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AUGUST 7th
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Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia

Director: Nora Ephron
Stars: Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Chris Messina (Full Cast)
Studio: Columbia Pictures

The Plot: Frustrated secretary Julie Powell (Adams) tries to shake up her life by chronicling her attempt to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year's time.

Photos (see all 111 | slideshow) Videos (see all 31)
Julie & Julia (2009) -- Frustrated secretary Julie Powell (Adams) tries to shake up her life by chronicling her attempt to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year's time.
Julie & Julia (2009) -- Here's a clip from the movie Julie & Julia.
Julie & Julia (2009) -- Movieplayer.it - Italian Featurette (Flash)
Julie & Julia (2009) -- Interview: Stanley Tucci "On how Paul Child supported Julia Child in her desire to cook"
Julie & Julia (2009) -- Trailer: TV spot - fresh start

THE BUZZ: Another blogger gets a chance to turn her Internet archive into a motion picture, but the real-life Julie Powell has a leg up on the Diablo Codys of the writing world, since her memoir Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen became an enduring best seller since its debut in 2005. Two things I'm worried about here: The stiff hand of writer-director Nora Ephron (Bewitched) and the decision to cut back and forth between Powell's travails with marrowbones and lotsa butter and Julia Child's life circa 1949. But here's a question: Has Amy Adams been styled to resemble Cynthia Nixon, and does it look like the contemporary half of the movie was filmed in Carrie Bradshaw's old apartment? Here's an ace review of the inherent complexities of adapting this novel.

Message Boards: Julia Scenes Awesome. Julie Scenes fair to boring.  |  I wonder why Julia didn't like the blog?

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Shorts

Shorts

Director: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Jimmy Bennett, James Spader, Kat Dennings (Full Cast)
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Plot: Toe Thompson's discovery of a colorful, wish-granting rock causes a stir in the suburban town of Black Falls, and grand-scale chaos occurs when the object falls into the hands of local adults. Can Toe and his two newfound friends save the residents of Black Falls from themselves?

Photos (see all 66 | slideshow) Videos (see all 25)
Shorts (2009) -- Shorts Theatrical Trailer - The discovery of a colorful, wish-granting rock causes a stir in the suburban town of Black Falls, and grand-scale chaos occurs when the object falls into the hands of local adults.
Shorts (2009) -- Clip: I warned you to stay away
Shorts (2009) -- Featurette: The Rodriguez Family movie process
Shorts (2009) -- Interview : Kat Dennings "On the story"
Shorts (2009) -- oe Thompson's discovery of a colorful, wish-granting rock causes a stir in the suburban town of Black Falls, and grand-scale chaos occurs when the object falls into the hands of local adults.

THE BUZZ: A candy-colored, hyper-saturated family movie might not seem like the most bankable prospect in the post-Speed Racer era, but one of the obvious differences between this fantasy and that migraine-inducing blur is the notion of a story, theme, and desire to blend the real with the unreal. Plus, casting! And Robert Rodriguez's ability to work with actors, not just special effects. Maybe Warner Bros. won't lose their shirts and blouses on this one. P.S. Our interest in this one inched up a bit when we found out the title is a play on the movie's structure, which is broken up into short segments because the protagonist can't quite remember the sequence of events.

Message Boards: Did anyone else just absolutely hate this movie?  |  Robert tries too hard on his family films.

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A Perfect Getaway

A Perfect Getaway

Director: David Twohy
Stars: Milla Jovovich, Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant (Full Cast)
Studio: Rogue Pictures

The Plot: Two pairs of lovers (Zahn & Jovovich, Olyphant & Sanchez) on a Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands.

Photos (see all 56 | slideshow) Videos (see all 26)
A Perfect Getaway (2009) -- Two couples on an Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands.
A Perfect Getaway (2009) -- Clip: Cliff and Cydney secretly discuss their concerns about Nick and Gina
A Perfect Getaway (2009) -- Featurette: Premiere footage six
A Perfect Getaway (2009) -- Interview: Kiele Sanchez "On how we get introduced to her character"
A Perfect Getaway (2009) -- Trailer for this action thriller about a couple on a remote island vacation that turns into a deadly game

THE BUZZ: One thing gives me pause as far as APG is concerned, and that's the idea of Milla Jovovich playing a victim; it's slightly harder than imagining her being in love with Steve Zahn (newly minted movie star!), though perhaps it's true that a sense of humor does get you places in the romantic arena. And who knows exactly how David Twohy's story will twist back on itself, making the hunters the eventual prey. What we do know, according to Twohy's blog: The movie was shot in just over a month and there's a sea cave sequence that will hopefully wipe my memory clean of Into the Blue. And thank God he's not going to write that Alien Vs. Predator installment that fanboys and girls are petitioning for him to handle.

