***Drew Barrymore to Direct/Produce Young Adult Thriller HEIST SOCIETY ***Brooklyn Decker Learns WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING ***Vince Vaughn Reunites with Ben Stiller for Akiva Schaffer’s NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ***Matthew Fox and Ed Harris Exit WORLD WAR Z ***Possible Synopsis for Ridley Scott’s PROMETHEUS

Drew Barrymore to Direct/Produce Young Adult Thriller HEIST SOCIETY

by Jason Barr   Posted: June 30th, 2011

Drew Barrymore has signed on to direct/produce the young adult thriller Heist Society for Warner Bros. Based on the novel by Ally Carter, Heist Society tells the story of Katarina Bishop, a young woman who embraces her family’s history of cat burglary and general thievery so as to clear her father’s name in a case regarding a mobster’s missing art collection. Barrymore will re-team with Whip It scribe Shauna Cross who will pen the adaptation under Barrymore’s supervision.

In addition to Heist Society, Barrymore is also attached to direct the adaptation of Liz Tuccillo’s novel How To Be Single for New Line. It is believed that the director will take on Heist Society after wrapping How To Be Single. For more on the former, check out a synopsis of Carter’s novel after the jump.  http://collider.com/drew-barrymore-heist-society/99793/

Brooklyn Decker Learns WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 30th, 2011

Swimsuit model-turned actress Brooklyn Decker (Just Go With It) will join director Kirk Jones’ (Everybody’s Fine) adaptation of the bestselling book What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Decker joins a cast that already features Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, and Isla Fisher. Per Deadline, the actress will make a turn as the wife of an older man who makes carrying and giving birth to twins seem like a breeze, and is hated by her peers as a result. The pic begins shooting this summer and is aiming for a May 11th, 2012 release. In addition What to Expect, Decker also stars alongside Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgard, Taylor Kitsch, Josh Pence, and Rihanna in director Peter Berg’s Battleship which is scheduled to hit theaters the week after What to Expect on May 18th. http://collider.com/brooklyn-decker-what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting/99783/

Vince Vaughn Reunites with Ben Stiller for Akiva Schaffer’s NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 30th, 2011

Vince Vaughn will reunite with Ben Stiller in Akiva Schaffer’s sci-fi comedy Neighborhood Watch.  According to THR, the plot revolves around a group of suburban dads that use a “neighborhood watch” as a cover to get some away-time from their families.  However, the ruse becomes complicated when the group uncovers a plan to destroy the world.  I will start praying that Vaughn and Stiller don’t reprise their roles as Fast-Talking-Wiseguy-Who-Gets-Humiliated and Timid-Neurotic-Guy, respectively.

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the most recent draft of the script.  Vaughn recently signed on to co-star in Lay the Favorite and he’s circling the comedies 2 Guns and Insane Laws.  The actor was recently seen in Ron Howard’s The Dilemma playing Fast-Talking-Wiseguy-Who-Gets-Humiliated.

http://collider.com/vince-vaughn-neighborhood-watch/99774/

Matthew Fox and Ed Harris Exit WORLD WAR Z

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 30th, 2011

It’s debatable whether or not Matthew Fox and Ed Harris were ever truly signed on to co-star in Marc Forster’s adaptation of Max Brooks’ World War Z, but whether they were on board or simply in negotiations, neither actor will be in the movie.  Vulture reports that Fox won’t be in the flick due to a scheduling conflict with Rob Cohen’s I, Alex Cross (Fox is playing the film’s villain).  It’s unknown why Harris opted out of WWZ, but now the production is scrambling to find two affordable but recognizable actors to fill the roles.  Shooting is already underway and the producers are having actors read in both Los Angeles and London.

Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel, which examines the world post-Zombie apocalypse.  The film stars Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Anthony Mackie, Julia Levy-Boeken, and James Badge Dale.  World War Z is slated to open next year.

http://collider.com/matthew-fox-ed-harris-leave-world-war-z/99764/

Possible Synopsis for Ridley Scott’s PROMETHEUS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 30th, 2011

A synopsis for Ridley Scott’s mysterious sci-fi flick Prometheus may have leaked online.  Details on the film have been kept under wraps to the point where there’s still confusion over how much of it is an Alien prequel and how much is its own beast.  At this point, the consensus seems to be that it is a prequel to Alien, but it’s outside the mold of the franchise to date.  This synopsis sheds some light on how Prometheus could be both an Alien prequel and not an Alien-prequel.  Keep in mind that that this could just be elaborate fan fiction from a guy (or gal) with too much free time deciding to take what disparate elements we think we know and build it into a convincing synopsis.

Hit the jump to read the synopsis and my thoughts on it.

http://collider.com/prometheus-synopsis-rumor/99760/

***Demian Bichir in Talks to Join Oliver Stone’s SAVAGES ***First Trailer for LUCKY Starring Colin Hanks ***Diego Luna in Talks for Neill Blomkamp’s ELYSIUM; Cyndi Lauper Joins THE LAST BEAT ***Jason Bateman Eyes Role Opposite Vince Vaughn in the Comedy INSANE LAWS

Demian Bichir in Talks to Join Oliver Stone’s SAVAGES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 9th, 2011

Director Oliver Stone is filling out the cast for his adaptation of Don Winslow’s Savages. Variety reports that Demian Bichir (Che, Weeds) is in talks to join an increasingly impressive cast that now includes Benecio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Emile Hirsch, John Travolta, and Uma Thurman. The story centers on two Laguna Beach marijuana kingpins (Kitsch and Johnson) who encounter a world of trouble when their shared girlfriend (Lively) is kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel. Hayek plays the leader of the cartel, Del Toro plays her right-hand-man, and Bichir is in talks to play Hayek’s two-timing attorney.
Stone has revised the script that was written by Winslow and Shane Salerno. The book’s publisher, Simon & Schuester, recently commissioned Winslow to write a prequel to the book, so if Savages is a success at the box office, we may be seeing a follow-up. Despite Stone’s lackluster work as of late, this fantastic cast gives me high hopes for the film. Production on Savages is scheduled to start on July 6^th. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the novel. http://collider.com/demian-bichir-savages/95774/

First Trailer for LUCKY Starring Colin Hanks

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 9th, 2011

The first trailer for the indie comedy Lucky has been released. The film stars Colin Hanks as an unassuming young man who wins the lottery and marries the girl of his dreams. Oh, and he also likes to kill people (experience should come in handy for his arc on the upcoming season of Dexter). The trailer’s actually alright. At first it seems a little “straight-to-DVD,” but once the premise comes across, Lucky looks like it could be a pretty good quirky comedy. I really like Hanks, and a serial-killer indie comedy actually seems like a good fit for his comedic style. In addition to Hanks, the cast includes Jeffrey Tambor, Ann-Margaret, Mimi Rogers and Ari Graynor. Hit the jump to watch the trailer. http://collider.com/lucky-movie-trailer/95762/

Diego Luna in Talks for Neill Blomkamp’s ELYSIUM; Cyndi Lauper Joins THE LAST BEAT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 9th, 2011

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this evening. First up, Variety reports that Diego Luna is in talks to join director Neill Blomkamp’s (District 9) highly anticipated upcoming sci-fi flick Elysium. The cast now includes Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, William Fichtner, Wagner Moura, Sharlto Copley and Alice Braga. Plot details are under wraps, but Foster recently stated that she plays the head of an alien planet, and we know that the story is set 100 years in the future on a distant planet. Blomkamp wrote and will direct the film which is set to begin filming this summer. Elysium hits theaters on March 1^st, 2013.
Additionally, the perpetually crazy-haired Cyndi Lauper has joined the cast of Robert Saitzyk’s music-centered flick The Last Beat. Written and directed by Saitzyk, the film centers on “a rock star who goes to Paris in a search for a more artistic existence  as a poet and writer.” THR reports that the original soundtrack will feature songs inspired by 70’s music (from Rock to French Pop), and filming is set to commence in Paris this summer. The cast includes Shawn Andrews (Dazed and Confused), French actress Virginie Ledoyen, Cameron Richardson (Hard Breakers) and Seymour Cassel (The Royal Tenenbaums).
http://collider.com/diego-luna-elysium-cyndi-lauper-the-last-beat/95759/

