SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, the poster child for Holiday horror films, caused a huge stink when it was released back in 1984. It wasn’t even the first “killer Santa” movie – (CHRISTMAS EVIL from 1980 has that distinction though the anthology TALES FROM THE CRYPT had one back in 1971) but SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT is the most notorious because it had the balls to be released during the Christmas season and its holiday television ads attracted the ire of overly-sensitive parents, some of who actually went out and picketed various theaters in protest of it.  I’m surprised it took them this long to remake it and I doubt it will cause much of a stir, but here are the details so far (via Variety):

The Genre Company and Inferno’s Ember Prods. are unwrapping Christmas-themed horror pic “Silent Night,” tapping Malcolm McDowell to star and Steven C. Miller to direct the loose remake of TriStar’s 1984 film “Silent Night, Deadly Night.”

Anchor Bay has picked up North American distribution rights to the project, which begins principal photography next month and will unspool this holiday season.

Miller (“The Aggression Scale”) will direct from a script by exec producer Jayson Rothwell.

Story follows a local police department’s search for the killer Santa Claus terrorizing a remote Midwestern town on Christmas Eve. McDowell will play Sheriff Cooper, a small-town hero ready for some big-time action. The original “Silent Night” spawned four sequels.

Genre’s Richard Saperstein, Brian Witten and Shara Kay will produce with Phyllis Laing of Buffalo Gal Pictures.

Pic marks the first project for Inferno Intl.’s recently launched Ember banner, which focuses on producing commercial, theatrically driven genre pictures. Ember’s Gary Preisler will exec produce along with Steve Ruff and Thomas M. Kastelz. Inferno’s D.J. Gugenheim will co-produce with Genre’s Armen Aghaeian.

CR Management reps McDowell, while UTA and Aperture Entertainment rep Miller.

WME and Anonymous Content rep Rothwell, who penned “The Order of the Seven,” in pre-production for Gunn Films and Disney.

Kevin Kasha, Josh Thomashow and Marc Barson brokered the deal on behalf of Anchor Bay.

They remade THE WOLFMAN a couple of years ago and did a decent job with that. This new werewolf movie from Universal takes place in 19th century Europe so I’m not sure why they didn’t just make a sequel, but this looks good. Here’s what we know about it at this point:

Universal City, California, October 31, 2011 – There’s no safe place to hide as the all-new supernatural Untitled Werewolf Thriller begins principal photography in and around Bucharest, Romania. Universal celebrates its storied history of creatures and horror with an exhilarating original adventure that embraces the popular cultural resurgence of the age-old werewolf myth. Breathtaking action and nail-biting suspense collide as an army of bounty hunters descend on a tiny hamlet in search of the most terrifying monster they have ever fought. The latest entry in the hugely successful DVD OriginalsT line from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production entity of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Untitled Werewolf Thriller will be released on Blu-rayT, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand in time for Halloween 2012.

“Universal introduced the movie-going public to the ‘creature feature’ more than a half century ago,” said Glenn Ross, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Universal 1440 Entertainment. “Today, audiences are once again enthralled by supernatural creatures in books, on television and in movies. Audiences young and old will enjoy this completely new take on a timeless story that is an essential part of Universal’s legacy.”

Untitled Werewolf Thriller stars Stephen Rea (V for Vendetta, The Crying Game), Steven Bauer (Scarface, Primal Fear), Ed Quinn (“True Blood,” “Eureka”), Nia Peeples (“Pretty Little Liars,” “Walker Texas, Ranger”), Guy Wilson (Almost Kings, Little Black Book), Adam Croasdell (“Supernatural,” “East Enders”) and Rachel DiPillo (“Law & Order,” “The Gates”).

