It’s been over twenty years since Al Pacino as Michael Corleone uttered, “Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in! “in THE GODFATHER PART III, but this bit of plot motivation is still a major device in most action/crime thrillers for the lead character. In the new film CONTRABAND, the guy who thinks he’s out of the life is Chris Faraday played by an actor who had a few run-ins with the law during his teen years, Mark Wahlberg. Chris had a reputation as an expert smuggler many years ago (he brags about being able to bring in a pricey sports car), but now he’s legit with a home security business, a beautiful wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale) and two adorable young sons down in New Orleans. Uh-oh, it seems that Kate’s nere’do well kid brother Andy (Caleb Landry Jones) has decided to enter the smuggling game.

Unfortunately, he’s not as good as his brother-in-law. He’s part of the crew on a ship that’s boarded by custom authorities (they even lower down drug-sniffing dogs from a helicopter) and Andy tosses his backpack filled with cocaine over the railing into the sea. The violent, lowlife drug dealer Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi) who hired him is not so understanding once Andy and his partner are on dry land. He rams their car with his truck. Andy survives the attack and tells Chris what happened. Chris tries to cut a deal with Briggs, who insists that he be reimbursed for his lost revenue (700 grand!) otherwise the debt falls to Chris and his family.

Chris has no choice, but to go for one last big score. He contacts another runner who’s gone legit, his old pal Sebastian (Ben Foster) who suggests making a drug run to Panama. But like the Corleones, Chris wants nothing to do with that “dirty business” and hatches a plan to bring in several loads of counterfeit cash. Thanks to Sebastian’s connections Chris becomes a crew member on a cargo ship headed south (several pals are already planted on board to help along with Andy). Once they reach Panama, Andy and a couple of guys will dash over in a van, collect the funny money, and be back in an hour when the ship’s ready to leave the dock. In and out! No problems, right?! If you think that’s the case then you don’t know your movie crime capers! And of course, that mad dog Briggs and his thugs are bearing down on Sebastian and the Faraday family back in the states. Talk about getting pulled back in (and pulled in several directions)!

The world of smuggling makes an interesting new venue for the crime thriller. It’s a nice change from the bank vault or museum break-in. Unfortunately the film makes too many side trips and cuts back and forth from the Big Easy to the big ship, so the forward momentum can’t gain any speed. It’s fun to see Chris stay one step ahead of the ship’s captain (JK Simmons in full surly, grumpy J. Jonah Jamieson-mode), but quickly we’re back watching Briggs hovering near a kids soccer game. In Panama Chris and his pal are recruited by a wild-eyed crime kingpin (an under-used Diego Luna) in an armored car hit (how long before the ship leaves?). The actors do their best with this disjointed thriller.

Wahlberg commands the screen as a good man forced to do bad things (but no drug running!) who tries to survive using his skills and street smarts. You can almost hear the gears in his head grinding as he has to come up with a new escape idea. Beckinsale’s always a lovely screen presence, but she spends way too much time here being bounced around like a rag doll by the different lowlifes. Speaking of lowlifes,  Ribisi seems to be doing a riff on the growly, grizzled  creep he just played in RUM DIARY. I hope in his next role he gets to clear his throat and clean up a bit. Foster’s Sebastian may be the most complex of the bunch. He’s given up booze and crime, but seems to miss the old thrills. Ben Foster really show us this guy’s inner conflict. It’s another interesting performance by an actor who’s compiling an impressive resume. It’s just a shame they aren’t all involving ain a better thought thriller. The film’s final action climax (there’s at least two or three) is right from THE PERILS OF PAULINE. As a cinema crime caper CONTRABAND doesn’t quite deliver (or smuggle) all the goods

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Watch Mark Wahlberg in the new trailer for CONTRABAND, a fast-paced thriller about a man trying to stay out of a world he worked so hard to leave behind and the family he’ll do anything to protect. Set in New Orleans, the film explores the cutthroat underground world of international smuggling—full of desperate criminals and corrupt officials, high-stakes and big payoffs—where loyalty rarely exists and death is one wrong turn away.

Synopsis:

Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does best—running contraband—to settle Andy’s debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), to head to Panama and return with millions in counterfeit bills.

Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and sons become their target.

From Universal Pictures, CONTRABAND features Ben Foster, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi, Lukas Haas, Caleb Landry Jones, Diego Luna and J.K. Simmons.

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, written by Aaron Guzikowski, and based upon the film Reykjavik: Rotterdam by Arnaldur Indriðason and Óskar Jónasson, CONTRABAND will be in theaters January 13, 2012.

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.contrabandmovie.net/

“Like the film on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Contraband

Source: Yahoo! Movies

Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

BETTER OFF DEAD (1985)

Synopsis: Lane Meyer is a depressed teen who loses his girlfriend Beth. Her given reason for breaking up is: “Lane, I think it’d be in my best interest if I dated somebody more popular. Better looking. Drives a nicer car.” Anyway, poor Lane is left alone and thinks up treacherous ways of killing himself. He finally meets a French beauty called Monique and falls for her. Simultaneously, he must endure his mother’s terrible cooking which literally slides off the table and his disgusting next door neighbour Ricky (and his mum) while he prepares for the skiing race of his life – to get his old girlfriend back! (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Theatrical trailer.

Double Feature: BLACK SHEEP/TOMMY BOY (1996/1995)

Synopsis: Black Sheep - A gubernatorial candidate hires a wormy special assistant whose only job is to make sure the candidate’s well-meaning but incompetent brother doesn’t ruin the election.

Tommy Boy - An incompetent, immature, and dimwitted heir to an auto parts factory must save the business to keep it out of the hands of his new, con-artist relatives and big business. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

Double Feature: BRAVEHEART/GLADIATOR (1995/2000)

Synopsis: Braveheart - Mel Gibson stars on both sides of the camera, playing the lead role plus directing and producing this brawling, richly-detailed saga of fierce combat, tender love and the will to risk all that’s precious for something more precious: freedom. In an emotionally charged performance, Gibson is William Wallace, a bold Scotsman who used the steel of his blade and the fire of his intellect to rally his countrymen to liberation. Filled with sword-clanging spectacle, Braveheart is a tumultuous tapestry of history come alive, “the most sumptuous and involving historical epic since Lawrence Of Arabia” (Rod Lurie, Los Angeles Magazine).

Gladiator - Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, Gladiator is a dazzling combination of vivid action and extraordinary storytelling. Discover the unparalleled power of Gladiator, masterfully directed by Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner), and featuring a riveting performance from Russell Crowe, hailed by Newsweek as “a genuine larger-than-life hero!” (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

Double Feature: COMING TO AMERICA/TRADING PLACES (1988/1983)

Synopsis: Coming To America – Join Eddie Murphy (Norbit, Dreamgirls) on an unforgettable comic quest to the New World. As an African prince, it’s time for him to find a princess… and the mission leads him and his most loyal friend (Arsenio Hall) to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince relishes the chance to test his mettle in the urban wilderness. Keep an eye out for both Murphy and Hall in some unforgettable cameo roles!

