'Return' Casts Linda Cardellini, Michael Shannon & Tim Blake Nelson

The cast for the film "Return" by first-time feature director Liza Johnson has been announced thanks to Variety. Leading the film are Linda Cardellini ("Freaks & Geeks"), Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road") and Tim Blake Nelson ("O Brother Where Art Thou?"). The film is about a woman (Cardellini) returning from a tour of duty and finding it hard to readjust. Shannon will play her husband and Nelson will play a war veteran that she develops a bond with.

So the film is much like the last few minutes of "The Hurt Locker"? While that film was good, this writer found that small little sequence to be one of the most subtle and affecting parts of the film. There's plenty of ground to cover for a film, and if done right it could be an interesting take on the modern war film, which has been getting relatively stale lately (see: "Route Irish" and "Fair Game"). Another promising detail is that the lead will be an affected female soldier, rather than the typical male lead. We're always hankering for strong female-led films that aren't completely silly, so we'll be looking forward to subsequent developments. The role sounds more like something Michael Shannon would typically play, so the fact that Cardellini is playing it instead makes it even more notable. She could certainly use a good film to add to her resume, which, post "Freaks," lists either obscure movies or complete fodder like "Scooby Doo."

In an interview with IndieWire, Johnson hints at some influences and goals for the film, and makes it a million times more promising. "I see [“Return”] in the tradition of films like ‘Safe’ and ‘A Woman Under the Influence,’ about strong female protagonists who don’t quite fit in with their world." As for the perspective, she says "“Expectations and pressures are different for women - dealing with rage is harder for them and not as acceptable as it is for men.” Her background in experimental short films and video installations will most likely be apparent in this film, which is sounding more and more like the breath of fresh air modern-day war films desperately need.

Hopefully everything comes together and this film becomes exactly what Johnson is promising. Shooting will take place in Ontario at the end of September.

Interview: Mads Mikkelsen Talks 'Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky'

Most North American audiences know Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as the bad guy with the weird eye that cried tears of blood in "Casino Royale." But long before he tangled with James Bond, Mikkelsen was already a steady presence on international screens, breaking out in Nicolas Winding Refn's "Pusher" and earning critical acclaim for his turn in Susanne Bier's "After The Wedding." Lately, he teamed with Refn again for the brutal Viking film "Valhalla Rising" and rolled with some Greek gods in "Clash Of The Titans." But the always-curious actor slightly shifted gears in the sensual romance "Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky," and as it's currently making its way to theaters nationwide we spoke with Mikkelsen about the film.

In it, Mikkelsen plays the talented composer who falls into an illicit and passionate affair with the fashion icon. Of course, Mikkelsen was familiar the composer's works, but the film afforded him a somewhat intense preparation period that found him delving into Stravinsky's music more deeply than he ever had before, "I knew the Rite of Spring and the Firebird, but I had never dug into it like this. And I was sleeping, literally sleeping, with it. Listening to it in the car, on my way home. I had two weeks of this whole thing—learning to speak French, Russian and play the piano. And of course we pushed the film forward, so originally I had two or three months but that was changed. So I was really occupied—every time I had a minute, I was speaking French, Russian or listening to his music."

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We Click "Like": 'The Social Network' Poster Unveiled

...let it begin. With the October 1st release date just over three months away (man, is it really almost July?) the marketing campaign for Sony's Oscar hope "The Social Network" has kicked off with a pretty impressive, simple yet effective poster for the film. It's a clever take on the "big head" poster with a slogan that distills the sturm und drang that will unspool in David Fincher's tale about the founding of Facebook.

Yeah, we were initially kind of cold on the film and we never really got through Aaron Sorkin's lengthy script, but Sony is apparently quite happy the results and boasting a cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg (pictured), Rashida Jones, Rooney Mara, Armie Hammer and Max Minghella we would be lying if we said we weren't somewhat excited. It is Fincher after all, and while "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" was definitely the director at his most pedestrian, we hope he's back to fighting form here.

Oh yeah, the official website has also launched and aside from the poster, it's pretty empty right now except for a link to the film's Facebook page. Naturally.

'The Kids Are All Right' Soundtrack Features MGMT, Bowie, Deerhoof, CSS & More

The soundtrack to Lisa Cholodenko's upcoming Sundance hit "The Kids Are All Right" has been announced and it's a pretty great mix of current indie rock bands (MGMT, Deerhoof, CSS, Fever Ray) and classics (X, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Leon Russell). Some new photos have been released on the film's Facebook page too.

The 17-track album comes out August 3rd, but digitally on July 6th. The Focus Features film (which we're kind of dying to see at this point in the summer dearth we've been delivered so far) hits theaters July 9.

The picture centers on a brother and sister (newcomer Josh Hutcherson and Mia Wasikowska) set out to find their same-sex parents' sperm donor (Mark Ruffalo), who totally upsets their family dynamic once he enters their lives.

While Lisa Cholodenko may have never directed a perfect picture, considering how many truly interesting ones she's made with their own charms ("High Art," "Laurel Canyon"), she's due to eventually hit one out of the park. She's always managed to score great casts, which one must presume is on the strength of her scripts and 'Kids' boasts some strong players on top of Ruffalo and Wasikowska in Julianne Moore and Annette Bening (the same sex parents) so we're expecting her to finally fulfill her promise. And by the sounds of all the praise heaped upon the film, she's really come up roses. Tracklist after the jump.

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Could Neill Blomkamp Take The 'Hobbit' Directing Gig?

The day after Guillermo del Toro announced he was walking away from "The Hobbit," we spitballed in the office pantry and came up with the names of five directors who we thought could not only handle the job, they could ostensibly be offered the gig and more importantly, they'd have the free schedule to do it.

