Pages tagged “jason bateman”

Release Date: July 2
Director: Peter Berg
Writers: Vy Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan
Cinematographer: Tobias Schliessler
Starring: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Charlize Theron
Studio/Run Time: Columbia Pictures, 92 mins.

Perhaps the oddest take on superheroes that film has offered yet, Hancock (Will Smith) is a drunken crime fighter with publicity issues stemming from his tendency to constantly cause collateral damge. But after saving the life of Ray (Jason Bateman), he ends up back in the world’s good graces. Where it would be easy to take this premise and turn the film into a superhero version of Pursuit of Happyness, instead, Hancock manages to riff on its genre with both humor and truly unexpected, if somewhat bizarre, plot twists. While the film never quite reaches an Alan Moore-level deconstruction of the superhero mythos, it has a fun time offering up all the joy of a big-budget action movie without taking things too seriously. Hancock’s execution ultimately falls short of what it attempts, but the movie’s overall charm and willingness to stick to its guns makes it more than just a blockbuster cash-in.

Watch the trailer for Hancock:

"We all want to do it. All the actors want to do it, the writers want to do it, and the boss wants to do it. And they are working on making a deal, probably as we speak. But it's a long, sort of drawn-out, complicated business process. 'Arrested Development' is such a specific tone, it doesn't lend itself to mass appeal, as played out by the fact that it's canceled. So it has to be done for a price [...] So they have to shoot it for a small price, and we have to figure out if we can do it for that price. They're working it out, and hopefully we'll be able to know something in the next month."

Keep those balls in the air. Keep those balls in the air.

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Right now, if you search IMDb for Extract (Mike Judge’s newly-announced workplace-comedy starring Jason Bateman), the occasionally dubious website directs you to Beef Extract Room, supposedly a silent documentary short released in 1901. (“AKA Beef Extract Department. No. 1: Filling Jar,” it says, “One of approximately 60 short films produced by Selig for meat-packers Armour & Co.”) There are no memorable quotes.

So, until that gets fleshed out a bit more, here’s the basic information. Judge has written, and will direct the film, set to be the first project under the Beavis and Butthead/King of the Hill/Office Space creator’s production company, Ternion, co-formed with Blades of Glory writers (and former King of the Hill producers) John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky.

Bateman will of course fill the accessibly-attractive leading-man-at-the-end-of-his-rope role, familiar material for both him and Judge. O, what gauntlet of humiliation must our corporate 30-something hero maneuver this time? Hollywood Reporter writes: “Extract follows a flower extract plant owner (Bateman) dealing with workplace issues and a stream of bad luck, including his wife's affair with a gigolo.”

Mirimax will distribute it in North America at a to-be-determined date. In the meantime, ABC has bought 13 episodes of Ternion’s first television series, The Goode Family, which will air the first quarter of 2009, according to Variety.

Related links
Mike Judge on IMDb
Jason Bateman on IMDb
YouTube: The Office Space "printer scene"

Got news for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.

[Above: Jason Bateman's guest spot on King of the Hill]

When Arrested Development went off the air, for those who loved the show, it was kind of like being dumped. If nothing else, no amount of cash is too great to hear Will Arnett’s sweet voice again. That said, prepare to do little mental cartwheels, as Mitchell Hurwitz has pitched a new Fox series called Sit Down, Shut Up that features three former cast members: namely, Arnett, Jason Bateman and Henry Winkler.

The series is an animated concept based on a live-action sitcom from Australia that followed a dysfunctional high school teacher for 13 episodes about six or seven years ago. Marg Downey and Paul Gleeson created the original from down under. Reportedly, Mitchell’s version will focus on several staff members that seem to operate with more regard for their own needs than those of their students.

Last month, Fox approved the table read of the program. Though details are still in the works, other actors confirmed for the cast include Cheri Oteri, Will Forte, Regina King, Nick Kroll, Tom Kenny and Maria Bamford.

The show will join the ranks of such weathered Fox animated comedies that include the likes of Family Guy, The Simpsons and King of the Hill. Will it fill the hole left in our lives by Arrested Development? Perhaps not, but it could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship, or at least fill the void until the film goes into production.

Thanks to Pop Candy for the tip!

Related links:
Arrested Development episodes on MSN.com
Mitchell Hurwitz on IMDb
News: Jason Bateman to direct The Inn pilot for Fox

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.

The comedy just doesn't quit with this guy. Jason Bateman, star of the most arresting Arrested Development, will soon direct a comedy pilot for the Fox network called The Inn.

News of the upcoming pilot comes after Bateman confirmed the existence of a potential Arrested Development movie. The Inn is aptly set at a hotel in New York and will film for 20th Century Fox TV, Reveille and Principato-Young. It's set to star Niecy Nash of Reno 911! fame.

Bateman was most recently seen in Paste's favorite film of 2007 and in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. He will soon appear in Hancock and State of Play. His directorial credits include select television episodes of Arrested Development, For Your Love and Brother's Keeper.

Thanks to Pop Candy for the tip!

Related links:
Paste: Review: Arrested Development: Season Two
Jason Bateman on IMDb
Poll: Who is your favorite Arrested Development character?

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.