Michael Douglas
Ant-Man Gets A Director And Plot Synopsis
Many of you will know that a few weeks ago Edgar Wright, director of Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim Vs The World had announced his departure from Marvel’s Ant-Man project. This was a shock to many fans due to the fact that Wright had been attached to the project since 2006 as well as the looming release date. The film is due out in July 2015 and Marvel have assured us that they will make this release date.
When Wright left Marvel said hey already had a director to take over and many thought it would be Attack The Block director Joe Cornish who also co wrote the Ant-Man Script. However his name did not even come up on the original shortlist. Maybe this is due to his loyalty to Wright and the original script that had been changed by low key writers just a few weeks before production.
Shortly after Wright’s departure he shortlist of these directors were revealed. Rawson Thurber director of Dodgeball and We’re The Millers, Adam McKay director of Anchorman and The Other guys and finally Ruben Fleischer director of Zombieland and Gangster Squad. It was reported for a little while hat Thurber was the frontrunner until many reported Mckay had been chosen for the project. Mckay hen came out and revealed he had been approached but has other projects on the go that he had to turn down.
It had been revealed that Peyton Reed director of Yes Man has signed on to direct the film and Adam Mckay is said to be rewriting the script. The rewright will be done to discredit the original writers for walking away from the project unfortunatly. Many fans are curious to see what Edgar Wright had done with the story, many claimng that it would have been a more interesting film. Obviously we will never know now but fans will always wonder.
This brings up the issue of the decline of Marvel. This project has been in development or so long and now with a rewrite and a delayed shoot may the actors start dropping out due to the fact this is not the project they signed up for? We won’t know till a later date ofcourse but this may be unlikely. Recently Michael Douglas who is playing Hank Pym in the movie came out and commented on Wright’s departure saying ‘I was very disappointed. I’m a big fan of his movies [and] it’s a very disappointing situation.’
Marvel claim that the film can still make its release date in 13 months time but with a new director on board and script rewrites this late in the game, a delay is not unexpected. Even a company like Marvel Studios with all their resources will take time to salvage the damage caused by Wirght’s departure.
Marvel always seems to pick great directors and altough the original director had left the project, the excecutives and Marvel must have fait in Reed’s ability to get this film made. We just need to wait for things to develop now and hopefully this projct can get back on track.
Marvel released this new synopsis of the film:
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
What do you think of Peyton Reed as a Director? Are you upset of Wright’s Departure? Should the film be delayed or cancelled? Please comment and thanks for reading.
Last Vegas Review
I went to see this film expecting The Hangover in their twilight years. I thought it would have some good laughs and I thought it would be a good way to spend an evening. I was really surprised at how good it was. This is not a typical comedy although it does have plenty of laughs. At some parts it may seem more like a coming of age story which is ironic as all of the main cast are in their 60s or 70s.
Something that may attract audiences is the cast. Michael Douglas, Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline star. Getting together a great ensemble cast like this with screen legends is amazing. It is also easy to think that the project just brought the big names together to attract audiences but they work together really well and compliment each other to the point that they give great performances in an entertaining movie. None of the performances are ground breaking but I think the nature of the story does not require them to be.
The story follows the childhood friends Billy, Paddy, Archie and Sam. It opens with them as childhood friends in the 50s and they run in with a store owners son and end up stealing a bottle of alcohol. Paddy and Billy are fighting over the affections of the same girl and Paddy goes on to marry her. When we cut to the modern day Billy is getting married to a woman half his age and invites the old gang out for a party in Vegas. The gang learn to be young again and love life and what they have and what they could have.
A lot of the comedy is provided by Kline with some funny one liners. The rest of the cast have there moments of being funny but the comedy is left to Kline. Some people say the film is predictable but even if you think that I feel that anyone at any age can enjoy this film. I feel that this film will be enjoyed by older generations as well as the younger audience of teenagers.
One criticism I have but I understand why they did it was the representation of old people. The actors in question are not that old and there are lots of jokes about them having to take lots of pills and not hearing things properly but I know that people way into their 80s and 90s can still be active. My Great Grandparents are both 92 and they still go out everyday. I think this adds humor to the film and is not misrepresenting old people. If anything this shows older people overcoming the limitations that society holds over them. Billy and Paddy have a tense relationship as Billy did not attend the funeral of Paddy’s wife who was also his close friend. The film leads Sam and Archie tricking Paddy into going to Vegas for the party.
Overall this is a really sweet film and not what I expected at all. I do think it is great to see older actors lead and carry a film so well and I do think that people underestimate older leads. I would love this film to prove that actors in their 60s and beyond can be more than a supporting character and carry the film. The film contains lots of laughs and truly has heart. I really hope you give it a chance.
7.5/10
Michael Douglas cast as Hank Pym
Ant-Man is an ambitious project for Marvel but president Kevin Fiege seems to think that it will work. People expected Ant-Man to appear in the Avengers 2 as in the comics Ultron who will be the villain for The Avengers 2 was created by Hank Pym. However it has been stated that Ant-Man will not appear in Avengers 2.
A few weeks ago it was announced that Paul Rudd would be playing Ant-Man and we all assumed that he would be playing Hank Pym. Director Edgar Wright tweeted an image recently of a Scott Lang story line suggesting that both Lang and Pym would appear. I remember when Edgar Wright was announced as director he expressed interest in using both Lang and Pym.
So the news was very exciting when veteran oscar winning actor Michael Douglas had been cast as Hank Pym. Therefore Rudd will be playing the younger Ant-Man Scott Lang. People seem outrages as Douglas’ casting saying he is too old which I think is ridiculous. If the rumors of the story are true his age is relevant and even though he is 69 years old does not mean he is useless and can’t do anything anymore.
Not much more is known about the film but people have been speculating. Some believe that Pym played by Douglas will be the villain of the movie which is plausible but it is too early to tell. Some media websites reported he was playing the villain but that was dropped early so it may have been a mistake.
I do think that Edgar Wright will bring something different to this film, something that the other Marvel films don’t have. I am excited to see how Douglas and Rudd are as there respective characters.
What do you think of the casting? Please comment below and thanks for reading.
Golden Globe Winners 2014
So another year to wait for the golden globes 2014 but the awards season from this year is far from over. The Oscars is the big award show the one that people deem that matters but the nominations are not even out yet. The oscar nominations will be announced in a few days and the award show will take place on March 2nd which is very late this year. Anyway last nights awards have caused a stir in my opinion but I am glad that it has. People seem to be upset about the winners and the nominees so far and this makes me look forward to he oscars as I don’t think the people who won at the golden globes will necessarily win at the oscars. I was surprised to see that Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender lose out to Matthew McConaughy and Jared Leto. I do think awards shows are strange as 12 Years a Slave won best Drama but the actors did not win. If it was voted best film surely it should triumph in all categories. It missed out on everything except best drama. I still predict that 12 Years a Slave will do well at the Baftas and I reckon at the oscars it may clean up as well.
I was also surprised to see Jennifer Lawrence win as I felt her role in American Hustle was very underwhelming. I do like her a lot but if she goes on to win an oscar this year she will just become the next Meryl Streep who gets nominated for the sake of a nomination rather than actually being one of the best roles. DiCaprio won for best actor in a comedy and took a jab at the Hollywood foregin press by joking about his fellow comedians who were nominated. Unfortunately I think DiCaprio may miss out on an oscar nomination and I feel that even if he picks up a nomination he will not win. So far in the film awards it is interesting and this may be one of the best awards seasons in years as it doesn’t seem to be predictable.
Bryan Cranston rightly won for his role of Walter White in Breaking Bad and the show itself won for best drama. This was a really fitting send out for the show. So many people were impressed by Breaking Bad and having Cranston win was predictable but it was what everyone including myself wanted. It was also good to see Robin Wright win for House of Cards which is due to return on Netflix in February.
Here is the full list of winners.
