TIFF11 Reviews: Jeff, Who Lives at Home, Like Crazy

While lots of major studios regularly bring their movies to TIFF, Paramount has taken a different approach with their two festival offerings, as they're both movies with links to the Sundance Film Festival as well as to producer Jason Reitman's production company Indian Paintbrush. A former Toronto native, Reitman is a regular fixture at TIFF, but this time, he wasn't there to show off his latest movie (Young Adult, written by Diablo Cody), as much as to offer support to other filmmakers.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home is the fourth film by Sundance regulars the Duplass Brothers as they move further into studio filmmaking, while Drake Doremus' Like Crazy was picked up at this year's Sundance and is being released in October through the resuscitated Paramount Vantage imprint. Oddly, "Jeff" isn't being release until next March, so it's somewhat of an odd choice for Paramount to premiere it at TIFF over Reitman's new film.

They are very different movies although they both come out from the same unscripted indie camp from which so much talent is being found.

TIFF11 Reviews: Jeff, Who Lives at Home

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (March 2, 2012) Written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass Starring Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Judy Greer, Susan Sarandon, Evan Ross Rating: 6/10 If Cyrus was the Duplass Brothers' entry into the world of studio filmmaking then "Jeff, Who Lives at Home" is their first full-on studio movie; ironically enough, it's a stoner comedy... and one that doesn't star Seth Rogen, though it does star Jason Segel who also comes out of the same Apatow camp. Segel's Jeff has a spiritual way of looking at life that mostly revolves around his appreciation for M. Night Shyamalan's movie "Signs," and the idea that everything is connected. At the same time, his well-to-do brother Pat (Ed Helms) has been having problems with his wife (Judy Greer) after his frivolous purchase of a Porsche. It's obvious that both guys are going through a personal crisis, and they're brought together when Jeff is sent on an errand by his mother (Susan Sarandon), who has been receiving attention from a secret admirer at work. Pat's issues get more complicated when he spots his wife getting into a car with another man, so the brothers proceed to follow them around. Although the title character does live in his mother's basement, this one takes place mostly outside and in different locations, giving the Duplass Brothers a chance to explore the world and even introduce a bit of action. That doesn't mean they've necessarily improved their production values and we still get the same jumpy camera movements and awkward zoom-ins as before, only the scale feels bigger due to being outside. Even so, "Jeff" just doesn't feel like one of the Duplass Brothers' better-realized scripts, especially coming out right after "Cyrus," because each of the storylines is almost simple to a fault. While one might think that a movie teaming Segel and Helms would be rife with laughs, especially given the Duplass' proclivity for allowing improvisation, the results are relatively flat and unfunny and most of the real laughs come from the physical humor. Oddly, the storyline with Sarandon ends up feeling more satisfying than what's going on with the brothers, because once the movie transitions into drama going into the last act, neither Segel nor Helms are particularly convincing compared to Sarandon. Judy Greer also has some great moments where she tries to work things out with her husband, and it's disappointing we don't see more of her. For all the talk about everything being connected, the best it can do in terms of bringing their mother into their story is having them all meet up in a bridge congested by traffic, which is about as bad as it comes because it's the type of lazy storytelling we've come to expect from actual studio movies. This is where Jeff is finally able to fulfill his destiny but it's not a particularly fulfilling way to end the movie. One can expect that Paramount can figure out some way of marketing "Jeff" to the masses, but there's probably a good reason this one is coming out in early March.

TIFF11 Reviews: Like Crazy

Like Crazy (October 28) Directed by Drake Doremus; Written by Drake Doremus and Ben York Jones Starring Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley, Alex Kingston, Oliver Muirhead Rating: 8.5/10 Anyone who happened to see Drake Doremus' Douchebag, a film clearly inspired by the early Duplass Brothers movie "The Puffy Chair," may be shocked by the stark contrast his latest has despite remaining true to his indie roots. It stars Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones as Jacob and Anna, two young people who meet at school, but as their relationship blooms into love, it becomes obvious that when the semester is over, she is supposed to return to England. Instead, she decides to stay the summer, getting her into trouble with immigration for overstaying her visa making it impossible for her to return to the States. Jacob starts a furniture manufacturing business and hooks up with his pretty co-worker (played by no less than Jennifer Lawrence), but they continue to connect via the normal methods. He eventually breaks down and comes to visit Anna in London, and they do the most logical thing and get married, but suspicions and jealousy arise due to the amount of time that's passed since they've been together. It's an amazing second film from Doremus, because it's nothing at all like "Douchebag," yet it remains very true to the use of improvised scenes to tell the story. Even so, it doesn't feel like the typical "M*mblec*re" movie, feeling far more natural as it shows how a long distance relationship can be difficult even while the romantic bond between two individuals can be strong enough to overcome the hurdles that keep them apart. What really drives the movie are the terrific performances by Yelchin, playing one of his most mature dramatic role to date, and relative newcomer Felicity Jones, both of whom truly make you believe in this couple's relationship. The passage of time and the way Doremus chops up some of the longer scenes is one of the more intriguing aspects of the movie, because months might pass between one scene and the next. The fact that nearly five years passes from the time we meet them to the end is quite an impressive feat, especially for the make-up, hair and costume departments who are put through their paces in changing how these young actors look from one scene to the next. It's quite thrilling seeing their young love bloom and the playful nature of their relationships, but it does get fairly serious, not leaving a lot of room for levity other than the scenes with Anna's parents, played by Charlie Bewley and Alex Kingston, but their scenes feel just as natural as the ones with the leads. Whether intended or not, Doremus makes an interesting statement about both the US and British immigration systems while proving that yeah, maybe even love has its impasses while trying to conquer all. The film also ends with one of those frustratingly ambiguous endings that seems to be in flavor these days. "Like Crazy" is a refreshing look at love and how a long distance relationship can be handled in a way that doesn't pander to the normal clichés found in cinematic love stories. It shows that Drake Doremus has arrived and he's creating a new cinematic language that makes "Like Crazy" unlike any other movie you're likely to see this year. Look for more reviews and interviews from the Toronto International Film Festival over the next few days.

New Pokémon Movie Plans Limited Theatrical Run

While its pop culture domination has certainly diminished since Pokémon: The First Movie took home more than $50 million domestically its first five days, "Pokémon" fans should be pleased to learn that the latest film, Pokémon: The Movie: White-Victini and Zekrom has plans for a brief theatrical run. It will screen in 300 digital theaters nationwide on December 3rd and 4th only, Cinedigm Digital Cinema has just announced.

