RANDOM BITS

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END, the third installment in the PIRATES franchise, got released today on DVD. I had a blast watching it in the theaters and look forward to my second viewing; that last act battle during the hurricane was something else.

Ben Kingsley has joined Leo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo in Martin Scorsese's SHUTTER ISLAND, a 1950's Boston set crime saga, that will no doubt be a masterwork of some sort.

The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Johnny Depp may be teaming up with director Michael Mann (HEAT, COLLATERAL, THE INSIDER, MIAMI VICE) for a Depression-era crime film based on Brian Burrough's book "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34" for Universal. Depp and Mann have never made a film together and this one sounds like it would be a perfect match for star and filmmaker.

Jason Reitman's JUNO, his follow up to the excellent satire THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, gets released tomorrow and is getting nearly universal acclaim from the critics. I'm looking forward to it very much.

Russell Crowe has replaced Brad Pitt in STATE OF PLAY, a new political thriller to be directed by Kevin McDonald (LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, TOUCHING THE VOID). Crowe joins the already cast Ed Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, and Robin Wright Penn. What a cast.

Tim Burton's SWEENEY TODD has screened for big-gun critics and both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter gave it terrific reviews; can't wait for that one. The trailers have been sensational and I love the near monochromatic look that Burton and his amazing cinematographer, Dariusz Wolski, have brought to the picture. Looks pretty stunning. And what a trip to see Depp singing and slicing throats open!