The Flickcast

Downey, Jr. and Galifianakis Get A ‘Due Date’

Posted on October 2, 2009

Downey and Galifianakis Since playing the leading role in Iron Man Robert Downey, Jr. has rocketed back onto the film scene and everyone it seems wants to work with him. The latest is director Todd Phillips in his new film Due Date. If you don’t recognize Phillips’ name you’ve certainly heard of his last project, The Hangover, which grossed over $400 million worldwide. With that film such a critical success, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Due Date become another hit.

Downey leads an all star cast including Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover, Bored to Death), Michelle Monaghan (Made of Honor) and Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, who starred opposite Downey in The Soloist. Due Date also brings back much of the talent behind The Hangover and sounds like it will draw on the same elements that made that film so hilarious:

“Downey plays Peter Highman, an expectant first-time father whose wife’s due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan—on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter’s last nerve.”

Downey and Galifianakis’ journey will be as much a road trip on film as it is in real life. Production is set to take place across the USA in Georgia, New Mexico, Arizona and Los Angeles. Due Date is scheduled for a Fall 2010 release.

How Well Do You Know ‘Natural Born Killers’?

Posted on October 2, 2009

woody-natural-born-killers Seeing as how October is the month of spooky and scary Halloween and its associated themed entertainments, we’ve got something here just for you. If you’re a fan of movies like Natural Born Killers and think you know the movie very well, we’ve got a website for you.

To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the film and its upcoming director’s cut release on Blu-ray and DVD on October 13th, Warner Bros has created a site and included a pretty detailed trivia game to test your knowledge of the movie. The questions range from the rather simple to the much more detailed and specific so if you are not sure of your Natural Born Killers knowledge, you may want to get the film first and then try your hand at the trivia.

You don’t win anything at the site except the right to post your score to your favorite social networking site — which allows for a certain amount of bragging rights at least. The film, which stars Woody Harrelson, Juliet Lewis, Robert Downey, Jr., Tom Sizemore and Tommy Lee Jones, is written by David Veloz and Oliver Stone and directed by Stone. Head on over to the site and test your knowledge today.

Review: ‘The Invention of Lying’

Posted on October 2, 2009

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Sure to start up a storm of controversy, this film from co-director/co-writer Ricky Gervais is a biting social satire wrapped up in the trappings of a cute little romantic comedy. It pushes boundaries, and is tremendously bold. The story takes place in an alternate realty where lying does not exist. A blind date between the beautiful Anna (cute as a button Jennifer Garner) and schlubby screenplay writer Mark (Ricky Gervais) sets up the premise of the movie nicely.

When he rings the doorbell, she arrives flustered, proclaiming that she has been masturbating. This causes him to blurt out that he is now thinking about her vagina. When they get to the restaurant, a waiter (Martin Starr) greets them with “I’m embarrassed I work here” and later, while delivering a drink, he confesses, ” oh I had a little sip of this.” Mark immediately tells Anna that he has no net worth and will probably be getting fired soon. She informs him that there is no chance of them having a relationship because he has no money, no social stature, and she fears they would have fat children.

The following day, Mark is fired, and on his way out of the office, everyone is sure to let him know how much they disliked him. It is a sad scene of petty and cruel behavior, and it lays the groundwork for the concept that honesty is not always the best policy. The down-on-his-luck, soon to be evicted Mark has a personal Jesus moment when he is at the bank, and realizes that he can just lie about his account balance. The teller naturally believes him, and assumes their computer must have made an error.

Seth MacFarlane and Michael Moore on ‘The Tonight Show’

Posted on October 2, 2009

tonight-show-title-card Granted, most of us here at The Flickcast probably don’t watch Conan O’ Brien and The Tonight Show as often as we should. He’s a funny, talented guy that deserves all the success he has. Unfortunately, time is a precious commodity these days so when I, for example, have time to watch something, its usually more along the lines of a show like Fringe, Dollhouse, Mad Men or Sons of Anarchy. Still, that doesn’t mean we aren’t fans of Conan or his show, especially when he has great guests like the super talented and funny Seth MacFarlane and the politically irreverent Michael Moore .

Recently, Conan had both of these guys on his show and both of them proved to be quite entertaining. As usual, Michael Moore provided several interesting points and managed to crack up the audience a bit with his take on life in post-Bush America. Plus, if his latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story, is any indication of how things are, we really need to rethink some things around here.

Next, Conan had on a guest who many, including myself, consider to be one of the true geniuses working in show business today. I’m talking, of course, about Seth MacFarlane. His shows, especially the terrific Family Guy, prove his humor and talent week in and week out. He’s a truly gifted performer. Plus, he’s just so damn funny in person as well.

Check out video clips of both of these guys after the jump. The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brian airs weekdays at 11:30P/12:30C on NBC.

‘Transformers 3’ With Megan Fox Confirmed for 2011

Posted on October 2, 2009

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN In what was undoubtedly not very surprising news, Michael Bay has confirmed on his website that there will, indeed, be a Transformers 3. Not only that, the film will hit theaters earlier than its rumored release of July 1, 2012 and will, in fact, be coming to a multiplex near you in 2011, a full year earlier. But wait, there’s even more — and this, while not entirely surprising, is a bit unexpected.