New Pokémon Movie Plans Limited Theatrical Run

While its pop culture domination has certainly diminished since Pokémon: The First Movie took home more than $50 million domestically its first five days, "Pokémon" fans should be pleased to learn that the latest film, Pokémon: The Movie: White-Victini and Zekrom has plans for a brief theatrical run. It will screen in 300 digital theaters nationwide on December 3rd and 4th only, Cinedigm Digital Cinema has just announced. The film will see Ash attempt to awaken the legendary Pokémon Zekrom to help him stop the misguided Damon and save the Victory Pokémon Victini. The trailer is planned for a premiere this weekend at Pokemon.com with an on-demand, online screening of the most recent feature-length movie, Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions. "We are thrilled to provide fans an opportunity to see this exciting new Pokémon feature film on the big screen," said Jill Newhouse Calcaterra, Chief Marketing Officer at Cinedigm, "Pokémon fans are a passionate group and will truly relish seeing this film together." "It's going to be a lot of fun for the entire Pokémon community to get together and watch 'Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom,'" added J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International, "We're excited to be working with Cinedigm to make this special engagement possible across the country." A full list of participating theaters is expected to be released shortly, as are details of the next film, Pokémon the Movie: Black — Victini and Reshiram, also eyeing a December 2011 release.

The Hunger Games Wraps Principal Photography

Release Date: March 23, 2012
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Gary Ross
Screenwriter: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Wes Bentley, Elizabeth Banks, Dayo Okeniyi, Amandla Stenberg, Jack Quaid, Leven Rambin, Willow Shields, Paula Malcomson, Ian Nelson, Kalia Prescott, Ethan Jamieson, Tara Macken, Chris Mark, Jacqueline Emerson, Ashton Moio, Kara Petersen, Sam Ly, Leigha Hancock, Samuel Tan, Mackenzie Lintz, Imanol Yepez-Frias, Annie Thurman, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Latarsha Rose, Brooke Bundy, Lenny Kravitz, Toby Jones, Amber Chaney, Kimiko Gelman, Nelson Ascencio, Donald Sutherland
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary: "The Hunger Games" chronicles a dystopic Capitol which requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl, forced to participate in the annual "Hunger Games," a fight-to-the-death live televised event. Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery to participate and Katniss volunteers to take her place. Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home. The "Hunger Games" novel has been on the New York Times best seller list for over 100 consecutive weeks. Foreign rights for the book, published by Scholastic have been sold in 41 countries.

The Hunger Games Wraps Principal Photography

Lionsgate announced that the studio has wrapped principal photography for The Hunger Games, opening in theaters on March 23: LIONSGATE®, a leading global entertainment company, today announced the close of principal photography on the highly anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' runaway bestselling novel The Hunger Games. Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES on March 23, 2012. The film is the first in a series that Lionsgate is making based on the book trilogy that has become a worldwide phenomenon. Filmed entirely in North Carolina, the locations spanned from a dense forest in which the arena that hosts the games themselves was created to a town that stood in for Katniss' home, District 12, to a sound stage that was the platform for the fantastical sights and sounds of The Capitol, the futuristic capital city of the nation of Panem. Principal photography on the 84 day production began on May 23rd. The film pairs Oscar® nominee Jennifer Lawrence (WINTER'S BONE, X-MEN FIRST CLASS) with Josh Hutcherson (THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT) and Liam Hemsworth (THE LAST SONG) in the key young adult roles. Rounding out the cast is a who's who of acclaimed adult actors: Oscar® nominee Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Oscar® nominee Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley and Toby Jones. "It has been an absolute thrill watching THE HUNGER GAMES, a project that has truly become part of Lionsgate's DNA since our acquisition of the book in 2009, come to life. What I observed on set was impressive on every level, and reinforced my confidence that we have assembled precisely the right team to bring Suzanne Collins' brilliant novel to the big screen," said Joe Drake, Lionsgate's co-COO and Motion Picture Group President. Although the intensely anticipated sets were closed to press and visitors, Lionsgate and the filmmakers were able to reach out and touch the incredibly eager fans several times during the production process. Lionsgate debuted the central cast trio through two Entertainment Weekly covers, featuring Jennifer Lawrence in character as Katniss and Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth in character as Peeta and Gale. It marked the first time that a studio has revealed a principal cast of film characters on sequential national magazine covers. Winners of "The Ultimate Hunger Games Fan Sweeps," a global contest where fans entered to win the opportunity to be flown to the set of THE HUNGER GAMES, was the one exception to the film's closed set policy. In mid August, five winners from around the world and their guests got a glimpse of the sets, observed the filming of a scene and met the cast. A heavily promoted first look at footage from the film debuted on MTV's 2011 Video Music Awards on August 28th. The show attracted MTV's biggest audience in the network's history with a record-breaking 12.4 million total viewers. About THE HUNGER GAMES Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel, the first in the trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 12 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following. Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES on March 23, 2012.

John Hodgman Teases Ghostbusters 3 Details

Release Date: TBA
Studio: Columbia Pictures (Sony)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Screenwriter: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg
Starring: Not Available
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary: Columbia Pictures has set "The Office" co-executive producers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky to write a script for a "Ghostbusters" film designed to bring back together the original cast of Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson.

The studio is hoping to tap into some of the same acting talent. Aykroyd and Ramis are re-writing the script at this point, the concept is that the old Ghostbusters would appear in the film in some mentor capacity.

Aykroyd hinted at some of the plot: "Now (in Ghostbusters 3) my character’s eyesight is shot, I got a bad knee, a bad hip—I can’t drive that caddy anymore or lift that Psychotron Accelerator anymore, it’s too heavy. We need young legs, new minds—new Ghostbusters; so I’m in essence passing the torch to the new regime, and you know what? That’s totally okay with me."

John Hodgman Teases Ghostbusters 3 Details

While it's quite a ways from a solid confirmation of the plot to Ghostbusters 3, John Hodgman's comments on this week's The Best Show on WFMU are just a bit too on-the-nose to ignore. io9 took notice of the "hypothetical" scenario that the actor posed on the air, which syncs up suspciously well to what has already been revealed about the storyline of the pending sequel. "If you were hypothetically offered a role in 'Ghostbusters 3'," Hodgman posited, "... would you take the role? Let's say you're sort of the dissolute son of Egon, the Harold Ramis character, and you're kind of like John Candy in 'Splash'. You're kind of a mess. But it turns out that you're a natural ghost whisperer. A natural psychic. But here's the thing: Bill Murray's not going to be in this movie and will probably not be happy that you are. But you get to be in a major role in a major movie and in one of the greatest franchises of all time. Would you do it?" Hodgman's comments match previous reports that the film would feature children of the original Ghostbusters characters (although that story only stated that Sigourney Weaver's character's son, Oscar, would appear). It also backs up Dan Aykroyd's recent comments that the film will move forward without Murray if he fails to commit. Whatever the case may be, current statements from Aykroyd target a start date of early next year. Whether that means that we'll be seeing Hodgman or anyone else joining the cast should be revealed soon. UPDATE: Hodgman has indicated on his Twitter feed that he will not appear in Ghostbusters 3 and that the suggestion that he still might was in jest. It remains unclear whether or not the hypothetical plot details he mentioned are entirely that.

TIFF11 Reviews: The Descendants, Butter

Review The Descendants, the long-awaited return of Sideways director Alexander Payne, this time collaborating with George Clooney on a film set in Hawaii, as well as another quirky comedy simply called Butter, starring Jennifer Garner.

