While digging around Indiewire‘s production reports, I found this nice website for an interesting sounding neo-noir titled South of Heaven. 

Talking to Jonathan Vara about his debut feature is like leafing through a movie encyclopedia: “I really wanted to mix spaghetti western and film noir,” he says from the Jacksonville, FL set. “It starts off like a straight forward film noir—there’s some of Robert Aldridge’s “Kiss Me Deadly,” Sam Fuller’s “The Naked Kiss,” Nicholas Ray’s “They Live By Night”—and then moves into a spaghetti western, there’s definitely a “Once Upon a Time in the West” feel.”

A portion of the script is posted there, as well as story synopsis, written filmmaker bios and cast photos (Note the cameo from ex-wrestler George the Animal Steel, who (not surprisingly) hasn’t been acting much since playing Tor in Burton’s Ed Wood).

Chris here.  I wanted my first post to be something big, but my House of Fury DVD has yet to arrive, so no review yet (if it doesn’t arrive today, definitely tomorrow).  However, I think that this is substantial for fans of anything and everything Besson (as I am). 

Frank Martin’s (Jason Statham) transporting days are over.  Having relocated to Miami, Frank now works as a bodyguard/driver for a wealthy family.  But when something bad happens, it’s up to man on fire Frank to make things right again, and pound a lot of skulls in the process.  All the while, Frank will undoubtedly look cool in his black suit and tie, whether fighting goons in ZERO GRAVITY in a falling airplane or jumping ten feet (!) in the air to dodge incoming vehicles.  Oh yes, see all that and more when the film hits theatres in August.

Statham returns from the first film, along with French actor François Berléand, and directors Louis Leterrier (hot on the heels of Unleashed) and Cory Yuen (once again handling the action).  Writing and producing is good ol’ Luc Besson, who may eventually direct one of his own scripts again.  Or maybe not.

Trailer - This streaming link was dug out by Hitman from KFCC, via Allocine.fr
Pictures - Via JoBlo.com

Removed at producer’s request.

For regular readers of this site, there will not be a lot of new stuff here (but it is fun to see if you can spot the mistakes in the article).  However, this New York Press Article is a nice mainstream synopsis of the relationship between Asian Cinema, OK…mainly China/HK with dabblings on Thailand and Japan, and Hollywood.  Embedded throughout the article are Jet Li’s musings on the state of the industry as compared to the Bruce Lee era.

There is some discussion of how DVD and the Internet has changed the way westerners can view World cinema as well, which is certainly relevent around here.

Via MovieCityNews

Oh, yea, I hope that term (Hollywoo) doesn’t stick…it’s dreadful.

Just seen Save the Green Planet and are looking for a little more torture of the Boss?  Swimming with Sharks is a film best described as Robert Altman’s The Player with an ‘abusive boss revenge-fantasy’ spin; it gets the 10th Anniversary Special Edtion treatment:

“Most double-dips are worthless. Then there are those that are essential. This is one of the latter. Lions Gate will release Swimming With Sharks: Special Edition on June 7th. This new edition of the acerbic black comedy, starring Kevin Spacey and Frank Whaley [Brad in Pulp Fiction], arrives with a new anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital Surround tracks. Extras will include commentary tracks with director George Huang, Kevin Spacey and cast & crew, deleted scenes, the “A Look Back at Swimming With Sharks: 10th Anniversary” and “Let’s Do Lunch” featurettes and “Shark Tales: Real-Life Stories from Industry Assistants.” Retail will be $19.98. In case you’re wondering, I’ve heard that Spacey’s character was based on legendary action producer Joel Silver. “

There is nice Benicio Del Toro cameo in one of the opening scenes.

From DavisDVD

The director of the underrated “Machinst” and the criminally unseen “Session 9” has a slew of projects on the go at the moment:

Directing:

The Crazies - A remake of George A. Romero’s film from 1973.

Writing/Directing:

WIDOW’S WALK - “Desperate, fighting the frozen surface and the tempest of her own imagination, Meghan Moore stabs relentlessly at the ground…that is, until the blade of her shovel hits something hard.”

Writing:

NON STOP TO BRAZIL - “A lush musical romance set in Rio in the early 1960’s that traces the emergence and explosive popularity of bossa nova.”

LUCID - “A woman begins to suspect her terrifying lucid dreams are actually giving her window into a killer’s mind.”

Producing:

TRANSSIBERIAN  - “A thriller in the vein of Dead Calm except all the action goes down on a train instead of boat.”