Jason Bateman Eyes Role Opposite Vince Vaughn in the Comedy INSANE LAWS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 9th, 2011

Jason Bateman is a very busy man. He’s got two comedies opening this summer, The Change-Up and Horrible Bosses, plus he has to keep everyone updated on the Arrested Development movie. Well now he’s in early negotiations to join Vince Vaughn in the comedy Insane Laws. Marking the feature directorial debut of screenwriter Jeremy Garelick (The Break-Up), the film focuses on two best friends whose lives are impacted when their kids begin dating. The situation is exacerbated when when Vaughn’s character’s daughter becomes pregnant.
Deadline reports that the actors recently did a read-through of the script, and that production could begin as soon as the fall. Garelick co-wrote The Break-Up with Vaughn, and performed extensive rewrites on The Hangover (director Todd Phillips claims Garelick was responsible for the lion’s share of the finished script). I think the comedic stylings of Bateman and Vaughn could make for some fantastic on-screen chemistry, so I’m hoping everything comes together on this project. Horrible Bosses opens July 8th, while The Change-Up hits theaters August 5th.
http://collider.com/jason-bateman-insane-laws/95725/

***Vince Vaughn: 'Lay the Favorite' with Rebecca Hall! ***Heather Graham attends the premiere ***Bradley Cooper and Lukas Haas take in a game during the French Open ***Marion Cotillard Films a Dior Campaign

Sat, 04 June 2011

Vince Vaughn: 'Lay the Favorite' with Rebecca Hall!

Vince Vaughn gets to work on his new film, Lay the Favorite, on Wednesday (June 1) in New Orleans, La.

The 41-year-old actor was spotted walking around the movie’s set with co-star Rebecca Hall.

The dramedy, which also stars Bruce Willis, centers around a “a thirtysomething woman who becomes involved with a group of geeky fiftyish men who have found a way to work the sportsbook system in Las Vegas to their advantage.”

Vince is reportedly renting out his Chicago condo near the north side of town.

For $8,000, the tenant will get a place already equipped with four flat screen TVs and even a custom designed home theatre! http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/06/04/vince-vaughn-lay-the-favorite/

Premiere Of Relativity Media's "Judy Moody And The NOT Bummer Summer" - Arrivals

 

Premiere Of Relativity Media's "Judy Moody And The NOT Bummer Summer" - Arrivals

In This Photo: Heather Graham

Actress Heather Graham attends the premiere of Relativity Media's "Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer" at ArcLight Hollywood on June 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

( June 3, 2011 - Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images North America)

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/fskPqrqnFjz/Premiere+Relativity+Media+Judy+Moody+NOT+Bummer

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/h20My0ivTvQ/Premiere+Relativity+Media+Judy+Moody+NOT+Bummer

Bradley Cooper and Lukas Haas take in a game during the French Open at the Stade Roland Garros

 Bradley Cooper and Lukas Haas take in a game during the French Open at the Stade Roland Garros. Coopers new film "The Hangover: Part II" has broken box office records in the last couple of weeks.

( June 4, 2011 - Photo by PacificCoastNews.com)  Bradley Cooper and Lukas Haas take in a game during the French Open at the Stade Roland Garros. Coopers new film "The Hangover: Part II" has broken box office records in the last couple of weeks.

( June 4, 2011 - Photo by PacificCoastNews.com)

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/zO3tU1a0eau/Bradley+Cooper+Lukas+Haas+take+game+during

Marion Cotillard Films a Dior Campaign

Marion Cotillard is surrounded by a large team as she continues to shoot a campaign for Dior .

( June 3, 2011 - Photo by Bauer Griffin)

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/rs_A0gukZiP/Marion+Cotillard+Films+Dior+Campaign

Marion Cotillard Films a Dior Campaign 2

Marion Cotillard poses for a Dior photo shoot.

( June 3, 2011 - Photo by Bauer Griffin)

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/bFL4GbYu-_5/Marion+Cotillard+Films+Dior+Campaign+2

**Cameron Diaz to Star in WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING **New Image of Henry Cavill in IMMORTALS **Vince Vaughn Joins Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, and Catherine Zeta-Jones in LAY THE FAVORITE

Cameron Diaz to Star in WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 5th, 2011

Since we’re apparently making movies out of baby books now, Cameron Diaz is close to being set to star in What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Kirk Jones (Nanny McPhee) is directing from a script by Heather Hach (2003’s Freaky Friday) and Shauna Cross (Whip It!). Deadline reports that while nothing’s official yet, Diaz is expected to sign on to the film shortly. The approach to the flick is to tell a Love Actually-esque story, which is officially the only way to make self-help-based-romantic-comedies (yeah, that’s a thing now). The story will follow five expectant couples through the ups and downs of pregnancy.

..........  http://collider.com/cameron-diaz-what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting/89199/

New Image of Henry Cavill in IMMORTALS

by Jason Barr    Posted: May 5th, 2011

With the film’s new trailer set to debut in front of Thor this weekend, Relativity has sent over a new image of a spear-wielding Henry Cavill in Tarsem Singh’s Immortals. Briefly, Immortals tells the story of a stonemason named Theseus (Cavill) who vows to stop the ruthless King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) from obtaining the long lost Bow of Epirus. In addition to Cavill and Rourke, Immortals also stars Isabel Lucas, John Hurt, Freida Pinto, Kellan Lutz, Luke Evans, and Stephen Dorff. The film hits theaters later this year on November 11th.

Hit the jump to check out the image for yourself. In case you missed it, click here to check out the film’s trailer in HD.

........ http://collider.com/immortals-image-henry-cavill/89261/

Vince Vaughn Joins Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, and Catherine Zeta-Jones in LAY THE FAVORITE

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 5th, 2011

Vince Vaughn will join Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the gambling drama Lay the Favorite.  The film is based on the memoir of Beth Raymer, played by Hall in the biopic.  Once a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, Raymer became an elite professional gambler: “After falling in love, Raymer soon begins to re-evaluate her life and the profession she has chosen.” Deadline reports Vaughn will play Rosie, a Long Island bookie who employed Raymer.  Willis is Dink Heimowitz, Raymer’s mentor who teaches her the finer points of betting on sports.  Zeta-Jones will play Dink’s wife.

Stephen Frears will direct from a script by D.V. De Vincentis.  I’m always interested in the latest from Frears, and I like the collection of eclectic gathering around Lay the Favorite.  Read a synopsis of Raymer’s memoir after the jump.

... http://collider.com/vince-vaughn-lay-the-favorite/89285/

28 march; HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Born Today

Julia Stiles (30)

 

Ken Howard (67)

Vince Vaughn (41)

 

Brett Ratner (42)

 

Mike Newell(69)

 

Dianne Wiest 63

 

Lady Gaga 26

 

Richard Kelly 36

 

Annie Wersching 34

 

http://www.imdb.com/search/name?birth_monthday=03-28

**Universal Eyes INSANE LAWS as Starring Vehicle for Vince Vaughn **Cary Elwes Joins "Wonder Woman" TV Series **Kenneth Branagh to Direct "Boys in the Boat" Next **Julianne Moore Joins The Cast Of Another Night With Paul Dano And Robert De Niro

Universal Eyes INSANE LAWS as Starring Vehicle for Vince Vaughn

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 4th, 2011

Universal is currently in negotiations to acquire a relationship comedy written by Jeremy Garelick (The Break-Up) from Columbia. Insane Laws will be set up as a starring vehicle for Vince Vaughn, who will also produce. The film “focuses on two best friends and how their lives are impacted when their grown children fall in love, with one man’s daughter becoming pregnant by his best friend’s son.” THR reports that with the original deal at Columbia, Garelick was set to make his directorial debut on the project. No word on whether Universal will keep him on as director. Neil Moritz (I Am Legend) is on board as a producer.

