Bryan Cranston Eyes 'The Great Wall'; Anthony Hopkins will 'Go with Me'; John Travolta Puts 'Life on the Line'

 Now that Matt Damon is said to be considering a role in Zhang Yimou's Chinese epic, The Great Wall, the latest to give it a look is Bryan Cranston. The Breaking Bad star and multiple Emmy-winner may join the film which examines the mysterious origins of China's wondrous landmark. Cranson was last seen (for a few minutes, anyway) in Godzilla, and will soon star in a Dalton Trumbo biopic opposite Helen Mirren. [Deadline]

Anthony Hopkins is reteaming with his Kidnapping Freddy Heineken director Daniel Alfredson for another thriller, Go with Me. Greg Jacobs (Magic Mike XXL director) and Joe Gangemi adapted the script from Castle Freeman Jr.'s book about "a young woman who returns to her hometown in the Pacific Northwest only to be harassed by an ex-cop turned crimelord named Blackway. Forsaken by the locals and advised to leave town by the local sheriff, she instead turns to an ex-logger (Hopkins) and his sidekick to help her fight back against her sociopathic stalker."

John Travolta, Kate Bosworth, and Devon Sawa (where's he been?) will star in Life on the Line, an action thriller directed by Saw V's David Hackl.  The disaster drama follows a crew of eccentric electrical grid linemen who do the dangerous high-wire job while trying to hold on to the women they love and survive a massive storm that threatens to rip their lives apart.

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Anthony Hopkins and Evan Rachel Wood Enter 'Westworld'

About a year ago we learned J.J. Abrams would be teaming up with Jonathan Nolan, writer on The Dark Knight and Interstellar, to bring back Michael Crichton's 1973 sci-fi film Westworld as an HBO series. Little was learned about it since but now we know a top notch cast will be leading the future-set show.

First reported at Filmdivider, Anthony Hopkins and Evan Rachel Wood have come aboard Westworld, with James Marsden eying a role, as well. The story takes place in an amusement park populated by androids in famous historical settings. When the robots become self aware, their interactions with the human visitors becomes deadly.

Hopkins would be taking on the role of Dr. Robert Ford, the Dr. Moreau-esque man who runs the park. Wood has taken the part of Dolores Abernathy, an android that doesn't realize her farm girl life is all part of the system's programming. Marsden would play cowboy hero, Teddy Flood.

Abrams will be producing through his Bad Robot banner, with Nolan co-writing and directing the pilot, which HBO has already committed to.

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First Trailer for 'Kidnapping Freddy Heineken' Starring Sam Worthington and Anthony Hopkins

There's just something about Sam Worthington and starring in movies with painfully on-the-nose titles. A couple of years ago he starred in Man On a Ledge, which was about *wait for it* a man standing on a ledge. And soon he'll be seen in the crime thriller Kidnapping Freddy Heineken, which is about the true case of the kidnapping of beer mogul Freddy Heineken. Way to keep things simple, Worthington.

Daniel Alfredson (The Girl Who Played with Fire) is directing a film about the crime, and the first trailer for it is probably more promising than it has any right to be. A large part of the reason is the cast, which has Worthington, Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), and Jim Sturgess as three of the kidnappers with Anthony Hopkins as Heineken. Heineken was kidnapped back in 1983 and held for a ransom of about 35 million Dutch guilders, the largest ransom payout in history. The criminals spent years on the run afterwards but the film seems to be focused mainly on the planning of the crime and the clashing personalities within the group, manipulated further by a chatty Heineken.

Kidnapping Freddy Heineken is still wrapping up production so nothing on a release date yet.

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Felicity Jones, Ben Kingsley, and Anthony Hopkins Hit the 'Autobahn'

So what happens when Black Cat, the Mandarin, Odin, and Beast all end up in the same movie? You get Eran Creevy's action flick, Autobahn, that's what.

X-men: First Class' Nicholas Hoult is already on board to star in the film, and now joining him are The Amazing Spider-Man 2's Felicity Jones, Iron Man 3's Ben Kingsley, and Thor: The Dark World's Anthony Hopkins. It's a Marvel reunion without the Marvel or the fat contracts.  Jones is replacing Amber Heard as half of an American couple who must flee on the titular German speedway when they become the target of two ruthless criminals, played by Kingsley and Hopkins. Is there any way the two old veterans don't steal the show?

