Deadline reports that Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to star in a remake of the 1974 James Caan movie The Gambler. The drama is about an “academic whose gambling addiction begins to get the best of him. His gambling addiction got to the point where he convinces a student athlete to shave points so he can win a bet, and the high he experiences from risking everything takes him into even darker places.”  The new script is being penned by William Monahan (The Departed) and Martin Scorsese is said to be directing.  Excuse me for being skeptical about this project ever happening, but check this:

DiCaprio just wrapped J. Edgar directed by Clint Eastwood, he’s playing Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann’s remake of The Great Gatsby, and then will be the villain in Quentin Tarantino’ s Django Unchained [see].  So he’s pretty busy right?  What about Scorsese?  Even busier with a lot of projects to choose from, here is a few films he’s been said to be attached to: The Wolf of Wall Street, The Irishman, Sinatra, The Comedian and Furious Love [see].

DiCaprio and Scorsese have had great success working together and I’m certainly all for this project and whatever else they can manage to get done. They made Shutter Island, The Departed, The Aviator and The Gangs of New York.  Here’s hoping this can be done in the next decade.

Tomorrow is the premiere of the Prince of Persia film and to say I have been torn would be an understatement. Hollywood is notorious for taking some of the most beloved video games and transforming them into steaming piles of cinematic rubbish. Super Mario Bros. had a humanoid Bowser, Mortal Kombat Annihilation utilized claymation, and House of the Dead was directed by Uwe Boll; just to name a few of the blunders. In the end, despite this track record of failure, I have decided that I will watch Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and it is for these following reasons.

The actors work.

Test your might, try sitting through Mortal Kombat Annihilation.

When I originally heard that Jake Gyllenhaal would be playing the role of the Prince, I was mildly upset. There was no way Donnie Darko could portray the butt kicking, sword slashing, time rewinding Prince of Persia! That was however until I saw some ‘making of’ vignettes. The work ethic that seemed to be on display in the filming of each action packed scene was top notch. When the trailer finally came out, I had to admit, he looked the part. Of course his opposite, the antagonist of the film (Nizam), could not have been played by a more suitable actor: Ben Kingsley. Whether it is playing himself on an episode of The Sopranos (let’s not forget how highly Christopha’ thought of him.. initially) or as Dr. Cawley in Shutter Island, Kinsley is a quality actor, and I trust he will play a believable Nizam.

The budget seems to be there.
The problem with a lot of the video game movies out there is the total lack of a suitable budget to pull it off. There has been a long rumored Halo movie in the works, but sensibly it is being held back for budget constraints. There is no sense in creating something that is rushed and sloppy to cash in on a few cheap dollars. Well, try telling that to the claymation dragon fight scene in Mortal Kombat Annihilation. I don’t have the dollar amount with me on the final cost of Persia, but judging by the trailer and the cast, the studio didn’t appear to cut any corners in it’s production.

The games were freakin’ awesome.
If you couldn’t tell already based on the fact that I have put this much thought into this film, I love the Prince of Persia. The Sands of Time trilogy are some of the finest games to grace the previous generation of gaming consoles. They are the perfect mix of story, action, and environment that had gamers of all ages hooked. That kind of fan loyalty will have geeks (your favorite District Attorney included) lining up in droves at their local cinema to see how the Prince will hold his own on the big screen.

To conclude, I am still not totally convinced that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time will be an action packed blockbuster to kick start the summer. I am however, willing to give it the benefit of the doubt that I don’t usually lend to films based off of video games. Who knows, in the end I may be wishing I had ‘sands’ of my own to rewind time if this one turns out to be a dud.

DA Out.

Click here to view the embedded video.

"You're ruining this for me."

It could have been me, it could have been you.  Just last week I was talking with the DA about movie going manners.  We pointed out those idiots who open up a lighthouse in the theater with their cell phone and then proceed to click away.  Assholes.  No talking, no cell phone usage whatsoever, no doing anything else obnoxious; simple rules for a good time.  I am seriously considering starting a movement to get theaters to install signal killers so no one can do anything on their phone.  Slap an emergency phone at the front of the room for when that stupid defense comes up.