Louis Morneau (Joy Ride II, Hitcher II: I’ve Been Waiting) directs the nightmarish hunt through an idyllic countryside shattered by an unstoppable beast. The film is produced by Mike Elliott (The Devils Rejects, Smokin’ Aces 2), from a screenplay by Michael Tabb and the writing team of Louis Morneau & Catherine Cyran. A top-flight production team has also been assembled, including director of photography Philip Robertson, production designer David Hirschfield and costume designer Oana Paunescu. The editor is Mike Jackson.

SYNOPSIS
A monstrous creature terrorizes a 19th Century European village by moonlight and a young man struggles to protect his loved ones from an unspeakable scourge in Untitled Werewolf Thriller, Universal Studios’ all-new addition to its time-honored legacy of supernatural thrillers. During his studies with the local doctor (Stephen Rea), Daniel (Guy Wilson) witnesses the horrific consequences of werewolf attacks. Watching as the beast’s fearsome reputation draws bounty hunters, thrill seekers and charlatans to the tiny town, Daniel dreams of destroying the ruthless predator. So when a mysterious stranger (Ed Quinn) and his team of skilled werewolf hunters (Stephen Bauer, Adam Croasdell) arrive to pursue the monster, he offers to join them, despite his mother’s (Nia Peeples) protests. But it soon becomes clear that this creature is stronger, smarter and more dangerous than anything they have faced before. As casualties mount and villagers see their neighbors transformed into ravening monsters, the townsfolk take up arms against each other to find the true identity of the werewolf. Amid the hysteria, Daniel begins to suspect he’s closer to his target than he ever dreamed.

We Are Movie Geeks will continue to post updates on this project.

Hey horror hounds! Courtesy of our friends at Entertainment Weekly here’s our first look at the cast of Tim Burton’s big screen version of the small screen classic, DARK SHADOWS. Now this is not the first time the Collins clan have made it to the movies. In 1970 MGM released HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS based on the daytime drama and starring most of the TV cast. NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS followed.

Here’s a bit of background on the cult favorite. Dan Curtis (BURNT OFFERINGS) created the “soap opera ” which debuted on ABC-TV in 1966. The main focus of the first episodes was the arrival of Victoria Winters in Collinsport, ME and her interactions with the secretive Collins family. The program languished at the bottom of the ratings until Curtis, in order to save the show from cancellation,decided to take a gamble and introduce a vampire into the Gothic series. Barnabas Collins as played by veteran stage actor Jonathan Frid caused a sensation on the daytime TV landscape. Youngsters flocked to the show, turning the mature Frid into a teen idol (featured many times on the cover of Tiger Beat and other magazines) and giving the producer a merchandising bonanza. Board games, model kits, comic books, paperback novels, and posters flooded the stores. There was even a comic strip in daily newspapers! A record album of the show’s eerie score by Robert Colbert was a huge hit and spawned a top 40 single, “Quentin’s Theme”. Unfortunately not even the additon of witches, werewolves, and other ghoulies could keep the mania going and the final episode aired in 1971.

Ah, but like any good vampire Barnabas did return. The show was soon syndicated to local stations. Devoted fans staged conventions featuring reunions of the cast members. Innovation produced new comic books in 1991. NBC revived the show as a prime time hour long drama in early 1991 while Warner Brothers TV produced a new two hour pilot film that never aired.

And now,long time fan Tim Burton is taking this Gothic epic to the big screen. Lets’ take a look at the residents of Collinwood. Starting from the far left is Helena Bonham Carter (THE KING”S SPEECH) as Dr. Julia Hoffman, psychiatrist, friend of the Collins family and (in the TV show) an aide of Barnabas. Next is Chloe Maretz (LET ME IN) as Carolyn Stoddard followed by Eva Green (CASINO ROYALE) as Angelique Bouchard, the witch who cursed Barnabas. The young lad is the disturbed David Collins played by Gulliver McGrath with his governess Victoria Winters played by Bella Heathcote (she’s also the spitting image of Barnabas’s long lost love Josette). Speaking of Barnabas, in the center is Johnny Depp (THE TOURIST) as the centuries old vampire. Seated is the family housekeeper Mrs. Johnson played by Ray Shirley. Next is Collinwood groundskeeper Willie (yup, Groundskeeper Willie!) Loomis played by Jackie Earle Haley (WATCHMEN) who releases Barnabas and soon becomes his ‘ familiar’. He’s followed by Roger Collins played by Jonny Lee Miller (TRAINSPOTTING) and family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard played by Michelle Pfieffer (BATMAN RETURNS).

