Review: Sharks Rule "Open Water"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 159 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

Open Water (2004)
Running time:  79 minutes (1 hour, 19 minutes)
MPAA: Rated R for language and some nudity
EDITOR/WRITER/DIRECTOR: Chris Kentis
PRODUCER: Laura Lau
CINEMATOGRAPHERS: Laura Lau and Chris Kentis
COMPOSER:  Graeme Revell

THRILLER/HORROR

Starring:  Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Estelle Lau, Michael E. Williamson, and John Charles

The subject of this movie review is Open Water, a 2003 thriller and psychological horror film from director Chris Kentis and producer Laura Lau.  The film is loosely based on the story of an American couple who were accidentally left behind on a scuba diving excursion in 1998.  Open Water follows two scuba divers, from the beginning of their vacation to their ordeal after their tour boat accidentally leaves them behind, stranding the couple in shark infested waters.

With its estimated $130,000 budget and its little-engine-that-could spirit, Open Water has become a summer movie critical darling, one of those films that acts like counter programming in a time of the year when films are loud, dumb, and fast and aimed at boys and twenty something men still in a mental state of boyhood.  But is Open Water the scariest movie of the summer?  No, it isn’t.  Jaws does a way better job selling a similar subject matter, and Open Water’s other claim to fame, that it’s shot with digital cameras, is also not impressive, but this is still an entertaining little thriller.

In the film, upwardly mobile young couple, Susan (Blanchard Ryan) and Daniel (Daniel Travis), take a much-needed vacation that includes a scuba diving excursion.  However, during the dive, their tour boat leaves early after one of the tour guides miscounts the number of divers returning to the boat.  Susan and Daniel surface to find themselves stranded in open water and soon learn that they are also in shark-infested waters.  As the hours pass, the couples comes to the grim conclusion that no one realizes that they were left behind, and as darkness falls danger looms under each wave.

Open Water is based upon the real life events from 1998 when American tourists Tom and Eileen Lonergan were left behind by their diving boat off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  This incident became a stunning and horrifying news headline, and the tale does make great fodder for film.  Open Water does indeed payoff in thrills, dread, and scares.  However, the film has a major flaw in that the leads, Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis, are good but not strong actors and both them and their characters are not endearing or very likeable for that matter.

From the early moments in this film, Ms. Ryan and Travis seem like the kind of average actors for which low budget usually settle.  Early on, they don’t come across as being at all acceptable as actors, but as the film goes on, their performances markedly improve.  But as frightening as the film scenario is (and the idea of being stranded out in open water, let alone open shark-infested water is both hair-raising and spine-tingling), the best the duo can do is make you feel sorry for the couple.  There is a distance about the actors’ personalities, and maybe that carries over to the characters, as well as explaining why the boat left the film couple stranded.  Susan and Daniel are standoffish and don’t make themselves part of the diving group, so no one missed them when they didn’t return to the boat.

Still, I imagine how great this film would have been with two Hollywood movie stars chewing up the scenery and making a very good scary movie into a great, memorable scary movie.  That’s what Open Water is – not memorable.  It’s fun and scary, but as unremarkable as most film product.  It’s good enough to be seen in a theatre, but anyone who waits for home video won’t be missing out on a cinematic experience in the theatre.  Like a lot of good horror movies and thrillers, Open Water is out of your mind by the time you walk out of the theatre.  That’s a shame because what happened to the real life Lonergans and their fictional counterparts is sad and tragic.  Too bad Open Water is only a mild version of that tragedy.

6 of 10
B

Updated:  Monday, July 28, 2014

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

"If I Stay" Soundtrack Arrives August 19th, 2014

If I Stay: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Due August 19th from WaterTower Music

Standard and Deluxe Albums Feature Songs as Performed in the Film

Includes Music by Beck, Ben Howard, Tom Odell, Sonic Youth, Willamette Stone, and More

Fan-Voted ‘Heart Like Yours’ Available with Album Preorder

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music today announced the August 19, 2014 release of the soundtrack to New Line Cinema’s and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ drama “If I Stay,” based on Gayle Forman’s New York Times best-selling novel. The film will be released three days later on August 22.

    “One of the best things about the movie is getting to hear all the great music you don’t get to hear when you read the book. The way they brought the music to life gives the story a whole new dimension.”

