she doesn't want to admit it. (She takes solace in a cat that isn't even hers!) Meanwhile, Mullins is ostracized from here family for helping put her brother away, and lashes out by abusing everyone from ex-lovers to her terrified captain Captain Woods (Thomas F. Wilson). That's right people, Biff Tannen makes an appearance! Where ya been Tommy?

Feig for the most part keeps the pacing tight and steady and the film rarely lags. Action sequences are what you'd expect from a Hollywood action comedy--intense, over the top, and slightly predictable. Aside from a few minor sequences that were implausible (A detective is really going to try to interrogate a suspect by playing Russian roulette with his nuts? Please) most of the film comes across realistic.

At the end of the day though, action-comedies aren't about realism, they're about laughs. And The Heat contains as many laughs as it does bullets.

My rating: 8/10

Review: The Wolverine

Plot: Set shortly after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, Logan (Hugh Jackman) has become a homeless drifter in Canada, picking up odd jobs where he can and trying to escape his past. Haunted by nightmares of lost love Jean Grey, the woman he was forced to kill in order to save his fellow mutants, Logan has become weary of life and seemingly has nothing to live for. When mysterious Japanese woman named Yukio (Rila Fukushima) invites Logan to say goodbye to the dying Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi), a man Logan saved in Nagasaki who has since become a corporate billionaire. Logan gets more than he bargained for however as Yashida informs him he can make Logan mortal.  But before long Logan is caught in a web of intrigue involving Yashida's granddaughter Mariko (Tao Okamota) and the Japanese Yakuza. With his healing powers fading and mysterious mutant Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) tracking his every move, Logan must protect Mariko, regain his powers, and discover the mystery surrounding Yashida's life and family.

Review:

After the abysmal failure that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine I was surprised to find Marvel planned to make a sequel. Even though the film made money, it was a complete disappointment for fans of the adamantium clawed mutant and for moviegoers in general. I've never been a huge comicbook person although I did have a subscription to X-Men when I was a kid. But regardless of whether you are obsessed with the X-Men or just a fan of comicbook films, Origins failed across the board--acting, editing, action, CGI, story; you name it the film was a disaster on every...single...level. Someone should have just put a adamantium claw right through the heart of this movie and put it out of it's misery.

Having said all this you can probably understand my trepidation going into this film. Even with a strong director in James Mangold, a screenplay based loosely on a popular Wolverine story arc from the early 80s, and the good buzz, I had my doubts.

I never should have worried for one second.

The Wolverine isn't just good, it's great. In fact it's freakin' awesome is what it is. The only way I can describe The Wolverine as a whole is that it is the complete antithesis of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Evey thing that Origins failed at The Wolverine succeeds and then some.

The single most important thing that director James Mangold does that makes this movie succeed is focusing on the character of Logan/Wolverine. Where Origins preferred spectacle over substance, in The Wolverine the audience receives the first real in depth look at a beloved character. This man (or should I say mutant) is a lost and lonely character living with guilt and regret. Losing a loved one and living with the guilt that you caused their death is something many of us can relate to. Where before Logan was always a larger than life action badass (and he still is, no worries there) Mark Bomback, Scott Frank, and Christopher McQuarrie's script humanizes Wolverine and makes him relatable. Imagine that, humanizing a mutant? What a novel concept. Hugh Jackman excels at a role that I think always came natural to him but in The Wolverine he really comes into his own. Maybe because in this incarnation his character actually has some depth!

Additionally The Wolverine tones down on the CGI and action considerably. There aren't explosions every six seconds like in Origins and his claws don't look like something bought at The Dollar Store, scanned, and then put on the big screen. That's not to say there is no action in the film. Far from it. The fight scene on the bullet train in Japan is phenomenal and the final thirty minutes involving the Silver Samurai and about four dozen ninjas is EPIC. And I have to tip my hat to the fight choreographer. The fight scenes are so smooth and enthralling they play like a ballet on the screen. Slightly choppy editing does detract a little from the grandeur of the scenes, but not much.

Speaking of grandeur I can't stress enough how vibrant Japan comes across in this film. Whether it is the majestic urban settings or the quiet traditional houses next to a river near Nagasaki, the majesty is tangible. It sets a tone that a sound stage in Los Angeles just wouldn't have been able to accomplish.

What was also a pleasant surprise was Jackman's supporting cast. With Origins the audience received a bland Lynn Collins as Logan's love interest, a so-so Liev Schriber (Sabertooth) and a one trick Ryan Reynolds(Deadpool).  The Wolverine is flush with acting talent.  Okamota shines as Logan's love interest and her ersatz prescient sister Rila Fukushima as Yukio equally impresses. You should see how she handles a sword in this film. (That's not intended to be dirty. Or is it?) Additionally,  Yamanouchi perfectly embodies the role of the dying billionaire Yashida and Hiroyuki Sanada excels as his devious son Shingen. While Khodchenkova  mostly succeeds as the mutant Viper, at times her villainy seems a little forced.