Filming on Autobahn begins Monday.

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Review: Darren Aronofsky's 'Noah' Starring Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, and Jennifer Connelly

It's hard to imagine that an auteur like Darren Aronofsky, whose cinematic tastes have ranged from pro wrestling dramas to ballet thrillers to existential fantasy, could ever venture into unexplored territory. And yet he's found a road untraveled in Noah, his big budget Hollywood make-over of the most famous flood ever and the Biblical tale everybody knows, even if it's because Steve Carell made a comedy out of it. Controversy has dogged Aronofsky's version since the beginning, but the fundamental tenants of the story are faithful and respectful, for better or worse. However, it's when Aronofsky dares to unshackle the story from its familiar confines, exploring the tale's dark psychological corners and indulging in his flair for fantastic visual surrealism that Noah truly sets itself apart.

Russell Crowe steers this ship, giving a commanding, two-fisted turn as Noah, the last in the heroic line of Seth and the natural enemies of the descendants of Cain, who slew his brother Abel ten generations prior. The first murder, Adam and Eve's taste of the forbidden fruit, rape, and all sinful human desire have led "the Creator" to decide the Earth must be cleansed.
“Fire consumes all, water cleanses.”

Noah has been waiting for a sign from the Creator, and he gets in the form of powerful visions of the world washed away in a great flood. With the help of his grandfather, the long-lived Methuselah (Anthony Hopkins), he deciphers these visions as meaning he must build a giant ark, not so he can save humanity from a watery grave, but to rescue the innocent animals so the world can begin anew. So yes, most of the elements we know remain intact, but Aronofsky spruces it up to Lord of the Rings levels of grandiose fantasy. Noah is aided in his building of the ark by the Nephilim, fallen angels transformed into gangly stone giants who start as enemies but become fierce protectors. And who are they protecting him from, exactly? What kind of villain could one come up with for a fairly narrow story such as this? Tubal-Cain (Ray Winstone) is the snarling embodiment of everything wrong with humanity; through gritted teeth (sometimes filled with chewed-upon humans and lizards) he leads his ravaged, depraved clan against Noah in an attempt to board the ark and save themselves.

While Noah is ruled by "Heaven's will", his family is bound by more earthly desires. His wife Naameh (Jennifer Connelly) has stayed true to her husband but has begun to worry about this most recent task; Noah's son Shem (Douglas Booth) wishes for a child with the barren Ila (Emma Watson), while the other son Ham (Logan Lerman) is desperate to find a girl before they all wind up at the bottom of the sea. Good luck with a name like Ham!  The internal family dramas are obviously an embellishment to give a much-needed human touch as there are few other surprises to be found until that first drop of holy rain splashes Noah's face.  When so much of the story hinges on fate and divine intervention, there simply isn't much room for drama.

Aronofsky has some serious guts to take the film in the direction it ultimately leads, as Noah's unshakeable faith begins to border on psychosis, putting his entire family at risk. Exploring the line between religious zealotry and paranoid schizophrenia, it's safe to say this is going to elbow a few purists right in the ribs. But it's also where Aronofsky seems most comfortable as extreme obsession has been a constant theme since early his earliest work. Stuck at sea in the claustrophobic Ark, with a hidden stowaway lurking in the lower bowels, Noah's family find themselves in the midst of a psychotic thriller with their patriarch as the looney bin's top patient. While it does go a little overboard and into camp territory at points, what's most fascinating is how little Aronofsky and co-writer Ari Handel need to do in bringing about this tonal shift. It's a natural progression of Noah's fanaticism taken to a disturbing level.

It should come as no surprise that Aronofsky presents some gloriously moving images in which to tell this story, sending us to deep space at one point to detail the universe's creation. Ironically, the first thoughts that may come to mind during these scenes are of the science-based series, Cosmos, which creationists are currently rending garments over. But Aronofsky's film sits quite naturally in a space that believers and non-believers can appreciate, allowing room for a bit of evolution to the divine origin. The fast-forwarded style of Requiem for a Dream escorts us through the blackness of space to the birth of all life and its modern destruction at the hands of men. It's an exhilarating sequence, one only matched by the ferocity of the flood as it strikes and engulfs the world.  Aronofsky has never had a canvas this big to paint on and what he does with it is miraculous.