The first guy on our list, Sam Raimi is now out of the running since he signed up to helm " "Oz The Great and Powerful," but he seemed like the first logical choice as his name was batted around a lot before del Toro got the gig.

The next guy on our list seemed to be a no-brainer: South African-born filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, the protege of Peter Jackson who directed last year's surprise sci-fi hit "District 9."

Jackson obviously directed the original "Lord Of The Rings" series and produced "District 9" and he almost had Blomkamp helm the live-action adaptation of the video game "Halo" before the project fell apart.

Now the 'LOTR' fansite the OneRing.net is reporting that Blomkamp might be a contender. And sure, we can buy it. Of course he's at least a contender and because of his relationship with Jackson, he's probably at least considered the gig for a moment, but whether he'll ultimately take the gig (or be officially offered it) remains to be seen.

Blomkamp is supposed to shoot his own original project this fall, and sure "The Hobbit" is a once and a lifetime gig that any director might shelve a passion project for, but still, file this one under rumor so far. Also, just remember any director could potentially be offered this gig, but that might not mean they'd want to take it. Aligning yourself with a company like MGM and then perhaps waiting years in vain for nothing? There is a reason Guillermo del Toro did leave. Whoever would come on board would simply have to relive all those financial headaches all over again and a new director doesn't magically solve their insolvency issues.

One thing that the OneRing.net says which we totally believe is the fact that Jackson himself supposedly does not want to direct "The Hobbit." They write, "Jackson really didn’t and really doesn’t want to be the director. If he did, he wouldn’t have hired Guillermo del Toro and he would already have stepped into the void and taken on the mantle. He leaves LOTR as his legacy and doesn’t feel comfortable competing against himself in that same arena."

We couldn't agree more, plus it sounds like Jackson is setting up his own secret project, even though he's publicly said he'd consider the directing gig (if he had to, let's not forget he also has the second "Tintin" film to contend with at some point).

Other names thrown around lately are "Harry Potter" director David Yates, David Dobkin ("Wedding Crashers") and Brett Ratner. Another name who we think would be absolutely perfect is Alfonso Cuarón ("Children of Men"), but it sounds like he'll be busy with "Gravity" for quite some time.

Judd Apatow & Leslie Mann Go On A 'Business Trip'

So how quickly can Judd Apatow turn around a movie? With a projected release date of January 2011 (yep, that's just six months away), Universal hopes that he will take a cue from Clint Eastwood and help turn this around quickly.

Judd Apatow has signed on to produce "Business Trip" with his wife Leslie Mann set to star. No word who the director on the project is (or if he will end up doing it himself), but the project has been kicking around at Universal since last year. Based on a pitch by Stacey Harman, the film is about "a group of women who go on a corporate trip but wind up doing anything but business while on company time."

It's kind of funny, we were just talking around The Playlist watercooler this morning about the dearth of decent female-led comedies, but with the Apatow-produced "Bridesmaids" and now "Business Trip," we hope that drought will end soon.

Michael Hitchcock Joins Kristen Wiig's Untitled Wedding Comedy AKA 'Bridesmaids'

So THR is reporting old casting news today about who has joined Kristen Wiig's Untitled Wedding comedy formerly known as "Bridesmaids" (though their report seems to suggest that the title is back on and we suppose a few name are 100% confirmed now).

However, this is a small opportunity to add to the "Bridesmaids" conversation and report that Michael Hitchcock has joined the cast according to one of the recent issues of Production Weekly.

They also report that Aussie writer/actress Rebel Wilson from the down under TV show "Bogan Pride" is in the cast (but we won't pretend to say we know who that is). IMDB (which tends to get small casting info first) also says that Kali Hawk (Faizon Love's younger girlfriend in "Couples Retreat") is in the film as well.

As for Hitchcock, he's best known for roles in the film troupe clique of Christopher Guest including a standout role in "Best In Show" alongside Parker Posey, plus recent appearances on "Glee" (which has obviously made troupe member Jane Lynch a star). Hitchcock won't have a huge part, but the film is full of great supporting parts regardless. It's small news to be sure, but one, we really like Hitchcock and secondly we're greatly anticipating the first female-led Judd Apatow produced project.

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Gus Van Sant's 'Restless' Gets A January 25, 2011 Release Date

One of our most anticipated films of year is surprisingly coming out next year. Sony has set Gus Van Sant's "Restless," starring Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Schuyler Fisk and Ryo Kase, with a January 25, 2011 release date.

We have to say, we're kind of bummed and a little bit surprised. Van Sant wrapped the film in December of last year and we figured the film was a lock for a fall release, but either the resulting picture is one the studio doesn't have much confidence in or, more likely, they are banking their awards season glory on David Fincher's "The Social Network," which is riding an advance wave of love from Sony. And admittedly, Van Sant's film is certainly a tougher sell.

The film tells the story of a 16-year-old-girl (Wasikowska) who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and falls in love with an off-beat boy (Hopper) who likes to attend funerals and is suffering from the death of his family — which somehow produces the ghost of a young, Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII (Kase) (for real). That said, we really liked Jason Lew's script which is funny, sad, weird, and in many ways all over the map with lots of interesting tones and tenors. Basically, it's a Gus Van Sant movie.

If it's any small consolation, January 2011 will actually feature some decent films unlike past years. Steven Soderbergh's "Haywire" is tentatively schedule to unspool that month along with Michel Gondry's 3D "Green Hornet."