Trading Places – What happens when you combine the comic genius of Eddie Murphy (Norbit, Dreamgirls) with Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters, Christmas With The Kranks) and director John Landis (Animal House, Coming To America)? You get a timeless comedy classic laced with sidesplitting, satiric humor. Murphy stars as a small time con artist who gets a chance to switch lives with Aykroyd’s big time stock market maven. But their reversal of fortunes is just a cruel joke perpetrated by two bored mega rich brothers (Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy) as part of an idle bet. And when the truth comes out… the consequences are sheer comedy gold! (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

Double Feature: DEFIANCE/ENEMY AT THE GATES (2008/2001)

Synopsis: Defiance – Daniel Craig (James Bond: The Quantum of Solace) stars as Tuvia Bielski, an ordinary citizen turned hero, in this action-packed epic of family, honor, vengeance and salvation. Defiance is a riveting adventure that showcases the extraordinary true story of the Bielski brothers, simple farmers – outnumbered and outgunned – who turned a group of war refugees into powerful freedom fighters. Tuvia, along with his unyielding brother, Zus (Liev Schreiber, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), motivate hundreds of civilians to join their ranks against the Nazi regime. Their “Inspirational story” (David Densby, The New Yorker) is a true testament to the human spirit.

Enemy at the Gates - An all-star cast lights up the screen in this riveting epic hailed as “a vivid dramatization of one of history’s titanic turning points.” (Gene Shalit, Today) The year is 1942 and the Nazis are cutting a deadly swath through Russia. Under the leadership of Khrushchev (Bob Hoskins), the citizens of Stalingrad are mounting a brave resistance, spurred by the exploits of their local hero, Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law). An expert sniper, Vassili’s deeds have become legendary – thanks to propaganda produced by Vassili’s best friend, a political officer named Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). To stop Vassili, the Germans dispatch their best sniper, Major Konig (Ed Harris), to Stalingrad. When Vassili and Danilov both fall in love with a beautiful soldier (Rachel Weisz), Danilov deserts his friend, leaving Vassili to face his German counterpart alone. As the city burns, Vassili and Konig begin a cunning game of cat and mouse, waging a private war for courage, honor and country. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN: International Cut (1982)

Synopsis: Epic tale of child sold into slavery who grows into a man who seeks revenge against the warlord who massacred his tribe. Through the history of mankind, the times that are most recorded in mythology are those of great deeds and fantastic adventures. Such a time was the Hyborean Age and the story of Conan the Barbarian. Cimmerian Conan is captured after his parents’ savage murder by raiding Vanir led by Thulsa Doom, head of the malignant snake-cult of Set. Fifteen years’ agony, first chained to the Wheel of Pain grinding grain and then enslaved as a Pit Fighter, forge a magnificent body and indomitable spirit. Freed one day by his owner, Conan, with his companions Subotai the Mongol and Valeria, Queen of Thieves, sets forth upon his quest to learn “the riddle of steel” which his father prophesied would confer ultimate power, and to kill his enemy Thulsa Doom. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Audio commentary with director John Milius and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Conan Unchained – The Making of Conan, behind-the-scenes; Art of Steel – Sword Makers and Masters; Conan – From the Vault, interviews; Special effects scene comparisons; The Conan Archives – drawings, paintings, concept art and photos; Deleted Scenes; Theatrical Trailers.

CONAN THE DESTROYER (1984)

Synopsis: Arnold Schwarzenegger returns with a vengeance in the sword and sorcery adventure Conan the Destroyer. The powerful hero Conan (Schwarzenegger) has been commissioned by evil Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas) to safely escort a teen princess (Olivia D’Abo) and her bodyguard (Wilt Chamberlain) to the magic Horn of Dagon. Conan soon discovers, however, that the queen plans to sacrifice the princess when she returns and inherit her kingdom. Now he and an unusual group of allies—including the eccentric wizard Akiro (Mako) and the wild woman Zula (Grace Jones)—must defeat both mortal and supernatural foes in an epic, sword-wielding battle with the fate of the entire world at stake. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Theatrical trailer.

COPYCAT (1995)

Synopsis: Helen Hudson is a brilliant forensic psychologist who specializes in the study of serial killers. After one of her subjects attempts to kill her, Hudson suffers a nervous breakdown and becomes agoraphobic. However, when a series of ritualized murders baffle the San Francisco Police Department, M.J. Monahan, a feisty, intelligent detective, turns to the unwilling Hudson for help in finding the killer. The team of doctor and detective becomes a target when their quarry learns who is on his trail. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Audio commentary with director Jon Amiel; Trailer.

EXPORTING RAYMOND (2010)

Synopsis: Follow Phil Rosenthal, creator of the hit TV series ‘Everybody Loves Raymond,’ in this incredibly funny true story of the attempt to translate ‘Raymond’ into a Russian sitcom. A hilarious, warm and intimate journey of one man, considered an expert in his country, who travels to a distant land to help people that don’t seem to want his help. Lost in Moscow, lost in his mission, lost in translation, Phil tries to connect to his Russian colleagues but runs into unique characters and situations that conspire to drive him insane. The movie is a true international adventure, a genuine ‘fish out of water’ comedy that could only exist in real life. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Audio commentary with writer/director Philip Rosenthal; Deleted Scenes; Everybody Loves Kostya episodes; Everybody Loves Raymond episodes; Old Jews Telling Jokes – Restaurant, a short film by Max Rosenthal; Trailer.

THE FINAL DESTINATION 3D (2009)

Synopsis: On what should have been a fun-filled day at the races, Nick O’Bannon has a horrific premonition in which a bizarre sequence of events causes multiple race cars to crash, sending flaming debris into the stands, brutally killing his friends and causing the upper deck of the stands to collapse on him. When he comes out of this grisly nightmare Nick panics, persuading his girlfriend, Lori, and their friends, Janet and Hunt, to leave… escaping seconds before Nick’s frightening vision becomes a terrible reality. Thinking they’ve cheated death, the group has a new lease on life, but unfortunately for Nick and Lori, it is only the beginning. As his premonitions continue and the crash survivors begin to die one-by-one–in increasingly gruesome ways–Nick must figure out how to cheat death once and for all before he, too, reaches his final destination. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Deleted Scenes; 2 Alternate Endings; Body Count: The Deaths of The Final Destination – Deconstructing Key Death Scenes; The Final Destination – Pre-visualization and Storyboards.