Not only will there be a Transformers 3 and it will be coming out a year earlier than expected, Bay also confirmed that franchise star Megan Fox will be in the third film as well. Given the seemingly hostile nature of their recent public spat, it appears Bay at least has decided to live and let live. I’m sure the many millions of dollars the franchise has made had nothing to do with it.

Bay wrote on his website that he met with ILM in San Francisco Thursday morning, followed by a flight to Rhode Island with Kruger to meet with Hasbro about new characters. “Well, it’s official: We have a great ‘Transformers 3’ story,” Bay said on his site. “Today is Day One.” This point is not better illustrated by the countdown clock now running at Bay’s site. As of today, it shows 636 days until Transformers 3 hits theaters. So, start planning accordingly.

Even though Bay has publicly confirmed Fox’s involvement in the third film, the beautiful star herself has not, as yet, commented. In addition, Shia LaBeouf was not mentioned by Bay at all, so there’s no confirmation on if he will be in the third film along with Fox. Although, according to other sources, both Fox and LaBeouf are slated to return, as is Exec. Producer Steven Spielberg and co-writer Ehren Kruger. So, we can probably expect announcements from Fox and LaBeouf’s people soon.

Transformers 3: The Blatant Grab for Cash hits theaters on July 1, 2011.

DVD Review: ‘The Brothers Bloom’

Posted on October 2, 2009

Director Rian Johnson hit it out of the park with his first film Brick (2005), a small, quirky indie film with a grade-A cast and some amazing style. The Brothers Bloom looked just as good, but unfortunately had a small run and I was unable to see it in theaters.

The film centers around two brothers, Stephen and Bloom, who after being orphaned and shuffled between various foster homes, become con men to make it in the world. They’re rather good at it, but after having made a name for themselves, Bloom decides he wants out. The two brothers, along with their sidekick and explosives specialist Bang-Bang, plan the perfect con to go out on: showing a reclusive but beautiful heiress, Penelope, a good time on a journey across the globe. Problem is, Bloom can’t con a woman without falling in love in the process.

This film’s story makes it stand out. Because it’s a movie about con men, it’s hard to know when to trust what’s going on as the absolute truth. The movie will trick you, but that’s what makes it great to watch for the first time. You’ll be guessing the brothers, especially Stephen, at every turn.

Ellen Page to be Rainn Wilson’s ‘Super’ Sidekick

Posted on October 2, 2009

After her appearance Kitty Pryde in 1989s X-Men: The Last Stand, it seemed that it was only a matter of time before Ellen Page returned to the world of superheroes. During an interview to promote her latest flick, Whip It, Page revealed exclusively to MTV that she has signed on to play Rainn Wilson’s sidekick in the upcoming comedy, Super.

As Page explains, Super is about a “character (Wilson) whose ex-girlfriend gets into a sticky situation and he becomes a superhero, essentially, to solve the problem. I play a slightly eccentric girl who works at a comic book store who really wants to be his sidekick.”

So, what should fans expect from said sidekick, especially one of Page’s caliber? A tricked out motorcycle? Kung Fu moves? Witty repartee?

“Let’s just say there might be some skintight yellow suits,” she revealed. “I don’t know for sure. Who knows what will happen?”

The mention of Page being a caped crusader resulted in some laughter, but it doesn’t sound like it’s totally out of the question.

“I don’t know, okay? I have to figure that out first,” she explained. “I have to go deep inside. But, it’s gonna be really fun. I think it will be really rad”

Super will be written and directed by someone who isn’t a stranger to the world of capes and mysteries. James Gunn wrote 2000’s The Specials about a band of rag-tag superheroes, as well as the first two Scooby Doo live-action films. Live Tyler also joins the cast.

Review: ‘Zombieland’

Posted on October 2, 2009

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Part monster movie, part buddy road comedy with a dash of romance thrown in, Zombieland manages to deliver on pretty much every level. Featuring terrific performances by the entire cast, including Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, this film is able to deliver genuine laughs, genuine scares and genuine entertainment for its entire running time. Its a solid piece of filmmaking by director Ruben Fleischer, and writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, that should definitely find an audience.

The premise of the film is, as it should be, relatively simple. The world as we know it has come to an end due to some unspecified reason and the dead are now walking the earth. In this world we first meet Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) who, being the introverted, Mountain Dew drinking, pseudo-loser he is, has managed to stay alive due to his nature and adherence to rules he’s come up with as a new citizen of Zombieland. His rules, such as “Cardio Good, Bathrooms Bad, Always shoot zombies twice, etc.” and his loner, anti-social nature have served him well and enabled him to survive.

So, its somewhat against his better judgment that he decides to team up with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) on a road trip to find out if any of his family might still be alive in, you guessed it, Columbus. In case you’re wondering, the names characters call each other in Z-land are where they’re from and not their actual names. Better to not develop real ties with anyone seeing as how they might be eaten by zombies at any moment. This provides a bit of insight into the characters and also a bit of humor as well.

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