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‘Machine Gun Preacher’ – Trailer, Plot, and Cast

By
Rebecca Murray
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Gerard Butler in Machine Gun Preacher
Gerard Butler in ‘Machine Gun Preacher’ (Photo © Relativity Media)

Gerard Butler tackles a character-driven drama with Machine Gun Preacher, based on true events. Directed by Marc Forster from a script by Jason Keller, the R-rated action film will open in theaters on September 23, 2011.

Gerard Butler stars as Sam Childers, Michelle Monaghan plays Lynn, and Kathy Baker is Daisy. The cast also includes Madeline Carroll as Paige, Michael Shannon as Donnie, and Souleymane Sy Savane as Deng.

The Plot: In this inspirational true story, Machine Gun Preacher is about Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds an unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children. Gerard Butler (300) delivers a searing performance as Childers, the impassioned founder of the Angels of East Africa rescue organization in Golden Globe-nominated director Marc Forster’s (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) moving story of violence and redemption.

When ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war, he is outraged by the unspeakable horrors faced by the region’s vulnerable populace, especially the children. Ignoring the warnings of more experienced aide workers, Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it’s most needed—in the middle of territory controlled by the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a renegade militia that forces youngsters to become soldiers before they even reach their teens.

But for Sam, it is not enough to shelter the LRA’s intended victims. Determined to save as many as possible, he leads armed missions deep into enemy territory to retrieve kidnapped children, restoring peace to their lives—and eventually his own.





‘The Ides of March’ Trailer with George Clooney

By
Rebecca Murray
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Ryan Gosling in Ides of March
Ryan Gosling in 'Ides of March' - © Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures has revealed the first trailer for The Ides of March, the political thriller directed by George Clooney and starring Ryan Gosling. The Ides of March is set to debut in theaters on October 7, 2011 and marks Clooney’s fourth time occupying the director’s chair.

And because directing the film just wasn’t enough work, Clooney co-wrote the screenplay (based on the play Farragut North by Beau Willimon), produced and co-starred in The Ides of March.

The Plot: The Ides of March takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when an up-and-coming campaign press secretary (Ryan Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate’s shot at the presidency.

Watch the Ides of March trailer:

‘Sarah’s Key’ Movie Review

By
Kevin Finnerty
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Kristin Scott Thomas in Sarah's Key
Kristin Scott Thomas in ‘Sarah’s Key’ (Photo by Julien Bonet/ The Weinstein Company)

“We’re all a product of history,” says one of the key characters who helps journalist Julia Jarmond on her investigative report on the events of the notorious Vel’d’Hiv roundup on July 16, 1942, in the dramatic film Sarah’s Key. Julia (Kristin Scott Thomas), while working on a special anniversary piece of the Vel’d’Hiv roundup of Jewish families in Paris during World War 2, begins to become obsessed with finding out the fate of one of the children, Sarah, who never ended up on the deportation list.

During Julia’s search, the film goes back in time to 10-year-old Sarah Starzynski (Melusine Mayance) on the day she and her parents are about to be taken away by the French police. Desperate to protect her younger brother, she locks him in a bedroom cupboard – their secret hiding place – and promises to come back for him soon.

Sarah, not really understanding at first where she and her parents are headed and for how long, begins to become desperate to find a way to get back to her little brother and free him from his closet prison. As Julia continues her research on the fate of Sarah and her brother, she stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link Sarah to her and her husband.

Intriguing and moving, Sarah’s Key tells half of a compelling story of a girl and her struggle to save her young brother which gives her the determination to never give up. Perhaps the best thing about the movie is young Melusine Mayance’s performance as Sarah. She captures wonderfully the innocence of childhood games and the true horrors of what her character must endure surviving. This is hands-down a remarkable breakout performance and it should be seen and remembered during Oscar season.

Kristin Scott Thomas is very effective as Julia, the journalist who becomes obsessed and eventually consumed by her search for the truth about Sarah and her fate. It’s unfortunate that the other half of the story regarding the journalist and her ideas of love and family slow and clutter the film, as well as making it overly melodramatic. The constant transitioning back and forth from the present Paris to 1942 Paris at first is a convenient tact to connect the two stories, but ultimately detracts and interrupts from the film’s most interesting story. It also makes the pacing of the movie uneven and slow.