A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964)

Synopsis: A mysterious gunman has just arrived in San Miguel, a grim, dusty border town where two rival bands of smugglers are terrorizing the impoverished citizens. A master of the “quick-draw,” the stranger soon receives offers of employment from each gang. But his loyalty cannot be bought; he accepts both jobs…and sets in motion a plan to destroy both jobs…and sets in motion a plan to destroy both groups of criminals, pitting one against the other in a series of brilliantly orchestrated set-ups, showdowns and deadly confrontations. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Audio commentary; Featurettes; Interviews.

FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1965)

Synopsis: Eastwood is a keen-eyed, quick-witted bounty hunter on the bloody trail of Indio, the territory’s most treacherous bandit. But his ruthless rival, Colonel Mortimer, is determined to bring Indio in first…dead or alive! Failing to capture their prey—or eliminate each other—the two are left with only one option: team up, or face certain death at the hands of Indio and his band of murderous outlaws. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Audio commentary; Featurettes; Interviews.

Double Feature: THE GODFATHER/THE GODFATHER Part II (1972/1974)

Synopsis: Regarded as one of the best American films ever, by the American Film Institute, Francis Ford Coppola’s epic masterpiece features Marlon Brando in his Oscar-winning role as the patriarch of the Corleone family. The Godfather is a violent and chilling portrait of the Sicilian family’s struggle to stay in power in a post-war America of corruption, deceit and betrayal. Coppola begins his legendary trilogy, masterfully balancing the story of the Corleone’s family life and the ugly crime business in which they are engaged. Based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel and featuring career-making performances by Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall, this searing and brilliant film garnered ten Academy Award nominations, and won three including Best Picture of 1972.

In what is undeniably one of the best sequels ever made, Francis Ford Coppola continues his epic Godfather trilogy with this saga of two generations of power within the Corleone family. Coppola, working once again with the author Mario Puzo, crafts two interwoven stories that work as both prequel and sequel to the original. One shows the humble Sicilian beginnings and New York rise of a young Don Vito, not played in an Oscar-winning performance for Best Supporting Actor by Robert De Niro. The other shows the ascent of Michael (Al Pacino) as the new Don. Reassembling many of the cast member who help make The Godfather, Coppola has produced a movie of staggering magnitude and vision, the film received eleven Academy Awards nominations, winning six including Best Picture of 1974. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

Double Feature: THE ITALIAN JOB/SHOOTER (2003/2007)

Synopsis: The Italian Job – The plan was flawless. The execution was perfect. Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn’t plan on was being double-crossed. Now he wants more than the job’s payoff…he wants payback. Mark Wahlberg is electrifying as Croker in this “fast and furious action-adventure.” Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker (Charlize Theron), Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase that careens up, down and below the streets of Los Angeles. With an ensemble all-star cast that also includes Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, Franky G and Donald Sutherland, The Italian Job is hot!

Shooter – Get ready for edge-of-your-seat thrills as Mark Wahlberg ignites the screen in his most compelling role yet: the Shooter. When respected former Marine scout sniper Bob Lee Swagger (Wahlberg) is pressed into service to stop an assassination attempt against the President, the unthinkable occurs: he’s double-crossed and framed for the attempt. Determined to prove his innocence, the rogue shooter is now in a high-tension race from every law enforcement agency in the country and a shadowy organization that wants him dead. From Training Day director Antoine Fuqua comes a gripping film co-starring Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon 4) and Michael Pena (World Trade Center). Joel Siegel of Good Morning America proclaims that Shooter is a “thriller… with a ton of white-knuckle action.” (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: 50th Anniversary Edition (1960)

Synopsis: Spectacular gun battles, epic-sized heroes and an all-star cast that includes Academy Award® winners Yul Brynner and James Coburn, together with Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach and Charles Bronson, make The Magnificent Seven a legend among westerns. Spawning three sequels and a successful television series, and featuring Elmer Bernstein’s Oscar®-nominated score, this stunning remake of The Seven Samurai is “a hard-pounding adventure” (Newsweek) and “an enduringly popular” (Leonard Maltin) cinematic classic.

Merciless Calvera (Wallach) and his band of ruthless outlaws are terrorizing a poor Mexican village, and even the bravest lawmen can’t stop them. Desperate, the locals hire Chris Adams (Brynner) and six other gunfighters to defend them. With time running out before Calvera’s next raid, the heroic seven must prepare the villagers for this battle and help them find the courage to take back their town – or die trying! (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

THE NAME OF THE ROSE (1986)

Synopsis: Adapted from Umberto Eco’s best-selling novel, in the 14th century a progressive Franciscan monk called William of Baskerville solves a mysterious death at a secluded Benedictine Abbey with the help of his young novice. Eventually, Bernardo Gui, an inquisitor gets involved, but he may not have the best intentions. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Audio commentary from director Jean-Jacques Annaud; The Abbey Chimes featurette; Photo Video Journey; Trailer.

OUTSIDE THE LAW (2010)

Synopsis: Traces the life of three brothers whose family has been driven off its land and survived the Sétif massacres. They end up in France where two of the brothers campaign for Algerian independence. The Battle of Paris, which brings the FLN (National Liberation Front) into conflict with the French police, crushes and divides them. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Making-of Featurette; Interview with director Rachid Bouchareb; Cast Interviews; Deleted Scenes; Theatrical and Teaser Trailers.

THE PERFECT GAME (2009)

Synopsis: Cesar (Clifton Collins Jr., Star Trek) has returned to his native Mexico after his major league career is cut short. However, his career is reborn when a group of determined kids recruit him as coach for their rag-tag baseball team. Moises Arias (“Hannah Montana”), and Ryan Ochoa (“Pair of Kings”) costar as these resolute underdogs with Jake T. Austin (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) as Angel Macias, their ambidextrous pitcher…and the only pitcher to throw a Perfect Game in the championship game of the LLWS.

