The Flickcast

First Look at Bucky from ‘Captain America’

Posted on February 9, 2011

By now, fans of Captain America have seen the official Super Bowl trailer of the upcoming comic-based flick and even caught a glimpse of the official movie poster, but one thing I’ve been curious about is how the movie would portray the hero’s loyal side-kick, ‘Bucky.’ In a recent interview with director Joe Johnston over at the L.A. Times, it turns out that James “Bucky” Barnes, played by actor Sebastian Stan (“Gossip Girl,” “Kings”), will have a decidedly darker personality than fans of the comic may be used to.

In the interview, Johnston comments on how Bucky’s personality will receive a Hollywood update:

“Sebastian brought something really interesting and slightly on the dark side and really compelling to watch — when he’s on camera, you’re fascinated by watching him. You know, he was originally up for the lead, for the Steve Rogers role, but he didn’t have quite the same earnest, I-want-to-fight-for-my-country aura that Chris has for this role. Sebastian has a little bit of the bad boy, he’s a little bit of the James Dean type and that goes somewhat counter to the general perception of Steve Rogers. He wasn’t quite right for Captain America, but I think he’s perfect for Bucky because, really, he can have a little bit of that dark side.”

Certainly an interesting development and somewhat understandable as the boy-wonder-esque sidekick character is unlikely to be received so readily by an audience in 2011. And it certainly seems that the writing team on ‘Captain America,’ including Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Joss Whedon, didn’t merely go part-way when putting their own spin on the duo’s partnership. Instead, they practically reinvented it.

Marvel Comics On Sale This Week

Posted on February 8, 2011

February is the month of Valentine’s Day and what better way to show your love than with new comics? Okay, other gifts might be appropriate too but comics are always welcome, at least around here.

Speaking of new comics, as usual, this week sees the release of a bunch of new ones from our friends at Marvel. Let’s take a look at what they have for us.

Among the new ones coming out, we’re most interested in X-Factor #215, Carnage #3, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes #4, New Avengers # 9, Secret Warriors #24 and Wolverine #1000.

As with most weeks, new comics arrive on Wednesday, so hit your nearest comics book store early for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #654
ANITA BLAKE: CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED – THE INGENUE #2
AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES #4
BLACK PANTHER: THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR #513 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
BLACK PANTHER: THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR #515
CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE KORVAC SAGA #3
CARNAGE #3
CASANOVA: GULA #2
DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER – THE LITTLE SISTERS OF ELURIA #3

Check Out a Preview for HBO’s ‘The Sunset Limited’

Posted on February 8, 2011

With all the movies and TV programs out there featuring car chases, shootouts, explosions and more, it’s sometimes nice to watch a movie about two people who just sit and talk. Of course, it helps if the people in question are terrific actors like Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones and what they are saying is written by one of the best writers around, Cormac McCarthy.

To what compelling story am I referring? None other than McCarthy’s play The Sunset Limited, which is now a film coming this weekend from HBO. As I mentioned above, the film features two great actors. It is also based on the McCarthy play, written by him and is directed by Jones.

If, for some reason, you’re not familiar with the story, here’s the highlights:

The story focuses on two very different men – a deeply religious black ex-con (Jackson) who thwarts the suicide attempt of an asocial white college professor (Jones). As the one attempts to connect on a rational, spiritual and emotional level, the other remains steadfast in his hard-earned despair. Locked in a philosophical debate, both passionately defend their personal credos and try to convert the other.

The Sunset Limited premieres on HBO this Saturday, February 12th at 9/8C. In the meantime, check out the preview for this sure to be intense drama after the jump.

‘The League’ Gets Picked Up For a Third Season

Posted on February 8, 2011

We may have football just out of our systems after Super Bowl Sunday, but that doesn’t mean FX isn’t going ahead with their hit fantasy football comedy, The League. After a successful first and second season, it looks like we can sit back with a beer and bowl of chips for a whole new third season. From THR:

The network has ordered 13 episodes of the show, which is set against the backdrop of a fantasy football league. Production will get under way in the summer for a fall premiere.

“We love the show, and the reaction the cast received across the country during their recent comedy tour is a sign the show is really building momentum,” FX executive vp original programming Nick Grad said.

Aside from being a relatively cheap show to make for the network, the season averaged roughly 1.4 million viewers in the 18-49 demo, which is the exact age range that FX reaches for with their original and syndicated programming.