....

http://collider.com/vince-vaughn-insane-laws/79179/

Cary Elwes Joins "Wonder Woman" TV Series

Posted: March 4th, 2011 by WorstPreviews.com Staff

We just reported that Elizabeth Hurley has joined the cast of NBC's new "Wonder Woman" TV series as the villain, and now comes word that Cary Elwes (Saw, The Princess Bride) is also on board.

Elwes will play the CEO of Themyscira Industries, which is the company of Diana Prince (Adrianna Palicki). He manages the day-to-day operations while Prince goes out and fights crime as Wonder Woman and could eventually serve as the heroine's romantic interest.

Hurley will play Veronica Gale, the beautiful, highly-educated head of one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the country who is afflicted with the serious deep-seated Wonder Woman envy.

Source: EW


Read more: http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=20869&count=0

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Branagh to Direct "Boys in the Boat" Next

Posted: March 4th, 2011 by WorstPreviews.com Staff

Kenneth Branagh, who just wrapped production on "Thor," has signed on to direct "The Boys in the Boat," a big screen adaptation of the non-fiction book written by Daniel James Brown.

Set in the 1930s, the book centers around the University of Washington's powerhouse rowing team. Sources describe the project as a cross between "Seabiscuit" and "Chariots of Fire."

"'The Boys in The Boat' is an epic," Branagh said in a statement. "I was completely captivated by the characters, the era, and the dreams of a generation unfolding beautifully and dramatically."

Source: Variety


Read more: http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=20870&count=0

 

 

 

 

Julianne Moore Joins The Cast Of Another Night With Paul Dano And Robert De Niro

published: 2011-03-04 17:33:33 Author: Eric Eisenberg
For me, one of the biggest mysteries of this past year's Oscars was that Annette Bening was nominated for her part in The Kids Are All Right over Julianne Moore, who I felt put on the more important and better performance. Regardless, Moore has never been an actress that has needed tons of awards to keep her career going (her high talent level does that for her) and no she's landed yet another part.
Variety reports that Moore is set to play in Paul Weitz's Another Night alongside Robert De Niro, Paul Dano, and Olivia Thirlby. Based on the memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn, the film is about the relationship between an estranged father and son, played by De Niro and Dano, who interact while the son is working at a homeless shelter in Boston. Moore will play Dano's mother and will only be seen in flashback sequences.

Julianne Moore's involvement alone is enough to make me think that this may be the first great movie De Niro has done in years. Weitz doesn't have the greatest track record - he was responsible for Little Fockers - but with this cast and the Boston setting, it sounds like it will be hard to argue against.
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Julianne-Moore-Joins-The-Cast-Of-Another-Night-With-Paul-Dano-And-Robert-De-Niro-23501.html

***David O. Russell in Talks to Rewrite and Direct 2 GUNS Starring Vince Vaughn ***New Posters for RED RIDING HOOD and RED STATE

David O. Russell in Talks to Rewrite and Direct 2 GUNS Starring Vince Vaughn

by Jeff Ames    Posted: January 12th, 2011

Now that The Fighter has become a hit with both audiences and critics alike, it’s safe to say director David O. Russell (who recently received a DGA award nomination) has his choice of projects. Having already jumped on board to write and direct the film adaptation of the popular Uncharted video game series, Russell is also in talks to team up with actor-comedian Vince Vaughn. The duo are attempting to adapt Boom! Studios’ comic book 2 Guns for the big screen.