Together they form the unlikeliest of teams with the unlikeliest of goals. Cheech Marin (Spy Kids), Lou Gossett Jr. (Iron Eagle), Bruce McGill (Animal House), Emilie de Ravin (Lost) and David Koechner (Anchorman) also appear in this uplifting film directed by William Dear (Angels in the Outfield, Harry and the Hendersons). (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

QUARANTINE 2: TERMINAL (2011)

Synopsis: A plane is taken over by a mysterious virus. When the plane lands it is placed under quarantine. Now a group of survivors must band together to survive the quarantine. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

RIO (2011)

Synopsis:Captured as a young bird from the wild, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network) is a domesticated Spix Macaw living thousands of miles away from his homeland, Brazil. When his human owner Linda (Leslie Mann, 17 Again) discovers that he is the last male of his kind, they head south to Rio de Janeiro to meet the only other female. But it’s far from love at first sight between the socially-awkward, flight-challenged Blu and the fiercely independent, high-flying female, Jewel (Anne Hathaway, The Princess Diaries). Shortly after Blu’s arrival, the two rare birds are captured by greedy animal smugglers and find themselves lost in the Brazilian rainforest. Unexpectedly thrown together, they embark on a hilarious and clumsy adventure where they learn about friendship, love, courage and spreading one’s wings to fly. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Explore the World of Rio; Deleted Scene: Fruit Stand; Postcards from Rio; Carnival Dance O Rama; Rio de JAM-eiro Jukebox; Angry Birds Rio – Trailer, Nigel Mash Up, and Instructional Video; Music Videos; Boom-Boom Tish-Tish: The Sounds of Rio; The Making of Hot Wings; Saving the Species: One Voice at a Time; The Real Rio.

SANDS OF THE KALAHARI (1965)

Synopsis: A small plane crashes in the sweltering deserts of South Africa hundreds of miles from civilization. As parallels are drawn between the group of humans and a nearby pack of savage baboons, one of the men’s survivalist nature gets the better of him, as he decides his chances of survival would be better if the others were eliminated one-by-one. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

Double Feature: SHUTTER ISLAND/PRIMAL FEAR (2010/1996)

Synopsis: Primal Fear – An altar boy is accused of murdering a priest, and the truth is buried several layers deep.

Shutter Island – Drama set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding nearby. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

SLEEPERS (1996)

Synopsis: After a prank goes disastrously wrong, a group of boys are sent to a detention center where they are brutalized; over 10 years later, they get their chance for revenge. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Trailer.

SOUL SURFER: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2011)

Synopsis: Bethany was born to surf. A natural talent who took to the waves at a young age, she was leading an idyllic, sun-drenched, surfer girl’s life on the Kauai Coast, competing in national competitions with her best friend Alana, when everything changed in a heartbeat. On Halloween morning, Bethany was on a typical ocean outing when a 14-foot tiger shark came out of nowhere and seemed to shatter all her dreams. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: Deleted Scenes; Soul Surfing Onto The Screen featurette; Surfing for the Screen: Inside the Action featurette; Becoming Bethany featurette; Heart of a Soul Surfer documentary.

SPY KIDS (2001)

Synopsis: Masters of disguise, innovators of invention, and superstars of sleuthing, Gregorio (Antonio Banderas) and Ingrid (Carla Gugino) are the best secret agents on Earth. Working for rival nations, they are sent to kill each other but instead fall in love. Now proud parents, they are called back to duty nine years later when their former colleagues start vanishing one by one thanks to evil genius Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming). But when they too disappear, there are only two people in the world who can rescue them…their kids! This high-octane adventure from director Robert Rodriguez is a must-see for everyone in the family. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: 10-Minute Film School; Deleted Scenes; Featurettes.

SPY KIDS 2: THE ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS (2002)

Synopsis: The pint-sized spy siblings are back in action! Having joined the family spy business, Juni (Daryl Sabara) and Carmen (Alexa Vega) rise up to save the planet from a mad scientist (Steve Buscemi) living on a remote island populated by all kinds of dangerous, crazy creatures. As this bizarre environment wreaks havoc on their gadgets, the Spy Kids must rely on their smarts – and each other – to save the day! (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: 10-Minute Film School; Deleted Scenes; Featurettes.

SPY KIDS 3: GAME OVER (2003)

Synopsis: The Spy Kids have entered a new dimension that will test their abilities like never before! Under-age agents Juni (Sabara) and Carmen (Vega) embark on their most mind-blowing mission yet: journeying inside a virtual-reality video game world designed to disorient them. Relying on their bravery, cool gadgets, lightning-quick reflexes – and, most importantly, their family – the Spy Kids must battle through level after level of the game as they race against the clock to save the world yet again from a new megalomaniacal villain, the Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone). (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: 10-Minute Film School; Deleted Scenes; Featurettes.

STAKE LAND (2010)

Synopsis: America has fallen. A vampiric scourge sweeps the nation, turning brother on brother and parent on child as the blood-hungry beasts take deeper and deeper hold upon the land. It’s hard for the survivors to know whether to be more afraid of the creatures themselves or the violent religious groups that have sprung up in response, but there is clearly only one choice: fight or die.

Connor Paolo (Glee!) stars as Martin, a young man traveling with only his taciturn mentor – a hardened fighter known simply as Mister – as protection against this blasted earth in search of the rumoured safe haven of New Eden. Winner of the Midnight Madness Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and hailed as “the American horror film of the year” (Todd Brown, TwitchFilm.com), Stake Land establishes director Jim Mickle as a leader in the new generation of horror. (highdefdigest.com)

Special Features: Unknown/TBA.

“Understand the possibility.” A common phrase that is applicable to almost any situation in films or real life. “The Fighter” takes a gritty story of a brutal sport and produces a resplendent film that encircles the audience with authenticity. Director David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) himself takes on the task of ‘understanding the possibility’ of the greatness of this film by adhering to a simple story told with honesty and emotion that allows the spectators to embrace the characters for who they truly are, not who they should be. The dialect and dialogue uttered is very heartfelt and genuine by the entire cast.

The narrative revolves around two brothers and their relationship to each other and to the sport of boxing which is based on a true story. Mark Wahlberg (The Departed, The Lovely Bones) is at the helm as the main character ‘Irish’ Mickey Ward, who is attempting to balance his family life and his struggling boxing career. He is known as a ‘stepping stone’, which in the boxing world means you are never going anywhere.  His mother, Alice Ward played by Melissa Leo (Frozen River), is his manager and promoter.  And, caught in the midst of this family dynamic, along with 7 sisters, is the crack-addicted brother Dicky Eklund, masterfully portrayed by Christian Bale (The Machinist, American Psycho).

Dicky is making a documentary with HBO and the crew is following him around all over the town of Lowell, MA. He is known as the ‘The Pride of Lowell’ for his flamboyant fight with Sugar Ray Leonard back in the day, and his mediocre boxing career. Mickey is just trying to get by and has to deal with his mother that unfortunately manages his boxing career rather poorly. Then Mickey meets Charlene Fleming, played by Amy Adams (Junebug, Julie and Julia) and his life, and those close to him, seems to evolve in a new direction from there. Charlene helped him to not just understand, but to embrace the possibilities.  A notion that appears to elude the rest of the family because they are invisible to them. Despite his love for his family, and especially his brother Dicky, who Mickey looks to as his brother/trainer/hero/friend, Mickey makes decisions that carry him forward.