Message Boards: SPOILER: the biggest giveaway in the film  |  was I the only one?

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Cold Souls

Cold Souls [LA/NY]

Director: Sophie Barthes
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Emily Watson, Dina Korzun (Full Cast)
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

The Plot: Paul (Giamatti) is an actor who feels bogged down by his participation in a production of Chekov's play, Vanya. His condition which leads him to an organization that will store his soul while he treads the boards, though complications (and international travel) arise when his soul goes missing.

Photos (see all 14 | slideshow) Videos (see all 10)
Cold Souls (2009) -- Paul Giamatti plays an actor named Paul Giamatti. Stumbling upon an article in The New Yorker about a high-tech company that extracts, deep-freezes and stores people’s souls, Paul very well might have found the key to happiness for which he’s been searching.  But, complications arise when he is the unfortunate victim of "soul-trafficking." Giamatti’s journey takes him all the way to Russia in hopes of retrieving his stolen soul from an ambitious but talentless soap-opera actress.
Cold Souls (2009) -- Here's a clip from the movie Cold Souls.
Cold Souls (2009) -- Trailer for this comedy about a man who chooses to rid himself of his soul
Cold Souls (2009) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: Sounds "Kaufman-esque," right? You're pretty much there, though one of my favorite writers gives Sophie Barthes's film more shape here. And if you want full critical perspective, head this way.

Message Boards: Picture of elephant tied to stake?  |  Your interpretation of the ending?

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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Director: Stephen Sommers
Stars: Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans (Full Cast)
Studio: Paramount Pictures

The Plot: An elite military unit comprised of operatives known as the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity look to dismantle Cobra, an organization headed by a Scottish arms dealer.

Photos (see all 66 | slideshow) Videos (see all 43)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) -- Trailer for G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) -- A special clip from G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) -- A look at this history of G.I. Joe.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) -- An interview with G.I. Joe creator Larry Hama.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) -- This is the international trailer for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

THE BUZZ: Despite the magazine-ready cast and built-in audience, it looks like cheesy CGI and an upset fanbase might result in a Van Helsing-like experience for director Stephen Sommers. I thought this was supposed to be heavier on the stunts and lighter on the visual-effects flash? Guess we'll have to wait and see how the fans respond to opening weekend.

Message Boards: Bad movie  |  Alan Silvestri's score...

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AUGUST 14th
Select:
District 9

District 9

Director: Neill Blomkamp
Stars: Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope (Full Cast)
Studio: TriStar Pictures

The Plot: In Johannesburg, South Africa, a government operative (Copley) becomes sympathetic to the extraterrestrial race living in slum-like conditions within the city's borders when he is exposed to their biotechnology.

Photos (see all 31 | slideshow) Videos (see all 47)
District 9 (2009) -- A TV trailer for District 9
District 9 (2009) -- A clip from the movie District 9.
District 9 (2009) -- Featurette: A look at the film
District 9 (2009) -- This is District 9 footage from Comic-Con with Sharlto Copley.
District 9 (2009) -- An online training experience for District. To participate, you will need an 
initialization image [available for download here: http://multinationalunited.com/training/] as well as a webcam and audio speakers.

THE BUZZ: You might remember director Neill Blomkamp's name from Halo, which is on pause for the foreseeable future. With the launch of D 9's viral-y official site, a clutch of fans rejoiced with the confirmation the project is a feature version of Blomkamp's short film, Alive in Joburg. And at Comic-Con, the movie exploded into a mini pop culture phenomenon. Read our coverage if you will?

Message Boards: District 9 - got my money back 1/2 in, a waste of film  |  dvd extras- likes + dislikes?

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Ponyo

Ponyo

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson (Full Cast)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Plot: An animated adventure centered on a 5-year-old boy and his relationship with a goldfish princess who longs to become human.

Photos (see all 43 | slideshow) Videos (see all 20)
Gake no ue no Ponyo (2008) -- The story of a young and overeager goldfish named Ponyo (voiced by Noah Cyrus) and her quest to become human.
Gake no ue no Ponyo (2008) -- A clip from the movie Ponyo.
Gake no ue no Ponyo (2008) -- Clip: Featurette
Gake no ue no Ponyo (2008) -- Interview: Betty White "On seeing the film"
Gake no ue no Ponyo (2008) -- The story of a young and overeager goldfish named Ponyo and her quest to become human.

THE BUZZ: The cult of Hayao Miyazaki doesn't need an all-star English-speaking voice cast or a major marketing push in order to get primed for the it's-finally-here release of the master animator's latest. When we picture parents and their children filing into theaters to watch this story unfurl, we become as happy as a princess (trapped in a glass bowl). Please pass the Purell.

