This Neanderthal thinking comes after both Jodie Foster's The Brave One (even though she's had big recent hits with Flightplan and Panic Room) and Nicole Kidman's The Invasion (as if three different directors didn't have something to do with the awfulness of the gross receipts) under-performed at the box office recently. "Can you imagine when Gloria Allred gets hold of this? It's going to be like World War III," one producer just told me.

*****

Of course, Warner Bros has always been male-centric in its movies. But now the official policy as expressly articulated by Robinov is that a male has to be the lead of every pic made. I'm told he doesn't even want to see a script with a woman in the primary position (which now is apparently missionary at WB). Oh yeah, the fact that so many Warner Bros movies have been sucking at the box office for the last two years is all the fault of females. (Then again, Robinov's poorly performing Superman Returns was criticized for its girlie-man portrayal of the superhero.) As regular readers of my own box office reports know, chick flicks haven't been doing well at the box office lately.

But Robinov's statements aren't about women's movies as a genre, they're anti Hollywood actresses. Besides, neither The Brave One nor The Invasion were classic chick flicks, either. "It's a phenomenal thing to say. What are we in the 1700s where women are back to being barefoot and pregnant?" a producer railed. "What's next -- fire all the Warner Bros women executives?"

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The Rock Rules the Box Office For the Second Week

The Rock had a great weekend: his movie The Game Plan ruled the box office for the second weekend in a row. The film made $16,262,000, for a total U.S. take to date of $42,811,000. Ben Stiller, on the other hand, had a terrible weekend. His comedy, The Heartbreak Kid, came in second with only $14,031,000. The film was a remake of a Neil Simon comedy, only without the funny.

In third place was The Kingdom, which made $9,345,000, bringing its gross to date to $31,368,000. In fourth place was Resident Evil: Extinction, which made $4,300,000. That brings its cumulative take to $43,474,000. In fifth place was The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising from Fox. The film opened with $3,725,000.

Posted on October 8, 2007
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The End of Smoking of Movies

Smoking in movies is well on its way to being extinct. Consumer groups have been successful in getting depictions of smoking banned in film marketed to children. Some major studios don't feature much smoking at all, unless it's for a period piece or is really necessary for the plot. The policing has been voluntary on the studios' part, but the idea of censorship infuriates some directors.

In the movie musical Dreamgirls last year, James "Thunder" Early, Eddie Murphy's soul-singing, chain-smoking character, was so infuriated by a fumbled food order that he mashed his cigarette into a chicken sandwich that was supposed to have no mayonnaise. That portrayal and scene could still fly these days at DreamWorks, which made the movie. But if Universal Pictures were to produce the movie today, Mr. Murphy might consider having his character switch to chewing gum.

The biggest studios are usually like-minded when it comes to what is fit to portray on screen. But they have become divided lately in confronting one of the entertainment industry's touchiest issues: smoking in movies that reach the young. Under pressure from an antismoking lobby unsatisfied by a promise that the industry's trade group made in May to consider tobacco use as a factor in film ratings, the six largest studio owners have been patching together individual responses to those who want cigarettes out of films rated G, PG or PG-13.

Smoking opponents view the result as surprising progress toward a virtual ban on tobacco images in all but films with R or NC-17 ratings. Yet Hollywood is also waking to the realization that a committed band of advocates is rapidly changing what is permissible in the movies. And that precedent could embolden other groups campaigning to rid movies of portrayals of gun use, transfat consumption or other behavior that can be proved harmful to the public.

"It's a chilling idea," said Bill Condon, who wrote and directed Dreamgirls for the DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures units of Viacom. General Electric, the corporate parent of Universal Pictures, decided last April that, with few exceptions, "no smoking incidents should appear in any youth-rated film" produced by the studio or its sister units, Focus, Rogue and Working Title Films. "Movies are supposed to reflect reality," Mr. Condon said. "You're taking away a detail that is one of the more defining aspects of a lifestyle."

*****

Before G.E. moved with what is widely regarded as the toughest antismoking policy to date, Time Warner had said it "strongly discourages" smoking in youth films produced by its Warner Brothers and New Line units, and seeks to limit smoking depictions in films marketed to what it called mixed audiences. In July, the Walt Disney Company said it would ban smoking in its Disney-branded movies, like the Pirates of the Caribbean series, while trying to discourage tobacco use in youth-rated movies from its Miramax and Touchstone units. A spokesman for the Sony Corporation's Sony Pictures Entertainment said the studio - which showed tobacco use in all three of its PG-13 rated Spider-Man films - has a policy under which it tries to discourage the depiction of tobacco products in youth-oriented films.