TIFF11 Reviews: The Descendants

The Descendants (Fox Searchlight – November 18) Directed by Alexander Payne; Written by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash Starring George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Nick Krause, Amara Miller, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel, Patricia Hastie Rating: 7.5/10 It's been seven long years since Alexander Payne wowed critics and audiences alike with his Oscar-winning movie "Sideways," forcing the fans of his eclectic storytelling style to wait patiently until he found the next project he wanted to do, and he finally found it in this adaptation of Kaui Hart Hemmings' novel about loss and recovery. Set entirely in Hawaii, George Clooney plays Matt King, a lawyer who's been entrusted with a large portion of undeveloped land on one of the islands of Hawaii. As the film opens, his wife Liz has been in a horrible boating accident (shown off screen) leaving her in a coma and Clooney provides a first person voice-over to get the viewer up to speed in a letter Matt's written to his wife. The incident leaves Matt having to care for his two daughters, the younger Scottie (Amara Miller) and the troubled teen daughter Alex, played by Shailene Woodley, the latter who reveals to Matt that his wife has been having an affair. With Matt having to make the decision whether to pull the plug and Liz potentially having only a few days to live, he decides to seek out her lover to let him know of her eventual passing. His daughters and Alex's good-natured boyfriend Sid (Nick Kruse) go along for the journey. This sort of quest harks back to Payne's earlier film "About Schmidt" but also has touches of films like "Little Miss Sunshine" and "The Savages" which create situations which force several dysfunctional people to work together towards the same ends. George Clooney is as good as always, though we may have reached a point where it's hard for one to tell a good Clooney performance from a bad one. Let's face it, Clooney's characters rarely diverge too far away from his own personality even if he's dressed differently, and while he downplays his natural charisma, he still has a few moments that reflect the visual humor he's done for the Coens. Just as Clooney's performance in "Up in the Air" was as memorable for his interactions with Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, in "The Descendants," he has a very talented newcomer in Shailene Woodley, playing a teenager far wiser than her years, who seems to effortlessly keep pace with Clooney in terms of the drama. On the other hand, the efforts to introduce humor aren't quite as fluid, maybe because it's a dry and subdued humor that doesn't quite succeed in the same way as some of Payne's previous movies. Having those scenes done for comedy also impedes emotions in the more dramatic scenes, making them seem somewhat false and forced. Some of the funniest scenes that do work involve Nick Krause's Sid, who finds a way to get on Matt's nerves to great effect. Some of the stronger dramatic scenes involve Robert Forster as Liz's father and Judy Greer's as the wife of Matt's competition. With just two short scenes each, they offer up the moments in the film that have as great an emotional impact as some of the ones in "Sideways." Throughout their quest to find Liz's lover, it does get back to Matt's secondary dilemma, the sale of his ancestor's lands as he meets with various cousins, including one played by Beau Bridges. Payne uses Matt's travels to explore Hawaii in a similar travelogue-like narrative as he did in "Sideways" with the California wine country, as Matt and his extended family look for his wife's lover. The islands give the film a very distinctive look and feel with Phedon Papamichael (who also shot Clooney's own movie "The Ides of March") taking full advantage of the environment with gorgeous establishing shots. On the other hand, Payne's use of Hawaiian music does get a bit frustrating at times. There's a lot going on in "The Descendants" and possibly a few too many ideas to keep everyone fully engaged for every single second, but it generally has the same mix of lightness and depth of Payne's past films even if the material doesn't feel nearly as strong. Even so, one would have to imagine "The Descendants" is far better with Payne's involvement than the source material may have ever allowed from another filmmaker.

TIFF11 Reviews: Butter

Butter (The Weinstein Company) Directed by Jim Field Smith; Written by Jason Micallef Starring Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman, Alicia Silverstone, Ty Burrell, Yara Shahidi, Ashley Greene, Olivia Wilde Rating: 8/10 One might think a comedy about competitive butter carving would be fairly banal--that was certainly my thought when I first heard about this new movie directed by Jim Field Smith of last year's "She's Out of My League"--but in fact, Butter" is very much like the type of comedy Alexander Payne used to make back when he was starting out - dark and edgy humor that plays with religion and politics without necessarily playing up to the audience one might expect, which in this case would be those in the rural areas of the Midwest. When we first meet Jennifer Garner's Laura Pickler, she's in fact running for Governor of Iowa, but a year earlier, she was merely the supportive wife of Bob Pickler (Ty Burrell), the 15-time state butter carving champion. When he decides to retire his knife, she steps up to enter the annual contest, but she has some competition in Destiny, a young black orphan who has just been placed with her latest foster parents, played by Rob Corddry and Alicia Silverstone, who has a natural skill for butter carving and decides to enter the contest. With his wife getting into his turf, Bob goes to a strip club and encounters Olivia Wilde's Brook, who sees a potential "sugar daddy" before they're caught in the act by Laura. Jennifer Garner's character takes a bit of getting used to since she's playing a character so driven that she acts like a complete b*tch for much of the film. Then again, we can easily look at Reese Witherspoon's character in Payne's "Election" as a jumping off point for Laura. At times, Garner's in danger of being overshadowed by young Yara Shahidi, whose portrayal of the precocious 10-year-old underdog is one that audiences should really enjoy. Even so, it's Olivia Wilde's hilarious portrayal of Brooke, a quirky foul-mouthed character who dresses provocatively but rides a bicycle way too small, which steals almost every scene in which she appears. With money owed from Bob for "services rendered," Brooke enters the butter-sculpting contest just to get under Laura's skin. Wilde's digs at Garner and her support of Destiny in the inevitable rematch is what gives this film its edge. Bob and Laura's daughter Kaitlen (Ashley Greene) is instantly smitten with Brooke and wants to be just like her, though that's a fairly minor subplot in the grand scheme of things. The fourth contestant in the county competition is Kristen Schaal, a crazed fan of Bob's who makes up for her lack of talent with enthusiasm. It's really great to see all the women in the cast getting the best jokes as Burrell plays down his own ability to get laughs. Hugh Jackman shows up midway through the movie as Laura's car salesman lover Boyd Bolton, who she has convinced to help her sabotage. He has a number of funny scenes, but just seeing him in a cowboy hat talking to God is more than enough. There are a lot of really funny visual gags as well, and though it plays with some of the religious fanaticism one might find in places like Iowa, it's really a fairly simple and straight-forward competition comedy that's much more entertaining and endearing than one might imagine from the presence. We have a lot more reviews to come... so stay tuned!

TIFF11 Reviews: Take This Waltz, Friends with Kids, Your Sister's Sister

The screenplay for Sarah Polley's drama Away from Her received an Oscar nomination and she returns with Take This Waltz, an original drama starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Luke Kirby. It's been quite a bit longer since Jennifer Westfeldt starred in Kissing Jessica Stein and she brought TIFF her directorial debut Friends with Kids, a comedy co-starring Adam Scott and a good chunk of the cast from Bridesmaids. In turn, Lynn Shelton brought her follow-up to Humpday called Your Sister's Sister, which stars Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass.