Message Boards: I Would've Totally Watched This  |  UK Release

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Bandslam

Bandslam

Director: Todd Graff
Stars: Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelan Connell (Full Cast)
Studio: Summit Entertainment

The Plot: An outcast (Connell) bonds with the popular girl on campus (Michalka) over their shared love of music, and together they decide to form a rock group and enter their school's upcoming battle of the bands competition.

Photos (see all 106 | slideshow) Videos (see all 20)
Bandslam (2009) -- An outcast (Connell) bonds with the popular girl on campus (Michalka) over their shared love of music, and together they decide to form a rock group and enter their school's upcoming battle of the bands competition.
Bandslam (2009) -- A clip from the movie Bandslam.
Bandslam (2009) -- A featurette from the movie Bandslam.
Bandslam (2009) -- Trailer for this film about a musical competition
Bandslam (2009) -- Trailer for this film about a big musical competition

THE BUZZ: Camp director Todd Graff is back with, ummm, another school-set musical with social misfit themes. But this one has a moderate budget and Vanessa Hudgens, who we thought received her diploma last year, or something. Kudos to Summit Releasing for braving tween waters with an original screenplay, since it's hard to gauge audience interest without a built-in audience upon which to rely. The HSM crowd is growing up fast, however, and I feel like Graff & co. could stick their necks out a bit -- at least enough to earn a PG-13 rating.

Message Boards: Did Will remind anyone else of Rusty from Greek?  |  wow really guys?

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The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife

Director: Robert Schwentke
Stars: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Ron Livingston (Full Cast)
Studio: New Line Cinema

The Plot: A romantic drama about a Chicago librarian (Bana) with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates in his marriage.

Photos (see all 47 | slideshow) Videos (see all 20)
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) -- The Time Traveler's Wife Theatrical Trailer
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) -- Clip: You can't do that
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) -- Interview: Ron Livingston "On the beautiful story"
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) -- Home video trailer for the film adaptation of the book about love, patience, and a time traveling librarian
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) -- Trailer for this drama about the dificulties a man with a family experiences by traveling through time

THE BUZZ: With roles in Star Trek and Funny People, Eric Bana finally might become a movie star this year. Meanwhile, Rachel McAdams's star should be polished up thanks to her supporting turn in State of Play. (Scratch that, but we still love her!) New Line, now doing business under the Warner Bros. umbrella, is positioning this adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger's bestseller perhaps to catch some of the runoff of their combined celebrity, and I am wondering if, when it comes to marketing this late-summer romance, whether the story's sci-fi elements will be toned down so audiences might expect something along the lines of The Notebook? (Check!) Also, I think the studio could have ramped up the presence of beloved rock band Broken Social Scene, who cover Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and some of their original songs to the soundtrack -- this could have been the new indie-rock date movie of late summer, now that (500) Days has gone mainstream. Oh, and if you have no interest in seeing the film but want to know pretty much all of the details, watch Rachel McAdams spoil it all

Message Boards: Anyone else bothered by this? (spoilers)  |  Eric Bana's acting

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Paper Heart

Paper Heart [limited]

Director: Nicholas Jasenovec
Stars: Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera (Full Cast)
Studio: Overture Films

The Plot: Artist Charlyne Yi blends fiction, fantasy, and documentary in her exploration of what loves means to different people; all the while, she is courted by her real-life boyfriend, Michael Cera.

Photos (see all 39 | slideshow) Videos (see all 25)
Paper Heart (2009) -- Theatrical trailer for Paper Heart.
Paper Heart (2009) -- Charlyne Yi interviews Bobcat Goldthwaite for Paper Heart.
Paper Heart (2009) -- A behind-the-scenes look at Paper Heart.
Paper Heart (2009) -- Interview: Jake M. Johnson "On the film"
Paper Heart (2009) -- Trailer for this comedic mockumentary about love

THE BUZZ: PH had a great marketing and publicity team behind it, especially in a year where few specialty films have connected with audiences, be they documentaries or narratives. But I do wonder whether people will sour to this experiment now that it's been "confirmed" that Charlyne Yi and Michael Cera were never a couple in the first place? Crowds didn't necessarily flock at opening weekend, when we all thought Ms. Yi's heart had been freshly broken. Maybe fans would've cared more about the movie if they actually were an item.

Message Boards: Did anyone else think that the director liked charlene  |  Pointless

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The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

Director: Neal Brennan
Stars: Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, David Koechner (Full Cast)
Studio: Paramount Vantage

The Plot: Used-car liquidator Don Ready (Piven) is hired by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event.