We hadn't noticed that not one naughty pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean was a tobacco user until we read this article. Still, perhaps with all those wooden ships, it was all for the best. We hate to be cynical, but this is really about money, not anti-smoking groups. Surveys show that parents don't want smoking in movies marketed to kids. Therefore, either the smoking gets cut or the parents and kids stay away from family films. That's why GE has issued such an edict.

Films marketed to adults are another issue, entirely. Let the directors do what they want.

Posted on October 3, 2007
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Shia LaBeouf Announces Name for New Indiana Jones Film

We're still in the recovery phase of watching the shock and awe that was Britney Spears' now infamous VMA performance. And now that that memory is blessedly fading from our memories, we seem to recall that Shia LaBeouf announced the name of the new Indiana Jones movie at the same awards show. The new title is Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Shia LaBeouf, one of the franchise's new castmembers, announced the title of the much-hyped, long-awaited flick in dramatic fashion at MTV's Video Music Awards. For months, if not years, the name of this latest Indy adventure has been debated. Last month, it seemed that the field of contenders had been narrowed when it was discovered that Lucasfilm had registered six names with the Motion Picture Association of America. In addition to the winning name, there was "Indiana Jones and the City of Gods," "Indiana Jones and the Destroyer of Worlds," "Indiana Jones and the Fourth Corner of the Earth," "Indiana Jones and the Lost City of Gold," and "Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Covenant."

Ever since the last Indiana Jones adventure, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," was released in 1989, rumors of a fourth film have run wild. Several high-profile Hollywood writers, including Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption") (see "After 'Waste Of A Year' On 'Indy 4,' Director Rebounds With Stephen King's 'Mist' ") and M. Night Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense") were signed on to pen the sequel in the last few years. In the end, it was a polished script by David Koepp ("War of the Worlds") that convinced Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford to break out the famed fedora one more time. The film has been shooting since June in locations ranging from Connecticut to Hawaii.

The story line is being kept under wraps for now. But we do know that several new castmembers are part of the adventure. The aforementioned LaBeouf has been rumored to be playing Jones' long-lost son. And his mother could be none other than Marion Ravenwood from "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Spielberg announced that Karen Allen would reprise her role as Ravenwood during a dramatic Comic-Con presentation in July.

The film will hit theaters on May 22, 2008 and we think it will be a monster hit.

Posted on September 20, 2007
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Sex in the City: The Movie is Filming Now

The first stills are out from the set of the new Sex and the City movie. We see Carrie Bradshaw and her Mr. Big looking lovey dovey on the set (there were some photos of them kissing, as well) and we also see that Carrie has a handbag in the shape of the Eiffel Tower.

In case you've forgotten, The L.A. Times has a wrap up of where we left off at the series finale:

So, here's where we left off: In the final episode, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) went to Paris with Aleksandr Petrovsky (Mikhail Baryshnikov). After being ignored by Aleksandr, however, Carrie ran into Big (Chris Noth) and headed back to New York with him. As for the other ladies, Charlotte (Davis) and her hubby Harry (Evan Handler) decided to adopt a baby from China, Miranda (Nixon) showed her softer side by taking care of Steve's (David Eigenberg) sick mother, and Samantha (Cattrall) lost her sex drive after chemo but regained it by the end of the episode, just in time for a romp with Smith Jerrod (Lewis).

Ah yes, it's all coming back to us now. Sarah Jessica Parker looks great -- hopefully, the Eiffel Tower handbag is a harbinger of the wild fashions that will populate the movie.

Posted on September 19, 2007
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Ang Lee Wins Golden Lion

Ang Lee has won the prestigious Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice film festival today. His win was his second, after Brokeback Mountain won two years ago. A surprise winner, Lust, Caution is a sexually explicit and violent thriller set in Shanghai during World War Two.

It is overwhelming, because this movie has taken me to some very difficult places," Lee told the red carpet award ceremony on the Lido waterfront. "I have invited you to come along with me and in the end to stay down there with me ... You are the seven samurais, I needed your help," he added, addressing the seven-member jury.

Brian De Palma, whose "Redacted" shocked audiences in Venice with its brutal reconstruction of the real-life rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl by U.S. soldiers, won the Silver Lion award for best director. Tunisian-born director Abdellatif Kechiche and his drama "La Graine et le mulet" ("The Secret of the Grain"), was one of two runner-up jury prize winners, and was described by the jury as the "revelation" of the 2007 edition of the festival.

*****

Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There," one of six U.S. productions in the 23-strong main competition, took the other runner-up prize for his conceptual biopic about singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. In a bold piece of casting, Australian-born Cate Blanchett was one of six performers to play the singer at various stages of his life, and it paid off when she was named best actress in Venice this year. Hollywood star Brad Pitt was the surprise winner of the best actor award for his portrayal of outlaw Jesse James in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford."

It's interesting that Brad Pitt won an award, considering how he's been talking about the film in interviews. He really is downplaying the film's appeal. So, either he thinks the film isn't any good or he's decided to try the negative sell with movie goers.

