Hart Crane was an American poet best known for The Bridge and one of his last published works, The Broken Tower. His life ended when he committed suicide at the age of 32 by jumping into the Gulf of Mexico from a ship. The poet’s life and career is the basis for James Franco’s project The Broken Tower, a film which he wrote and directed.
It’s a black and white docu-drama that premiered at the LA Film Festival last year to mixed reviews and is based on Paul L. Mariani’s biography of the poet. The role of Hart is taken on by Franco himself, and Michael Shannon also stars.
It looks like a film school piece, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be bad of course, but don’t expect this to be hitting more than a select few theaters anytime soon. The production company behind it (RabbitBandini Productions) also gave us Howl, another film starring Franco based on the life of another poet, Allen Ginsberg.
Emma Roberts, Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez are in talks to star opposite James Fanco in Harmony Korine‘s Spring Breakers. Korine’s notable films included Gummo, Mister Lonely,Trash Humpers and penning Larry Clark’s movie Kids. Those familiar with his work may find the casting notably mainstream for Korine who tends to cast first time actors or friends. Having watched all the mentioned titles, I will say that I’m always interested in a Korine project. His films are almost hypnotic, they are so different from anything out there you can’t help but watch and wonder what the hell he was thinking. Gummo still haunts me.
Spring Breakers follows four late-teen girls who rob a restaurant in order to finance a spring break trip, and end up enlisted to kill the rival of their drug dealer. Roberts would play “a Southern brunette who feeds off danger”, while Gomez would play “a religious girl who isn’t a thrill-seeker like the rest of the group”, which includes Hudgens. James Franco is set to play Alien, “a rapping drug and arms dealer who bails them out of jail and entices them to kill his arch-rival.” Korine plans to shoot the film during spring break in Florida. [variety]
Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes starring James Franco now has an international trailer, it continues to look better and this could be a surprise hit people are not expecting. The apes rise August 5th 2011, watch the new trailer below and tell us what you think.
Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes starring James Franco, Andy Serkis, Frida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, and Tom Felton has a second trailer, and it’s awesome. The reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise takes place in present day and might serve as a message to all those animal testers out there. Apes will rise! These apes rise August 5th 2011 and check out the first trailer here. Watch the new trailer below and tell us what you think. (more…)
Synopsis:RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES is an origin story in the truest sense of the term. Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes will hit theaters on August 5th 2011.
Here is our weekend preview of what is opening in theaters and what you might want to catch on TV. Have a great weekend everyone, check back Sunday night for a Box Office Report and return Monday to see our 50th CITY STRIP COMIC! Also, did you know The Dark Knight Returns will be the best movie ever? And Here We…Go! (more…)
James Franco and David Letterman had a chat about Franco’s panned hosting gig when he stopped by The Late Show. For anyone who caught Franco’s “performance” and has some idea of who the man is, you were not surprised. He’s laid back and probably didn’t care all too much about putting on a show. Here he does a good job at explaining the theory that he was under the influence onstage. (more…)
As you may have heard, James Franco dropped out of giving the UCLA graduation speech this year after a “scheduling conflict” — and that whole falling asleep in class incident. Which begs the question, who doesn’t fall asleep in class?! Well Franco and the FunnyorDie.com team recently posted what his speech may have sounded like if he were to present it to the graduating classes. I especially like the part where he compares himself to the President and tells the students to “go out and make babies”. Pure Franco. WARNING: NSFW language.
Extra Tidbit:Franco is a close friend of Tobey Maguire’s and used to babysit Tobey’s daughter on the set of Spider-Man 3.