It’s all there at Anderson’s Nomad Films Website

It has been 4 years since fans of John Carpenter were at best underwhelmed, at worst disgusted with Ghosts of Mars.  He is returning to direct a script which was developed in his own series of “John Carpenter Presents” workshops.  The 13th Apostle involves a cop, a stockbroker and an online serial killers club.  That sounds a bit offbeat, but I have a soft spot in my heart for They Live, one of Carpenter’s wackier projects.

The Hollywood Reporter Story (subscription) via Fangoria

Just when you thought a Criterion release was the definitive one, they are re-issuing Wages of Fear with a brand new transfer.  Spine #36 will go out of print May 16th to make way for the new one some time later in 2005.  No word as to whether there will be new extras on the re-issue.  The film is a solidly plotted nail-biter where several employees have to quickly ship a truckload of nitroglycerine to an oil-well fire so the engineers can put out the blaze by blowing it up.  Trouble is, there is no time to make the truck safe for shipping the dangerous cargo (across bumpy roads, naturally).

Now it would be a classy move on Criterion’s part to be able to trade up with a cost savings by returning previously owned Spine #36 discs.

VINCENT is Tim Burton’s ode to the legendary Mr. Price by way of Dr. Seuss and Edgar Allen Poe.  It certainly showcases many of Burton’s trademarks (The gothic style and gallows humour, horizontal stripes on everything, German-expressionistic sets) familiar in everything from Edward Scissorhands and Beetle Juice to the upcoming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Corpse Bride.

Download Vincent and a read the accompanying details of Burton’s early short-film phase at Greylodge.org.

Via GreenCine Daily.

Gregg Araki’s latest film is receiving lots of attention in art-houses around France. In what seems to be another controversial effort from the director of the now notorious DOOM GENERATION Araki has created a plot that to say the least sounds quite “interesting”- a teenage hustler and a young man create a friendship based on their obsession with alien abductions. See the official site and trailer here.

Regards,
Svet

Marin Karmitz’s empire MK2 will release two Bresson sets as what appears to be a Pan-Euro release (multiple sub options). Street date is May 18.

Complete line-up

Un condamné à mort s’est échappé
Lancelot du Lac
Le Diable probablement
Le Procès de Jeanne d’Arc
L’Argent
Pickpocket

***
MK2 is easily France’s best production house so this clearly will be the definitive Bresson set.

Regards,
Pro-B

Perhaps one of the best films to come out of Europe last year the Turkish/German production Head-On is still widely unknown in the US. The German born Turkish director Fatih Akin (In July) has pretty much won every major award there is to win in Europe: the FIPRESCI Award (Berlin International Film Festival), Golden Bear for Best Director, The German Camera Award, The Spanish Goya Award (Best European Film), The Best Director/Best Film Award from the Italian Syndicate of Film Journalists, the list goes on and on.

For those of you willing to test my words take a chance and track down the only English friendly DVD version- the official South Korean DVD. Last September when I first had a chance to see and promote this production there was no English version available now there is one- look for it, SEE IT.

Svet

From the creator of the highly acclaimed Fucking Amal and Lilya 4-Ever comes the latest production A Hole in My Heart. Set for a May 16 release in the UK A Hole in My Heart has already generated an enormous amount of buzz between critics and casual filmgoers.

It appears that Moodysson has gone even further after the controversial Lilya 4-Ever this time focusing on the subject of amateur pornography. Needless to say I hope for a quality package from the Brits that will hopefully include all of the extras currently announced for the Swedish official DVD which is set for a March release.

Perhaps one of the most anticipated releases to hit the European cinemas this summer Chris Nahon’s L’Empire des Loups (Empire of the Wolves) is starting to receive some major attention. Many French sites have provided information, pictures, and the pilot teaser that was just released in France. You can download the trailer here and view images from the film here.

Regards,
Svet (Pro-B)

Francois Ozon’s 5 x 2 has been officially set for a March 16 release in France. The film won the Best Actress Award for Valeria Bruni Tedeschi at the Venice Film Festival.

While Ozon’s films are always inspired by originality and usually deal with subjects that are not often seen on the big screen this new production follows a rather conventional story. Needless to say however the subtle use of strong yet individualistic characters should appeal to those familiar with some of Ozon’s earlier works: Sous Le Sable (Under the Sand);  Les Amants Criminels (Criminal Lovers); 8 Femmes (8 Women), Gouttes d’eau sur pierres brûlantes (Water Drops On Burning Rocks).

Francois Ozon’s official website can be found at http://www.francois-ozon.com/