Josh Brolin as George W? See It, Believe It
Director/madman Oliver Stone has started production on the strangestand possibly coolestmovie of the year, a big-time biopic of President George W. Bush, set for release (maybe) before the November election.
It's called W, it stars Josh Brolin as The Decider, and Entertainment Weekly snagged the low-down by visiting the director of JFK and Nixon on his new flick's Louisiana set.
"Bush may turn out to be the worst president in history," Stone tells EW. "But that doesn't mean he isn't a great story…The fact that he had to overcome the shadow of his father and the weight of his family nameyou have to admire his tenacity."
Brolin, hot off No Country for Old Men, is joined by Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush andthis is awesomeRob Corddry as Ari Fleisher. Rumored to be in talks are Paul Giamatti as Dick Cheney and Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice. EW peeked at the script, too, and describes scenes jumping between Bush's reckless youthdrunken driving, yelling at H.W.and his reckless presidency.
So what do you think, will W be greeted with flowers and chocolates, or is it a disaster waiting to happen?
AI OD: A farewell to Syesha Mercado
She blew us all away with her tenacity and grace, but in the end she was facing forces of popularity that she just couldn’t touch. Much like Kimberly Locke had to accept her fate in light of the inevitability of a Ruben-Clay finale in Season Two, I think Syesha knew the writing was on the wall as we careened toward next week’s David-David collision.
You’ve got to give her credit, though, for not going down without a fight (though one could argue she didn’t put up much of one on her last night in the competition). These past several weeks have seen a blooming of talent and presence that have been nothing short of astounding. Perhaps not since Season One’s Kelly Clarkson have we had a contestant who kind of muddle around the middle of the pack for awhile and then just started to shoot for the stars (though I can’t say they’re in the same class vocally–sorry, Sy). In Syesha Mercado’s exit interview she even stated that she considers her Top 3 finish a success.
She made peace with her inevitable elimination on Tuesday night. “I got too many bad comments from the judges to keep me there,” she said, “And at this point in the game you can’t have had too many bad comments to be [in the finals]. I made peace with it. I couldn’t be happier right now.” It kind of makes you wonder if Syesha would have been able to win The One: Making a Music Star. Considering ABC just dropped the show mid-run without ever declaring a winner, she just might have made it without the two Davids in her way.
Her father, who’s been struggling with addiction most of Syesha’s life, has been inspired to try and stay clean and sober through her successes and achievements week after week on American Idol. Syesha is determined to help her dad keep up this great streak. While she is engaged, she’s not yet ready to put a date out for a wedding, but whoever he is, he’s one lucky man.
As for future plans she is willing to declare, she’s perfectly ready to jump into the studio and record an album in the style of Diary of Alicia Keys or Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics. But she also has those Broadway aspirations so many have said she’d be perfect for, as well as feature film ambitions (hey, she’s done commercials so she’s seasoned). She’d also like to start a charitable foundation for something and even open a restaurant.
Earlier in the interview, she mentioned possibly writing a book about her father’s struggles as well, so I guess maybe she covered everything. Talk show? How about a theme park? Dolly Parton has one. And why not become a comic book superheroine while you’re at it, Syesha. You’ve got the figure for it. You could have the superpower of elasticity. No matter the odds, you always seem to bounce right back into the thick of things. With her brains, talent and beauty I don’t predict any problem for Ms. Mercado in making her mark on the entertainment world.
