The title of the new film LIKE CRAZY refers to the tumult of emotions that overwhelm the senses during the rush of attraction that blossoms into love ( particularly amongst the under thirty crowd ). With these two leads we’re probably not talking about first love as they’re just about to finish college. Still the intensity of their feelings practically explode off the screen. But like most examples of romantic cinema this couple’s journey is not an easy one.

The plot of the film almost follows the old cliché movie love story structure / formula : boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy loses girl, etcetera. A college writing major from England, Emma (Felicity Jones) becomes smitten with the professor’s student assistant, Jake (Anton Yelchin), a furniture designer, while attending school in Los Angeles. She leaves a note with her number (and a poem) on his car windshield. He calls her up, they date, and begin a whirlwind Spring romance. Unfortunately love clouds her judgement and she stays past her student visa return date. When Emma tries to visit Jake in LA after finally returning to England she’s denied re-entry in the US because of the visa violation. Thus begins a long struggle as the two lovers try to get back together. He can only afford a few trips to see her in the UK. In between visits Jake starts a furniture design business with Samantha (Jennifer Lawrence) who becomes more than a work partner, while Emma becomes an assistant to the editor of a fashion magazines ( Fionela Hughes ) and re-connects with some old friends and an attractive neighbor, Simon ( Charlie Bewley ). Can Jake and Emma’s love survive the strains and temptations of this long distance relationship while also battling the heartless bureaucracy?

Yes, it’s a fairly simple story that’s told without a lot of flashy touches although director Drake Doremus occasionally indulges a few film school tricks. He uses pixilation ( the camera’s locked above the bed as we see Emma and Jake in multiple sleepwear and sleep positions to denote time passage, while later Emma is in one spot at the airport as humanity buzzes and flits about her ) and slow dissolves ( the kitchen remains the same as the characters are in different clothing ). And of course we’ve got to have at least one montage of the two leads frolicking on the beach ( and at the go-kart track ) set to a sprightly tune. It’s really up to the actors to make this basic tale compelling. The two leads bring a a lot of fresh energy to this romance. Yelchin still projects the wit and intelligence the he showed in his two films from earlier this year ( THE BEAVER and FRIGHT NIGHT ), but here he presents a tender side as he tentatively gives his heart to this young woman who has pursued him ( yeah sexual equality! ). Jones as Emma gives a real star-making performance. You can almost hear her thoughts as she finally works up the courage to leave that windshield note. She almost bursts with exhilaration as Emma and Jake make a connection. This makes her poor decision to stay longer a bit more understandable. Later, as she makes a late night call to Jake from London, her pain and loneliness is heartbreaking. This is a young actress of startling sensitivity. I was rooting for them to triumph over those heartless immigration officers, but I began to feel greater sympathy for their interim flings. Simon seems a bit of a prig, but Jennifer Lawrence’s Sam is deserving of a better fate. The other, older actors do a great job of supporting the young lovers. Alex Kingston and Oliver Muirhead have a great rapport as Emma’s indulgent, worldly, supportive parents ( break out the whiskey! ) and Hughes scores as Emma’s nurturing, understanding mentor. This film may be a bit too messy for some viewers ( I was squirming during the big argument ), but relationships can’t always be hearts and flowers. The ending’s a bit open, so I hope we’ll spend some more time with these two someday. LIKE CRAZY is an emotional rollercoaster and a great showcase for two very gifted young actors.

Overall Rating: Four Out of Five Stars

LIKE CRAZY will be screened at 7 PM Thursday November 3 at  the Tivoli theatre as a special sneak preview of the 20th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival. The film’s regular engagement begins on November 11 at the Plaza Frontenac Cinemas

From Summit Entertainment comes this first trailer for THE THREE MUSKETEERS by RESIDENT EVIL director Paul W.S. Anderson.

I’m not opposed to Alexandre Dumas’ swashbuckling tale seeing a face-lift every couple of years, however this seems totally unnecessary. But if you’re gonna do that, you seriously better have an all-star cast…not Orlando Bloom and Milla Jovovich. While I’m a fan of the Michael York, Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch 1973 version by director Richard Lester, my favorite Musketeer movie is MAN IN THE IRON MASK. Now THAT is how you do it…John Malkovich, Jeremy Irons, Leo DiCaprio, Gabriel Byrne and Gérard Depardieu. HUGE, BIG STARS. That movie is awesome…and don’t even get me started on the score by Nick Glennie-Smith.

Synopsis:

The hot-headed young D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) joins forces with three rogue Musketeers (Matthew MacFadyen, Luke Evans and Ray Stevenson) in this reboot of Alexandre Dumas’ story. They must stop the evil Richlieu (Christoph Waltz) and face off with Buckingham (Orlando Bloom) and the treacherous Milady (Milla Jovovich). The action adventure is given a state of the art update in 3-D.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS will be in theaters October 14, 2011…but I’m guessing it will be more of a rental.