Synopsis:

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive.

Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles.

Also residing in the manor is Elizabeth’s ne’er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger’s precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family, to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David’s new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.

This group (along with horror film icon Christopher Lee and several original TV cast members) will welcome moviegoers back to Collinwood (cue the cascading waves and Colbert theme) when Warner Brothers releases the film on May 11, 2012

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnolia Pictures has announced that they have pre-bought North American rights to MELANCHOLIA, the eagerly awaited new film from legendary filmmaker and provocateur Lars Von Trier. According to Cineuropa, the film will show at the 64th Cannes Film Festival (May 11-22, 2011).

Boasting a stellar ensemble cast, including Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt, Alexander Skarsgard, Stellan Skarsgard and Udo Kier, the film will be completed later this spring and is among the most highly anticipated films of 2011.

Synopsis:

Dunst and Gainsbourg play sisters whose lives are drifting apart as the universe spectacularly unravels in what Von Trier describes as a beautiful movie about the end of the world.

Visit the film’s official site HERE and on Facebook HERE.

According to a report posted on thewrap.com, the May 6 release of the Kenneth Branagh directed THOR will feature a cameo  appearance by the Marvel superhero and Avengers co-member Hawkeye. Last summer at Comic Con it was announced that the 2012 Avengers film to be directed by Joss Whedon would include the master archer to be played by THE HURT LOCKER’s Jeremy Renner. In the articles, a source who had seen an early cut of THOR confirmed that Hawkeye is in the film, despite earlier quotes from Renner denying the character’s involvement. It’s speculated that he will introduced in a “tag” scene following the end credits as Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury was at the end of the first IRON MAN film in 2008. It was confirmed that Fury will not be in THOR, while S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Coulson played by Clark Gregg will be featured.

The Hawkeye character has been a part of the Marvel comics universe since the early 1960′s. Introduced in Tales of Suspense #57, Clint Barton was an orphan taken in by a traveling carnival and trained in the art of archery. Inspired by the exploits of Iron Man, he fashioned a blue and purple uniform and adapted the name Hawkeye. After stopping a jewelery store heist, the police mistakenly believe him to be part of the robbery gang. After being saved from capture by Natasha Romanova (AKA The Black Widow, then a Russian “Mata Hari” undercover agent), the smitten Barton aids her in battle against Iron Man. Later Clint clears his name and in The Avengers #16 he becomes part of the super team along with former X-Men villains Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch lead by Captain America. The hot-headed marksman finds a home with the team and in The Avengers #63 temporarily loses his bow and arrows to take one of Dr. Henry Pym’s growth formulas to become the towering hero Goliath for the next 34 issues. Returning to his Hawkeye identity, he later becomes the leader of the West Coast Avengers team and the Thunderbolts. Most recently he was thought to be dead twice(Marvel heroes don’t stay deceased too long), became romantically involved with the super heroine Mockingbird, assumed the persona of Ronin, and temporarily took up the shield of the dead(?) Captain America. That’s a pretty lengthy career for a character dismissed at first as a knock-off of DC Comics’ Green Arrow.

The bowman has also been part of the many Marvel animated shows for TV dating back to the syndicated Marvel Superheroes cartoons in 1966. Most recently Hawkeye as been part of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes airing on the Disney XD channel.In this incarnation Clint is a full fledged S.H.I.E.L.D. agent until being framed by his partner, The Black Widow. After clearing his name, Hawkeye decides to join the Avengers rather than return to the agency(much to the Hulk’s chagrin).

THOR is a Paramount Pictures release scheduled to open on May 6, 2011. THE AVENGERS is a Walt Disney Pictures release slated to open May 4, 2012.

DreamWorks Studios has released nine new photos from THE HELP. (Insert BIG golf clap here). I absolutely love the line-up of actresses in this and, I might add, a nice birthday present for this Leo come next August too. From director Tate Taylor and starring Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone and Sissy Spacek, THE HELP will hit theaters on August 12, 2011.

Synopsis:

Based on the novel by: Kathryn Stockett

Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, THE HELP stars Emma Stone (star of the breakout hit, “Zombieland”) as Skeeter, a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives—and a small Mississippi town—upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Academy Award® nominee Viola Davis (“Eat Pray Love”) stars as Aibileen, Skeeter’s best friend’s housekeeper, who is the first to open up—to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter’s life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories—and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly—and unwillingly—caught up in the changing times.

Like it on Facebook: Facebook.com/TheHelpCommunity and follow it on Twitter twitter.com/HelpCommunity. 

In early October, we brought you the kick-off to MEGAMONTH where fans broke the World Record for the Largest Gathering Of Superheroes in Los Angeles.

In our continuing coverage, We Are Movie Geeks was invited to the press junket of MEGAMIND which began with the screening of the film on Friday evening. Members of the press, as well as some lucky fans, were treated to the first look at Dream Works Animation and Paramount Pictures MEGAMIND.

Just when you think you’re about to see yet another run-of-the-mill 3D animated movie, DreamWorks’ MEGAMIND comes along and knocks it outta the park.  Cleverly written and paying affectionate homage to everything from classic big screen superheroes to big-hair rock and roll bad boys, Megamind has something for everyone.

After growing up as arch-rivals, evil genius Megamind (Will Ferrell) and all-American hero Metro Man (Brad Pitt) have staged their ultimate winner-take-all battle for MetroCity.

Covering the action is spunky reporter turned damsel in distress Roxanne Ritchie (Tina Fey) and her trusty, if not socially awkward cameraman Hal (Jonah Hill).

Things quickly go awry and that’s when the heart of this story really shines through. Lines are blurred when good guys become villains and the villains become heroes. Filled with hilarious pop culture references, Megamind gets some of its biggest laughs from recognizable characters that go right for the soft spot.

After what has seemed like 3D animated overkill in recent years and movies that don’t have much substance other than the 3D novelty, Megamind uses the technology like the perfect accoutrement. The 3D aspect is not overly intrusive or distracting and seamlessly takes you in all the right directions.

Then there is the music. The licensing must have cost a fortune but was worth every penny. With everything from Ozzy Osbourne and Guns ‘N Roses to George Thorogood and Michael Jackson, the creative team behind Megaminds rock and roll sound knew exactly where to invest for the biggest pay-off. The song choices were fun, exciting, nostalgic and fit perfectly into the story without being a vehicle for some pop music flavor of the month.

Megamind is fun, smart, and ultimately heartwarming so don’t be surprised to see it take over the animated feature category come awards season.

From DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures, MEGAMIND will be hitting theaters in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D on November 5, 2010. Like it on Facebook and follow it on Twitter. The superhero movie will never be the same!

Here are the four exciting international race locations from CARS 2.

“CARS 2” JETS TO JAPAN – Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new destinations when McQueen is tapped for the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. First stop, Tokyo, Japan—where ancient tradition meets modern technology. But like a modern-day Samurai, Mater must play the part of a top-secret spy when he’s unknowingly embroiled in a case of international espionage. “Cars 2” hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

“CARS 2” PASSPORT TO PARIS – There’s no place in the world like Radiator Springs, but Paris comes close! Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) venture abroad for the first-ever World Grand Prix. While McQueen focuses on the races, his best friend Mater hits a few detours. International espionage, anyone? On his top-secret mission, Mater takes the scenic route and manages to see the Parisian sights—including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the famous car-goyles of Notre Dame. “Cars 2” hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

