Random News of the Week (February 16, 2009 - February 22, 2009)

The 2009 Academy Awards are tonight. Hugh Jackman is hosting which may seem odd but I think it could be good. Almost like a return to the good old days when hosts actually hosted the show instead of just parody the films of the year and make political comments. I expect a much better show this year. Here are my predictions (NOTE: in most cases my prediction is different than what I want to have happen):

Best Actor
What will happen: Sean Penn (MILK)
What should happen: Mickey Rourke (THE WRESTLER)
This is pretty likely. Oh and expect at least a few references to California’s defeated Proposition 8 if this happens. We all know Penn is one of the greatest actors of our generation, but Mickey Rourke’s all consuming role in the WRESTLER really deserves the recognition.

Best Supporting Actor
What will happen: Heath Ledger (THE DARK KNIGHT)
What should happen: Robert Downey Jr. (TROPIC THUNDER)
Because TROPIC THUNDER was a comedy and because Heath tragically died, Ledger will get the award. But Downey really deserves another look. He was gold.

Best Actress
What will happen: Kate Winslet (THE READER)
What should happen: Merryl Streep (DOUBT)
Simply put, I know Streep has one multiple times but her work in DOUBT is outstanding. And honestly, I like Winslet but was she really stretching that hard in either THE READER or REVOLUTIONARY ROAD?

Best Supporting Actress
What will happen: Penelope Cruz (VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA)
What should happen: Marisa Tomei (THE WRESTLER)
It would be just great if Tomei and Rourke both picked up an Oscar for the WRESTLER but I think the buzz id leaning towards Cruz.

Animated Feature Film
What will happen: WALL-E
What should happen: WALL-E
Simply put, WALL-E is a science fiction instant classic and takes a 100 more risks than any “family” film in the past 10 years. Seriously, it makes other films like SHREK 3 look just plain embarrassing to their creators.

Best Cinematography
What will happen: THE DARK KNIGHT
What should happen: THE DARK KNIGHT
DARK KNIGHT was the best shot film this year. BENJAMIN BUTTON gets a lot of credit but for me, it didn’t build the world so fully as DARK KNIGHT did.

Best Director
What will happen: David Fincher (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE)
What should happen: Danny Boyle (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE)
Danny Boyle has quietly been some of the best films in each genre he attempts. I never miss anything he does and SLUMDOG is no different but since it will get Best Picture, I think the academy will spread some love to BENJAMIN BUTTON here.

Best Picture
What will happen: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
What should happen: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
On so many levels this towers above other films in the category but most of all in it’s emotional resonance which BUTTON somehow lacked.

News is out that Arnold Schwarzenegger will play a part in Stallone’s upcoming THE EXPENDABLES. He has already done a 1 day shoot in which he plays the governor and interacts with Stallone’s character.

A JOHNNY QUEST film is in the works with Zac Efron (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) looking to play the lead. Also Dwayne The Rock Johnson is up for the role of Race Bannon, Johnny’s family bodyguard. I love the old show but honestly, there isn’t much here to adapt I think.

Linda Hamilton has confirmed that she’s in talks to appear in TERMINATOR SALVATION. She would only be lending a couple of voice-over’s in the film. She says she’ll do it if the material is right.
Van Damme says he is doing a sequel to BLOODSPORT. “You know, like, we're gonna do Bloodsport 2, which was my first movie. And I want to do it now in a very mature way, where the guy from Bloodsport is a complete bum, maybe abusing his son.”

Ridley Scott has gone back to the drawing board in NOTTINGHAM. It’s now going to be titled simply ROBIN HOOD and Russell Crowe will no longer play both the Sheriff and Robin Hood but instead, play a single character in the film. Scott says "It is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end." The character will start out as "a bowman in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion."

In what is obviously a bunch of negotiation tactics, Mickey Rourke was out then in then out again and now possibly back in IRON MAN 2 to play the major villain role. I’m sure Marvel is low balling him and a lot will hang on what happens at the Oscars as to how this deal goes.

Even though the ending of THE WATCHMEN has been changed for the feature film, Snyder says the squid will be in the director’s cut. Not sure how they will pull that off or why, with how faithful this adaptation looks, that they would choose to change the pivotal moment in the book but it looks like the squid is back in, at least in the director’s cut.