RANDOM BITS

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL opened in theaters today. It's so cool just saying that. It's been met with generally positive critical notices (81% overall at Rottentomatoes with a 66% cream of the crop rating). But honestly -- reviews schmeviews on this one. I could care-fucking-less what critics have to say about the latest Indiana Jones adventure. I loved, loved, loved all three of the previous films without any reservations. They're all action-adventure masterpieces as far as I'm concerned. I will be seeing INDY 4 this weekend and I can't wait to report back with my thoughts.

Jake Gyllenhaal has climbed aboard Jerry Bruckheimer's mega-budget PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, a LOTR-type fantasy actioner which is based on a popular video game series. Mike Newell, a director with an eclectic resume (DONNIE BRASCO, HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF FIRE, PUSHING TIN), is helming from a script by the team of Jordan Mechner (the game's creator) and Jeffrey Nachmanoff (THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW). However, knowing what I know about the Bruck, there have been (and will be) tons of rewrites with everyone in town taking a stab and getting some dollars. Future Bond-girl Gemma Arterton is also starring as Gyllenhaal's love interest. The film has something to do with a prince who has to fight some bad guys with his sword and rescue a princess and blah-blah-blah. To be honest, these type of fantasy action flicks (LOTS, NARNIA, ERAGON, etc) don't do anything for me. I am a big fan of Bruckheimer so hopefully this is closer to the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise than that of the Hobbits.

Richard Dreyfuss, who's friends probably get to call him "Dick," has signed on to play another Dick of sorts -- Dick Cheney in Oliver Stone's upcoming George Bush biopic W. He joins Josh Brolin (Bush), Elizabeth Banks (Laura Bush), Ioan Gruffudd (Tony Blair), Thandie Newton (Condoleeza Rice), Rob Corddry (Ari Fleischer), Scott Glenn (Donald Rumsfeld), Ellen Burstyn (Barbara Bush), George Comwell (George Bush Sr.), Jeffrey Wright (Colin Powell), and Toby Jones (Karl Rove). That's ONE HELLUVA CAST. I have been a massive Oliver Stone fan for years so I am eagerly anticipating this film. Stone co-wrote the script with his WALL STREET co-scenarist Stanley Weiser. The great Phedon Papamichael is the cinematographer; he shot 3:10 TO YUMA, WALK THE LINE, THE WEATHER MAN, and SIDEWAYS.

The Cannes Film Festival has been happening this past week and lots of big news is coming out of the screenings. Steven Soderbergh screened a 4 hour 20 minute cut of his film CHE, which stars Benicio Del Toro as the Cuban revolutionary. Apparently, CHE is really two different films; one called GUERILLA once called THE ARGENTINE. The original plan was to release the two films separately. Critical reaction has been wildly mixed; some are calling it a masterpiece and others have been panning it. From what I have read, it sounds like Soderbergh has made a deliberately non-commercial and non-traditional biopic in a Terrence Malick-esque style. Personally, I can't wait to see this film(s) whenever they get released. Also recently screened at Cannes was the latest from Clint Eastwood -- CHANGELING. It's a kidnapped-child drama starring Angelina Jolie and taking place in Los Angeles during the 1920's. Reviews have been ecstatic, with many predicting that the film could win best picture and/or best director. Jolie has also received strong reviews for her performance. Todd McCarthy, the lead critic at Variety, said that CHANGELING is in the same class as other L.A. crime noirs as CHINATOWN and L.A. CONFIDENTIAL. That's very, very promising...

There's a slick and spiffy new teaser trailer out for EAGLE EYE, a big-budget political action thriller from director DJ Caruso (DISTURBIA) and starring Shia LeBeouf, Billy Bob Thorton, and Michelle Monaghan. Here's the link: http://www.eagleeyemovie.com/

Christian Bale has signed up for three new TERMINATOR movies; he'll be playing the role of John Connor. Production on the first film has begun and it's slated for release next year. McG (CHARLIE'S ANGELS) is directing from a script by John Brancato and Mike Ferris (TERMINATOR 3, David Fincher's THE GAME). I detest the fact that the producers have wimped out and softened this R-rated franchise with PG-13 ratings for each of the new films. I love Bale but I am personally shocked that he's agreed to do another franchise (he is Batman, after all). But they probably dangled a hefty pay check in front of his face...