Posted on September 8, 2007
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Halloween Leads Slow Box Office Weekend

Rob Zombie's remake of the John Carpenter classic horror film Halloween led the box office this past weekend, making an estimated $26,503,000, despite universally withering reviews. In second place was Superbad in its third week, which made an estimated $12,200,000. Balls of Fury, the ping pong comedy which has been trashed by critics, opened in third with a weak $11,604,795. Even Christopher Walken couldn't save that one.

In fourth place was The Bourne Ultimatum which made another $10,183,000, bringing its U.S. tally to date to $199,603,000. Rush Hour 3 made another $8,560,000, bringing its U.S. tally to date to $120,416,000, which is still less than its $140 million budget. It will do well on DVD of course, but the film's totals are lagging behind Rush Hour 1 and 2, making a sequel unlikely at this point. The Kevin Bacon revenge thriller, Death Sentence opened with a dismal $4,180,000.

Posted on September 3, 2007
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Keanu Reeves Signed For The Day the Earth Stood Still Remake

Keanu Reeves has signed to play the human-appearing alien Klaatu in a remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Twentieth Century Fox has set Keanu Reeves to star in "The Day the Earth Stood Still," its re-imagining of the 1951 Robert Wise-directed sci-fi classic. Reeves committed over the weekend to play Klaatu, a humanoid alien who arrives on Earth accompanied by an indestructible, heavily armed robot and a warning to world leaders that their continued aggression will lead to annihilation by species watching from afar.

Erwin Stoff is producing, with Scott Derrickson ("The Exorcism of Emily Rose") directing from a script by David Scarpa. Reeves' commitment puts the picture on track for a late fall or early 2008 production start. Studio sees it as a tentpole. The Klaatu role was originated by Michael Rennie. The 1951 film's premise, a response to the rise of the Cold War after WWII, is being updated, and the film will use advances in visual effects.

Rumors have Angelina Jolie being offered the female lead in the film, but no one has been signed yet.

Posted on August 27, 2007
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Cate Blanchett Plays Bob Dylan

Here is some footage of Cate Blanchett playing Bob Dylan in an upcoming biopic. Yes, that's right -- she's playing a man in the film. Several other actors will also play Dylan as he ages. That's David Cross as Allen Ginsberg. It's pretty freaky. Does Cate playing a man effectively equal Oscar nomination?



Posted on August 22, 2007
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Superbad Tops the Box Office

Superbad ruled the box office this past weekend, making an estimated $31,200,000. The comedy had really good buzz, which helped propel it ahead of of Rush Hour 3, which made an estimated $21,831,000 in its second week of release. In third place was The Bourne Ultimatum, which made another $18,986,000, putting its total U.S. gross to date at $163,806,000.

In fourth place was The Simpsons, with $6,675,000. The film has now grossed $165,117,000 so far. In fifth place was the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, called Invasion. Invasion, which stars Nicole Kidman, made a disappointing $6,000,000. The buzz has been terrible on this movie. In sixth place was Stardust, which made another $5,244,000 in its second week of release.

Posted on August 20, 2007
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Video: Faces of Female Film Stars

Here's a fascinating new video which morphs the faces of female film stars over the years.



Posted on August 16, 2007
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Writers Write, Inc. Launches Blog Covering Fantasy and Science Fiction

Writers Write, Inc. has added a new blog to its blog network called FantasySFBlog.com. Fantasy/SF Blog is a daily blog covering what's new and interesting in the worlds of fantasy, SF, and horror, including books, movies, TV and gaming.

Recent posts include:

Surrounded by family and friends, ABC's beaming and insightful movie critic Joel Siegel has died in New York, after a long and remarkably courageous struggle with cancer, at the age of 63. Both colleagues and fans delighted in his unique way of blending cheerful good humor and piercing critical acumen in reviews that made them instantly clear to anyone. You knew exactly what he thought -- often with the bonus of a good laugh. In a statement today, ABC News President David Westin said, "Joel was an important part of ABC News and we will miss him. He was a brilliant reviewer and a great reporter. But much more, he was our dear friend and colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Joel Siegel's battle with colon cancer was borne with such astonishing courage and humor that he almost tricked his colleagues around the office into forgetting his struggle.

Still at work only two weeks before his death, he had this reporter and several others chortling in an elevator over a line he was about to broadcast about there being so many new penguin movies lately that soon they would outnumber the penguins themselves.

With his trademark style -- a bright but very business-like cheerfulness -- Joel Siegel delivered his swift judgments with a self-confidence and wit so finely phrased it made his reviews a pleasure to listen to just for the quick precision of his language.

He was the master of the unambiguous thumbnail review, whether delivering flowers:

-- "The Pursuit of Happyness" gets a C for spelling and an A for actin