Wahlberg does a solid job as Mickey, but it almost seems as if he slipped into a role that was relatively safe for him to play. And again, displayed his need for a stronger director (ie: Scorsese). You do feel for his character and cheer him on and want him to win throughout. Ultimately, that seems more for the actual story than the actor portrayal. Adams seems to step out of her comfort zone and is very believable as Charlene. She works well in her banter with the other actors with her quick and accurate delivery of her lines. Leo was fantastic and is worthy of supporting nominations for her role as Alice, but the justly conspicuous performance was by Bale. Bale distinguishes himself as the best contender for any award this year by immersing himself into the life of a drug-addicted convict as if he hung out in crack houses for months doing research for this role. He is the epitome of ‘understanding the possibility’ by taking a somewhat unlikeable role and turning into a performance that will not soon be rivaled in the supporting actor field.

‘The Fighter’ will definitely land a blow to your heart as it hits you in the stomach with its realism. A simple story of a man, his family, and his career. Maybe not so simple, but well done, and far more interesting than just another boxing movie. On an end note…It is recommended that the audience hang around for about 60 seconds at the end of the film. You will be glad you did, just as satisfied as you will be to have seen this film.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Twitter was all aflutter on Sunday evening when the new, moody trailer for THE FIGHTER showed up during a commercial break for AMC’s season finale of MAD MEN at the 20 min. mark. Pete Hammond over at Deadline.com reported:

This promotional gambit was first tried by Paramount on last season’s Mad Men finale for their major 2009 contender, Up In The Air. That’s because Mad Men is a hot TV ticket, and usually an Emmy contender in its own right, and sure to draw a large contingent of movie awards voters. In fact, one of Mad Men’s consultants has been Frank Pierson, former President of the Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.

The official reason for the spot, according to a Par spokesperson, is that the audience for the show is “high end, smart, savvy - the ultimate tastemakers“ and we think the show is an ideal place to showcase a special piece on the film.”

Here’s the original.

Synopsis:

THE FIGHTER is the inspirational, true story of these two brothers who, against all the odds, come together to train for a historic title bout that will unite their fractured family, redeem their pasts and, at last, give their hard-luck town what it’s been waiting for: pride. The story unfolds on the gritty, blue-collar streets of Lowell, Mass, where Dicky was once known as “The Pride of Lowell” having gone the distance with the world champion Sugar Ray Leonard. However, after losing that fight, like the town of Lowell, Dicky’s fallen on hard times. His boxing days are behind him and his life has become shattered by drug abuse. Younger brother Micky, meanwhile, has become the family’s fighter and fading hope for a champion. But despite all of his work, Micky’s career is failing and he loses fight after punishing fight. Dicky and Micky’s tougher-than-nails mother, Alice (MELISSA LEO), manages his career and Dicky serves as his highly unreliable trainer. When Micky’s latest fight nearly kills him, it looks like it could all be over – until his iron-willed new girlfriend, Charlene (AMY ADAMS), convinces him to do the unthinkable: split with his family, pursue his own interests and train without his increasingly volatile and criminal brother. Now Micky has the chance of a lifetime as he earns a shot at the World Championship. But when his brother and dysfunctional family reenter his life, they must all reconcile their pasts and become more than just a family in name. With Micky and Dicky reunited, this becomes more than just a fight – it’s an all-out comeback for these brothers, their family, and their city. When it’s over, Micky will have become a World Champion, a Hall of Fame legend, and the new “Pride of Lowell”. THE FIGHTER is a moving and often humorous drama about fighting for the people you love.

From Paramount Pictures, THE FIGHTER will be in theaters December 2010.

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

Coming this December, here’s the first trailer for David O. Russell’s THE FIGHTER starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo.

Count on multiple Academy Awards nominations on this film. This “Based on a true story” is exactly the kind of film that Oscar wins are made of. ROCKY…CHARIOTS OF FIRE…anyone? I’d have no problem seeing that statue in the hands of Wahlberg, Bale or even Russell on February 27, 2011.

Synopsis:

THE FIGHTER is a drama about boxer “Irish” Micky Ward’s unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly being KO’d by drugs and crime and Ward’s eventual world championship in London.

From Paramount Pictures, THE FIGHTER will be in theaters December 2010.

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

The New York Times had an interesting story on David O. Russell’s THE FIGHTER starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Many oscar pundits see the film receiving more than a few nominations with its mid-December 2010 release.

During the St. Louis premiere of THE OTHER GUYS earlier this month, Wahlberg briefly talked to WAMG’s Melissa Howland about his upcoming film.

Here are excerpts from the NYT article:

THE FIGHTER has those elements, plus Christian Bale, and the extraordinary passion of Mark Wahlberg, who started training almost four years ago for the lead role as the real-life boxer Micky Ward.

But the movie still had to survive a grueling behind-the-scenes struggle before landing on the schedule at Paramount Pictures, which plans to release it on Dec. 10, as the awards season hits full stride.

Wahlberg fought hard to get THE FIGHTER made. “Many times I thought it wasn’t going to happen,” said Mr. Wahlberg, who spoke by telephone last week.

Mr. Wahlberg, who spent several years waking before dawn to work on his physical conditioning, recalled thinking, “If I don’t get this movie done the way I want to, I’m going to use this training on somebody in a bad way.”

Rob Moore, Paramount’s vice chairman, acknowledged that his studio had been wary of THE FIGHTER, which promises to become Mr. Russell’s first major release since his I HEART HUCKABEES fizzled for Fox Searchlight Pictures in 2004.

THE FIGHTER is a biopic that follows the ups and downs of a come-from-behind welterweight and his half-brother, and like a lot of adult-oriented dramas, “ultimately, these are tougher movies,” Mr. Moore said. “They’re all about execution.”

Mr. Wahlberg noted, struggle is nothing new when it comes to the story of Mr. Ward and Dick Ecklund, both of whom were written off more than once before Mr. Ward’s triumph, in 2000, in a junior welterweight title fight that figures in the film. “These are guys who against all odds achieved their goals and realized their dream,” Mr. Wahlberg said. “It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Have a look at a few scenes from the set of THE FIGHTER due in theaters on December 10, 2010. It will be a packed weekend at the theaters with the release of THE FIGHTER, the Johnny Depp/Angelina Jolie thriller THE TOURIST, and the third installment in the Chronicles of Narnia series, THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER.

Photos Courtesy: Copyright – Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. Source: NYTimes.com

SIDENOTE: To the people with the huge banner for Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg… LEARN HOW TO SPELL WILL! IT’S “WILL” NOT “WIL”. So, let’s get on with the show… ENJOY!

Hey… I think this guy’s name is Kurt…

Chingy

Fredbird, Mascot of the St. Louis Cardinals

Murphy Lee

Melissa and Don King

Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell Being Presented Key’s To St. Louis by Mayor Francis Slay

(I promise, Francis is nicer than he was in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure… and he didn’t even take anyone’s bike!)

