Pages tagged “robert downey jr.”

Some of the funniest films ever made pay tribute to that special time of transition in life between youth and adulthood. Yes, I'm talking about college—those carefree days of waking up hungover in a pile of your own vomit, only to realize you've missed your philosophy mid-term. Just thinking about it, I'm instantly transported back to my College of Charleston dorm room, with its painted-blue concrete walls and window that didn't open. I'm hitting snooze because I don't want to get up for my 2 p.m. thursday class. "Might as well skip it," I think to myself as I roll over and start drifting back to sleep. "With the amount of time it'll take for that ceiling fan to dry the boxers I hand-washed last night because I spent my change for the coin laundry on beer, I'll never make it anyway."

It still isn’t clear why it happened—money, many say—but Marvel’s decision to replace Terrence Howard with Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2 has sparked a minor revolt among fans of the new series.

It has finally arrived...the trailer for the much anticipated Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement) film The Soloist, that is. And before you ask, no, it doesn't star Keira Knightley.

Release Date: August 13
Director: Ben Stiller
Writer: Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Etan Cohen
Cinematographer: John Toll
Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Steve Coogan
Studio/Run Time: Dreamworks, 107 mins.

Everyone wants to have their action-movie cake and blow it up, too. Whether it’s Pineapple Express getting serious about getting stoned, or Hot Fuzz lovingly goofing on cop flicks, some writers and directors can’t help but try their hand at legit, high five-worthy explosions while cracking jokes on the genre at the same time.

Drum roll please, dear Watson. The newest actor to take on the Sherlock Holmes role is none other than the Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr., in Guy Ritchie’s new Sherlock Holmes flick. 

Nothing has been confirmed as of yet, but EW.com reports that Robert Downey Jr. is in the running to play the famed sleuth Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's Warner Brothers' film. 

There's news about Tony Stark on the horizon, and we're not talking about Ghostface Killah. Soon after the revelation that Robert Downey Jr. will be making a cameo in the upcoming Incredible Hulk movie, Marvel announced that Iron Man 2 is set to begin filming next year, in time for an April 30th, 2010 release.

Release Date: May 2
Director: Jon Favreau
Writers: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Cinematographer: Matthew Libatique
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges
Studio/Run Time: Marvel Studios, 126 mins

There was never any question whether Iron Man would look great. The film boasts special effects from Industrial Light & Magic and a storyboard lifted from the pages of the titular comic book. Director Jon Favreau wisely recruited artist Adi Granov, a longtime Iron Man illustrator, to fine-tune the iconic armor suit. The result is a deeply satisfying design that nails the visual feel of the character; for this, Granov earned a "Suit Consultant" nod during the credits.

No, the real question for Iron Man, Marvel's first production since relaunching its filmmaking efforts under one brand, involves acting. With marginal flicks like Ghost Rider and Fantastic Four still fresh in fans' minds, Favreau and the production team had a responsibility to up the ante and deliver a fresh cast of actors—not to mention a robust, pulpy script.

Iron Man tells the story of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), a second-generation weapons maker who made his fortunes selling high-tech missiles to the U.S. government. Stark's origin story gets a modern update in the film, which sees him captured by Middle Eastern terrorists and forced to build weapons in an Afghanistan cave. Instead, he builds a suit of powered armor, blasts his way to freedom, and begins his transformation from tycoon to superhero.

The end product exceeded all expectations. Downey Jr.'s portrayal of billionaire engineer/playboy Stark is focused like a laser on the character's essential parts—namely, Stark's rather self-destructive habits. But simply playing a character with vices (alcohol and girls, in Stark's case) wouldn't be as effective without a moral compass, and this is where Gwyneth Paltrow comes in. As Pepper Potts (surely one of the best comic book names ever), Paltrow keeps Stark firmly grounded in reality as his personal assistant. She's plucky and intelligent, and the two characters enjoy some of their finest lines while bickering in Stark's Malibu beach house.

Indeed, the entire script is a thing of beauty. Stark possesses a bone-dry sense of humor that reveals itself throughout the film. Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), a fellow industrialist who quickly becomes Iron Man's enemy, is similarly inspired. Bridges gives a remarkably gratifying performance as the antagonist, including a bout of trash-talking near the end of the film that could have been lifted directly from the pages of the original comic book.

The film drips with sequel hooks, and fans would do well to stick around after the credits for one last tantalizing scene—a precursor of things to come, if Marvel's moviemaking aspirations continue. In interviews, Favreau has expressed interest in an Iron Man trilogy, and the second film may well focus on Stark's battle with alcoholism. This movie, however, features only external demons—the kind that can be dispatched with a solid left hook and a catchy one-liner. Especially when viewed within that context, it's Marvel's best feature to date.

Watch the trailer for Iron Man:

Director: Jon Poll
Writer: Gustin Nash
Cinematographer: Paul Sarossy
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, Kat Dennings, Tyler Hilton
Studio/Run Time: MGM, 97 mins.

"Yeah I’m gonna kill myself
Get a little headline news
I’d like to see what the papers say
On the state of teenage blues."
Elton John “I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself”

You gotta love teen angst in the cinema. From the rebellious '50s in Blackboard Jungle to Sean Penn’s slacker Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High to the vapidity of Mean Girls, filmmakers have exploited screen teens. Now, in the surprisingly intelligent Charlie Bartlett, an attempt is made to cure the angst when former prep student Charlie (Anton Yelchin) practices psychiatry on his fellow students. Using a toilet stall as a make-shift confessional, Charlie hands out advice and prescription drugs in the men’s room. The drugs, however, are illicitly prescribed for Charlie. Principal Gardner (Robert Downey, Jr.) who hates his job and has his own dependency problems, seems more concerned with Charlie’s interest in his daughter than with his increasingly weak hold on the school.

Give director Jon Poll and screenwriter Gustin Nash credit for bringing comedic light to some heavy subjects such as the misuse of prescribed drugs and teen suicide. But at times the film’s credibility is stretched a little too far, even for a comedy. At one point the entire student body seems to incredulously say in unison, “Can’t we all just get along?” Even the school bully, hilariously played by Tyler Hilton, works to change his evil ways.

Yelchin is perfect as the clean cut Charlie who craves popularity and needs a little counseling of his own. His sweet dingbat of a mother, Hope Davis, gets some of the film’s best lines. And Downey Jr. playing an alcoholic principal lecturing on the dangers of drugs is one of those wonderfully ironic, Twilight Zone moments that only Hollywood can provide.

Watch the trailer for Charlie Barlett: