If You're Looking for Something Really Screwed Up...

I've been trying to read more in the last 3 months (though that has nothing to do with my absence in the blogosphere). I tend to read in spurts: 4 books one month, then nothing for 3 months. As you can imagine, I supplement heavily with film. I've been chugging along the last four weeks: Mindy Kaling's memoir/anecdotal review "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?", John Green's "Looking for Alaska" (tears), followed by John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars" (many more tears - in fact, while John Green YA fiction is exceptional and exuberant, it is full of situations causing massive waterworks. Beware.), Stephen King's "On Writing" (confession: I don't think I'm a real writer), and have just started "A Game of Thrones" (I thought I should actually read the source material if I'm going to spend every Monday morning catching up on spoilers from the previous night's episode of a show I don't even watch).

I heard that David Fincher's next project is an adaptation of the thriller "Gone Girl," written by Gillian Flynn. Fincher being a director I am generally enjoy and admire I kept an eye out for this book for about 6 months before finally stumbling across it at a Costco. (I suppose I could have gone to an actual bookstore, or you know, ordered it online or something, but these are not avenues a film addict going through a book hibernation pursues.)

Without giving too much away, our main character Nick awakens on the day of his 5th wedding anniversary to Amy; by the end of the day Amy is missing, there are signs of a struggle, and Nick is the primary suspect. That's all that can reasonably be discussed without potentially ruining your enjoyment of the book. However, Flynn captures her characters voices clearly and without restraint, there are several twists that make the experience gripping and bewildering, and I know feel really smart for recognizing that the erstwhile term learned in multiple English classes, "the unreliable narrator," is alive and kicking and makes this book all the more confusing to enjoy. Be prepared - it is graphic (or maybe explicit is the better word; characters say what they mean, they don't pussy-foot around), and some of the material is, for lack of a more appropriate phrase, fucked-up. But oh-so-worth-it.

The film adaptation stars Rosamund Pike - in a damn near perfect piece of physical casting to be sure, and Ben Affleck, Neal Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry. The casting of all these male characters had various factions of the "Gone Girl" fan base in an uproar based on particular visions of the characters that didn't seem in line. However, I had these actors in mind when reading the book and didn't notice any glaring points of subtlety that will be lost. In fact, I think these actors should turn in great performances, especially with Fincher at the helm. Also boding well for production is the fact that Flynn penned the screenplay herself.

Here is the first trailer, which captures the darkness of the book, while also playing with it's romantic dichotomy by using Elvis Costello's "She" as the music. (That's the song that played over the fluffy beginning and end of Notting Hill. My dad loooooooves it. Which means it is a pretty dorky song right there. Confession: I love it too.)

Chris Pratt Coming into his Own

Literally 3 nights ago I was watching Moneyball and thinking how Chris Pratt has really been playing the Hollywood game smartly. He played to his fratboy-douchebag image in Wanted and 10 Years, slowly became one of the most beloved characters on "Parks and Recreation," took solid supporting roles in Oscar-nominated films 3 years running (Moneyball, Zero Dark Thirty, and Her) and topped it off by voicing the lead character in the box-office smash The Lego Movie.

And now the trailer for the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer has dropped, impressing us with Pratt-abs, and making us laugh with great comedic chops and the clever use of "Hooked on a Feeling." On top of that, Pratt is the lead in the upcoming Jurassic Park reboot scheduled for release next year.





But for me, Pratt will always be Bright Abbott, the doofy, big-hearted lunk from the erstwhile WB's "Everwood." He was charming, spotlight-stealing, and always provided the biggest laughs. Here's to you, Bright! Hope your movies don't suck!

Coming Soon

On DVD...


The Spectacular Now (Jan 14): WHY ISN'T THIS MOVIE IN MY DVD PLAYER RIGHT NOW!?!?!




Stoker (available now): Didn't think I was all that interested in this but then I saw the full trailer and said "What in the holy hell is this magnificent combination of weird?" I simply must find out.






In Theaters...


Lone Survivor (Dec 27): Pretty great reviews, especially for our erstwhile homeboy Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), and the rest of the cast thrills me as well (Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch and Eric Bana). Not my typical fare, but by this cast I have been swayed.




Her (Dec 18): It's Spike Jonze. And the amazing Joaquin Phoenix. And Scarlett Johannson as a Siri-like sentient operating system - and she gets a free pass from me after her spot-on performance in Don Jon. This looks so, so sweet.




Winter's Tale (Feb 14): It looks kinda sappy, Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe are not exactly sure bets anymore - especially Crowe's wonky accent - and I can't for the life of me figure out what is going on here. It feels a little like August Rush crossed with Cinderella Man by way of Kate and Leopold. But our leading lady is Jessica Brown-Findley, otherwise known as the best sister on "Downtown Abbey," and her charm is enough for me to give this a chance.




Godzilla (May 16): Had absolutely no interest in this whatsoever, but this trailer is kind of killing it. That first minute is bang on suspense.




The Grand Budapest Hotel (Mar 7): Love, love, love me some Wes Anderson.




Veronica Mars (Mar 14): I've said it before and I'll say it again - why haven't more of you tried out "Veronica Mars," one of the best TV shows to come out of the oughts? It's delightful and snarky and fun and mysterious and those season-long mysteries kick ass. I can't keep badgering you all about this. Just take my word for it and watch the damn show already! And then come see the movie with me!




Dom Hemingway (Apr 4): Jude Law is finally ugly enough to do all the great character actor parts he was always meant for. This looks like a gas. And his costar, Richard E. Grant, should be a star. Check him out in Withnail and I, Gosford Park and "The Scarlet Pimpernel" for some serious, straight-up, charm-your-pants-off snobbery (and in many cases, drunkeness).

Here We Are Again

So, it's been awhile, eh? It has in fact been almost 4 years. Gossip Girl is no longer even on the air so I will be forced to find another means of sartorial expression than drooling over the suits of Chuck Bass. A big loss to all of you, I'm sure.

In all honesty, it's been a tough year. I have some demons to work out. And for better or worse, I have always used pop culture to do that. It's what makes sense to me. But before we delve into all that heavy list-making (oh, will there be lists!), here's something light and fun: my new movie crush.

 

Trust me, you have to see the kid in action to really get the appeal. He is the perfect combination of crass and charming, which is apparently my thing. I first saw him as the scene stealer in that mediocre Footloose remake, and then he got pretty great reviews for this indie The Spectacular Now, a movie that came nowhere near me during it's short release but I am dying to see. And then I rented 21 and Over, a perfectly average drunken-college-shenanigans type movie, and was later forced (by myself) to buy it just because I liked this guy in it so much.

Most recently there is this trailer for a Zac Efron vehicle called That Awkward Moment and while it looks pretty funny overall, and also stars the fantastic Michael B. Jordon, the entire reason I want to see it is Miles Teller. Which is this guys's name, by the way. Check him out, I hope you enjoy.





Side Question: Miles Teller is 26 years old, so I'm not robbing the cradle or anything, but he has played primarily high schoolers. Does that make this crush creepy? At what age are you no longer allowed to crush on actors under the age of 25, or who only play characters under the age of 21? Don't get me wrong, I can work a mean crush over the more age appropriate James McAvoy or Michael Fassbender, but when will it no longer be socially acceptable to find the young things attractive?

Rules of Nostalgia

It's impossible to gage how others will react to films you loved at the age of 8. In many cases, you yourself no longer really like those movies, but the memory of how much you loved them carries you through. Case in point: Elizabeth *hated* Summer Magic, one of those twee Disney movies from the '60's starring Haley Mills, and I was rather flummoxed. How can you hate an old school Haley Mills flick? It has this fantastically ridiculous song called "The Pink of Perfection" and it ends with all the girls fancied up and on the arms of their beaus at a dance! But, unfortunately, my sheen of nostalgia would not transfer.

I may have mentioned this phenomenon before, but it was on my mind this week after I watched the new trailer for Tron Legacy. The original Tron was yet another twee live action Disney film from back in "the good ol' days" (you know, before Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and Drake and Josh ruled the Disney channel?) about a computer programmer who gets stuck inside a virtual reality program inside, much like a video game. It was one of the first, real CGI films I ever saw (I mentioned it's lack of special effects nomination in my 10 Most Egregious Oscar Snubs post last year) and as someone who isn't really that into video games, I get a little stoked talking about the neon characters and low-rent computer games that comprised Tron.

