Good news! Charlie Kaufman is re-teaming with Spike Jonze. They haven't worked together in nine years since "Adaptation" in 2002, and though I loved Kaufman's own direction in "Synecdoche, New York," I've missed their collaborations.

Here's more from Cinema Blend:

"Back in December it was announced that after nine years apart, Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze would be re-teaming to write and direct, respectively, a new project. Their third collaboration together and first since 2002's Adaptation, it was reported that they were shopping their idea to independent financiers while putting everything together. Now it appears that they have found a backer.

"Deadline is reporting that Megan Ellison, who recently made movie fans blissfully happy by offering to back Paul Thomas Anderson's next two projects, is currently negotiating a deal to acquire the new Kaufman-Jonze project for her Annapurna Pictures label. The report also sheds some light on the plot of the project, calling it a satire about global leaders who 'gather to figure out all the seismic events that will take place in the worlds, from oil prices to wars that will be waged.'"

 

Austin's SXSW (South by Southwest) Film Festival has an interesting line-up this year, and like the Tribeca Film Festival features an interesting music documentary -- this one, Billy Bob Thornton's "The King of Luck" about country legend Willie Nelson.

Here's more from EW:

"The SXSW Film Festival — running Mar. 11-19 in Austin, TX. —  has announced that a screening of Billy Bob Thornton’s The King of Luck, a documentary about Willie Nelson, will close the festival on March 19. The fest also revealed other additions to its schedule, including a work-in-progress screening of director Paul Feig and writer-star Kristen Wiig’s wedding-themed comedy Bridesmaids, and a screening of the HBO special The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway."

 

Yes. Elton John and Leon Russell. Not enough Leon Russel love, but Cameron Crowe will shine a little his way in his documentary about Elton John that follows the famous "Rocket Man" singer as he collaborates with Russell.

It will open the Tribeca Film Festival.

Here's more from EW:

"A free, outdoor screening of The Union, a documentary by Almost Famous director Cameron Crowe, will kick off the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, fest organizers just announced. The film follows Elton John as he embarks on a collaboration with fellow music legend Leon Russell. After the premiere, which will take place on Wednesday, April 20 at New York’s World Financial Plaza, John himself will perform. The festival plans to announce the rest of its feature film slate on March 7 and March 14; the fest itself will run from April 20 through May 1."

 

I would normally admit to being a little sick of zombies at this point, but Jonah Hill's zombie-vampire-alien​s-overload idea seems the right way to handle the brain eater's ubiquity. Hence, the title "The Kitchen Sink."

Here's more:

"Jonah Hill is " set to make his directorial debut with one of the nuttiest-sounding scripts we’ve heard of in a long time. The Superbad actor is currently in talks to helm The Kitchen Sink, which has been described around town as The Breakfast Club meets Zombieland. Why? Well, the plot follows a bunch of high school kids who are attacked by zombies. While they're on the run, the zombies are then attacked by vampires. Before aliens land on Earth, and everybody has to band together to fight them."

 

Movieline is talking Oscar (and let's face it, people will continue through the week), but this time, rather than focusing on the hosts, they discuss nominees they wish would have won, simply for their superior speech-giving skills. Or, as they write, "podium panache."

Here's one:

"Helena Bonham Carter

"The witty and fun Helena Bonham Carter won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress recently. Her speech looked and sounded like this.

"That extemporaneous, but efficient vibe was sorely lacking at the dais last night. While Melissa Leo clamored about nothing using four-letter words, Ms. Carter would’ve seized the moment with a few quips, a few thank-yous, and a joke about how she could never play the white swan. That extemporaneous, but efficient vibe was sorely lacking at the dais last night. While Melissa Leo clamored about nothing using four-letter words, Ms. Carter would’ve seized the moment with a few quips, a few thank-yous, and a joke about how she could never play the white swan."
 

Though the Oscar Telecast was clearly trying to "young it up," their strategy didn't work out as planned.

According to TheWrap, not only did less younger viewers watch, but less viewers in general. Last year's "Hurt Locker," "Avatar" show-down fared much better.

Here's more from TheWrap:

"Younger hosts didn't help this year's Oscars hold on to younger viewers, according to preliminary ratings.

"Sunday's show scored an 11.7 rating in the ever-desirable 18 to 49 demographic, down 12 percent from last year's 13.3, according to the initial numbers. Total U.S. viewers slipped 10 percent to 37.6 million, and the show lost viewers for the first time since 2008.

"It also slipped slightly among 18 to 34 year olds -- the demographic of hosts Franco, 32, and Hathaway, 28."

 

This is very much "in development" but the prospect is quite interesting -- Josh Brolin playing Quasimodo in a Tim Burton directed version of Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

If you've not seen the Charles Laughton or Lon Chaney version (Anthony Quinn also played Quasimodo), then get to those classics, first. For now, keep Brolin and Burton in mind.

Here's more from ComingSoon:

"Brolin is teaming with screenwriters Kieran and Michele Mulroney to develop an idea of his that features a new take on Victor Hugo's 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.'  Variety is reporting the deal and suggesting that Tim Burton could be in early talks to direct.

"With the story dating back to 1831, 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' "has been adapted dozens of times across film, television, radio, and for the stage (including in musical and ballet versions). Set in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the novel tells of Quasimodo, a deformed hunchback who dwells within and who falls in love with a dancing Gypsy, Esmeralda.

"Specifics of the project are unknown and, while it is likely that Brolin would appear in the film, it is unclear whether it would be in the part of Quasimodo. Burton's involvement is even less certain as, even if he's interested, still has a number of projects already on the table, including finishing work on Frankenweenie before moving into Dark Shadows and a potential attachment to Monsterpocalypse and Maleficent.

 

One of the great movie stars has left us -- Jane Russell, a woman notable for her comedic talent, chemistry with Robert Mitchum and yes, of course, her significant measurements. Measurements that made Howard Hughes design a bra for her.

She made an iconic, controversial splash with a film the famed aviator/movie producer, Hughes put together -- "The Outlaw" -- made in 1941 but released a few years later due to censorship issues surrounding Russell's bust line. Yes, it was different times back then. But even looking at photos of her now. Wow. I'll just state the obvious to say, she is sexy. But she was quite a "gal" and a great friend to Robert Mitchum, who loved her no-nonsense sass, her smarts and clearly, just hanging with her, working with her. And if Mitchum (one of the coolest men who ever lived) vouches for her, well, come on. She had to be wonderful.

After her "Outlaw," (an interesting movie, not a classic, but beautiful to watch, especially for Miss Russell), she made "Paleface" and "Son of Paleface" with Bob Hope and, among other RKO pictures, some slightly bizarre, but terrific noir's with Robert Mitchum, the terrifically unhinged "His Kind of Woman" (1951) and "Macao" (1952). But her most famous role was playing the brunette gentlemen allegedly don't prefer, but prefer to marry, in Howard Hawks' "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," opposite Marilyn Monroe. 

Rest in Peace, Jane Russell. And please readers. Watch and enjoy this tremendous woman.