tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Is James Franco trying to re-invent himself? Is there really such a need for that? I mean, the guy is popular and well-respected for his talent - he's good at comedy, drama, action-thriller. Now he's doing soap opera! Is there something going on? Apparently there is. Movieline did an interview with 'Carter', considered Franco's frequent artistic collaborator, to find out what the actor is up to.  I'm not too sure what 'artistic collaborator' means really, but I had a bad feeling... Anyway, let's take a closer look...

- - - Erased James Franco by Carter [ see note below ] - - -

Some of you may already know, Franco is doing a soap opera - General Hospital, aside from six major movies in various production stages. The popular soap is more than 40 years on television and still retains loyal viewers, but why would meone like James Franco be interested in joining the cast? Why not concentrate on movies? Is this a strategy of sorts - a career move perhaps?
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Mia Wasikowska is, without a doubt, one of today's most promising young actresses! The latest movie poster for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is all about her.

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With supporting roles in Defiance, Amelia, and That Evening Sun, she'll finally get the spotlight in Tim Burton's latest flick. The trailer previously released already introduced her as the new Alice, and she's definitely in good company - Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen also stars.

In the updated film, a 19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

Aaron Johnson already hugged the spotlight via Nowhere Boy, playing the young John Lennon, and now he's really kicking lots of butts with the new trailer for, you guessed it, Kick Ass!

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The film stars Nicolas Cage, Aaron Johnson, Lyndsy Fonseca, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz.

The trailer and more about the movie after the jump! Add a comment

A Single Man, The Weinstein Company's Oscar bet this year, is a fascinating study of characters. Based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood, it depicts one day in the life of George, a middle-aged gay Englishman who works as a college professor in Los Angeles and whose lover, Jim, has recently died.

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Playing Kenny, "a pretty-boy college student who appears to be stalking George (Colin Firth)", is Nicholas Hoult. During its LA Press day, tMF was able to secure a phone interview with the young British actor. It must have been a tiresome day for Nicholas Hoult, but I never noticed, even once, any indication. Hoult was quite charming, seriously answered all my questions and even volunteered to add a few tidbits or two. What's so interesting is that he's very courteous, unlike some of the young actors based in Hollywood.

Even though playing a gay role might have been controversial for Hoult, it was the least of his concerns. For me, this kind of attitude is the mark of a serious actor.

For Hoult, it was never about him, the person, but rather the actor and the characters he portray. More of Nicholas Hoult and our interview after the jump!
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Starring: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella
Director: Richard Kelly
Release Date: November 6, 2009
Running Time: 116 mins.
MPAA Rating: R
Distributor: Warner Bros.

Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Colin Firth
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Release Date: November 6, 2009
Running Time: 96 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

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It happens every year, almost without fail.  Christmas day comes around and as I am tearing through my presents there is always that one gift.  You know the one where the person giving it to you is so excited they hold it back so you have to open it last so they can make a big spectacle of it.  Usually the bigger deal they make, the more I dread it.  Not because I am ungrateful, but my appreciation hardly ever matches their excitement.  Then there’s that whole awkward exchange where they think you don’t like it and you tell them you do but they don’t buy it because they were super excited but you weren’t as excited and… ugh.  Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of the Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol is that present.  So impatient is he to show off his gift to us that he’s overlooked the fact that it’s little more than a big turd in fancy wrapping.

The story is the same as it’s been for the past 165 years.  On Christmas Eve night, Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future during which time he experiences a moment of clarity and eventual redemption.  As a story Zemeckis plays it by the book (literally), but as a movie, this thing is all over the place.

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There are many theories, ideas or should I say 'schools of thought' on how the world would end. At the height of the Cold War, nuclear annihilation ranks at the very top. While others argue it will not be man who will destroy the world (directly) but - an epidemic of global proportions (most probably from a potent strain of virus - think: I am Legend) or severe climactic change (another ice age perhaps? That would be Day After Tommorow right?) or mechanical uprising (The Terminator, anyone?) or even attack from the outside - conquering aliens (Mars Attacks!) or perhaps an asteroid. And let's not forget zombies!

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Inspired by the upcoming release of Roland Emmerich's latest disaster epic 2012, tMF listed down 10 of the most fascinating 'end of the world' movies.

Before looking at the list, you need to know that it's not based on critical acclaim or Box Office success or even cult following - but a combination of these three factors and how 'cool' it is, thus the term 'fascinating'. One more thing, you'll not see very old movies here - we listed only recent films!

Enough of talk already! Let's see which movies made the top 10!
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Hal Holbrook, who did an exceptional performance in Into the Wild, has new movie entitled That Evening Sun. It was shown at the recent SWSX to much acclaim. The movie also stars, one of tMF's favorites and definitely a talent to watch, Mia Wasikowska.

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Says Holbook of the movie:

I like to call a spade a spade; I like to say what I think. Anyway, there are educatedSoutherners and those who are not very educated for one reason or another. In this picture you see the two kinds of Southerners. So often, Hollywood portrays anybody from the South as some dumb hick who is racist. That's the favorite thing, you know - an uneducated hick. And I think that one of the things that Scott and Walton and Ray wanted to do in this film is to show a wider picture of Southern people.

More about the movie including the trailer after the jump!
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