Photos (see all 37 | slideshow) Videos (see all 28)
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer - Trailer
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009) -- Clip: What are my options Don?
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009) -- Interview: Rob Riggle "On the cast and crew"

THE BUZZ: Jeremy Piven in Ari Gold mode is obviously the reason this lower-budget comedy was greenlighted, but the secret weapon here is Neal Brennan, a former special ingredient from "Chappelle's Show" who makes his directorial debut. This is the second project from Gary Sanchez Productions, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's company, but let's hope this one fares a bit better at the box office than The Foot Fist Way. However, I have to say: It would provide some sort of surprise and relief if Ferrell and McKay could find a better way to title their project than their reliable colon/character name formula. Sounds nitpicky, I know.

Message Boards: Who Else Laughed their BUTT off?!?!  |  Awful film, I walked out after 30 minutes

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It Might Get Loud

It Might Get Loud [limited]

Director: Davis Guggenheim
Stars: Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White (Full Cast)
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

The Plot: A documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three significant rock musicians: The Edge, Jimmy Page and Jack White.

Photos (see all 31 | slideshow) Videos (see all 20)
It Might Get Loud (2008) -- A documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three significant rock musicians: Jack White, the Edge and Jimmy Page.
It Might Get Loud (2008) -- A clip from the documentary It Might Get Loud.
It Might Get Loud (2008) -- It Might Get Loud Trailer - A documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three significant rock musicians: the Edge of U2, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and Jack White of The White Stripes.
It Might Get Loud (2008) -- Jack White, Jimmy Page and the Edge get together and jam in this documentary trailer
It Might Get Loud (2008) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: A few years ago, Davis Guggenheim turned Al Gore into a rock star with An Inconvenient Truth, which also helped usher in a renaissance for documentaries (which seems to happen at least once a decade). This time around, Guggenheim brings a trio of guitarists together for a summit on the sacred instrument of rock-n-roll. Did you know that Jack White (who really does rule) MacGuyvers-together a guitar here?

Message Boards: jesus christ  |  An observation after seeing it

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Spread

Spread [limited]

Director: David Mackenzie
Stars: Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche, Margarita Levieva (Full Cast)
Studio: Anchor Bay Films

The Plot: In Los Angeles, Nikki (Kutcher) is a sexual grafter who uses his assets to enjoy the city's richest women and their lifestyle. Soon he finds himself torn between two very different women: Samantha (Heche), a lawyer who gives Nikki more than he's ever had before, and Heather (Levieva), a waitress and equally savvy grafter in her own right.

Photos (see all 53 | slideshow) Videos (see all 21)
Spread (2009) -- In Los Angeles, Nikki (Kutcher) is a sexual grafter who uses his assets to enjoy the city's richest women and their lifestyle. Soon he finds himself torn between two very different women: Samantha (Heche), a lawyer who 
who gives Nikki more than he’s ever had before, and Heather (Levieva), a waitress and equally savvy grafter in her own right.
Spread (2009) -- Here's a clip from David Mackenzie's sex comedy, Spread.
Spread (2009) -- Interview: Sebastian Stan "On Harry and Nikki's relationship"
Spread (2009) -- Trailer for this film about a playboy who falls for a girl
Spread (2009) -- MoviesTrailer.org - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: Spread offers nothing more than a Bret Easton Ellisish twirl through a fantasy contemporary L.A. and charmless performances from likeable actors playing unlikeable characters. We love you, Ashton (serious!), and your charisma is most potent when you are, in real life and otherwise, on the arm of a cougar. Most of your contemporaries are totally not worth it.

Message Boards: How does this guy get jobs?  |  Not a Romantic Comedy

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Grace

Grace [limited]

Director: Paul Solet
Stars: Jordan Ladd, Samantha Ferris, Gabrielle Rose (Full Cast)
Studio: Leomax Entertainment

The Plot: After losing her unborn child, Madeline Matheson (Ladd) insists on carrying the baby to term. Following the delivery, the child miraculously returns to life, with an appetite for human blood.

Photos (see all 7 | slideshow) Videos (see all 10)
Grace (2009) -- Trailer for this horror film about a woman who gives birth to a blood thirsty baby
Grace (2009) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: I saw this film at Sundance and loved it. Originally a short film, director Paul Solet expanded on Grace's premise but re-cast every character in his "vegan horror movie" about a mother, Madeline (played by Jordan Ladd, ano Eli Roth affiliate) whose husband and unborn baby girl die in a car accident; however, through some form of dark miracle, the child returns to the living world soon after Madeline gives birth.

The mood Solet sets up to the tragic accident and subsequent birth is quite effective: He establishes Madeline as a staunch vegan who wants a midwife to deliver the child outside of a hospital, a dynamic that causes friction the soon-to-be-mom and her mother-in-law, who is wonderfully coifed and, well, busty. (I say the former as an acknowledgment to the movie's art direction, and the latter factors into the story in a giggly, unnerving, Cronenberg meets "Little Britain" way.) We learn Madeline has already experienced two miscarriages, she is resolute in her belief that her way of living will lead to a healthy newborn, and she has a Sapphic connection to her chosen midwife, Dr. Patricia Lang (Samantha Ferris). Props include: a cute living baby; a chapped and withered fake baby; a bottle full of blood; an antique breast pump; flies; meat; a cat ("Jonesy") that deposits dead rats in newborn Grace's crib.