It's unlikely that Noah will fully satisfy secular or deeply religious audiences, but it shouldn't drive them away, either. While presenting the spiritual tale from a modern sensibility often makes for a clunky combination, Aronfosky's daring approach and visual deftness stop this ship from running aground.

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Trailer for Darren Aronofsky's 'Noah' Starring Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, Anthony Hopkins, and More

It's been a long hard road for Darren Aronofsky to bring his massive, highly expensive Biblical epic Noah to the big screen, and the battle isn't over yet. Filming wrapped last year and the director has been busy putting the finishing touches on the special effects, which are substantial to say the least. As we've learned over the last couple of weeks he's also been fighting with Paramount over the final cut of the film, as some religious groups haven't taken too kindly to his approach to the story of Noah and the Great Flood. While no decision has been made yet to the best of our knowledge, the film is close enough to completion that the first trailer has arrived, and it's mighty impressive.

Russell Crowe stars as Noah, who we all know as the man given a divine command to build a massive ark to survive a Great Flood sent to wash away a sinful humanity. But there's more to this version than just rounding up pairs of animals (this isn't Evan Almighty, thankfully) and riding a few waves, as we see Noah's faith tested in numerous ways, including by a powerful nemesis played by Ray Winstone. The images of the flood and the potential scope of the film are staggering, but it looks like Aronofsky's knack for creating intimate character portraits is also in full display, aided by Crowe who seems to be at his powerful best. We only get a hint of the environmental aspect that has riled up some religious groups (do they think it was written by Al Gore or something?), so it'll be interesting to see if Aronofsky is able to deliver the film as he intended.

Starring Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Anthony Hopkins, Logan Lerman, Kevin Durand, and Douglas Booth, Noah sets sail on March 28th 2014.


Noah (Trailer) by tvPRIME

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Review: 'Thor: The Dark World' Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, and Natalie Portman

At one point in Marvel's superhero sequel Thor: The Dark World, the devious Loki (Tom Hiddleston) exclaims confidently "If it was easy, everybody would do it!" That sentiment could describe Marvel's genius construction of their cinematic universe, a perennial cash cow that only seems to be getting more lucrative by the film, especially in the wake of the $1.5B-grossing The Avengers. While an assemblage of Earth's Mightiest Heroes was always a shoe-in to be a hit, the solo films have been more of a challenge, and none more so than Thor. And while that first movie did well despite its many problems, the sequel surpasses Iron Man 3 in terms of scope and focus to be one of the most entertaining superhero movies yet.

The mandate is pretty clear for this one from the beginning: Do everything bigger!! The sheer spectacle of Thor: The Dark World stands on par with The Avengers, and while nobody is going to say the film is better, it's impressive the number of elements director Alan Taylor is able to juggle successfully. A Lord of the Rings-style flashback, complete with dark elves that look like orcs battling Asgardians with swords and axes, introduces us to the villain Malekith (Christopher Eccleston). There's a bit of mumbo jumbo about the alignment of the Nine Realms and Malekith's desire to plunge the universe into eternal darkness using a powerful destructive force known as the Aether. Defeated, Malekith is forced into slumber and the Aether hidden away where it can never be found, until of course it is found years later quite accidentally by Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) while searching for Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who has been missing for months.

So where exactly does one hide a blond chiseled slab of godly beefcake, anyway? Well, you don't, and in the wake of the attack on New York City in The Avengers, Thor is seen delivering Loki to an Asgardian prison where he'll sit for the rest of eternity. But even when behind mystical prison walls Loki is good at getting under one's skin and that includes his mother Frigga (Rene Russo), who gets a greatly expanded role this time as the mediator between her two sons. As Thor gets on with the business of protecting Asgard and the Nine Realms, while also catching the eye of his warrior colleague Sif (Jaime Alexander), he's still torn by his love for Jane. Returning to Earth to find her, he's greeted by a couple of nice slaps to the mug, but after discovering she's been bonded to the Aether it's off to Asgard they go. Before she can finish awkwardly meeting Thor's parents, Malekith is awoken and stages a devastating attack that leaves Thor, Loki, and the almighty Odin (Anthony Hopkins) struck to their core.