Visit the film’s official site HERE and “Like” it on Facebook HERE.

Source: Apple iTunes

Just in time for all the summer brides-to-be out there comes this trailer for SOMETHING BORROWED from Warner Bros. Pictures. Ever fallen in love with someone who was already taken?

Synopsis:

Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a talented attorney at a top New York law firm, a generous and loyal friend, and, unhappily, still single…as her engaged best friend Darcy (Kate Hudson) is constantly reminding her. But after celebrating her 30th birthday, perpetual good girl Rachel unexpectedly ends up in bed with the guy she’s had a crush on since law school, Dex (Colin Egglesfield)…who just happens to be Darcy’s fiancé. When Rachel and Darcy’s lifelong friendship collides with true love, it leads to unexpected complications and potentially explosive romantic revelations. Meanwhile, Ethan (John Krasinski), Rachel’s constant confidante and sometimes conscience, is busy evading the affection of Darcy’s hopelessly love-struck friend Claire (Ashley Williams) while harboring a secret crush of his own; and Marcus (Steve Howey), an irrepressible womanizer, can’t keep his mind out of the gutter or his hands off any girl within reach.

SOMETHING BORROWED will be in theaters on May 6, 2011.

RUSSELL BRAND as Arthur in Warner Bros. Pictures’ comedy “ARTHUR,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Here are the latest stills from Warner Bros. Pictures ARTHUR. Although I’m not a huge fan of Russell Brand, I recently went with some friends to a very small venue in Los Angeles to see Brand “rehearse” material for an upcoming documentary. Now being a huge fan of the original ARTHUR starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli, I am not happy about this re-make. Some classics should not be touched, and I had fully planned to heckle Mr. Brand about this until I saw him hilariously shame a woman who got up in the middle of his act to go outside and take a call. He literally berated her all the way to the door. But since it’s too late to fire off a protest email to the powers-that-be at Warners, I can at least hope they do a decent job of the remake. Helen Mirren is a good casting choice, however I’d rather be that woman shamed on the phone than have to watch the no-name Greta Gerwig, that is going to butcher one of Liza’s most iconic comedic roles.

HELEN MIRREN as Hobson and RUSSELL BRAND as Arthur in Warner Bros. Pictures’ comedy “ARTHUR,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Synopsis:

Irresponsible charmer Arthur Bach (Russell Brand) has always relied on two things to get by: his limitless fortune and the good sense of lifelong nanny Hobson (Helen Mirren) to keep him out of trouble. Now he faces his biggest challenge–choosing between an arranged marriage that will ensure his lavish lifestyle or an uncertain future with the one thing money can’t buy, Naomi (Greta Gerwig), the only woman he has ever loved. With Naomi’s inspiration and some unconventional help from Hobson, Arthur will take the most expensive risk of his life and finally learn what it means to become a man, in this re-imagining of the classic romantic comedy ARTHUR.

ARTHUR stars Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig, Luis Guzman, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Garner and is directed by Jason Winer, written by Peter Baynham from a story by Steve Gordon.

From Warner Bros. Pictures, ARTHUR will be in theaters on April 8, 2011.

(Center of the crowd) RUSSELL BRAND as Arthur in Warner Bros. Pictures’ comedy “ARTHUR,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release

All Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/Photo by Barry Wetcher

Make sure the kids are away, far away, from the computer when you watch Sony Pictures red-band trailer for the romantic comedy FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS.

To be honest with you, I thought Justin Timberlake was fantastic in THE SOCIAL NETWORK, so more of him on the big screen, either dressed or otherwise, is a good thing…right??

Synopsis:

A young female headhunter (Mila Kunis) in New York convinces a potential recruit (Justin Timberlake) to leave his job in San Francisco behind and accept a job in the big apple. Despite an attraction to each other, both realize they’re everything they’ve been running from in a relationship and decide to become friends….with benefits. It’s the perfect arrangement–until they realize there’s no such thing as no strings attached.

Driected by Will Gluck (EASY A), FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS will be in theaters on July 22, 2011.

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

Source: Moviefone

The first trailer for BLUE VALENTINE, followed by a clip of the film, comes to us courtesy of Yahoo! Movies.

Earlier on Friday, Deadline.com‘s Mike Fleming reported that BLUE VALENTINE received the ‘kiss of death’ NC-17 rating by the MPAA. SO much for Bob Weinstein’s hopes of a Best Picture nomination, although there’s alot of buzz surrounding Williams’ and Gosling’s performances.