In the icky-baby horror genre, Grace is a scrappy contender.

Message Boards: Anyone else notice?  |  Far Too Slow, Wooden and predictable.

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I Sell the Dead

I Sell the Dead [LA/NY]

Director: Glenn McQuaid
Stars: Dominic Monaghan, Ron Perlman, Larry Fessenden (Full Cast)
Studio: IFC Films

The Plot: 18th century justice catches up with a pair of grave robbers. With only a few hours to go before his date with the guillotine, Arthur Blake (Monaghan) tells his life story to Father Francis Duffy (Ron Perlman). Before long, Arthur spills the beans on how he got started in the grim corpse peddling business with seasoned ghoul Willie Grimes (Fessenden).

Photos (see all 12 | slideshow) Videos (see all 11)
I Sell the Dead (2008) -- 18th century justice catches up with a pair of grave robbers. With only a few hours to go before his date with the guillotine, Arthur Blake (Monaghan) tells his life story to Father Francis Duffy (Ron Perlman). Before long, Arthur spills the beans on how he got started in the grim corpse peddling business with seasoned ghoul Willie Grimes (Fessenden).
I Sell the Dead (2008) -- A grave robber reflects upon his life of crime in this trailer.
I Sell the Dead (2008) -- 18th century justice has finally caught up with grave robbers Arthur Blake and Willie Grimes. With the specter of the guillotine looming over him, young Blake confesses to a priest, Father Duffy, his fifteen years of adventure in the resurrection tra
I Sell the Dead (2008) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: The horror oddity has been flying under even the indie radar, but that was before genre oddball Larry Fessenden was announced as the director of The Orphanage remake being overseen by Guillermo del Toro. Strong reviews and increasing public interest means this will either get a big theatrical expansion/overall push, or a hurry-up DVD release date.

Message Boards: how has this got 6 stars?  |  When will this come to DVD

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AUGUST 21st
Select:
Inglourious Basterds

Inglourious Basterds

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth (Full Cast)
Studio: Weinstein Company, The

The Plot: An American-led killing squad known as "The Basterds" terrorize the Nazis in German-occupied France during World War II.

Photos (see all 388 | slideshow) Videos (see all 49)
Inglourious Basterds (2009) -- International trailer
Inglourious Basterds (2009) -- Jail cell clip
Inglourious Basterds (2009) -- Movieplayer.it - Featurette (Flash)
Inglourious Basterds (2009) -- Interviews on the red carpet in London, with the cast and crew, includes clips
Inglourious Basterds (2009) -- This is the Inglourious Basterds clip which originally ran during "American Idol".

THE BUZZ: To put this mother of a Methuselah project into perspective, Tarantino's finished three films since he first announced this one a decade ago (yes, we're counting Kill Bill as two). Those familiar with QT's attention-to-every-effin'-detail style know that that's a long-ass time. Originally due way back in 2004, the only thing keeping us from reaching the levels excitement we shared before Grindhouse is, well, Grindhouse. Still, a killer cast and way better source material (hopefully relying on The Dirty Dozen and Guns of Navarone instead of the original, properly spelled Bastards) has us praising Inglorious, hallelujah!

Update: Word from Cannes is the picture is a joyful mess, which isn't hard to imagine given that QT scrambled to have it done for the premiere. (Here's some more on all that.) It's safe to assume that three-hour runtime will be dealt with in slightly atypical Weinstein Bros. fashion.

Late-July Update: Nikki Finke confirmed the film actually is one minute longer than the Cannes version! And apparently it's tracking better with older audiences than with the younger generation. What about those of us who are between 30 and 40 -- you know, the people who came of age in the Tarantino era?

Release-week Update: Have you read all the speculation that the Weinsteins are relying on Tarantino to save their company from financial ruin? Even Harvey is saying it's true!

Message Boards: Game in the cellar - Spoilers  |  Bear Jews name. Ever explained?

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Post Grad

Post Grad

Director: Vicky Jenson
Stars: Alexis Bledel, Michael Keaton, Carol Burnett (Full Cast)
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

The Plot: When recent college graduate Ryden Malby (Bledel) discovers she can't land a good job because of the working world's harsh climate, she moves back in with her oddball family in order to reconsider her options.