And what a battle it is. Really, Malekith's attack on Asgard is the film's biggest set piece, and it looks absolutely incredible. It benefits by the impressive direction by Taylor, the Game of Thrones vet giving Asgard a more grounded, recognizable look than the fake, comic book look favored by previous director, Kenneth Branagh. This Asgard actually looks like a place people could inhabit, which fits with Marvel's clear mandate to make Thor fit into a realistic world. Since the bulk of the action takes place away from Earth this time, it also affords the chance to really dig into the Shakespearean drama that is Thor's family line. Bad blood continues to boil between Thor and Loki, with Hemsworth and Hiddleston both playing their parts extremely well. Let's face it, Hiddleston has been the rock star of the entire Marvel Universe up to this point, and every time he's on screen the film has a dangerous vibe that is undeniably fun. We're presented different shades to Loki's scorned child selfishness that were missing in the first film, and mark him as more than someone out for vengeance. Hemsworth too has really grown into a solid actor, as we saw recently in Ron Howard's Rush, and this version of Thor is one who is feeling the weight of responsibility and family obligation wear him down. The family dynamics of the Thor movies are unlike anything else Marvel's movies can offer and they are consistently fascinating.

Less interesting is pretty much everything that has to do with Jane Foster and her irritating pal, Darcy (Kat Dennings), who had been a scene-stealer the last time around. Less is more with a snarky character like Darcy, and she's around so much that eventually one starts to wish Malekith would pay her a personal visit. For what it's worth, Portman gives her all imbuing Jane Foster with a measure of strength, but she's still basically a damsel in distress waiting to happen. She gets a few moments to flash her intellect alongside the returning Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), but any explanation of the overly-complicated plot just sounds like gobbledygook ripped from an episode of Doctor Who. Idris Elba gets a little more to work with as the fierce protector Heimdall, including a brief but thrilling action sequence that was probably designed just for his fans. One problem that continues to trouble Marvel films are their lackluster villains, and Malekith is another in a long line of them that don't feel all that important.

Effortlessly combining sci-fi, supernatural, and fantasy elements, anything can and often does happen in Thor: The Dark World, and that unpredictability is a big part of why Marvel has struck gold (or is it lightning?) one more time.

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Jim Sturgess, Ryan Kwanten, and Sam Worthington Are 'Kidnapping Freddy Heineken'

Despite having directed the Swedish versions of The Girl Who Played with Fire and its sequel The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Daniel Alfredson has yet to make a name for himself here in America as his brother, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy helmer Tomas Alfredson. That could be about to change as he recently signed on to direct Anthony Hopkins in Kidnapping Freddy Heineken, a true crime story about the famous beer mogul. And now with filming set to begin later this month, an impressive trio of young stars has come aboard.

Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Jim Sturgess, and Sam Worthington have joined the film in unspecified roles, but perhaps the story it depicts will clue us in. Based on the best-selling book by Peter L. de Vries, the film centers on the 1983 kidnapping of Alfred "Freddy" Heineken and his driver, leading to a whopping ransom payout of 35 million Dutch guilders, which is about $50M today. Hopkins will play Heineken, and it can probably be assumed that at least a couple of the new additions will play his kidnappers.  The high-profile story continues to be talked about in the Netherlands, with de Vries' book remaining on the charts there for the last 20 years. An investigative journalist, it was de Vries who found where one of the kidnappers had been hiding for years after escaping from prison.

Kidnapping Freddy Heineken is expect to hit theaters next year.

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Anthony Hopkins joins 'Gotti'; Chris Evans eyes 'The Ten O'Clock People'; McG to direct 'Hunter Killer'

* Now that all of its behind-the-scenes issues are a thing of the past, Joe Johnston's long-gestating Gotti biopic is finally adding to the cast, which currently includes John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston. The latest to sign on is Anthony Hopkins, taking an unspecified role in the Leo Rossi-scripted film about mafia boss John Gotti and his son, who leaves the criminal world behind and seeks redemption. Filming begins this September. [Variety]