Universal Pictures originally positioned the adaptation as a starring vehicle for Vaughn and his Wedding Crashers co-star Owen Wilson with a script written by TV writer Blake Masters (Brotherhood). Russell will rewrite Masters’ script, and is considering tackling the project before heading into Uncharted territory. The 2 Guns comic was written by Steven Grant with art by Mat Santolouco. Hit the jump for more.

Here’s the plot synopsis for 2 Guns according to Heat Vision:

A DEA agent and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer are unwittingly investigating each other and who steal mob money for the good guys. They realize later that the mob actually got them to steal $50 million from the CIA.

Russell and Vaughn were previously linked to Old St. Louis, but that it’s unclear where that project stands now. Since then Russell has been linked to various projects, including Under Cover with Jim Carrey and an untitled Ice Cube-starring Dirty Harry-esque crime drama, so I’ll remain skeptical until I hear some solid details regarding his involvement. However, 2 Guns sounds like a nice Three Kings-ish picture for the director — a comedy that mixes both action and intellect. Vaughn would do wonders with a Russell-penned screenplay, what with his rapid-fire delivery and deft comic timing. Personally, I hope this happens — in Russell I trust.

Here’s the official description for 2 Guns:

A pulp story about cops and thieves and the men that are something in between. Trench has targeted a local bank to rob, and asked Steadman in on the job. Trench figures it’s a great way to score — considering it’s a cover for mob money. They’ll be thieves ripping off thieves. But what Steadman doesn’t know is that Trench is a DEA agent. And what Trench doesn’t know is that Steadman’s a Naval Intelligence officer. They’re both cops! And neither one knows that they’re not robbing the mob, they’ve been set up to steal $50 million from the CIA! A light-hearted crime romp in the vein of Ocean’s Thirteen and The Italian Job from comics legend, Steven Grant! [Boom! Studios]

http://collider.com/david-o-russell-vince-vaughn-2-guns/69924/

New Posters for RED RIDING HOOD and RED STATE

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 12th, 2011

New posters for Catherine Hardwicke’s Red Riding Hood and Kevin Smith’s Red State have landed online.  While neither is that different from their previous offerings (Red Riding Hood here, Red State here), the Red Riding Hood layout features an ominous view of Amanda Seyfried making her way through a snow-filled forest.  As for the Red State sheet, it is another installation in the film’s character posters and it features James Parks in his role as Mordechai.

To check out the posters, hit the jump. Red Riding Hood also stars Lukas Haas and Gary Oldman and is scheduled to hit theaters on March 11th.  Red State also stars Melissa Leo, John Goodman, and Kevin Pollak and is currently looking at an unspecified March release.

Here’s the poster for Red Riding Hood (from Apple):

Here’s the synopsis for Red Riding Hood:

In “Red Riding Hood,” Seyfried plays Valerie, a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie’s older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon’s arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. As panic grips the town, Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast–one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect…and bait.

Here’s the poster for Red State (via IMPA):

Here’s the synopsis for Red State [via Sundance]:

Ever since Clerks (cowinner of the Filmmakers Trophy at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival), Kevin Smith has been known for his sharp, subversive, comedic writing. He shifts from comedy to horror with Red State and aptly demonstrates that good writing transcends genre.

Red State begins by following three horny high-school boys who come across an online ad from an older woman looking for a gang bang. Boys being boys, they hit the road to satisfy their libidinal urges. But what begins as a fantasy takes a dark turn as they come face-to-face with a terrifying “holy” force with a fatal agenda.

