Director of Knight & Day offered The Wolverine

After Darren Aronofsky jumped ship from The Wolverine, every fan boy had a good cry.  The film is the sequel to the terrible X-Men Origins: Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman as the clawed X-Man. 

It has actually taken a lot longer for Fox to put an offer to a new director than I thought it would.  Well it finally happened and the offer is going to director James Mangold.  You might remember him from last years under performing, Tom Cruise starring, Knight & Day. 

Mangold is actually a great director with films like Walk the Line and 3:10 to Yuma under his belt.  I liked Kight & Day, despite it's bad reviews.  3:10 to Yuma is such a great, and underrated film.  I was never really jumping up for joy for Aronofsky directing the film, this will do just fine in my book.  What do you guys think?

Darren Aronofsky leaving The Wolverine

I remember it like yesterday.  First the director was just a rumor.  Then it was confirmed.  Then the title of the film was official... The Wolverine!  And now?  Well, now that same director is jumping ship.  Darren Aronofsky has left the sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  Here is the quote Aronofsky gave about leaving the project:

As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it became clear that the production of ‘The Wolverine’ would keep me out of the country for almost a year. I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I won't be able to see the project through, as it is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again.

Click the jump for more...
I don't buy that ish for ONE minute!  He didn't know an action picture of this size and scope was going to take a year of his life?  Really?  He's a rookie director?  He must not know how these things work huh?  Get the uh out of uh.  C'mon.  Maybe the studio didn't like the direction he was heading with one of their tent pole films?  Wouldn't be the first Wolverine featured films that that happens with.  The studio fought director Gavin Hood repeatedly about the direction of the first 'Origins' film.  Maybe I'm upset at the news, but I don't think so.

Here's what the studio, Fox, had to say about it:

While we are of course disappointed that Darren can’t do ‘The Wolverine’, we also understand and respect his reasons. Having done both ‘The Wrestler’ and ‘Black Swan’ with Darren, we know he is an extraordinary talent and we look forward to working with him on other projects in the future. Hugh Jackman and Fox both remain fully committed to making ‘The Wolverine’. We will regroup and move forward aggressively.

Interesting.  

I've always been a fan of Aronofsky's visual style... until Black Swan. I don't really want to get into that film because that's neither here nor there.  I don't care that Aronofsky is leaving even though his vision would have been an interesting one.  So who directs it now?  Your thoughts?

Black Swan review

Almost done!  I have almost seen all the Best Picture nominees for this year's Oscars.  This one.. Black Swan.  So I think everyone is familiar with the movie by now.  Natalie Portman stars in Darren Aronofsky's mind screw.  A dark movie that explores one woman's battle with her inner demons.  The film, Aronofsky and Portman have all been nominated for Academy Awards.  The film co-stars Mila Kunis as Portman's alternate to the ballet.  Barbara Hershey plays Portman's mother, and Vincent Cassel plays Portman's instructor.  There is also a small, but impressive role starring Winona Ryder. 

Portman is a hands down favorite for Best Actress; but I just don't see why anything else was nominated for this film.  You all may be surprised by this review.  Let's begin.

What I liked about the film:
Natalie Portman

Her performance is as good as you've read.  She is a force to be reckoned with.  She plays a ballerina that has been cast in the famous "Swan Lake" ballet.  She must play the timid, innocent white swan, as well as the evil, seductive black swan.  We can see Portman discovering her character's dark side.  At the beginning of the film, her character Nina is very delicate.  She's a calm and sweet girl who is sheltered by her mother.  As the film progresses, we see Portman becoming the metaphorical Black Swan.  I have no doubt in my mind she will win the Oscar.  Amazing!

The Score

Clint Mansell's score is the reason the movie could even be considered a thriller.  The music carries every scene, particularly those where Portman is acting alone.  She can act like no other with her eyes, no dialogue at all.  Mansell's score does the talking for her.  It's heart pounding, edge of your seat suspense that is second to none.  Great job!

Barbara Hershey
Wow, I did NOT see this one coming.  Barbara Hershey plays Portman's mother in the film.  At the beginning of the film, we see her as an overbearing, controlling monster.  But as Portman makes her decent into evil, she appears to be protecting Portman from herself.  There is a lot of stuff I want to mention, but it will spoil the film, if interested, leave a comment.


What I didn't like about the film:
The Contrast

Really?  Like really?  I need to see Portman wear light colors the entire film and Kunis wearing black to realize the contrast?!  Really?  He should take a note from The Sixth Sense, subtlety is best!  In that film, the director used reds as a sign of death and evil, usually in the form of something small like a blanket or a door knob.  Aronofsky wanted to say to the audience 'HEY LOOK... PORTMAN IS THE WHITE SWAN AND KUNIS IS THE BLACK SWAN'.  So stupid, give the audience more credit.

Darren Aronofsky

The man is nominated for an Oscar and he's an aspect of the movie I didn't like?  Yes, that's exactly right.  I don't like the art school canvas he's created.  I don't like his choice of lighting (yes I know that's the cinematographer's job).  I didn't like the OBVIOUS contrasts between Portman and Mila Kunis' character.  I didn't like the shaky cam for every freakin' shot.  I didn't like the fact that the film was essentially The Wrestler Part 2.  I seriously didn't like a damn thing about his directing.  I'm sure Portman benefited by Aronofsky directing.  Her performance along with Hershey's are what struck me as successes, not his directing.  Seriously, what the hell am I missing; I don't understand what the hell the hype is all about with this guy.  I've actually praised his visual style before, but this movie was just flat out bad to me.