“CARS 2” GOES GLOBAL — Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) heads overseas next summer to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the fastest car on the planet. McQueen and his best friend Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) make a pit stop in London, but there’s no time for tea when an international spy plot entangles Mater, and McQueen must race before royalty. “Cars 2” speeds past the world’s most iconic landmarks—including London’s Big Bentley—and into theaters on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

“CARS 2” TO THE BIG SCREEN—AND BEYOND – It’s an international feast of epic proportions when star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and lovable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) travel to Porto Corsa, Italy, for the first-ever World Grand Prix. The pair will have to bypass the Italian Riviera’s specialties—boating, beaches and pasta al pesto—as Mater is detoured on a top-secret spy mission and McQueen must race to win against the world’s best! “Cars 2” hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

Synopsis:

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in CARS 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. Adding to the fast-paced fun is a colorful new all-car cast that includes secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors.

John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning CARS. CARS 2 is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film “Ratatouille,” and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, UP ; visual effects executive producer, “Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith”).

CARS 2 hits the track on June 24, 2011 and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D in select theaters.

Visit the film’s official site here, like it on Facebook here and follow it on Twitter here.

At the beginning of September we showed you the teaser poster for Paul Haggis’ film, THE NEXT THREE DAYS. Lionsgate has released this new poster via FirstShowing.net. Let’s all take a moment to breathe in the Russell Crowe air, shall we? … and out.

 In case you missed it, here’s the trailer.

Synopsis:

Life seems perfect for John Brennan (Russell Crowe) until his wife, Lara (Elizabeth Banks), is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn’t commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.

From Highway 61 Films and Lionsgate, along with a screenplay from producer-director Paul Haggis, THE NEXT THREE DAYS will be in theaters on November 19, 2010.

Check out the film’s official site here and on Facebook here.

Source: FirstShowing

We here at We Are Movie Geeks.com are big fans of the upcoming film RED - it’s a funny fabulous time. Having seen it already, I can say that with a definite certainty you wont be disappointed. So we decided to give you another look at the trailer and movie clips from the explosive action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren. The rip-roarin’ film is based on the cult D.C. Comics graphic novels by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner.

Just for good measure, I decided to throw in the tv spots as well. Enjoy!

Synopsis:

Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA’s “top agents,” but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.

From Summit Entertainment and DC Comics, RED is directed by Robert Schwentke (THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, FLIGHTPLAN) and also stars Richard Dreyfuss, Karl Urban, Brian Cox, Ernest Borgnine, and Julian McMahon. RED opens in theaters on October 15, 2010.

Visit the film’s official site here and like it on Facebook here.

Click on each poster below to see the larger versions.

Ever since WAMG posted the early review of SECRETARIAT in March, it goes without saying that I can’t wait for this film. I truly believe in my heart of hearts that SECRETARIAT will find itself at the starting gate when the Academy Awards nominations for Best Picture are announced on January 25, 2011. The thought of Walt Disney Pictures’ film being among the 10 nominees literally gives me goosebumps.

Here are three new vignettes from SECRETARIAT, named as the 35th greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN,

SECRETARIAT – “Making of a Champion”

SECRETARIAT: Penny’s Story – Against All Odds

Secretariat: Penny’s Reaction

Based on the impossible true story, SECRETARIAT chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

Click here to read our exclusive first look at SECRETARIAT from March. From director Randall Wallace (BRAVEHEART, THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK, WE WERE SOLDIERS) and rated PG, SECRETARIAT will be in theatres one month from today on October 8, 2010. For those wanting to see it earlier, Disney announced that there will be SECRETARIAT Sneak Peak in 800 theaters nationwide on October 2 at 7:00pm.

Be sure to check out the film’s official site here, on Facebook and Twitter.