Red Carpet Time (The Yellow Sign is a nice touch)

A Little Mood Lighting, Because Mark Wahlberg Looks Like He Is About To Destroy Someone! (He’s actually just looking around during an interview)

Magic fingers… YEAY! TAH-DAH!

Hugs and Kisses,

or just bye…

Melissa and Michelle

Thanks to local movie fans, St. Louis has won the Facebook Poll that will bring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg to town for the Premiere of their new film THE OTHER GUYS!  And WAMG has your passes to the EXCLUSIVE Hollywood-style screening!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. Fill out information boxes below, followed by who would win in a fight… Will Ferrell or Mark Wahlberg and why for your chance to win a pair of passes to the screening of THE OTHER GUYS at Wehrenberg’s Galaxy 14 Cine Theater in Chesterfield on Thursday, August 5th! The stars of the film will stroll the Red Carpet at approximately 6:30pm and the screening will begin at 7pm.

2. Must be a St. Louis Area Resident or be in St. Louis the day of the screening. You must be available to check in at the theatre by 6pm to claim your wristband.

The official press release:

CULVER CITY, Calif., August 3, 2010 – In anticipation of the nationwide release of Columbia Pictures’ The Other Guys, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, Ferrell and Wahlberg will attend “The Other Premiere” this Thursday, August 5, in St. Louis, MO at the Wehrenberg Chesterfield Galaxy, Chesterfield, MO. The film opens in theaters nationwide the next day, Friday, August 6.

For nearly three weeks, moviegoers voted on Facebook to decide which city will host a red-carpet event celebrating the film on Thursday, August 5. From the original 20 cities, the voters chose 10, then 5, before selecting St. Louis as the host.

Commenting on the announcement, Adam McKay, director of the film, said, “Here are some interesting facts about St. Louis that I learned from Wikipedia. It was founded in 1764. It has two nicknames – the Gateway to the West and the Mound City. There are 2,879,934 people in the Greater St. Louis metropolitan region, and Will and Mark are looking forward to meeting each and every one of them at The Other Premiere.”

St. Louis won out over  big cities like Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Washington, DC.

Synopsis:

In THE OTHER GUYS, NYPD Detectives Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City. They don’t get tattoos – other men get tattoos of them. Two desks over and one back, sit Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). You’ve seen them in the background of photos of Danson and Highsmith, out of focus and eyes closed. They’re not heroes – they’re “the Other Guys.”

But every cop has his or her day and soon Gamble and Hoitz stumble into a seemingly innocuous case no other detective wants to touch that could turn into New York City’s biggest crime. It’s the opportunity of their lives, but do these guys have the right stuff?

THE OTHER GUYS stars Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, with Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Adam McKay and written by Adam McKay & Chris Henchy, the producers are Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, and Patrick Crowley. THE OTHER GUYS will be in theaters on August 6, 2010.

In an upset the likes of the US Hockey team’s victory over the Russians in the 1980 Winter Olympics, St. Louis beat out big cities in THE OTHER GUYS contest over on Facebook and is now hosting the THE OTHER GUYS OTHER PREMIERE!! By getting the word out and voting “en masse,” Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg will be walking the Red Carpet this Thursday night in Missouri! The premiere will be at the Wehrenberg Galaxy 14 Cine (in Chesterfield) with red carpet festivites beginning at 5pm! Good times in STL lately – we recently hosted the Red Carpet premiere for CHARLIE ST CLOUD starring Zac Efron.

St. Louis won out over cities like Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Washington, DC. Congrats to all who voted!!!

Synopsis:

In THE OTHER GUYS, NYPD Detectives Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City. They don’t get tattoos – other men get tattoos of them. Two desks over and one back, sit Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). You’ve seen them in the background of photos of Danson and Highsmith, out of focus and eyes closed. They’re not heroes – they’re “the Other Guys.”

But every cop has his or her day and soon Gamble and Hoitz stumble into a seemingly innocuous case no other detective wants to touch that could turn into New York City’s biggest crime. It’s the opportunity of their lives, but do these guys have the right stuff?

THE OTHER GUYS stars Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, with Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Adam McKay and written by Adam McKay & Chris Henchy, the producers are Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, and Patrick Crowley. THE OTHER GUYS will be in theaters on August 6, 2010.

Hot Damn!! ST. LOUIS HAS MADE THE TOP 5!! Help get Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell to ST. LOUIS !!

• St Louis , MO   WOO-HOO!!
• Atlanta, GA
• Dallas, TX
• Houston, TX
• Philadelphia, PA 

Please help us get the word out so we can win ‘THE OTHER PREMIERE’ of THE OTHER GUYS! It only takes a second to vote…and you can vote once per day. The top city will be announced live on the Today Show next Monday, August 2nd.

Vote here:       The Other Guys – Premiere City Poll

Press Release:

“THE OTHER GUYS” LETS

FACEBOOK USERS AND MOVIEGOERS DECIDE

ON HOST CITY FOR “THE OTHER PREMIERE”

In anticipation of the nationwide release of Columbia Pictures’ The Other Guys, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, in theaters August 6th, the film will make its World Premiere in New York City on August 2nd. But the fun won’t stop there.

The movie will have another premiere — “The Other Premiere” — and moviegoers can help decide where it will be. Moviegoers can go on Facebook at www.facebook.com/otherguysmovie and vote in a poll to decide which Other City will host The Other Premiere. Ferrell and Wahlberg will attend the red carpet event in the winning city on August 5th.

Commenting on the announcement, Adam McKay, director of The Other Guys, said,

“We’ve all had those moments when we’ve had to watch some other guy be the cool guy. But your city can be the cool city. Get on Facebook and vote, and we’ll bring The Other Premiere to you.”

Film’s Synopsis: 

In THE OTHER GUYS, NYPD Detectives Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City . They don’t get tattoos – other men get tattoos of them. Two desks over and one back, sit Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). You’ve seen them in the background of photos of Danson and Highsmith, out of focus and eyes closed. They’re not heroes – they’re “the Other Guys.”

But every cop has his or her day and soon Gamble and Hoitz stumble into a seemingly innocuous case no other detective wants to touch that could turn into New York City ’s biggest crime. It’s the opportunity of their lives, but do these guys have the right stuff?

THE OTHER GUYS stars Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, with Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Adam McKay and written by Adam McKay & Chris Henchy, the producers are Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, and Patrick Crowley. THE OTHER GUYS will be in theaters on August 6, 2010.

Remember, vote once a day all this week at The Other Guys – Premiere City Poll and be sure to spread the word on Facebook to help get Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg here next week to premiere their movie!