TIFF11 Reviews: Take This Waltz

Take This Waltz Written and directed by Sarah Polley Starring Michelle Williams, Luke Kirby, Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman, Aaron Abrams, Jennifer Podemiski, Vanessa Coelho Rating: 8/10 Having blown so many people away a few years back with "Away from Her," a look at aging and Alzheimer's, actress-turned-filmmaker Sarah Polley returns to her hometown festival with a lot of excitement about whether she can deliver another drama just as strong. This time, she really went for it with an original script about relationships and infidelity, working with a group of 20-something actors that make for a stark contrast to the older actors in her debut. Michelle Williams' Margo is a Toronto native who has been in a loyal marriage to the jovial cook Lou (Seth Rogen) for five years, though she's unhappy and she feels something's missing. When she meets Luke Kirby's Daniel while on a business trip, the two of them flirt harmlessly, but when it happens that Daniel lives across the road, things get a bit more serious as Margo spends more time with him and thinks seriously about having sex with him. What might have been a fairly simple story of a woman deciding on whether to have an affair with a man she just met or to remain faithful to her husband ends up being an incredibly powerful piece of filmmaking due to Polley's desire to tell this story in an unconventional but honest way. Like the best (and worst) romantic comedies, "Take This Waltz" plays with the art of flirtation and keeps one guessing whether they will or won't hook up, although it's done in a far more serious way, since Margo doesn't want to hurt Lou. It's a fairly daring film in that sense because this type of story is such a staple for studio romance films that it's refreshing to get one that truly feels real. There's probably no point lavishing more praise on Michelle Williams for the role, which is absolutely pivotal to the movie working, but she gives a performance as brilliant as anything she's done before, turning Margo into a very real three-dimensional person. In fact, that might be one of the few things that really holds the film back because she only recently did the same in another movie about relationships, "Blue Valentine," which was handled in a similarly dreamlike manner. Luke Kirby's Daniel is somewhat vexing, because he's one of those guys who is so overly-charismatic and charming, always able to say exactly the right thing at the right time and give them the type of looks that gets women all gushy. Essentially, he's the exact opposite of the majority of movie critics and fans, which may be why most guys will be rooting for her to work things out with the far more affable Lou. For the first time in his career, Rogen is playing a fairly straight dramatic role in this. There are moments that allow him to introduce humor, mostly from their playful relationship, but he doesn't have any problem handling the heavy lifting when things get serious in the second half. Sarah Silverman plays Lou's alcoholic sister who has been in recovery for nearly a year, and she's also playing things a lot more seriously than we've ever seen her, though it's a character that doesn't seem necessary to give a callback to late in the film. The few attempts at straight humor do get laughs, but they seem somewhat oddly shoehorned into the drama. There are also plenty of quirks and eccentricities in the characters whether it's Margo's need to take a wheelchair to the plane despite being perfectly capable of walking or Daniel's job as a rickshaw driver or the fact Lou is writing a cookbook on how to cook chicken. Polley never worries about modesty when it comes to nudity or sex and even has Williams and Silverman talking in the women's shower after swimming, both of them completely naked for the entire scene along with the significantly older and fatter women. The use of the Leonard Cohen song from which Polley got the movie's title in a significant montage may be somewhat obvious although it's countered by The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," which might not be quite so much, though it plays quite an integral part in how things play out. Polley made a few other odd choices like not actually mentioning any of the names of the characters until roughly halfway into the movie, not even the leads. "Take This Waltz" shows incredible maturity for Polley as a filmmaker and while it might not be as easy to accept wholeheartedly due to its more eccentric moments and because it does hold its "artfilm" banner high, it once again proves her talents both for writing riveting dialogue and for being able to get unforgettable performances from her actors.

TIFF11 Reviews: Friends with Kids

Friends with Kids Written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt Starring Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Megan Fox, Kristen Wiig, Edward Burns, Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd Rating: 7.5/10 Every once in a while, TIFF premieres a movie that isn't necessarily about awards or arthouse fodder, but is actually a movie that can be a bonafide hit with the right marketing. Ten years after having just such an indie hit with her script and starring role in "Kissing Jessica Stein," Jennifer Westfeldt makes her directorial debut with an incredibly relatable movie, whether you have kids or not. It certainly doesn't hurt that a good chunk of her cast are coming off one of the summer's biggest hit comedies "Bridesmaids" either. Jason and Julie (Adam Scott, Westfeldt) have been best friends for much of their life and they've remained single, going through the dating life while the friends around them get married. After meeting all of them at a dinner where pregnancies are announced. Four years later, their married friends are generally miserable so Jason and Julie come up with the idea that the best way to have a kid is with someone you're not married to and they make a pact to do just that. That's the basic premise of a movie that comes off as a lighter, fluffier and female-friendly version of a Judd Apatow comedy that doesn't necessarily tone down the raunch to protect women's "delicate sensibilities." No, this deals honestly with inter-gender friendships, relationships and raising kids via a mish-mash of comedy genders that creates a lot of potential for situational humor. The biggest reason the movie works so well is Westfeldt herself, since she's constantly warm and likeable as a leading lady, far more than some of the more prominent actresses doing studio rom-coms. The same can be said for Adam Scott as a leading man, and it's not even remotely surprising they work together as well as they do, playing friends who can talk to each other about anything, whether it's dating or their private parts. Jason is there for Julie, not only to get her pregnant in a funny but awkward bedroom scene, but also to help her through the pregnancy and take care of their resulting son Joe 50% of the time. Westfeldt has assembled quite an incredible cast of talented actors around herself and Scott, her real-life husband Jon Hamm once again being paired with Kristen Wiig, only this time they're married with Maya Rudolph and Chris O'Dowd playing the other couple. Although the relationships are switched around, all four actors are just as funny as they were in "Bridesmaids," though in this case, O'Dowd really stands out as the husband who can do nothing right for his wife. Hamm ends up coming off like the weakest link even with Wiig playing down her part in the humor for this one. As good as Scott and Westfeldt work together, the movie is a lot more fun when they're with these friends, but that's really only at the very beginning and briefly towards the end. Eventually, Julie gets back out into the dating pool and meets the too-good-to-be-true Kurt (Edward Burns) and they start a serious relationship, while Jason meets an incredibly attractive dancer (Megan Fox) while walking Joe through Central Park. The problem is that Jason and Julie are still close due to their shared care of Joe and as one might expect, this arrangement is doomed to failure. As the film goes along, it starts to veer further into traditional romantic comedy territory as well as getting more dramatic. As one might expect, this arrangement is doomed to failure and it eventually creates a wedge between Jason and Julie and they go their separate ways. While it's somewhat predictable where things will end up, the last act proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Adam Scott is just as strong as a dramatic actor as he is when being funny. "Friends with Kids" may be the most accessible and marketable movie we've seen at this year's TIFF. That's by no means a bad thing since Jennifer Westfeldt once again proves she has a way of examining aspects of everyday life that can be appreciated even by those not in that same situation.

