Film School Rejects » Paige MacGregor

Jennifer’s Body: Megan Fox Bites, New Poster Sexes

Paige MacGregor — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:25:24 +0000

That might seem like a stupid question, but it’s one that is raised by the most recent photo released from Diablo Cody’s horror flick Jennifer’s Body, set for release in September 2009. Thanks to Fangoria, we now have a peek at Jennifer Check (Fox) in full-fledged demonic possession mode… and some Fox fans might be less than enthused about what they see.

Definitely hot in previously released photos, even splattered in the blood of her helpless victims, the latest picture highlights Jennifer’s demonically contorted face and blood-soaked fangs. But don’t worry: we’ve discovered that if you stand way back from your monitor, squint through one eye and use your hand to cover the bottom of her face, Megan still looks hot as a possessed chick. That raises the question, however, of whether or not Megan Fox still looks hot as serial killer Jennifer Check?

Let’s hear from all of you: Would you still let Megan near your genitals, even with those teeth, or do the bloody fangs (courtesy of makeup FX by the KNB EFX guys) turn you off? Let us know what you think of Hollywood’s hottest actress’ horrific transformation!

Jennifer’s Body also stars Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Mamma Mia!) as Jennifer’s best friend, Needy Lesnicky, who tries to stop the possessed cheerleader and end her boy-killing rampage. Check out the restricted trailer here.

Also, thanks to our friends at Bloody Disgusting, we have a very hot new poster for the film, which can be seen by clicking the thumbnail below.

Lyndsy Fonseca Gets in the ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’

Paige MacGregor — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:00:50 +0000

Another name is attached now to a United Artist project that has just started to make waves in the press, the aptly titled time-travel comedy Hot Tub Time Machine (anyone else wonder what this movie could possibly be about?). Lyndsy Fonseca, who just finished shooting the adaptation of the Mark Millar comic series Kick-Ass opposite Nicholas Cage, joins John Cusack in Vancouver where the film recently began shooting.

Fonseca, probably best known for her role as one of the children on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, will play Jennie, the “one that got away” from John Cusack’s character (who at the moment remains nameless) back in 1987. When Cusack and several of his pals discover that their Jacuzzi is not only a bubbly pool of relaxation, but a time travel device as well. When they accidentally travel back to 1987, Cusack and Jennie are reunited (we know it sounds romantic, but when you actually think about it the situation is pretty creepy… I mean, Cusack’s character is probably, what, like 30-something or 40-something and Jennie will probably be maybe 18 or 19? Sketchy).

In addition to Fonseca and Cusack, this wacky time travel flick also stars Lizzy Caplan, best known for her roles in Cloverfield (as Marlena) and as the dowdy social outcast Janice in Mean Girls, Crispin Glover (Charlie’s Angles, Crime and Punishment), NBC series Kings’ star Sebastian Stan, and may even include Sex Drive’s Charlie McDermott and Rob Corddry (both rumored).

Hot Tub Time Machine is set for release in February 2010. Written by Josh Heald, Steve Pink , who directed the 2006 comedy Accepted, will direct with 34th Street Films, Lakeshore Entertainment, and New Crime Productions all attached to the project.

Discuss: Influential Movies No Longer Made, Says TCM

Paige MacGregor — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:51:09 +0000

According to TCM, a highly influential film has not been made since 1977. That’s right, TCM released their list of the Top 15 Most Influential Classic Films, the cut off being, apparently, 1977 (the last, of course, being Star Wars: A New Hope).

While I understand the logic behind the argument that the majority of the most influential films of all time were made during the first half of the twentieth century, when advances in transitions, lighting, effects, etc. were being made practically on a daily basis, it also seems odd not to include at least one film that could represent the 1980s on.

Check it out:

The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Metropolis (1927)
42nd Street (1933)
It Happened One Night (1934)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Gone With the Wind (1939)
Stagecoach (1939)
Citizen Kane (1941)
The Bicycle Thief (1947)
Rashomon (1950)
The Searchers (1956)
Breathless (1959)
Psycho (1960)
Star Wars (1977)

Sadly, TCM’s list contains a number of influential films that the majority of people today have not been and probably will not ever be exposed to, including Battleship Potemkin (1925) and Metropolis (1927). Even many film studies majors go their entire college career without exposure to some of these films, a fact that saddens us, the Rejects, a great deal.

I highly recommend checking out the list and taking a few minutes not only to read through the list, but to read and contemplate the justifications provided for each film’s inclusion.

What do you think? Should the 15 Most Influential Films of All Time include one or more movies from the past 30 years? If so, which one(s)?

This Is What It’s Like When ‘Twilight’ Fans Attack

Paige MacGregor — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:23:35 +0000

What happens when Twilight fans attack?

Apparently, a whole range of things can happen—from a “Slap on the Wrist” consisting of anything from punching someone to slapping them with a book (we can only assume that it’s a hardcover from the series) to “Police Worthy,” including phone harassment, car keying, etc., to “…Felony”, which includes beating someone with a bat, threatening them with a knife, choking them, throwing a brick at their head, attempting to drown them or even trying to slit their throat. The worst of these supposed attacks are labeled “Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit….” and the events described there are disturbing at best, psychotic at worst (in one incident a 19-year-old “Twihard” threw a beaker of acid into the face of a girl who said that the series was crap… read about it here).

But don’t worry; if these reports are true, and that seems like a pretty big “if”, the only people who need to start protecting themselves are young adults and adolescents who are vocal about their disdain for the Twilight franchise—books and movies alike.

That’s right, an all-out war is a-brewin’, folks… but which side will you choose? Are you a “Twihard”, defined in the urban dictionary (yes, the urban dictionary actually has an entry for Twihard) and differentiated from a “Twilighter”, or Twilight fan, as individuals who have embraced “a new religion based on Twilight” (Urban Dictionary). Described as “Savage and wild,” Twihards are cited as needing “every single thing to be perfect in the upcoming Twilight movie”. If you’re not sure where you fall on the scale of Twilight fans, the Urban dictionary can help. The entry on Twihards also contains a list of 41 ways to tell if you’re a Twihard, including our favorites:

“5. It’s sick, but you wish Vampires totally existed so you can marry one.”
“10. Whenever you hear ‘Girlfriend’ by Avril Lavigne, you can’t help but replacing the words with ‘Edward is a Virgin’”
“18. You dream about killing Bella so you can date Edward.”
“27. All of your friends think you need to see a shrink.”

If you’re not a Twihard (or a “Twilighter”), then you must be an “Anti”, described not simply as someone who dislikes the Twilight franchise, but as someone who dislikes, or even hates, the franchise while also insisting upon instigating arguments with Twihards about the deficiencies of both the books and the film (such as the members of a new Web-based group called Twilight Sucks).

Regardless of where you may, or may not, fall on the scale defined by these extremes, the fact remains that reports are rampant of “Antis” being attacked by Twihards. Given that most of these events are cataloged in the “Twihard Attack Directory” that appears on the Anti Web site Twilight Sucks, their voracity and accuracy is questionable at best. Not to mention that most of the attacks are chronicled on message boards in posts by the attackers, the attacked, or those who witnessed the incident, none of which would be the most reliable of sources.

As io9’s Meredith Woerner commented earlier this week, “This is what happens when you create a book/movie about teens sexually suppressing themselves whilst whimpering and dry-humping their brains out. All that pent-up emotion has turned fans into violent, horny Twihards”. She may have something there.

It’s all pretty ridiculous… but at the same time rather unsettling. If younger generations are willing to be this violent towards one another over fictional characters created by a writer, what will they be like in a few years when they’re dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday adult life? We can only speculate, but for now we’d suggest avoiding teenagers with Twilight related tattoos, clothing, or other accessories… just in case.

Totally Boring: Images of Megan Fox on the Set of ‘Jonah Hex’

Paige MacGregor — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:41:36 +0000

They made Megan Fox wear a bathrobe on the set of the Jonah Hex film, which began shooting this week, in order to cover up her costume. We’re not exactly sure why… Whether or not potential audiences see Fox in her old-West lady-gunslinger getup (she plays Leila, Jonah Hex’s gun-toting love interest), they’re still going to go see the movie simply because Megan Fox is in it… not to mention Josh Brolin (Jonah Hex) and John Malkovich (Turnbull).

