Hello everyone! I’ve been away for most of the weekend and away from my laptop so not much to report here in terms of movie watching. My mother in-law and brother in-law are visiting in town so we’ve been playing tourist around MN since Friday. I was able to finish my Jurassic World review before they arrived though, but I did not see a single thing since Thursday night when I saw Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
I don’t know when I’ll have time to review it, but I urge you to check it out if it’s playing in a theater near you. It was a Sundance hit, winning the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, and rightly so. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll definitely appreciate life as you have it and the friendship you have in your life. Plus, if you love foreign movies, you’ll absolutely adore this movie!
Well, even though I didn’t have much time to watch movies nor blog this past few days, I did make a bit of progress on my next novel or more appropriately, my narrative endeavor. I’m not revealing any details just yet as it’s still in its infancy, but I’m happy just to be working on something new as it’s been over three years since I came up with this movie pitch! Let’s just say my crushing on Stanley Weber hasn’t been in vain as it’s mostly inspired by him, as well as my girl crush Gugu Mbatha-Raw 😉
Oh and I also joined the Instagram party just for the heck of it. So if you have an IG account, let’s connect there!
Ok, so here’s the casting news I’m super excited about!
Per TheWrap, Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac will star in The Promise, an epic love story that Oscar-winning filmmaker Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) will direct from a script he co-wrote with Robin Swicord (Memoirs of a Geisha).
Heh, they should do something about that name eh? It’s so darn generic and wasn’t there a period piece with a similar name just released a couple of years ago with Alan Rickman & Rebecca Hall? I blogged about it here but doesn’t look like anyone (including me) saw it.
In any case, I do love the gist of this upcoming project:
Set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, “The Promise” follows a love triangle between Michael, a brilliant medical student, the beautiful and sophisticated Ana, and Chris — a renowned American journalist based in Paris. Bale will play Chris, an AP reporter in love with both a woman and the danger of being in a combat zone amidst a world that is falling apart. Isaac will play Michael, a medical student in love with the same woman but conflicted by old-world traditions and his heart.
The Ottoman Empire was dissolved in 1922 following the Armenian Genocide of 1915, which resulted in an estimated death toll of between 800,000 and 1.5 million people. The subject has been near and dear to George, who in March 2013, was a guest of the Armenian State Pedagogical University, where the Irish filmmaker compared the Armenian genocide to the Rwanda genocide that he chronicled in Hotel Rwanda.
Boy, who’s going to be the lucky lady who will be *trapped* in THIS juicy love triangle? Whoever it’ll be, I’m already sold on the two male leads who are both gorgeous AND talented. I’m glad Isaac’s career is on fire right now and he’ll get his own Oscar to go with his name very soon too I hope.
On the flip side, I just learned on TheWrap as well that Jack Huston is no longer attached to play The Crow in the remake. Now, I think Brandon Lee had huge shoes to fill in the role and it’s going to be tough to top that film, but I like Huston and I think he could do a fine job. Plus I’d love to see him on screen with Andrea Riseborough who’s cast to play Sgt. Albrecht.
I’ve only seen him in American Hustle and Night Train to Lisbon, but most of you who watch Boardwalk Empire would notice him as Richard Harrow. I’m not too sad about it though, Jack is a talented young actor whom I hope would go on to star in better things. I’m looking forward to seeing him as Ben-Hur as well as Mr. Wickham in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies next year!
The casting news I’m excited for is Chris Hemsworth as a receptionist for the upcoming all-female version of Ghostbusters.
Ahah yeah, Hemsworth casting is brilliant!! But I’m really not a huge fan of his though I reckon he is very popular 😀
I’m excited to see two favorite actors! Yes, The Promise does sound boring, doesn’t it?
Hi Cindy! I knew we both will see this on opening night 😀 I hope they change the title though.
Let’s write to them and complain 😉
I’m not sure what to think of the idea of The Crow remake.