Morgan Spurlock Produced Documentary 'Floating: the Nathan Gocke Story' Features Music By Sigur Ros, Bon Iver, Damien Jurado, Animal Collective & More

Here's one that slipped under our (and IMDB's) radar. Morgan Spurlock has produced the documentary "Floating: the Nathan Gocke Story," and as it gears up for its debut on cable next week, details have emerged on the pretty solid list of artists who have lent their tunes to the soundtrack.

Sigur Ros, Bon Iver, Damien Jurado, Animal Collective, Fanfarlo and Moonlight Sailor all feature in the film. Directed by Richard Yelland, the film follows a surfer who suffers a spinal cord injury that causes him to lose feeling in his arms and legs, and his journey to recovery and his dream of surfing again. No word if the film will spawn a soundtrack (we doubt it) but it should be a nice addition to what looks like an interesting story.

"Floating: the Nathan Gocke Story" will debut on Fuel TV on June 23rd. You can watch the trailer below:

'Toy Story' Not Quite Finished Yet: New Short Will Premiere In Front Of 'Cars 2' Next Year

With "Toy Story 3" set to win hearts, dazzle eyes and obliterate the box office this weekend, for those of you worried this will be the last time you'll see the beloved characters on screen, you may not have to wait that long for another adventure.

Director Lee Unkrich revealed on MSN that, "I really tried my best to end the story of Andy and his toys and bring that story to a close in a really nice way at the end of this film. That being said, we know that people love the characters, love Woody and Buzz, and would hate to say good-bye to them completely. I don’t know that there would ever be a ‘[Toy Story] 4.’ We don’t have any plans for one — but we are trying to find ways to keep the characters alive. We have announced we’re going to do a short film in front of ‘Cars 2′ that uses the ‘Toy Story’ characters. We’re going to keep them alive; they’re not going away forever."

We can't say we're surprised. Earlier this morning we speculated how much pressure Pixar would be under to keep these characters alive, and it looks like they have no hesitation about returning to the ever popular well. And certainly, the prospect of further adventures, even if its just a short, will definitely be added draw for "Cars 2" because really, was anyone asking for a sequel to that film?

"Toy Story 3" is in theaters today, and yeah, you should go see it.

Demi Moore Joins Financial Crisis Drama 'Margin Call'

Demi Moore is the latest actress to join the not-quite A-list cast of the indie financial crisis drama "Margin Call," replacing Carla Gugino.

Starring Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Simon Baker, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley and Stanley Tucci, "the film tracks the desperate maneuverings of eight people in a 24-hour period during the early stages of the Wall Street financial crisis." Moore is set to play a chief risk management at a firm and we presume she'll have some hard decisions to make that don't quite work out for her.

We couldn't be less enthusiastic about the cinematic re-enactment of bankers fucking up and sending the country down the economic toilet. The film is currently shooting in New York with J.C. Chandor directing.

First Look: Photos Of 'The Rum Diary' Starring Johnny Depp

At one point rumored for a premiere at Cannes, we haven't seen or heard a lot from the “The Rum Diary” starring Johnny Depp this year other than some set photos and what not.

Anyone who's a fan of Johnny Depp in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (is anyone not?) should be looking forward to his long-awaited second role as a Hunter S. Thompson surrogate.

Cult director Bruce Robinson ("How To Get Ahead In Advertising") — who hasn't helmed a feature-length film since "Jennifer Eight" in 1992 — is directing, and he's also a name you may recognize as the mind behind the wonderfully acidic English black comedy, "Withnail and I" – one of Depp's all-time favorite films. Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins, Michael Rispoli and the easy-to-look-at Amber Heard co-star.

In the picture, Depp plays Paul Kemp, a freelance journalist who finds himself drawn to the Caribbean at a critical turning point in his life. Self reflection and destruction ensue. Anyhow, there's not much more info to go on, but the first two new production stills have surfaced thanks to Dutch site FilmTotal (via /Film).

One photo shows Ribisi, Depp and Rispoli on a motorbike in what looks like Havana and the other is obviously Depp just on his own (god, wouldn't we all love to have his remarkable aging genes).

The Dutch site suggests that the film is coming out in their territory on December 16. There is no U.S. release date set yet, but the film is expected in theaters later this year. We would assume the fall, but perhaps we would have heard that date already. "The Rum Diary" doesn't strike us as a December release film. At least not for North America. Maybe November?

'Night Of The Hunter' Is Coming To The Criterion Collection

In their monthly newsletter sent around this morning, The Criterion Collection have dropped a major clue that pretty much confirms Charles Laughton's astounding "Night Of The Hunter" on the way.

When we interviewed The Criterion Collection last year, "Night Of The Hunter" was actually a title that came up in our conversation of forthcoming titles but was requested we keep under our hat as negotiations were still tentative. Well, it looks like the ink is dry and things are moving forward and we couldn't be more excited.

If you haven't seen "Night Of The Hunter," it needs to shoot up to the top of your Netflix queue right now. Starring Robert Mitchum, the film is a gorgeously shot, atmospheric and magnificently composed noir about a serial killer and religious nut (Mitchum) who marries a widow whose dead husband hid $10,000 he stole. Believing his children know the whereabouts of the money, Mitchum turns the screws on them to get them to give up their secret. But the story is only half of what makes the film so thrilling. "The Night Of The Hunter" is a visual knockout, anchored by one of Mitchum's finest and most memorable performances and aided by Laughton's incredible eye behind the camera. It's simply one of the most original and unique films of all time; a southern Gothic tale spun into a noir that transforms into something that is truly special and indescribable.

No word on features or extras yet, but we certainly hope the two-hour documentary "Charles Laughton Directs The Night Of The Hunter," featuring outtakes and rushes from the film is included in the set. And as for the potential cover art, we suggest Criterion don't give the job to whoever created the wack design for Terrence Malick's "The Thin Red Line." Seriously, what is up with that font?