Regardless, photos of Megan in her bathrobe cover-up surfaced on the Web yesterday, but all we can get a glimpse of are her boots, some skirts (or maybe petticoats? How scandalous!), and a garter belt. Unfortunately, the garter belt isn’t even that hot since she’s wearing it somewhere down near her knee/shin instead of on her thigh, where I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to go. Directed by Jimmy Hayward, Jonah Hex is a Warner Bros. production and currently has a tentative release date of August 6, 2010.

Man Shoots and Kills Himself During ‘Watchmen’

Paige MacGregor — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:52:52 +0000

We know a lot of people out there were disappointed with the Watchmen movie. As countless sources have pointed out, the movie that cost nearly $150 million dollars to make only grossed $56 million in its opening weekend. But even for those of you out there who didn’t enjoy the film, you have to admit that it wasn’t that bad…

One 24-year-old man from Eugene, Oregon might have disagreed. As KMTR NewsSource reported today, patrons of the Valley River Regal Cinema heard “a ‘popping’ noise like a gun” just after midnight during a screening of the superhero flick. Patrons notified theater management, who stopped the film and called the police. When the police arrived, they found an unnamed 24-year-old in the back of the theater with a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The person sitting closest to this man in the theater was only two rows in front of him.
All reports of the incident indicate that it was a suicide, and no information has been released on the identity of the deceased. The other ten people in the theater were refunded their money.

We could make a joke about the grim reality of life imitating art, or “die-hard” Watchmen fans, but honestly the more we think about this whole situation the less funny it becomes. We’ll try to keep updating you as new information is released.

Megan Fox to Save Mickey Rourke in ‘Passion Plays’

Paige MacGregor — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:46:38 +0000

Yesterday we reported on Megan Fox’s desire to be taken seriously as an actress. Some of our readers commented that she should avoid skin-baring roles and hold out for something more substantial, possibly with an independent film whose production team would love to have a recognized name and face like Fox’s attached to the project, if she wants to be taken more seriously and offered fewer roles as a stripper or attractive airhead.

In light of today’s news, it’s a bit confusing why Megan was complaining at all. Apparently, she will join Mickey Rourke in the indie drama Passion Plays. Fox will costar as an angel in whom Rourke’s character finds redemption after saving her from a gangster. The film is set in 1950s Los Angeles, which raises a couple of very interesting questions in light of yesterday’s discussion about Megan’s recent complaints.

First, how will Megan hold up as an actress in an independent period piece? Granted, THR’s Risky Biz Blog reports that Fox’s character in Passion Plays is described in part as “a slender beauty with wings”, which indicates once more that her physical appearance probably played a role in the casting choice, but from the film’s description it sounds like this independent feature—written and directed by Mitch Glazer—will be a dramatic one, most likely calling for a large amount of that “talent” that Megan’s been talking about lately. Second, how will her performance compare to Oscar-winner Marissa Tomei’s in The Wrestler? Starring as Rourke’s woman of redemption in Passion Plays will, of course, put Megan Fox in direct comparison to Tomei’s most recent performance as the aging, single-mother and stripper that Rourke’s character looks to for salvation in The Wrestler.

At this point, Passion Plays is still in the pre-production stages, so it’s a wait-and-see situation. Aside from other casting announcements, the only questions that remain are these: will we have to see Rourke’s old wrinkled ass in order to see Megan Fox scantily clad? Will Megan Fox be scantily clad in Passion Plays?

Megan Fox Demands Respect, Will Not Play a Stripper All the Time

Paige MacGregor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:38:41 +0000

After playing the stereotypically catty, drop dead gorgeous most popular girl in school Carla Santini in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, smokin’ hot high school girl next door Mikaela Banes in Transformers and soon-to-be-released Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the shallow, self-involved starlet Sophie Maes in How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, drop-DEAD-gorgeous possessed high school cheerleader Jennifer Check in the upcoming release Jennifer’s Body, etc. Megan Fox wants to be taken seriously as an actress.

That’s right, Megan Fox is making a point of keeping her clothes on in future film roles based on the number of skin-baring parts she has been offered. According to several sources (including this one), the 22-year-old actress is frustrated on how many roles she is offered based on her looks rather than her acting abilities. “Megan is a talented actress and a beautiful girl but it’s the latter that seems to have become something of a problem,” a source close to Fox commented. “Megan’s far from a prude when it comes to nudity in movies, but it seems she’s expected to strip for almost every movie she’s up for. She must have had a dozen scripts come her way in which she plays a stripper. Megan is going to make a point of keeping her clothes on as long as she can.”

