Movie: Amelia * Official Site
In Theaters: Oct. 23, 2009

Runtime: 111 minutes
Directed by: Mira Nair

MPAA Rating: PG for some sensuality, language, thematic elements and smoking
Gecko Rating:

I’m sort of hot and cold on Hilary Swank. There’s no doubt that she’s a great actress – she’s won two Oscars, after all (for “Million Dollar Baby” and “Boys Don’t Cry”). But there’s something about her that’s just a little annoying. I almost hesitate to say it, but she seemed to be over-acting in her portrayal of Amelia Earhart. I just wanted her to snap out of it and be a real …read more

In Steven Zeitchik’s Risky Biz Blog on The Hollywood Reporter, he talks about whether Fox Searchlight’s Oscar blitz over the past few years will come to an end.
The studio specializes in offbeat films like “Juno,”  “The Darjeeling Limited,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The Wrestler,” and it’s heartening to think that Fox Searchlight films have been nominated for at least five Oscars in each of the past three years, including a best picture nom for all of them.
I say heartening because I always appreciate when the less mainstream films – the quirkier, more character driven films — earn audience kudos. It …read more

The movie “Precious” has been garnering lots of praise on the film festival circuit, and it opens in limited release on Nov. 6, 2009.
Executive producer Tyler Perry decided to open up about his own personal demons in a letter on his Web site.
“I’m tired of holding this in," he wrote. “I don’t know what to do with it anymore, so I’ve decided to give some of it away.”
“Precious” tells the story of a teenage girl who endures molestation and physical abuse. “I watched all the things that Precious, a 16-year-old girl in the film, went through. I …read more

The stars came out in full force – and such a diverse group they were – for the premiere of “Precious“ at the 2009 New York Film Festival on Oct. 3, 2009. I posted the trailer last spring, and can’t wait to see the film.
It tells the story of an overweight, illiterate teen (Gabourey Sidibe) in Harlem who’s pregnant with her second child. But when she’s invited to enroll in an alternative school, things might start turning around for her. Check out the photos below, and also the red carpet premiere at Cannes last spring.
Mariah Carey (I could make some …read more

Robert Pattinson is rumored to be at the top of the list to play Prince Harry in a new biopic titled “The Spare.” I can see that. For one thing, the movie would have a huge built-in audience with all of the Pattinson and “Twilight” fans. And he’s British, so no worries on the accent.
On the other hand, the other actor in the running, Rupert Grint of “Harry Potter” fame, actually looks more like the prince. Who would YOU like to see in the role?

Source: Transworld News

It sure didn’t take long for a film about Roman Polanski to start moving along. Ok, it’s probably been in the works for a while now, waiting for things to surface in the news again, as they have this week.
Filmmaker Brett Ratner has announced his plans to make a documentary about Polanski, possibly a sequel to Marina Zenovich’s 2008 doc, “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired.”
Ratner is in the “forgive and forget” camp (which I don’t agree with, by the way). He has said that Polanski has been “forgiven” for having unlawful sex with 13-year-old Samantha Geimer in …read more

Gabba Gabba Hey! The Ramones’ biopic has been in the works for a while, and it’s moving one step closer to that big screen. And not just the one Vincent Chase talks about on “Entourage” either.
Fox Searchlight is working on a movie deal about the legendary rockers, based on the upcoming memoir by Joey Ramone’s brother Mickey Leigh and longtime Ramones biographer Legs McNeil.
There’s a lot of rights issues to be worked out, but we’ll have a little faith that the project will move swimmingly towards theaters. Sure, they may have only known three chords, but they …read more

Actor Josh Hartnett might be playing the Night Stalker of Los Angeles – if true crime writer Philip Carlo has anything to say about it, that is.
His book, “The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez,” has just been optioned by Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell and his producing partner (and brother-in-law) Nick Karaylannis.
Mickey Rourke, who attended Carlo’s book party last week at the Greenwich Hotel, will play the main character, and Carlo has said he’d like Hartnett for the other lead character.
Carlo was diagnosed with ALS in 2004, but has written two books …read more

Actor Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso walked the red carpet at the 66th Venice International Film Festival. The occasion? His new film “The Informant’ was shown at the festival.
Director Steven Soderbergh’s film, a true story based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald, follows an agri-business corporation accused of price fixing. The star witness is vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre (Damon). Scott Bakula and Patton Oswalt also star in this film, scheduled for a Sept. 18, 2009 release.
Damon has found a nice niche with these sorts of intrigue / conspiracy / political movies, and I’m looking …read more

Eva Mendes and Nicolas Cage were at the 66th Venice Film Festival promoting their film “Bad Lieutenant.” Directed by Werner Herzog, this remake follows Terence McDonough as he investigates the murder of five Senegalese immigrants. Val Kilmer and Jennifer Coolidge also star in this film, which is currently making the rounds at film festivals. Next up: Sept. 15 at the Toronto Film Festival.

Image: Zuma Press