Showing an engaging and at times horrific story of the French’s not so long ago past with interesting, sympathetic characters and strong performances Sarah’s Key is a film that shouldn’t be missed.

GRADE: C+

Sarah’s Key was released on July 22, 2011 and is rated PG-13 for thematic material including disturbing situations involving the Holocaust.




Sony Pictures Classics Gets ‘Darling Companion’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Lawrence and Meg Kasdan at the In the Land of Women Premiere
Lawrence and Meg Kasdan at the ‘In the Land of Women’ Premiere (Photo © Richard Chavez)

Lawrence Kasdan’s latest project, Darling Companion, has found a home with Sony Pictures Classics. Kasdan co-wrote the film with Meg Kasdan, and he produced and directed the project which is currently in post-production.

Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Elisabeth Moss, Mark Duplass, Ayelet Zurer, and Sam Shepherd star in Darling Companion, with Anthony Bregman and Elizabeth Redleaf producing. Christine Walker, Meg Kasdan, and John Kelly executive produced.

Sony Picture Classics is anticipating a 2012 release of the film.

“Over nearly two decades, Sony Pictures Classics have been championing original and creative films with great sensitivity,” says Elizabeth Redleaf, CEO of Werc Werk Works. “I can’t imagine a better home for the wonderful talents of Lawrence Kasdan and his terrific cast.”

“The moment we heard Lawrence Kasdan was making an independent film we wanted to become involved. He and Meg Kasdan have written a seamless screenplay full of rich characters played by some of America’s finest actors. Darling Companion promises to be the kind of warm, engaging movie audiences are clamoring to see right now. Producers Elizabeth Redleaf and Anthony Bregman are exceptional at what they do and we are thrilled to be in business with them and, of course, finally with the estimable Larry Kasdan,” states Sony Pictures Classics.

The Plot: “In Darling Companion, Beth (Keaton) saves a bedraggled lost dog from the side of the freeway on a wintry day in Denver. Struggling with her distracted, self-involved husband Joseph (Kline) and an empty nest at home, Beth forms a special bond with the rescued animal. When Joseph loses the dog after a wedding at their vacation home in the Rockies, the distraught Beth enlists the help of the few remaining guests and a mysterious young woman (Zurer) in a frantic search.

Each member of the search party is affected by the adventure, which takes them in unexpected directions – comic, harrowing, and sometimes deeply emotional.”




First Trailer and Poster for ‘Battleship’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Battleship Film Poster
'Battleship' Poster - © Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures has just released the first official poster and trailer for the sci-fi action film Battleship directed by Peter Berg. And along with the first peek at the film, Universal offered up this synopsis of the movie:

“An epic action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Based on Hasbro’s classic naval combat game, Battleship stars Taylor Kitsch as Lt. Alex Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam Shane, a physical therapist and Hopper’s fiancée; Alexander Skarsgard as Hopper’s older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson; Rihanna as Petty Officer Raikes, Hopper’s crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones; and international superstar Liam Neeson as Hopper and Stone’s superior (and Sam’s father), Admiral Shane.”

Battleship will sail into theaters on May 18, 2012.

Watch the Battleship trailer:

‘In Time’ Trailer Starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried

By
Rebecca Murray
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Pop star-turned-actor Justin Timberlake considers his role in the sci-fi action thriller In Time to be his real lead in a feature film. At the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, Timberlake said about his role: “I feel is a two-hander and this one for me is you wake up with my character and I’ll be one of the last faces you’ll see. It was not only physically demanding, but just mentally a new stone to turn for me. But it was very exciting. I was probably the most excited person on set every day because I love this story and I love this character.”

Directed by Andrew Niccol and co-starring Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, and Alex Pettyfer, In Time is set to hit theaters on October 28, 2011.

Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in In Time
Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in ‘In Time’ (Photo © 20th Century Fox)

The Story: In Time presents a world where time has become the ultimate currency. You stop aging at 25, but there’s a catch: you’re genetically engineered to live only one more year unless you can buy your way out of it. The rich ‘earn’ decades at a time (remaining at age 25), becoming essentially immortal, while the rest beg, borrow or steal enough hours to make it through the day. When a man from the wrong side of the tracks (Justin Timberlake) is falsely accused of murder, he is forced to go on the run with a beautiful hostage (Amanda Seyfried). Living minute to minute, the duo’s love becomes a powerful tool in their war against the system.

Filming Begins on ‘Oz The Great and Powerful

By
Rebecca Murray
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James Franco at the Pineapple Express Premiere
James Franco (Photo © Richard Chavez)

Walt Disney Pictures just announced filming has begun on Oz The Great and Powerful directed by Sam Raimi and starring James Franco as the young wizard, Mila Kunis as a witch named Theodora, Rachel Weisz as Kunis’ sister, Evanora, and Michelle Williams as Glinda, the Good Witch.

Filming is underway in Pontiac, Michigan, at Raleigh Studios with Joe Roth producing and Grant Curtis, Philip Steuer, and Palak Patel executive producing. The screenplay was written by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire.

The fantasy adventure film also features Zach Braff as Franco’s circus assistant. Braff will also provide the voice of one of the film’s CGI creatures, Finley, a winged monkey who travels with the magician on his journey to Oz. Joey King is voicing China Girl, another CGI character who, according to Disney, “joins the future Wizard on his excursion through Oz.”

The Plot: Oz The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.

Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity — and even a bit of wizardry — Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Oz The Great and Powerful will be released on March 8, 2013.

The film’s behind the scenes team includes cinematographer Peter Deming, production designer Robert Stromberg, editor Bob Murawski, costume designer Gary Jones, visual effects artist Scott Stokdyk and special makeup artist Howard Berger. Berger is tasked with creating the creatures of Oz including the Whimsies, the Tinkers the Winkies, and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Andrew Garfield Talks Passionately About Being Spider-Man

By
Rebecca Murray
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Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man
Andrew Garfield in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’

Whether or not you’re into the idea of a reboot of the Spider-Man film franchise with an origin story once again showing how Peter Parker became the webslinger, you have to be impressed by the amount of passion Andrew Garfield has for the character. At the 2011 Comic-Con held July 21-24, 2011 in San Diego, The Amazing Spider-Man star wore a Spidey suit and spoke to the standing-room-only crowd about his admiration for Spider-Man and what the character means to millions of fans.

During his short but sweet speech, Garfield even said Spider-Man saved his life. Check out the video provided by Columbia Pictures of The Amazing Spider-Man‘s Comic-Con panel introduction:

The Amazing Spider-Man hits theaters on July 3, 2012.

The Plot: The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets.

As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.




First Picture of Lily Collins as Snow White

By
Rebecca Murray
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Lily Collins in Snow White
Lily Collins stars in ‘Snow White’ (Photo © 2011 Relativity Media, LLC)

Relativity Media’s Snow White project doesn’t have a title, but it does have its first official photo. The studio’s just released the first picture of the film’s star, Lily Collins (Priest), in costume as Snow White.

Set to hit theaters in March 2012, Snow White is – as described in the official synopsis – “a spectacular reimagining of the classic fairy tale, an evil queen steals control of a kingdom, and an exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright in a spirited adventure comedy filled with jealousy, romance, and betrayal that will capture the imagination of audiences the world over.”

Relativity’s Snow White cast also includes Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, and Sean Bean.

The photo of Collins as Snow White was taken in Montreal, Quebec by Matthew Rolston.

First Look: ‘Haywire’ Trailer Starring Gina Carano

By
Rebecca Murray
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Steven Soderbergh surrounds first-time feature film actor Gina Carano with a big name cast for his action film Haywire. Joining Carano in the thriller are Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, and Channing Tatum, with Carano in the lead and the men doing their best to keep up with the Mixed Martial Arts champ.

The Plot: Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double-crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive.

Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious—and dangerous—trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she’ll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.

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