Well it’s about time! I saw this movie at a test screening over a year ago. The general consensus of the audience at that screening was very positive. Personally, I loved it. I had no idea what it was about going in, but Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor were all I had to hear. This was so out of the norm for Jim Carrey. Although he has ventured out of his comedy comfort zone in the past (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND) this is completely different. You wouldn’t think that Ace Ventura himself would be believable as a newly out-of-the-closet gay man in an obsessive relationship, but it absolutely works. And by the obvious release date of the film, I’m not the only one who thinks so.I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS will hit theaters just in time to impress Oscar voters.

From DHD:

Roadside Attractions and Liddell Entertainment have acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to I Love You Phillip Morris. Written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the fact based film stars Jim Carrey as a married conman who falls in love with his cellmate—Ewan McGregor—and commits all kinds of crazy misdeeds like breaking out of Texas prisons four times, to be with his lover. Roadside Attractions has set a December 3 release date.

The deal closely follows an announcement by Roadside Attractions and Liddell that they completed an acquisition of the Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-directed Biutiful, which confirmed a story Deadline broke on August 10. Biutiful will also be released in December.

The deal ends a prolonged odyssey for I Love You Phillip Morris to find its way to movie screens here. Financed by Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp, the film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and opened on schedule internationally, grossing around $17 million. Besson’s hopes to see the film get a simultaneous domestic release turned into a nightmare. 

The film’s original distributor, Consolidated Pictures Group, missed the original February 12 release date, and two other slots–March 26 and April 30–were also scratched.

While the upstart company made a Canadian distribution deal with Alliance and floated in the press a plan to platform the film July 30 and release it wide on August 6, Besson and producers Andrew Lazar and Far Shariat had seen enough. There was concern that the repeated delays would reflect badly on a film that has been well received abroad, particularly for Jim Carrey’s performance as the love-struck conman. Since CPG had failed to pay a $3 million minimum guarantee and there were questions it would be able to raise the $8 million P&A commitment that was crucial to a EuropaCorp-brokered DVD deal with Fox, Besson pulled back the picture on the grounds of breach of contract, which Deadline revealed April 13. EuropaCorp had discussions about placing the film with Newmarket, but that deal was never made.

Usually, disputes between distributors and film rights holders are handled in arbitration, but because CPG was new and unproven, the film’s reps at CAA and WME made a deal that gave EuropaCorp the latitude to pull its picture if deadlines weren’t met. Besson subsequently filed suit against CPG.

All that drama is in the rear view mirror with a new deal that gives the film a release date and a P&A commitment. Roadside Attractions now has three Oscar season films generating buzz for strong performances. Aside from Carrey, there is a Javier Bardem turn in Biutiful that won Best Actor at Cannes, and a performance by Jennifer Lawrence in the Sundance prize-winning film Winter’s Bone. Liddell and Roadside Attractions confirmed the acquisition and will announce it today.

“Audiences who know this is from the creators of Bad Santa will be thrilled that it’s as outrageous as they’d expect,” Liddell said in a statement. “It’s a true-life, daring, crazy love story with fascinating lead performances by Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor.”

Said Roadside Attractions co-president Howard Cohen: “This is a film that everyone has been talking about and we’re thrilled it became available again, as we had been in hot pursuit of it at Sundance and were disappointed it was one that got away.”

Sony Pictures has announced that the Johnny Depp-Angelina Jolie romantic thriller THE TOURIST is now set to open December 10th, according to Box Office Mojo. Oscars anyone?

A remake of French thriller ANTHONY ZIMMER, THE TOURIST features Depp as an American vacationing in Venice, Italy, who, while attempting to romance Jolie’s character, becomes embroiled in a web of international intrigue and suspense. This year has already been a good one for Depp and Jolie, as they have each had hits in ALICE IN WONDERLAND ($334.2 million) and SALT ($104.2 million and counting), respectively. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who won the Best Foreign Language Oscar in 2007 for Cold War drama THE LIVES OF OTHERS, THE TOURIST will debut opposite THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER and David O. Russell’s THE FIGHTER.

