December 15, 2011
Five Favorite Films with Roger Corman
Movies as we know them just wouldn't be the same without Roger Corman. Sure, filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, James Cameron and Joe Dante probably would have found their way into the game eventually, but the fact remains that they all got their start under the tutelage of Corman and his low-budget genre factory -- a tireless B-picture production line that also gave early breaks to unknown young actors like Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone and Jack Nicholson. Perhaps more significantly, Corman was one of the pioneers of the independent movie model, cranking out scores of exploitation and genre films (and distributing foreign titles by Truffaut, Bergman, Fellini and Kurosawa) that turned profits even as they flaunted the traditional studio system. (Not to be discounted: he also directed a handful of genuinely fine movies, like the Edgar Allan Poe adaptation The Masque of the Red Death.) This week, Corman is celebrated in Alex Stapleton's documentary Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel, a career-spanning look at his work that gathers together exultant testimonials from many of his most famous pupils. We caught up with Corman earlier this week for a chat about his career and his "graduates," his thoughts on independent film, and how the Lucas/Spielberg blockbusters spelled doom for genre pictures. First, here are Corman's five favorite films.
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December 20, 2010
Ron Howard Talks The Dark Tower
In a new interview with the L.A. Times, Ron Howard discusses his excitement, and his plans, for the film adaptation of Stephen King's "The Dark Tower."
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September 21, 2010
Seven Actors Who Make Better Directors
With "The Town" on top of the box office, the folks at Cinematical got to thinking about actors who did some of their best work as directors -- and, naturally, made a list.
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June 18, 2010
Ron Howard Tells Grisly Fairy Tale Legends
They haven't set it up at a studio yet, but Brian Grazer and Ron Howard are prepping an adaptation of the graphic novel "Legends," about what happens when various fairy tale characters discover Pinocchio's murdered remains.
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February 23, 2010
Kevin James In Talks for Ron Howard Comedy
Kevin James is negotiating to join Vince Vaughn in a Ron Howard comedy about "a man who learns that his best friend's wife is cheating and must then navigate treacherous waters to decide what do with that knowledge."
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January 5, 2010
Ron Howard and Vince Vaughn Will Cheat for Universal
Ron Howard will direct Vince Vaughn in a dark comedy about infidelity, focusing on "a man who learns that his best friend's wife is cheating and must then navigate treacherous waters to decide what do with that knowledge."
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July 30, 2009
Uni Taps Ron Howard for The Parsifal Mosaic
Ron Howard has signed on to direct "The Parsifal Mosaic," Universal's adaptation of the Robert Ludlum novel about "a CIA operative who thinks he witnessed the execution of his lover after she was identified as a KGB double agent."
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May 14, 2009
Box Office Guru Preview: Hanks Returns to Save Vatican
Only one new film ventures into wide release as Tom Hanks steps back into the role of Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon for the conspiracy thriller Angels & Demons. A sequel to the 2006 smash The Da Vinci Code, Angels reunites Hanks with director Ron Howard for the fourth time. Both films were based on the best-selling novels of Dan Brown. In the new installment, Langdon is called to the Vatican to help stop a secret society from killing the top Cardinals of the Catholic Church following the death of the Pope. Code was a global smash opening three years ago this weekend to a domestic haul of $77.1M despite being panned by major critics.
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January 22, 2009
RT Interview: Gus van Sant and Dustin Lance Black on Milk
Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black look rather exhausted at this stage in their publicity whirlwind for Milk. The day RT sits down with them, the film has just received four BAFTA nominations, including one for Lance's original script. The jetlag seems to be getting to them, but they perk up when they start talking about Harvey Milk and their very different journeys into this project.
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January 8, 2009
DGA Announces '08 Nominees
The Directors Guild has finalized its nominees for this year's awards, placing Ron Howard, Danny Boyle, Gus Van Sant, David Fincher, and -- you guessed it -- Christopher Nolan on the short list.
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November 21, 2008
Fox Searchlight Is in Arrested Development
All that recent chatter about an "Arrested Development" movie seems to have caught the ears of executives at Fox Searchlight, where Mitchell Hurwitz and Ron Howard have "reportedly" just closed a deal to produce the film.
