With the upcoming release of Tree of Life, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is having a Terrence Malick retrospective. We’ve been attending, and up until the release of Tree of Life (review on May 26), we’ll be reviewing and talking about his movies LACMA recently showed Days of Heaven, Malick’s second film, and the end of his filmmaking career for twenty years.

What Malick did in those twenty years is partly unknown. He had worked on a film called Q, wrote a version of the Jerry Lee Lewis bio-pic Great Balls of Fire, and tried adapting Walker Percy’s The Moviegoer. That absence led people to assume him mad, and perhaps retired, and forced them to judge him as a director based on this film and Badlands. But what an impression he made.

Days of Heaven follows Richard Gere’s Bill as he looks for work across the country with his sister Linda (Linda Manz), and his lover Abby (Brooke Adams), who they pretend is also his sister. After getting a fight with a foreman, the family jumps on to a train, and goes about harvesting wheat. It’s there that Abby meets The Farmer (Sam Shepard), who falls for Abby and eventually asks to marry her. Abby is reticent, but Bill knows The Farmer is sick and should die soon. Abby marries The Farmer with an eye toward his money, but there are obvious tensions in that relationship, and Abby grows fond of her husband. Bill goes away, and comes back only for his return to be marked by an invasion of locusts. Such also leads up to violence between the two men.

Malick’s career is now divided by his two earlier works, and his later return to cinema. And what marks both earlier films is their relative brevity. Days of Heaven runs a compact 94 minutes, but it still feels epic (some would say slow) and in it are some of the best photographed vistas in the entirety of cinema. From shots of wheat fields dancing in the wind, to The Farmer’s house on the horizon, the legend of the film is that Malick shot the entire film during “magic hour” – the time where the sun is either going up or coming down, which creates a different kind of light. Malick also hated using standard lighting rigs, often shooting with natural light and nothing else. It may then make it counterintuitive that Days of Heaven has long been viewed as a textbook on great cinematography, and is featured heavily in the documentary Visions of Light. Much of the fillm was photographed by Nestor Almendros, though Haskell Wexler has an “additional photography” credit, and has suggested he shot over half of the film. Regardless, it’s one of the most beautiful films ever shot, and the natural lighting creates a sense of the past without going for the yellow or amber hues of – say – The Godfather. But just as essential is the score by Ennio Moriccone for evoking a sense of nostalgia.

Like Badlands, the film is narrated by one of its characters – this time its Linda Manz, but though her comments sometimes reflect on the story at hand, often she’ll just talk about some random event that happened to her. It sometimes works in counterbalance to what’s on screen, and it feels like Malick fell in love with Manz as a performer, and her out of left field sensibility – make it hard to know how many of her ramblings and conversations on screen were scripted. But that works for the film: Manz is completely authentic on screen.

As for the central narrative, the film almost functions as a silent film – its star crossed lovers and central jealousies need no dialogue, only looks and gestures. Like many of Malick’s later films, there’s a sense that this story is meant to be – like The New World and Tree of Life – about man’s banishment from Eden. The stars seem to be cast for their looks, and it’s worth noting that Richard Gere – an actor who’s often seen as simply a pretty boy – is excellent in the film, while Sheperd has the mixture of innocence and weathering.

The film is episodic by nature, and it covers a year on the farm. With the Manz narration and Malick’s godlike camerawork, the film is more impressionistic than immediate. The audience are more witnesses than participants, and the nature of the film keeps the viewer at a distance, but it’s all the better to appreciate what’s going on. It gives the story – even though it set in the early 20^th century, a timeless feel.

Days of Heaven left many questions about where Malick would go next, and for a long time that answer was “nowhere.” But it also suggested an artist who was capable of greatness, and someone who was an absolute master of photography. The film is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection. Tree of Life opens Friday May 27, while LACMA will be showing The New World on May 20 with special guests.

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We have some good and bad news to report regarding the upcoming drama Arbitrage. According to Deadline, Oscar winner Al Pacino is no longer attached to star as the lead. But don’t fret because one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The silver-haired Richard Gere is now in talks to pick up where Pacino left off.

Arbitrage will be directed by Nicholas Jarecki and will center on “a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his trading empire makes an error that forces him to turn to an unlikely person for help.” Jarecki also penned the script. The rest of the cast features Eva Green and Susan Sarandon.

Production on the film is set to begin in mid-April in New York.