TIFF11 Reviews: Your Sister's Sister

Your Sister's Sister (IFC Films) Written and directed by Lynn Shelton Starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie Dewitt, Mark Duplass Rating: 8/10 Lynn Shelton's sequel to "Humpday" doesn't veer too far away from the tone and themes of her previous film, although she clearly has stepped things up with far better production values and a couple bigger names in the cast, as she once again explores a complex love triangle. It's been a year since the death of Tom, and at a gathering of his friends to commemorate the anniversary of his death, his brother Jack (Mark Duplass) is still quite broken up about it, so his best friend Iris (Emily Blunt), who once dated Tom, convinces him to ride his bike to her family's retreat to spend some time alone. There, he encounters Iris' older sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), they get drunk and fall into bed, which might not seem unusual if not for the fact that Hannah is a lesbian who retreated to the house after breaking up with her long-time girlfriend. We won't give too much away about how the relationships evolve from there, but when Iris shows up at the retreat, Jack and Hannah do their best to keep their indiscretion a secret from her. As with "Humpday," Shelton keeps things simple with just three main roles and no one else, and both Rosemarie Dewitt and Emily Blunt easily acclimate themselves to Shelton's way of working, making one think the movie may have been somewhat more scripted. It's also obvious how no other director has been able to get such great work from Mark Duplass than Shelton, and she's able to capture all his humorous asides and reaction shots and use them to best effect especially in the scenes where all three actors are together. In some ways, the location makes "Your Sister's Sister" feel a bit more like Duplass' own movie "Baghead" sans the horror elements, and Shelton goes a bit further away from the lo-fi shoestring budget aesthetic of "Humpday" with a number of establishing shots to set the environment of this remote island where the drama plays out. It does get a bit heavy towards the end, though you never get the impression that Shelton wants to leave her audience on a downer note, instead setting things up for one of those ambiguous cold stop endings that's actually more satisfying than those normally are. With "Your Sister's Sister," Shelton has clearly found her legging in order to create something that stays true to her indie ethics and the way she's worked in the past, while also creating something that can be accessible to wider audiences. Look for more review from the Toronto International Film Festival over the next few days.

TIFF11 Reviews: Rampart, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Latest reviews from TIFF have absolutely nothing in common as one is a crime drama, a genre that's been explored quite frequently in film, and the other is a British romantic comedy set in an odd foreign environment. Rampart stars Woody Harrelson and it's Oren Moverman's second movie as a director while Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (CBS Films), starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, feels like Lasse Halström's hundredth movie. One of them works infinitely better than the other.

Read more: TIFF11 Reviews: Rampart, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - ComingSoon.net http://www.comingsoon.net/news/torontonews.php?id=82254#ixzz1YBOG4kOP

TIFF11 Reviews: Rampart

Directed by Oren Moverman; Written by James Ellroy and Oren Moverman Starring Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Ice Cube, Steve Buscemi, Anne Heche, Cynthia Nixon, Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Brie Larson, Ned Beatty Rating: 8/10 For his follow-up to "The Messenger," a surprise Oscar nominee in the screenplay category, filmmaker Oren Moverman reteams with Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster to create another stark character study, this time of a dirty cop in 1999 L.A. There are few writers who know the L.A. crime scene better than James Ellroy, which is why "Rampart" has a lot to offer beyond the abundance of other dramas that looked at bad cops, whether we're talking about either "Bad Lieutenant" movie, Denzel Washington's "Training Day" or Joe Carnahan's "Narc." Clearly, why men who choose to join the police force decide to start breaking the law is an interesting topic, but "Rampart" has less of a running narrative than some of them, taking more of a fly-on-the-wall approach to the material and a shooting style that's more likely to be seen in arthouses than in cineplexes. Regardless of its potential audience, Moverman has created another great vehicle for Woody Harrelson to explore, and he's shockingly quite likeable as the racist and sexist cop, Dave Brown, who has been accused of killing a colleague, although the crime was never pinned on him. Dave's home life has him living with a wife (Anne Heche), her sister (Cynthia Nixon) as well as his two daughters, but he also regularly picks up women in bars for one-night stands, because on top of everything else, Dave has a sexual addiction. When Dave is caught on video beating a suspect senseless, he's suspended from the force, leaving him pondering his decisions in life, but an opportunity arises when one of the women he picks up at his local bar is a defense lawyer played by Robin Wright, who knows something about his case. What's surprising about "Rampart"--named after the precinct where Brown works--is that police dramas tend to be extremely macho affairs, but with the amount of women surrounding Dave, the movie spends quite a bit of time exploring his relationships with women, whether it's the sexier scenes with Wright or the powerful dramatic moments with his rebellious older daughter, played by Brie Larson, or confronting Sigourney Weaver as the woman investigating his case. In fact, "Rampart" is mostly made up of scenes of Harrelson's character interacting with those around him. Ben Foster, star of Moverman's previous movie "The Messenger," is barely recognizable the first time we see him as a homeless man known as "The General," who Dave suspects may have seen him commit a crime. Dave also regularly meets with his friend and handler, played by Ned Beatty, who's still in fine form as an actor. As terrific as the script and overall performances are, Moverman makes a lot of odd choices in terms of camera angles, sometimes going for extreme close-ups, sometimes shooting from a distance in order to give the film a very distinctive look. There's also a jarring scene in an underground sex club that really shakes up the fairly slow pace. By the third act, nothing is going Dave's way as a plan to rob a high stakes card game backfires and he starts being followed by an Internal Affairs detective played by Ice Cube. All of this builds to a somewhat ambiguous ending, which is very likely to split audiences, because there isn't a definitive resolution and you're left unsure whether Dave might indeed repent or if he'll just continue doing what he does until he's caught or killed. "Rampart" is a powerful second film from Moverman, one that could probably find itself an audience beyond the arthouse crowd among the more discerning moviegoers who like good police dramas, and more than likely that will happen with the attention that Harrelson's portrayal of this dirty cop will receive.

