Hope is a Demon Bitch

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Well, I spent all day yesterday looking into Denver...and I'm liking what I see. I visited with my dad, who just had facial surgery the other day because of an infected root canal, so I made sure that he was feeling good before dropping on him that I was thinking about Denver now. At first, he was a little confused (since I've been talking about Vegas for nearly six months) and told me that Denver was a big city full of bad areas especially in downtown...so I should really take that into consideration. He was casually trying to sway me away from it, I think. Then my stepmom came home...and she lived there for over a decade...and she had nothing but good things to say about the area. Sure, there are a few bad areas...but there's art, culture, diversity, sports, concerts, and it's a nice big town...a lot like Salt Lake City...only bigger. I'm still not sure. It's a great opportunity...but it's just not EXACTLY what I'm looking for...because it's not Vegas. If that's the only downside though, wouldn't I be a fool not to try it out? Seriously, if I had done something like this six months ago, I'd have six months experience on my resume already. I don't know. It all happens for a reason.

To get my mind off Denver for a few hours, I invited a few friends to go see a movie...but only JL Clyde showed up, so we went and saw "Hamlet 2" starring Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Amy Poehler, David Arquette, and the incomparable Elisabeth Shue. Basically the story is about an eccentric former bit actor turned high school theatre teacher in Tucson, Arizona trying to save his department from budget cuts...but instead of plays based on popular Hollywood movies like "Erin Brockovich", he tries an original piece that he wrote...while suffering from a nervous breakdown and Peach Schnapps. I really liked the main character...because he's crazy and passionate about what he does...and I personalize with that. It's actually quite hilarious throughout. Oh...and just in case you were wondering, the scene where he meets Elisabeth Shue...is EXACTLY how I would react in that situation...even the "Shoo Shue" joke. I would highly recommend that you all go out and see it if you like comedy...or Elisabeth Shue...or Freedom of Speech...or parodies of inspirational teacher stories...or Time Machines...or sexy Jesus. I ugh...think that covers just about everybody. I don't say this often...but well worth the price of admission at theatres. Here's some other movie news out there...

Firefly Porn? Really? - Director James Gunn ("Slither") is pulling together a new ultraproject merging some of the "Firefly" TV series cast with some porn starlets. Actors Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Michael Rosenbaum, along with porn starlets Belladonna, Aria Giovanni, Jenna Haze, and Sasha Grey will star in the as yet unannounced project. Gunn is presently working on "Humanzee", a short contribution to the Xbox Live series of comedy flicks by horror filmmakers. He's also co-hosting the reality show "Scream Queens" with "Saw" series star Shawnee Smith. Now, I'm a big fan of the Firefly TV series so this intrigued me with the mere mention of them...but to throw in hotchuma hotchuma porn starlets like Aria Giovanni only sweetens the pot. Maybe Firefly is another one of those key words for me to see your movie. It could be a Victorian era tale of bigotry...starring Captain Mal, Wash, Lex Luthor, and the star of "Chloroformed Pin-Up Girls!" but I sincerely doubt it'll be along those lines. My guess, a sexy slasher movie where the only thing skimped more on than the plot is the wardrobe...so keep your eyes open. Also curious if Jewel Straite, Summer Glau, and Morena Baccarin will be involved...but a man can dream.