…the NC-17 is an absolute head-scratcher. I’m told the rating was given for a scene in which the characters played by Gosling and Williams try to save their crumbling marriage by spending a night away in a hotel. They get drunk and their problems intensify when he wants to have sex and she doesn’t, but will to get him off her back.

Synopsis:

Blue Valentine is the story of love found and love lost told in past and present moments in time. Flooded with romantic memories of their courtship, Dean and Cindy use one night to try and save their failing marriage. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star in this honest portrait of a relationship on the rocks.

From The Weinstein Co., BLUE VALENTINE will be in theaters on December 31, 2010. Visit the film’s official site here, on Facebook here and on Twitter here.

From the BURLESQUE Facebook page:

“We did it! Thank you fans – we now have 10,000 likes… here is the new EXCLUSIVE image of BURLESQUE only for you!”

Love It! This will be fun to watch over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend – somewhere between the dinner, shopping, and football games.

Directed by Steve Antin , 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 (Eric Dane), a charming, successful businessman who offers to buy Tess (Cher) out of the burlesque club and vies for Ali’s heart.

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

Anne Thompson over at indieWIRE’s “Thompson on Hollywood, is reporting that the U.S rights to BARNEY’S VERSION, starring Paul Giamatti, Minnie Driver and Dustin Hoffman, have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Thompson writes:

Producer Robert Lantos is “delighted” to turn the film over to Sony, who state: “rarely does a major novel come to life so completely and so richly on the screen as it does here with Barney’s Version…producer Robert Lantos more than fulfills his multi year dream of filming Mordecai Richler’s masterpiece. We look forward to presenting the film to the American audience.”

BARNEY’S VERSION will be shown on Sunday, September 12 at TIFF, have its world premiere Friday at the Venice Film Festival, and will also open the Hamptons International Film Festival on Oct. 7. Hoffman and Giamatti…together?? Pure magic.

TIFF Synopsis:

Barry Panofsky is one of the great comic characters of modern literature. Mordecai Richler gave him life as an impulsive, romantic, politically incorrect and fearlessly blunt creature subject to his impulses. And now, Paul Giamatti adds flesh and blood, and a vast emotional range in this immensely enjoyable adaptation directed by Richard J. Lewis.

Shifting seamlessly between the highs and lows of his life in Montreal as an adult philanderer, and his coming of age in seventies Italy, Barney’s Version follows its hero as he seeks solace through marriage and professional success. His first wife, Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), is an unstable free spirit Barney meets through his best friend, the promising but self-destructive novelist, Boogie (Scott Speedman). When his relationship with Clara ends in tragedy, Barney returns to Montreal, establishes himself as a successful television producer running Totally Unnecessary Productions, and marries into society through the good graces and welcoming charms of The Second Mrs. P (Minnie Driver).

But Barney never knows when to leave well enough alone. At his wedding to Mrs P., he meets and falls madly for the true love of his life, Miriam (Rosamund Pike), who is destined to become his third wife. His dad (Dustin Hoffman) gives him a gun as a wedding present and, well, no need to spoil the plot, but when Barney is implicated in Boogie’s mysterious disappearance, the spectre of the past raises its ugly head.

Richler’s acclaimed novel has found its ideal champion in Canadian producer Robert Lantos, who devoted the last twelve years to shaping this film. And in Paul Giamatti –whose Barney is equal parts sour and tender, vicious and vulnerable – the film has its ideal star. Beautifully supported by a stellar cast and Lewis’s crisp direction, this is a Barney Panofsky Richler would have been proud of: a man with a huge appetite for life, searching for love and running from death.

Warner Bros Pictures has released their film schedule for the upcoming fall/holiday season. The one that I found the most curious was this first photo of Matt Damon and Bryce-Dallas Howard in Clint Eastwood’s HEREAFTER. Variety’s article from 2008 said, “it is described as in the vein of THE SIXTH SENSE.” I’m very interested to see what Eastwood does with this genre.

The other films in the WB press kit are THE TOWN, LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GAHOOLE, LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, HEREAFTER, DUE DATE, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1, and YOGI BEAR.

THE TOWN (Crime Drama) September 17:

There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every year. And most of the professionals live in a one-square-mile neighborhood called Charlestown. One of them is Doug MacRay, but he is not cut from the same cloth as his fellow thieves. Unlike them, Doug had a chance at success, a chance to escape following in his father’s criminal footsteps. Instead, he became the leader of a crew of ruthless bank robbers, who pride themselves on taking what they want and getting out clean. The only family Doug has are his partners in crime, especially Jem, who, despite his dangerous, hair-trigger temper, is the closest thing Doug ever had to a brother. However, everything changed on the gang’s last job when Jem briefly took a hostage: bank manager Claire Keesey. When they discover Claire lives in Charlestown, Jem gets nervous and wants to check out what she might have seen. Knowing what Jem is capable of, Doug takes charge. He seeks out Claire, who has no idea that their encounter is not by chance or that this charming stranger is one of the men who terrorized her only days before. As his relationship with Claire deepens into a passionate romance, Doug wants out of this life and the town. But with the Feds closing in and Jem questioning his loyalty, Doug realizes that getting out will not be easy and, worse, may put Claire in the line of fire. Any choices he once had have boiled down to one: betray his friends or lose the woman he loves. “The Town” is a dramatic thriller about robbers and cops, friendship and betrayal, love and hope, and escaping a past that has no future.

Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, and Chris Cooper. 

This film has been rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GAHOOLE (Fantasy Adventure) In 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX on September 24:

Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure. The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences—causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians of Ga’Hoole—Soren’s only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.

Cast: Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony LaPaglia, Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Richard Roxburgh, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham.

This film has been rated PG for some sequences of scary action.

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (Romantic Comedy) October 8:

Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is an up-and-coming caterer and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) is a promising network sports director. After a disastrous first date, the only thing they have in common is their dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter, Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, Holly and Messer are forced to put their differences aside. Juggling career ambitions and competing social calendars, they’ll have to find some common ground while living under one roof.

Cast: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Christina Hendricks, Hayes MacArthur

This film has been rated PG-13 for sexual material, language and some drug content.

HEREAFTER (Drama) October 22:

HEREAFTER tells the story of three people who are haunted by mortality in different ways. Matt Damon stars as George, a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cecile de France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus (Frankie/George McLaren), a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might—or must—exist in the hereafter.

Cast: Matt Damon, Cécile de France, Jay Mohr, Bryce Dallas Howard, Marthe Keller, Frankie McLaren, George McLaren, Thierry Neuvic, Derek Jacobi.

The movie is not yet rated.

DUE DATE (Comedy) November 5:

Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife’s due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan—on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter’s last nerve.

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Juliette Lewis, Jamie Foxx

This film has been rated R for language, drug use and sexual content.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 (Fantasy Adventure) In 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX on November 19:

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1, the seventh and final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, is a much-anticipated motion picture event to be told in two full-length parts. 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.

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, Bonnie Wright.

This movie is not yet rated.

YOGI BEAR (Live-Action/Computer Animated Adventure in 3D.) In 3D and 2D in select theatres on December 17:

Everyone’s favorite pic-a-nic basket-stealing bear comes to the big screen in “Yogi Bear.” Jellystone Park has been losing business, so greedy Mayor Brown decides to shut it down and sell the land. That means families will no longer be able to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors — and, even worse, Yogi and Boo Boo will be tossed out of the only home they’ve ever known. Faced with his biggest challenge ever, Yogi must prove that he really is “smarter than the average bear” as he and Boo Boo join forces with their old nemesis Ranger Smith to find a way to save Jellystone Park from closing forever.

Cast: Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake, Anna Faris, Tom Cavanagh, TJ Miller, Andrew Daly.

This film is not yet rated.

Source: Warner Bros.

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.

Last time we saw these two lovely actors together was in 2005′s BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and since then, both have seen Academy Award nominations. Have a look at 20th Century Fox’s first trailer for the romantic comedy, LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS.

Gyllenhaal and Viagra…I know there’s a laugh in there somewhere, but I’ll leave that to you, our witty WAMG’s readers. Or for the more serious of fans, does it look like an Oscar contender?

Synopsis:

Based on Jamie Reidy’s memoir “Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman,” Hathaway portrays Maggie, an alluring free spirit who won’t let anyone – or anything – tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie (Gyllenhaal), whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serve him well with the ladies and in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. Maggie and Jamie’s evolving relationship takes them both by surprise, as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love.

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS will be in theaters on November 24, 2010. Fan it on Facebook.

Trailer Courtesy: Apple ITunes

Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) gets a call from Gideon Gordon Graves (Jason Schwartzman) in this YAHOO! Movies first look clip from Edgar Wright’s SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD. The screenings of the film at this year’s Comic Con have been met to overwhelming, cheering crowds. You can follow it (@SPvsCC) here on Twitter.

Synopsis:

Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera). A bass guitarist for totally average garage band Sex Bob-omb, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams…literally. The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him. Genre-smashing filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) tells the amazing story of one romantic slacker’s quest to power up with love in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It’s getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who kicked his heart’s ass–and now is back in town–to the teenage distraction he’s trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn’t been easy. He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes controls her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.

As Scott gets closer to Ramona, he must face an increasingly vicious rogues’ gallery from her past–from infamous skateboarders to vegan rock stars and fearsomely identical twins. And if he hopes to win his true love, he must vanquish them all before it really is game over.

