The Chicago Sun-Times’ Jim Emerson of the always outstanding Scanners blog has accomplished both with this really terrific video examination of the late Sally Menke’s editing of “Inglourious Basterds.”
Sally Menke, Editor (1953 – 2010) from Jim Emerson on Vimeo.
For more on the murky but extremely vital role of the editor, and Ms. Menkes’ skill at that art and craft, you should definitely read Jim’s original post accompanying this video.
The big news on today’s geek circuit was not so much that the previously reported almost-casting of talented young “Easy A” star Emma Stone in the Spider-Man flick was made a sure thing. No, it was that she would not be the new Mary Jane Watson as everyone assumed, but would play Spidey’s other paramour, so far downplayed at the movies, Gwen Stacey. Seems Stone, who has so far been a redhead in her films, is actually a natural blonde. Who knew?
Still, aside from those who are complaining that Stone is “all wrong” for Stacey but “perfect” for MJ, presumably because, well, Stone is smoking hot as a redhead, there is one other factor for those of us who think Ms. Stone is pretty great. It’s that, (spoiler alert) we shouldn’t get too attached to her in the role.
In tribute…
Not quite on the level of “by William Shakespeare, with additional dialogue by Sam Wood” and she did change Prospero to Prospera.
H/t Screencrave
Though Shakespeare’s final great play, “The Tempest,” has been the inspiration for an awful lot of films in several different genres, it seem clear that, whatever is the case, this will be the most straightforward movie version so far, sex change in the lead character notwithstanding.
The Deadline crew has really been working overtime these last few days, so there’s much to talk about as a new week begins.
* I’m not kidding about the pace of news from Deadline today. Just as I was starting to finish writing this, Mike Fleming broke the news that we have a “Superman” director who’ll be working with producer Christopher Nolan, and he is one Zack Snyder of “300,” “Watchmen,’ the “Dawn of the Dead” remake and that owl movie that’s out right now. Expect a fightin’ Supes. Should you expect a good Supes movie? Dunno. I never understood the grief that “Superman Returns” got. It was a nice, fun movie in the best senses of the words “nice” and “fun.” Will this one be all grimness and unnecessary darkness? I hope not.
* Fox landed the film adaptation rights for apparently the hottest book of the moment, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter which is being produced by Tim Burton and directed by Timur Bekmanbetov (“Night Watch,” “Wanted“), who purchased the rights with their own money. And it’s not like they were afraid to show they really wanted it:
When Tim and Timur and their entourage of reps came to the Fox…they were met with a huge banner at the gate. It had the title treatment of the script and was emblazoned, “Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov present Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”. At their parking spot were signs saying “Parking For Vampire Hunters Only: park at your own risk,” and so forth. There were bloody footprints lining the walkway and stairs leading from their cars to the meeting in Building 88 with images from the book and lines from the script. As if that were not enough, there also were bloody axes strewn about, and a bugle player in a Confederate uniform playing “Taps” as the filmmakers walked to the meeting..
Yes, like Camelot, Hollywood is a silly place, and I sort of like it that way. I just wished I enjoyed Bekmambetov’s movies, because I didn’t.
* Re: silliness. Check out this promotion for “Jackass 3D”
* I seriously dislike writing about stories that say that so-and-so is “about to be” “offered” a part. There are simply too many items like that and too many “ifs” (maybe the studio will change their minds; maybe the star will say “no,” etc.) and I prefer to wait until the story is further down the road. Nevertheless, Mike Fleming has reported that Emma Stone is about to be offered the part of Mary Jane Watson in the Marc Webb-directed 3D “Spiderman” reboot opposite Andrew Garfield.
After last week’s very nice teaser trailer for the Coen Brothers version of Charles Portis’s “True Grit,” we have the full trailer right here. It’s longer, there’s more plot and some nice comic business between Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges. Also, it looks like it’s going to be a bit more violent than the relatively graphic — but still somehow G-rated — 1969 version. What a surprise.
This trailer feels a bit rushed, as if they were trying to fit in too much. It’s probably a good sign, however, that they have a lot of good stuff to fit in. As both an admirer of the Coens and a fan of old school Westerns, I’m even more stoked than average about this brutal little Christmas present.
H/t /Film.
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