We can glean two things from this photo. 1) Detroit really looks like a hell hole. 2) What’s up, Zardoz?

(via THR)

Nepotism has long been the way in the business of show. Children of actors and other famous people often get first crack at auditions, or get walked into a role with the backing of their parents or famous friends of the family. In fact, you’d be surprised at the number of today’s stars that come from show business families. Not Channing Tatum though. I’m really not sure how he broke through the hard way.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The daughter of director Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, Gwyneth originally studied Art History at the University of California. She then realized, “Hey, what the f*ck am I doing?” and dropped out. She was then cast in her first notable role in Hook. Ah, the ol’ dropping out of college and immediately being discovered by Spielberg. It’s a story as old as time itself.

Sofia Coppola

At first, Sofia Coppola came off as the lucky benefactor of nepotism when her famous father cast her in a lead role in The Godfather III. However, her performance sucked worse than terrible, which caused a lot of backlash from critics and audiences. She then refocused her efforts behind the camera to become one of the more noteworthy arthouse directors working today. Her films are so well-received that she may have even broken through without the family backing.

Colin Hanks

Colin Hanks got his first taste of Hollywood when he was cast as a page in the Tom Hanks-directed That Thing You Do! Being that close to and seeing the success of fellow celebrity kid Liv Tyler must have inspired him, as he’s worked pretty consistently since college. He can currently be seen doing creepy religious stuff on the current season of Dexter.

Scream 4 is typical of a sequel that comes long after the previous franchise in an attempt to bring it back. It’s got all the hallmarks of the series we love to see again and we get to catch up with all the characters, but it feels forced and uninspired.

The next generation of Woodsboro catches up with Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) on the anniversary of the original murders. Kids have erected Ghostfaces all over the city street lamps. Killings start again, but it’s the young generation that interprets the rules now.

I totally realize that I’m too old for this movie. Scream 4 is for the internet generation, and I’ve kept up as best I could, but I am simply not the person a movie about webcam and found footage is for. That’s for them. So maybe this is the Scream 1 for a new generation.

I still think the statement is too on the nose. It’s not a satire of the web generation, and they barely address what it means to the Scream formula when everybody has their own personal cell phone. The film simply identifies their habits, but that’s not a commentary. Plus, webcam boys Robbie (Erik Knudsen) and Charlie (Rory Culkin) are no Randy.

The opening sequence manages to surprise the audience and go meta. It’s not organic to any kind of storytelling, but it’s adjusting the formula to a generation built on texting and apps so it’s fun. When they talk about torture porn and Saw movies, I definitely feel like they don’t actually understand that genre like the screenwriter understood slasher movies. They just mention the talking points. Hard to know whether that’s Kevin Williamson or Ehren Kruger. And having the girls watch Shaun of the Dead? No. Just no.

It’s still a mystery, which is a strength of sorts to keep telling stories and guessing games. They’ve got 7 Saws to compete with now though. A scene in the car introducing Jill (Emma Roberts), Kirby (Hayden Panettiere) and Olivia (Marielle Jaffe) is just blatant exposition, no matter how many references they drop in the dialogue. We do get to find out who directed Stab so that’s funny.

There is an unintended meta effect about Gale (Courteney Cox) and Dewey (David Arquette). When Gale and Dewey have relationship conflict, it becomes really uncomfortable to watch. They can’t help that, but it’s a powerful unintentional comment on how the media affects our viewing.

It’s weird, thinking about Scream 4 intellectually, it feels like everything is right and it should work. I just know I wasn’t connecting. I actually liked Scream 3. I liked the meta of setting it on the movie set where they’re making the movie version of the story we’re watching, and Jay and Silent Bob go on the studio tour. I also like in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back where Wes Craven is directing Scream 4 and the killer turns out to be the monkey.

I think Detention ruined me for Scream 4. That’s the new meta self-referential masterpiece, but no one else has seen it yet. Maybe I’ll appreciate Scream 4 some day, in a cultural vacuum or historical context. It took me 13 years to finally appreciate Scream 2. Next time I watch them all back to back, it may fall into place, so there’s hope.

Director: Wes Craven

Cast: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere

Synopsis: Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer.

Release Date: April 15, 2011

ANYWAY, the former Mr. Cox, soon to be seen in Scream 4, will be helming the 3D psychological thriller Glutton, penned by Kenny Yakkel, which has been described as being similar to Misery. The film will be produced by Stan Spry Cameron Larson, R. Scott Reid, R. Scott Reid, Steve Ecclesine and Norween Yakkel, and executive produced by Arquette’s Coquette Productions. Glutton starts shooting in July in Canada. Ill be waiting at my local Redbox until further notice. (Variety)