I understand the desire to keep your clothes on, but honestly when working in a business where women feel pressured to appear nude and then are rewarded for doing so with Oscars and additional film roles, what could a babe like Megan really expect? Does she expect a casting director looking to cast a stripper to avoid the actresses that he or she thinks are not only popular among film audiences but drop dead gorgeous, to boot? Let’s face it, ladies and gents, in Hollywood sex sells. And Megan Fox is simply oozing with sex appeal.

What do you think? Should Megan Fox continue trying to be taken seriously, or should she just play a stripper…?

Exclusive: Seth Grahame-Smith Talks ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’

Paige MacGregor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:56:36 +0000

While a large number of film fanatics have become such based on their hatred for reading, I am one of those who came to my love of film through reading. As such, I jumped at the opportunity to read and review Seth Grahame-Smith’s most recent literary mashup, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Of interest to the film world because of the flurry of activity surrounding the impending sale of the novel’s movie rights, Grahame-Smith’s 320-page horror comedy is, despite what other film-focused sites have been reporting, positively delightful.

I was given the opportunity to speak with Seth about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by his publisher, Quirk Books, last week. As he told me, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is about 85% original Jane Austen text and 15% his own gruesome, gory additions (to the untrained eye, it might seem like more Austen than 85%, but as someone who has read both versions I assure you the numbers are right). Perhaps most impressive about the novel is the seamlessness with which Seth integrated his new scenes of undead horror—aptly referred to by the characters as “the unmentionables”—with the existing text. Of course, for those of you guys out there for whom the idea of reading any version of Pride and Prejudice is horrific in and of itself, Seth has some words of wisdom. When I asked him what he would say to individuals of that particular mindset, Seth told me, “They oughta give it a chance. I understand that the original Pride and Prejudice is definitely not on a lot of guys’ reading lists, but I would say to those guys, if you’re going to read one version of Pride and Prejudice in your life, let it be this one.” Citing the idea of “a hot young girl who kicks ass and kills ninjas” (yes, he said ninjas), Seth hinted that guys might find more to their liking in his novel than they expected.

As the title implies, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies takes Jane Austen’s original Pride and Prejudice novel and adds zombies. But why zombies? According to Seth, “The zombie thing really started with The Zombie Survival Guide and Max Brooks some years ago, and they definitely have fallen behind the vampire craze in literature. But it just seemed funny to me. Doing vampires in nineteenth century England wasn’t as surprising as doing zombies. Zombies are a very modern horror character. They only really pop up after 1950, so there’s something more modern about adding zombies and there was just something more fun about it than, say, adding a werewolf or a vampire, which you might expect in old England.”

Despite working both as an author and as a screenwriter (Seth’s film credits include a TV miniseries titled The Most, two episodes of History’s Mysteries, and an appearance in the recently released made for TV movie His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th), the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies film rests in the hands of Seth’s publisher, Quirk Books. Whether Seth will be involved in the project at all will be determined by those producing the film. “I think I’d have to be pretty lucky to get this job,” Seth told me. “Even though I’d love to do it, there people out there with much more extensive feature credits that I’d be fighting for the job.”

Unfortunately, when I asked Seth if he had any more information on the sale of the film rights for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, all he could reveal was that an announcement about which studio has purchased those rights should hit the scene sometime this week (and we will be sure to update you as soon as it does, no worries), as well as an announcement about the first actress to sign on to the project. “I think that the actress that might be announced next week is probably the perfect choice,” Seth told me, apologizing for the ban that kept him from revealing more.

Although it’s a book and we usually promote movies, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is definitely worth looking into if you’re any kind of horror or zombie fan. As I said before, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for any updates regarding the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie and cast and will let you know as soon as anything hits the scene. For more information on Seth Grahame-Smith, check out his IMDb page or his blog on Amazon. For more information on Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, check out Quirk Books’ Web site, Irreference.

Discuss: Is Graffiti a Viable Means of Film Marketing?