Music is an integral part of the If I Stay storyline, be it Mia’s (Chloë Grace Moretz) practicing cello to get into the prestigious Juilliard music school, her father’s (Joshua Leonard) punk rock past, or Adam (Jamie Blackley) performing as singer/ guitarist of buzz band Willamette Stone. The film’s director, R.J. Cutler, stated, “It was immediately clear to me that If I Stay needed to feature a soundtrack assembled from a wide variety of styles and genres and would meld together to form an emotional, symphonic whole. The songs would reflect Adam’s roots in punk music and his contemporary sensibility, as well as the classical canon that Mia would master to apply to Juilliard. As I would often tell the cast and crew, in the world of If I Stay, music is the air that people breathe.”

After viewing the film, author Gayle Forman, who also served as an executive producer, commented, “One of the best things about the movie is getting to hear all the great music you don’t get to hear when you read the book. The way they brought the music to life gives the story a whole new dimension.”

Through social media outreach, If I Stay fans were given the opportunity to vote on the Willamette Stone song they most wanted to see released early, and they chose “Heart Like Yours.” The track is now available at iTunes, and will be delivered immediately to fans that pre-order the soundtrack.

WaterTower Music will be releasing two versions of the soundtrack: a fourteen song CD and digital release, as well as a digital deluxe configuration that contains eighteen tracks. Both albums feature multiple songs as performed in the film by Willamette Stone, while the digital deluxe version features an additional Willamette Stone track, along with several solo cello pieces performed in the film by Mia.

Due out August 19, the soundtrack for If I Stay is now available for pre-order at iTunes and Amazon.

1. "Who Needs You" – The Orwells
2. "Until We Get There" – Lucius
3. "I Want What You Have" – Willamette Stone
4. "All of Me" – Tanlines
5. "Promise" – Ben Howard
6. "Never Coming Down" – Willamette Stone
7. "Halo" – Ane Brun & Linnéa Olsson
8. "I Will Be There" – Odessa
9. "Mind" – Willamette Stone
10. “Morning” - Beck
11. “I Never Wanted To Go” (Bonus Track) – Willamette Stone **
12. “Karen Revisited” – Sonic Youth
13. "Today" – Willamette Stone
14. "Heart Like Yours" – Willamette Stone
15. "Heal (If I Stay Version)" – Tom Odell
16. ““Suite No. 1 in G Major for Solo Cello, BWV 1007: Prelude” (Bonus Track) – If I Stay
17. “Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 33” (Bonus Track) – If I Stay **
18. “Sonata in B Minor for Solo Cello, Op. 8” (Bonus Track) – Alisa Weilerstein **

** Available on the digital deluxe album

About “If I Stay”
Gayle Forman’s best-selling novel comes to the screen in New Line Cinema’s and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ drama “If I Stay,” starring Chloë Grace Moretz (“Carrie,” the “Kick-Ass” films), Mireille Enos (TV’s “The Killing,” “World War Z”); Joshua Leonard (“Higher Ground”); Jamie Blackley (“Snow White and the Huntsmen”); and Stacy Keach (“Nebraska”).

Mia Hall (Moretz) thought the hardest decision she would ever face would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a different path to be with the love of her life, Adam (Blackley). But what should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, and now her own life hangs in the balance. Caught between life and death for one revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate. Also starring are Mireille Enos and Joshua Leonard as Mia’s parents, Kat and Denny, and Stacy Keach as Gramps. Rounding out the main cast are Jakob Davies as Mia’s little brother, Liana Liberato as her best friend, Gabrielle Rose as Grandma, and Aisha Hinds as Nurse Ramirez.

R.J. Cutler directed the film from a screenplay by Shauna Cross based on Forman’s novel. “If I Stay” was produced by Alison Greenspan, with Denise Di Novi, Forman and Brad Van Arragon serving as executive producers. Cutler’s behind-the-scenes team included cinematographer John de Borman, production designer Brent Thomas, editor Keith Henderson, costume designer Monique Prudhomme and composer Heitor Pereira.

New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures present a Denise Di Novi production, “If I Stay.” Opening August 22, 2014, the film has been rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some sexual material and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. ifistaymovie.com

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites: San Diego Comic-Con International 2014 Edition Update #20

I will be posting links to pages with breaking news, announcements, activities, etc from Comic-Con International 2014 on this page from today, Tuesday, July 22, 2014 to sometimes next week or as long as there is relevant news:

The Comic Book Resources (CBR) Comic-Con page is here.

The IMDb Comic-Con page is here.

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From Deadline:  Guillermo del Toro talked about his gothic romance, "Crimson Peak" and asked fans to help him get "Hellboy 3" and "At the Mountains of Madness" made.