The Verdict:
PASS
There will always be bad movies with amazing performances, this will be one of them.  I honestly have no clue how it was nominated for as many Oscars as it was.  I guess all I can say is; The Tourist was nominated for multiple Golden Globes this year.  Um, yeah, no more explanation is needed.  I know I'm going to get a lot of crap for this review, but I don't care.  It's my opinion and your on my blog, so you obviously are interested.  Secondly, it's art, and everyone reads art differently.  I'm just trying to figure out how paintings by 5 year old kids are considered art... to me, Black Swan is the same equivalent. 

Darren Aronofsky's "Wolverine" Sequel Now Has a Title

So, yes, it has been confirmed that Darren Aronofsky will re-team with Hugh Jackman for the Wolverine sequel. We already know the director and lead actor, as well as the plot. It will follow the Frank Miller, Japan Saga. Where Logan (aka Wolverine) falls in love with a married woman, the wife of a samurai. Logan must battle the villagers in hopes of ending up with the woman he loves.

The title has been revealed by Aronofsky himself. The movie will be called; The Wolverine. Back to basics, I like it! I never really liked the whole "X-Men Origins" part of the title anyway. It doesn't make sense to even use that if 'Wolverine' was going to be the only entry in the franchise; now that X-Men Origins: Magneto has been canceled. Aronofsky has an interesting visual style as well as the ability to tell a love story. He will do well and I will see this movie. That is all.

Hugh Jackman Confirms Aronofsky to Direct "Wolverine 2"

In a recent quick interview with Hugh Jackman, Vulture found out that Darren Aronofsky will indeed be directing the sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, confirming Tonedog's earlier rumor post.
I hope it'll be worth it and make up for the terrible first film.

Here's what Jackman had to say:

"This is, hopefully for me, going to be out of the box. It’s going to be the best one, I hope…Well, I would say that, but I really do feel that, and I feel this is going to be very different.
"This is Wolverine. This is not Popeye. He’s kind of dark… But, you know, this is a change of pace. Chris McQuarrie, who wrote The Usual Suspects, has written the script, so that’ll give you a good clue. [Aronofsky’s] going to make it fantastic. There’s going to be some meat on the bones. There will be something to think about as you leave the theater, for sure."

Awesome "Black Swan" International Posters

Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan opens on December 1st, and international audiences have been treated to some beautiful posters.

If you haven't seen the trailer yet, check it out here.

Thanks to Empire, who had these hi-res images.
As always, click to enlarge.

UPDATE: Darren Aronofsky Confirmed to Direct "Wolverine 2"

Yes it was only a rumor at first, but now Hugh Jackman has confirmed. Via various websites, here's a quote from Jackman himself:

This is Wolverine. This is not Popeye. He’s kind of dark… But, you know, this is a change of pace. Chris McQuarrie, who wrote The Usual Suspects, has written the script, so that’ll give you a good clue. [Aronofsky’s] going to make it fantastic. There’s going to be some meat on the bones. There will be something to think about as you leave the theater, for sure.

Could it be Darren Aronofsky is directing Wolverine 2? Ok, so he directed Hugh Jackman in The Fountain. Like 6 people saw the damn thing. Well, maybe it's because Zack Snyder got the Superman job and Darren Aronofsky didn't. Even though he was rumored to be in the running? I don't know, that's speculation on my part. /Slashfilm via Vulture are reporting the news.

I couldn't see Aronofsky making Superman and I don't see him doing Wolverine 2 either. Don't get me wring, I think he's a great director. Maybe Fox sees something in him that will improve upon the awful X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Improving the first film wont be very difficult. Director Gavin Hood butchered that film. There was so much wrong with the movie, it's not even funny. Check out my original review here.

Aronofsky is a dramatic director, but so was Gavin Hood. I believe that directors with a dramatic background are going to continue having difficulties in a genre such as superhero films. I wouldn't mind seeing an Aronofsky-directed Wolverine, but he wouldn't be my first pick. What do you think?

"Superman" Rumors: Natalie Portman as Lois Lane and Darren Aronofsky Directing?

Tony Scott (Man on Fire), Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), Duncan Jones (Moon), Zack Snyder (300) and Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles). What do they all have in common? They were all announced last week as being in the running to direct the new Superman film! Not a bad list to be on, huh? Especially when it's Christopher Nolan who's considering you to direct a film about one of the most recognizable characters in the history of man. Then the LA Times added another name into the hat, Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler).

Now six names, and who should it be? Zack,"I can make amazing super-hero movies" Snyder, that's who! I am a huge fan of the man's work. 300 is a classic, as well as Watchmen. He knows how to direct big-budget action films that still care about character development. He would be perfect for the job.

I've never kept my hatred for Superman Returns a secret. I love director Bryan Singer, but the movie was awful. Just awful! So we need a director who will care more about the action than paying homage to Richard Donner's 1978 Superman film. I think Snyder is the man for the job.

The next rumor is about Natalie Portman playing Lois Lane. Not to bash on Superman Returns again, but Kate Bosworth was awful and terribly miscast in the film. So I guess I'm OK with Portman playing the famous reporter. But I think this rumor only came about because of the Aronofsky rumor. Aronofsky just worked with Portman on Black Swan, so the two have experience together.

I doubt Portman will do it though. She's working in the superhero realm in the upcoming Thor. I don't really care about the Lois Lane casting before a director is brought on board. And hopefully that director is Snyder!