Universal Pictures’ SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD hits theaters on August 13, 2010.

Remember, you can create your very own customized, awesome SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD Avatar by visiting ScottPilgrimTheMovie.com.

From Warner Bros. Pictures comes this new trailer for Ben Affleck’s THE TOWN starring Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Pete Postlethwaite, and Chris Cooper.

THE TOWN is Affleck’s follow-up to his amazing GONE BABY GONE (2007) and is the adaptation of the Chuck Hogan novel “The Prince of Thieves.” Looks like were off for another thrilling, tension-filled ride to Affleck’s hometown of Boston as the scenes in this trailer left me with goosebumps.

Synopsis:

Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) is an unrepentant criminal, the de facto leader of a group of ruthless bank robbers who pride themselves in stealing what they want and getting out clean. With no real attachments, Doug never has to fear losing anyone close to him. But that all changed on the gang’s latest job, when they briefly took a hostage–bank manager, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall). Though they let her go unharmed, Claire is nervously aware that the robbers know her name…and where she lives. But she lets her guard down when she meets an unassuming and rather charming man named Doug…not realizing that he is the same man who only days earlier had terrorized her. The instant attraction between them gradually turns into a passionate romance that threatens to take them both down a dangerous, and potentially deadly, path.

THE TOWN will be in theaters on September 17, 2010. You can find the film on Facebook and Twitter.

Susan Wloszczyna of USA Today has the first photos from Sony/Screen Gems upcoming BURLESQUE due in theaters November 24, 2010. The musical stars Cher, in her first major role in over a decade, Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane,Cam Gigandet, Julianne Hough, Peter Gallagher, Alan Cumming with Kristen Bell and Stanley Tucci. The thought of seeing Cher back on the big screen after all these years makes me giddy. And together with Stanley Tucci makes me downright delirious!

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.

Read Susan Wloszczyna’s interview with BURLESQUE’s director Steven Antin here. You can find BURLESQUE on Facebook or visit the official site here.

All photos by Stephen Vaughan, Screen Gems

Check out the 10 second teaser for THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE from MakingOf.com. Let us know what you think below. Will this surpass NEW MOON in terms of sales? Only a few more months to go.

My favorite film of 2009 was (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, a genuine and moving look at love and what some people will go through in order to find the person they are meant to be with.  Cut to January, 2010, where we have LEAP YEAR, a romantic comedy so idle and formulaic that it seemingly slaps itself back into shape at the first sight of originality.  In fact, as you have probably guessed, it is a film that, upon leaving the theater, my first thought was to immediately evoke thoughts of (500) DAYS OF SUMMER as an act of good will.

Nothing gels with LEAP YEAR.  It probably has something to do with how break-neck the first third of the film is.  In a matter of 15 minutes, we have Amy Adams playing Anna, a young woman who believes her long-time boyfriend, played by Adam Scott, is about to propose to her.  He doesn’t, and promptly flies off to Dublin, Ireland for some reason.  I’m sure it was explained, but editor Nick Moore’s scissors may have, actually, cut the explanation mid-sentence.  Anyway, based on the convenient stories from her father, played in a shameful cameo by John Lithgow (don’t blink or you will, literally, miss him), Anna knows that on Leap Day, it is an Irish custom that women can propose to men.  She grabs her passport and is on the next jet across the pond.

It’s at this point that cinematic convenience moves aside, and cinematic serendipity takes a crack at it.  Anna’s plane is diverted, and she finds herself in a small inn somewhere in the scenic countryside of lovely Ireland.  It is here she stumbles upon Declan, played by Matthew Goode, the keeper of the inn who, conveniently, has to get just enough money or else he is going to lose the tavern.  Before you can say IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, the two are working their way cross country towards Dublin trying to survive each other as much as any other obstacles they may come across.  That’s the first 15 minutes.  Hope you can keep up.

These types of been-there-done-that romantic comedies are a dime a dozen, and it really takes something more than strict point-and-shoot camera work and two gifted actors giving satisfactory performances to stand out amongst the crowd.  Director Anand Tucker (HILARY AND JACKIE and SHOPGIRL) has done better work before, and his lazy shots and handling of the chemistry between Adams and Goode could almost be construed as apathy.  Sure, there are beautiful shots, and give the film an A for effort in shooting on location in the Ireland.  As much as LORD OF THE RINGS was a travel guide for New Zealand, this film could be viewed as the same for Celtic island.

Unfortunately, we could just as easily have seen a travel guide show on Ireland on HD-Net, and we wouldn’t have been forced into paying attention to two characters who can’t stand each other.  I should say, they can’t stand each other at first, because if you’ve seen even the most lackluster romantic comedies, you know these two will grow to care for one another, and his spontaneity will slowly but surely rub off on her coarse and organized outer shell, grabbing hold of the adventurer that lies within her and making her his.  It’s cliche to say the story found in LEAP YEAR has been done before and better, but a film this full of cliches itself doesn’t deserve anything more.

Even the comedy here is so tired and maudlin that you almost, ALMOST, crack a smile whenever Matthew Goode acts out in a goofy nature or Amy Adams steps into ankle-deep cow manure.  The discomfort that comes at a dinner scene where an old couple decide to make out might be the only, real laugh in the whole debacle.

Even the moments where the film begins to veer into uncharted territory, where you think there might be some hope yet that it offers something, anything, in the way of freshness or innovation, the film quickly rights itself back onto its banal and true-to-the-tracks course.  Sure, Anna’s boyfriend doesn’t propose to her in the opening minutes of the film, and this alone might be justification to view him as a bad guy.  However, throughout much of the rest of the film, we see him as this kind and caring man, and we begin to wonder who Anna will, ultimately choose.  Dub this a spoiler alert, but this idea gets scratched like an old record.  When it’s all said and done, Anna clearly has no choice but to leave this jerk and run back to her adventurous Irishman.  Why?  Because it’s a movie, and it’s lazy.

Much can, however, be said for Adams and Goode, who, by themselves, give beneficial performances.  Adams turns the cute dial all the way to the right, even if you struggle to grasp what, exactly, her character’s deal is (she literally falls for the “heads I win, tails you lose” gag that, I think, cavemen were pulling on each other).  Goode seems to be having vast amounts of fun with his role.  Of course, you need something more than two parts to make a whole when crafting a decent romantic comedy, and the chemistry these two have just doesn’t cut it.  There is almost an obnoxiousness to the pair when they are bickering, leaving thoughts of Gable or Colbert (or even Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel) prancing around your mind.

And, in the end, that is the best that can be said for a film like LEAP YEAR.  It should garner warm feelings and give its audience a strong appeal towards its characters and their hopeful situations.  What it does is make you dream for all the other films it never even comes close to touching.  With beautiful scenery and strong actors leading the way, it is magnificent window dressing in need of a moving story to tell or emotional charm between those two leads, who, when you think about it, might actually be leading the way in separate directions.  LEAP YEAR has neither, and you’re left with hoping that it is, at least, another four years before something this choreographed and predictable passes itself for genuine rom-com material again.

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

Good ol’ Lionsgate.  They know how to push a dollar to the limit.  According to Production Weekly, the studio is developing a remake to ‘Dirty Dancing.’  Screenwriter Julia Dahl (‘Uptown Girls’) is set to pen the script about a young girl who, while spending her Summer with her family at a holiday camp, falls in love with the dance instructor.

The original film is generally regarded as a modern classic.  It raked in nearly $64 million dollars against a $6-million budget on its August release in 1987.

Meanwhile, Variety is reporting that director Michael Davis (‘Shoot ‘em Up’) has signed on to helm the remake of the 1981, Sean Connery sci-fier, ‘Outland.’  Warner Brothers will distribute with the screenplay being written by first-time, feature writer, Chad St. John.  Hollywood Gang Productions is also behind funding.

We loved the original sci-fi film with Sean Connery.  At its core, ‘Outland’ is a version of ‘High Noon’ in outer space, as two courageous people take a stand against a gang of ruthless conspirators at the highest level.

This statement comes from Gianni Nunnari of Hollywood Gang.

Says director Davis about the project:

We’re staying true to the thematic heart of ‘Outland’ while expanding the space frontier concept.

The original film about a police martial stationed at a mining colony on one of Jupiter’s moons was directed by Peter Hyams.  It made little profit at the box office, earning $17 million against a $16-million budget.

I want to begin by telling you up front that what I am about to say may shock some of you. In fact, some of you may choose never to read my reviews again. Prepare yourselves, because I am about to make one bold statement… THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE is one of the best love stories EVER told. There. Now, that wasn’t that bad, was it? With that said, I would liked to have seen a few better casting choices.

The film was based on Audrey Niffenegger’s novel of the same name, adapted for the screen by Bruce Joel Rubin (GHOST, JACOB’S LADDER) and directed by Robert Schwentke (TATTOO, FLIGHT PLAN). At one hour and 47 minutes in length, the film can feel a bit slow at times in the first two acts, but the pace of the third act certainly makes up for having patience. The film is not perfect and it has it’s flaws, albeit few, but the story is simply marvelous and brilliantly combines the romance and science-fiction genres in a way that respects both, but is not easily restricted to either camp.