* It's Justin Long out, Chris Evans potentially in to star in an adaptation of Stephen King's short story The Ten O'Clock People. Scheduling issues have forced Long to drop out of the film to be directed by Tom Holland (Fright Night) and centering on Brandon Peterson, a Boston man attempting to kick his smoking habit and uncovers a frightening aspect of reality in the process. Rachel Nichols was also set to co-star but it's unclear if she's still attached. [Empire]

* First it was Philip Noyce, then it was Antoine Fuqua, and now it looks like McG will be the next director attempting to direct Hunter Killer. The film is based on Firing Point, the action novel by Don Keith and George Wallace which deals with a submarine captain who teams up with a NAVY Seal to rescue the Russian president. Originally slated for last December, scheduling issues have been a consistent issue, and now it looks like McG may be starting from scratch. Gerard Butler had been in line to star, but he and Fuqua went on to make Olympus Has Fallen together and could be seeking other projects. [Variety]

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First trailer for 'Thor: The Dark World' starring Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman

As Marvel prepares to unleash Iron Man 3 on us in little more than a week, they've already begun the push for the next in their mega-hit line of superhero titles. We've already seen glimpses of Thor: The Dark World in the Phase Two preview, along with a new poster and some photos released as star Chris Hemsworth has been making the interview rounds. Now Marvel is officially pulling out all of the big guns as the first trailer is finally here.

Directed by Game of Thrones' Alan Taylor, the mood of the sequel is considerably blacker and less flashy, as the title would suggest. Thor finds himself again attempting to save the Earth from a powerful threat, this time from the Dark Elf Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston), and in order to keep his lover Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) safe he whisks her away to Asgard. We already know she'll face some disapproving members of Thor's family, and we see hints of that in the scowl on the face of Sif (Jaime Alexander), who has always seen herself as Thor's true love.

Perhaps most importantly of all, we see the next step in the contentious relationship between Thor and his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who is locked away like Hannibal Lecter after the events of The Avengers. It looks like Thor is going to need his help to stop Malekith's schemes, and Loki's sneering glee over that pretty much steals the show. Overall, Marvel appears to be leaving behind some of the campier elements from the first film and going with something that, at least for now, has more of an epic quality.

Thor: The Dark World hits theaters on November 8th, and in October in the U.K.


Thor: The Dark World trailer by FilmBoy.gr

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Review: 'Hitchcock' starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren

Hitchcock is hardly the first film to ever explore the rather neurotic personality and eccentric creative process of Alfred Hitchcock. In fact, there's another movie in HBO's The Girl that explores much the same territory in a way that filmmaker as a creepy old letch lusting who simultaneously lusts for his blond starlets while taking glee in causing them distress. Thankfully, Sacha Gervasi, who last helmed the excellent rock doc Anvil: The Story of Anvil, has chosen to go in a totally different direction with his film.

A devilishly entertaining behind-the-scenes glimpse at the making of a cinema classic, Hitchcock is based on Stephen Rebello's book, Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, and while it touches upon the director's many disturbing quirks, there's no desire to languish in them. Rather, we accept his failings as part of the whole that makes up one of the most fascinating minds in movie history.

But Hitchcock wouldn't be quite as much fun without Anthony Hopkins' uncanny performance, which isn't a rigid characterization so much as a creation all his own. The film is wildly speculative for the most part, so it makes sense to allow a bit of freedom in the way everyone is portrayed, and clearly Hopkins is relishing in the experience. The same can be said for Helen Mirren as Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville, who shows her usual strength, poise, and cheeky humor as the woman who helped hold everything together. More than just his wife, she was his creative partner and the driving force for much of his greatest works. While Hitchcock and Alma's relationship difficulties are well- documented, screenwriter John McLaughlin dreams up a potential love triangle involving screenwriter Whitfield Cook(Danny Huston). Alma is eager to establish herself outside of Hitchcock's sphere, a prospect which drives him a little nuts. This particular part of the film dominates much of the story, which is unfortunate because it's the least interesting aspect because it's largely untrue. McLaughlin and Gervasi find the greatest success when detailing the personal and professional difficulties Hitchcock faced in getting Psycho off the ground.