Woo-Hoo!! ST. LOUIS HAS MADE THE TOP 10!! We’re #9 on the list!! Please help us get the word out so we can win THE OTHER PREMIERE of THE OTHER GUYS! It only takes a second to vote and you can vote once per day. The top 5 cities will be announced on Monday, July 26th. St. Louis needs a big push on Friday and over the weekend to win! Remember, St Louis is #9!!! We Can Win This!!

 

Top 10 Cities in the other OTHER GUYS Premiere Voting [HD]

Click on the link above to check out the latest video from Will and Mark to see the top 10 cities announcement in the other OTHER GUYS Premiere Poll. Keep voting St. Louis!

Here’s the official contest announcement-

THE OTHER GUYS LETS FACEBOOK USERS AND MOVIEGOERS DECIDE ON HOST CITY FOR “THE OTHER PREMIERE

In anticipation of the nationwide release of Columbia Pictures’ THE OTHER GUYS, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, in theaters August 6th, the film will make its World Premiere in New York City on August 2nd. But the fun won’t stop there.

The movie will have another premiere- The Other Premiere - and moviegoers can help decide where it will be. Get over to Facebook at www.facebook.com/otherguysmovie and vote in a poll to decide which Other City will host The Other Premiere. On August 2, Ferrell and Wahlberg will announce the winning city and will attend the red carpet event in the winning city on August 5th.

Here’s the list of the 10 candidate cities that remain:

1. Philadelphia
2. Dallas
3. Atlanta
4. Houston
5. Chicago
6. Seattle
7. New Orleans
8. Austin
9. St. Louis
10. Denver

Synopsis:

In THE OTHER GUYS, NYPD Detectives Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City. They don’t get tattoos – other men get tattoos of them. Two desks over and one back, sit Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). You’ve seen them in the background of photos of Danson and Highsmith, out of focus and eyes closed. They’re not heroes – they’re “the Other Guys.”

But every cop has his or her day and soon Gamble and Hoitz stumble into a seemingly innocuous case no other detective wants to touch that could turn into New York City’s biggest crime. It’s the opportunity of their lives, but do these guys have the right stuff?

THE OTHER GUYS stars Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, with Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Adam McKay and written by Adam McKay & Chris Henchy, the producers are Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, and Patrick Crowley. THE OTHER GUYS will be in theaters on August 6, 2010.

Let’s Help get Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell to ST. LOUIS!!

Hey Missourians… St. Louis is one of 20 cities selected to participate in a contest to win ‘The Other Premiere’ with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in attendance on behalf of their upcoming film THE OTHER GUYS.

In anticipation of the nationwide release of Columbia Pictures’ THE OTHER GUYS, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, in theaters August 6th, the film will make its World Premiere in New York City on August 2nd. But the fun won’t stop there.

The movie will have another premiere — “The Other Premiere” — and moviegoers can help decide where it will be. Beginning today, moviegoers can go on Facebook at www.facebook.com/otherguysmovie and vote in a poll to decide which Other City will host THE OTHER PREMIERE. Ferrell and Wahlberg will attend the red carpet event in the winning city on August 5th.

Commenting on the announcement, Adam McKay, director of The Other Guys, said, “We’ve all had those moments when we’ve had to watch some other guy be the cool guy.  But your city can be the cool city.  Get on Facebook and vote, and we’ll bring The Other Premiere to you.”

The 20 candidate cities are Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Washington, DC. On August 2, Ferrell and Wahlberg will announce the winning city.

Synopsis:

In THE OTHER GUYS, NYPD Detectives Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City. They don’t get tattoos – other men get tattoos of them. Two desks over and one back, sit Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). You’ve seen them in the background of photos of Danson and Highsmith, out of focus and eyes closed. They’re not heroes – they’re “the Other Guys.”

But every cop has his or her day and soon Gamble and Hoitz stumble into a seemingly innocuous case no other detective wants to touch that could turn into New York City’s biggest crime. It’s the opportunity of their lives, but do these guys have the right stuff?

THE OTHER GUYS stars Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, with Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Adam McKay and written by Adam McKay & Chris Henchy, the producers are Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, and Patrick Crowley. THE OTHER GUYS will be in theaters August 6th.

Follow @OtherGuysMovie on Twitter and tell your friends what city you voted for. #OtherGuysOtherPremiere. Visit THE OTHER GUYS official site here.

Back when the motion poster for THE OTHER GUYS hit, we talked a little bit about how it could very well be the funniest movie to come out in a long time.  Just the premise sounds phenomenal.  Now comes the film’s teaser trailer courtesy of Yahoo! Movies.  Sure, they call it a teaser trailer, but, at close to 2 1/2 minutes,  it’s more like a full-blown trailer.  Nonetheless, it is hilarious from start to finish, and everyone involved seems to be working their due diligence to make this film live up to its own hype.

Check out the trailer right here:

Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dwayne Johnson all look hilarious in this movie, one that is sure to continue Adam McKay’s streak to stardom continue on.  Just the fact that Michael Keaton has roles in two, prominent films this year (TOY STORY 3 being the other one) makes 2010 one for the books in my estimation.

THE OTHER GUYS hits theaters on August 6th.

THE OTHER GUYS could very well be one of the greatest comedies ever made.  Sure, it could be atrocious, but there’s always that possibility that it could transcend its own sub-genre of the buddy cop action/comedy and be something truly memorable.  You know.  Kind of like COP OUT only amazing.

The idea that it stars Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell as a couple of bumbling detectives who try to one-up their idols, played here by Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson.  Plus you’ve got Michael Keaton, Craig Robinson, and Steve Coogan thrown into the mix, as well.  It’s directed by Adam McKay of ANCHORMAN and STEP BROTHERS fame, so you know the equation is ripe for greatness.

Speaking of greatness, just below you will find the new motion poster for the film.  Not only is it ingenuity hard at work, it’s quite funny.  Just seeing Will Ferrell fly through the air firing dual guns is funny enough, but Wahlberg comes into his comedic own near the end of the poster’s clip, too.

Check it out:

THE OTHER GUYS hits theaters on August 6th.

Deep inside every piece of rock, inside every slab of wood, lies a masterpiece waiting to be whittled out and uncovered.  Sometimes, more often than many realize, a film maker doesn’t quite know when they have either cut off too much or not chiseled away at that piece of rock until their work has been polished to perfection.  Such is the case for Peter Jackson and THE LOVELY BONES, an incredible and moving story of a family’s loss and the aftermath that is mired by tedious and lackluster moments of unnecessary computer imagery.

At the center of THE LOVELY BONES is the Salmon family, father Jack, played by Mark Wahlberg; mother Abigail, played by Rachel Weisz; two daughters, Lindsey, played by Rose McIver, and Susie, played by Saoirse Ronan; and a son, Buckley, played by Christian Thomas Ashdale.  Susan Sarandon steps in once in awhile as Grandmother Lynn, as well.