Who You Gonna Call? - Sony Pictures has hired "The Office" co-executive producers to pen a script for a third "Ghostbusters" film reports the trades. Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky will pen the script which is designed to bring back together the original cast of Harold Ramis (Egon Spangler), Bill Murray (Peter Vankman), Dan Aykroyd (Ray Stantz) and Ernie Hudson (Winston Zedmore). Eisenberg and Stupnitsky just wrote the comedy "The Year One" which Ramis directed. No deals will be made with the original cast until the script is ready. Ramis with Aykroyd wrote and Ivan Reitman directed the first two films released in 1984 and 1989 respectively. The news comes just a few days after Aykroyd revealed in an interview with E! News that "two sharp young writers are purported to be writing the sequel" - and that he'd love to get Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow involved. I'm sorry, I just blacked out. What happened? Crap, I seem to have spilled yogurt on my pants...which is odd because I don't care for yogurt. Perhaps I was just slimed...and should call the Ghostbusters. This is awesome news...but I won't count my chickens just yet. Still waiting for that video game that should be coming out soon too. Also, when Aykroyd was asked about bringing back Sigourney Weaver's character, he commented "There is no Dana, there is only Zool." Okay, I made that last part up...but it was either that or taking the interview into the bathroom with him saying, "Don't cross the streams. It could be bad."

Charles Darwin Biopic - Real-life husband and wife Paul Bettany ("Knights Tale" & "Beautiful Mind") and Jennifer Connelly (f**k, she's married) will play a married couple in the upcoming Charles Darwin biopic "Creation" says the trades. Jon Amiel ("Copycat" & "Entrapment") directs the film which portrays Darwin as a man torn between his love for his deeply religious wife and his own growing belief in a world where God has no place. The scientist finds himself caught in a struggle between faith and reason, love and truth. Bettany will play the British father of evolutionary theory, and Connelly will play his wife, Emma. Jeremy Northam ("The Tudors"), Toby Jones (voice of Dobby in Harry Potter) and Benedict Cumberbatch (another English guy) also star while the key role of daughter Annie will be announced soon. The script is based on Randal Keynes' book "Annie's Box" and adapted by writer John Collee ("Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" & "Happy Feet"). Shooting starts at the end of September on location in England. Honestly, if I were married to Jennifer Connelly, I would be torn too. Despite so much evidence backing science and evolution...yet every time I look at her, I would know that there has to be a God out there...and he loves my simple funny-talking ass. Should be a great flick. I actually really like Paul Bettany as an actor...and Jennifer Connelly. Damn it, they deserve each other, those lucky bastards.

Nicolas Cage Update - In a conference call this week to promote the thriller "Bangkok Dangerous", actor Nicolas Cage revealed that he and Marvel Studios have already been talking about a potential sequel to the critically maligned (sh*tty) yet internationally profitable "Ghost Rider" movie. Cage told Dark Horizons that he had a meeting with the studio about the project three months ago and they talked about a whole different setting for the character. The general idea was to take the character to Europe where he will work with the Catholic Church, deal with supernatural stuff on the continent and figureout a "connection working with different religious figures". The film's main antagonist has yet to be decided. Might I suggest Satan...and possibly instead of calling it "Ghost Rider 2" call it "Constantine"? I hate to say it...but do we really need another Ghost Rider? I mean...Eva Mendes is hotchuma hotchuma...but she can get other work, right? God knows Nicky Cage can do whatever he wants too.

For example, he's also involved in the adaptation of the graphic novel "Kick-Ass" which he's just about to begin filming. Of his character he says "I play a guy named Damon and I'm the father of Mindy, who is Hit Girl and I'm Big Daddy and I'm training my daughter to become a superhero." I'm intrigued. It's like "Leon, the Professional" but daddy-daughter time...and it's called "Kick-Ass" what's not to like? Did I mention that the daughter is ten years old? That might be important. Cage has just wrapped up work in on Werner Herzog's remake of "Bad Lieutenant", confirms that he plays the voice of Astro Boy's creator in the upcoming CG-animated film based on the property, and really hopes that of all the Marvel characters that a "Submariner" film will one day be made. Don't forget that he's the voice of a mole named Speckles in the CGI-animated tale "G-Force" and about a dozen other movies called "Amarillo Slim", "Electric God", "The Dance", Scared Straight", and "The Ghost."

That'll do it for today...and I'd like to wish you all the best in happiness and health. Don't be afraid to let others out there know how you feel about them. You never know when it'll be too late. May you all live to be a thousand years old. Have a great weekend everybody!!!