We'll leave you with the famous "left hand/right hand" scene from the film: the video contains the homage paid by Spike Lee in "Do The Right Thing" followed by original scene from "Night Of The Hunter."

An Appreciation: The Films Of Michael Winterbottom

To say director Michael Winterbottom is simply a prolific filmmaker is a colossal understatement.

The British helmer has shot eighteen feature-length films since his 1995 debut with "Butterfly Kiss" (two of which are documentaries made with Mat Whitecross) and he's barely slowed down to take a breather since, taking on disparate project after project, of different styles, genres, and tones, including a moody, existential sci-fi film ("Code 46"), a rock concert porn film ("9 Songs"), a bleak chamber drama ("Jude"), a serial killer film ('Butterfly Kiss'), the post-modern Madchester music scene saga ("24 Hour Party People") a Western ("The Claim") and his latest, a pulpy and dazzling noir ("The Killer Inside Me") to name just a few.

In many ways, the creatively restless and aesthetically omnivorous filmmaker is the British version of a chameleon-like Steven Soderbergh, constantly on the move and continually taking on new challenges. And while his batting average may not be quite as high as his American counterpart, all Winterbottom films are at the very least interesting experiments. The man is clearly not afraid to fail and to keep the analogous thing going. His production company Revolution Films is not that different from Soderbergh's now defunct Section 8, which develops its own projects instead of looking to studios or others to give him ideas.

On the day of "The Killer Inside Me" hitting theaters (Friday, June 18 in limited release) we thought we'd take a look into the oeuvre of a highly productive, yet still underappreciated auteur who's possibly just starting to produce the best work of his career right now.

"The Killer Inside Me" (2010)
Winterbottom's latest is stirring up a considerable amount of controversy, largely thanks to a pair of brutal beatings and what some critics see as the movie's overwhelming nihilism which covers the picture like a heavy wool blanket. But fixating on the violence, which Winterbottom rightfully told us was so disgusting because of its "emotional" underpinnings, is missing the point. "Killer" is a rollicking film noir, a Jim Thompson novel with all the bleakness and humor left intact that lends it an operatic air sometimes reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick. As Lou, a policeman with a dark void where his heart should be, Casey Affleck schemes and plots with a subtle, gnawing wit. And the way the filmmaker puts the whole thing together, with jaunty, period pop songs juxtaposed by classical works, subtle performances that in the wrong hands could have been arch, and gorgeously fluid camera movements, you become an accomplice in Lou's crimes: you're having such a good time watching him work, you kind of want to see him get away with it. [A]

"Genova" (2008)
The little-seen “Genova” is a neglected gem for those who like their films elegiac, impeccably acted and filled with the drama of small moments. The story is deceptively simple: a father (Colin Firth), at the behest of an old college friend (Catherine “mark of quality” Keener), moves with his two daughters to Genoa, Italy, after his wife (Hope Davis) dies in an accident (for which the younger of the two kids was, in an entirely innocent way, partially responsible). This writer has never been a fan of the ‘WASP transfigured by Italy’ subgenre — but thankfully Winterbottom’s mazelike Genoa is more akin to the Venice of “Don’t Look Now” in the hint of threat that permeates its picturesqueness, than to the heritage cinema prettiness of Florence in "A Room With A View." And while it deals in part with a teenage girl’s sexual awakening, this is no “Stealing Beauty.” In fact the film belies its title: it is enamored of Genoa’s streets, beaches and cliffs, but it is not about the city. The narrative of this grieving family unit dissolving under stresses real and imaginary could have played out anywhere "foreign" where the dynamics between them as individuals become magnified because of the cultural otherness of the world outside their door. "Genova" may not be hugely original (it is thematically similar to 2007’s “Grace is Gone,”), and it is far from action-packed, but it is a truthful and thoughtful meditation on the quiet resilience of a weakened family trying to find its new shape, in the sudden and painful absence of a central member. [B-]

"A Mighty Heart" (2007)
Released in the summer of 2007, it was a bid at smart counter-programming that failed to connect with an audience, but it's a bold, wholly brilliant docu-drama that creates a Paul Greengrass-ian air of fevered, jittery reality. The story of missing journalist Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered while on assignment in the Middle East, the film is based on his wife's memoir of the same name. Angelina Jolie plays Mariane Pearl in her very best performance (Jolie was actually pregnant at the time of filming) and Winterbottom wisely makes the decision to parallel the frantic search for Daniel, which takes on the shape and general feel of a suspense movie, with the story of Mariane, a wholly emotional arc that follows her longing and worry and ultimate acceptance of her husband's fate. The sequence where she learns what happens to Daniel is one of the most emotionally wracking scenes in recent memory, and both Jolie and Winterbottom pull the whole thing off beautifully. It's a shame it was so overlooked on a whole including Jolie's performances which failed to even nab an Oscar nod. [B+]

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Yes, This Is Really Happening: 'The Skank Robbers' With Jamie Foxx & Martin Lawrence Gets An August 19, 2011 Release Date

If you've been dreaming of a feature length movie with Jamie Foxx and Martin Lawrence dressed up in drag, your prayers have finally been answered.

The stupidly titled "The Skank Robbers" first bubbled to the surface last year when the duo appeared as the characters Sheneneh and Wanda in a faux-movie trailer created for the BET Awards. Well, apparently suits and audiences went nuts for it, prompting a greenlight for a movie and with an official release date of August 19, 2011 penciled in, this thing is actually happening.