Instead of relying on archetypes and predictable formulas, Smith meticulously fashions all-too-real characters, utilizing exceptional performances (notably by Michael Parks) and an intelligent script. His realistic style gives the film an intimate feeling, heightening the terror to biblical proportions. Red State is a shocking new kind of horror film that aggressively confronts higher powers and extreme doctrines with a vengeance.

http://collider.com/red-riding-hood-red-state-poster/69888/

Louis Leterrier’s Wife Béatrice to Direct WRECKING BALL; Eva Mendes to Star

by Talia Soghomonian    Posted: January 12th, 2011

Clash of the Titans director Louis Leterrier’s wife Béatrice is set to direct her first feature film, and in quite a different style from that of her husband. In a recent interview, Leterrier revealed that her project Wrecking Ball will be a dramatic comedy with Eva Mendes attached to star. Although Mendes is the only actor currently signed on to the movie, her star power should help in attracting bigger names to the film.

For more on Wrecking Ball, including small details regarding Mendes’ role in the film, hit the jump.

In talking with the French site Ecran Large, Leterrier gave this synopsis for Wrecking Ball:

During the Christmas weekend at home, a family reunion will bring back the awful memories of a tragic event that occurred 20 years ago and shake up the family core. And in the middle of all the uproar and arguments is a 5-year-old girl who unwittingly holds the key to their fate and the final outcome.

Although Wrecking Ball will be her first feature, Mrs. Leterrier has garnered directing experience in Europe with her work in commercials and videos. As mentioned previously, she’s also married into a filmmaking family. Her husband Louis’ father François is a director and his mother Catherine is a costume designer (her most recent work was on the 2009 movie Coco Avant Chanel).

As for Mendes, it is believed that her turn in Wrecking Ball will see her taking on the role of a mother. If true, the role could mark a shift for the actress and help to show off her dramatic chops in the process. She has indeed reached the perfect age where she can explore a wider range in her roles; much in the vein of her work in James Gray’s We Own the Night.

http://collider.com/beatrice-leterrier-wrecking-ball-eva-mendes/69859/

***5 Movie Clips from THE DILEMMA ***Barbra Streisand in Talks to Star in GYPSY Remake ***Robert Pattinson Joins David Cronenberg’s COSMOPOLIS

5 Movie Clips from THE DILEMMA

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 5th, 2011

Universal has released 5 movie clips from The Dilemma, a comedy from director Ron Howard which stars Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Channing Tatum, and Queen Latifah.  Vaughn plays a man who is distraught when he catches the wife (Ryder) of his best friend (James) cheating.

I didn’t love the trailer, but the cast is undeniably impressive.  The bromance between Vaughn and James plays well in this footage, which bodes well for the film.  Watch the clips after the jump.

-

The Dilemma opens on January 14th.  Here’s the official synopsis:

Vince Vaughn and Kevin James headline an all-star comedy from director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer about a man who finds out that what you don’t say to a friend is just as important as what you do. Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Channing Tatum and Queen Latifah join them in The Dilemma, a story of how far you can bend a brotherly bond before it snaps. Since college, confirmed bachelor Ronny (Vaughn) and happily married Nick (James) have been through thick and thin. Now partners in an auto design firm, the two pals are vying to land a dream project that would launch their company. With Ronny’s girlfriend, Beth (Connelly), and Nick’s wife, Geneva (Ryder), by their sides, they’re unbeatable.

But Ronny’s world is turned upside down when he inadvertently sees Geneva out with another man and makes it his mission to get answers. As the amateur investigation dissolves his world into comic mayhem, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. Now, with the clock ticking and pressure mounting on the biggest presentation of their careers, Ronny must decide how and when he will reveal the truth to his best friend.

http://collider.com/the-dilemma-movie-clips/68384/

Barbra Streisand in Talks to Star in GYPSY Remake

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 5th, 2011

Here’s a little news for all the diehard Barbra Streisand fans who also happen to frequent Collider (I know you’re out there…somewhere…): the two-time Oscar-winner/eight-time Grammy-winner is in early negotiations with Warner Bros. to star in a remake of the 1962 film adaptation of the Broadway play Gypsy.  While the project is currently without a writer and/or director, Streisand would star as Rose (the role turned by Rosalind Russell in the 1962 adaptation) if a deal is indeed struck.