DRAMA
Winner: 12 Years a Slave
MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Winner: American Hustle
ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Winner: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club as Ron Woodroof)
ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Winner: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine as Jasmine Francis)
ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Winner: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street as Jordan Belfort)
ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Winner: Amy Adams (American Hustle as Sydney Prosser)
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Winner: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club as Rayon)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Winner: Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle as Rosalyn Rosenfeld)
DIRECTOR
Winner: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
SCREENPLAY
Winner: Spike Jonze (Her)
ORIGINAL SCORE
Winner: Alex Ebert (All Is Lost)
ORIGINAL SONG
Winner: Ordinary Love by U2 and Danger Mouse (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
ANIMATED FILM
Winner: Frozen
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Winner: The Great Beauty
TELEVISION
DRAMA SERIES
Winner: Breaking Bad
MUSICAL OR COMEDY SERIES
Winner: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
Winner: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad as Walter White)
ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Winner: Robin Wright (House of Cards as Claire Underwood)
ACTOR, MUSICAL OR COMEDY SERIES
Winner: Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine as Jake Peralta)
ACTRESS, MUSICAL OR COMEDY SERIES
Winner: Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation as Leslie Knope)
ACTOR, MINISERIES OR TV FILM
Winner: Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra as Liberace)
ACTRESS, MINISERIES OR TV FILM
Winner: Elisabeth Moss (Top of the Lake as Robin Griffin)
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Jon Voight (Ray Donovan as Mickey Donovan)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Jacqueline Bisset (Dancing on the Edge as Lady Livinia Cremone)
MINISERIES OR TV FILM
Winner: Behind the Candelabra
Golden Globe Nominations 2014 Television.
The Golden Globes does not only celebrate movies but it also celebrates Television shows. I do think that Television has delivered so many great shows. This year we saw the final series of Breaking Bad which was excellent. Netflix has also made a splash this year with House Of Cards, Arrested Development, Hemlock Grove and Orange Is The New Black. House Of Cards, Arrested Development and Orange Is The New Black have all picked up nominations at the globes this year.
The reason that I love television shows is that I feel you get to know the characters a great deal more and the shows seem to be more intimate. I feel that the shows on television regardless of their content are able to attract audiences as the level of intimacy is relatable on so many levels. Shows continue to deliver high quality and great stories and the audience love it. Some shows I love have been snubbed by the Golden Globes but I am glad to see some of my favorites make the list.
I think that Breaking Bad will clean up at the Golden Globes this year. I felt the final season really delivered and I don’t know many people who were disappointing with the ending. Even people who were disappointing with the ending, none of them will claim that the show was rubbish. As many claim now we are in a golden age of television and this will not end anytime soon. Netflix is currently changing the way we watch programmes and is aiming to evolve constantly. There will always be a place for television shows in the entertainment industry and I think it is a far more popular and cheaper medium that the movie industry.
Here are the nominations.
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
BREAKING BAD (AMC)
Sony Pictures Television
DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
Carnival Films
THE GOOD WIFE (CBS)
CBS Television Studios in Association with Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions
HOUSE OF CARDS (Netflix)
Donen/Fincher/Roth and Trigger Street Productions, Inc. in association with Media Rights Capital for Netflix
MASTERS OF SEX (Showtime)
Showtime, Sony Pictures Television, Round Two Productions, Timberman/Beverly Productions
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Taylor Schilling, Orange Is The New Black
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House Of Cards
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Michael Sheen, Masters Of Sex
Kevin Spacey, House Of Cards
James Spader, The Blacklist
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (Fox)
Universal Television
GIRLS (HBO)
HBO Entertainment in association with Apatow Productions and I am Jenni Konner Productions
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
Twentieth Century Fox Television
PARKS & RECREATION (NBC)
Universal Television
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Don Cheadle, House Of Lies
Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. Fox Show
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN (FX Networks)
Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
BEHIND THE CANDELABRA (HBO)
HBO Films in association with Jerry Weintraub Productions
DANCING ON THE EDGE (Starz)
Starz Entertainment
TOP OF THE LAKE (Sundance Channel)
See-Saw Films
WHITE QUEEN (Starz)
Starz Entertainment
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton & Taylor
Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen,
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Matt Damon, Behind The Candelabra
Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing On The Edge
Idris Elba, Luther
Al Pacino, Phil Spector
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing On The Edge
Janet McTeer, White Queen
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Monica Potter, Parenthood
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Rob Lowe, Behind the Candelabra
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Corey Stoll, House Of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
Do you agree with the nominations? Have any of your favorite shows been snubbed? Please comment below and thanks for reading.