We guess we can't really be surprised, after all Les Grossman got his own movie, but man, Jamie Foxx's quality meter which at one point seemed to pointed in the right direction, has been spinning wildly all over the place lately. "Law Abiding Citizen"? "Kane & Lynch"? "Valentine's Day"? Lord. At least he's got Todd Phillips comedy "Due Date" later this year.

As for this movie, people get what they ask for but greenlighting movies based on sketches or internet memes is also a dicey prospect, just look at this year's "MacGruber." But clearly, Screen Gems think the combo of Foxx and Lawrence acting crazy in drag will be too much for audiences to resist.....

In Theaters: 'Toy Story 3, 'Jonah Hex,' 'Cyrus,' 'The Killer Inside Me,' 'I Am Love'

With box office returns lighter than expected this summer, studio executives around town are hoping this weekend will find the box office returning back to a healthier state. You have to feel for Warner Bros. who are hoping that audiences ignore the reviews and terrible buzz around "Jonah Hex," meanwhile over on the Disney lot, the question remains just how big the opening for "Toy Story 3" will be. If multiplexes aren't your thing, a trio of very good arthouse picks will give you plenty of options with "I Am Love," "Cyrus" and "The Killer Inside Me" beginning their limited rollouts this weekend.

In Wide Release: Everyone (including us) is raving about "Toy Story 3," and really, what more is there to say? The third and presumably final chapter in the beloved Pixar franchise (though, we wonder how much pressure there will be to continue the story once this one brings in the haul it should), "Toy Story 3" is the kind of pure, genuine filmgoing joy that has become all to rare at the movies. Picking up 11 years after the events of the second film with Andy going off to college and the fate of the toys up in the air, "Toy Story 3" fires on all cylinders, giving us the biggest adventure for Buzz and Woody yet and delivering on all counts. Kids and parents will be thrilled, so chalk up another one in the "win" column for Pixar. RT: 100% Metacritic: 90

Plagued with production troubles, reshoots, bad buzz and then gruesomely hacked into a measly 80-minute cut, the only joy derived from watching "Jonah Hex" will be in trying to figure what parts will eventually be put back into what will surely be a "Jonah Hexier" cut when it hits DVD. Somehow the film managed to trap a pretty decent cast, with Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, John Malkovich, Michael Fassbender and Will Arnett among others all cashing paychecks in the ludicrous film that isn't worth the space trying to explain what it's all about. We saw the film, calling it "a series of terrible creative decisions stuck together with masking tape and low ambitions." And the rest of the critical world pretty much felt same. RT: 9% Metacritic: 32

In Limited Release: With a buzzworthy trailer and starring Tilda Swinton, "I Am Love" offers viewers an opulent melodrama wrapped up in some stunning visuals. The story revolves around the matriarch of an Italian family who begins a passionate affair with a chef who is set to open a business with her son. "First and foremost, "I Am Love" is something that you watch. It's too gorgeous not to and the storytelling is too visual. It's a very deliberate looker. But through some completely wonderful filmmaking and technical virtuosity, "I Am Love" often becomes something more, something you feel, something downright, well, sensual," we said in our review and we hope that gets you into the theater. RT: 81% Metacritic: 85

Mark and Jay Duplass graduate from mumblecore to mini-major indie status with their Fox Searchlight dramedy, "Cyrus." Don't be fooled by the broadly comedic edge of the trailers; starring John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei and Jonah Hill this film, about a couple in middle-age embarking on a new relationship, and the complications that arise from a college age kid who still lives at home is darker and more complex than you might guess, but yes, it's also hella entertaining. We called it "heartbreaking, laugh out loud funny, emotionally textured" and we think this one will be pleasant surprise for audiences. RT: 81% Metacritic: 72

For a movie called "The Killer Inside Me," it should be no surprise then that it's violent, but some in the audience at Sundance were positively horrified by Michael Winterbottom's cold, neo-noir that makes pulp out of Jessica Alba's face. The film stars Casey Affleck as a cop whose also happens to be a murderer, but when the bodies start stacking up, he has to go to some extreme measures to keep the suspicion from reaching him. While it's not perfect, we noted in our review that while its "rough around the edges at times, [Winterbottom] has made a film that, like it or not, will certainly stick with you for days after you see it." RT: 51% Metacritic: 52

For those of you looking for some a foreign film, Agnes Jaoui's "Let It Rain" might fit the bill. The multiple narrative story didn't connect with our reviewer who said "the film is a relatively enjoyable passage of time, but it doesn't hold enough weight to really stick in your head, and upon thinking of it, its inadequacies only become more apparent." RT: 83% Metacritic: 73

Also out in limited release: "8: The Mormon Proposition" is a documentary chronicling the Mormon Church's involvement and support in the passage of Proposition 8 RT: 40% Metacritic: 48; "Stonewall Uprising" is a documentary about the 1969 police raid on The Stonewall Bar that served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement. RT: 79% Metacritic: 77

Watch: Everybody Gets An Accent In Trailer For Hilary Swank's Oscar Bait 'Conviction'

Even though she's already nabbed two Oscars, it seems that Hilary Swank's mantle has room for more as following last year's disastrous prestige project "Amelia," she has yet another awards season baiting film waiting in the wings with "Conviction." The based-on-a-true-story film is an "Erin Brokovich"-esque tale about a woman who goes to law school to earn her stripes so she can set her wrongfully convicted brother free.

The trailer has arrived for the film and the title, which was recently changed from "Betty Anne Waters" to "Conviction," seems to be the least of the film's problems. Ticking off every cliche of the stereotype of the Oscar film, no actor walks away from this film without an accent or affectation of some kind. And it's really a shame because the cast of Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo and Juliette Lewis is pretty solid (oh, and there's Minnie Driver!) but when the trailer got the point where Swank's characters asks her kids if they would do the same thing for each other any hope for this went out the window.