I take it you love the original Alex? I’m torn about it too, we’ll see if this would even get off the ground.
I’m really curious about who is going to wind up playing The Crow. If he wasn’t already attached to the MCU, I’d love to see Tom Hiddleston in that role.
Hi Dell, yeah me too. I heard they’re courting Nicholas Hoult and Jack O’Connell. I’d rather see Hiddles got the role too, he seemed perfect physically and he’d elevate this project to be something more than cult favorite.
THE PROMISE sounds interesting and I do like the main actors, I’ll wait for the trailer before deciding if I want to see it or not.
I think it’s a sign that they shouldn’t remake THE CROW, it’s been in development hell for years. Many actors and directors have signed on and left the last few years so I think they should just leave it alone. Also, I don’t think many young audiences even know about this character. If/when the remake comes out, it will likely perform pretty weak at the box office like the ROBOCOP remake.
The only new movie I watched over the weekend was IMAX SPACE HUBBLE 3D, it’s a doc about the space hubble that came out a few years ago. It’s kind of like a real life version of GRAVITY but without chaos displayed in the movie. It’s only 40 minutes long but very cool and I love the 3D, I wish I have seen it on the big IMAX screen.
Maybe they ought to give up on The Crow as they can’t even seem to secure a lead! The original is a cult fave but perhaps because of the mystery surrounding Brandon Lee’s death.
I haven’t seen that HUBBLE 3D, that sounds like a great IMAX movie.
Think the remake for The Crow has been in development hell for so long, I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t in some sort of stage of development. Like you say Ted, it’s just a sign it needs to be left well alone!
I really liked the Dying Girl but haven’t gotten around to writing about it either.
I don’t care for Bale but think Isaac is the bee’s knees, so I’m in.
And am still angry they’re remaking The Crow at all, so I don’t care who’s in it and i’m just going to sit huffily in this corner and stew on it.
Hi Jay! I didn’t absolutely love ‘Dying Girl’ but it was quite emotional towards the end so yeah, I highly recommend it. You don’t care for Bale eh? I think he’s so talented even if he’s not the most likable guy. Ahah, totally understand your reaction for The Crow. Well it probably won’t get made as it’s been in development hell for years.
Enjoyed my birthday weekend so haven’t been doing much movie-watching! I must say the casting of Bale and Isaac together is exciting though!
Happy belated birthday Mark! Yes the casting of Bale and Isaac are awesome isn’t it? Can’t wait to see this.
Thanks Ruth!
Wow, that’s some great casting. You’re right about Isaac Ruth, his star is well on the rise. And deservedly so!
Adam.
Glad you think so Adam! He’s becoming one of my fave actors now.
Me too. Really engaging on screen. I first saw him in an ensemble film called 10 Years. He’s the best thing in it, has really sweet chemistry with Kate Mara.
Oh I haven’t heard of 10 Years but I want to see that now!
I’m down for Bale in anything. I want to be wowed by Oscar Isaac…but I haven’t been yet. I’m holding out for him to make me excited to see him in something.
Hi Drew. Bummer that you don’t find Isaac exciting, but well hopefully he’d wow you in something soon, I really think he’s right up there w/ Bale in terms of talent.
The Promise sounds interesting, but not particularly memorable. I was wondering what Terry George was up to. Hopefully, it will be a great movie.
I love the idea of a love triangle, esp with those two actors! Yeah hopefully it’ll be a good one as I LOVE Hotel Rwanda.
It’s a miracle these days if I get to see a film on the weekend *sigh* – it’s been so long!
Hey that’s ok Jaina, so long as you’re enjoying life wherever you are!
Very cool! Looking forward to your novel (and just followed you on Instagram).
I’m with you on The Promise. Definitely sounds generic, but love the casting news. Gorgeous AND supremely talented men.
Really want to see …Dying Girl and not so bummed about The Crow. Not even when Bradley Cooper and Tom Hiddleston were attached I was interested.