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From Deadline:  There is a planned "Django Unchained-Zorro" crossover comic book, Tarantino told fans at a Comic-Con panel.

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From Previewsworld:  Actor Orlando Jones talks to the website of Diamond Distributors (of comics and related merchandise) about his career, which includes a voice acting gig on the "Black Dynamite" animated series on Adult Swim.

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From Variety via Yahoo:  Evangeline Lilly and Corey Stoll join "Ant-Man." Stoll will apparently play the villain, Yellowjacket.

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From Hitfix via Yahoo:  A detailed description of the "Avengers 2" footage shown during the Comic-Con panel, including the appearance of Ultron and Iron Man's "Hulkbuster" armor.

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From HuffingtonPost:  "Avengers 2" footage at Comic-Con.

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From BusinessInsider:  For as long as it is online, here is "Batman Vs. Superman" online teaser trailer.

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From the AP via Yahoo:  Sexual harassment at Comic-Con.

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From CBR:  IDW Entertainment and BOOM! Studios is producing a comic book that will bring the Star Trek and Planet of the Apes franchises together.

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From CBR:  Sam Raimi teases that he is writing a television series version of his classic horror film, Evil Dead.  Other than naming his collaborators, which include Bruce Campbell, Raimi said nothing else about the series.

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From Hitfix:  Paul Rudd on Edgar Wright's "Ant-Man" exit.

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From TheComicsReporter:  Your 2014 Will Eisner Award winner.

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From HitFix:  Daniel Radcliffe makes Comic-Con debut.

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From Deadline via Yahoo:  Three actors exit "Ant-Man."

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From Variety:  New image of Ben Affleck as Batman.

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From Variety:  Chris Nolan and Matthew McConaughey surprise fans at Comic-Con and talk about "Interstellar."

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From Facebook:  Clive Barker art exhibition at SDCC.

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From CBR:  "Avengers: Age of Ultron" posters.

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From CBR:  "The Walking Dead" panel.

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From CBR:  Concept art for Marvel's Ant-Man revealed.

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From TheWrap via Yahoo:  Ben Affleck's Bat-suit - well, at least the cape and cowl - for "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" revealed.

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From CBR:  David and Meredith Finch become the creative team on Wonder Woman with issue #36.  CBR provides a first look at David's art for the series.

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From Deadline:  Warren Ellis joins Gale Anne Hurd, the executive producer of "The Walking Dead," on an unnamed television series.

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From CBR:  Big changes for Spawn in the next year and a half.

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From CBR:  Image Expo Keynote announces plenty of new series including new comics from Warren Ellis, Rick Remender, Jeff Lemire, and many more.

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From CBR:  Cameron Stewart talks about working on the Fight Club comic book.  Yes, there will be a sequel to the novel, Fight Club, which was adapted into a film in 1999.  But it will be a 10-issue comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics.  The novel's author, Chuck Palahniuk will write the series and Cameron Stewart will draw.  "Fight Club 2" is due April 2015.

Review: McConaughey Super Sells "Dallas Buyers Club"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 36 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Running time:  117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes)
MPAA – R for pervasive language, some strong sexual content, nudity and drug use
DIRECTOR:  Jean-Marc Vallée
WRITERS:  Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack
PRODUCERS:  Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Yves Bélanger (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Martin Pensa and John Mac McMurphy (Jean-Marc Vallée)
Academy Award winner

DRAMA/BIOPIC with elements of a historical

Starring:  Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Denis O’Hare, Steve Zahn, Michael O’Neill, Dallas Roberts, Griffin Dunne, Kevin Rankin, Donna Duplantier, Deneen D. Tyler, J.D. Evermore, and Bradford Cox

Dallas Buyers Club is a 2013 biographical drama from director Jean-Marc Vallée.  The film is a dramatization about real-life AIDS patient, Ron Woodroof.  He discovered unapproved pharmaceutical drugs that would help his disease symptoms and then, later smuggled those drugs into Texas to help fellow AIDS patients.  The film was critically acclaimed and won three Oscars, including a best actor win for Matthew McConaughey and a best supporting actor win for Jared Leto.

Dallas Buyers Club opens in 1985 in Dallas.  Electrician, hustler, and rodeo cowboy, Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) falls ill and is diagnosed with HIV.  He is given 30 days to live.  Ron initially refuses to accept the diagnosis, but quickly finds himself ostracized by friends and coworkers.  Ron learns from the kindly Dr. Eve Saks (Jennifer Garner) about the experimental drug AZT, which is supposed to help with symptoms of AIDS.  Ron is able to obtain some without having a prescription.  However, he not only abuses AZT, but he also continues to abuse illegal narcotics.