Get off your phone!  You are not Gordon Gekko; you just got your first phone and think everyone loves you for it.

According to the LA Times, a man was recently watching Shutter Island at the Cinemark 22 in Lancaster, when he complained about a woman talking on a cell phone during the film. The woman left with two men. The two men returned and one of them stabbed the complainer in the throat with a meat thermometer. “It was a vicious and cowardly attack,” said the LA County Sheriff.  And another thing..wait, a meat thermometer?

"Holy s**t Leo, we're number one!"

Don’t take my review for it, many people wanted to get spooked this weekend as Shutter Island cruised to an easy box office win this weekend, more than doubling its next closest competition. The $40 million weekend is by far the best in Martin Scorsese‘s career, and it marks a new record  for Leonardo DiCaprio, as well; a great beginning for a movie shelved for nearly half a year.

Soon to face off with Shutter will be Alice in Wonderland (March 5th) and next week Cop Out (this looks really just awful) and The Crazies (next week).  Anyway, the lack of audience for the other movies propelled Avatar back into third place. Its $16 million weekend is its slowest, and now that we know the DVD is due in two months, we can begin to see the finish line for this one, just short of $750 million domestic and $2.5 billion world wide.

**This is a SPOILER FREE Review**

It’s safe to say that the partnership between DiCaprio and Scorsese has been a productive one for the famed director – Gangs of New York got 10 Oscar nominations, The Aviator got 11 nods (and 5 wins), and The Departed got 5 nominations and won 4, including Best Picture and Marty’s long-coveted Best Director Oscar [video].  So when it was told that the team was going at it again for Shutter Island, this fan was going to be first in line.  Did it live up to my own hype? It sounded like perfect thriller material, straight out of the third act of Scorsese’s Cape Fear remake, and an ideal fit for the legendary filmmaker.  I am glad to say I was first in line, last to leave and very satisfied.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Laeta Kalogridis (screenplay) Dennis Lehane (novel)
Cast: Leonardo Dicaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams
Synopsis: From Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island is the story of two U.S. marshals, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), who are summoned to a remote and barren island off the coast of Massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the island’s fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane.
[Trailer]

The last thriller Scorsese delivered was the fantastic re-make of Cape Fear starring his other muse, Robert DeNiro.  With Shutter Island he proves once more that you don’t need jump out shockers or high octane action scenes to make you squirm in your seat.  Just ask my girlfriend who had her hand over her eyes – peeking in to see what was going to happen.  There are no clichés in this film, there is no rushed ending that will leave half the audience feeling cheated.  This film builds up to a strong conclusion of a twisted journey.

The gothic atmosphere and reality-shifting sequences were mesmerizing.  Bravo to Robert Richardson who made such a dark film as beautiful as can be with his cinematography.  The CGI effects are well crafted and don’t seem forced on us at all.  Add on the loud ominous score by Robbie Robertson that seemed to use the speakers to their max level, eerie as hell.  My favorite role for DiCaprio before this was that of Howard Hughes in the Aviator.  Another frazzled character.  He plays Teddy Daniels in Shutter Island much like he did that of Hughes; paranoid and alone.

The movie has a twist, this is not a spoiler.  From the moment they get on the Island you will be looking for it.  Do yourself a favor and don’t.  Let the film take you to this island and you will be glad you didn’t try to ‘beat the movie’ when it is all said and done.  I myself will be seeing this film again, and I know it will have new a meaning and resolve for me.  Don’t miss Scorsese’s latest, from every note of music to every frame of film and each performance, this picture brings a terrifying tale to screen that will stick in your mind for days.

4.5 Burned Matches Out Of 5

Commitment. Adventurousness. A sense of truth. An ability to hold the screen. These are among the rare qualities that make Leo DiCaprio an essential actor.  There’s an old phrase that certainly applies to Leo: The camera loves him. In other words, his presence before the camera magnetizes us instantly, draws us into a mystery, compels us to follow him.

Of course, the camera loves a lot of faces, but there are very few actors who can work from that gift, who can take us deep into their own inner journey, which complements the greater journey of the film itself. You need talent, sensitivity, fortitude, and absolute fearlessness. Leo has it all.