Paige MacGregor — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:33:24 +0000

Is Warner Bros. paying street marketing teams to vandalize public property in New York City? Well, when put that way, it sounds like something the film industry monolith wouldn’t want to own up to. Whether or not they’re responsible, the words “Who Watches the Watchmen?” have appeared in spray-paint on walls across the big apple, inviting the question of whether Warner Bros. is responsible or if renegade street vandal/comic book geeks have taken to the night to publicly display their excitement over this week’s theatrical release of the highly anticipated Watchmen movie.

Better yet, it begs the question of whether advertising like this is effective. On one hand, it places the name of the film squarely on the minds of anyone who gets a glimpse. On the other hand, it’s too esoteric to reach anyone who wouldn’t have been going in the first place.

Some interesting photos of the famous Hiroshima Lovers silhouettes painted next to advertisements for The Veidt Method and more scrawling of the enigmatic rhetorical question of watching Watchmen have also surfaced in Toronto, that’s most likely related to the underground publicity stunt/geektastic orgasm of spray-painted excitement seen across NYC.

Hat tip to our friends at /Film who compiled the pics from flick users: davesbu, kellan, andrewdkeller and twitpic users bonerjamz and HermitHomeboy.

What do you think? Is marketing like this actually hitting an audience? Is that audience targeting going to translate into box office receipts?

TV Review: Reaper – A New Hope

Paige MacGregor — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:55:45 +0000

Reaper, The CW, Airs Tuesday Nights at 8/7c

Episode: “…A New Hope” (Season 2, Episode 1)

Synopsis: Season 2 opens with a bang as we find our misfit heroes wrapping up a four-week cross-country road trip that leaves them jobless, homeless, and in a hole with the Devil upon their return. Given the task of trapping upwards of 20 souls using a finicky electric cattle prod, Sam and his pals also face several other somewhat less life-threatening issues involving Andi, The Work Bench, and Sock’s interesting new family situation.

Review: Season 2 is off to a good start, with much less of the first episode’s focus being placed on Sam and Andi’s relationship. Unfortunately, it looks like this boring side plot won’t be going away any time soon. Based on Sam and Andi’s mutual revelation at the end of “…A New Hope”, much of this season will likely be devoted to their awkward interactions as Sam searches for a way to “beat the Devil” and free himself in order to be with Andi. As those of us who would like to see this sub-plot fade into the background already know, watching Bret Harrison (Sam) and Missy Peregrym (Andi) try to muddle through an average relationship is made even more painful by the fact that the chemistry between the two actors is nonexistent, and a new season hasn’t changed that torturous fact (what HAS changed are the physiques of both Sam and Ben–apparently the actors must’ve spent their extra-long pre-season break pumping some iron at the gym).

Fortunately, “…A New Hope” introduces a new side plot involving Sock, arguably the show’s best character (followed closely by the Devil, who rocks out in his very sweet ride near the end of the episode). Sock returns home from his month-long road trip with Sam and Ben to find a strange Asian girl living in his parent’s house. Played by Eriko Tamura (Yaeko from six episodes of Heroes season 2), the strange Asian “squatter” in Sock’s parents’ house turns out to be Sock’s new step-sister. That’s where the storyline takes off, with the boys contemplating the merits and pitfalls of romantic relationships with step-siblings (“Yeah, but if she shoots you down, then you have to spend every Christmas with the step-sister who turned you down.”).

What we’d like to see this season: 1) It would be nice to see Sam take on a reaping job without Ben and Sock. Understandably, best friends help their buddies out, but the amount of work that Ben and Sock do to help Sam complete each job does seem a little ridiculous. Not to mention the fact that Sam unquestioningly expects his friends to help him round up souls for the Devil. Sam should prove his mettle—come up with a plan for capturing a soul and then carry it out on his own. He is the son of the Devil, after all. 2) Probably a little predictable, but we’d like to see some fresh blood on the show—preferably female blood. With Sam and Andi on the rocks over Sam’s contract with the Devil, the perfect opportunity opens up for some other ladies to enter the equation. 3) The return of Tony (Ken Marino), a homosexual demon bent on destroying the Devil. Not only is Ken Marino a pretty attractive guy, but the combination of homosexuality and demonic nature is a hilarious addition to the show.