"Conviction" will land in theaters on October 15th.

International Trailer: 'Eat Pray Love' Starring Julia Roberts & Javier Bardem

U.K. film site HeyYouGuys (such a weird name) has scored the international trailer for "Eat Pray Love," a new romantic drama that boasts a strong cast in Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup, and Javier Bardem. The picture is directed by Ryan Murphy, creator of of the TV series "Nip/Tuck" and the obviously of-the-moment show, "Glee."
While this writer is always personally rooting for the female driven drama that hopefully doesn't condescend to its audience, the picture unfortunately looks more like one a hackneyed self-realization films about a modern day career woman who wants more out of life (this is where you gag yourself). Perhaps we should have known better, considering it's based off a best-selling book with the subtitle, "One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia." Not knowing anything about that novel or its author Elizabeth Gilbert, there's not necessarily anything wrong with that concept, but these films tend to fester in sentimental life-fulfilling spirituality themes and this one doesn't appear that much different. That said, looking at the trailer overall? It could have been a lot worse. Here's the synopsis.

Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having – a husband, a house, a successful career – yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali. Based upon the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love proves that there really is more than one way to let yourself go and see the world.

There's probably a big audience for this one too and it could be the same one that flocked to the almost excellent "Julie & Julia," we'll see. And the second half of the trailer with Javier Bardem doesn't look that bad (40-year-old woman deserve love too you know), but we're still on the fence. The picture hits theaters August 13 via Sony Pictures.

Bradley Cooper To Star In Untitled Baseball Dramedy; Inspired By The Story Of Josh Faiola?

We would love to be screenwriter Allan Loeb's agent right now. The writer is currently one of the hottest properties around town, having penned a number of upcoming films including "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," "Cheaters," "The Switch" and "Just Go With It." And now another pitch of his has found a home, this time with Disney. It's an untitled baseball dramedy and Bradley Cooper is attached to star.

The film is about "a baseball player who gets injured and has to go back to the minors where the only place he can find lodging is in a senior citizens' home. There, he meets an old baseball guru who helps lead him back." Yeah, it seems a little bit corny but as a commenter on THR points out, the film may have found its inspiration in the real life story of major league pitcher Josh Faiola.

Back in 1999, Faiola was playing in the minors for Lake Erie Crushers and was given housing in Belvedere of Westlake assisted living facility. It's standard practice for minor league teams, who don't have the cash of their big league counterparts, to put up their players with host families, but this situation took it to a whole new level. But with a warm greeting and new fans in his elderly neighbors, Faiola was touched by their support.

The film is being described as a cross between "Scent Of A Woman" and "The Rookie" (the 2002 Dennis Quaid film) and being acquired by Disney, it appears they are making a bit of room for non-toy related films. As you might recall, they recently put the kibosh on Jerry Bruckheimer's WWII film "Killing Rommel" for not being Happy Meal friendly.

Production on the film probably won't happen until 2011. A script needs to be written and Cooper will be busy the rest of the year shooting "The Hangover 2" and potentially the man vs. nature film "The Grey" with Joe Carnahan.

Review Recap: 'Cyrus' & 'The Killer Inside Me'

With limited openings starting today for two of the most-anticipated art house films of the summer -- the relationship dramedy "Cyrus" and the grim neo-noir "The Killer Inside Me" -- we thought we'd take a quick look back at the films that we caught at festival appearances earlier this year.

Marketed as a "Step Brothers"-esque comedy, "Cyrus" is actually something much different, and surprisingly complex and rich. Pulling off a careful balance between broad comedy and darker dramatic notes, "Cyrus" is a mature, intelligent and yes, very funny look at the difficulties of a fledgling relationship in midlife. Our EIC caught the film at SXSW in March, and raved, calling the film "intoxicatingly sweet, endearingly amusing...and is easily the most enjoyable and crowd-pleasing picture of the year." You can read the full review here.

Michael Winterbottom's "The Killer Inside Me" arrives in theaters riding on a wave of controversy due to the intense, graphic violence against its female leads. Playlister Jon Davies saw the film at IFFBoston had a different take, remarking that, "the film's violence (especially towards women), nowhere near as graphic as early comparisons to Lars Von Trier's "Antichrist" might suggest, is unsettling but never overdramatized to the point of calling too much attention to itself," and going to say the film's uneasy tenor is drawn from the film's "jumpy tone, alternating between a frantic schizophrenia and an almost Lynchian sense of foreboding." Check out his full review here.

Both films are definitely strong entries in the first half of 2010 and we encourage you to seek them out.

'Gilmore Girls' Star Lauren Graham Joins 'Scream 4'

The adults have never really fared well in the "Scream" franchise. Either entirely absent, swiftly dispatched (Henry Winkler in the original) or turning out to be the killer (Laurie Metcalf in the second entry), they've never been the best roles for actors (although it could be argued that the same holds true for the younger characters as well...). But that hasn't stopped Lauren Graham, star of long-running TV show "Gilmore Girls," as well as the likes of "Evan Almighty" and our beloved "Bad Santa," from signing on to the fourth entry in the series.

First reported earlier in the week by Ghouls on Film (and props to them), Graham confirmed that she was in the new film on Jay Leno's show, and that she would play the mother of Emma Roberts' lead character (and presumably, the aunt to Neve Campbell's character?). Graham joins newcomers to the franchise Roberts, Rory Culkin, Hayden Panettiere, Lake Bell and Nico Tortorella, as well as veterans Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette.