Photos (see all 8 | slideshow) Videos (see all 21)
Post Grad (2009) -- When recent college graduate Ryden Malby (Bledel) discovers she can't land a good job because of the working world's harsh climate, she moves back in with her oddball family in order to reconsider her options.
Post Grad (2009) -- Clip: He's a Malby
Post Grad (2009) -- Interview: Carol Burnette "On her character"
Post Grad (2009) -- Trailer for this comedy about a woman who has a tough time finding employment after graduation
Post Grad (2009) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: Let's see: Beg for some soulless corporate job or live for free with your parents and juggle hot guys? Don't play us for fools, Rory Gilmore!

Message Boards: Terrible Message.  |  Which school?

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My One and Only

My One and Only [limited]

Director: Richard Loncraine
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Mark Rendall (Full Cast)
Studio: Freestyle Releasing

The Plot: A 1950s-set comedy in which the glamorous Anne Deveraux (Zellweger) leaves her adulterous husband and embarks on a drive down the Eastern Seaboard on a quixotic search for a wealthy man to fund a new life for her and her sons.

Photos (see all 23 | slideshow) Videos (see all 6)
My One and Only (2009) -- A 1950s-set comedy in which the glamorous Anne Deveraux (Zellweger) embarks on a drive down the Eastern Seaboard in a quixotic search for a wealthy man to fund a new life for her and her sons.
My One and Only (2009) -- A recently jilted woman sets out with her sons in search of a new husband in this comedy trailer
My One and Only (2009) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: I think the best shot this well-received dramatization of George Hamilton's teenage years has at success is with older audiences for whom the feeling of '50s Americana will resonate. There's also a chance that Zellweger's waning supporters might rally around her for another period biography. (Remember that she earned a Golden Globe nomination for Miss Potter?) The industry, meanwhile, is behind young Logan Lerman (he plays George here) for now, since he has Gamer on deck for later this year, then the titular role in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief in 2010.

Message Boards: song list  |  the ending.... so abrupt?

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Casi divas

Casi divas [limited]

Director: Issa López
Stars: Patricia Llaca, Julio Bracho, Maya Zapata (Full Cast)
Studio: Maya Entertainment

The Plot: A comedy centered on four women, each of them from different corners of Mexico, vying with hundreds of other aspiring actresses for roles in a movie producer's new project. Their respective missions become crystal clear once one of the country's top actresses -- who also happens to be the producer's on-again, off-again lover -- fails to get the starring role.

Photos (see all 37 | slideshow) Videos (see all 5)
Casi divas (2008) -- Four ambitious and beautiful young women. From four very different corners of Mexico. Just like hundreds of others, they are caught up in the frenzy that sweeps the nation when Alejandro Mateos (Julio Bracho), one of the country's most powerful producers, dreams up a nationwide talent search to cast the lead in his next big movie. But all this is news to Alejandro's on-again, off-again lover, Eva Gallardo (Patricia Llaca) , a diva of epic proportions, who expected to get the part. While Eva schemes to nail down the role, our four leads begin their own journey on the road to fame.
Casi divas (2008) -- Comedy about four aspiring actresses competing for the leading role in a big time new movie
Casi divas (2008) -- MovieMaze.de - Trailer (Quicktime & Flash)

THE BUZZ: This might be the movie that introduces filmmaker Issa Lopez to U.S. audiences. Divas was one of the top 2008 releases in Mexico, and for a while there it looked like Sony was going to co-distribute the movie, but I *think* they handed full control over to Maya Entertainment, a specialized distributor who did a great job with Talento de barrio last year.

Message Boards: Casi Divas ROCKS!!!!  |  Good story (stories)

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Five Minutes of Heaven

Five Minutes of Heaven [LA/NY]

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Stars: Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt, Anamaria Marinca (Full Cast)
Studio: IFC Films

The Plot: As a youth, Alistair Little (Neeson) was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force, a paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. After serving a thirty year sentence for the murder of a young Catholic man, Little prepares for his televised meeting with his victim's brother, Joe Griffin (Nesbitt), who watched as the hit was carried out.

Photos (see all 7 | slideshow) Videos (see all 9)
Five Minutes of Heaven (2009) -- Lurgan Northern Ireland, 1975. A low level civil war has been underway, with the IRA targeting British loyalists and the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force exacting revenge on Catholics they claim are militant republicans. Alistair Little, 16 is the leader of a UVF cell, eager to be blooded. He and his gang are given the go ahead to kill a young Catholic man, James Griffin, as a reprisal and a warning to others. When the hit is carried out, Joe Griffin - the 11-year old little brother of the target - watches in horror his brother is shot in the head. Thirty years later Joe Griffin and Alistair are to meet, on camera, with a view to reconciliation. Alistair has served his sentence, and Peace may been agreed in N. Ireland, but unbeknownst to the production team, Joe Griffin, is not coming on the program for a handshake but to stick a knife in his brother's killer - live on air.
Five Minutes of Heaven (2009) -- Clip: The man I've become
Five Minutes of Heaven (2009) -- The story of former UVF member Alistair Little. Twenty-five years after Little killed Joe Griffen's brother, the media arrange an auspicious meeting between the two.
Five Minutes of Heaven (2009) -- MoviesTrailer.org - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: "Low key" perhaps is a surprising description for a political thriller that brings together Downfall director Oliver Hirschbiegel and newly minted action hero Liam Neeson, and it might be the reason the picture floated in distributor limbo for so long after its Sundance debut back in January. Still, the direction, writing, and performances are all strong, reportedly, and art-house types might recognize co-star Anamaria Marinca's name from 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.

