Giovanni Ribisi joins 'Gangster Squad'

Warner Bros. is currently developing "The Gangster Squad," and Giovanni Ribisi is the latest to join the crime drama which Ruben Fleischer is directing. Also on board are Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena and Josh Brolin.

Will Beall wrote the script, which focuses on the LAPD's gang of mercenary cops who were after gangster Micky Cohen (Penn) in the 1940s. Deadline says Ribisi will play Conway Keeler, a cop who is also a master of electronics and wires.

Ben Affleck was originally attached to direct "Squad," but Fleischer took over. As for Ribisi, he starred in "Public Enemies" and "Avatar," and he will soon be seen in "The Rum Diary," "Contrband" and "M."

Movie Review: "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"

Seen on: September 24, 2010

The players: Director: Oliver Stone, Writers: Allan Loeb, Stephen Schiff, Cast: Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Carey Mulligan, Josh Brolin

Facts of interest: None.

The plot: Gordon Gekko gets out of prison and tries to get back into the game while a young Wall Street trader learns his lessons the hard way.

Our thoughts: The global financial meltdown is just what Oliver Stone needed as the backdrop for a “Wall Street” sequel, and 23 years after the original’s release, here we are: “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” has landed in theaters, and Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) is back in action and still looking sharp. Too bad he doesn’t have a bigger role in this moderately entertaining follow-up.

Click to read more ...

Movie Review: "Jonah Hex"

Seen on: June 18, 2010

The players: Director: Jimmy Hayward, Writers: Neveldine & Taylor, Cast: Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, John Malkovich

Facts of interest: Hayward also helmed "Horton Hears a Who!"

The plot: Jonah Hex is a badass bounty hunter chasing down the worst bad guy ever: John Malkovich.

Our thoughts: “Jonah Hex” is a bloody mess of a movie. It’s an utterly chaotic big-screen adventure lacking a decent story and intriguing characters, and the whole film just feels like it was rushed without any passion or attention to detail. On top of that, it’s also a boring flick, and this despite its short 80-minute running time.

Click to read more ...

Finally! First 'Jonah Hex' trailer debuts online

It sure took a while, but the first trailer for Jimmy Hayward's upcoming action adventure "Jonah Hex" has finally found its way to the web. After all, the movie is opening in theaters June 18, 2010, and this is the first footage we see from the film based on John Albano and Tony DeZuniga’s graphic novel.

As expected, the trailer boasts a bunch of gun battles and fun action sequences, and it looks like "Jonah Hex" will be quite the entertaining adventure. Brolin seems to be the right guy for the role, but I'm still not entirely sold on Megan Fox. This character may work for her, but she fails to impress in this trailer.

Click to read more ...

First 'Jonah Hex' footage hits web

Jimmy Hayward's "Jonah Hex" is supposed to hit theaters June 18, 2010, but so far, we haven't seen that much of the action adventure starring Josh Brolin, Megan Fox and John Malkovich. Well, SyFy premiered a short trailer preview recently, and that spot has now landed on the Web. Check it out below while it lasts.

I know it's too short to really appreciate, but this thing does promise a lot of boom and bang. "Hex" follows a bounty hunter and gunslinger with a scarred face who's tracking down a voodoo practitioner (John Malkovich) trying to raise an undead army of confederate soldiers. Michael Shannon co-stars.

Click to read more ...

Big casting update: Anton Yelchin, Mandy Moore, Harrison Ford, Kellan Lutz & Aziz Ansari

- Allison Janney, Oliver Platt, Alia Shawkat and Adam Brody have all joined Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener and Leighton Meester in Julian Farino's comedy "The Oranges." The film follows a man who has an affair with the daughter of a family living on the same street. (Variety)

- Craig Gillespie is prepping a new version of "Fright Night" for DreamWorks, and Anton Yelchin (pictured above) ("Terminator: Salvation") is in negotiations to play the lead character. Marti Noxon wrote the screenplay, about a teenager who finds out his neighbor is a vampire. (Variety)

- Mandy Moore, Kellan Lutz, James Brolin and Jane Seymour have joined Dermot Mulroney's directorial flick "Love, Wedding, Marriage," a comedy following a marriage counselor whose life takes a crazy turn when she hears her parents are getting a divorce. (THR)

Click to read more ...

Universal cancels drug thriller 'Cartel'

Universal has shut down pre-production for "Cartel," a drug drama that was supposed to start shooting in a few weeks. Deadline New York says the studio decided to cancel the project because of script and budget issues, as well as security risks of shooting this thing in Mexico. Yeah, that one I can understand.

Josh Brolin was on board as the lead character, a man trying to protect his son after his wife is murdered in the world of drug cartels. Peter Craig wrote the script, and Asger Leth was supposed to direct. At one stage, Sean Penn was attached to star in the film, befire he left it and Brolin came on.

Will Josh Brolin star in 'Men in Black 3'?

Oscar-nominated actor Josh Brolin ("No Country for Old Men") could put on a black suit and join Columbia's upcoming "Men In Black 3" sequel, which is not yet greenlit but expected to open in 2011.

The Los Angeles Times says Brolin is being considered for a role, although details are unknown at this point. He could play an MIB agent working with Tommy Lee Jones' K. Or he could play a younger K.

Whatever his role will end up being, I like the idea of having Brolin in the third "Men in Black." No deals have been set, but Jones and Will Smith are expected to return as well. Barry Sonnenfeld may direct.

Click to read more ...

First official photo from 'Jonah Hex' is online

We've already seen him on set and on a poster, but here is Josh Brolin in the first official photo from Jimmy Hayward's upcoming big-screen adaptation of "Jonah Hex."

This still is more of a mysterious shot, and as you can see, it doesn't show us Hex's entire face. For a better look at his badass scars, check out this set image right here.

"Hex" follows a bounty hunter and gunslinger with a scarred face who's tracking down a voodoo practitioner (John Malkovich) trying to raise an undead army of confederate soldiers.

Click to read more ...

Matt Damon, Josh Brolin to join 'True Grit'

Joel and Ethan Coen are known for working with great actors, and the cast for their next film "True Grit" is getting better and better. The latest to join the Paramount project: Matt Damon and Josh Brolin.

Variety says Damon and Brolin are in talks to join Jeff Briges in the Coen's new version of the 1969 Western based on the book by Charles Portis. The film heads into prod soon and will open next year.

Bridges is on board to play a U.S. marshal who joins forces with a lawman (Damon) and a 14-year-old girl to track down her dad's killer. Brolin would play the bad man. The Coens also penned the screenplay.

Click to read more ...