This is the teaser trailer: for those of you who didn't know, Jeff Bridges was the star of the original - the computer programmer sucked into the game - so seeing his character again is supposed to be a big thrill to those who saw the original. The landscape of the game is especially exciting to me because it looks exactly like it would have in the 1980's if CGI technology were yet capable of it. And YAY for the neon bikes! Hope I'm not the only person out there who's happy to see you again!




In other nostalgic news, I'm currently hooked on season 7 of "Beverly Hills 90210" airing on Soapnet. Turns out I did have a little crush on Jason Priestly back in the day. But I'm only watching until he and Kelly get back together. I swear.

Coming Soon!

So no offense to the good movies that are out and about, but I feel like this summer really blows. I haven't seen The Hangover yet, which sounds worth it, but other than that, all I've really been interested in is Star Trek (seen it and loved it) and Away We Go (love John Krasinski) and I find myself scouring the movie sections and being thoroughly disappointed every week. But July and August have a lot of promising options. With that in mind, here's what *I think* I'm looking forward to for the rest of the summer.

• Public Enemies (out now): If you would have asked me two weeks ago, this would not have been high on my list of priorities. But it's getting pretty rave reviews, has a stellar cast (Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard) and is directed by Michael Mann (Last of the Mohicans and Collateral). In the absence of any great, big, adult films coming soon, this will have to do.
  

• Cheri (out now): It's a small film about French courtesans and love in the 19th century and the trailer reminds me a little of the adaptations of Oscar Wilde's plays, The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband. I feel like seeing something pithy and dramatic and old-fashioned. It also stars Rupert Friend, this up and coming British actor with God's gift to cheekbones, previously best known to me as Keira Knightley's boyfriend and Mr. Wickham in Pride and Prejudice. But then I caught most of this 2005 flick Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont starring Friend and Joan Plowright and kind of fell in love with him. And in this drought of a movie summer, I could use a little charming. Plus all the word about Michelle Pfieffer's performance is pretty outstanding.
  

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (7/15): Well, duh! In truth with all of the expectation and impatience building up since they delayed the film in November, this is definitely the most anticipated movie of the year for me. The full length trailer looks absolutely fabulous, like they really did tell the entire story and not leave anything important out. It hits the Dumbledore and Harry beats, the Ron and Hermione beats, has sad Malfoy, and impenetrable Snape, and Fenrir Greyback and Slughorn and Death Eaters destroying London and the memories and the love potion and the cave and it all looks beautiful. I can't wait!

• In the Loop (7/24): Small film, only read a little about it before looking up the trailer. It's got a great cast of British character actors (Tom Hollander is great) and it looks funny and clever. It's about the stupidity of political figures, I think.
  

• 500 Days of Summer (7/17): I posted the teaser trailer for this back in March and my excitement to see his has not yet abated. If not for Harry Potter this would be #1. Most of what I've read promises a real love story with a lot of quirk and some great performances. I'm so in.

• Julie & Julia (8/7): I'm on the fence about this one. I love Meryl Streep and Amy Adams and there is something about cooking and using another person's book/receipes to help pull yourself out of our own head (I'm so getting that right now), plus it's directed by Nora Ephron and it would be nice to see her have a success here. But I think it will largely depend on the reviews that film gets.
  

• Taking Woodstock (8/14): It's directed by Ang Lee, has a great supporting cast including Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, and Imelda Staunton, and it stars Demetri Martin, that comedian who performs deadpan with a guitar and an easel? Love him. And it's apparently the *true* story of how Woodstock came to be performed when and where it was. That means lots of hippies and great music.
  

• The Time Traveler's Wife (8/14): Rachel McAdams. Eric Bana. He time travels without control, kind of like "Quantum Leap." It's a melodramatic weepie. I once read a Veronica Mars fanfiction using the premise of this book and I totally loved it.

• The Young Victoria (out now?): This is a British movie that came out earlier this year but I have no idea if it already came out here or if it's ever gonna come out. I saw a TV movie about Queen Victoria and her husband Albert once and they were so adorable. Basically, they married for love. She was the Queen and her was her biggest support and when he died she spent years mourning him (think Judi Dench in Mrs. Brown). This film stars Emily Blunt and, again, Rupert Friend and I love period pieces about British royals.
  