Message Boards: Nesbitt is brilliant  |  How can I see this movie??

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Art & Copy

Art & Copy [NYC]

Director: Doug Pray
Stars: Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Hal Riney (Full Cast)
Studio: Seventh Art Releasing

The Plot: A documentary on some of the mavericks of modern American advertising.

Photos (see all 10 | slideshow) Videos (see all 5)
Art & Copy (2009) -- A documentary on the mavericks of American advertising.
Art & Copy (2009) -- Movieplayer.it - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: Definitely one for the Objectified set. I saw Doug Pray's latest work at Slamdance earlier this year and loved it. Mind if I quote myself? Thanks!

Essentially a tribute to the men and women who revolutionized advertising -- print and TV formats, in particular -- A&C connects the trade's landmark ideas of the early 1960s to today's Apple-dominated times. Subjects interviewed are an Advertising Hall of Fame: Phyllis Robinson, the copy chief who did more than merely sloganize the "Me Generation" four decades ago; Robinson's contemporary, George Lois, whose Esquire Magazine covers turned celebrity advertising into art; Mary Wells, the first woman to run an ad agency, and the person responsible for making air travel colorful and sexy with her Braniff Airlines campaign; recently deceased San Francisco maverick Hal Riney (who to me has always been the Norman Rockwell of the ad world); Lee Clow (the "1984" MacIntosh commercial) Widen+Kennedy founders Dan Wieden and David Kennedy ("Just Do It"); Rich Silverstein and Jeff Goodby ("Got Milk?").

The portraits here are engaging, passionate, and literate; additionally, the widescreen cinematography and relaxed editing (an antidote to the jump cuts of today) result in a work whose ideas and emotions are on par with the work created by Art & Copy's subjects. And of course a bevy of the memorable imagery, slogans, and jingles are woven throughout the film.

I think it would have been easy for Pray to either factor in the negatives of the advertising world, or to expand his contemporary view into Internet advertising, so I give Art & Copy top marks for its focus, which feels like the beginning of a potential series of documentaries.

Message Boards: Terrific study of a subject we've all been over-exposed to.  |  Let me sell that mother...

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X Games 3D: The Movie

X Games 3D: The Movie [limited]

Director: Steve Lawrence
Stars: Travis Pastrana, Ricky Carmichael, Shaun White (Full Cast)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Plot: An X Games documentary featuring behind-the-scenes stories of the athletes and the sacrifices they make in pursuit of glory and the advancement of their sports on the biggest stage in action sports.

Photos (see all 24 | slideshow) Videos (see all 16)
X Games 3D: The Movie (2009) -- An X Games documentary featuring behind-the-scenes stories of the athletes and the sacrifices they make in pursuit of glory and the advancement of their sports on the biggest stage in action sports.
X Games 3D: The Movie (2009) -- Clip: X Games - 14 skate big air
X Games 3D: The Movie (2009) -- A look at the making of X Games 3D: The Movie.
X Games 3D: The Movie (2009) -- Interview: Danny Way "On commitment to skateboarding"
X Games 3D: The Movie (2009) -- An X Games documentary featuring behind-the-scenes stories of the athletes and the sacrifices they make in pursuit of glory and the advancement of their sports on the biggest stage in action sports.

THE BUZZ: ESPN Films is in high-gear these days, with a lock on the X-Games phenomenon (it's the Warped Tour of sports) and a handful of sports-legend biographies in development. Even if this documentary doesn't reach its core audience during it's one-week theatrical run, expect the TV/DVD/download numbers to justify more from the Games in the future.

Message Boards: did they already do this movie?  |  Seems like this is purely a US affair

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AUGUST 28th
Select:
Halloween II

Halloween II

Director: Rob Zombie
Stars: Scout Taylor-Compton, Tyler Mane, Malcolm McDowell (Full Cast)
Studio: Dimension Films

The Plot: Laurie Strode (Taylor-Compton) struggles to come to terms with her brother Michael's deadly return to Haddonfield, Illinois; meanwhile, Michael prepares for another reunion with his sister.