Reaper is on every Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. EST on ther CW. For more information, including cast bios, check out the show’s official site.

Megan Fox Sexes Up ‘Fathom’ and ‘Jonah Hex’

Paige MacGregor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:03:54 +0000

For those of you who have been wondering what the newly single Megan Fox’s next career move will be, we have the answer. Currently, Megan is in final negotiations for a role in the Warner Bros. action Western Jonah Hex, based on the DC Comics character, set for release sometime in 2010.

Megan will play Leila, the gun-toting love interest of the scarred Wild West bounty hunter Jonah Hex, who will be played by Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin. John Malkovich has also signed on to the film and will play Turnbull, a voodoo practitioner working to raise an army of the dead in order to liberate the South. Jonah Hex will begin shooting this April, with Andrew Lazar and Akiva Goldsman producing. Filming locations have not yet been announced, but my guess is that parts of the movie will be filmed in New Orleans, LA. I hope so, anyway.

As if a movie with Megan in tight-fitting clothes, sweating and carrying a gun wasn’t enough, Fox is also getting her hands dirty working on the cinematic adaptation of the Fox Atomic comic book Fathom, written by the recently deceased artist Michael Turner. Turner’s comic follows a young woman named Aspen—assumedly Fox’s character—as she discovers that she is a member of a race of aquatic humanoids with the ability to control water.

A Lightstorm Entertainment project that fell between the cracks, producer Peter Sefran scooped up Fathom after it became the top-selling comic of the year. Fox, a fan of the comic since its 1998 debut (yes, boys, Megan Fox reads comic books), uncovered the project during her search to find Michael Turner in order to investigate the series’ rights availability.

Working with Fox and Sefran on the adaptation is Prince of Persia video game creator Jordan Mechner, who will be writing the script. Steven Bessen and Megan Fox’s ex-fiancée Brian Austin Green will produce in conjunction with Peter Sefran. Fox will also receive a production credit on the film and Michael Turner will be credited as exec producer.

Not getting enough Megan Fox? Make sure to catch this buxom brunette in her September 2009 release of the Diablo Cody horror comedy Jennifer’s Body, and don’t miss the return of Fox’s unforgettable girl-next-door Mikaela Banes in this summer’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

First Look: Angelina Jolie in Salt

Paige MacGregor — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:00:03 +0000

What’s one sure-fire way for a new movie to catch my interest? If it’s press release contains the name Angelina Jolie and the phrase femme fatale, that’s how. And several of the press releases for the latest from director Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger) do just that. Salt first made waves in the media last year when it was reported that Angelina Jolie would be replacing Tom Cruise in the film’s leading role—that of the CIA operative Edwin Salt, re-dubbed Edwina Salt for obvious reasons.

According to several sources, Angelina demanded additional changes to the script as soon as negotiations over the role were finalized. “No sooner had her casting been announced than Angelina supposedly ordered [the character’s name] to be changed again, to Evelyn Salt”, says a post on Celebitchy.com. It is also rumored that Angie would accept no less than a complete script overhaul by top screenwriter Brian Helgeland, one that would make Salt a strong competitor with the Matt Damon Bourne Identity series.

The new wave of media coverage surrounding the film is not focused on the antics and demands of Angelina Jolie, however. Following the release of a few promo photos by USA Today of Angie in costume as Evelyn Salt, talk has turned to the unclear identity of this rogue CIA agent who may, or may not, be a Russian sleeper agent as well. Apparently, Evelyn A. Salt is a woman of many faces—appearing in one photo as a classically kissable blond, while the other photo reveals her more dusky side with long brunette locks and harsh bangs.

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s description of Evelyn Salt is uncannily reminiscent of early descriptions of Jane Smith, Jolie’s character in her drama-inciting venture with now-husband Brad Pitt, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. “She’s a character you never know,” says Lorenzo di Bonaventura. “People who think they know the real her may or may not. Those who think they can tell whether she’s in a disguise also may or may not.

“You’re supposed to be kept guessing. She tells you her agenda, but are you supposed to believe it?” di Bonaventura remains adamant that Salt is different from other spy characters (read: James Bond, Jason Bourne) because she is the one trying to hide truths about herself rather than discover them. If you ask me, that’s not necessarily an entirely unique premise for a character—I can think of at least five others who are completely preoccupied with protecting their identities.