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February 29, 2008
Studios Preparing for Summer SAG Strike
The writers' strike may be over, but the studios aren't done dealing with this year's labor headaches -- and with a potential Screen Actors Guild walkout looming this summer, they're playing things as close to the vest as possible.
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February 4, 2008
Arrested Development Movie On Its Way?
Judging from the way the TV show went down, it would likely be one of the best-reviewed, lowest-grossing films of all time -- but fans of the dearly departed Fox series Arrested Development will doubtless be pleased to hear that a film spinoff is in the works.
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October 25, 2007
Ron Howard Prepares to Unleash Angels & Demons
One of the many high-profile productions being affected by the looming writers' strike is Angels & Demons, the follow-up to The Da Vinci Code -- but if director Ron Howard and his fellow filmmakers have anything to say about it, their sequel's progress will be unimpeded.
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August 2, 2007
Orlando Bloom Believes in Angels & Demons?
So, now that he's ostensibly finished with two of the biggest trilogies of the 21st century, what's next for Orlando Bloom? A few minor roles, perhaps? A low-budget film or two? Not by a long shot, according to Cinemablend's Josh Tyler, who claims to have the scoop on Bloom's next role.
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April 13, 2007
Howard & Hanks are Officially Back for the "Da Vinci" Sequel
Just a few days ago one of our sources reported that Tom Hanks had not only signed up for "Angels and Demons," but also that he'd be receiving the biggest actor's payday of all time. Now comes official word that director Ron Howard is returning for the "Da Vinci Code" prequel.
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June 30, 2006
Weekly Ketchup: "Spider-Man 3," "Superman Returns" Box Office, "Over the Hedge 2," "I Am Legend," The Joker, A Hasselhoff Mishap, and More!
This week in RT News, comic book adaptations were the rage, starting with a new teaser trailer and spoilers of next year's "Spider-Man 3." Robin Williams seems keen to portray The Joker in the next "Batman Begins" sequel, and the "Fantastic Four" sequel has a title and plot synopsis available for scrutiny. Also, Jo Blo has an early review of M. Night Shyamalan's latest offering, "Lady in the Water."
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June 5, 2006
"Da Vinci" Still an International Darling
It may have earned dismissals at Cannes and generally unenthusiastic reviews everywhere else, but that won't slow Ron Howard's "Da Vinci Code" down at the international box office. The religious thriller has already earned $410 million worldwide, which makes it one of the biggest global hits of all time.
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May 23, 2006
Goldsman Signs On for "Angels & Demons"
Yesterday we shared the news that the "Da Vinci Code" prequel was being discussed, and today comes word that screenwriter Akiva Goldsman will definitely be returning. (We can only hope he read some of the "Da Vinci" reviews.) No word yet on Ron Howard or Tom Hanks, but you just know they'll be back. Well, Hanks, anyway.
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May 18, 2006
CANNES: "Da Vinci Code" Director and Cast Speak
"The Da Vinci Code" director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks said they hope audiences will enjoy the film and that it will spark discussion, but it shouldn't be regarded as theology. The director and star, along with cast members Audrey Tautou, Jean Reno, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina discussed the film at a press conference Tuesday.
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March 29, 2006
Lucy Liu is a "Beautiful Asian Bride" -- obviously!
Variety reports on a new comedy project starring the lovely Ms. Lucy Liu. It's called "Beautiful Asian Brides," and it's a project that's been bouncing around Hollywood for quite some time, but with Universal hiring a pair of screenwriters to polish the thing up, the flick might just be ready to walk down the aisle already.
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March 21, 2006
Unlock the All-New "Da Vinci Code" Trailer
Click right here to check the much longer and more plot-centric trailer for Ron Howard's "The Da Vinci Code," which, as you may have heard by now, is a movie based on a fairly popular book. And it stars Tom Hanks.
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January 23, 2006
"The Da Vinci Code" To Open Cannes
"The Da Vinci Code" will be the opening selection at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The film, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, and Ian McKellen, is based on the bestseller novel by Dan Brown.