I know I can trust Leo to keep not just his character but the arc of the whole film in mind while he goes as far as he needs to. And I know he’s not going to let vanity get in the way. That can be a stumbling block for many actors, and understandably so, because their images define them as artists and as public figures. For Leo, it’s not a question. His commitment to the truth of his character, no matter how ugly or inexplicable, is total. This is one of the qualities that I admire most about him.

Leonardo and I have worked together on four pictures now. It’s been one of the great adventures of my career. He is absolutely essential to me, to all of us, and essential to the history of movies.

Originally published in Esquire’s March 2010 “The Essentials” issue, alongside our new cover story on Leo DiCaprio. Shutter Island opens nationwide on Friday.

I don’t think my movie going life has been influenced by anyone more than Martin Scorsese.  His filmography is nothing more than amazing when you look at the work and effort put into each piece of art he makes.  Every title stands alone in the museum of movie history.  He has touched many themes over the years in his films providing some form of feeling to anyone who watches a Scorsese film.  He is a master at what he does and is always quick to point out in his amusing modesty that it is because of past masters that he does what he does.  It’s clear that his influence has reached the top of Hollywood’s “A” list including Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee, and John Woo, the man has given us a lot to be thankful for.

With his latest, Shutter Island, hitting theaters this Friday, we’ve decided to dedicate an entire week to one of our heroes and quite frankly, one of the reasons this site is here.  We will do our best to direct you towards the greatest moments of Martin Scorsese’s career.  Join us for reviews of our favorite Scorsese movies, interviews and insight into the master’s life.  It’s MARTIN SCORSESE WEEK!

Now go home and get your fuckin' shinebox.

So here we are with a new year and a new line up of movies to enjoy.  Did you hear that 2009’s box office beat the sales of DVD and Blu-ray?  Really, for true life it did.  We made a Movies You Should Have Seen In 2009 so it’s no wonder we have put together a list of Movies To See In 2010.  That is, the hope that these said movies live up to their hype or at least the expectations we have granted them.  On with the show this is it…

LOVELY BONES (January 15) [Trailer]

It feels like I have been waiting for this release for ages.  If you have read the book you know the expectation for this movie must be high.  Loyal readers of the book and critics of cinema will be sure to look at performances as well as what Peter Jackson has done with the set pieces. What will Heaven look like on the big screen?  The last time I was impressed by that sort of imagination was with What Dreams May Come.  I recommend a read and highly anticipate this film to be one of the best of the year.

SHUTTER ISLAND (February 19) [Trailer]

The trailer for Shutter Island was absurdly crazy; looking like we are back to Scorsese’s Cape Fear days.  Leonardo DiCaprio looks to be in top form in this one alongside the great cast including Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Jackie Earle Haley and Michelle Williams.  It was supposed to come out last year for Oscar consideration, but the studio decided to piss us off instead.  We might forgive you on February 19th.

CEMETERY JUNCTION (APRIL 9) [Trailer]

Fact check, Ricky Gervais has won all the awards he can for TV.  He has sold out comedy tours around the world, and continues to break world records with his podcasts.  He writes his own breed of children books and will be hosting the Golden Globes.  The next step for Ricky Gervais is to win an Oscar.  Cemetery Junction, a movie about becoming a man in working class Reading in the 1970s and the trappings of life in that period of England, where you were likely to be born, live and die in one town, in one household, this subject matter is of course his best chance to date.  I hope he stays moved away from big studio projects like the disappointing INVENTION OF LYING and sticks with his write what you know projects such as THE OFFICE.  This is my most anticipated movie of the year.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (April 30) [Trailer]

The original would make the list of all time favorite movies, and I was a little hesitant to place this remake on the list.  After the viewing of the trailer I am now pretty convinced this movie is going to be well done.  No promises.  Michael Bay’s remakes are hit and miss in my books, the FRIDAY THE 13TH remake was awful but I fully enjoyed the first TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remake.  I heard this time around, however, the disfigured dream stalker will not crack any jokes. As a matter of fact, producer Brad Fuller has warned moviegoers “don’t fall asleep or you’ll die.” It will be interesting to see how the CGI and other new technologies will be used to explore the dream world. And, if Jackie Earle Haley manages to creep you out with his portrayal of pedophile Ronnie in LITTLE CHILDREN, be prepared to be kept on the edge of your seat.