The movie follows research librarian Henry De Tamble, a man with a unique condition that proves to be both a curse and a blessing. Henry has a (fictional) genetic anomaly called chrono-impairment, which causes him to spontaneously travel through time, leaping from one significant moment in his and his families lives to another. Henry wields extremely limited control over his condition, which seems to be triggered by various sources of stress. Despite the inconvenience and occasional danger that his condition burdens him with, Henry manages to develop a meaningful and honest relationship with an artist named Clare Abshire. Clare is merely a child when she first meets a forty-something version of Henry in a meadow near her wealthy family’s home. From that moment, the two are seemingly destined to be together. They develop their relationship from friendship into lovers as Henry repeatedly visits Clare at different stages of her life, allowing him a very personal and coincidentally wise insight into her heart.

THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE can be split into three distinctly separate areas of focus. Two of these areas excel at accomplishing what they set out for while the other falls a bit short. The acting in this film was not bad. I particularly felt Arliss Howard (FULL METAL JACKET, AMISTAD) gave a wonderful performance as Henry’s father Richard, despite his minimal screen time. The character really came to life for me and I personally would have loved to see his character influence the story on an even deeper level. Ron Livingston (THE COOLER, LITTLE BLACK BOOK) was both funny and talented in the often awkward role of Gomez and managed to successfully bring the comic relief into the story at a tone and tempo that made me laugh but not too much. This is not a romantic comedy by any means, but the story has a few rough emotional moments and Livingston’s touch adds to the overall texture of this tapestry.

As for the stars of the film, Rachel McAdams (RED EYE, STATE OF PLAY) was perfectly fine. She doesn’t give a stellar performance, but it does hold up for the role’s requirements and she is definitely easy on the eyes and ears. I’ll give Rachel a solid “B” for her efforts and ability to maintain the flow of the film. Eric Bana. (sigh) What can I say about Eric? What I am not going to do is call him a talentless hack, because he is not and others say this far too often in my honest opinion. However, the problem with Eric Bana (HULK, MUNICH) seems to be a lack of self-acknowledgement regarding his own range and ability to properly emote. He tries very hard, I truly believe that with every fabric of my being, but sometimes trying isn’t enough. Frankly, I haven’t fully accepted him in a role since CHOPPER (2000). Too many of his scenes in THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE fall just short of convincing, but they’re close enough for me to have let them slide past my radar and enjoy the film.

Now for the good parts! I found myself pleasantly surprised by the overall performance given by the child actors in this movie. Alex Ferris plays Henry at the age of six and does a commendable job, even with his limited role. By far, the players who astonished me the most were the three young actresses who portrayed Clare and her daughter Alba, all of whom had to play their characters at two different ages. Brooklynn Proulx plays Clare at the ages of six and eight. Not only does she fit the image of a young Clare Abshire, she also succeeds at showing up her adult counter-part with a magical charm and radiance. Tatum McCann plays Alba at the ages of four and five while her real-life sister Hailey McCann plays Alba at the ages of nine and ten. Together, they sell young Alba as a smart and fascinating girl with a special inheritance.

I’ve already spoken of my feelings towards the story, which paints a wonderfully rich and believable romance that occurs despite the oddest of circumstances. The realism of their relationship holds up because it isn’t a storybook romance. Henry and Clare have their share of problems, from arguments to tragedy, including Henry’s genetic disorder that fuels both the good and bad sides of the characters’ personalities. Simply stated, THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE is a superbly crafted screenplay.

The third and perhaps most under-appreciated element of success in this film comes from behind the camera. Schwentke does a fine job directing the film, especially considering the level of performances he nurtured from the child actors. More than this however, I have to give credit to Florian Ballhaus (FLIGHTPLAN, MARLEY & ME) for her sumptuously vivid cinematography. THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE is warm and inviting at times, but also cold and painful when it needs to be. The colors are rich, the depth of field she uses throughout the film is awe-inspiring and she has a keen eye for how to frame a shot. While I’d love to see her get recognition for her work come Oscar time, I realize it’s probably a long shot.

For all intensive purposes, THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE utilizes just the right amount of subtle special effects as not to get in the way, or pull the audience out of this story. The non-linear relationship of Henry of Clare is fully engrossing, even if the acting leaves us wanting at times. While not extraordinarily impressive in their technical prowess, the special effects do what they’re intended to do in this movie and nothing more… they do their job. They help to convey the idea of a man who has a genetic predisposition to spontaneous time travel rather than showing up to show off. I applaud this approach with absolute appreciation.

Overall, THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE is an excellent film, not perfect, but absolutely worth paying to see in the theatre. Clearly, the film will appeal more to the average female cinematic tastes, but I beg and plead to the guys out there that this is NOT your average chick flick. Do not allow others who may want to lump THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE into a throw away category of sappy romantic melodramas to dissuade your interest. Doing so would be an unfortunate miscalculation of the film’s intention.

