Posts Tagged ‘Pierce Brosnan’

Due to Metro Goldwyn-Mayer’s immense debt ($4 billion) the studio that has owned the rights to the James Bond name for decades faces an uncertain future with its most prized franchise. Although the studio received yet another extension to pay $450 million to its debtholders that will continue through Sept. 15, the financial crisis is far from over. MGM’s goal is to sell the company, but no offers have yet been up to par. Time Warner offered $1.5 billion, and that remains the highest bid.

All of these money woes have caused an indefinite delay for the next Bond film. What MGM fears is that these woes continue for such a time that the franchise wont be able to get back on its feet again (5, 6 years?). Nobody seems to lack confidence that the franchise can still rake in the big bucks, as the last time there was a long delay between Bond films (the switch between Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan) it led to GoldenEye, which grossed over $352 million worldwide. The two Daniel Craig projects, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, grossed a combined $1 billion worldwide, so it’s safe to think that another Bond film will be made. The only question is when, and by whom.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Quick Opinion: The James Bond franchise is indeed too successful to be left for dead. Although most people are of the opinion that Quantum didn’t quite live up to Royale, there is still a lot of interest in knowing where the story set-up by these films will go next. Has Bond really let go of his feelings for Vesper? Will he return to his more charismatic ways and not be so serious? Will we ever find out exactly what Quantum’s bigger plan is? There is still a lot of story to discover. The biggest problem for both MGM – or whoever ends up owning the rights – and audiences that I see is that the longer these financial problems go unresolved the less a studio will be able to get from Daniel Craig, who can only do so many of these movies before he gets too old for them (granted that might take another ten years). So, the longer the delay, the fewer movies they can make with Craig, which is less money they can make from him, which is less entertainment for us. But, we should be confident that James Bond will be back. After all, it just wouldn’t be the same without him.

Jennifer Connelly recently joined the cast of "Salvation Boulevard"

Jennifer Connelly (Blood Diamond) and Greg Kinnear (Green Zone) have been cast for the project Salvation Boulevard, funded by Mandalay Vision (a branch of Mandalay Entertainment Group). The two join a cast consisting of Pierce Brosnan, Jim Gaffigan, and Ed Harris.

The film is a comedy/thriller based on a book of the same name written by Larry Beinhart, and will be directed by George Ratliff (Joshua).

“[The film] centers on a former Deadhead turned born-again Christian who finds himself on the run from fundamentalist members of his mega-church who will do anything to protect their larger-than-life pastor.” – Variety

Marisa Tomei is also currently in negotiations to join the cast.

Source: Variety.com

Short Take: Contrived and unoriginal

Director: Allen Coulter (Hollywoodland, The Sopranos)

Screenwriter: Will Fetters (Début)

Cast: Robert Pattinson (Twilight: New Moon, Little Ashes), Emilie de Ravin (Lost, The Hills Have Eyes), Tate Ellington (Red Hook, The Invention of Lying), Ruby Jerins (Shutter Island, Nurse Jackie), Chris Cooper (The Kingdom, Breach), Pierce Brosnan (The Ghost Writer, Mamma Mia!)

Length: 1 hour 53 minutes

Synopsis: Tyler Hawkins (Pattinson) is a disaffected young NYU student looking for direction.  After being wrongfully assaulted by a cop (Cooper), Tyler’s friend Aidan (Ellington) encourages him to get revenge by bedding and then breaking up with the cop’s daughter Ally (de Ravin).  However, Tyler soon falls for her and their connection helps both of them deal with past traumas. Read the rest of this entry »