For those unfamiliar with Gypsy (much like myself only one half-hour ago), both the play and the first film are based on the memoir of burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee.  Per THR, each iteration focuses on Lee’s relationship with her mother, Rose (Streisand), who has “since become the prototype of a ’stage mom’ in pop culture.”

http://collider.com/barbra-streisand-gypsy/68346/

Robert Pattinson Joins David Cronenberg’s COSMOPOLIS

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 5th, 2011

In what must be considered a big step in his up-hill struggle to gain credibility outside of Twilight circles, Robert Pattinson has joined David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis.  Based on the Don Delillo novel of the same name, Cosmopolis has been adapted by Cronenberg and will follow a newlywed billionaire (Pattinson) over a 24 hour span in which he cheats on his wife, gets stalked, gets assaulted, and loses his fortune.  Hopefully, at some point, he also catches a nap because that is one action-packed day.

In addition to Pattinson, Cosmopolis will also star Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard as Pattinson’s wife and Oscar-nominee Paul Giamatti as one of Pattinson’s two stalkers.  Per THR, Pattinson is filling the role abandoned by Colin Farrell so that the latter can shoot the Total Recall remake that is scheduled to begin filming in mid-May (around the same time as Cosmopolis).  For more on the project, hit the jump to check out a plot summary for Delillo’s novel.

Here’s a plot summary for Delillo’s Cosmopolis [per Wikipedia]:

Cosmopolis is the story of Eric Packer, a 28 year old multi-billionaire asset manager who makes an odyssey across midtown Manhattan in order to get a haircut. The stretch limo which adorns the cover of the book is richly described as highly technical and very luxurious, filled with television screens and computer monitors, bulletproofed and floored with Carrara marble. It is also cork lined to eliminate (though unsuccessfully, Packer notes) the intrusion of street noise.

Like James Joyce’s Ulysses, Cosmopolis covers roughly one day of time and includes highly sexed women and the theme of father-son separation. Packer’s voyage is obstructed by various traffic jams caused by a presidential visit to the city, a funeral procession for a Sufi rap star and a full-fledged riot. Along the way, the hero has several chance meetings with his wife, seeing her in a taxi, a bookstore, and lying naked in the street, taking part in a movie as an extra. Meanwhile, Packer is stalked by two men, a comical “pastry assassin” and an unstable “credible threat”.

Through the course of the day, the protagonist loses incredible amounts of money for his clients by betting against the rise of the yen, a loss that parallels his own fall. Packer seems to relish being unburdened by the loss of so much money, even stopping to make sure he loses his wife’s fortune as well, to ensure his ruin is inevitable.

http://collider.com/robert-pattinson-cosmopolis/68321/

Vince Vaughn Blessed with Baby Girl

Over the weekend, Vince Vaughn and his wife, Kyla Weber, welcomed their first child into the world. The couple had a daughter, Locklyn Kyla Vaughn, on Saturday, People.com reports.

Little Locklyn was born in Chicago, the actor's hometown, weighing in at 7 pounds and measured 20 inches long, Vaughn's rep tells the website.

"Both of them couldn't be happier to welcome their sweet little girl into their family!" a family friend said of the new bundle of joy.

Last year, Vaughn opened up to People.com about fatherhood, saying, "It's the first time that I really want to have kids. I've been very fortunate in my career, and my life has been about that for so long that you get bored of it. You're ready for your life to be about other people and other things."

Vaughn and Weber, a Canadian real-estate agent, announced they were expecting a baby in July. The couple married in January of this year in Chicago with close friends and family in attendance.

Earlier this fall, Vaughn was caught up in a bit of controversy surrounding a gay joke he made in a trailer for the upcoming Ron Howard-directed relationship comedy, "The Dilemma," which was later removed. "The Dilemma," about a man (played by Vaughn) who learns that the wife (Winona Ryder) of his best friend (Kevin James) is having an affair with another guy (Channing Tatum), will be released on January 14. There has been no word on whether the joke will be removed from the final cut of the movie.