Set shortly after one of Hitchcock's greatest and most gaudy achievements, North by Northwest, the director has hit a point where those critical folks in the Hollywood media are wondering if perhaps he should quit while he's ahead. Looking for inspiration and finding none in the usual stack of potential projects, he would ultimately discover fresh glee in Psycho,  Robert Bloch's novel on horrific murderer Ed Gein(Michael Wincott), who killed a few women but was most notable for his obsession with his mother, which only increased after her death. Through imagined conversations we see how Hitchcock sympathizes and even relates to Gein, getting into the mind of the killer.

Not everybody thought Psycho would be a success, and the studio certainly wasn't expecting a straight and violent horror from the unquestioned master of suspense. Refusing to finance it, Hitchcock and Alma risked everything to foot the bill themselves, and the film is great at capturing the subtle pressures of such an undertaking. Every issue is amplified, from Hitchcock's concerns with actress Vera Miles(Jessica Biel) with whom he's had past problems, to the constant badgering by studio execs who seem anxious for the film to fail: "Thank God we have 'Cinderfella' for the holidays!" 

While there was quite the initial uproar over the casting of Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh, she's fantastic as the actress who clearly admires Hitchcock while also being wary of his reputation. While we don't get to see him nearly enough, Brit actor James D'Arcy is a dead ringer for the shy and effeminate Anthony Perkins.  The casting is superb and inspired all the way around. Most of all, Hopkins and Mirren, who to the best of my knowledge have never been paired up before, have a remarkable lived-in chemistry that makes them a joy to watch.

Another in a recent trend of movies that celebrate the history and love of big Hollywood cinema, Hitchcock relishes in the details of such a major cinematic achievement. Unable to use any actual footage from Psycho, we see the recreation of the iconic shower scene(along with Hitchcock's surprising brutality there), the director's demands of loyalty from his crew, and his gift for hyping his own projects.

Hitchcock isn't especially deep, but it's smart, whimsical, and nostalgic in a way that the similar My Week with Marilyn failed to be. Gervasi, in his first narrative feature, has managed to transport us back to a time when movies were cherished. Hitchcock himself probably would have preferred a more macabre version of the story, but what we've got is a real pleasure.

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Anthony Hopkins to play Methusaleh in Darren Aronofsky's 'Noah'

Ever hear the phrase "old as Methusaleh"? It's something that you probably hear whispered a lot on the set of The Expendables 2. Methusaleh is the oldest living person mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, who died at the ripe old age of 969, mere days before his grandson Noah took to his Ark to survive the Great Flood. With Darren Aronofsky prepping Noah, his film based on the building of the famous vessel, he took to Twitter to announce that Anthony Hopkins would be taking on the Methusaleh role.

Hopkins makes for an impressive veteran presence for a film that already has an incredible assemblage of talent. Russell Crowe is the titular Ark-builder, with Douglas Booth, Jennifer Connelly, Saoirse Ronan, Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ray Winstone ready to set sail. It'll be interesting to see just how big the Methusaleh role turns out to be. He's only mentioned in the Bible once. Methusaleh lived up until the completion of the Ark, but died before the actual flood, since God promised he wouldn't die with the unrighteous. In honor of his passing, God delayed the flood for a full week, and then drowned the sh*t out of everybody.

Production on Noah is currently underway, with a release set for March 28th 2014. 

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1st look at Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock

It's proven to be very smart releasing an early image of an actor portraying an icon figure with a distinctive look. Look what it did for Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin and Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. And now as production gets underway on Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, we're getting a look at Anthony Hopkins transformed into the legendary film maker. Holy cow, did they do a hell of a job or what? Look at that chin! They sure that's Hannibal Lecter himself underneath all that plastic blubber?

The film, directed by Sacha Gervasi and based on Stephen Rebello's book, follows the famed director as he deals with personal and professional difficulties while creating the classic horror.  Scarlett Johansson, Helen Mirren, Jessica Biel, Ralph Macchio(!!!!!), James D'Arcy, Toni Collette, Danny Huston, and Michael Stuhlbarg star.  [People]

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Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench to star in Italian Shoes, directed by Kenneth Branagh

It's been a busy year for Kenneth Branagh, but also one that's seen his career veer off in unexpected directions. For one, he was the oddball choice to direct Thor, Marvel's superhero film centered on the god of Thunder and his earthbound misadventures. Branagh's theatrical, Shakespearean background proved to be a perfect fit, and the film was a certifiable hit. While Branagh won't be coming back for the sequel, it put him in a place he's never really been before, which is on the radar of comic book geeks everywhere. Branagh followed that up by starring as Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn, which has a ton of Oscar heat for it's star, Michelle Williams.