TIFF11 Reviews: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (CBS Films) Directed by Lasse Halström; Written by Simon Beaufoy Starring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas Rating: 6/10 The very title of Lasse Halström's adaptation of the bestselling novel by Paul Torday is descriptive enough to give you some idea what this British comedy is about, although an attempt to set a romance within this world creates a rather mish-mash of a movie that doesn't necessarily work as a whole. An idealistic Sheikh in Yemen has taken up fishing as a hobby and he wants to bring the sport he enjoys so much when visiting his castle in Scotland to his home country. The Prime Minister's press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) sees this as a way to improve the public's view of British/Arab relations by taking their minds off the war, so Dr. Albert Jones (Ewan McGregor), a scientist at England's Department of Fishing, is put in charge of making the Sheik's dream happen if he wants to keep his job as he works with the Sheik's representative, the clunkily-named character Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt), to make this happen. Considering that Yemen is a country mostly made of desert, Jones is skeptical but agrees to take on the task with a number of seemingly impossible stipulations, all of which are met. Even having not read the book, you have to give screenwriter Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire") credit for being able to take a very difficult subject matter and making it even remotely entertaining, but it's a risky endeavor since the resulting movie doesn't feel like something fishing fanatics will be flocking to see in theaters. It's essentially a movie that starts out like a cheeky British comedy ala last year's "Made in Dagenham" and then transforms into something a bit weirder along the lines of "Men Who Stare at Goats." Much of the first half of the movie deals with Jones getting over his skepticism about the impossible project and trying to get through a number of hurdles to make the Sheik's dream a reality. As he works closely with the idealistic Sheik (Amr Waked) and Harriet, he starts becoming more optimistic in the dream. Then again, once the story leaves the UK for the Middle East, the movie just falls off the edge, because it loses the cheeky political humor in favor of something more serious showing how the Sheikh faces resistance to his ideas from locals who don't like his Western ideals. The two lead roles in the story aren't too far removed from what we've seen McGregor and Blunt do in the past, and there's very little heavy lifting for either of them. On the other hand, Kristen Scott Thomas' snarky wit offers some of the movie's biggest laughs, which then disappear for a good chunk of the movie when she's not on screen. The humor generally works better than the drama though the few times it goes for easy laughs with physical humor like McGregor walking into a glass wall. Just to give you an idea of how ludicrous the film gets, there is a scene where McGregor stops an assassination attempt with his fishing rod, and yes, it's truly as laughably stupid as it sounds. Lasse Halström is certainly a competent filmmaker and he finds a way of making some of the more mundane aspects of the film more visually interesting. Usually it involves CG salmon or something to that effect, but it does give the film better production values than its presumed budget. The movie could definitely use a trim, because there are way too many dialogue scenes between the two leads and sometimes the Sheik, which really bog the movie down. Otherwise, the movie is fairly predictable where things are heading as soon as you realize that the two leads are being set-up to be brought together. When Albert starts experiencing marital problems and Harriet's soldier boyfriend Robert (Tom Mison) goes missing in action, it isn't any sort of revelation. "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" may have been a smashing read, but trying to get audiences to root for whether fish will swim upstream is often an easier task than getting them to the care about whether the two leads will hook up.

Postman Pat to Hit the Big Screen in 3D

Classic Media and RGH Entertainment, the animation development and production unit of Rubicon Group Holding (RGH), have announced that Postman Pat will be making his big screen debut in Postman Pat: The Movie – You Know You're the One. The announcement of the film, which will be released in CG 3D, is timed to today's celebration of Postman Pat's 30th birthday.

to Hit the Big Screen in 3D

Classic Media and RGH Entertainment, the animation development and production unit of Rubicon Group Holding (RGH), have announced that Postman Pat will be making his big screen debut in Postman Pat: The Movie – You Know You're the One. The announcement of the film, which will be released in CG 3D, is timed to today's celebration of Postman Pat's 30th birthday. The voice cast will be led by actor Stephen Mangan ("Episodes," "Green Wing," "Dirk Gently") as Postman Pat. Academy Award and BAFTA Award Winner Jim Broadbent (Iris, Moulin Rouge!), Rupert Grint ("Harry Potter" films), and David Tennant ("Doctor Who") will join Stephen in bringing the world of Postman Pat to life on the big screen. The film finds Pat, everyone's favorite postman, coming face-to-face with the temptations of money, status and a shiny new suit when he enters a national TV talent show competition that threatens to tear him away from his hometown of Greendale and the friends he loves. What happens when kindness meets selfishness? When local fame meets global notoriety? A nice cup of tea is kicked aside by a frappacappucino? Pat is set to find out as he falls for the age old temptation of the grass being greener... The voice cast, all true Postman Pat fans, commented on working on the film. Stephen Mangan said, "I'm absolutely thrilled to be playing the world's best-known postman in his big screen debut – he's an iconic British hero and it's a great script. However when I excitedly told my 3-year-old son that I was going to be Postman Pat, he said, 'No you're not, dad, don't be silly.'" Jim Broadbent noted, "I'm delighted and very excited to be involved with such an iconic figure as Postman Pat." Rupert Grint added, "I used to watch Postman Pat when I was a small boy. My brother and sisters all did at some stage. Postman Pat is one of those British symbols, I suppose – you are totally familiar with him and his cat, Jess even if you have never watched the series. How exciting to be part of the Postman Pat heritage." Postman Pat: The Movie – You Know You're the One will be directed by Mike Disa (Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil) from a screenplay co-written by Kim Fuller (Spice World, High Heels and Low Lifes) and Annika Bluhm, the long-time producer of the "Postman Pat" television series. The film is being produced by RGH's Robert Anich and Miles Horst and Classic Media's Ceri Barnes and Annika Bluhm, with Rubicon's Randa Ayoubi and David Corbett and Classic Media's Eric Ellenbogen and Doug Schwalbe serving as executive producers. Postman Pat: The Movie - You Know You're the One begins production this month and heads to theaters in Spring 2013. Ralph Kamp's Timeless Films is managing worldwide sales with Icon Film Distribution releasing the film in the UK and Eire.

Men in Black 3 to Hit IMAX 3D Theaters on May 25 & Point Break Remake Announced

Release Date: May 25, 2012 (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D)
Studio: Columbia Pictures (Sony)
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Screenwriter: Etan Cohen, David Koepp, Jeff Nathanson
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Nicole Scherzinger, Alice Eve, Michael Stuhlbarg
Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: Not Available
Official Website: MeninBlack.com

Plot Summary: The film has Will Smith's J traveling back in time and teaming with the younger version of Tommy Lee Jone's K (played by Josh Brolin).

The first two "Men in Black" films, which were released in 1997 and 2002, went on to become two of the most successful films in Columbia Pictures history, taking in more than $1 billion combined worldwide. The first film in the franchise won an Academy Award® for Best Makeup and was nominated for two other Oscars®.

Men in Black 3 to Hit IMAX 3D Theaters on May 25

IMAX Corporation and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that the action comedy Men in Black 3 will be released to IMAX theatres simultaneously with the film's worldwide release on May 25, 2012. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, Men in Black 3 is the first in the franchise to be released in IMAX. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in black in Men in Black 3. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld from a screenplay written by Etan Cohen, based on the Malibu Comic by Lowell Cunningham, the film is produced Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald and executive produced by Steven Spielberg and G. Mac Brown. The film also stars Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, and Emma Thompson. "Releasing a film in IMAX 3D signals an event release, and 'Men in Black 3' on Memorial Day weekend certainly qualifies in a big way. We couldn't be more excited about how MIB 3 will look and sound in IMAX theatres," said Rory Bruer, president of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing. "Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Barry Sonnenfeld have made the 'Men in Black' franchise a fan favorite and we're excited to feature the return of this iconic title in IMAX," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "'Men in Black 3' is another strong addition to our 2012 film slate and we're looking forward to continuing to work with the talented team at Sony Pictures." The IMAX release of Men in Black 3 will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX 3D Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Point Break Remake Announced

