Universal has decided to develop a sequel to MIDNIGHT RUN, a film that came out in 1988 (back when I was four and candy was my hero; two fun facts of my life). The original film’s star, Robert De Niro will be back playing the same role, and also producing the sequel.

MIDNIGHT RUN is a buddy action comedy about Bounty Hunter Jack Walsh (De Niro) finding and then attempting to transport a former mob accountant (Charles Grodin) from New York to Los Angeles with the Mafia and FBI (for different reasons) trying to stop the men from reaching their destination. (more…)

This year marks Film Independent’s 25th year of giving out its Spirit Awards to some of the best and bravest of independent cinema. This year also marks the first time Gordon and the Whale will be covering the awards live! Follow along with me as I live blog winners here, and Tweet reactions, news, and everything else that catches my 140 character fancy over on the Gordon and the Whale Twitter (@gandthew). You can also watch the show live (learn how on the Spirit Awards website HERE).

Hit the jump to see all the winners, which I will continuously update live throughout the evening! Feel free to leave your reactions to all the winners, speeches, and fashions in the comments! (more…)

This Found Film Friday is brought to you by Gordon and the Whale’s own code ninja Kacey Close who, upon seeing this delightful black and white short, was immediately smitten. And, subsequently, upon watching it so was I! It is described as a “fable about the magic of free parking” and I could have never said it better myself. At 16:23, my words could not do what your eyes will see justice. So, without further adieu…

For your viewing pleasure, I present to you your Found Film Friday for March 5th, 2010. “Validation”

Check it out after the jump! (more…)

It’s a good day when two great artists collaborate on a truly stunning project. 

Today may just be one of those days.

According to Pitchfork (via The Playlist), Will Gregory, member of the dance group Goldfrapp, will be collaborating with Adrian Utley, a member of the amazing indie group Portishead on a brand new score for Carl Theodor Dryer’s 1928 film, THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC. (more…)

I’m sad that I didn’t really recognize the genius of Tracy Morgan in his SNL days.  Who would have guessed that he would be experiencing such a career high at this point?  Of course this has a lot to do with his work on “30 Rock” and little to do with COP OUT.  I’ve yet to see COP OUT but I hear it isn’t the Kevin Smith or Tracy Morgan romp any of us were expecting, but I am still hopeful that there is some cinematic gold left in the career of Tracy Morgan. 

Today comes news that Morgan has been cast in not one but two upcoming comedic films, ID THEFT and FRESHMAN ROOMMATES.  (more…)

Don’t you just love Twitter? In so many way, it brings audiences closer to members of the entertainment industry. Yesterday, we got to see how it plays out in pragmatic reality. Amanda Bynes annouced, via her Twitter account @AmandaBynes, that she wasn’t involved with the upcoming film by the Farrelly Brothers, HALL PASS. More information follows, after the jump.

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The first full length trailer for THE RUNAWAYS has hit the web courtesy of Yahoo Movies. The films stars Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie (the dynamic duo that took the rock work by storm as the female driven music group The Runaways). Like the teaser before it, this trailer is full of teenage angst and the girl rock anthems that made The Runaways so famous. But does it spark your interest as a film? Check it out after the jump… (more…)

Rating: 7/10

I have always been a fan of Alice and the world of Wonderland. It captured that perfect sense of magic and whimsy you have as a kid that makes you think that maybe you could fall down a rabbit hole and discover a whole new world. ALMOST ALICE takes that idea of magic and whimsy and gives us a collection of new songs that are just that.

What is especially unique about this collection is that, even if you recognize some of the artists who contributed, every song is an original, but they all relate to some portion of the story that is ALICE IN WONDERLAND. The songs range from the idea of running late to taking pills that make you large or small to painting the flowers. These story arcs and themes can also be thought of in a broader context, which I felt added an extra layer and set them apart from just relating to the film. It is an eclectic and varied mix that includes all different genres of music from rock to pop to folk to R&B. (more…)

It’s been quite awhile since we first heard rumblings about an ALIEN prequel film. Shortly afterward, it was discovered that Ridley Scott, director of the original ALIEN, would be directing the film. Suddenly, all worry and fears were replaced with extreme excitement. It was a truly unexpected move, but such a great idea.

