A true story of riches to rags, the book Skeletons On The Zahara will be adapted into a screenplay by Public Enemies scribe Ronan Bennet [Deadline]. The book, written by Dean King tells the true story of a merchant vessel captained by James Riley that was shipwrecked in Africa. The crew then trials through the Sahara, before they are captured and made slaves. Riley eventually wrote a memoir of the event, republished with a new title: Sufferings in Africa. Read the full story

Since busting on to the scene with Arrested Development in 2003, Michael Cera has worked with many of today’s most popular comedians, and you’d have to be living under a rock to not have seen at least one of his films. Some say he is risking overexposure. But I say Cera has been steadily working toward Kevin Bacon status, developing a film career worthy of his own 6 degrees game.

To be a truly effective Party Game Icon, Cera would have to link to a variety of film actors to allow for a range of players to participate:

• a major Hollywood star (for casual movie fans)
• an international film star (for film students)
• an independent film star (for hipsters)
• a film star from Hollywood’s golden age (for anyone over 25).

As you can see below – Cera’s plotted his course well:

Do you believe Michael Cera has reached Kevin Bacon status? Give us your examples in the comments below.

Wayne Kramer, the director of The Cooler and Running Scared, is set to helm Pretty Boy Floyd.  The name Pretty Boy Floyd should sound familiar to those who saw Michael Mann‘s Public Enemies. Charles Arthur Pretty Boy Floyd was a character in Public Enemies and was played by Channing Tatum. He only had a brief scene before his screen time was abruptly ended by a bullet in the back from Christian Bale‘s character. [via The Playlist]

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To continue on the Oscars,  Here are some of the top ten films that they missed when handing out the nominations about a month ago.

Here are the rules: If a film is nominated already for something I cannot use it.  Even if it’s that the film wasn’t nominated for the proper award. Therefore I can only nominate films that have completely omitted from the list at this year’s awards ceremony. Read the full story

The calm before the pending Oscar storm is trembling in front of us. Here at TFS we asked each writer to give their Top 20 so far. I then gave 1 point to their #20 pick and 20 points to their #1 pick and everything in between. I added up points for all the films and here is the order leading up to the film with the most points. Let’s take a look at some of the best films of the year so far.

In a rather standard weekend at the movies, Sacha Baron Cohen’s new mock-u-comedy Bruno brought in an estimated $30.5 million against Fox’s wide release, the broad Graduation Night comedy I Love You Beth Cooper, which fell head-over-heels with an estimated $5 million. For general box office projections, see the article in Variety. For a more detailed estimation of the full weekend, go Box Office Mojo.

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By Jack Giroux

Having established himself as a master of the seedy crime underworld, director Michael Mann has once again delivered an other prime example of the genre. In a summer that has been filled with an overwhelming amount of lackluster films, Public Enemies actually delivers.

The film revolves around bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) and the golden age of crime (the Depressed 1930s), which the man helped define. Dillinger and his crew are looked upon graciously by some while despised by others, most notably the FBI. While living the high life of bank robbing, Dillinger becomes infatuated by Billie Frechette (Marion Cotilliard).  Soon Dillinger is putting his life on the line for Frechette as the FBI gain on him and his crew, claiming him “public enemy number one.” Leading the investigation is Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), the FBI’s best man.

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Here is the monthly rundown of what I’m looking forward to in July. Leave a comment and let me know what you are looking forward to!

10. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Saldanha, July 1st)

Synopsis: When Sid gets into some trouble, it’s up to Manny, Ellie, Diego, and Scrat to save their friend. Their mission leads them to an underground world where encounter dinosaurs, flora, and fauna — as well as a one-eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Looks to be more of the same, but the 3-D component should be worth a view. The first two films were fun, and this one doesn’t look wildly different.

9. The Cove (Psihoyos, July 31st)

Synopsis: Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renown dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Won the audience award at Sundance this year. Looks like a intense drama about the slaughter of dolphins in Japan.

Check out the rest of the list below >>

In honor of Michael Mann’s crime drama Public Enemies being released this week I have compiled a list of my top 10 crime movies of the last decade.

10. Enemy of the State
Though it may be your typical Hollywood action/thriller, Enemy of the State provides a hard look at the dangers that come with surveillance and the need to protect ourselves 24/7. Will Smith (I Am Legend) and Gene Hackman (Behind Enemy Lines) both give top notch performances and Hackman who did a similar movie in the 70’s (The Conversation) does this movie true justice.

9. Lord of War
Lord of War may have left just as quickly as it came at the box office but this war film starring Nicholas Cage (National Treasure) provides a very real look at the world of gun running and how it is an extremely grey area. After I saw this film I had a completely different perspective on war in general. It was amazing to think that my own government works with the same people that fuel wars that we try to prevent.

Check out the rest of the list below >>

Identity is defined as the individual characteristics by which a person or thing is recognized. In the films Collateral and Miami Vice Michael Mann explores how identity is always fluctuating and that the “individual characteristics” by which we define ourselves are always changing, but our core selves remain the same. Almost like a computer, the software may be constantly changing but the hardware running it never does. Through the characters, story, and cinematography Mann exemplifies this.

In the mini documentary Miami Vice: Undercover from the Miami Vice DVD Michael Mann states “the best fabricated identity is yourself.” This idea that identity, though always changing, has a central core can be seen both in Collateral and Miami Vice. Mann’s main tool to portray this to the audience is through his characters. In the case of Max and Vincent, Mann shows us that even though they have the capability to take on each other’s personalities; their central selves remain the same. In the scene where Max plays Vincent in order to get Vincent’s hit list back, Max takes on the anti-hero role. While changing his attitude and confidence level, Max is simply using what he learned as a cab driver in a different circumstance. In the beginning of the film we see Max’s gift of observation when he immediately identifies Annie as a lawyer due to her appearance and actions. Later in the restaurant Max immediately knows that the body guard is reaching for his gun and warns him to put it away before he attacks him, Improvising to the set of his surroundings, his identity changes accordingly.

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