Jacob Combs, Author at The Playlist

Comic-Con: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg May Direct ‘Jay And Seth vs. The Apocalypse’; Additional “Secret” Cast Being Sought

Jacob Combs — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:48:00 +0000

In 2007, “Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse,” an end-of-the-world short starring—you guessed it—Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogen, went up on YouTube. In two weeks, it had more than 50,000 hits. Evan Goldberg (“Superbad,” “Pineapple Express”) and Jason Stone, who co-wrote the short with Rogen, started shopping around for a feature based on it, with several companies vying for the rights. Mandate Pictures picked it up, but there hasn’t been much movement on it since, aside from Baruchel saying the hope is the film will be filled with celebrity cameos.

Continue reading Comic-Con: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg May Direct ‘Jay And Seth vs. The Apocalypse’; Additional “Secret” Cast Being Sought at The Playlist.

Will Smith To Play Bad-Ass Vampire Version Of Cain (Yes, As In From The Bible)

Jacob Combs — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:21:00 +0000

When we think Will Smith, two kinds of films come to mind: macho action flicks like “Men in Black” and “I Am Legend,” and emotional (and sometimes manipulatively so) tearjerkers like “The Pursuit of Happyness” and his most recent “Seven Pounds.” Generally, biblical interpretations aren’t really on the list.

Things change, though, and Smith has signed on to star in and produce “The Legend of Cain,” a supposedly epic re-imagination of the good ol’ first murderer himself.

Continue reading Will Smith To Play Bad-Ass Vampire Version Of Cain (Yes, As In From The Bible) at The Playlist.

‘Grindhouse’ Double Feature DVD Release Coming October 5

Jacob Combs — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:42:00 +0000

Remember “Grindhouse,” the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double feature that was going to bring about a renaissance in ’70s-style horror films? The films themselves were a flop at the box office, but Rodriguez’s “Planet Terror” and Tarantino’s “Death Proof” did leave an impression with their devotees even if they’re both neither director’s best work (we prefer the fun John Carpenter-esque ‘Terror,’ frankly).

Far more interesting were the faux-trailers played before and in between the two films: Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving,” Edgar Wright’s “Don’t” and Rob Zombie’s “Werewolf Women of the S.S.” Although the two features were each given a stand-alone DVD release (with extended, uncut versions), a full-experience, single-disc version never materialized.

Continue reading ‘Grindhouse’ Double Feature DVD Release Coming October 5 at The Playlist.

Are ‘Twilight’ Films Ruining Bloodsuckers? 16 Vampire Films That Can Restore Your Faith

Jacob Combs — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:50:00 +0000

So “Twilight: Eclipse” opened on Wednesday, and by lunchtime today it looks like it’ll have already crossed the $100 million barrier (it’s made back its budget in less than three days and is breaking myriad records already) suggesting the appeal of the sparkly teen vampires hasn’t lessened in the 18 months since the first movie opened. While we may not be fans of the series (although in fairness, our reviewer hated “Eclipse” slightly less than the first two), it’s clear that the vampire myth is as compelling as it ever was (Summit, it’s on you to green light some good movies now that you’re extra flush with cash).

Continue reading Are ‘Twilight’ Films Ruining Bloodsuckers? 16 Vampire Films That Can Restore Your Faith at The Playlist.

Sean Penn To Star In & Produce Biopic On Surfer Dorian ‘Doc’ Paskowitz

Jacob Combs — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Looks like Sean Penn’s ready to get back on the board. Back in 1982, before he was a household name and two-time Oscar winner (that’s “Mystic River” and “Milk,” in case you’ve forgotten), Penn smoked and surfed his way through “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” as stoner Jeff Spicoli.

Variety reports that the actor is now in talks to take on a project based on legendary surfer Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz as producer and star.

Continue reading Sean Penn To Star In & Produce Biopic On Surfer Dorian ‘Doc’ Paskowitz at The Playlist.

Watch: The First Five Minutes Of ‘The Disappearance of Alice Creed’

Jacob Combs — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:49:00 +0000

If this preview, courtesy of Comingsoon, is any indication, “The Disappearance of Alice Creed,” will evince a slow but tense simmer.