• Post Grad (8/14): This is Rory Gilmore and Matt Saracen go to college where they are best friends until his feelings for her cause a fracture in their friendship. It's also about how Rory can't find a job and about that period after college, but before you feel like a real adult. I dig that feeling. The trailer features Carolina Liar's "Showing Me What I'm Looking For." But you had me at "Rory Gilmore and Matt Saracen."
  

Fuck me, that was a much longer list than I had anticipated! Sorry! Anything I've left off?

Coming Soon

Trailer time! I've been wanting to do one of these forever, but with the writers strike making next year's release schedule a little sparse, and the Oscar season leaving only upcoming Oscar-nominated films in the previews, I didn't have many options. But I've finally compiled a list of upcoming releases that I really want to see. Check them out.

• Watchmen: So this comes out really soon (like next week), and you've probably already seen the TV spots a billion times, but the more I see and read about this story, the more it sounds freaking awesome. These superheroes are kinda evil and massively screwed up. It takes place in a 1985 where Richard Nixon is still president. The big blue guy (Dr. Manhattan) won America the Vietnam War by single-handedly wiping out the Vietcong. In real life, Nite Owl is impotent. The Comedian kills for hire. Rorschach is a vigilante (superheroes are now outlawed) who wears a creepy, ink blotted mask and runs around dispensing bloody, medieval justice. It has origin stories for most of the "superheroes." The visuals look great. I have more...

• 17 Again: When I first heard about this movie, I didn't think it sounded that good (it's Big in reverse, starring Zac Efron). But I saw the trailer recently and it really cracked me up. Efron displayed some decent comic timing and charm, his wife is played by Leslie Mann (Mrs. Judd Apatow) who is a great comedic actress, and I would really like to see a light, fluffy comedy that doesn't blow.

• 500 Days of Summer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt has the potential to become one of my favorite leading men, and Zooey Deschanel is almost always vibrant and likable. I love this trailer for not having any dialogue and for intriguing me with it's music, the juxtaposition of it's beautiful shots, and the seeming absurdity of it's story (was there a musical number outfitted with a cartoon bird?) Needless to say, I am damn anxious to see a movie that looks this offbeat, yet sincere.

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine: I thought the X-Men movies were only so-so, but this trailer made me really excited. And now that Hugh Jackman has completely won me over with his awesomeness, I'm there. It also stars Liev Schieber (with fantastic sideburns) and Taylor Kitsch ("Friday Night Lights" fans!) carrying a magical, light waving stick (or something). The trailer completely energized me.

• Adventureland: Love this cast (Kristin Stewart is always worth watching, plus that's Martin Starr, otherwise known as Bill Haverchuck, the best character on "Freaks and Geeks"), love this atmosphere (for a second, I desperately wanted to work at a theme park), and the comedic tone is right up my alley. Where do I screen?

• Star Trek: Geeky revelation time - I am a huge fan of some of the original Star Trek films, namely 2, 4, & 6, and used to watch "Star Trek: The Next Generation" rather faithfully. I'm stoked to see this reboot that boasts an interesting cast, some great visuals, and the promise of something unexpected.
  

• State of Play: Great cast (Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren), tight suspense, and Ben Affleck in a supporting role as a possibly crooked politician. I really like that. It's good to see him back in front of the camera in something that looks reputable. It's also based on a critically praised BBC show that once starred James McAvoy (although, sadly, he's not in the movie).

Coming Soon!

Sadly, I have not seen a movie in the theater since The Dark Knight in July! JULY, PEOPLE!!! Only two months, but feels much longer. Which means that in addition to not seeing any new flicks (luckily, most of August and September blew, though I am missing Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, and Burn After Reading), I haven't seen any previews! I live for previews! I love seeing previews for movies I haven't even heard of yet, and that hasn't happened in at least 3 months (the Rio didn't play any new trailers before The Dark Knight, damn them!). So I had to wait for the Fall Movie Preview Edition of Entertainment Weekly, devour it's contents, and look up all the trailers on YouTube. And now that that's done, here's what I'm looking forward to most...

• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (10/3): Probably sick of seeing the TV spots for this one already, but I am beyond excited for this movie! Michael Cera can do wrong, as far as I'm concerned - the kid's golden. And his costar, Kat Dennings, is really growing on me, plus, points for not looking like a stick figure with no soul!

• Australia (11/14): It's Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, epic, beautiful and directed by Baz Luhrman. Need I say more? That man has owned me since Moulin Rouge and this is actually his first film since then! Crazy! But it honestly looks big and grand and sweeping and romantic and all the other things I'm a big ol' sucker for!

• Doubt (12/12): This one's got tons of awards buzz already, it's based a really great play, and it stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. I watched the trailer and this movie looks intense. In that "I'm not gonna enjoy this and be happy, but watching this will be fascinating!" way. Kinda like that. And that works for me too.

• High School Musical 3 (10/24): I am beyond embarrassed to admit this, but I kinda love the HSM series. They're comfortingly lame, and although the bubble gum pop music is rather schmaltzy, it's catchy and fun. I've been trying to figure out how I'm actually going to see this in the theater; I can't possibly go to a regular show stuffed to the brim with teeny-bopper Zac Efron fans that will giggle and screech and coo throughout the entire film, plus I might disintegrate into a pile of mushy, pathetic goo on the floor if I have to actually ask for a ticket to this movie. It's beyond humiliating (I actually had to hide my face while watching this trailer while I was alone!)....and yet, count me in the stoked pile! If you want to revel in the heights of my geekitude, feel free to laugh at this trailer!
  

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (12/25): It's directed by David Fincher, which means stylistically it's gonna be awesome! Also, it's the story of a man's life as he ages from an old man at birth to a baby at death - that sounds insanely cool! And as if starring Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett weren't enough, the title role is played by Brad Pitt (I've always thought he was a vastly underrated actor - and I love him for more than his good looks, though those are a plus), and he plays the character at every age, aided by make-up and effects that look spectacular.
  

• Twilight (12/12): I haven't read the books this is based on, but I'm a huge Harry Potter and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fan, so I think that places me in the target audience. I've really enjoyed Kristin Stewart's work (in Into the Wild especially) as well as director Catherine Hardwicke (Lords of Dogtown) and the hot lead vampire was Cedric Diggory in the 4th Harry Potter film. Plus, as usual, I'm a sucker for doomed romances and lusty, shall-I-kill-you-or-screw-you interaction; Spike was totally my favorite character on Buffy.

• Frost/Nixon (12/5): This is also based on a recent stage play about a series of interviews between ex-talk show host David Frost and then-former President Richard Nixon. Knowing little about the interviews and what was said in them myself, I can't wait to see what is discussed and the dynamic between the men sounds really interesting. Also, reprising the stage roles are the always excellent Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, whoopee! Nixon is a figure easily demonized, and yet absolutely intriguing and almost sympathetic in his frailty, failure and vulnerability, so I really want to see how this plays out.
  

• Revolutionary Road (12/26): Entertainment Weekly described this film as "Mad Men + American Beauty + Kate and Leo acting their butts off" and watching the trailer, that sounds exactly right. I loved American Beauty and it's director Sam Mendes, so I'm excited about that. I have been a fan of Kate and Leo ever since Titanic (which yes, I still love shamelessly), and they've only gotten better with age. And my recent obsession with the period detail of "Mad Men" pretty much clinches my anticipation for this film. The trailer just about rips my guts out.

Should go without saying, but I am also stoked for the next Bond flick, Quantum of Solace.

Coming Soon

With the Summer Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly having recently come out, my appetite has been whet for some summer movie fare. Here's what I'm looking forward to...

• PRINCE CASPIAN (May 16): I'm a sucker for the Narnia series - some of the best books ever, especially as a kid. All the kids from the first movie are back (and they were all great, plus actually pass for siblings) and the preview just looks awesome. The only book I still remember is "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" so I'm excited to find out what the story has in store.

• SPEED RACER (May 9): This one looks cheesy-in-a-good-way, and was made by the Wachowski brothers, the creators of The Matrix (hey, the first one was pretty great). Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci are both on my awesome list right now, and the colors in the film look amazing and very evocative of the character's anime roots! Could be fun! (Oh, and is Matthew Fox from "Lost" the villain? Neato!)

• WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER? (July): I'm also a sucker for a well told tale of family discord, especially between fathers and sons. This one looks appropriately intriguing, and stars Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent, amazing, fabulous actors. Broadbent especially is far less known than he should be.
  

• THE HAPPENING (June 13): I know M. Night Shyamalan has faltered with his last two attempts, The Village and Lady in the Water, but I still have some faith. The Sixth Sense and Signs are two amazing movies, and this director does tension and suspense in a way most Hollywood films don't understand, so I'm willing to give him a shot. This one stars Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel (love her) and it's one of the best trailers I've seen so far. It gave me goosebumps.

• FUGITIVE PIECES (June): Looks gripping, well-acted by a lesser known cast (Rade Serbedzija in particular in under-utilized in popular film), and you generally can't beat a film about Holocaust survivors for emotional resonance.

• PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (August 8): This one's easy - I love Judd Apatow productions and I love Seth Rogen. The trailer made me laugh out loud. James Franco was so excellent on "Freaks and Geeks" and has since been relegated to boring movie roles, so I'm excited to see him shine. Plus, it looks like the bad guys are played by Gary Cole (Office Space boss, "Um, yeah, I'm gonna need you to come in on Saturday...") and Craig Robinson (Darryl from 'The Office"!!) so that can only mean good things!

• AMERICAN TEEN (July): Okay, this documentary just looks really sweet, and as it says in the preview, evocative of The Breakfast Club; how can I resist? The kids look pretty charming.

I'm also stoked for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Sex and the City: The Movie (obviously), Get Smart, and The Dark Knight, but figured they were getting, or gonna get, enough publicity already and you are probably all too aware of their existence and sick of it.

Coming Soon

I'm one of those ridiculously anal people who goes to the movies not only for the main show, but for the previews. In fact, if I'm getting to the movie too late, I might just see something else for fear I miss not only the beginning of the film, but the previews as well. I love getting those small, but tantalizing peaks into the future and getting excited for what's to come. I really love it when I've never heard of the film and the preview is a complete and wondrous surprise. That happened to me with Atonement and I immediately looked it up when I got home and waited impatiently for it to arrive in theaters. That experience is essential to my love of not only film, but going to the theater. So here are some of the trailers I've seen recently that have me whetting my appetite.

THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL: I've always enjoyed historical epics, but over the last few years have become especially fascinated with the rule of England in the 16th and 17th centuries. So this film about the Boleyn sisters (Mary and Anne, the latter who would become King Henry VIII's second wife, and mother of Elizabeth I) seems perfect for me, not to mention it stars Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman.



THE DARK KNIGHT: My enthusiasm for this film has been somewhat dampened by Heath Ledger's recent death, but nonetheless, I am so excited for this movie. The Batman series has always been my favorite superhero franchise, and Christopher Nolan has done a stupendous job re-energizing it. Christian Bale is a great Batman, and it looks like Ledger and Aaron Eckert will be wonderfully scary villains. Plus, they replaced Katie Holmes with Maggie Gyllenhaal, which will be a marked improvement in the acting category.



DEFIANCE: This is a story about WWII, but it doesn't look like a version I've seen before. Apparently based on a true story, this one follows three Russian brothers who protect and hide Jews while training them for combat. It stars Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jaime Bell as the brothers. All great actors.



LEATHERHEADS: Directed by and starring George Clooney, and co-starring Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski! this is about the origins of professional football, with Clooney and Jim as teammates fighting over the same girl. It looks like a good time and the trailer makes me laugh.


STOP-LOSS: Heather told me about this one first and I finally saw it last week. I was originally excited about the eye candy (Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt), but after seeing the preview, I'm intrigued by the story about Iraq veterans whose tours are continuously extended.



I'm also psyched about Wanted, The Duchess, Charlie Bartlett, Speed Racer and Mamma Mia. I noticed they are remaking Prom Night and it's only rated PG-13. Come on! A decent horror movie should at least be rated R! I'm not talking a good thriller or suspense film, but HORROR! Especially a remake. Come on...

Here's my favorite trailer for Across the Universe. It came out on DVD this week, and this version has one of my favorite songs and sequences from the film.