Even after a week, I still find myself reflecting on various scenes in The Wolverine. They keep clawing (pun intended) through my brain at odd times. Aside from Star Trek Into Darkness it's only the second film I've seen this summer that I want to see a second time in the theater. Next to X2: X-Men United and X-Men: First Class, The Wolverine succeeds as the best Marvel film in the X-Men movies and a welcome edition overall to the Marvel universe.

My rating: 9/10

Indy meets Rocky—Harrison Ford joins the cast of "The Expendables 3"; Bruce Willis departs

Keep in mind that you never know how trustworthy Twitter can be, but I will admit this is straight from the account of Sly Stallone himself.  The sexagenarian tweeted the other night that septuagenarian Harrison Ford would be joining the cast of the third Expendables movie.  No news on what role he’ll play but I can’t imagine it would be a major part.  Then again I could be wrong.  Maybe he’ll be a badass general? The villain alongside Mel Gibson?  Hard to say.

There’s even a possibility that he may take over the role of Mr. Church, as Bruce Willis has departed the project—over $1,000,000.  This further solidifies how much of a douche he really  is.  Guess Kevin Smith was right. 

I’ve only seen the first Expendables movie and I really didn’t care for it.  Despite the impressive cast, I felt everyone was trying too hard and it just came across as ridiculous.  The second one received much more positive reviews and is available on Netflix streaming so I’ll probably check it out eventually.  After all it does have Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme in it. 

Maybe it’s me but I almost feel like this role is beneath Harrison Ford.  He just seems too classy of an actor for a second rate action franchise. 

The Expendables 3 releases August 15^th of next year.

Judy Greer in talks to join Brad Bird’s “Tomorrowland”

Tomorrowland is one of those films shrouded in mystery.  Seriously the secrecy is reaching Nolanesque proportions.  The little we do know mostly involves the cast, which include Hugh Laurie and George Clooney.

“Deadline” reports that everywoman actress Judy Greer is in talks to join Brad Bird’s science fiction mystery project as well.  If it happens this would mark the third time she’s paired up with Clooney, along with Three Kings and The Descendants.

Greer is one of those actresses who seems to appear everywhere in every genre.  Audiences have seen her in everything from “The Big Bang Theory” to “Arrested Development” to the “What Women Want.”  While not beautiful in the traditional sense, she’s definitely got this nerdy sexuality thing that just makes her cute as a button.  And she’s a damn good actress to boot.

Tomorrowland hits theaters December 14^th, 2014 while Greer can be seen in next summer’s Dawn of the  Planet of the Apes.

A strong cast of actors join forces for “The Giver” adaptation

I haven’t had the privilege yet to read the critically acclaimed Newberry Award winning novel “The Giver” but it’s definitely on my list.  And with the number of big names who are set to join the movie adaptation, I might have to nudge it up a few places.

 

“Deadline” reports that Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges are set to join the film which will be directed by Catch a Fire director Philip Noyce.  Streep will play the head elder of a (seemingly) Utopian society, while Bridges will play the “Receiver of Memories.”  “The Wrap” also reports that Alexander Skarsgard and Cameron Monaghan are attached. 

For those of you unfamiliar with the novel here’s a brief synopsis:

 

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

 

 

I’m a sucker for dystopiannovels and films, everything from Farenheit 451 to the severely underrated Equilibrium so I’ll definitely check this one out.  Principal photography is set to begin two months from now in South Africa.

Seth Gordon bows out of the "Horrible Bosses" sequel

Horrible Bosses was hilarious.  It not only had the perk of being exceptionally funny (the cocaine scene in the kitchen still kills me) but with comedic talents like Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, and Charlie Day the film was a recipe for success.  An extremely hot Jennifer Aniston didn’t hurt either.

Well unfortunately for the cast, original director Seth Gordon will not helm the sequel  LIKE A BOSS.  “Deadline” reports that Green has dropped out of Horrible Bosses 2.  Representatives for New Line Cinema site the ubiquitous “scheduling conflicts” excuse as the reason for the departure.  “Scheduling conflicts” has become as cliché as “It is what it is.”  And to be frank I have to call bullshit on this one.  As Alex Maidy points out, why the hell would you leave a sequel whose original film grossed over $100 million to direct a sitcom?  (Gordon has “The Goldbergs” coming out this Fall.)  Plus with his recent hit Identity Thief, Green is definitely riding a hot streak.  It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Horrible Bosses 2 hits theaters sometime in 2014.