Ben Affleck's new directorial project

Actor and now legit director Ben Affleck is directing and close to wrapping his third feature, Argo, for producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov, who also serve as screenwriters as well. The film tells the story of a CIA operation to save six ambassadors during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis by faking a production for a large-scale science fiction film.
The cast consists of Affleck, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, Clea Duvall, Michael Parks, Tate Donovan, Richard Kind, Rory Cochrane, Adriene Barbeau and Barry Livingston ( of My Three Sons fame )
Oscar nominee Rodrigo Prieto ( Brokeback Mountain ) is handling the cinematography on the film. September 24 2012 is when the movie is set to be released.

My Week With Marilyn trailer

Directed by Simon Curtis and starring Michelle Williams as the iconic bombshell, the films tells the story in the summer of 1956, Colin Clark works as an assistant on the British set of The Prince and the Showgirl, which stars Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe, who is also on honeymoon with her new husband, playwright Arthur Miller. When Miller leaves the country, Clark introduces Monroe to British life and they spend a week together, during which time she escapes from her Hollywood routine and the pressures of work.

The film will see a November 4th release date and also stars Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier, Eddie Redmayne, Judi Dench, Emma Watson, Julie Ormond, Dougray Scott, Dominic Cooper and Derek Jacobi.

Many movie pundits are speculating this could land Williams an Oscar nomination. I reserve the right to go there at this time without even seeing the movie, but critics seem to like her a lot and I wouldn't be surprised if she did land a nod or two for her portrayal.

The Ides Of March synopsis/preview

October 7

Directed by George Clooney ( Good Night and Good Luck )starring Ryan Gosling, Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei, written by Clooney and Grant Heslov, cinematography by Phedon Papamichael ( Sideways ) edited by Oscar winner Stephen Mirrione ( Traffic, Babel, 21 Grams ) and original score by 4 time Oscar nominee Alexander Desplat ( Benjamin Button, The Queen )


Plot: Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling) is the Junior Campaign Manager for Mike Morris (George Clooney), Governor of Pennsylvania and a Democratic presidential candidate, competing against Arkansas Senator Ted Pullman (Michael Mantell). Myers and Senior Campaign Manager Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) are attempting to enlist Ohio's support for Morris, which would nearly guarantee his nomination.

After a debate, Myers is approached by rival Campaign Manager Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti), who offers him a position in Senator Pullman's campaign. Myers refuses, and asserts that he believes in Morris' political views. Duffy tells Myers that his optimism won't last, and that Myers will eventually be cynical and corrupt like the other candidates.

Myers starts a sexual relationship with Molly Stearns (Evan Rachel Wood), an intern for Morris' campaign and daughter of Jack Stearns, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. One day, Myers discovers that Molly is trying to call Morris. She and Morris had an affair six months before, and Molly is pregnant with Morris' baby. Myers helps her raise money for an abortion and drives her to the clinic. While he waits, Morris and Zara call him, and reveal that his encounter with Duffy was leaked to the press and published by Ida Horowicz (Marisa Tomei), Myers' friend and a reporter for the New York Times.

Myers is fired for betraying their trust. He attempts, unsuccessfully, to win back his job by revealing that Duffy told him that Senator Pullman intended to guarantee his victory by offering Senator Thompson (Jeffrey Wright), whose endorsement will be vital to the eventual nominee, the position of Secretary of State.

Myers offers his services to Duffy, but Duffy doesn't want to hire Myers. He engineered the leak to lure Myers from Morris' campaign. Meanwhile, Molly learns that Myers has been fired and, fearing that he will use her secret to get revenge on Morris, commits suicide. Myers feels guilty about this, as he did intend to expose Morris' affair.

Myers later confronts Morris, and tells Morris that he will expose the affair if Morris doesn't restore his job and fire Zara. Morris relents, and Zara compliments Myers on using his own secrets to his advantage. Myers convinces Morris to offer a better position to Senator Thompson in his administration and secure Thompson's support, increasing his chances of securing the nomination.

Now Senior Campaign Manager, Myers attends a press conference organized by Ida. He suddenly realizes that Duffy was right, and he has betrayed everything he believed in for success and revenge. Disgusted with himself, Myers considers revealing the truth behind his return to Morris' campaign and exposing Morris' secrets.

The movie ends before Myers' decision is revealed. The film has received a good approval rating and will most likely earn some Oscar nominations.

Rated R for pervasive language. 101 minutes.

War Horse trailer

Steven Spielberg directs this story based off Michael Murpuro's book and then popular stage play, that begins in Devon at the outbreak of World War I, Joey, young Albert Narracott's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Joey serves in the British and German armies, and gets caught up in enemy fire; death, disease and fate take him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before being alone in No Man's Land. But Albert cannot forget Joey, and, still not old enough to enlist in the army, he embarks on a dangerous mission to find and bring him back to Devon.

