Tom Hardy (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises) was originally up for the role of The Huntsman (here), but his work on the next Batman film could keep him busy. Michael Fassbender (X-men: First Class, Inglorious Basterds) is now reportedly up for the role.

With the role of the villain now pretty much taken care of, Universal is looking for their actress to portray Snow White. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds, The Runaways), Kristen Stewart (Twilight series), and Saoirse Ronan (The City of Ember, The Lovely Bones) were being considered by the studio. However, Universal is now wanting to go with an unknown for the role. The studio is now looking at Riley Keough (The Runaways, Jack & Diane), Felicity Jones (The Tempest, Soulboy), Bella Heathcoat (Neighbors), Alicia Vikander (Beloved). Sources close to production mention that Universal could change their mind about casting an unknown, and could go for big name such as Stewart or Fanning.

Universal will be holding screen-tests within the next few days to determine which actress gets the part. As of right now, production is looking to begin next year for a release in December of 2012.

The Film:

After six years of being only a courtesan (a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person) in the early 19^th century France, the aging Lea de Lonval (Michelle Pfeiffer) begins to have desires of love with the ravishing but yet very young, Cheri (Rupert Friend) who is the son of her longtime business rival, Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates). Although both Cheri and Lonval have lounged around for some time, it becomes apparent that they are falling for each other. When this is seen by Peloux, she arranges a marriage between her son and a young bride, Edmee (Felicity Jones).  Cheri becomes caught between the decision of his young wife and lifelong love.

Romantic movies are always prototyped as having the usual storyline of two people bound to be together from birth. However, Cheri has a slightly different tone with its obvious age difference between the two lovers. Being that Lonval is aging and Cheri is not yet in his twenties, the relationship is frowned upon. This stipulation adds a slight twist along with Cheri’s indecisiveness between the two women. These additions to the story do throw the viewer for a loop along with the sad conclusion. However, the actual way it was played out, didn’t catch the heart like so many romantics do. The main cast of Pfeiffer and Friend do a superb job of showcasing their talent in what is a “hit or miss” movie. The sincerity of their personal characters is almost perfect. The chemistry between the two seems to be a bit comfortable with each other despite the age difference which causes a difficulty as seen in a few scenes throughout the movie.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Daniel Craig is a superstar, but he still makes time for artsy indie fare like Flashbacks of a Fool.  Flashbacks is a beautifully rendered movie that is host to many inspired performances, but it never quite reaches its crescendo.

Craig stars as Joe Scott, a washed up actor that deals with being a has-been by drinking mass quantities of alcohol, snorting drugs, and having threesomes with blurry women.  His life sucks except for the fact that it doesn’t.  The guy’s rich, like mega-stupid rich, but for some reason he just can’t keep it together. The only thing that keeps him grounded is his housekeeper (Eve).  Once Joe receives a call from his mother telling him that his best friend had died he decided that it was time to walk into the ocean and reflect on the life that led him to where he is now.  Enter the Flashbacks.  As Joe remembers his childhood the audience is treated to extremely long flashback sequences that show him as a young boy hanging out with his friend, fooling around with his older (married) neighbor, and dressing up like Bowie while spending quality time with who would become his best friends wife.  

All of the actors in this film are brilliant, including Eve who was quite impressive as Joe’s frank housekeeper.  I’d have liked to have seen more of her in the flick, but the name of the movie is Flashbacks of a Fool, not a Fool Living in the Moment.  Harry Eden also does a good job of playing young Joe.  He mixes the right amount of innocence and wonder with just a smidgen of cocky.  But by the performance that made the biggest impression, besides Craig, was that of Felicity Jones as the young Ruth Davies.  She was intoxicating and completely captivating during every second of her screen-time.  

Flashbacks of a Fool isn’t a bad movie, it’s just a movie that never settled on a clear direction.  The film is beautifully shot, populated with amazing actors, utilizes an awesome score, but still I never felt like it delivered the conclusion I was looking for.  That’s what life is though, a series of events with no apparent ending.  Although I’m pretty sure that in real life threesomes aren’t blurry (note to director: people like watching hot people having sex in focus).  I’d definitely recommend Flashbacks to the art-film going public, but for everyone else I’d advise Netflixing it.  Because in the end Flashbacks of a Fool was almost a killer film, but was to blurry for it to make its mark.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars