Movie News (Page 7)

A trio of films open this weekend. Here's a closer look at each...

Soul Men
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac
Quick synopsis: A pair of former singers reunite after 20 years apart.
Prediction: Memories of Mac will improve the movie's chance at box office success; we'll put it in the top five.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Stars: Animated animals
Quick synopsis: The animals from the original movie head to Africa.
Prediction: Number-one at the box office. The first film was actually perfect family fare.

Role Models
Stars: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott
Quick synopsis: A pair of salesman are forced to become Big Brothers to troubled, hilarious kids.
Prediction: Will likely lose some viewers to Zack and Miri making a porno, but should still do well.

And we thought A Good Old Fashioned Orgy would be fun!

Variety is now reporting that Rob Schneider, Jenna Dewan (Step Up) and Brianne Davis (Jarhead) will star in the sex comedy Virgin on Bourbon Street. Filming gets underway this week in Detroit.

The movie focuses on a night of debauchery that threatens the university career of a sexually abstinent woman student.

A pair of sequels are in the works to the acclaimed 2002 movie Road to Perdition. The original starred Tom Hanks, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, and the late Paul Newman.

Road to Perdition author Max Allan Collins will direct the two movies - already set to be titled Road to Purgatory and Road to Paradise - from his own screenplay adaptations.

In a July 2007 website posting, Collins wrote:

"The screenplay is my own adaptation of Road to Purgatory, which we are in the early stages of attempting to mount right here in the midwest with me directing. I'm partnered with some very good people, including longtime crony Phil D., and it's an exciting venture - if we can pull off the fund-raising, it will be the most ambitious project I've ever attempted in any medium. The script was submitted to the Iowa Motion Picture Awards and won the Award of Excellence for Unproduced Screenplay."

Very funny movie news out of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures this week:

The studio is moving forward on a new movie about The Three Stooges. It will be directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly, best known for hilarious films such as There's Something About Mary.

"The Three Stooges are a timeless staple of comedy and when we heard what the Farrellys had in mind we knew it was time for Larry, Moe and Curly to return to the big screen," said Mary Parent, Chairman, Worldwide Motion Picture Group.

Peter Farrelly also spoke about the future project:

"We love The Stooges! They have been sending the world into hysterics for more than 80 years." Farrelly continued, "Movie goers today deserve their own Stooges and we look forward to introducing them to a new generation of knuckleheads."

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is the only major movie opening this weekend. Both Changeling and RocknRolla will be released nationwide, but each has already enjoyed a limited run in a few cities.

Here's a rundown of the Seth Rogen comedy...

Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Stars: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks
Quick synopsis: Two long-time friends are in debt and, therefore, choose to make a porno together. Naturally.
Prediction: Comedy and sex? Yeah. This will be number-one at the box office.

This weekend represents the opening of three major movies. All should do well at the box office in their genres...

Saw V
Stars: Tobin Bell
Quick synopsis: It's the fifth installment of the franchise. You know what it's about.
Prediction: For whatever reason, people love the torture genre. Should fare well.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year
Stars: Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron
Quick synopsis: Troy, Gabriella and company are graduating! And dancing!
Prediction: Probably tops at the box office. There are lots of teenagers in the country.

Changeling
Stars: Angelina Jolie
Quick synopsis: A woman doesn't believe that her son is, well, her son.
Prediction: Might be a bit too dramatic for many, considering the already-depressing age we're in.

Forget Barack Obama and John McCain.

In a time of crisis, what pretend President do movie fans want in charge?

The answer, by a solid margin, was Harrison Ford's character in Air Force One. A new Moviefone poll gave him 24 percent of the vote, good for an eight percent win over Morgan Freeman. Here's a look at the top five big screen Presidents, based on votes:

1. Harrison Ford - Air Force One (1997)
2. Morgan Freeman - Deep Impact (1998)
3. Michael Douglas - The American President (1995)
4. Bill Pullman - Independence Day (1996)
5. Kevin Kline - Dave (1993)

Sorry, Harrison. But if they ever made a West Wing movie, President Bartlett would get our vote.

It's difficult to imagine four more contrasting movie hitting the theaters at once than the quartet opening this weekend. Here's a closer look at each...

W.
Stars: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks
Quick synopsis: Oliver Stone takes a close look at George W. Bush.
Prediction: People are sick of Bush; Republicans don't wanna see a smear job and Democrats don't wanna see anything about this man.

Sex Drive
Stars: Josh Zuckerman, Seth Green
Quick synopsis: A virgin drives across the country to sleep with the woman of her dreams.
Prediction: A surprise at the box office. Viewers loved American Pie and Road Trip.

Max Payne
Stars: Mark Wahlberg
Quick synopsis: Based on video game, focusing on the wrath of a man whose family is killed.
Prediction: Number-one at the box office.

The Secret Life of Bees
Stars: Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
Quick synopsis: A young girl is haunted by her late mother.
Prediction: Not hyped very much and focusing on a small niche. Not a major money-maker.

As previously reported, a fourth Jason Bourne movie is on the way.

Variety is confirming that Universal is moving ahead with its fourth installment of the franchise. George Nolfi, who co-wrote the third film, will pen the script.

The series, of course, is based on the Robert Ludlum novels. However, new movie won't be based on a Ludlum title; it will be an original story.

Director Paul Greengrass and star Matt Damon are attached to the new film. We'll post more news on the movie as it breaks.

We can guarantee a new number-one movie at the box office this weekend. Here's a closer look at the two new releases...

Body of Lies
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe
Quick synopsis: A CIA agent and his boss confront a dangerous world together.
Prediction: DiCaprio plus Crowe equals number-one at the box office.

Quarantine
Stars: Jennifer Carpenter
Quick synopsis: Reporters learn about why the government sealed off an apartment complex.
Prediction: People like to be scared, and Carpenter has a fan base due to Dexter. Top-five film.