But now Branagh is moving back behind the camera, and he's calling on two of the stars of both those movies to join him, as Variety reports Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench are in talks to star in Italian Shoes. Branagh, who is directing based on a script by Richard Cottan(Margaret), said he's banking on his long established history with them to get them aboard. Hopkins played Thor's father, Odin, in the superhero film over the summer. Judi Dench was Dame Sybil Thorndike in the Marilyn Monroe biopic. She's also worked with him on numerous other occasions, like in Henry V and Hamlet. Branagh developed the film with only these two actors in mind, which is a pretty good place to start if you ask me.

Based on the 2006 novel by Swedish author Henning Mankell, the story centers on a surgeon, forced into retirement and now living in isolation on a remote island in Sweden. When a figure from his past suddenly returns, he's forced to confront old secrets and the event that led to the loss of his career.

Depending on scheduling, filming could begin at the end of 2012 or early 2013.

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DVD Deal of the Day: Thor now available for pre-order for as low as $19.99

Thor continues to electrify theaters around the world right now, but if you want to get a jump on owning Marvel's biggest superhero event of the summer, then Amazon is where you need to go. Thor is now available for pre-order in three different options: the single disc DVD for only $19.99,the 2-Disc Blu-Ray/DVD combo for $24.99, or the big daddy 3-Disc Blu-Ray 3D/DVD combo for only $31.99!

No need to worry about ordering too early and missing out on the best deal. With Amazon's "Best Price Guarantee" they will adjust the cost to you if the price should happen to lower. It's perfect. So get in on owning this great film now!

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Punch Drunk DVDs

The Mechanic
1972's version of The Mechanic featured Charles Bronson at his steely best as a hitman who begins teaching the tricks of the trade to a young protege. In Simon West's 2011 remake, Jason Statham fits comfortably into a role that he's pretty much been playing his entire career, that of the gritty, cold faced killer. It's only in the addition of Ben Foster as his slightly unstable young charge that that The Mechanic begins to set itself apart from the original. Foster brings a level of nuance to the role unseen in the original, as well as a chaotic energy that is a nice balance to Statham's cool demeanor.





The Rite
Demonic posession has never been so...relaxed. Anthony Hopkins stars as an eccentric exorcist who has seen too much to ever doubt the existence of pure evil. So when a young student comes under his tutelage, full of questions and doubts, the sparks should be flying, but they never really set off. Hopkins is in sleep mode until he goes into full Instinct mode at the end, but that wasn't enough to make The Rite more than a rental for most fans of the genre.







The Other Woman
Another one of the many flicks(Your Highness, Hesher, No Strings Attached) that Natalie Portman crammed in before some dude gummed her all up. The Other Woman is a low key affair featuring the Oscar winner as a woman struggling to connect with her new stepson, who apparently hates her or something. How can anybody hate that face? Does not compute.









The Roommate
Memorable only for poking fun at the obvious ripoffs from Single White Female; Minka Kelly's smokin' hot bod; Cam Gigandet's futile attempts at acting; and Leighton Meester's innocent/psychotic stares that make her look like the world's most insane babydoll.










Thor: Tales of Asgard
Marvel's animated features have always been hit or miss. Some work, some crash pretty mightily. Take this misguided attempt to cash in on the Thor movie, by presenting a Thor that nobody will ever recognize. Seriously? Thor with a sword? Gimme a break, dudes.










Elephant White
Djimon Hounsou and Kevin Bacon pair up as a merc and weapons dealer caught in the middle of a war between two rival gangs. Sign me up.












Vanishing on 7th Street
The name alone will probably have you thinking of some of the classic horrors from years ago: Last House on the Left or House on Haunted Hill. But then you see Hayden Christiansen and there has to be some recognition that this won't be nearly as fun, unless you count the number of times his whiny voice cracks. This is one I really wanted to check out, mainly due to Brad Anderson's direction. The guy has been tops on my list after his film Transsiberian wound up on my Top 10 best films a couple of years ago.

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