The film stars Jeremy Irvine as Albert with other cast members such as Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Eddie Marsan,Tom Hiddleson, Peter Mullan, David Kross and Benedict Cumberbatch. Richard Curtis ( Pirate Radio, Bridget Jones Diary ) and Lee Hall ( Billy Elliot ) shared the screenwriting duties. The film hits theaters this Christmas day.

Pics of Al Pacino as Phil Spector

Here's couple of set photos of Al Pacino portraying uber music producer Phil Spector, who is doing a long stretch in jail for murdering B list actress Lana Clarkson.
The great playwright David Mamet is directing the project, many who are familiar with such work for his impressive, snappy dialogue in such films as Wag The Dog, Hoffa and of course Glengarry Glen Ross ( a masterwork in screenwriting )
The film also co-stars Helen Mirren as Spectors attorney, Jeffrey Tambor, James Tolkan and Matt Malloy.
The movie is being produced by HBO films ( impressive project after impressive project with that channel ) and will see a air date sometime in 2012.

J. Edgar trailer

Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar, with Armie Hammer, Judi Dench, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Stephen Root and Lea Thompson. Screenplay written by Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black ( Milk )

Looks like a possible Oscar nominee leader. Hits theater's on November 9th, 2011.

Carnage trailer

Roman Polanski's take and adaptation of the popular stage play God Of Carnage originally written by French playwright Yasmine Reza.

This adaptation stars Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet.
The 2010 Broadway play played 452 performances with a cast consisting of Marcia Gay Harden, James Gandolfini, Hope Davis and Jeff Daniels, and garnering several Tony nominations with Harden winning the Tony for Best Actress.
The film which recently played the Toronto Film Festival, recieved better than average response from critics, with Foster getting most of the best in show accolades, some saying she should have a pretty good chance at a Oscar nod. Waltz also received good word in his role as well.

The film will see a December 16th, 2011 release date.

Matt Damon sports new look for sci fi flick

Matt Damon is currently sporting a new look for his latest film he is shooting in Vancouver B.C. which will be titled called Elysium.
It's a science fiction thriller written and directed by Neill Blomkamp of District 9 fame.
Damon will be playing a ex con in a world hundreds of years in the future, with the plot being this world in which he inhabits is rumored to be threatend by a colinization of aliens. The film also co-stars Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copely ( the lead in District 9 ) William Fichtner and Alice Braga.
The movie is seeking a March 1, 2013 release date.

Rampart trailer

Rampart is an upcoming drama film scheduled to be released in 2011. It is being directed by Oren Moverman and will star Woody Harrelson as Dave Brown as an officer on the edge. Adapted from the James Ellroy story by Moverman who he reunites again with Harrelson and Ben Foster from The Messenger.The film is a police drama relating to the Rampart scandal of the 1990. It also stars Sigourney Weaver, Ice Cube, Steve Buscemi, Robin Wright, Anne Heche and Cynthia Nixon.
Its world premier is at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2011 and recieved above average critic reviews with Harrelson's name being lobbied about a possible Oscar nomination.
No official release date has been set, but the rumor is it's seeking sometime in the late fall.

We Bought A Zoo trailer

Based from the Benjamin Mee memoir ( which I read last summer and liked ) and written for the screen as well as in the director's chair by Cameron Crowe ( Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, Singles ) and starring Matt Damon as Mee himself, with Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning, Colin Ford, Patrick Fugit, Angus Macfadyen, John Michael Higgins and JB Smoove.

December 21st, 2011

The Ides Of March trailer

Directed by and starring George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright and Max Minghella.
Based off the Beau Wlillimon play and adapted for the screen by Willimon, Clooney and Grant Heslov ( Good Night and Good Luck )

In theaters October 7th.

The Iron Lady trailer

You know Oscar voters will eat this performance by Meryl Streep as the former Prime Minister, Margret Thatcher right up.
I don't have any predictions as to how the movie might be critically and Oscar friendly, but anybody with some type of movie IQ should know this is the kind of role that's very Oscar type bait.
Maybe this will be a winner for her as she hasn't won a Academy Award in a very long time. The film also stars the very steady British actor Jim Broadbent as Thatcher's husband, Dennis.
The film was directed and reunites Streep with her Mamma Mia director Phyllida Lloyd as well.
Hits theaters December 16, 2011.

PTA's new film is underway

Casting news is going on recently on Paul Thomas Anderson's new film called simply The Master and I thought it might be interesting to see how the cast was shaping up. The cast so far filming is Philip Seymour Hoffman as the main protagonist and Joaquin Phoenix as his right hand man. Amy Adams and Laura Dern have also been cast.

The story, based in the 1950's, is about a man ( Seymour Hoffman ) who returns after witnessing the horrors of WWII and tries to rediscover who he is in post-war America. He creates a belief system, something that catches on with other lost souls

Contagion trailer

Newest trailer for director Steven Soderbergh's new film Contagion, starring Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Gweneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cottilard, John Hawkes, Bryan Cranston, Elliot Gould, Sanaa Latham. Due in theaters September 9th.