THE TOURIST, written by Julian Fellowes, Christopher McQuarrie, and Jeffrey Nachmanoff, also stars Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, and Timothy Dalton. GK Films, which financed the film, and Sony Pictures will distribute it.

Here are 9 new photos from HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS featured in Entertainment Weekly’s Fall Movie Preview issue.

Film’s Synopsis:

Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart.

Meanwhile, the wizarding world has become a dangerous place for all enemies of the Dark Lord. The long-feared war has begun and Voldemort’s Death Eaters seize control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting anyone who might oppose them. But the one prize they still seek is the one most valuable to Voldemort: Harry Potter. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort…alive.

Harry’s only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale—the legend of the Deathly Hallows. And if the legend turns out to be true, it could give Voldemort the ultimate power he seeks.

Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became “the Boy Who Lived.” No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, John Hurt, Rhys Ifans, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Imelda Staunton, Jason Isaacs, Miranda Richardson, Warwick Davis, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Brendan Gleeson and Bill Nighy and directed by David Yates, look for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 from Warner Bros. Pictures in theaters on November 19, 2010 followed by PART 2 next summer July 15, 2011 . Click here to see the film’s official website, become a fan on Facebook and follow it on Twitter.

Source: EW

Welcome to the magical world that is BURLESQUE! Here’s a new clip of Christina Aguilera belting out “Something’s Gotta Hold on Me.” Everyone get up and start dancin’!

Wow! Girl has some pipes…

“What happened to all the great dancers in LA?….They’re all dancing with the stars.” BAhahahaha!! Are Tucci and Cher just acting gods or what? Oscar nods…yes? no? maybe? Cher? Tucci? or even Aguilera? or just good Thanksgiving musical fun?

Enough with the Oscar talk. It’s only August for petesake. Just for grins, I threw in the international trailer.

Directed by Steve Antin and from a script by Antin, Susannah Grant (THE SOLOIST), and Keith Merryman, BURLESQUE centers on Ali, an ambitious small-town girl with a big-town voice (Aguilera) who finds love, family and success in a neo-burlesque club. Ali meets Marcus, a charming, successful businessman who offers to buy Tess (Cher) out of the burlesque club and vies for Ali’s heart.

Sony Pictures and Screen Gems, BURLESQUE will be in theaters on November 24, 2010. You can find BURLESQUE on Facebook or visit the official site here.

Universal Pictures and Media Rights Capital have released a second poster for M. Night Shyamalan’s supernatural film, The Night Chronicles: DEVIL. Have another look at the trailer. *UPDATE* On August 4th, The Motion Picture Association of America’s Classification and Ratings Administration released ratings for DEVIL.

Devil has been rated PG-13 for “violence and disturbing images, thematic material and some language including sexual references.”

Ok, so Shyamalan’s LAST AIRBENDER wasn’t the second coming as some hoped for and, yes, I was in the minority of people who truly liked it. Despite the negative reaction at Comic Con when Night’s name appeared toward the end of the DEVIL trailer, the powers-that-be at Universal Pictures are no fools. They know his name still gets people into the seats. Maybe not as it once used to, but many will always go to see what comes from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan.  As of August 2nd, THE LAST AIRBENDER has a $167,048,660 worldwide gross (Box Office Mojo). Considering he ranks #22 on Box Office Mojo’s Director’s list of all-time grosses with $965.6 Million, a mere breath’s away from that billion dollar mark, not bad for a guy who’s films no one goes to see anymore.

