After I recovered from the pain I thought I’d risk sharing my thoughts with the fine people who frequent BifSniff. This picture is from the Cannes Film Festival (courtesy of Cinematical) and I think sums up what the festival has become. It doesn’t immediately make you think “film festival” does it?

I know I’m being naive but I would like a Festival as big as Cannes that still puts the films first. At the same time I realise that film wouldn’t be such a global industry without this kind of thing. And part of me likes that there is this much attention.

It does make me appreciate the smaller scale of the Cork Film Festival thought, where the film is still the most important thing. While also wishing I was in Cannes right now…

Martin Scorsese is to make a biopic of legendary singer Frank Sinatra. That is according to Sinatra’s film producer daughter anyway. There is suggestion that the film will not be about his mob links but since Scorsese’s involvement or role aren’t even confirmed yet let’s wait and see what kind of film it will be.

Apparently Scorsese once tried to make a biopic about Sinatra’s fellow Rat Packer, Dean Martin, with Tom Hanks as Martin.

I thought this film was a bad idea when I first heard about it. Nothing I have seen has changed my mind. I’ve seen their Hulk, I’ve seen their Abomination, I know the story from their trailers. Why should I both going to see this film?

Like Iron Man, I’ll just leave it to Frank.

Update I found a newer one. Still not convinced.

Details are a little sketchy as yet. It is written by original scribe W. Peter Iliff and is set 20 years after the first movie (guess it’ll be out in 2011 then?) and to be shot in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

IESB.net tell us;

When Billy Dalton, military special ops and star surfer, is disqualified from the pro-surfing tour, he takes off for the coast of Bali looking for the perfect wave. While there he’s recruited by a private security force who are trying to find a gang known as The Bush Administration, surfing outlaws and modern day pirates who work like “The Ex-Presidents,” a bank robbing crew from Malibu twenty years ago.

They also mention that the producers have “reached out” to both Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves but no casting has as yet been confirmed. I can’t see Swayze doing it considering his health which is a pity as I’m sure he’d have loved to do it a year or so ago. My gut feeling is that Reeves will reprise his role given his Speed links with DeBont.

I wasn’t crazy about the original but guess it’s worth another look. If Hollywood can’t come up with new ideas I’ll just keep watching the movies they are making sequels to or remaking then. Personally I blame Hot Fuzz!

Steven Soderbergh is directing two film about Che Guevara - the Argentine guerilla leader who played a major part in the Cuban revolution. The Argentine and Guerilla. While The Argentine is to be released by Focus Feature, Guerilla is still without a distributor. Why would you not distribute both? Hopefully all that will change after the screening in Cannes.

Thanks to Cinematical (where you can see another one) for the picture.

You can hear the full interview here.

I for one am very disappointed to hear out new Taoiseach say he hasn’t read the treaty in full when he has made getting it passed his number one priority. I listened to the full interview and am still none the wiser about the treaty. All i heard from Cowen was the same old “political repercussions.” It’ll take more than vague threats to make me vote yes. Where’s the explanation of what the treaty is about Mr. Cowen? Where’s the consideration of the consequences of getting the treaty wrong? For us and for the EU!

Taking an “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” approach I am waiting to hear what in the EU is broke and how we need to fix it before I would even consider voting yes. I haven’t read it but I know the EU won’t be happy if we don’t pass it doesn’t convince me I’m afraid.

The X-Files was one of the best TV shows ever made! I loved it! When David Duchovny left the show it died a slow, and messy death. They should never have continued without Mulder. The whole show was about him after all. That was obvious to anyone who wasn’t blinded by dollar signs.

Anyway, after 6 years The X-Files are back. And so is Duchovny.

The film opens in July and is written and directed by original creator Chris Carter. Although the first film, Fight The Future, was disappointing, I am looking forward to this movie. If nothing else it gives me a good excuse to re-watch the TV series. I Want To Believe is one of the creature of the week episodes rather than a big conspiracy one, and yes that is Billy Connolly.

Cork based theatre practitioners Eoin Ó hAnnracháin (director, Howie The Rookie & Falling Slowly) and Kate McSwiney O’Rourke (actress, Lifeboat & Vanity, Vapours and Dizzy Debutantes) are developing a play based on the themes of fear and obsession.

As part of the evolution of this project we are inviting actors to join us for a two hour workshop where we can test out our ideas and experiment with participants’ points of view.

The number of characters involved in this project and the direction for the story have not yet been finalised but, with regard to the final production, we are not making any promises to those who attend the workshop.

The workshop will explore your imagination, utilise your instinct, require you to think on your feet and be creative, all in the space of two hours!

Class size is limited so if you are interested in participating please send your CV, Headshot and/or relevant experience to clinicproductions@gmail.com

For further details see clinicmedia.net