Her Journey in Videos (with some bonuses at the end):
Syesha eliminated and swan song:
Top 3 (producer’s choice) - Gia Farrell, “Hit Me Up”:
Top 3 (contestant’s choice) - Peggy Lee, “Fever”:
Top 3 (judge’s choice–Randy Jackson) - Alicia Keys, “If I Ain’t Got You”:
Top 4 - Sam Cooke, “A Change Is Gonna Come”:
Top 4 - Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Proud Mary”:
Top 5 - Neil Diamond, “Thank the Lord for the Night Time”
Top 5 - Neil Diamond, “Hello Again”
Top 6 - Starlight Express, “One Rock & Roll Too Many”
Top 7 - Mariah Carey, “Vanishing”
Top 8 - Fantasia, “I Believe”
Top 9 - Dolly Parton, “I Will Always Love You”
Top 10 - Stephanie Mills, “If I Were Your Woman”
Top 11 - The Beatles, “Yesterday”
Top 12 - The Beatles, “Got to Get Your Into My Life”
Top 16 - Whitney Houston, “Saving All My Love for You”
Top 20 - Billy Paul, “Me and Mr(s). Jones”
Top 24 - The Nashville Teens, “Tobacco Road”
Hollywood Week:
Initial audition:
Check it out, Syesha had experience doing Ford commercials before Idol:
Syesha don’t need no stupid phone card:
I don’t remember the KFC Wrap Star in my area!:
Here’s a very strange Florida commercial showing some Syesha ’tude we’ll say farewell on:
IDOL SEASON 7 FAREWELLS
#4 - Jason Castro
#5 - Brooke White
#6 - Carly Smithson
#7 - Kristy Lee Cook
#8 - Michael Johns
#9 - Ramiele Malubay
#10 - Chikezie
#11 - Amanda Overmyer
#12 - David Hernandez
#13 - Danny Noriega
#14 - Asia’h Epperson
#15 - Luke Menard
#16 - Kady Malloy
#17 - Robbie Carrico
#18 - Alaina Whitaker
#19 - Alexandrea Lushington
#20 - Jason Yeager
#21 - Colton Berry
#22 - Joanne Borgella
#23 - Amy Davis
#24 - Garrett Haley
Terminator 4 Concept Art Revealed, McG Speaks
McG has posted the first update on the official website for Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, featuring our first look at concept art for post-judgment day Los Angeles. Click on the image below to enlarge. I think even the naysayers have to admit, it looks f’n cool.
But to play devil’s advocate: a lot of concept art for even bad movies looks cool. It’s also important to note that this is the first time McG has attempted to reach out to the fans to reassure them that his vision is not to ruin Terminator 4:
“Like you guys, I’ve been a long-time fan of the series and I understand your passion for the Terminator movies — and it’s my full intention to deliver a film that lives up to the previous three installments. I’ve spent time with James Cameron, spoken to Arnold Schwarzenegger, gone over the story with Jonah Nolan, and enlisted Stan Winston,” wrote McG. “Everything we’re shooting is designed to be tactile and real, you’ll be seeing a whole set of inspired designs you’ve never seen before, and best of all you’ll finally get to see some of the post-judgment day future that was only hinted at in the previous movies.”
McG also talks about the casting:
“John Connor will be pushed to the brink. And for me, Christian Bale embodies Connor’s strength and tenacity perfectly. And after visiting Sam Worthington on the set of Avatar, I know he’s perfect for his role,” writes the director. “As you know, Anton Yelchin is playing Kyle Reese, and his prep has been unbelievable. The guy’s been watching all three Terminators incessantly and he’s definitely going to capture the essence of the character Michael Biehn created in Cameron’s first film.”
The music video/commercial turned feature director says that he has already seen the first sequence they shot at Griffith Observatory cut together and claims “Anton and Sam are excellent.”
Discuss: C’mon guys, should we give McG a chance?
Terminator Salvation Concept Art!
Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins director McG has kicked-off a production blog on the official website with a reassuring message, along with some cool concept art showing post-judgment day Los Angeles. Click to get a closer look!
We’ve officially started principal photography on Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. Like you guys, I’ve been a long-time fan of the series and I understand your passion for the Terminator movies — and it’s my full intention to deliver a film that lives up to the previous three installments. I’ve spent time with James Cameron, spoken to Arnold Schwarzenegger, gone over the story with Jonah Nolan, and enlisted Stan Winston.
Everything we’re shooting is designed to be tactile and real, you’ll be seeing a whole set of inspired designs you’ve never seen before, and best of all you’ll finally get to see some of the post-judgment day future that was only hinted at in the previous movies.
John Connor will be pushed to the brink. And for me, Christian Bale embodies Connor’s strength and tenacity perfectly. And after visiting Sam Worthington on the set of Avatar, I know he’s perfect for his role.
As you know, Anton Yelchin is playing Kyle Reese, and his prep has been unbelievable. The guy’s been watching all three Terminators incessantly and he’s definitely going to capture the essence of the character Michael Biehn created in Cameron’s first film.
We started principal photography with a sequence at Griffith Observatory. I’ve already seen a cut of it — Anton and Sam are excellent. I’ll have more on that soon, and can’t wait to share some of what we’re doing with you all. Stay tuned for more.
McG