TFC Journal at TheFilmChair.com

When Chris Evans’ name appeared on the shortlist for the lead in The First Avenger: Captain America, I said he would be the best fit for the Marvel’s cinematic universe. Apparently someone at Marvel agrees. THR reports that Evans has been offered the role of Captain America.

Evans has had his share of superpowers in the past, co-starring in 20th Century Fox’s silly Fantastic Four movies and starring in the X-Men ripoff Push. To his credit, Evans and his co-star Michael Chiklis made Fantastic Four at least watchable, playing Johnny Storm and the Thing respectively. Even though he’s signing on to something like a nine-picture deal, Captain America could finally make Evans the superstar that many people have been waiting for.

Okay, maybe I’m the only one waiting for it. But with Evans and Ryan Reynolds both starring in superhero pictures in 2011, I’m already prepared to declare ‘11 the best year for superhero movies on record.

Read more on THR’s Heat Vision blog

Lee Daniels has cast David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King, Jr. in his upcoming civil rights drama Selma, says THR. The British stage actor isn’t that well known in the States yet, but he’ll be in the George Lucas-produced Red Tails, which is scheduled for release this year.

Oyelowo joins Hugh Jackman, who’ll get his Rod Steiger on playing a racist Southern sheriff in the film.  THR also says the role of Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who was in office during the 1965 marches, is still up for grabs.

Just when you thought the Captain America casting was winding down with the announcement that Hugo Weaving is in talks to play the villain Red Skull, another name has popped up for the lead role. And he’s a real american hero.

G.I. Joe star Channing Tatum is being considered for the title role in The First Avenger: Captain America. According to THR, he joins the list now made up of Chris Evans, Mike Vogel, and Garrett Hedlund. Tatum, ever the brooding hero type, may be a better fit for the DC Universe, but it’s always nice to have an excuse to post anything about Channing Tatum on here.

Keira Knightley has also been approached to play Betsy Ross. I really don’t care either.

Read more at THR’s Heat Vision Blog

E! Online got the scoop on some upcoming Glee events that cannot be missed. According the E!, Neil Patrick Harris is currently filming his role as Mr. Schue’s high school rival in an episode directed by Joss Whedon. The Dr. Horrible star and creator will be infusing the episode with a little Aerosmith and Billy Joel.

Any other day, finding out a little about Harris’ role would be news enough, but it pales in comparison (sorry @ActuallyNPH) to the word the Gaga phenomenon  and the Glee phenomenon will intersect. Lady Gaga, like the original queen of pop, Miss Madonna, has agreed to let Glee cover one of her songs. Whether or not that equals a guest appearance, well, who knows. Most sites are citing the E! Online article saying that she’s a guest star, though nothing in the text actually says that for sure. Stay tuned.

We do know that Kristin Chenoweth will be back again, though. And I’m happy just knowing that.

Read more at E! Online

I caught Breathless at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Springs, Maryland, a over a year ago. It wasn’t a 35mm print, but rather a projected DVD. When you consider what an old print probably looks like today (if one was even available), I’m sure I was better off watching Breathless on a disc.

But this year a newly restored version Godard’s Breathless is coming to America.

From indieWire:

Rialto Pictures has acquired the U.S. theatrical rights to the 1960 film. To mark the 50th anniversary of its release, a new 35mm restoration, recently unveiled at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, will have its American premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, as part of the first-ever TCM Classic Film Festival (April 22-25). The theatrical release launches May 28 at New York’s Film Forum, followed by national roll-out.

Read more at indieWire.

I ignored the rumor that John Krasinski was in the running for the lead in The First Avenger: Captain America because it reeked of stupidity. FOX411? Not so much. Thankfully we have Mike Fleming at DHD to set the record straight.

According to Fleming, Krasinski is out, as are Chace Crawford, Michael Cassidy, Patrick Flueger, and Scott Porter. (Being a Friday Night Fan, I was rooting for Porter. He has the look, but I know he doesn’t have the presence.)

Only Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy) and Mike Vogel (Cloverfield) remain from the original group of seven. Fleming also reports that Marvel has added Chris Evans to its list of Cap candidates.

Of the three, Evans feels like he would fit best in this Marvel film universe. Let’s just hope the good folks at Marvel don’t hold Fantastic Four against him.

Best Picture
The Hurt Locker

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Actress
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Supporting Actress
Mo’Nique, Precious

Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Screenplay, Original
The Hurt Locker

Best Screenplay, Adapted
Precious!!!!!!!!!!

Best Animated Feature
Up

Best Art Direction
Avatar

Best Cinematography
Avatar

Best Costume Design
The Young Victoria

Best Documentary Feature
The Cove

Best Documentary Short
Music by Prudence

Best Film Editing
The Hurt Locker

Best Foreign Language Film
The Secret in Their Eyes

Best Makeup
Star Trek

Best Music, Original Score
Up

Best Music, Original Song
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)”, Crazy Heart

Best Short, Animated
Logorama

Best Short, Live Action
The New Tenants

Best Sound Editing
The Hurt Locker!

Best Sound Mixing
The Hurt Locker

Best Visual Effects
Avatar

Martin Scorsese doesn’t seem like a guy who would work the media. We’ve seen him give acceptance speeches. He rambles. Oh so adorably, he rambles.

Still, with Shutter Island hitting theaters on Friday, you can take what I’m about to post here with a grain of salt.

1.) At the Shutter Island’s Berlinale press conference on Saturday, Scorsese let it slip that he and Robert De Niro were talking about revisiting the gangster genre. THR caught Scorese’s quote, which states that he and his former go-to leading man were discussing “something that has to do with that world. No doubt about it. But it’s from the vantage point of older men looking back.” Whoa, right? Wait for No. 2.

2.) Today, BlackBook posted a story that says that Scorsese and Lars von Trier are mulling a Taxi Driver remake… starring Robert De Niro. Say what you will about classics and cultural artifacts, but I’m very interested to see what could happen here, even moreso than I am about Martin and Bob reuniting for one last job. Whether this is, as BlackBook points out, a Five Obstructions scenario or if it’s just plain bullshit, it’s certainly fun to think about. Could we be in for a Dogme 95 Taxi Driver? Scorsese’s probably to technical (and violent) for that, but hey, I’d pay still pay to see it.

Even if the rumors turn out to be completely false, I’m happy to use them as a way to once again mention Scorsese’s latest picture, Shutter Island, opens nationwide on Friday. You’re welcome, Marty.

HBO has officially picked up Todd Haynes’ Mildred Pierce, a five-hour miniseries based on the classic James M. Cain novel and starring Kate Winslet. THR reports that the premium channel distribute and co-produce the noir adaptation.

Why should we care? This generation’s great Kate, of course.

Winslet will play the role of Mildred Pierce Beragon, a single mother in Depression Era Los Angeles who attempts to maintain her social status and her relationship with her daughter. It’s the role that won Joan Crawford her first and only Oscar when the novel was adapted to film in 1945.

More at THR.

Check out Kate’s last appearance on HBO, her guest role on Extras, after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

The women behind Elle Woods are getting ready to take on Miss Mona. Variety reports that Universal has tapped the Legally Blonde masterminds Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith to write a remake of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey will produce.

The 1982 big-screen musical starred Dolly Parton as a Texas madam whose brothel comes under attack by the moral police a TV newsman.

Yes, the remake will include musical numbers. That’s really all I needed to know.