We’re not sure if Pacino ever signed on the dotted line prior to Gere’s involvement but either way we’re happy with the end result. Gere is a talented actor who sometimes gets overlooked or out-shined by his co-stars. Perhaps this film will give him the material and opportunity to get some overdo recognition.

What do you think of Gere starring in Arbitrage? Is he a good fit?

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The Wrap is reporting that Greenberg director Noah Baumbach has signed on to replace Ron Howard as the director of The Emperor’s Children, an adaptation of Claire Messud’s 2006 novel. Howard has opted instead to produce the film with his frequent collaborator, Brian Grazer.

The film, which is currently on the hunt for outside financing, is reportedly set to star the intense stare-er Eric Bana, Richard (“I was funny when I guested on “The Simpsons,” remember?”) Gere, and Keira Knightley. Baumbach will also be writing the film’s adapted screenplay, which centers on three Brown University grads who “struggle to realize the lofty expectations held for their personal and professional lives” in a pre-and post-9/11 America.

Howard, was originally slated to direct but moved to the producer’s chair in order to helm his own project, a Universal comedy about infidelity starring Vince Vaughn and Kevin James, which yes, sounds really, really terrible. I’m not sure why he would choose that project over this one but from my perspective it looks like Baumbach’s going to be the director who comes out on top with this one. Which film are you looking forward to seeing?

What do you think? Will Baumbach be a better director for this tragic material?

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Richard Gere has a busy weekend ahead of him. The Golden Globe winning actor’s latest film, Brooklyn’s Finest hits theaters today and news of his next project State of the Union is overflowing on the net. It turns out that Jessica Biel may be signing on to be his co-star in the Garry Marshall remake according to Coming Soon.

State of the Union was a 1948 film directed by the legendary Frank Capra, and starred Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. It was a political drama that centered on an estranged married couple who must reunite to aid the husband’s Presidential campaign.

The screenplay has already been adapted by Rod Lurie who previously wrote the political drama The Contender back in 2000 as well as the short-lived TV series, “Commander in Chief.” Lurie is definitely someone who can write for powerful women, but can Jessica Biel handle his dialogue?

Nothing has been confirmed regarding her casting, but Gere is attached to star in the lead previously played by Tracy. Also, Annette Bening has been rumored to star opposite him as his wife. That’s a pairing that makes sense. It’s not clear who Biel would play, but it better not be the Hepburn role because that would be disrespectful to the late actress. Hopefully, this is all theoretical because there’s a big part of me that doesn’t want this film to be remade at all.

What do you think about Garry Marshall remaking State of the Union? Who do you want to see cast in the lead roles?

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A theatrical trailer has been released for Antoine Fuqua‘s urban drama, Brooklyn’s Finest. The film stars Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Jesse Williams, and Wesley Snipes, and centers on the contrast between loyalty and corruption inside a local New York police department.

Check out the trailer below…

Brooklyn’s Finest is produced by Overture Films, and has a similar tone to Fuqua’s previous cop drama, Training Day. It’s hard for you to watch this trailer and not see elements from the film resurface, especially with Hawke featured in one of the main roles. Here’s the breakdown of the plot:

Burned out veteran Eddie Dugan (Gere) is just one week away from his pension and a fishing cabin in Connecticut. Narcotics officer Sal Procida (Hawke) has discovered there’s no line he won’t cross to provide a better life for his long-suffering wife and seven children. And Clarence “Tango” Butler (Cheadle) has been undercover so long his loyalties have started to shift from his fellow police officers to his prison buddy Caz (Snipes), one of Brooklyn’s most infamous drug dealers. With personal and work pressures bearing down on them, each man faces daily tests of judgment and honor in one of the world’s most difficult jobs.

What do you think of the trailer for Brooklyn’s Finest?

Source: Comingsoon

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The acclaimed ensemble of artists responsible for the utter disappointment that is Amelia proves that Oscars and STARmeters don’t guarantee interminable success in the entertainment industry. Amelia Earhart, a rare spirit who dared to dream in a man’s world is not only one of the primary female American icons, but is accountable for significantly advancing the age of aviation. Translation: excellent foundation for a triumphant biopic!

Continue on for the grueling details of a butchered idea…

The Players:

• Director: Mira Nair (The Namesake, Vanity Fair)
• Cast: Hilary Swank (two-time Academy Award winner) Richard Gere (Golden Globe winner) and Ewan McGregor (Golden Globe nominee)
• Writers: Ron Bass (Academy Award winner) and Anna Hamilton Phelan

The Plot:

The Earhart legend ignites after she becomes the first female to successfully fly across the Atlantic. She immediately develops global celebrity status, and is deemed the American sweetheart, or “goddess of light.” The movie hi-lights her bold, relentless ambition to set records with her ultimate round-the-world mission, and the love triangle between her husband/promoter George P. Putnam (Gere) and longtime friend/lover, pilot Gene Vidal (McGregor).