I went into this film knowing essentially two things:

1) It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, and
2) It’s not a love story but rather a story about love

In my opinion, that’s the best way to see this (or any) film, so if you’re a fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Zooey Deschanel, or if you’re intrigued by the idea of a romantic comedy that, against all odds, isn’t a generic, boring, waste of time, then by all means, go and see this film as soon as it opens tomorrow (7/24). However, if you’re still on the fence about it, here’s my take on the film.

Since Scott and Jeremy reviewed (500) Days of Summer when it was screened at Sundance and Cinevegas, HERE and HERE, and I completely agree with both of their takes on it, I’ll try to take a different approach. About a third into the movie, during a particularly ingenious musical number, the thought hit me, “this feels like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!” Not because it was ripping off Ferris Bueller, in fact the two stories couldn’t be more different, but because of the strong emphasis on characters over story and the general likability of the entire cast.

The film takes place through the eyes of Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). He’s universally loved by his coworkers, he’s fun to hang out with, and he’s an all around great guy. (Sound familiar?) But that’s only on his good days. Throughout the film, we get to see glimpses into the 500 days that Tom spends with his love at first sight (Zooey Deschanel) and when he’s on a good day everything is pretty great. On the bad days? Not so much.

Through the film, we are greeted by title cards which let us know what the current day of summer is, and we also get a preview of how the day will turn out. (I could explain more, but it’s kind of cool to just see and experience for yourself. One of the many little touches that make this film great.) On the bad days Tom is more of a Cameron: whiny, moping, and full of hate. This contrast lets us know, right from the start, that all bets are off as to where this relationship will end up.

Like Ferris Bueller, this film is genuinely fun, funny, and manages to bring the dramatic bits without spoiling the humor in the end. If there’s one thing I hate about comedies, it’s when the first two acts are full of laughs and then as soon as the inevitable dramatic moment hits in the third act, everyone goes silent (basically every terrible romantic comedy out there). Partly because of the non-linear nature of the story, and partly because of the very tight editing (no fat here) the film never drags, and it never loses its momentum as a comedy. One of my favorite bits came totally unexpected, so I won’t spoil it here, but I’ll just say it was a brief cameo from a 1977 movie character…

While the Ferris Bueller character similarities pretty much end with Tom, this is really his story, so it’s a good fit. Go into the film with “Ferris Bueller’s (500) Days” in your mind, and I think you’ll see what I mean.

All in all, with (500) Days of Summer, you can expect a tightly woven, well-crafted, technically brilliant film that will leave you smiling (and possibly wishing that your girlfriend looked like Zooey Deschanel).

CineVegas 2009 is right around the corner (this week to be precise), and We Are Movie Geeks are going to be there in full force. Throughout the festival, which runs from June 10th through the 15th, we are going to be bringing you all the coverage you need including reviews, interviews, party breakdowns, and red carpet premiere coverage.

‘Mercy’ is the new drama/romance film written by Scott Caan and directed by Patrick Hoelck.  With screenplays for ‘Dallas 362′ and ‘The Dog Problem’ already under his belt, Caan seems to be anything but an amateur when it comes to writing about relationships and connections.  Hoelck is a first-time feature film director on this one, but, with a cast that includes Scott and James Caan, Erika Christensen, Wendy Glenn, and Dylan McDermott, ‘Mercy’ looks to be one of the more powerful films of the fest.

Here’s the film’s synopsis:

John is a novelist who writes about love… even though he’s never been in love. In fact, he’s pretty sure that love doesn’t exist. Yet that doesn’t keep him from leading a seemingly fulfilling bachelors lifestyle and honing his seduction skills to an art form. That’s until he meets Mercy. A critic who writes a scathing review of his latest book, Mercy sees through John’s “teetering on charming” exterior and into his shallow, egotistical core. In spite of these circumstances, or perhaps because of them, he asks her out. She says yes. Miraculously, their relationship blossoms into something very real and John begins to open up to love and life. Yet, in doing so, he exposes himself to the potential perils that come with the “L” word.Written by and starring Scott Caan, MERCY is distinctly contemporary in its setting and characters yet harkens back to love stories of old with its unabashed romanticism. Caan’s writing has an intimate quality that enables him to drop in small but pertinent insights then let the ripples spread through the story. Director Patrick Hoelck employs a winning mix of luscious cinematography and low-key naturalism to excavate that strange mix of confidence, longing and denial that underpins a certain strain of male psyche. With a tone that is romantic yet authentic, Caan and Hoelck create a charmingly comic but intensely moving story about finding oneself in love.

‘Mercy’ screens on Saturday, June 13th at 8:30 pm and on Sunday, June 14th at 12:30 pm.