The story centers around two ex-cons, Vic (Eddie Marsan) and Danny (Martin Compston) who hatch a plan to kidnap Alice (Gemma Arterton), the daughter of a rich businessman. The crooks think the plot will set them for life, but their target defies their expectations. Terrified at first, it becomes clear that Arteton (“Clash Of The Titans,” “Quantum of Solace”) is up for the fight, and she dives into a three-way battle of wits and wills with her would-be captors.

Continue reading Watch: The First Five Minutes Of ‘The Disappearance of Alice Creed’ at The Playlist.

An Appreciation: The Films Of Michael Winterbottom

Jacob Combs — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:45:00 +0000

To say director Michael Winterbottom is simply a prolific filmmaker is a colossal understatement.

The British helmer has shot eighteen feature-length films since his 1995 debut with “Butterfly Kiss” (two of which are documentaries made with Mat Whitecross) and he’s barely slowed down to take a breather since, taking on disparate project after project, of different styles, genres, and tones, including a moody, existential sci-fi film (“Code 46”), a rock concert porn film (“9 Songs”), a bleak chamber drama (“Jude”), a serial killer film (‘Butterfly Kiss’), the post-modern Madchester music scene saga (“24 Hour Party People”) a Western (“The Claim”) and his latest, a pulpy and dazzling noir (“The Killer Inside Me”) to name just a few.

Continue reading An Appreciation: The Films Of Michael Winterbottom at The Playlist.

Watch: ‘Toy Story’ Characters Discover The Internet In Newest Google Ad

Jacob Combs — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Remember that Google ad from this year’s Super Bowl? The one about an American boy trying to impress a French girl during his semester abroad that made everyone you were watching the game with go “awww” because of its touching (and low-budget) charm?

Well, Google is back at it again, with a new spot called “Toy Story: The Discovery,” utilizing the voices of the characters from “Toy Story.” Like the previous one, the ad consists of nothing more than a series of Google searches (in this case made by Andy’s toys themselves) over an instrumental remix of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” from the original “Toy Story.”

Like the Paris ad, it’s simple but effective, and features appearances (well, dialogue snippets from the past films) from several of the franchise’s most memorable characters, including Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear and makes a not-so-subtle nod to the plot of the upcoming “Toy Story 3.”

Earlier this summer, we wondered whether Pixar could pull off a perfect movie trilogy with the third installment of their biggest franchise; we’ll find out when the film hits theaters this Friday.

Continue reading Watch: ‘Toy Story’ Characters Discover The Internet In Newest Google Ad at The Playlist.

Watch: ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Trailer Unveiled

Jacob Combs — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:53:00 +0000

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” may have been the teen phenomenon of the moment at the MTV Movie Awards last night, but those in attendance were also the lucky first viewers of the teaser for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Although we’re skeptical of calling the first view of a teaser trailer a premiere, the unveiling does mark the beginning of the end of a massive movie franchise and arguably the largest pop culture fixture of the last decade.

Continue reading Watch: ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Trailer Unveiled at The Playlist.

Abbas Kiarostami Already Mounting Next Picture, ‘Father And Son’

Jacob Combs — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:30:00 +0000

After premiering his latest film “Certified Copy” to applause in competition in Cannes, celebrated Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami is already preparing his next film. A Palme d’Or winner, for “Taste of Cherry” (1997), and nominee two other times (“Through the Olive Trees” in 1994 and “Ten” in 2002), Kiarostami has made something of a home for himself in Cannes, although “Certified Copy” marks his first feature film set outside his native Iran.

Continue reading Abbas Kiarostami Already Mounting Next Picture, ‘Father And Son’ at The Playlist.

Cannes Buzz: Takeshi Kitano’s ‘Outrage’; A Return To Form? Is That A Good Thing?

Jacob Combs — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:12:00 +0000

When “Fireworks” set off, well, fireworks at the Venice Film Festival way back in 1997, the audacious, brutal, and beautiful film introduced the world to its auteur — “Beat Takeshi” Kitano.

Since taking home the Golden Lion in 1997, Kitano’s won acclaim (or at least knowing chuckles and points at the screen) for his role in the cult classic “Battle Royale,” as well as for his glowering about in Nagisa Oshima’s period melodrama/thriller “Taboo.” As a director, Kitano’s own period action movie “Zatoichi” won considerable praise, including a cluster of awards at Venice ’04, but “In competition” at Cannes in 1999, his slice-of-life drama “Kikujiro” was soundly panned.

Continue reading Cannes Buzz: Takeshi Kitano’s ‘Outrage’; A Return To Form? Is That A Good Thing? at The Playlist.

Watch: Trailer For Hideo Nakata’s Cannes Entry ‘Chatroom’

Jacob Combs — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:43:00 +0000

This is a Cannes entry? We just finished watching the lengthy three-minute trailer for Hideo Nakata’s “Chatroom” and we’re clearly not seeing what Cannes festival organizers did in order to give it a slot in the Un Certain Regard programming of the upcoming fest. Nakata, best known for directing scare flicks “The Ring” and “Dark Water,” this is more of a thriller than the traditional horror fare he usually serves up, it seems like a straight-to-DVD movie with slightly better production values.

Continue reading Watch: Trailer For Hideo Nakata’s Cannes Entry ‘Chatroom’ at The Playlist.

A Million Things Happened This Weekend

Jacob Combs — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Holy shit this weekend (and late Friday night) was nuts. In case you’re one of those readers that is RSS/Twitter challenged (surprisingly more than we thought) and you only use the main page to view our stories (how are you supposed to find out if Google shuts us down and we move to another alternate site in the meantime? You should keep tabs on our Twitter), here’s a recap of a whole ton of news that we reported this weekend.

Continue reading A Million Things Happened This Weekend at The Playlist.

In Theaters: ‘Robin Hood,’ Just Wright,’ ‘Looking For Eric’

Jacob Combs — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Funny little line-up this week with “Robin Hood” opening against a couple of female-skewing romantic releases. A Ridley Scott/Russell Crowe action film should be a bonafide summer smash, but audiences seem more interested in Tony Stark’s grandstanding than Crowe’s brooding these days and the reviews are very mixed. The sports themed romance “Just Wright” should do modest business alongside “Letters to Juliet” this week. On the limited front, a favorite from Cannes last year, “Looking for Eric” opens in NYC and LA, along with the worthwhile documentary “Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo.” Here’s the rundown:

In Wide Release: The lastest from team Scott/Crowe made its splashy, star-studded premiere on the Cannes red carpet earlier this week but despite all the glitz and glamor it remains to be seen if audiences are in the mood for a serious, epic and long (two and half hours plus) journey through Sherwood Forest.

Continue reading In Theaters: ‘Robin Hood,’ Just Wright,’ ‘Looking For Eric’ at The Playlist.

Would You Have Guessed Zack Snyder’s ‘Sucker Punch’ Would Be In IMAX 3D? Stallone Says ‘Rambo V’ Is Still Over Despite Promotion In Cannes

Jacob Combs — Fri, 14 May 2010 03:13:00 +0000

It was announced today that Warner Bros. would be releasing Zack Snyder’s “Sucker Punch” on IMAX 3D March 25th, 2011. Already announced for regular vanilla 3D, it will be Snyder’s fourth straight directorial effort in the IMAX format, making him the unofficial IMAX go-to guy, we guess. We can’t wait until Snyder’s personal pet project about growing up in the slums opens on the widest screen possible in 2022.

Alan Tudyk has been added to the fairly impressive cast of “Transformers III: Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots,” joining a crew of thesps that includes John Malkovich and Frances McDormand as people who are totally, incredibly above this type of shit.

Continue reading Would You Have Guessed Zack Snyder’s ‘Sucker Punch’ Would Be In IMAX 3D? Stallone Says ‘Rambo V’ Is Still Over Despite Promotion In Cannes at The Playlist.

