Beware The Production Credit

There's always been a bit of controversy surrounding production credits, but it's a topic that bears revisiting as this weekend's Sanctum hits the market. The film has James Cameron's name plastered all over it, but it's pretty clear that he didn't have much to do with the story. The 3-D technology? It looks solid, he definitely must have lent a hand there. Still, though the The Producer's Guild has credit guidelines, none of the studios have ratified them yet, which leads to situations precisely like this, a mediocre film with a monster name attached.
We've seen this before, (See: Michael Bay, A Nightmare on Elm Street) but there's a larger point to make, and that's this: if the producer is the main draw, you're already in trouble. Because most eventual producers first make their names as directors, Quentin Tarantino comes to mind, but the projects they truly love they handle themselves. Of course, there are big name producers like Jerry Bruckheimer or Jon Peters who never get into directing, but you rarely see their name on the marketing materials. So if they ever say "From the guy who brought you Movie X!" and you don't know who that guy is ...then you can probably skip it and save yourself the heartache.

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Kristen Stewart Goes 'On the Road'

Anytime you adapt a classic work of literature, you're inviting disaster. Still, these photos look really solid, the film has a $25m budget, and Hedlund and Stewart, although they have fans, don't carry with them the lofty expectations certain actors would into this project. I'm convinced this could thrive, because Kristen Stewart has been doing solid work that's been lost in theTwilight avalanche for years. Films like The Yellow Handkerchief, Welcome to the Rileys, Into the Wild, andAdventureland prove the girl can really act. Likewise, Hedlund survived Country Strong, a film that went completely off the rails ... but not because of Hedlund. If you'd like to peruse a few more images, so you can agree with me, check them out here.

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Superman Gets One Right

I've gone on the record a few dozen times claiming that the Superman franchise will be the first casualty of the irony era. Batman's darkness is still relevant, the same goes for The X-Men, and there's every reason to think the Spider-Man films can stay wacky and vibrant. But Superman? Out of place in our culture. When films like The Social Network and The Hurt Locker are considered indicative of our culture, you know we’ve lost out innocence. That’s the precise peril the latest Superman was in.
But no more! They did something right, and that something is Henry Cavill. At first blush Cavill, the Brit who was passed over in favor of Brandon Routh on Superman Returns, doesn't seem a likely Superman. Cavill was in the running to be James Bond, a role he also lost out on. In fact, the past seven years have played out like a horror show for the actor, he's been tested and passed on for more franchise roles than most actors would dare dream of. Which is precisely why I love him for the part, because he's been through a hefty amount of yearning. He's not the golden boy, Mr. America, God-like hero above it all. He's everyman, or at least as everyman as an actor can get. Plus, and not for nothing, he's been very solid in The Tudors. This Cavill fellow possesses some grit, he's been knocked down and he keeps coming back for more.
As such, nice work Superman: Man of Steel. You've got our attention amidst a crowded 2012 crowd.

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What Steven Tyler did on ‘American Idol’ to warrant an apology

‘American Idol’ apparently felt the need to apologize for Steven Tyler’s actions despite the fact that he probably won’t change much.

On last night’s episode, the show opened with an apology, states RadarOnline.com. The show then played a clip where contestant Jake Muck entered the room.

Tyler asked him what Muck rhymed with and the contestant responded, “Duck?” Tyler wasn’t done as he told the contestant to “Read my lips,” where it was then implied that Tyler said the F-word.

Many don’t believe this was all that bad of a situation as Tyler has said and will continue to say some pretty out there stuff.

Do you think the apology was needed?

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Kim Kardashian laughs off affair rumors

Kim Kardashian is used to rumors running wild about her, so when the latest one came out, she couldn’t help but joke about it.

There is now a rumor out that Scott Disick, Kourtney Kardashian’s beau, is really into Kim. So Kim took to Twitter to kill the rumor: “OMG Scott. I had no idea u felt this way. Kourtney, we need to talk!” reports UsMagazine.com.

Scott then joked back about the pretty odd rumor: “I had to confess, I couldn’t take it anymore!” Sounds like things are still fine between Kourtney and Scott.

What do you think about the couple’s relationship?

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Justin Bieber booed at Knicks game

Justin Bieber … booed?!

OK, the pint-sized singer might be suffering a little bit of backlash as he continues to work the media ahead of the release of his 3D motion picture “Never Say Never.” Apparently Bieber was attending last night’s New York Knicks game in Madison Square Garden and was vocally booed when shown on the Jumbotron.

TheFabLife.com even has video.

Is it Bieber backlash? Mere jealousy on the part of the dudes in the Garden? Probably. But so long as Justin has his female fans, he’ll continue to sell billions of albums.

“Girl broke thru security to touch him; she returned to her seat sobbing & shaking,” SamDotCom tweeted from the game.

“Never Say Never” opens everywhere on Feb. 11. Think any guys will be in the theater seats?

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“Harry Potter” franchise receiving special BAFTA award

 

I’ve gone on record to claim that the “Harry Potter” franchise will go down in history as the greatest cinematic accomplishment of my generation. Eight pictures from multiple directors utilizing the same brilliantly selected cast to create a massive visual recreation of J.K. Rowling’s deep, rich, challenging and rewarding vision. It’s incomparable. What’s better? Three “Lord of the Rings” films? Two “Star Wars” films? (Because the rest were crap). Nope. “Potter” has set a new precedent, and now another distinguished body is weighing in with higher praise.

The BAFTA awards, Britain’s equivalent of the Oscars, are going to honor the “Harry Potter” franchise with an award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema, according to Reuters. The trophy will be presented at the BAFTA’s Feb. 13 ceremony in London. Rowling and series producer David Heyman will accept the award on behalf of the films.

“The Harry Potter films have not only created stars in front of the camera, but have also highlighted the expertise within the British craft and technical industries, supporting a vast array of jobs throughout production,” BAFTA officials said in a statement.

“On behalf of the over 2,000 people who worked in front of and behind the camera on each of the Harry Potter films I would like to say how honored we all are to receive this Award,” Heyman said. “And thank you to Jo Rowling for entrusting us to bring her magnificent books to the screen.”

Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.

 

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Kristen Stewart negotiating for Snow White role

So that source feeding Kristen Stewart news to the N.Y. Daily News turned out to be incorrect (if Stewart’s reps are to be believed), and the “Twilight” actress had no intention of ever playing Lois Lane in Zack Snyder’s planned “Superman” reboot.

Instead, it sounds like Stewart’s getting closer to committing to the lead role in Rupert Sanders’ “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

According to Heat Vision, Stewart is “in negotiations” to co-star alongside Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron for an action-adventure take on the classic fairy tale. Stewart would play Snow White, while Mortensen would play a hunter who agrees to help defend the princess from the evil queen (Theron).

“The deal is not done and could still fall apart, but both sides want it to happen,” Heat Vision writes, adding that Universal “made an offer [to the actress] over the weekend.”

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