While we enjoyed the original film, the fresh quality that it brought to the genre is long gone, and there's little hope for this one to be anything other than a cash grab, no matter how many meta jokes they make about rebooting the "Stab" franchise. Scream 4 starts filming any day now, and hits theaters April 15 next year, up against Paul W.S. Anderson's "The Three Musketeers," so it at least won't be the worst movie opening that weekend.

Don Cheadle & Freida Pinto Joining James Franco In 'Rise Of The Apes?'

Considering its pending release date shortly over a year from now, it's a little surprising we haven't heard more casting news on Fox's upcoming "Rise of the Apes," a reboot/prequel of "Planet of the Apes," even considering that much of its cast will be made up of WETA-created digital simians. James Franco was announced in the lead role a month ago, but there's been no movement since then. Or at least, there hadn't been until yesterday.

Bloody Disgusting have information that suggests that offers have been made to Don Cheadle and "Slumdog Millionaire" star Freida Pinto to join Franco in the blockbuster. There's no indication of what roles they would play; we can only hope that they're more interesting than the best friend and love interest we assume they're likely to be. The site emphasize that it's only a rumor for the moment, and that nothing's yet been signed, but we'll see shortly.

As Steven Soderbergh once said, if you can put Don Cheadle in your movie, you should put Don Cheadle in your movie, and we're always glad to see him working (even if he was uncharacteristically subdued for most of "Iron Man 2"). Pinto hasn't been seen on screen since 'Slumdog,' but she's got Woody Allen's "You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger," Julian Schnabel's "Miral" and Tarsem's "Immortals" all on the way, so she's building a decent career for herself. With a very promising cast, and a promising director in Rupert Wyatt ("The Escapist"), might this turn out to be a surprisingly good killer monkey movie?

Rachel McAdams & Channing Tatum To Star In Michael Sucsy's Romantic Drama 'The Vow'

Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum are set to star in Michael Sucsy's love story "The Vow," to be produced and financed by Spyglass.

The story centers on the real-life story of a newly wed New Mexico couple, Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, whose lives are turned upside down when they are involved in a car accident that leaves the wife with no memory of her new partner. The husband must then attempt to win her heart all over again. The film will presumably be based on the novel written by the two survivors with author John Perry. Here's a synopsis of the story, which featured heavily in the media at the time, courtesy of Amazon:

Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993, two months after their marriage, when their Ford Escort was hit from behind by a fast-moving truck. A massive head injury left Krickitt in a coma for weeks. When she finally emerged from the coma, she recognized her parents and everyone else-but she didn't know Kim. She had no idea who he was. The "Krickitt" Kim had married essentially died in the accident. The Vow is the true tale of the reconstruction of two lives and a marriage after an event so shattering that most others would have parted ways long ago. Though it was not easy, and it tested every fiber of who they were, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again.

The story is intriguing and the prospect of it being explored by the "Grey Gardens" director with these two thespians in the lead roles makes for an exciting prospect. Suscy is rewriting the script by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein with the project having already gone through nearly ten years of development with Julia Roberts apparently attached at one stage.

No word on when production on "The Vow" could begin but with McAdams due to shoot Woody Allen's "Midnight In Paris" and Terrence Malick's untitled romantic drama later this year, early 2011 is probably the quickest it could front cameras. Sucsy also apparently has musical W.I.P. film "The Goree Girls" starring Jennifer Aniston, Ellen Pompeo and Sandra Oh lined to up shoot this year though nothing has been heard on the front for quite some time.

Tatum, meanwhile, is shooting on Ron Howard's "Cheaters" and also has Steven Soderbergh's "Haywire," Dito Montiel's "Son Of No One" and Kevin MacDonald's "The Eagle Of The Ninth in the can; all of which are slated for release next year. He was also just revealed to be apart of the now-defunct Nicolas Winding Refn project "The Dying Of The Light" starring Harrison Ford and is attached to star as a heroin addict in an adaptation of Richie Farrell's addiction-memoirs "What's Left Of Us."

Alexander Skarsgard Joins Peter Berg's Board Game Adaptation 'Battleship'

Alexander Skarsgard will star along side fellow television star Taylor Kitsch in Peter Berg's sci-fi adaptation of the Hasbro board game, "Battleship."

The film is said to feature an alien invasion plotline and centers on an international naval fleet "coming together to battle a water-bound armada of otherworldy origin." Where was that in the board game?

Skarsgard will play a straight and narrow naval officer who is idolized by his younger brother, Kitsch's wildly spirited officer. It'll be the biggest production Skarsgard has been involved with despite coming close to scoring the lead role in Kenneth Branagh's "Thor" — Hemsworth must of had some sort of audition because, for us, the Swedish thespian perfectly embodies the Norse thunder god and has the talent to boot. Frankly, it's a bit of a crime that Skarsgard isn't scoring more leading roles in this embarrassingly Efron, Pattinson and Lautner-dominated world.

The actor will join Berg and Kitsch on the back of working with Lars von Trier on psychological disaster flick "Melancholia" which'll see him star alongside the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Gainsbourg and his father, Stellan. He can also be seen in the upcoming remake of "Straw Dogs" and on a weekly basis in the latest season of Alan Ball's neo-vampire series "True Blood" which premiered on HBO last Sunday.

"Battleship" begins shooting August 30th and has already been set a June 18th release for 2012.

'Get Low' Soundtrack Features Alison Krauss, The Ink Spots, Gene Austin & More

The soundtrack for the low-key 1930s dramedy "Get Low," starring Bill Murray and Robert Duvall (two dudes we would love to have dinner with sometime, call us) features an appropriately low-key, period specific(ish) soundtrack.