The gist of the story comes when Susie, fourteen years old and curious of the world, is viciously murdered.  Her spirit moves on to the afterlife, made up of vibrant fields and fantastical imagery.  But her afterlife is not peaceful, as her killer, played by Stanley Tucci, goes about his life, biding his time until his thirst for murder rears its ugly head again.  Susie seeks vengeance, and her family, who is having a difficult time of their own coping with the loss, seeks justice.

It is unfortunate that Alice Sebold’s original novel was so full of Susie’s viewpoint, that the heaven laid out in the novel was so detailed and meticulous.  Having that much weight on this aspect throughout the novel meant this couldn’t have been excised from the film, and that would have made this film head and shoulders above what it is.  Susie’s aferlife in THE LOVELY BONES is not weighty, it’s not powerful or engaging, and it sure isn’t imperative to what is going on in the rest of the story.  It looks beautiful, don’t get me wrong, and the creativeness of it all almost outweighs how poorly executed it is.  Almost.  This is Weta Digital we are talking about, and the people there have done far better work than this.

Fortunately for us, but unfortunately for the fantastical moments of the film, the cutting back to the real world and the real, emotional struggle Susie’s family is going through makes those moments feel even more afterthought than afterlife.  In fact, much of the real world, much of the dichotomy between the family coping and the neighbor just down the street who may or may not be the killer is incredibly engaging.  There are moments of sheer power coming from the actors and the situations playing out.  Really the most powerful scenes are the one here and there where Susie’s presence has a physical effect on our world, as when Wahlberg’s Jack sets a candle in front of a window, and the reflection of the flame begins dancing about while the flame itself sits perfectly still.  It’s a minute scene, but the small bit of special effects used within it are far more moving than seeing giant ships in giant glass bottles being smashed on rocks.

The notable performances in THE LOVELY BONES don’t hurt the family drama half of the film, either, with Weisz, Sarandon, and the children doing their job satisfactorily.  Michael Imperioli shows up here and there as the lead investigator on Susie’s murder, and he also gives a slightly more than adequate performance.  Much has been touted about the work Tucci does here.  He is, to note, better than everyone else in the film.  He makes you smirk and puts you slightly at ease even in the scenes where you know he is about to do something horrendous.  His performance here is the best in this film, but it’s far from the best of the year.  Saoirse Ronan gives her performance her all.  Unfortunately, she just doesn’t have the talent just yet to convince us she is actually seeing all of these exquisite images.  Most of her scenes, I’m sure, were shot on a green screen  sound stage, and it’s regrettable that that is exactly what her performance feels like.

Someone else who just doesn’t seem to fit in here is Wahlberg, who is fine as an actor in certain roles.  However, he just doesn’t have what it takes to cut it in a drama such as this.  Much of his delivery is given with the same resonant pitch, as if this multi-dimensional character just wanted to keep it simple at one.  A lot was said in the early development stages of THE LOVELY BONES about Ryan Gosling and why he stepped away from this role.  Gosling has the capabilities to pull off this role of a father obsessed with his daughter’s murder, a man who pushes everyone else in his family aside to dwell on the one who was lost.  You’ll find it difficult knowing he came this close to filling this role not to dwell on the hole he left behind here.

Peter Jackson has become, thanks to LORD OF THE RINGS and KING KONG, so ingrained in people’s minds as this director who creates fantastical worlds, it may have seemed like a step backwards to make a family drama with minimal effects.  That step backward would have made all the difference in the world for THE LOVELY BONES, a film that could have been so much more if it has just used so much less.  That piece of rock that I mentioned in the opening still has quite a bit left on it to break away before the true work of fabulous art emerges, and, aside from a few lackluster performances, that is precisely what we would have had with THE LOVELY BONES without the nuisance of afterlife.  Sometimes it’s better just to put thoughts of the afterlife in the closet and deal with the real world.  Peter Jackson should have taken this advice to heart.

It’s Peter Jackson’s return to the film world after 2005′s KING KONG, and it is hitting St. Louis on January 15th.  However, lucky for you, we have passes to give away for a showing of THE LOVELY BONES three days earlier.

Here’s all you have to do to get one of these, sweet, admit 2 passes, shoot us a comment below telling us what aspect of this movie you are most looking forward to.  Is it Jackson’s directing?  Is it the brilliant visual effects courtesy of Weta?  Is it Stanley Tucci’s performance, which, evidently, is being deemed Oscar worthy?  Let us know you opinions in that little comment section below, and we’ll be picking our favorites for the tickets Sunday night.

Remember, the screening is in the St. Louis area, so don’t enter unless you’re planning on driving in from out of town or you’re one of the lucky ones who lives in this fine city.

And, if you’re not one of the winners, be sure to check out THE LOVELY BONES, which is in limited theaters now and hits wide on January 15th.

Mark Wahlberg has signed up to star in the remake to the Icelandic thriller, ‘Reykjavik-Rotterdam.’  As reported by  The Hollywood Reporter, the film is to be scripted by the upcoming ‘Prisoners’ scribe, Aaron Guzikowski, with Baltasar Kormakur, the actor and producer of the original film, set to direct.

The film centers on a security guard and former alcohol smuggler stationed on the Iceland-Netherlands route who is brought back into the smuggling game by a friend after he falls on hard times.  The original ‘Reykjavik-Rotterdam’ is Iceland’s entry into this year’s Oscar competition for Best Foreign Language Film.

According to the filmmakers, the remake will likely relocate, hence a name change to come, as well.

It’s a day earlier than expected, but the full trailer for Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lovely Bones’ is available for viewing.   Paramount has debuted the trailer for the film starring Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, and Saoirse Ronan over at Apple and on the film’s official site.

The visual style is incredible, and, judging how powerful the novel by Alice Sebold, this is going to be one emotional powerhouse come the end of the year.

‘The Lovely Bones’ is set for release on December 11th.

Working backwards from the end of the week to today, we know that the trailer for ‘The Lovely Bones,’ Peter Jackson’s latest film, will be attached to prints of ‘Julie & Julia’ this Friday.  Anyone heading out to scope out Meryl Streep’s latest Oscar-nominated performance will have that treat before the film starts.  This means that, likely, the trailer will be debuting online one day prior.

However, Entertainment Tonight will be featuring the trailer on their program Tuesday night.  I don’t consider this the debut, because they’ll probably be talking over the beginning and end, and won’t let the entire thing play out as it should.

To get prepared for this footage being shown, ET has this 30-second promo clip for their Tuesday night show, which features our first look at footage from the film.

Check it out:

‘The Lovely Bones’ is set for release on December 11th.

Source: YouTube