Daily Archives: June 20, 2011

Cars 2

Film Reviews

An animated automotive espionage adventure (say that quickly five times) that improves upon the leaden moralizing of its predecessor, if not in strikingly original ways, Cars 2 delivers base-level entertainment on a familiarly laid racetrack. While unfolding against a sumptuous visual backdrop, the movie doesn’t have the same adventurousness of spirit that marks Pixar’s best efforts. An utterly delightful new seven-minute short featuring Woody, Buzz and the Toy Story gang uniting to put on an impromptu vacation for Ken and Barbie precedes the feature presentation. For the full, original review, from Screen International, click here. (Disney, G, 106 minutes)

Woody Allen Sets Cast For New Film, The Bop Decameron

Casting About

Woody Allen has set the cast for his next directorial effort, and while none of his Midnight in Paris collaborators will be back and working with him this go-round, there will be a number of actors and actresses who have worked with him previously.

The big news, though, is that Allen himself will be co-starring, something he hasn’t done since 2006’s Scoop. Joining him, in alphabetical order, are: Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penelope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page and Alison Pill. A romantic roundelay consisting of four vignettes, The Bop Decameron is Allen’s first film to be financed by the Italian production and distribution company Medusa Film, and will be produced by Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum. Italian costars include Antonio Albanese, Fabio Armiliata, Alessandra Mastronardi, Ornella Muti, Flavio Parenti, Riccardo
Scamarcio and Alessandro Tiberi. Production commences on July 11, and will mark Allen’s first time shooting in Rome.