IRON MAN 2 (May 7) [Trailer]

Aiming for similar response to the first critically and commercially successful Iron Man, Iron Man 2 comes at us with a lot more in store; such as hiring Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson and making the first appearance of the much-awaited War Machine is another one worth the wait.  In the superhero sequel tradition (remember Dark Knight?), it promises to be bigger and better, with the new friends, new foes and expectations. Scarlett Johansson is Natasha Romanov – Tony Stark’s replacement red-head assistant now that Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts has been promoted – she’s also secretly Russian superspy Black Widow. Mickey Rourke plays fellow Russian Whiplash, Iron Man’s nemesis along with Sam Rockwell’s Justin hammer.

PAUL (May 28)

What do you get when you can pair up the stars of SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ with the director of SUPERBAD and ADVENTURELAND?  An opening day ticket.  Simon Pegg and Nick Frost team up with Greg Mottola in a movie about a couple of Comic-Con nerds who befriend an alien (played by Seth Rogen) at Area 51 and travel cross-country with him in tow.

TOY STORY 3 (June 18) [Trailer]

It’s been more than ten years since Woody and Buzz have their last big adventure, but come summer 2010, Disney and Pixar team up to bring Andy’s favorite toys to life one more time.  The first two movies have won people’s heart as proven from their box office performance, each has been among the top three highest grossing films of their years. And, with this one coming out in 3-D and and IMAX, it is not hard to imagine how big it may be.  Pixar is returning to their roots with the movie that made their name, Toy Story. Ordinarily sequels for animated movies are something to fear, but this time around knowing that TS2 was one of the best movies and sequels ever, we are in good hands.  I grew up with the first two Toy Story movies and TS3 will be the first I get to see in theaters.  I’ve kept all of my childhood toys thanks to these movies too, time to get them out and play me thinks.

INCEPTION (July 16) [Trailer]

Little is known about Inception, except that it has been described as “a contemporary sci-fi action movie set within the architecture of the mind”. Its previously-released teaser also didn’t help much to make sure what to look ahead to. So, there is no guarantee this movie will be a cult classic yet. Christopher Nolan is the mastermind behind The Dark Knight so I am not sure if any other evidence of possible greatness is needed.  Chris Nolan may be the director of the decade, beginning with Memento and ending with a movie that will surely go down as one of the greatest of all time with The Dark Knight.  Half the fun with Nolan is that he wants you to play the game with him. Memento and The Prestige were both puzzling movies and the clues from The Joker that hit the web had everyone scattering for something.   I sense another great one.

THE EXPENDABLES (August 20) [Trailer]

Sly blew us away with his comeback streak; ROCKY BALBOA and RAMBO.  These movies were awesome.  Now he has built a movie around the biggest action star of all time.   Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Steve Austin and Randy Couture, gang up as a team of mercenaries who heads to South America in a mission to overthrow a dictator.  Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are also in the movie somewhere we have been told.  The Expendables could well be the throwback action movie that dreams are made of. With a cast list that reads like someone just reading names off of their action movie DVD collection I am there.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART I (November 19)

I have a love hate relationship with this franchise.  I love the imagination that the books constructed and hate the catering to the readers I sense from watching the movies and being confused.   Harry Potter enters the final battle between good and evil in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I.  Coming out a year after Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince becomes the highest-grossing film of 2009, this movie is the first of two-part final installment of the Potter series. It will be interesting to see how director David Yates closes one of the biggest films in our history.

HEREAFTER (December)

Clint Eastwood is one of the greatest actors of the past and present.  Not many people can add Director to that claim as well.  Hearafter scripted by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen) might be the film that most exposes Eastwood’s true feelings towards death.  The movie is billed as a quiet drama about three damaged characters trying to look beyond the landscape in front of them, to work out if anything exists after we die and it will be lead by Matt Damon. Eastwood’s movies are annually among my most anticipated each year, I can’t wait.