Timothy Olyphant Replaces Sharlto Copley In Sci-Fi Alien Flick, ‘I Am Number Four‎’

Jacob Combs — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:37:00 +0000

Update: It turns out the real reason Copley has been replaced is both much more amazing and hilarious than the boring “scheduling conflicts” story. According to FilmDrunk, “Sharlto Copley wanted wear a prosthetic nose and fake ears like Spock and look like an alien in the movie, while director DJ Caruso was adamant that the aliens were supposed to look just like regular humans, hence why they’re able to fit in. This was apparently such a sticking point that neither would budge, and Copley left the project.” That is the best departure story we’ve heard in a long time.

Continue reading Timothy Olyphant Replaces Sharlto Copley In Sci-Fi Alien Flick, ‘I Am Number Four‎’ at The Playlist.

Robert DeNiro Becomes A Member Of ‘The Killer Elite’

Jacob Combs — Tue, 11 May 2010 02:41:00 +0000

As if there wasn’t enough machismo on the set of “The Killer Elite,” headliners Jason Statham and Clive Owen just got some competition in the ass-kicking business. Robert DeNiro is joining the cast of the adaptation of the Ranulph Fiennes novel (originally titled “The Feathermen” — kinky) as Hunter, the mentor and friend to Statham’s character. It was thirteen years ago that DeNiro was roughing up guys in “Ronin,” so we guess the “action movie mentor” stage was inevitable, but we’re still so bummed to see the guy become a graybeard.

Continue reading Robert DeNiro Becomes A Member Of ‘The Killer Elite’ at The Playlist.

In Theaters: ‘Iron Man 2,’ ‘Babies,’ ‘Mother & Child’

Jacob Combs — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:23:00 +0000

Summer has officially begun with “Iron Man 2” hitting theaters just a couple short years after the original shocked the box office and many critics as well. Some experts are expecting the first weekend grosses to approach those of the current record holder, “The Dark Knight,” however with Thursday midnight screenings only bringing in $7.5 million versus $18.5 million by “TDK,” it seems that results might be lower than predicted. With “Babies” 543 screen opening no match for the record-breaking 4,380 screens for Marvel’s main moneymaker, options at the megaplex are limited this weekend so if superheroes aren’t your thing, you may want to check out your local arthouse instead.

Continue reading In Theaters: ‘Iron Man 2,’ ‘Babies,’ ‘Mother & Child’ at The Playlist.

Universal Picks Up ‘The Man With The Iron Fists’ To Be Written, Directed, Starring & Scored By RZA

Jacob Combs — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:23:00 +0000

RZA is getting ready to drop some mad knowledge on the film world. Universal will be backing his directorial debut “The Man With The Iron Fists” which the Wu-Tang Clan member will direct himself based on a script co-written by himself and Eli Roth.

The film, which as been in the works now for a couple of years is, according to Roth, RZA’s “reinventing the Kung Fu movie genre.” RZA tried to describe the project late last year and frankly, we didn’t understand what the hell he was talking about:

“I don’t think I want to really describe [the premise], I think I just want to say that we’re striving to do what I did in hip-hop for film.

Continue reading Universal Picks Up ‘The Man With The Iron Fists’ To Be Written, Directed, Starring & Scored By RZA at The Playlist.

Jason Statham Joins ‘Safe’; Magnetic Fields Doc ‘Strange Powers’ Gets Picked Up; ‘Carlos’ Poster Revealed & More

Jacob Combs — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:33:00 +0000

The poster for “Carlos,” Olivier Assayas’ epic biopic on famed terrorist Carlos The Jackal has landed and it’s…..okay. It doesn’t change our anticipation for the film, which is fairly high. “Carlos” will premiere at Cannes in a little over a week in its full five-and-a-half-hour cut. The full version will hit Sundance Channel in a mini-series format (as it’s originally intended) and a shorter theatrical cut will make the arthouse rounds later this year.

Jason Statham has joined the thriller “Safe” that is set to be directed by Boaz Yakin.

