* Back in February we learned that acclaimed Spanish director, Pedro Almodovar, would be taking a sharp turn from the creepiness of The Skin I Live In, and heading back to his comedic roots with The Brief Lovers. That's pretty much confirmed now as the cast rounds into shape, bringing aboard a number of great Spanish funny people for what Almodovar says is about a number of people on the verge of a disaster, possibly set entirely on an airplane. Joining Javier Camera in the comedy will be Lola Duenas(Volver), Cecilia Roth(All About My Mother), with Carlos Areces and Raul Arevalo. [ScreenDaily]
* The life story of Elgin James could probably make for a good movie all by itself. A musician who was once part of the Friends Stand United street gang, he recently spent a year in prison for extortion, jailed not long after his film, Little Birds(trailer here) debuted at Sundance. Now that he's out, James is jumping right back into the game with the hostage thriller, Come Sundown. Written by Justin Marks(Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li), the story follows a family kidnapped by desperate fugitives trying to escape across the border. [Deadline]
* David O. Russell is adding yet another film to what is already an extensive list of possible upcoming projects. This one he's been circling for awhile now, but 24 Frames now confirms that he'll direct a biopic based on former Rhode Island mayor, Buddy Cianci. Based on his memoir, Politics and Pasta, the story will track Cianci's 21-year career as the mayor of Providence, who saw two of his terms ended due to felony convictions. The first ended after he assaulted a contractor he thought was having an affair with his wife. The second after Cianci was convicted of racketeering and spending four years in prison. Robert De Niro, who starred in O. Russell's The Silver Linings Playbook, is producing. Don't be surprised if he ends up playing Cianci when all is said and done.
