Amidst Cannes fervor, it was a wildly active week at The Playlist, with a number of big stories regarding “Tintin,” “The Dark Knight Returns” and… Hitler.
— The viral ad campaign for “The Dark Knight Rises” has begun, with Warner Bros. using Twitter to reveal our first shot of Tom Hardy as Bane. While he certainly looks like a “Mortal Kombat” character, we’re willing to trust Christopher Nolan knows what he’s doing. Also check out our story revealing the casting of Matthew Modine in the film, spurring the affections of a number of closet Modine superfans.
– The Playlist has “Drive” fever! We debuted some new stills and a short scene from the film, before James Rocchi busted out a review straight from Cannes. Oh, that Ryan Gosling sure is handsome.
— Bound to draw controversy is the new untitled script from David Mamet, who will be taking a satirical look at affirmative action by having a young character register for colleges as an Aztec. It’s all part of a shift to the right Mamet has undergone in recent years, considering that’s exactly what happens to older people tired of challenging themselves. Read about this “Soul Man” rip here.
— Clips from “Super 8” debuted this week, shedding some light on the mysterious blockbuster slated to open in June. The consensus agrees that the lens flares are a bit much, but that the real surprise is how the footage was cut. Join the conversation by peeping the clips here.
— To commemorate the release of Woody Allen‘s “Midnight In Paris,” we brought readers a retrospective of each and every film in Allen’s body of work. Some classics, some less so, others kind of terrible, but a stunning career all the same. Check part one, and make sure to come back for part two.
— Behold, our first look at “Tintin.” The trailer debut allowed for a range of reactions from “DEAD EYES SO CREEPY” to multiple dissertations on the career of director Steven Spielberg. Check it out here, and see the conversation continue in our piece about the international trailer here.
— “Thor” battled to the top spot in last weekend’s box office, creating a debate as to whether the numbers were sound, and if “Thor” was registering as a hit. What is clear is that, whatever America’s reaction, they ADORE this stuff overseas.
— And so The Playlist has climbed the “Tree Of Life.” Kevin Jagernauth brought us a levelheaded take on the Palme d’Or winner that nonetheless sparked intense debate in the comments section. We also offered readers a peek at every single musical composition found in the film while commenting on Terrence Malick‘s absence (OR WAS IT??) at the press conference.
— See, this is why provocative filmmakers should never try standup comedy. “Melancholia” director Lars Von Trier took attention away from every film on the French Riviera by telling a long-winded joke about possibly being a Nazi that amused none, bored some, and confused others, who decided, eventually, that they were offended. As a result, Von Trier was banned from Cannes indefinitely, in a statement released by the organization that essentially stated, “we believe in free speech but not really.”
— And yet, somehow, our most popular story this week revolved around the teen property “The Mortal Instruments.” While Alex Pettyfer was rumored to be the top choice for the film previously, the contenders have now boiled down to Jamie Campbell-Bower, Ed Speelers and model/”Fifth Element” character Leebo Freeman. Aaaaaand that concludes how much we care about this movie.