Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski Go For Another Eccentric Biopic in Big Eyes

Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski have a God given knack for fictionalizing the lives of offbeat personalities.

Ed Wood – the story about a guy who loved making movies as much as he did wearing women's clothes. The People Vs. Larry Flynt centering on an otherwise loathsome toad rightfully fighting for freedom of speech even if it involves pornography. Man on the Moon – a classic rise to fame story of a comedian known for toying with everyone including his loves one only to become the boy who cried wolf. All great movies on subjects one normally wouldn't focus on. Check them out if you haven't.

THR says they're back at it again writing and directing Big Eyes detailing the story of Margaret and Walter Keane, the couple responsible for the popular for its time, and creepy by today's standards upon reflection, pop-eyed art during the 1960s. Only things got heated when Water took all the glory for the work since it was sold under his name when it was Margaret who was behind it all. Divorce, lawsuits and a show-off where Margaret painted the presiding judge in court to prove herself followed.

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds will play the couple with Tim Burton producing.

Relativity and The Weinstein Company Kiss & Make-Up Over The Crow

If anything's going to stop The Crow reboot/remake/re-whatever from happening, we can no longer blame (or thank, in many circles) that legal tongue-thrashing between Relativity Media and The Weinstein Company, Coming Soon tells us:

"The lawsuit between Relativity Media and The Weinstein Company concerning THE CROW has been amicably settled out of court, and the parties will continue to work on the film together as planned. In addition, Relativity Media has discussed all of its claims against The Weinstein Company for any wrongdoing regarding the release and distribution of NINE, ad The Weinstein Company has dismissed all of its claims against Relativity Media."

Now all they need is a director, screenwriter and actor since the last batch including Bradley Cooper left faster than you can say, "Is this 1994?" and an audience not exactly hungering for a return for this franchise.

Weekend Box Office: January 20 - 22

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1.  Underworld Awakening - $25.3 million

2.  Red Tails - $18.7 million

3.  Contraband - $12 million

4.  Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - $10 million

5.  Beauty and the Beast 3D - $8.7 million

6.  Haywire - $8.4 million

7.  Joyful Noise - $5.9 million

8.  Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - $5.5 million

9.  Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - $4.5 million

10.  The Iron Lady - $3.6 million

As expected, Underworld Awakening took the top spot  this weekend, as the 2012 box office continues to put up surprisingly impressive numbers at the start of the new year.  Audiences proved that they really love their Underworld movies when Kate Beckinsale stars in them, as this movie opened much better than the Beckinsale-less Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, which opened with $20.8 million in 2009.  With a solid opening and an A- Cinemascore rating, odds are good we haven't seen the last of the Underworld series.

The other winner this weekend was Red Tails, which opened very well with $18.7 million.  The George Lucas-produced tale of the Tuskegee Airmen was popular with audiences, who gave it a perfect A+ Cinemascore rating.  If word-of-mouth propels this movie through the next few weeks, Lucas, who financed this film on his own, may even have his chance to thumb his nose at the studios who insisted no one wanted to see this film. 

Mark Wahlberg's action thriller Contraband had decent hold in its second weekend with $12 million.  Domestically, the film has earned $45.9 million so far.

This weekend also asked audiences if they were ready for a 9/11-themed film.  The answer was...not so much, as Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close disappointed with just $10 million, marking one of the lowest openings for both Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock.  Mostly poor reviews certainly didn't help this movie either.

The 3D incarnation of Beauty and the Beast continued to do well this weekend with $8.7 million.  It's not doing the blockbuster business that the The Lion King's 3D re-release did last fall...but this being one of those Disney princess movie (and arguably the best of them) that's already out on 3D blu-ray, it's still doing well enough.

At least it's doing better than Haywire, which opened with opened in fifth place with $8.4 million and earned an ugly D+ Cinemascore rating, which doesn't bode well for its box office run.

Next weekend sees Liam Neeson doing his wilderness-badass thing in The Grey, and Sam Worthington adds to his action movie cred with Man on a Ledge.  Also, with the Oscar nominations coming out tomorrow, there are still lots of good movies like The Artist and The Descendants in theaters for those of you who aren't into the action movie thing.  Especially The Artist - definitely go see that one.

Well There Goes That Surprise in The Walking Dead

If you're a Walking Dead fan, then this won't come as a surprise to you. For the rest, it will and for a good portion of you on either side, you may not want to know this. So read ahead at your own caution. AKA: Spoiler alert.

TNT won't say a word, but Variety hears Jon Bernthal is in "early conversations" with the network to headline L.A. Noir, the period-piece crime drama spearheaded by his former Walking Dead boss Frank Darabont.