Alcon Entertainment has announced plans to remake the 1991 Kathryn Bigelow action thriller Point Break. Full details of the project (which is said to be fast-tracked for release through Warner Bros.) are detailed in the below press release: Alcon principals Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson secured rights to the project the week of the original film’s 20th anniversary from RGM Media, John McMurrick and Chris Taylor. Kosove and Johnson will produce along with Michael DeLuca, John Baldecchi, Chris Taylor and Kurt Wimmer (“Salt,” “Law Abiding Citizen,” upcoming “Total Recall”), who also wrote the screenplay. RGM Media principal Devesh Chetty and investor John McMurrick, Chairman of Marloss Entertainment, will serve as Executive Producers. The film is being fast tracked, with the filmmakers set to take the project out to directors soon. The new version is set in the world of international extreme sports, and like the original involves an undercover FBI agent infiltrating a criminal ring, but plot points beyond that have not been revealed by the filmmakers. State Johnson and Kosove: “Who doesn’t love the Kathryn Bigelow original and its pure heart-pounding action and thrills? Kurt’s take infuses the story and characters with new twists and settings. We’re very excited to be in business with Kurt, and Michael DeLuca, Chris Taylor, and John Baldecchi.” Adds DeLuca "’Point Break’ wasn't just a film, it was a Zen meditation on testosterone fueled action and manhood in the late 20th century and we hope to create the same for the young 21st!” In addition to the feature rights, Alcon has also secured television and gaming rights to POINT BREAK. The Bigelow original, starring Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze and Gary Busey, was produced by Largo Entertainment and released by Fox. The film went on to become an instant classic and remains beloved by the youth culture around the world.

Step Up 4 Gets Release Date, Plot Description

Release Date: August 10, 2012
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Director: Scott Speer
Screenwriter: Jenny Mayer
Starring: Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman, Stephen Boss
Genre: Drama

Plot Summary: "Step Up 4" is the next installment in the worldwide smash "Step Up" franchise, which sets the dancing against the vibrant backdrop of Miami. Emily, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer, but soon falls in love with Sean, a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs. The crew, called the MOB, strives to win a contest for a major sponsorship opportunity, but soon Emily's father threatens to develop the MOB's historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people. Emily must band together with Sean and the MOB to turn their performance mobs into protest mobs, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause.

James Bond (Daniel Craig) is Heading to India

Release Date: November 9, 2012
Studio: Columbia Pictures, MGM
Director: Sam Mendes
Screenwriter: Patrick Marber, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, Javier Bardem
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama

Plot Summary: Daniel Craig will be returning as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing.

James Bond (Daniel Craig) is Heading to India

Last week, news broke that the still-untitled James Bond 23 was eyeing a potential action sequence to be shot in India. The same article posited that the sequence might be moved to South Africa instead, but an update today from the Deccan Chronicle would seem to confirm the former and suggest that the Sam Mendes film will have an extended India-based presence. The country's Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has approved the production, "for shooting in Sarojini Nagar Market, Daryaganj street and Ansari Road in the national capital." No plot details for the franchise sequel are yet available, but Daniel Craig will return as 007 and Judi Dench as M along with roles for Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris and Javier Bardem. Production is expected to begin shortly, targeting a November 9, 2012 release.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is Returning to IMAX Theaters

Release Date: June 28, 2011 (Aug. 26 IMAX extended run)
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Michael Bay
Screenwriter: Ehren Kruger
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Ken Jeong, Patrick Dempsey, Alan Tudyk, John Turturro, Leonard Nimoy
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality and innuendo)
Official Website: Transformersmovie.com
Review: 7.5/10 rating | 4/10 rating | 4/10 rating

Plot Summary: Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." When a mysterious event from Earth's past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is Returning to IMAX Theaters

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is returning to 246 IMAX domestic locations for an extended two-week run from Friday, Aug. 26 through Thursday, Sept. 8, Paramount Pictures announced today. During those two weeks, the 3D film will play simultaneously with other films in the IMAX network. Since its launch on June 29, Transformers: Dark of the Moon has grossed $1.095 billion globally, with $59.6 million generated from IMAX theatres globally. "Transformers: Dark of the Moon: An IMAX 3D Experience" has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology for presentation in IMAX 3D. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique immersive environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

The Dark Knight Rises Completes Pittsburgh Filming ft. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple

Release Date: July 20, 2012
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Christopher Nolan
Screenwriter: David Goyer, Jonathan Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple, Josh Pence, Daniel Sunjata, Nestor Carbonell, Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, Joey King, Brett Cullen, Chris Ellis, Josh Stewart, Christopher Judge
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Official Website: TheDarkKnightRises.com

Plot Summary: Christian Bale returns as Batman to battle Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman

The Dark Knight Rises Completes Pittsburgh Filming Videos ft. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple

Dark Knight Rises Catwoman Batpod Attack on Convoy

Dark Knight Rises Batpod Preparation

Dark Knight Rises Tumblers Invade Pittsburgh

The Avengers Footage Screened From D23 Expo ft. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson

Release Date: May 4, 2012
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Studios
Director: Joss Whedon
Screenwriter: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson
Genre: Action, Adventure
Official Website: Marvel.com/Avengers_Movie

Plot Summary: Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Iron Man 2," "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger," "Marvel's The Avengers" is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, "Marvel's The Avengers" is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series "The Avengers," first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when "Marvel's The Avengers" assemble in summer 2012.

