“Horrible Bosses” — a promising-looking comedy starring Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Aniston — opens on July 8. But director Seth Gordon already has his next project lined up. He will direct what MGM is calling a “reboot” of the 1983 classic “WarGames.” Announcements of remakes are often irritating, but this one is particularly bad. “WarGames,” which starred Matthew Broderick as a young computer genius who thinks he’s playing a military computer game, but discovers he could be about to trigger thermonuclear war, is very much a movie of its time. Its low-tech gaming worked in the “Pong” era, but is unthinkable now. And much of the charm the film has now is that early-1980s feel. (Not to mention the young Ally Sheedy.) But perhaps I’m being overly skeptical. Gordon did make his name with the documentary “The King of Kong,” which centered on attempts to beat the world record in “Donkey Kong.”
In other remake news — there’s always lots of it in Hollywood — one upcoming project is trying to get a pedigree behind it. Will Smith wants to produce a new version of “Annie” starring his daughter Willow. The writer he’s aiming to nab? “Sense and Sensibility” Oscar-winning scribe Emma Thompson.
Joe Meyers, a Connecticut entertainment writer for Hearst, posted a picture to his Twitter account that was a lot more interesting than Anthony Weiner’s — if less controversial. He took a shot of a sign posted at the Avon cinema in Stamford, Conn., warning patrons considering buying tickets to Terrence Malick’s “Tree of Life,” which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year.
“Dear Patrons,” the letter begins, “In response to some customer feedback and a polarized audience response from last weekend, we would like to take this opportunity to remind patrons that ‘THE TREE OF LIFE’ is a uniquely visionary and deeply philosophical film from an auteur director.” Describing a Brad Pitt film that way doesn’t strike me as the best way to sell tickets. The notice urges viewers to “read up on the film before choosing to see it” and “go in with an open mind,” before noting that the theater has a policy of not refunding ticket purchases. It concludes high-mindedly, “The Avon stands behind this ambitious work of art and other challenging films, which define us as a true art house cinema, and we hope you will expand your horizons with us.”
Meanwhile, “Tree of Life” producers Bill Pohlad has bought the rights to the life story of Brian Wilson, the troubled former frontman of the Beach Boys. The film will be written by Oren Moverman, who turned Bob Dylan’s life into the quirky “I’m Not There.” Word has it that the Wilson biopic will focus on his infamous struggle with mental illness.
Kelly Jane Torrance is The Washington Examiner movie critic. Her reviews run weekly and she can be reached at [email protected].
