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Director Brett Ratner was an unusual choice to produce next year's Academy Award telecast. In choosing Ratner, the Academy seemed to indicate that they were looking to rebound after this year's ceremony, hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway, which wasn't as warmly received as hoped. However, after a series of public gaffes, Ratner has decided to step down from the Oscars, in what may be the first step in rebuilding his image.
It began earlier this month with an appearance on G4TV's Attack of the Show, where Ratner was trying promote his latest movie, Tower Heist. Once there, Ratner discussed how he had "banged" former co-host and actress Olivia Munn, something he later admitted he lied about. Then, after a screening of Tower Heist in Los Angeles, Ratner used a homophobic slur while discussing his feelings about rehearsing for a movie, which, again, led to an apology. "I apologize for any offense my remarks caused," said Ratner in a statement. "It was a dumb and outdated way of expressing myself."
The latest apology comes in Ratner's letter to the entertainment industry, which discusses his exit as a producer of the Oscars.
read Ratner's letter >> Posted 11.09.11 by Ryan -
| Title | Weekend | Total | Analysis |
| Puss in Boots | $33M | $75.5M | Animated family pic nearly makes more in 2nd weekend |
| Tower Heist | $25.1 | $25.1 | Strong opening for comedy but can't oust cat |
| A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas | $13.1M | $13.1M | Slightly smaller opening than Guantanamo Bay in 2008 |
| Paranormal Activity 3 | $8.5M | $95.3M | Sequel continues being a cash machine ($5M budget) |
| In Time | $7.7M | $24.2M | Justin Timberlake drama still deep in red ($40M budget) |
Posted 11.06.11 by reelz -
Let's face it, Universal Pictures is very interested in you seeing its upcoming comedy, Tower Heist. And you can watch it in the comfort of your own home, for a price.
The LA Times reports that Universal is planning to use Tower Heist as a test for its video-on-demand service, making the comedy available on VOD just three weeks after its November 4th debut. While VOD is nothing new exactly, it is for major studios, who apparently don't know the going rate for a VOD movie since Tower Heist is going to cost consumers $59.99 to purchase on VOD. That's right — just $59.99 and you can avoid having to drive to a theater or wait for the DVD. Think of the savings!
watch the trailer to see if it's worth 60 bucks >> Posted 10.06.11 by Ryan -
Over the weekend, reports surfaced that Eddie Murphy might be tapped to host the 84th Oscar ceremony, and it seemed likely as Murphy's Tower Heist director Brett Ratner would now be producing the broadcast. Ratner made it official by announcing Murphy as the host in a press release revealed by Deadline.
Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever. With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances — especially on stage — I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show [fellow producer] Don [Mischer]and I want to produce in February.
When word got around that Murphy was the possible host, outlets consulted Twitter, where the public response wasn't exactly positive — though perhaps those who found the news negative missed this year's debacle hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway. Their names were unsurprisingly missing in Murphy's comments about taking over the Oscars from past hosts.
murphy a "film historian" >> Posted 09.06.11 by Ryan -
Universal Pictures has released an international trailer for their upcoming comedy Tower Heist from director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour).
Starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy, Tower Heist follows some disgruntled employees working in a New York highrise that decide to get revenge on the building's penthouse resident (Alan Alda), who has been put under house arrest after being caught operating a Bernie Madoff-esque Ponzi scheme. Led by Stiller, the group recruits a safe cracker (Murphy), who teaches them how to pull the $20 million dollar theft. Matthew Broderick, Gabourey Sidibe, and Casey Affleck co-star as the building's employees turned rookie thieves.
watch the trailer >> Posted 08.31.11 by Ryan -
In the upcoming Tower Heist, a group of working stiffs conspire to steal back money from the Wall Street swindler whose Ponzi scheme emptied their pension accounts — with the help of a crafty criminal played by Eddie Murphy. In anticipation, Hollywood's Top Ten, the show where movie fans control the countdowns, wants your help selecting Murphy's Top 10 movies. Vote now for your favorites, then tune in to see if your picks make the cut.
Vote for your Top 10 Eddie Murphy Movies >>
Posted 08.10.11 by reelz -
About 15 seconds into the first trailer for Tower Heist, it's pretty clear that this isn't going to be just another caper story; this is definitely going to have some funny. In fact, it looks like this might be the funniest heist movie since The Great Muppet Caper.
The movie stars Ben Stiller as the manager of an ultra-swanky New York apartment building where Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) lives and is put under house arrest after being caught operating a Ponzi scheme. It turns out that Shaw has swindled the building employees out of their retirements, so the staffers decide to steal back what's theirs. Matthew Broderick, Gabourey Sidibe, and Casey Affleck co-star as the rookie thieves, and Eddie Murphy is the petty crook recruited to teach them his trade.
Watch the trailer >> Posted 07.28.11 by Mandy -
Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy are getting more help for the growing cast of their upcoming comedy Tower Heist. After the recent additions of Tea Leoni, Gabourey Sidibe, and Michael Pena, director Brett Ratner have added Matthew Broderick and Casey Affleck.
The action comedy sees Stiller as a building manager of a tower residence that rallies his co-workers to get revenge on the Bernie Madoff-esque penthouse resident (Alan Alda) who defrauded the staff of their pensions through a Ponzi scheme. Deadline reports that Broderick will play "Chase Fitzhugh, a Wall Street guy" who also had his fortunes reversed by Alda's character.
Affleck, THR reports, will play Stiller's friend and co-worker who is against the revenge plot and wants to turn in Stiller and his co-conspirators. Judd Hirsch has also joined the movie in an unspecified role.
Production begins on Tower Heist next month in New York.
Posted 10.27.10 by Ryan -
Director Brett Ratner's upcoming comedy Tower Heist is rounding out casting. Last week, news spread that Eddie Murphy joined the cast of the comedy, alongside Ben Stiller and Alan Alda. Stiller will play a manager of an affluent high rise who leads a crew of disgruntled workers in a heist of its penthouse resident (Alda), a Bernie Madoff-esque, Wall Street capitalist who defrauded the staff of their pensions. Murphy will play a safe cracker who joins the team. Now, more actors have been added to the growing, high profile cast.
who's playing what? >> Posted 10.22.10 by Ryan -
After trying to carry comedy bombs like Meet Dave and Imagine That by himself, Eddie Murphy is joining Ben Stiller in the comedy Tower Heist, to be directed by Brett Ratner.
THR reports that Murphy will play a safe-cracker who joins Stiller and a team of building maintenance workers who decide to rob the penthouse resident, a wealthy Wall Street capitalist who defrauded residents of their pensions (Alan Alda). According to the report, Murphy may or may not betray Stiller and his crew.
The script has gone through a variety of writers and cast, at one point starring Murphy and Chris Rock. The latest rewrite of the script comes from Jeff Nathanson (Rush Hour 3). Murphy will also executive produce.
Posted 10.14.10 by Ryan