Noyce has promised fans that Salt will be “a reality-based spy movie with action set pieces as thrilling as the most crowd-pleasing movies of this genre.” Whether his promise will be fulfilled we will have to wait and see—although I’m excited about Salt, I am a little nervous about seeing Angelina in a leading role so soon after the abomination that was Wanted and the mediocre drama The Changling.

It Has Been Alleged That 20th Century Fox is the Devil

Paige MacGregor — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:18:07 +0000

As if Watchmen isn’t getting enough press lately, the Web was flooded with reports this morning that the movie’s screenwriter, David Hayter, made some waves during the Watchmen press day in L.A. yesterday.

Hayter, hailed by many as the film’s savior after he turned what was called by some “one of the most unintelligible pieces of shit they had read in years” into a marketable, palatable screenplay that paid homage to the best reviewed graphic novel of all time, had a few er… interesting… comments when asked by Hollywood Outbreak about the Warner Bros./20th Century Fox feud that took place over the rights to Watchmen. Hayter responded:

I had worked for 20th Century Fox before, and I was fully under the belief that they had the potential to shut down the movie and remake it themselves out of pure spite and meanness. They’re a rough group of people … and somewhat ethically challenged.”

Okay, not too bad so far. Now here’s where Hayter’s comments take a turn for the weird:

“… My experience told me that they could shut down this movie, and lock it away in Rupert’s vault … and make it the most unseen desired cult movie of all time … but I was extremely concerned. Many producer friends of mine said the same thing as Alex – that they’re just going for money or whatever — but I was like, ‘Yeah, okay, but there’s something beyond money going on at that studio and it has to do with … Satan.”

That’s right, folks. 20th Century Fox = Satan. Whether the media frenzy initiated by Christian Bale’s on-set outburst inspired the screenwriter or he really believes that Fox is in cahoots with the Devil, he probably won’t be setting foot on the studio’s property any time soon. Maybe it IS true that any press is good press?

Wouldn’t it be funny if this whole incident turned out to be another media punk, like that rumor that Lindsey Lohan landed a role in A Nightmare on Elm Street or whatever (who can really be bothered to actually pay attention to what Lindsey Lohan may or may not be doing)? Like if the 20th Century Fox execs were all sitting in a room somewhere, drinking scotch and watching coverage of the Watchmen press day, sharing a secret laugh with Hayter? Yeah, okay, so maybe it’s not that funny after all.

Listen to the complete audio over at Hollywood Outbreak.

Entire Internet Believes Vanessa Hudgens Dead

Paige MacGregor — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:59:38 +0000

My initial reaction to the name Vanessa Hudgens is one of slight disgust, although that reaction is probably a bit unfair. The High School Musical franchise might not be one that I’d ever want to spend time watching (okay, definitely isn’t one I’d want to spend time watching), but that certainly doesn’t mean that the films aren’t worthwhile endeavors that serve more purposes than simply greasing the wheels of American capitalism.

Either way, franchise star Vanessa Hudgens wants to advance her career following the success of High School Musical 3, which was released this past October. While rumors abound that Ms. Hudgens was denied a role in the Twilight sequel New Moon, /Film is reporting in one of the worst-worded headlines of all time that Vanessa is being actively pursued to play the leading role in the cinematic adaptation of Josh Howard’s Dead @ 17 comic series, which will probably be a big hit with all of the Joss Whedon fans that have been appearing out of the woodwork lately.

In a recent interview, Howard mentioned that Lorenzo di Bonaventura will be producing the untitled project, and Mike Dougherty (X2, Superman Returns) is writing the screenplay. If she accepts the role, Hudgens will play the series’ 17-year-old protagonist, Nara Kilday.

Dead @ 17 follows Nara’s exploits after she is killed and then resurrected for the task of slaughtering evil monsters and other supernatural-like things.

Given Hudgens’ resume, it’s difficult to say whether balancing what seems to be a pretty marketable franchise opportunity on Hudgens’ shoulders will help it to succeed or fail. Regardless, I’m a little apprehensive about seeing a graphic novel that I have been looking forward to reading for some time now adapted for the big screen with Hudgens center stage. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Film School Rejects » Paige MacGregor

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