Boasting Alison Krauss with her take on the traditional "Lay My Burden Down," doo-wop group The Ink Spots, jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke, crooner Gene Austin, big band legend Paul Whiteman, contemporary bluegrass band The SteelDrivers and rounded with tracks from the score performed by dobro player Jerry Douglas, the "Get Low" is wonderful trip down a musical memory lane.

The soundtrack will land in stores on July 27th courtesy of Rounder Records before the film begins a limited rollout on July 30th.

"Get Low" Soundtrack Tracklisting
1. Lay My Burden Down - Alison Krauss
2. If I Didn't Care - The Ink Spots
3. Jesus Come For Me - The SteelDrivers
4. Sitting Mule/Drive to Town ‐ Score - Jerry Douglas
5. Drive to Town for Clothes ‐ Score - Jerry Douglas and Stuart Duncan
6. No Haircut ‐ Score - Jerry Douglas
7. Farewell Blues - Paul Whiteman
8. Monkey Bay - Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer & Russ Barenberg
9. Whiskey Before Breakfast - The SteelDrivers
10. East Virginia Fast - The SteelDrivers
11. North ‐ Score - Jerry Douglas
12. Bush Shows Maddie Around ‐ Score
13. Angelina Baker - The SteelDrivers
14. The Mystery of Felix ‐ Score
15. I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover ‐ Bix Beiderbecke (aka Billy Murray & Jean Goldkette Orchestra)
16. My Blue Heaven - Gene Austin


Gene Austin "My Blue Heaven"


The Ink Spots "If I Didn't Care"

Michael Fassbender In Negotiations To Play Magneto In 'X-Men: First Class'; Ben Walker Cast As Beast?

Were we not one of the first sites that actively said Michael Fassbender would make a great Magneto in Matthew Vaughn's upcoming mutant reboot, "X-Men: First Class"? It was rumored last week that 20th Century Fox were pursuing the actor for the role of the X-Men nemesis and that Sony was after him for the villain role in Marc Webb's "Spider-Man" 3D reboot and according to several sources, including EW, Deadline and THR, this all seems to be true. Adding to all this, Showbiz 411, who broke the original Fassbender news, says 28-year-0ld actor Ben Walker ("Kinsey," "Flags Of Our Fathers") has been cast as the brainy and brawny hero Hank McCoy otherwise known as the Beast (his role was unwisely played by Kelsey Grammar in the unfortunate Brett Ratner film, "X-Men: The Last Stand"). The New York Times actually mentioned this earlier in the week, but did not say which role. (Deadline, incidentally, say that Walker is being mentioned for the project, but for a role other than McCoy.)

Fox has evidently formally offered Fassbender the role and it's his for the taking if he wants it. Actors who are reading for the part that seem like locks (or are already locks essentially) are Aaron Johnson ("Kick-Ass") and Andrew Garfield (the "Red Riding" trilogy). As already reported, Rosamund Pike ("An Education") and Amber Heard are also names being thrown around for roles, the former being linked to Moira MacTaggert, the scientist working under Professor X, who is being played by James McAvoy.

Other actors who are in the mix for possible roles are Frank Dillane (also up for the Peter Parker role in "Spider-Man" along with Garfield and Aaron Johnson; there's been a lot of incestuous casting possibilities between both super hero projects), Jack Huston ("The Twilight Saga: Eclipse") and Eddie Redmayne ("Savage Grace") who recently was provisionally cast as the lead in Spielberg's "War Horse" before the director changed his mind.

We should all know by now that anyone Tweeting about a casting audition will never get the role, but in doing so, actress and model Jasmine Dustin may have inadvertently revealed that a young Mystique from the Brotherhood of Evil (Magneto's cronies) will also have a role in the film (Heard was mentioned earlier in the week for that role, originally played by Rebecca Romijn).

Though seemingly more of a thespian than a Hollywood actor, Fassbender is in high demand in Tinseltown, but after the abomination that was "Jonah Hex" hopefully he'll think twice before jumping on to another super villain role. Though presumably "X-Men: First Class" is a cut above the about-to-be-released Warner Bros. embarrassment. Let's hope so anyhow, the talent involved so far is solid. If they're going to cast Garfield btw, we totally see him as Angel. The picture shoots this summer in London.

Review: 'Pelada' Is A Poignant Love Letter To Soccer Futbol & Youth

With the World Cup in full swing, the world is definitely feeling futbol fever. So, what better a time to release a film which follows two soccer lovers country to country, finding little pick up games where you'd least expect them? Unfortunately, many people (at least in the States) will forget about soccer once the Cup is awarded, and we'll have to wait another four years for the fever of excitement to kick in again. For those who watch more soccer than a dozen or so games every few years, you'll find a lot to connect with in "Pelada."

Passing into adulthood is a frightening thing. Life becomes bloated with responsibility and bills. It's nice to have escapism every once in awhile, even if to catch a glimpse of what life used to be like before that fateful day, where one crossed over to the adult world. "Pelada" is as much of a tale about the great game of soccer as it is a diary of two characters that weren't ready for the real world just yet and had to see if for themselves to even attempt to live in it. The film follows Luke Boughen and Gwendolyn Oxenham (who are also credited as directors along with Rebekah Ferguson and Ryan White), a couple who have a long history in the sport of soccer. Both played throughout their childhood and teen years, meeting at Duke University as they played for the school for the duration of their education. However, a short time after graduation, the two found their lives to be relatively empty without the sport being a constant in their lives. There were pick-up games here and there, but it wasn't enough for the two, with Luke putting off law school and working on billboards and Gwendolyn stumped on her first book, living on a writing grant. The two decided to travel the world with the plan to find and join various pick-up games.

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