Ron develops full-blown AIDS.  As he fights to live, he begins to study and research AIDS and learns that outside the United States there are pharmaceutical drugs used to fight the symptoms of AIDS.  However, they are unapproved for use in the U.S. by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).  Ron begins to smuggle large quantities of these drugs into Dallas.  With the help of Rayon (Jared Leto), a sassy cross-dressing man/transgender, Ron opens the “Dallas Buyers Club” to sell these unapproved drugs to HIV-positive and AIDS patients, but Ron’s efforts draw the attention of people who want to shut him down.

I have seen many films that are elevated by a great performance.  Raging Bull is memorable for Robert De Niro’s legendary turn as boxer Jake La Motta.  Russell Crowe gives the most nuanced performance of his career in A Beautiful Mind.  Helen Mirren rules The Queen.  In fact, all three of these movies would be little more than made-for-television films without the celebrated performances given by their respective lead actors.

Dallas Buyers Club tells a story that needed to be told and needs to be remembered, but without Matthew McConaughey’s performance, this film would be a well-meaning TV movie or an indie film that would have been lost in the art film ghetto.  McConaughey risked his health in order to lose weight to play the emaciated Ron Woodroof, but what really makes his performance so distinguished is that McConaughey takes on Woodruff’s cause and suffering as if his own life depended upon it.

McConaughey is a good actor and has given some excellent performance.  However, in recent years, he has finally showcased his talent and skill in character study films that require putting out the effort to create fully-realized fictional characters.  Anyone who is a fan of McConaughey or has seen some of his films must see Dallas Buyers Club.

Both Jared Leto’s transformation into Rayon and his performance are impressive.  Leto was indeed Oscar worthy, but Rayon is mostly unnecessary to this story.  Although Rayon was not a real-life figure and was created specifically for this movie, he could have been replaced with just about any other character.  Leto is magnificent in a film in which the filmmakers didn’t seem to know what to do with his character other than to play him as a stereotype – the tragic mulatto version of drag queen.  Jennifer Garner’s Dr. Saks is also wasted, although not nearly as badly as Rayon is.

However, Matthew McConaughey is so good that he makes you overlook Dallas Buyers Club’s warts.  His character, Ron Woodroof, is a charming rogue with electrifying swagger.  It is as if McConaughey and Woodroof are two separate beings occupying the same space, and they are why Dallas Buyers Club earned a best picture Oscar nomination.  And that best picture Oscar nod made what would have been just an AIDS movie into something special.

8 of 10
A

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

NOTES:
2014 Academy Awards, USA:  3 wins: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Matthew McConaughey), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Jared Leto), “Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling” (Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews); 3 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter), “Best Achievement in Film Editing” (Jean-Marc Vallée and Martin Pensa), “Best Writing, Original Screenplay” (Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack)

2014 Golden Globes, USA:  2 wins: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama” (Matthew McConaughey) and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Jared Leto)

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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Marvel Reveals "Ant-Man" Poster at Comic-Con International 2014

The above poster was made available to San Diego Comic-Con International 2014 attendees.  The art is by Andy Park.  "Ant-Man," due Summer 2015 stars Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas.

Dark Horse Comics Reveals "Tywin Lannister" Game of Thrones Collectible Figure

DARK HORSE REVEALS AN ALL-NEW GAME OF THRONES® FIGURE AT COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL

SAN DIEGO, CA – The doors were open at the pop culture event of the year! To celebrate, Dark Horse kicked things off with the reveal of the latest figure to join the growing line of figures based on characters from the smash hit HBO® series, Game of Thrones!

Tywin Lannister, father of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion and known as the wealthiest man in the seven kingdoms and Hand of the King, is a perfect addition to the upcoming group of detailed collectible Game of Thrones figures produced by Dark Horse Comics.

“We just couldn’t say no to Tywin,” said Dark Horse VP of product development David Scroggy. “It didn’t seem like a smart idea to deny him.”

Exclusively revealed on social media by HBO earlier, the figure prototype could be viewed throughout the show as a key item in Dark Horse’s upcoming products display at booth #2615!

The Tywin Lannister figure joins an ongoing series of non-articulated figures based on characters from the popular series. Debuting in January 2014, the ongoing range will continue through 2015.

The Tywin Lannister figure measures approximately 8” tall on his base. It will be packaged in a full-color window-box package.