The Bad:

Ten-minutes in I had to remind myself that, yes, I was indeed at a press screening and not in a UCLA auditorium screening a student film. The writing, the acting, the cinematography, and the editing was entirely trite and in no way even mildly legato. The shot choices, the needless voice-over, the painfully insipid dialogue, and most laughably, the consistent dramatic fades into the course of Earhart’s world-wide journey (the narrative frame-work of the film) collectively rendered me baffled. That being said, let’s get specific:

• Story Structure: There was very little story development, and most of the alleged “pinnacles” were in no way supported by or prefaced with any logical progression. (Suddenly, Putnam kisses her, and they’re married! Suddenly, amidst her escalating fame, she stumbles on the most illustrious depression in the history of America! Suddenly, she’s having an affair, but her husband recovers over night and buys her an 80 thousand dollar aircraft!) It was as if crucial transitional pieces of the story had simply slipped out of the final cut.
• Swank’s Performance: With two Oscars on your mantelpiece, emotional stagnancy in a performance doesn’t cut it. Swank’s overall delivery barely scratched the surface of mediocrity, and while the writing didn’t exactly allow for much visible character evolution, the scale of her character’s potential sentiments still exceeded the seemingly drug-induced smiles and giggles she offered us. The varying derivatives of her attempted Amelia Earhart accent presented a distraction so glowing that whatever poor dialogue she was spouting was entirely overshadowed. You’re watching an Academy Award winning actress simply go through the motions, void of all depth and believability.
• Theme: Nair’s disclosed objective was to allow the audience to “understand her life” because “not many know her real story.” Sure, we all recognize her iconic status, but this legendary woman’s back-story is relatively ambiguous to the average American. So, enlighten us! Nair fell short of her aim. There was no freshly explored dimension of this woman – it couldn’t have been a more general portrait of the historical figure we’ve already become acquainted with.

The Good:

• Ewan McGregor: The few minutes of the film that didn’t seem totally elementary were graced by Ewan McGregor – a brief, but honest and well acted performance. For this motion picture, that alone deserves a nod.

Overall:

This was an opportunity for two of the few dominant women in the entertainment industry to both acknowledge and glorify the life of one of our nation’s biggest female inspirations – a rare occasion. When the top artists in the game let you down, the courtesy sugar-coat isn’t in the cards. Go see Ong Bak 2. That’s right, I said it.

Rating: 1/10

Amelia hits theaters on October 23rd.

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It’s been a while since we’ve heard or posted anything regarding the upcoming biopic, Amelia. Based on the life of legendary pilot Amelia Earhart, the film stars two time Oscar winner Hilary Swank in the title role. The film is directed by Mira Nair, and will hit theaters on October 23rd, just in time for awards season. We have several new photos from the film that feature Swank alongside Nair, and co-stars Ewan McGregor and Richard Gere.

Take a look at the photos…

To browse our gallery, select any photo and it will enlarge and then allow you to scroll through the photos…

Amelia is itching to capture the attention of Oscar voters this season. Everyone involved with this film has an Oscar or Golden Globe nomination under their belt and they want more. Hopefully the movie doesn’t come across as trying too hard, remember the infamous Scarface? The movie may be a cult classic now, but when it came out it was seen as cartoonish and over the top. Al Pacino‘s performance was panned, and no one took it seriously. Good luck, Amelia.

Do you think Amelia has what it takes to be an Oscar contender?

Source: Cinemablend

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I’m happy to get an official look at two time Oscar winner Hilary Swank in the upcoming biopic, Amelia. It seems like she wrapped filming on it ages ago, and we just got a trailer back in June. Over at Latino Review they’ve got a copy of the first feature poster for the film which stars Swank as the legendary pilot Amelia Earhart. The cast also includes Richard Gere as her husband George Putnam, and Ewan McGregor as her lover Gene Vidal. Amelia is directed by Mira Nair, and will hit theaters this fall on October 23.

Check out the full sized poster after the jump…

It smells like everyone in this cast is sniffing around for an Oscar. That’s just an observation.

What do you think of the first poster for Amelia?

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