Larry Ratliff

Disney goes out on a limb for Mother 'Earth'

 

Sure it's a publicity stunt to promote a movie, but this kind of publicity stunt we can all live with.

In fact, we might just live a little better.

The folks at Walt Disney Studios are keeping their promise to plant a tree in Brazil's endangered Atlantic rain forest for every viewer who planted their behinds in a movie seat to view their nature documentary "Earth" during its first week in theaters.

"According to Disney, the box-office tally hit $16.1 million, which translates to 2.7 million trees.

"The trees are being planted by the Nature Conservancy, which is trying to reforest 2.5 million acres in the rain forest," says an Associated Press item posted on the Variety Web site.

Finally, some good news. 

(Photo:  Sunrise for Mother Earth/BBC Worldwide Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)

Greed is good again ... surprised?

We hear a lot about Main St. and Wall St. these days.  Personally, I'd like to know a little more about getting the economy turned around on my street.

But I digress.  The point is that director Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas, who teamed up for a dicey greed finance drama titled "Wall Street" in 1987, are hedging their funds for a follow-up.

According to a Hollywood Reporter Web post, Stone has just "closed a deal" with 20th Century Fox for "Wall Street 2." Pretty creative title, huh?

"The plot line for the new 'Wall Street' iteration has not been divulged, but it will pick up with corporate raider Gordon Gekko, the character for which Douglas won a best actor Oscar more than 20 years ago. Gekko's larger-than-life presence will once again loom over a younger upstart looking to navigate the shark-tank world of today's Wall Street," the Web article states.

And who will play the "younger upstart"?

That might just be Shia LaBeouf.  According to the article, LaBeouf, on screen June 24 for the "Transformers" sequel ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"), "is in talks with the studio" about the role.

Production might start as early as this summer.

By the way, it's good to see Michael Douglas back in action. Before he uses his sharp tongue as Gordon Gekko, he shows up on screens beginning Friday (May 1) as bad-old Uncle Wayne, Matthew McConaughey's spirited womanizing mentor in "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past."

(Photo:  Michael Douglas toasts the womanizing life in "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past."/Warner Bros. Pictures)

'Wolverine's' Mexican arch enemy: swine flu

 

Sometimes, even an X-Man can't save the day.

When "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" opens in the U.S. and around much of the world on Friday, theaters in Mexico where fans would normally be expecting Hugh Jackman's clawed-to-the-max character to save the day will be eerily dark.

And it won't be Dark Phoenix or Magneto spoiling the party this time.  This time the untimely culprit is swine flu, which has killed more than 100 Mexican citizens.

According to an article posted on the Hollywood Reporter Web site, Hollywood went on high alert on Monday.  The swine flu is curtailing movie-going south of the border.  As for the U.S., who knows?

"For now, industryites are simply in a watch-and-wait mode following reports of swine flu outbreaks in New York and elsewhere in the U.S. Certainly nobody expects any major adverse affect on Fox's global bow of 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' this weekend.

"'There isn't any Stateside impact yet,' Fox domestic distribution president Bruce Snyder said," according to the Hollywood Reporter article.

(Photo:  Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in "X-Men Origins:  Wolverine."/James Fisher/20th Century Fox)

Stop the swine flu presses! Octo-Mom's got a new tat

And I thought there was nothing exciting to report this morning.

Sure the San Antonio Spurs are plotting their miraculous comeback-to-be against the Dallas Mavericks, but that's nothing compared to this:

Us Magazine.com is all over the real story of the day.  Octo-Mama's got a new little one to brag about. 

But this new arrival isn't her 19th or 20th child (I've lost count).  This, according to Us Magazine, is her eighth or ninth tattoo (I lose count there too).

It's "a tribute to her brood," the article states.

Awwwww.

If you care to witness Ms. Octo-Mom's latest inking, RadarOnline has that covered.

'Soloist,' in the key of glum, tops film choices

 

"The Soloist" appeared to be a project destined for Academy Award recognition.  How could outstanding actors Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. deliver anything less in a based-on-truth odd couple relationship bursting with heartfelt drama?

But when the opening date was pushed back from late November, which is prime time for Oscar consideration, caution flags were raised.

Now we know why.  "The Soloist," which delivers in an offbeat key of glum, just never manages to fully engage its audience.  Click here for the full review.

If you're a documentary fan, you'll do much better with "Harvard Beats Yale 29-29," an enthralling look back at one of the most famous afternoons on the college gridiron ever.  And it features San Antonio's Oscar winner-in-residence, Tommy Lee Jones.  Click here for the review.

After sitting through "The Informers," an emotionally lifeless ensemble drama headed by Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger and Winona Ryder, I've decided it's time for novelist/screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis to say goodbye to his decadent '80s.  Click here for the review.

Also opening this week:

Just in time for Earth Day, "Earth" marries high tech movie-making with the beauty and wonder of animals in their natural habitats.

"Fighting" features Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard in a bare-knuckles, street fighting drama.

From Russia with re-imagined love, "12" is a variation of "12 Angry Men."

And Beyonce Knowles goes on the dramatic warpath in "Obsessed," a dramatic-thriller. 

(Photo:  Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. in "The Soloist."/DW Studios LLC/Universal Studios)

Gov. Schwarzenegger wins 4th 'Term-inator'

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger always said he'd be "b-a-a-a-c-k" as the stone-faced cyborg from the future (with the strange thick Austrian accent).

Now it looks like the California governator will be keeping his promise.  At least partially.