Cut to the chase, they're telling us Shane (Rick's no so best friend growing increasingly unstable as season two progressed) meets his end as this season closes out leaving Bernthal the opportunity to look for work, and progress his career while it's hot further.

All things considered, yeah I'm surprised. Shane's fate in the Robert Kirkman comics, I knew. But they've so far kept Shane around further than that clearly picking and choosing from the source material while going in their own direction; a direction that seems dictated to waiting around Hershel's farm and looking for Sophia.

The Rick/Lori/Shane triangle was the kind of soap opera (returning from a presumed death, best friend sleeping with your wife behind your back, maybe getting her pregnant if we're following the comics) to keep the show going in between zombie head explosions.

"Top Cat: The Movie 3D" Clawing It's Way To A UK Theater Near You

From the makers of StreetDance 1& 2 and Horrid Henry, Vertigo Films are pleased to announce the UK theatrical release of Top Cat: The Movie in 3D in August 2012.

Based on the classic animated Hanna Barbara cartoon series, Top Cat: The Movie sees TC (Top Cat) and the gang face their biggest adventure yet.  A new tech-savvy police chief joins the force and not only threatens to retire bumbling Officer Dibble, but stop the feline antics in Hoagy’s Alley, once and for all.

Top Cat: The Movie was created by Anima Studios and will be released both 2D and 3D formats.

Vertigo Film’s Rupert Preston and Allan Niblo said,  “Top Cat is an iconic and much-loved character known by nearly every parent in the UK. We are thrilled to be bringing Top Cat, his mischievous gang and Officer Dibble to a whole new generation”

Richard S. Guardian, of Guardian Entertainment International, negotiated the sale on behalf of Lightning Entertainment and Anima Studios with Vertigo’s Allan Niblo and Rupert Preston. Guardian has said, “I’m excited that Top Cat is being released in the UK by as innovative and dynamic a company as Vertigo Films.  They have their fingers on the pulse of what audiences want to see.  The producers and I are delighted that the team that has handled films such as StreetDance, Monsters, and Horrid Henry will be putting their efforts behind Top Cat”.

Hey U Guys

Superman Henry Cavill Posing With Young Fan

I have to come out and say it, I have previously, but I am going to say it again. I do not love the new Superman suit. I don't mind that they removed the trunks, but the method they chose to do it is awful in my not so humble opinion. That whole mid-section debacle is not pleasing to the eye. I realize this suit was heavily based on some previous prototypes during the much discussed failed attempts of Superman on film, but it just doesn't cut it. The strange embossing? Nope.

The powers that be did get a lot right though. The cape looks perfect; the attachment, length, and colors are spot on. The logo is the acceptable size and a great twist on a previous incarnation of the \S/. Boots are solid, they're the right height. The colors had me confused. I couldn't tell if I liked them, but the below photo floating around the interwebs changes my mind. Colors look right on.

The shot was taken inside the train station, I believe that kid is an actor who possibly could have been involved in the train disaster sequence. Not sure. Either way, lucky kid and great candid shot of Cavill in the suit. You wonder if this photo will force WB to release some additional shots of Cavill with the right lighting and angles.

Matthew McConaughey As David Wooderson Is My Destiny

Dazed & Confused isn't a movie that will change your life or guide you to find the meaning of it, but it's pretty damn good coming of age comedy. There are so many lovable characters in the movie it is hard to choose, but Matthew McConaughey's portrayal of David Wooderson has to be my favorite. Sorry Ben Affleck, your "Fah-Q" paddle is still pretty damn cool.

Now thanks to THR we get to see McConaughey slowly slugging a cigarette as David Wooderson once again. The actor appears in the Synthesizers video from Butch Walker And The Black Widows. He doesn't just stand there, Wooderson sings and yanks out a damn trumpet at one point. I love the internet.

Capcom's Resident Evil 6 Trailer

It has been ten years since the incident at Raccoon City and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place. Raccoon City survivor and personal friend of the President, Leon S. Kennedy, arrives to find the President transformed beyond recognition by a bioterrorist attack. Leon is forced to make the hardest decision he has ever made.

At the same, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance Member, Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack.

ComingSoon.Net

"Project X" Trailer and Poster

Directed by Nima Nourizadeh, Project X stars Miles Teller, Oliver Cooper, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Dax Flame, Nichole O'Connor, Thomas Mann, Alexis Knapp and Jillian Reynolds.

Opening in theaters on March 2, the R-rated comedy revolves around a group of kids documenting a house party that suddenly goes awry.

The Final "Hunger Games" Poster

The cast includes Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Wes Bentley, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Toby Jones, Donald Sutherland and many more.

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Huffington Post