Photos (see all 36 | slideshow) Videos (see all 24)
Halloween II (2009) -- TV spot for Rob Zombie's second chapter in his Halloween saga.
Halloween II (2009) -- Movieplayer.it - Clip (Flash)
Halloween II (2009) -- H2: Halloween 2 Theatrical Trailer

THE BUZZ: All that industry talk about the Weinstein Company's lack of hits (and cash-flow) should be hushed temporarily now that RZ's sequel is following on the heels of QT's best-ever opening weekend. And even though H2 probably will open behind The Final Destination, the fact that Rob Zombie will now "complete his extreme vision of the terrifying legend" (we love that marketing-speak!), it makes the FD saga seem kinda wan and opportunistic in nature. That said, I do love that the summer is ending with a horror battle at the box-office, a woefully underrepresented genre this year.

Message Boards: I could use your help  |  No longer afriad of Michael Myers after this

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Taking Woodstock

Taking Woodstock

Director: Ang Lee
Stars: Demetri Martin (Full Cast)
Studio: Focus Features

The Plot: When Woodstock organizers have the plug pulled on their event, Elliot Tiber (Martin), a young man who is spending the summer working on his parents' farm, helps the event land a permit, and puts the organizers in touch with Max Yasgur (Levy), a dairy farmer whose plot of land could serve as a perfect spot for the concert.

Photos (see all 18 | slideshow) Videos (see all 20)
Taking Woodstock (2009) -- A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.
Taking Woodstock (2009) -- Clip: Meet some groovy people
Taking Woodstock (2009) -- Interview: Imelda Staunton "On Ang Lee"
Taking Woodstock (2009) -- Trailer based on the true story of how the Woodstock music festival came to be
Taking Woodstock (2009) -- Movieplayer.it - Italian Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: A year after Milk, Ang Lee turns the clock back to the summer of 1969, when the Stonewall riots announced the season, and Woodstock ushered it out. The real Elliot Tiber was present for both events, though Lee's adaptation of his memoir (written by James Schamus, naturally) will focus more on the upstate action and less on the New York City grittiness. That isn't stopping Lee from focusing on queer themes, since the focus will also be on Tiber, who came out during the swirling weeks leading up to the concert. Wondering whether Demetri Martin can handle such a role? Read this interview and go from there.

Release-week update: It seems Ang's dewy treatment of the subject matter has resulted in one of his least moving and effective projects to date, with advance reviews noting a serious lack of engagement here.

Message Boards: Who else wanted to KILL the mother in this Movie.....?  |  'maoism = life'

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The Final Destination

The Final Destination

Director: David R. Ellis
Stars: Nick Zano, Krista Allen, Andrew Fiscella (Full Cast)
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Plot: After Hunt's (Zano) premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of his peers, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their fate.

Photos (see all 66 | slideshow) Videos (see all 23)
The Final Destination (2009) -- The Final Destination Trailer - After a teen's premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of his friends, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their end.
The Final Destination (2009) -- Featurette: Sneak peek at the film
The Final Destination (2009) -- Interview: Shantel VanSanten "On the story"
The Final Destination (2009) -- No mercy TV spot trailer
The Final Destination (2009) -- Short TV spot trailer for this film

THE BUZZ: I admire this franchise for embracing its dumb-fun appeal by balancing out the camp/gore ratio in the third installment three years back. Here, however, I find the race-track scenario to be kind of a bore, especially in the hands of Snakes on a Plane director David R. Ellis (who also handled FD 2), who apparently couldn't/didn't push for a more out-there premise. Still, the footage I saw at Comic-Con -- some 9 or 10 deaths! -- lured me back in like a helpless victim of awesome marketing. Will this story be rebooted 10 or 20 years from now?

Message Boards: Idea for another movie... murder.  |  Did anyone else hear the dolphin noise?

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Big Fan

Big Fan

Director: Robert D. Siegel
Stars: (Full Cast)
Studio: First Independent Pictures

The Plot: Paul Aufiero (Oswalt), a hardcore New York Giants football fan, struggles to deal with the consequences when he is beaten up by his favorite player.

Photos (see all 8 | slideshow) Videos (see all 7)
Big Fan (2009) -- Paul Aufiero, a hardcore New York Giants football fan, struggles to deal with the consequences when he is beaten up by his favorite player.
Big Fan (2009) -- Trailer for this drama about a football fan who gets assaulted by his hero
Big Fan (2009) -- MoviesTrailer.org - Trailer (Flash)

THE BUZZ: Patton Oswalt's dramatic breakthrough with art-house audiences, or a hard-to-market misfire for First Independent Pictures, who brought Gigantic to us earlier this summer?

Message Boards: ?? - Kevin Corrigan reading 'Night Nurse' comics?  |  Thread for those who have seen it (spoilers obviously)...

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