Variety and other sources are publishing reports that "Terminator Salvation" director McG ("Charlie's Angels") has apparently talked the former big screen icon to appear as a digital version of his Terminator character in the new "T4" adventure, which is due to hit screens May 21.

"Turns out Schwarzenegger has been secretly working with helmer McG and the effects team to reprise his signature role ... without lifting a finger.

"A body-cast mold of Schwarzenegger, created when he first appeared as the muscle-ripped cyborg, provided the basis for a digital-effects version of his famous character. The figure appears in 'Terminator Salvation' as a living, breathing actor," according to the Variety article.

Hmmm.  Could this there-but-not-there digital version of a human work in the California governor's office as well?

Methinks maybe it already has.

In Texas too?

Well, how animated does Gov. Perry seem to you? 

(Photo: Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator in "Terminator 3:  Rise of the Machines."/Warner Bros.)   

R-e-s-p-e-c-t action flicks, says Cohen

Director Rob Cohen told members of the National Association of Broadcasters in Las Vegas Tuesday that it's time to, basically, respect the action movie.

No one pinned him down apparently, but Cohen may have been talking about a trio he's directed.

"XXX" (2002), the first "Fast and the Furious" (2001) and "The Mummy:  Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (2008) are all his.

"'Why don't action films get the respect they deserve? They have their own language and aesthetic makeup, and they contributed enormously to the development of the motion picture,'" Cohen said, according to an item posted on the Hollywood Reporter Web site.

Uh, I may be way off here, but I'm guessing if there's a lack of respect it's because they're ACTION FLICKS!

Not that they don't often rule at the box office, but if Cohen's really looking for props to be thrown to makers of high energy action movies, maybe they should say something like:

"Thank you for 'XXX,' 'The Fast and the Furious" and the second 'Mummy' sequel, Mr. Cohen.  Man, you blow stuff up real good." 

(Photo:  The "XXX" poster featuring Vin Diesel./Sony Pictures)

Must dos for Tues.

 

Things that simply must get done today:

Run, don't walk -- better yet, hop in the car -- and get to the video store to rent "The Wrestler," which lands on DVD shelves today.

Mickey Rourke, when he's not clowning around with some WWE wrestler for a lame publicity stunt, can act.  Rourke's work as has-been wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a 1980s ring superstar gone to seed and seedy strip clubs, is a must-see for anyone who enjoys the power of excellent filmmaking amid lowbrow, squalid (physically and emotionally) settings.

Rourke lost out to Sean Penn ("Milk") in the best actor Oscar race.  From this aisle seat, Rourke was robbed. 

What else must be done today? 

Oh yeah, it should be two-fer Tuesday at your corner video store.  After you grab "The Wrestler," you'll want to pick up a copy of Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon," which also debuts on DVD today.

If you're at all like me, you'll be a little skeptical going in:  How can a drama adapted from a theatrical piece about former President Richard Nixon and British talk show host David Frost possibly hold our attention?

It probably shouldn't.  But with Howard calling the shots and Frank Langella (as Tricky Dick) and Michael Sheen (Frost) in front of the camera, it just really works as compelling drama.

(Click here to read my full review of "Frost/Nixon.")

Anything else?

My wife Suellen has asked for a couple of things from the grocery store.

(Click here to read what I'll be picking up at the store.  Not really, just kidding.)

Not to worry, I'll handle that one.

(Photo:  Mickey Rourke as Randy the Ram in "The Wrestler."/Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Yo, I'm dyin' here (not really)

The folks over at Premiere.com have been busy doing some fun research.

Would the big ol' movie star who's died the most on screen please raise a hand?

Thank you, Robert De Niro.

According to the clever Premiere item:

"Reaching the top of the Hollywood totem pole usually means you play the hero, get the girl, and ride into the sunset. But sometimes, you don’t even make it to the final fade out," the article says.

Can you name the two movies Harrison Ford kicked up daisies in, for instance?

Hint:  They have nothing to do with a certain history professor/tomb explorer named Indiana Jones or even a rebel spaceship pilot in a galaxy far, far away.

And would you have guessed that Gentleman George Clooney has croaked five times on the big screen?

Note:  Clooney's turn in the Batsuit doesn't count.  As the affable leading man has said many times since playing the Caped Crusader in "Batman & Robin" 1997, he killed the franchise in that one. 

As you're probably aware, the franchise and Mr. Clooney have bounced back robustly.

Click here to read the article.

(Photo:  Robert De Niro in "Righteous Kill."/Overture Films & Righteous Productions Inc.) 

Pick your taut movie drama, or get 'Cranky'

 

Two excellent, but very different compelling movie dramas open today.

"Sin Nombre," already open in some cities, expands to shed big screen light on a director-on-the-rise and a heart-grabbing tale.  In Spanish with subtitles, "Sin Nombre" features the extraordinary feature-film debut of writer-director Cary Joji Fukunaga. 

 Head over to the Movie Review pages or click here for the full review.

"State of Play," boosted by an all-star cast of Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels and Jason Bateman, might just change the way you look at your daily newspaper.

Click here for the review, or check it out on the Movie Review pages.

Also opening today:

"Crank:  High Voltage" -- British action hunk Jason Statham is back for a second round of do-or-die deadline pressure.

"17 Again" -- Rising "High School Musical" star Zac Efron dusts off the body-switch gimmick as an adult magically transformed into a young body.

(Photo:  Sayra, portrayed by Paulina Gaitan, and her unlikely protector Willy, played by Edgar Flores, take a slow train into the unknown in "Sin Nombre.")