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June 6, 2005
Weekend Box Office: It's a Zoo Out There
One week after debuting impressively, yet still behind the juggernaut that is "Revenge of the Sith," "Madagascar" snagged the #1 box office spot in its second weekend of release. (But don't feel too bad for George Lucas' baby; it's now the fastest movie to gross over $300 million.) The DreamWorks animated comedy "Madagascar" beat out a trio of multiplex newcomers to grab the top spot, grossing $28.7 million in its second frame.
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June 3, 2005
Walden and Dolman Hope You'll Enjoy "Fried Worms"
Filmmaker Bob Dolman ("The Banger Sisters") will bring Thomas Rockwell's popular book "How to Eat Fried Worms" to the big screen for Walden Media and New Line Cinema, according to Variety. The story focuses on "an 11-year-old boy whose first day in school devolves into a battle with the school bully. It leads to a dare that the youth can't eat 10 worms in one day."
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June 2, 2005
Critical Consensus: "Cinderella Man" is No Pumpkin; "Pants" Looks Good
Skaters! Pants! The Great Depression! This week at the movies has it all. Will ?Cinderella Man? win the battle for critical accolades? Will ?Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? be a good fit with the critics? Will ?Lords of Dogtown? make a perfect critical landing? Will the metaphors ever cease?
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May 31, 2005
In Other News...
Oscar winning director Oliver Stone had a Memorial Day weekend to remember as he was charged with a misdemeanor DUI and an unnamed drug charge late Friday night in Hollywood. Stone, who is known for his politically charged films, is developing a new crime drama, "The Night Watchman," ironically about police corruption.
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May 31, 2005
"Sith" Takes More Revenge Over the Holiday Weekend
Despite some rock-solid competition, "Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith" grossed an impressive $70.8 million in its second weekend. Bolstered by a 4-day holiday frame, George Lucas' sixth and final space opera reigned supreme over a pair of wide-release newcomers -- but the competition did pretty darn well, too. The DreamWorks animated comedy "Madagascar" drew the family ticket, grossing $61 million over the Memorial Day weekend (in over 4,100 theaters), while the Adam Sandler sports flick "The Longest Yard" was close behind with a tally of $60 million in just over 3,600 theaters.
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May 19, 2005
Get a Year-Early Peek at "The Da Vinci Code"
The Quicktime Movie Trailers page brings the very first teaser for next year's "The Da Vinci Code." Based on the overwhelmingly popular novel by Dan Brown, "The Da Vinci Code" 'centers on one of the greatest mysteries of humankind, a 2000 year-old conspiracy, clues to which are encoded in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci.'
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April 20, 2005
Two More Actors Try to Crack the "Da Vinci Code"
Variety brings news of two new additions to Ron Howard's upcoming "The Da Vinci Code." Already on board were Tom Hanks, Jean Reno, and Audrey Tautou, but those crafty casting directors were just getting started. Seems that both Sir Ian McKellen ("X-Men") and Alfred Molina ("Spider-Man 2") have recently signed on for a pair of supporting roles.
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March 29, 2005
Howard & Grazer Snag Another "Power" Pitch
The always-busy team of director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer have just snagged the rights to yet another project they really dig. This one's called "The Power of Duff" and Variety says it's about "a TV news anchor whose grief over his father's death prompts him to pray aloud during newscasts. When his prayers begin getting answered, the newsman becomes a most controversial TV figure."
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March 29, 2005
Paramount Hires "Mean" Director to Remake "Mitty"
The long-standing on-again, off-again remake of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" finally looks to be underway over at Paramount. "Freaky Friday" and "Mean Girls" director Mark Waters will helm the remake from a screenplay by Richard LaGravanese ("The Fisher King," "The Bridges of Madison County").
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January 24, 2005
Audrey Tautou, Not Sophie Marceau, Will Crack the "Da Vinci Code"
Looks like the previous story about Sophie Marceau joining the cast of "Da Vinci Code" was premature. It is Audrey Tautou who will star opposite Tom Hanks in Ron Howard's adaptation of "The Da Vinci Code," according to Variety. Tautou, the star of "A Very Long Engagement" and "Dirty Pretty Things," will take on the role of cryptographer Sophie Neveu.
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