Today we have another expected move, as it’s been revealed that this prequel will be in 3D, just like every other movie these days. Check out what Art Director Roger Christian had to say about the project after the jump! (more…)

It’s not often that you’ll hear me say, “gee, I wish they would really just turn this classic television remake into a film adaptation,” but that’s just the case with the new “Hawaii Five-O” reboot from CBS Studios. While I’m not likely to watch the reboot on television, I could be swayed to experience it in theaters. The television series is being penned by STAR TREK and TRANSFORMERS scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, so it already has a filmic pedigree. And now the show has added one of my favorite young character actors to its cast. Make this a movie, people!

Scott Caan (INTO THE BLUE, the OCEAN’S ELEVEN series) has joined the cast of “Hawaii Five-O” as Danny “Danno” Williams, a role originated by James MacArthur. Even if you’ve never seen the show, you’re probably familiar with the famous, Danno-based tagline that ended most shows – “Book ‘em, Danno!” (more…)

Any Jay-Z fan can tell you that the legendary rapper is constantly in an “Empire State of Mind.” He loves NYC, as is evident from his lyrics, and it would make sense that he would choose Madison Square Garden as the setting for his forthcoming concert documentary.

The film, titled NY-Z, takes fans behind the scenes of 2009’s Answer the Call benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, which sold out in 15 minutes after tickets went on sale. The charity concert was held to raise $1 million to benefit the families of rescue workers killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks through the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund. Check out the trailer and more info on the doc after the jump. (more…)

If you’re a big fan of the WALLACE & GROMIT series, you most likely know who Nick Park is. In a lot of ways, he led the way with modern claymation. Almost every one of his efforts have been extremely successful, and he has won multiple Oscars for his work. On top of that, he is nominated for an Oscar this Sunday with his most recent WALLACE & GROMIT short. Needless to say, people really like his work.

But should we expect to see his next feature take it to the third dimension? This news comes directly from Park himself. Check out what he had to say after the jump! (more…)

Rating: 7/10

Writer: Linda Woolverton
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover
Studio: Disney

Tim Burton is back with yet another fantastical tale of the imagination in ALICE IN WONDERLAND, a pseudo-sequel to Disney’s beloved 1951 animated film of the same name. Here we find Alice (Mia Wasikowska) all grown up at the ripe old age of 19. But her previous time spent in Wonderland has left her a bit of a dreamer in her teenage years, causing her to not quite fit in with the aristocracy she is being forced into. And while they say that she’s a dreamer, and she’s not the only one, Alice does not quite remember her previous time spent in the magical land, passing it off as mere vivid dreams. That is, until she falls down the rabbit hole once more, and finds that she’s going to have to do more than just pinch herself to make it out of Wonderland… (more…)

Lee Daniels must be feeling incredibly lucky right now. Apart from producing some films, like MONSTER’S BALL, he’s relatively unknown by American audiences. Not anymore. It doesn’t hurt when you make a movie that’s endorsed by Oprah. It also doesn’t hurt when that movie gets nominated for six Oscars. He’s got momentum and he’s keeping it going with what sounds like a more ambitious project.

The biggest night in Hollywood is only a few days away, but the director is focusing on his next movie rather than the chaos of the award show. The movie is called SELMA. The movie will deal with the events that took place in Selma, Alabama during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. Daniels was short on details, but one thing is certain – Hugh Jackman will be in it. (more…)

The remake of PET SEMATARY has added a writer, and it definitely seems like it could have been much worse, at least it is a man who has previously worked in the horror genre. Matt Greenberg, who worked on the screenplays for 1408 and HALLOWEEN H2O, has been picked to the write the PET SEMATARY remake. (more…)