The Avengers Footage Screened

The pound of a hammer against shield. The crackle of lightning. The wit of Tony Stark. And the roar of Hulk. Today, in a packed arena at the D23 Expo, a frenzied audience salivating to see some of their favorite superheroes assembled felt the crushing blow of The Avengers. At the tail-end of a lengthy Disney feature film preview, Marvel made its presence known as the studio's Kevin Feige took to the stage to show off an estimated four minutes of footage. Some of it seen in that post-credits teaser featured on prints of Captain America, but most of it fresh. Marvel's presentation began with a frenetic intro reel piecing together clips from Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, The Incredible Hulk and Captain America. It was a montage of key scenes that best encapsulate the core of the characters and how their worlds collide. The reel culminates in a moment we're familiar with: Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury saying, "I'm here to talk about the Avengers initiative." With that, the crowd went bonkers. Feige revealed writer-director Joss Whedon is, at the time of this writing, two weeks out from wrapping The Avengers and he had cobbled together a special preview for D23. The lights dimmed and the following played out... Loki (Tom Hiddleston) takes his place in a prison of glass and metal. We presume he's on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Hellicarrier. Loki assesses his surroundings, but doesn't appear impressed. More amused. Nick Fury types away on a keypad nearby, threatening that if Loki even touches the glass, he'll meet a certain doom. But again, Loki isn't deterred by this. He's confident this prison won't hold him. Fury begs to differ, saying it was built to hold something powerful. "You threaten my world with war. Steal a force you can't control. You have made me desperate," Fury says. Hinting, of course, to the Tesseract (the Cosmic Cube) seen in Captain America. Loki and Fury continue their tête-à-tête and we find that the Avengers have been assembled in another room and they're listening in. Elsewhere on the Helicarrier, we get a glimpse of Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), also monitoring the Fury/Loki encounter. This extended scene flows well; the dialogue has a tight rhythm as these two large personalities, separated by glass, face one another. The intensity palpable. One gets the sense if Loki wants out... he'll get the hell out. But there's something else simmering in his motivations and, of course, we don't know what it is, because this scene gives way to a second teaser trailer, of sorts. Enticing imagery that flies by furiously: A S.H.I.E.L.D. jet soars towards a city. Thor raises his hammer to the sky. Hawkeye taking aim with his bow and arrow. Loki standing on the back of a military vehicle (at least that's what it looked like, it flew by). Steve Rogers stands before a hi-tech closet. The doors pull away to reveal his revamped costume. Thor slams his hammer down on the shield of a crouching Captain America (training perhaps?). This is all inter-cut with Tony Stark, standing behind a bar making a drink, as he makes an Avengers "roll call": Two highly trained assassins, a "Demigod," a "living legend who actually lives up to the legend"... "Somehow you managed to piss them all off," Stark adds. We find he's talking to Loki, who is standing in the room with him. Loki responds to this with, "I have an army." Stark quickly shoots back, "We have a Hulk." The presentation ends with a close-up shot of Mark Ruffalo's Hulk snarling at the camera, then, The Avengers logo slams onto the screen. The footage was terrific, however, it shies away from playing on the scope of the story. Yes, there's action. But the teaser is contained to its superheroes only, never once giving us a glimpse at some of the city-wide carnage we've been seeing in leaked spy videos (likely because that footage isn't finished yet, of course). Needless to say, a real crowd-pleaser packed with ambition and looking real sharp. When the lights came back up, Feige returned to the stage to bring out Hiddleston, Smulders, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey, Jr. Downey took the mic – the only actor of the bunch to say anything - to rile up an already buzzing crowd. "We're happy to visit our parents here in Anaheim!" he enthused (referring to Disney). "Who wants to see that again?" The audience cheered, the lights went down... and the preview exploded onto the screen one more time. May 4, 2012 couldn't get here soon enough.

Robert Downey Jr. Talks Iron Man 3

Release Date: May 3, 2013
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Shane Black
Screenwriter: Drew Pearce
Starring: Robert Downey Jr.
Genre: Action, Adventure
Official Website: IronManmovie.com
Plot Summary: Robert Downey Jr. will again play Tony Stark/Iron Man.

With The Avengers near-completion, Robert Downey Jr. is already gearing up for his fifth big screen appearance as Tony Stark (counting a cameo in The Incredible Hulk) in Iron Man 3. The actor spoke with The LA Times about the 2013 film and what it's going to mean transitioning from director Jon Favreau to Shane Black.

“The thing about Shane is that it will be anything but one of those moments,” Downey says of the Marvel project potentially matching the sardonic humor of their previous team-up, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, "unless we come up with something that is so cheeky and character-driven and perfect that it has to be in the movie.”

Downey also admits that, despite the box office success of Iron Man 2, there are elements of the final film that he's not entirely satisfied with. The aim for the third go-round is to "leave it all on the field" and fall back on the natural rapport between Black and himself.

“We’re not talking much about [the script] right now," he says, "because Shane is off writing and we talked before that and when we are talking again, the talking is going to be over pretty quick... It’s kind of like we’re fighting on the same side and at the same time we’re circling each other, so it’s all great. It should be great.”

Favreau, meanwhile, is heading off to for the Walt Disney Pictures project Magic Kingdom, though Downey acknowledges -- albeit somewhat jokingly -- that he would like to see the actor/director reprise his role as Stark's bodyguard, Happy Hogan.

Iron Man 3 is currently planned to hit theaters on May 3, 2013.

'Green Lantern' Los Angeles Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre Photos

'Green Lantern' Los Angeles Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre photos

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Laura Dianne Vandervoort (born September 22, 1984)[1] is a Canadian actress known for her roles as Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) in the television series Smallville, Sadie Harrison in the television series Instant Star, and Lisa in the television series V.

Born on September 22, 1984 in Toronto,Ontario, Canada, Vandervoort was involved in several sports such as football, karate, basketball, tennis, gymnastics, and baseball. Entering karate at age seven, she earned a second degree Black Belt from Northern Karate Schools by the age of 16.

After taking several classes and doing background work on Canadian shows such as Road to Avonlea and Harriet the Spy, she got her first speaking role in Canadian children's series Goosebumps (three episodes) and Are You Afraid of the Dark?.



Sarah Shahi

Aahoo Jahansouz "Sarah" Shahi (born January 10, 1980) is an American actress.[2] A former NFL Cheerleader, Shahi was named no. 90 on the Maxim magazine "Hot 100 of 2005" list; she moved up to no. 66 in 2006. She also ranked no. 5 on the AfterEllen.com hot list in 2007.[4] She is probably best known for starring in The L Word as Carmen de la Pica Morales and in Life as Detective Dani Reese. In 2011 she began playing the role of Kate Reed in the legal drama Fairly Legal on the USA Network.

Sarah Shahi was born and grew up in Euless, Texas, to an Iranian father, Abbas Shahi, and a Spanish mother, known as Mahmonir who was an interior designer.She has an older brother, Cyrus, and a younger sister Samantha.[citation needed] Sarah's family was forced to leave their homeland two years before the political and social unrest caused by the Islamic Revolution. Her birthname, Aahoo, means "gazelle" in Persian.

Shahi adopted Sarah as her name in second grade after hearing the song "Sarah" because she was "tormented" by other children, but grew up speaking Farsi as well as English at her father's insistence. Shahi's parents began entering her in beauty pageants at the age of eight. Her parents divorced when she was 10 Shahi attended Trinity High School, where she was captain of the volleyball and basketball teams, and Dallas' Southern Methodist University, majoring in English and Theater. Shahi won the Miss Fort Worth USA pageant in 1997;[citation needed] hoping to become an actress, she joined the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 1999–2000 squad despite not having cheered before, and appeared on the cover of the squad's 2000 calendar before moving to Los Angeles.[





Karina Smirnoff (Ukrainian: Карина Смiрнова; born January 2, 1978) is a Ukrainian professional ballroom dancer.

She is a five-time U.S. National Champion, World Trophy Champion, and Asian Open Champion. Smirnoff has won the title at the UK Open, is a three-time champion at the US Open, two-time champion at the Asian Open, five-time champion at the Dutch Open, and five-time US National Professional Champion. She has been ranked second in the world[citation needed], and took second at the British Open Blackpool Dance Festival.

She is "the first woman to ever make the British Professional Final with three different partners"

Smirnoff was born Karina Smirnova in Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union on January 2, 1978. When she was five years old, she began taking ballet lessons, followed by gymnastics, aerobics, figure skating, ballroom dancing and piano.She chose to pursue ballroom dancing. In 1992, Smirnoff emigrated to the United States, and is reportedly a naturalized United States citizen.