No word on what we can expect to see in the upcoming season, but you can expect to see Nick Kroll, Jeremy Cowart, Katie Aselton, Jon Lajoie, Stephen Rannazzisi, Mark Duplass, and Paul Scheer to all return this Fall on FX.

First ‘Anarchy Reigns’ Character Trailers and Screen Shots Released

Posted on February 8, 2011

So this is a new genre we haven’t heard of before. A “massively multi-player beat ’em up.” Color us intrigued.

Recently, PlatinumGames and Sega announced their latest title coming to the XBox 360 and PlayStation 3 titled Anarchy Reigns. Little information was given about the game other than a brief teaser trailer featuring some over the top looking characters and the brief PR blip:

With ANARCHY REIGNS, PlatinumGames will be using their hallmark creativity and technical excellence to challenge the boundaries of the conventional brawler genre by allowing multiple players to get involved in heavy-hitting action simultaneously.

ANARCHY REIGNS incorporates a diverse range of multiplayer modes to provide players with different challenges, including Tag Team battles and Battle Royal, where players can challenge others in a full-on fight for victory.

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Superman Gets New Life in Short By Disney Animator

Posted on February 8, 2011

Superman may be going through some interesting changes and new incarnations in the corporeal world, but fans of the Man of Steel now get him in a very small dose in the form of an animated web short. Written, drawn, and animated by Disney animator Robb Pratt, the film is an homage to the classic Superman serials and even takes a few visual cues from the class Fleischer cartoon.

Superman fans even get a little something extra in the form of Superman’s voice, which is lent by former Superboy actor John Newton. Pratt is best known for his animation on countless Disney films such as Tarzan, Hercules and Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Even though this film is pretty cool, the emphasis is definitely on “short.” However, it’s worth it. You can check out this short film after the jump.

War Movie Mondays: ‘Sergeant York’

Posted on February 7, 2011

This week’s pick is the 1941 Howard Hawks classic Sergeant York which stars Gary Cooper as the back woods Tennessee hero of World War I. The supporting cast include Walter Brennan (Pastor Pile), Joan Leslie (Gracie Williams), George Tobias (“Pusher” Ross), Ward Bond (Ike Botkin), Stanley Ridges (Maj. Buxton), Dickie Moore (George York), June Lockhart (Rosie York), and Margaret Wycherly (Mother York).

The film was adapted by Harry Chandlee, Abem Finkel, and actor/director John Huston, from York’s own memoirs about his experiences.

It was Alvin York himelf who insisted on Gary Cooper taking the role. Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart and Ronald Reagan were also considered for the part, but York still insisted that Cooper was the right choice for the role.

The film is an autobiographical account of York’s upbringing in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee where he is struggling to make enough money so that he may be able to buy a plot of land for himself. He is young, rambunctious, a drinker, and brawler who has good intentions, but is a burden on his poor family who share a tiny shanty.

Pastor Pile (Brennan) sees good in Alvin and tries to convince him to put his faith in god. Alvin is at first against the idea of religion and asks why he should trust in god. An epiphany overcomes Alvin one night after a night of hard drinking and fighting, which makes him change his ways and to put faith in the lord, in order to marry his sweetheart Gracie (Leslie) and acquire a piece of land in order to be a good husband and provider for her.

‘Reagan’ Documentary Premieres Tonight on HBO

Posted on February 7, 2011

No matter your political leanings, most people can’t deny that Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, was a fascinating character. The story of a man going from humble beginnings as a small-town lifeguard through his time as a Hollywood actor, as Governor of California and then on to the Presidency is an amazing journey and a tale to be told.

Fortunately, HBO has us covered and will be bringing this story to their network tonight with the premiere of Eugene Jarecki’s documentary Regan. According to the network, the film is a “fresh examination of the fascinating paradoxes surrounding the man, the myth and his legacy.”

It “follows the 40th president’s rise from small-town lifeguard to revered architect of the modern world . . . and investigates how Reagan’s homespun political vision fueled a seismic career, one whose reverberations still shape American life.” Sounds interesting to me. Think I’ll tune in . . . or at least set the DVR.

The film first screened at the Sundance Film Festival and now will air for the first time tonight at 9/8C on HBO. Check out the trailer for the film after the jump.

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