Ever since the worldwide phenom of 1999′s THE SIXTH SENSE, Oscar-nominee Shyamalan has had the right to final cut, when his movies would be released around the world, where he’d shoot his films, which actors would be hired, and how the trailers and posters would look. Most importantly, all his films posters and trailers would contain an above the title credit - ”Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.” No other director can make that type of claim. While Anne Thompson over at IndieWire has some valid points in her article, “Take Shyamalan’s Name Off the Devil Trailer!”, I have to ask, if audiences are so “burnt and angry,” why do they continue to plunk down $10+ for another of his films where they know, or think, they’ll be let down again? Surely it wasn’t just me who gave THE LAST AIRBENDER its $40 Million opening weekend. As to the film DEVIL, it will do fine at the box office just by word-of-mouth – with or without the M. Night Shyamalan name attached. If anything, people may be pleasantly surprised in the end to see his name amongst the credits.

I think I’ve waved the M. Night flag long enough and I like the new poster-it’s so ominous. DEVIL, the first movie in the Night Chronicles series, is about a group of people stuck in a claustrophobic elevator, only to discover that one of them is the devil. The Night Chronicles series, from Media Rights Capital and Shyamalan, will be made over the next three years. As M. Night announced in June, the second film, TWELVE STRANGERS, is about Twelve jurors who preside over a case with supernatural elements.

DEVIL stars Chris Messina, Geoffrey Arend, Logan Marshall-Green, Bojana Novakovic, Jenny O’Hara, Bokeem Woodbine, Jacob Vargas. From directors and brothers John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle (QUARANTINE), with the story by M. Night Shyamalan and screenplay from Brian Nelson (HARD CANDY, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT), Universal Pictures will release DEVIL in theaters on September 17, 2010.

Visit the film’s official website at http://www.thenightchronicles.com/devil/ , like it on Facebook and follow it on  Twitter.

The trailer for THOR that appeared at Comic Con is finally here and it looks fantastic.

“Whoever wields this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” Very classy having Tony Hopkins in there. Clark Gregg’s amusing delivery at the end had me chuckling. Alien robot lands on Earth and Agent Phil Coulson has the lackadaisical attitude of “been there, done that.” All in all, THOR looks awesome.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, THOR stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg, and Colm Feore. THOR will be in theaters in May 2011.

Visit the film’s official site here and on Facebook.

Source: DailyMotion.com

Here’s a first look at the teaser for Scott Charles Stewart’s PRIEST that was shown during Sony’s panel at Comic-Con.

Show of hands. Anyone else think this looks like Stewart’s and Bettany’s last film LEGION and part I AM LEGEND. Nice to see Stephen Moyer, aka Bill Compton on HBO’s True Blood, doing double vampire duty. He plays Paul’s human scientist brother, Aaron, in the movie. Tidbit alert: Gerard Butler was originally cast in the film.

Synopsis:

Based on the graphic novel series “Priest” by Min-Woo Hyung, PRIEST, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, is set in an alternate world — one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church. When his niece (Lily Collins) is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on a quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.

From Screen Gems, PRIEST will hit theaters in 3D next spring on May 13, 2011. Visit the film’s official website at FaithWorkSecurity.com here.

Source: TrailerAddict.com

From Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies comes the story of a chameleon with an identity crisis and when RANGO crawls into theaters on March 18th, 2011, he’ll sound awfully like Johnny Depp too.

Directed by Gore Verbinski (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) and written by Gore Verbinski, John Logan (GLADIATOR) and James Byrkit, RANGO stars the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Ray Winstone, Beth Grant, Ned Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton, and Alfred Molina. I’m willing to make a bet and say that a first teaser trailer will be attached to THE LAST AIRBENDER seeing as they’re both from Paramount and Nickelodeon Movies.

Go to Apple Trailers here for a little announcement from RANGO. Visit the film’s official site at http://www.rangomovie.com/ to explore the latest interactive content (just make sure to continuously click on all the hilarious objects on the screen for it to work – click on the telephone poles after the car goes by….one by one after they bend….a bird runs towards the screen, turn on the radio, push the little roly-poly bug down the hole) or here on Facebook. With Hans Zimmer doing the score, this ought to be alot of fun!

Source: First Showing.net