The Screening Log - blogging film

Here is your dose of film news for August 7, 2009:

Filmmaker John Hughes, whose credits include "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Sixteen Candles," died of a sudden heart attack Thursday in New York. He was 59. Some of his writing credits include "Dennis the Menace" and the "Home Alone" films.

Robert Luketic is in talks to direct "Barbarella," a new version of Roger Vadim's 1968 sci-fi adventure starring Jane Fonda. Joe Gazzam will write the script, which follows a sexual chick traveling the universe and undertaking different missions. Luketic recently helmed "The Ugly Truth." (THR)

Niki Caro, whose credits include the brilliant drama "Whale Rider" and "North Country," is set to direct "Buttercup," about a man who tries to get his life back in order after the death of his wife. Alice O'Neil wrote the script. (THR)

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Saturday

25Jul2009

'The Ugly Truth' web reviews

Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 1:25AM | By

Gerard Butler and Kathering Heigl first hate, then warm up to each other in Robert Luketic's romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth," about a TV producer struggling to keep control of a ruthless host. Here's what some of the Web's critics have to say about the film:

• Cinema Blend's Katey Rich: "As the story wraps up and everyone gathers round to watch Mike and Abby come together at last, it's disturbing to realize that no one in this movie has actually learned anything."

• Cinematical's Jeffrey M. Anderson: "The answer is because The Ugly Truth actually knows next to nothing about dating advice, the behaviors of men and women, or much of anything else romantically human. It's a factory widget created in a boardroom."

• Joblo's Chris Bumbray: "It`s just a real shame that this is what passes for a rom-com these days."

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Friday

24Jul2009

Movie Review: 'The Ugly Truth'

Friday, July 24, 2009 at 6:00PM | By

Seen on: July 24, 2009

The players: Director: Robert Luketic, Writer: Nicole Eastman, Karen McCullah Lutz, Cast: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Eric Winter, John Michael Higgins, Nick Searcy

Facts of interest: Robert Luketic also directed "21" and "Legally Blonde."

The plot: Abby is a television producer whose life takes a major turn when she's forced to work with Mike, a ruthless host who claims he knows the truth about what makes men and women tick.

Our thoughts: To be quite honest, I walked into Robert Luketic’s “The Ugly Truth” with high expectations, but sadly enough, I left the theater wishing I’d never found out how ugly this truth really is. In other words, watching this film quickly developed into a painfully boring experience I simply can’t recommend to cinemagoers on the lookout for a funny, entertaining romance.

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Thursday

09Apr2009

'The Ugly Truth' gets refreshing second trailer

Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 10:08PM | By

Katherine Heigl is a beautiful woman, and although I wasn't at all impressed by her last big-screen comedy "27 Dresses," I admit I always enjoy watching her on the big screen. She'll next be seen in Robert Luketic's comedy "The Ugly Truth," in which she plays a television producer who agrees to let the confident host (Gerard Butler) of one of her morning shows give her some tips on how to properly seduce a man.

The second trailer for the film is pretty amusing, and judging by this short footage, it looks like Heigl and Butler may share solid onscreen chemistry. I can only hope the humor will deliver the goods as well. I really haven't come across many solid, funny romantic comedies lately. "The Ugly Truth" will be revealed in theaters July 24, 2009.

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Wednesday

08Apr2009

Ashton Kutcher on 'Five Killers' set

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 6:34PM | By

According to Robert Luketic's twittering, he's back in Los Angeles already, but for all you Ashton Kutcher lovers, the folks at The Bad and Ugly posted some pics of the actor from the set of "Five Killers." One shot follows right here:

In the film, Kutcher plays a hitman who decides to quit killing business when he falls in love with the woman of his dreams (Katherine Heigl). Years later, however, he finds out somebody out there has been hired to kill him.

Tom Selleck, Catherine O'Hara and Martin Mull are also on board. Release date is currently set for June 4, 2010. If you want more updates from Luketic, find him on Twitter here. For more set pics, this is link you want to click on.

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Thursday

19Feb2009

Katherine Heigl joins Kutcher in 'Killers'

Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 4:26PM | By

Katherine Heigl has officially boarded Robert Luketic's upcoming thriller "Five Killers" for Lionsgate.

According to Variety, the story starts with a woman meeting the man of her dreams while on vacation. Sparkling romance, however, quickly vanishes when they find out their neighbors may have been hired to kill them.

Ashton Kutcher is also on board. Lionsgate picked up a first draft by Bob DeRosa, with Ted Griffin on board to rewrite the project.

Luketic last directed “21” and most recently wrapped filming for his upcoming comedy “The Ugly Truth,” which also stars Heigl in the female lead.

Heigl's big-screen efforts also include "27 Dresses" and "Knocked Up." Kutcher was last seen in "What Happens in Vegas."

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Thursday

27Nov2008

Trailer radar: 'The Ugly Truth'

Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 7:40AM | By

It's been quite a while since we've last seen the lovely Katherine Heigl spill her charm all over the big screen (her last flick was last January's "27 Dresses"), but this coming April, she'll be back!

In Robert Luketic's latest comedy "The Ugly Truth," Heigl plays a television producer who agrees to let the confident host (Gerard Butler) of one of her morning shows give her some tips on how to properly seduce a man.

As you can see in the preview after the jump, Heigl and Butler at least seem to share solid chemistry. The trailer as a whole didn't completely win me over yet, but Heigl alone is reason enough to check this one out when it opens April 3, 2009.

By the way, Luketic last directed "21." His other credits include the disastrous "Monster-in-Law" and the decently entertaining "Legally Blonde."

And why is it that we don't see Heigl on the big screen more often?

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Wednesday

22Oct2008

Kutcher to star in Luketic’s ‘Five Killers’

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 1:31PM | By

Ashton Kutcher is all set to star in Robert Luketic’s upcoming action comedy “Five Killers” for Lionsgate.

According to Variety, Kutcher will play a former hit man who struggles for survival after he finds out someone from his past has hired a bunch of killers to finish him off.

Lionsgate picked up a first draft by Bob DeRosa, with Ted Griffin on board to rewrite the project.

Luketic last directed “21” and most recently wrapped filming for his upcoming Katherine Heigl vehicle “The Ugly Truth.”

As for Kutcher, he most recently starred opposite Cameron Diaz in “What Happens in Vegas.” The actor has two flicks in post-production: “Personal Effects” and “Spread.”

Final word: Luketic has the ability to make entertaining flicks, and Kutcher can be funny at times. Let’s hope they’ll both do their best on this project.