Continue reading Jason Statham Joins ‘Safe’; Magnetic Fields Doc ‘Strange Powers’ Gets Picked Up; ‘Carlos’ Poster Revealed & More at The Playlist.

Watch: New ‘Inception’ Trailer & TV Spot, Plus New IMAX Poster

Jacob Combs — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:18:00 +0000

Update #2: Okay a high quality video is now floating around, and we’ve got the stream below. Again, this is a pretty goddamn incredible trailer.

Update: So a better quality version of the trailer is now online, but you have play the Mind Crime game in order to find it. Super annoying. Good job hiding a highly anticipated trailer within the confines of a viral game only nerds are playing Warner Bros! Way to get the word out.

Continue reading Watch: New ‘Inception’ Trailer & TV Spot, Plus New IMAX Poster at The Playlist.

Liam Gallagher Producing ‘The Longest Cocktail Party,’ The Story Of The Beatles’ Demise

Jacob Combs — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:10:00 +0000

Liam Gallagher. Singer. Songwriter. Professional asshole. And now, apparently, movie producer. The cranky former frontman of Oasis is bringing the story of the demise of the Beatles to the big screen after securing the rights to Richard DiLello’s memoir The Longest Cocktail Party: An Insider’s Diary Of The Beatles, Their Million Dollar Apple Empire And Its Wild Rise And Fall.

The book chronicles the contentious years between 1967 and 1970 from the perspective of DiLello, an American teenager hired as Apple Records’ ‘house hippie,’ who eventually moved his way up to being director of public relations.

Continue reading Liam Gallagher Producing ‘The Longest Cocktail Party,’ The Story Of The Beatles’ Demise at The Playlist.

Review: ‘The Trotsky’ Isn’t The Revolutionary Comedy It Wants To Be

Jacob Combs — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:23:00 +0000

Leon Bronstein (Jay Baruchel) thinks his life bears more than just a coincidental resemblance to the socialist leader Leon Trotsky. After reading Trotsky’s autobiography My Life, Bronstein determines that is, in fact, the reincarnation of Trotsky and believes that his life will mirror his own. He will marry young, start a revolution, be betrayed and then eventually assassinated. Comedies don’t get much more high concept than this, and despite a spirited performance by Baruchel, “The Trotsky” isn’t quite the revolutionary comedy it wants to be.

Continue reading Review: ‘The Trotsky’ Isn’t The Revolutionary Comedy It Wants To Be at The Playlist.

‘Captain America’ Lines Up Bad Guy #2: Toby Jones To Play Arnim Zola

Jacob Combs — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:43:00 +0000

With “Captain America: The First Avenger” gearing up to get in front of cameras, director Joe Johnston is getting the casting puzzle pieces in place. Just a few days ago, the long rumored Hugo Weaving was finally locked in as Red Skull and today comes word that Toby Jones is in final negotiations to play evil scientist Arnim Zola, adding yet another foe for Captain America to handle.

For those of you, like this writer, who are not up on your comics lore “Zola was a genetic engineer who created clones and various monstrosities for Hitler.

Continue reading ‘Captain America’ Lines Up Bad Guy #2: Toby Jones To Play Arnim Zola at The Playlist.

Carey Mulligan, Ellen Page, Kristen Stewart, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman & More Evidently Eyeing Fincher’s ‘Dragon Tattoo’

Jacob Combs — Fri, 07 May 2010 02:45:00 +0000

Deadline is reporting that seemingly every young actress in Hollywood is in pursuing a role in David Fincher’s upcoming adaptation “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.” The aforementioned Carey Mulligan who’s been loosely connected to the role for a while, plus Ellen Page, Kristen Stewart, Mia Wasikowska, Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Olivia Thirlby, and Scarlett Johansson are all apparently interested in the lead part of Lisbeth Salander with Mulligan apparently having taken writer and executive producer Steve Zaillian out to lunch and Ellen Page writing producer Scott Rudin a personal note.

Continue reading Carey Mulligan, Ellen Page, Kristen Stewart, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman & More Evidently Eyeing Fincher’s ‘Dragon Tattoo’ at The Playlist.