Synopsis: An action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.

Tarantino's new project

Jamie Foxx has joined Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film Django Unchained.

The Oscar winner will play the titular character, a freed slave who tries to rescue his long-lost love, Broomhilda, from a plantation owner, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), with the help of a German bounty hunter, who will be played by Inglourious Basterds' Christoph Waltz. Fellow Tarantino alum Samuel L. Jackson also stars as Candie's slave, Stephen, while Kerry Washington, Foxx's Ray co-star, is in talks to play Broomhilda. Kevin Costner has also been cast as one of the main villains.

Filming will begin this fall for a December 2012 release date.

Cowboys and Aliens trailer

Due out July 29. Directed by John Favreau ( Iron Man ) and starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Olivia Wilde, Adam Beach, Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown. Cinematography provided by last year Oscar nominee Matthew Libatique ( Black Swan, Iron Man )



Film synopsis: In 1873 Arizona, a loner named Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) awakens with no memory of his past and a mysterious shackle around his wrist. He enters the town of Absolution where he learns that he is a notorious criminal wanted by many people, including Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford), who rules the town with an iron fist. Absolution soon faces an even greater threat when alien spaceships attack the town. While his shackle holds the key to defeating the aliens, Lonergan must ally with Dolarhyde and other former enemies to make a stand against them.

The Killer Elite trailer

Release date: September 23, 2011

Directed by Gary McKendry and starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Dominic Purcell and Ben Mendelsohn. Simon Duggam ( I,Robot, Knowing ) provided the cinematography.

Premise: The film is an adaptation of the Sir Ranulph Fiennes' novel The Featherman and not a remake of the James Caan, Robert Duvall crime film from 1975. The book controversially claimed to have been based on actual events, concerns a series of assassinations of members of the British Special Air Service (SAS) by a hit squad called "The Clinic". The "Feather Men" of the title is a group of vigilante special forces members who take on the hit men to protect members of their regiment.

The film was shot in over 10 different locations in Australia and some locations in Wales, UK.

A Dangerous Method trailer

Directed by David Cronenberg ( Eastern Promises, The Elephant Man ) starring Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Vincent Cassel.

Premise: Based off the Christopher Hampton play The Talking Cure, and marking the third collaboration between Cronenberg and Mortensen ( Easrern Promises, A History Of Violence ) the story is set on the eve of the World War I, A Dangerous Method is based on the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung ( Fassbender ), his mentor Sigmund Freud ( Mortensen ), and Sabina Spielrein ( Kinghtley ), the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them.

The film will make it's debut at the Venice Film Festival and open in the U.S. in December 2011.

Super 8 preview/synopsis

Directed by J.J. Abrams ( Star Trek, Mission Impossible:3 ) and produced by none other than Steven Spielberg himself. The film stars Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Ron Eldard, Noah Emmerich, Joe Courtney, Zack Mills. Written by Abrams, cinematography by Larry Fong ( Watchman, 300 ) editing by Mary Brandon ( Star Trek ) and Mary Jo Markey ( Mission Impossible: 3 ) original music by Michael Giacchio ( Ratatouille )

Premise: In 1979 the United States Air Force shuts down a portion of Area 51 and ships the material stored at the decommissioned site by rail to an undisclosed but secure location in Ohio.[citation needed] In the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio, a group of teenagers are making a movie with a Super 8 mm film camera when they witness a train crash. They suspect it was not an accident. There are disappearances and unexplained events around town, and the local deputy investigates the cause of the events leading to the discovery of something inhuman.

The film so far has received a 82% approval rating from over 160 reviews.

Rated PG-13 112 minutes.

Oscar chances ? Most likely not... it's a summer popcorn film and may get attention from something like the MTV Movie Awards, but by no means does that not mean it's not a good and entertaining film because it is.

The Beaver preview/synopsis

Now playing

Directed by Jodie Foster ( Little Man Tate, Home For The Holidays ) starring Mel Gibson, Foster, Jennifer Lawrence, Anton Yelchin. Written by first time screenwriter Kyle Killen, cinematography by Hagen Bogdanski ( The Lives Of Others ), editing by Lynzee Klingman ( Ali, City Of Angels ) and original score by Marcelo Zarvas ( The Good Shephard, Hollywoodland )

Premise: The Beaver follows a depressed CEO of a toy company (Gibson) who dons a beaver handpuppet to communicate better with his wife (Foster) and his two sons (Yelchin, Riley Thomas Stewart) in a quest to repair his damaged life.

Rated PG-13 for thematic elelments, some language and sexualty. 91 min.

Oscar chances: If Gibson wasn't so reviled by a lot of the American public and many of those being film critics he'd be a shoe in for a best actor Oscar nomination. It's clearly his best performance to date. Foster may garner a supporting actress nod as well as the screenplay. The early release date always hurts a films Oscar chances. Not my rules but it hurts more than it helps. Gibson is very moving in the role regardless how you feel about his personal antics off camera. Very much worth seeing.