Scheduled on-sale date is March 2015, making this figure available in-store just ahead of the season five premiere of Game of Thrones.

About HBO Global Licensing
HBO Global Licensing officially licenses the HBO® brand for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines inspired by the network's award-winning programming. With products created around hit series like Game of Thrones® and True Blood® as well as classic series like The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, and Entourage, items include fashion apparel, figures, jewelry, digital and CD soundtracks, prop and costume replicas, games, books, and beverages, as well as exclusive, premium collections in partnership with upscale, designer brands. Merchandise can be purchased in retail stores nationwide, at http://store.hbo.com, and at the groundbreaking HBO retail hub, the HBO Shop®, located at 42nd and 6th Avenue in New York City. HBO Global Licensing products are also sold internationally across Europe (www.hboshopeu.com), Asia and Australia.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites for July 20 to July 26, 2014 Update #11

NEWS:

From THR:  The Hollywood Reporter has an excellent article about how Marvel became a Hollywood juggernaut, with an emphasis on Ike Perlmutter.

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From Variety via Yahoo:  A copy of The Expendables 3 has been leaked online, and it is supposedly "DVD-quality."

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From Variety:  Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play Stephen Strange in Marvel's "Doctor Strange" movie.

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From TheWrap  "Beetlejuice 2?"  It could really, finally happen.

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From Yahoo via TheWrap:  There is an unfinished documentary about the planned and then abandoned "Superman Lives" film, which was to star Nicolas Cage as Superman!

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From YouTube:  First "50 Shades of Grey" official trailer.

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From TheWrap via Yahoo:  Marvel adds a sixth movie mystery date, May 4, 2018.

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From Yahoo:  A great interview with Zoe Saldana from The Hollywood Reporter, in which discusses being in sci-fi franchises, race and skin color in Hollywood, and Avatar.

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From TheWrap:  Adam McKay and Will Ferrell are producing a remake of "Manimal."  This was an action-adventure television series that originally aired on NBC for a few months back in the second half of 1983.

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From EW InsideMovies:  Steven Spielberg is working on a Cold War thriller starring Tom Hanks.  Amy Ryan is joining the cast, and Alan Alda may also join.  Joel and Ethan Coen have also worked on the untitled film's script.

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From LATimes:  "Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions" will NOT reveal the fate of Ahsoka Tano... or so we're told.

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From Variety:  "Star Trek 3" goes into "deep space," and will be more like the original TV series, says director Roberto Orci.

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From LATimes:  JJ Abrams reveals new X-wing fighter.

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From Variety:  Christina Chong reportedly cast in Star Wars Episode VII.

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From TheWrap:  Idris Elba in talks to star in Guy Ritchie's King Arthur flick.

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From Yahoo:  Details about Philip Seymour Hoffman's money and will.
 
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From Variety:  Variety announces "Artisans," a new regular feature that will focus on the "below-the-line" community in Hollywood.  That would be everyone from cinematographers and editor to propmasters and grips.  It will be featured in the weekly magazine and on Variety.com.  I will link to these features as I find them.

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From IMDb and Yahoo: The American actor, James Garner, has died at the age of 86.  He was best known for his roles on the television series, "Maverick" and "The Rockford Files."  In 1977, he won the Emmy Award for Best Actor for "The Rockford Files." In 2004, he received the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.  He was also nominated for a best actor Oscar for his role in Murphy's Romance.

Garner died Saturday evening, June 19, 2014 in Los Angeles.  Garner was born on April 7, 1928 in Oklahoma.  He served in the Korean War where he earned two Purple Hearts.

I first saw Garner on "The Rockford Files," which my father watched religiously.  For some reason, I had been thinking about him recently.  I send my condolences to his family and friends.  R.I.P. Mr. Garner.

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From YahooFinance:  This is a small article about how Joss Whedon junked the script for The Avengers that predated his involvement in the film and wrote his own.

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From Variety:  Dawn of the Planet of the Apes tops the July 18-20, 2014 weekend box office.


COMIC BOOK NEWS: Movies, TV, and Books:

From TheWrap:   Dates for mystery movies?  Which Marvel movies will be released on these dates:

July 28, 2017
Nov. 3, 2017
May 4, 2018 UPDATED
July 6, 2018
Nov. 2, 2018
May 3, 2019
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MISC:

From TheVillageVoice:  Baphomet and the Satanic Temple - prank or not?

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From Inquisitr:  Woman uses Trayvon Martin's name as a threat against two eight-year-old boys.