Hey, they at least deserve a bit of credit for trying.

History lesson. A while back, Universal revealed that not only were they going to be bringing us an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, but that it would be an unprecedented event. Three films would be crafted, the first to be helmed by Ron Howard, as well as a TV series that would fill in the time between the respective films. They did find a lead, Javier Bardem, but now, that appears to be all for naught.

Deadline is reporting that Universal has cancelled plans for the project, killing the entire set up. It remains to be seen as to the state of the project itself, but for the time being, Ron Howard and writer Akiva Goldsman are looking behind the eight ball here. Could they ship the project to another studio? Let’s just say that this news has left the film world with more questions than answers with regards to the project. (more...)

Optimum Releasing have unveiled the official U.K. poster for TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY, the feature film adaptation of John le Carré's acclaimed 1974 spy novel of the same name. TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY centers on espionage veteran George Smiley who, in the bleak days of the Cold War, is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.

Directed by Thomas Alfredson, who was responsible for bringing LET THE RIGHT ONE IN to the big screen, the film features a fantastic cast headed up by Gary Oldman; Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Hurt, Ciarán Hinds, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, Stephen Graham, and Kathy Burke make up the supporting cast.

Check out the full poster after the break. (more...)

Francis Ford Coppola is making his first appearance at Comic-Con in twenty years. The last time the filmmaker was there was with his 1991 film BRAK STOKER'S DRACULA. His upcoming film, TWIXT, has brought him back to the land of the geeks.

TWIXT is a gothic inspired film starring Val Kilmer as an unsuccessful horror novelist who is led to a strange small town to explore a murder of a young girl by haunting visions. According to Entertainment Weekly, Coppola was inspired by authors Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allen Poe for the film. TWIXT does not have a distributor or a release date set yet, but as seen in the picture above, will star Elle Fanning as the young girl murdered. (more...)

If this isn’t making the best out of a bad situation, then I don’t know what is.

Following the departure of Bette Midler from the cast of David Mamet’s upcoming Al Pacino-starring Phil Spector biopic, a major void was left in the film’s cast.  However, Deadline reports that it just got filled and in one hell of a big way. The outlet has revealed that Helen Mirren has joined the film’s cast, and will play the role of defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden, who sparked a relationship with Spector during his 2007 trial. Spector was charged with the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. (more...)

This year’s Asian Film Festival of Dallas (AFFD) has a wonderful line-up of films representing all manner of countries in the East. Unfortunately there’s just not time enough to see them all. I am the lone GATWer covering this festival so instead of doing full reviews of all the films, which would take forever, I’ll be giving shorter critiques in a couple of recapping posts to give you a wide look at everything this ten-year-old fest has to offer. (more...)

“Trash or Treasure” is a recurring feature at Gordon and the Whale in which I return to a film that holds a special place in my heart (for a multitude of possible reasons) - and see if it is still deserving of that place. Have I been holding on to a piece of trash, or are my beloved films still bonafide treasure?

This edition of Trash or Treasure is inspired by the iconic marvel superhero Captain America. Nope, not the new CAPTAIN AMERICA directed by Joe Johnston starring Chris Evans. I’m referring to the version that was brought upon this planet by Albert Pyun in 1990. Now I’m sure you’re asking yourself why I’m not just doing that movie for Trash or Treasure, and if you really want me to: TRASH!! There, I’m done, that’s about all I ever want to write about that movie. No, I decided on THE PUNISHER because it got me reminiscing about this time in my life. The late ‘80s and early ‘90s was a strange time for comic book movies, it seems. (more...)

Kevin Costner is going to have one hell of a 2012. Along with roles in MAN OF STEEL and the upcoming HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS for The History Channel, Deadline has revealed that the actor is in talks to join one of 2012’s most anticipated films.

The outlet reports that Costner will join the cast of Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED. He’ll take up the role of Ace Woody, a “sadistic trainer of the male fighting slaves who entertain the white patrons of Candyland as well as the female slaves who are forced to be prostitutes.” (more...)

Michael Winterbottom’s THE TRIP, which sees funnymen Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan eating at popular restaurants in Lake District, became something of a sleeper hit here in the States and remains one of the most acclaimed releases of 2011 thus far.

THE TRIP originally aired in the U.K. as a television series, and according to The Playlist, a continuation series that sees Brydon and Coogan touring restaurants in Italy is in the planning stages.

All of this was revealed at the U.K.’s Latitude Festival this weekend. Unfortunately, nothing was said about whether or not the series would find its way to silver screens in the States like THE TRIP did. Even so, the box office success suggests that such a venture will happen once again. (more...)

Actor Ralph Fiennes recently starred in CORIOLANUS, which also served as his first time at the helm of a feature. The William Shakespeare adaptation bowed at the Berlin Film Festival to rave response. Considering such acclaim there, it isn’t surprising that Fiennes already has his next directing gig.

According to The Playlist (via Baz Bamigboye), he’ll take the helm of THE INVISIBLE WOMAN, a BBC Films production accounting for the affair between author Charles Dickens and the significantly younger Ellen Ternan.

Abbie Cornish, Felicity Jones, Imogen Poots, and Carey Mulligan are among the contenders to play Ternan; nobody’s attached for the role of Dickens yet, though Ben Whishaw, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Fiennes himself were all at one point considered for the part. (more...)

Judge Dredd is making his way back to theaters, this time with Karl Urban underneath the helmet. The project is being kept under wraps surprisingly well, with very little known about the project up to this point. As curious as it leaves us, it is probably for the best, especially in the shadows of the 1995 Sylvester Stallone in the title role. However, they aren't hiding the fact that the Judge looks bad-ass.

This isn't our first look at DREDD, however, this is one of the most clear ones we have been shown. Urban looks really great in the role, although he is, of course, hidden underneath Dredd's mask. He fully exudes the kind of persona that I'd like to see on Dredd, and seems to be really great casting. (more...)