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I Melt With You Trailer: Jeremy Piven and Rob Lowe Let Loose

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The new trailer for I Melt with You has premiered and gives an insight into the emotional bromance picture. I Melt with You stars Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Thomas Jane and Christian McKay as friends whose annual trip to Big Sur unleashes inner turmoil and an emotional expose.

I Melt with You Poster
In I Melt with You, four college friends spend a week together every year in Big Sur to mark another year of friendship. As the week goes on, with a fair share of partying and sloth, it becomes clear that these four forty-somethings aren’t exactly thrilled with where they are in life.

As their honesty becomes more and more pronounced, a promise that was made in their past comes to be revealed and sends the quartet down on a dark road.

I Melt With You lands on Magnolia On-Demand November 4, then in theaters December 9.


The Ides of March: George Clooney Chats with Movie Fanatic

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George Clooney chose the play Farragut North as his next venture into the double duty of acting and directing. On screen, we know it as The Ides of March and Clooney sits down with Movie Fanatic at the Toronto Film Festival to chat about how after Good Night and Good Luck, the political thriller caught his fancy.

George Clooney Stars in The Ides of March
Clooney was the toast of Toronto with Ides of March, but also his poignant turn in The Descendants. But on this day at the Lightbox building in downtown Toronto, Clooney is all about Ides and his stellar cast that includes Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and Philip Seymour Hoffman (most recently seen in Moneyball).

Movie Fanatic: Is there a big difference between George Clooney the actor and George Clooney the director? And is there a secret to being a great director?

George Clooney: He's pretty much the same guy as George Clooney the actor [laughs] -- basically the same height, same hair, pretty much the same. I'm lucky enough to work with a great number of actors who elevate the project. That's the secret to being a great director.

Movie Fanatic: So, what how did you secure such a stellar cast?

George Clooney: I had some pictures of a few of them in compromising positions so I got them to say yes [laughs]. Actually some of them together, but that'a something we'll let you figure out. They liked the script. They wanted to do the part, so you get out of the way.

Movie Fanatic: Did you base your character on any particular politician?

George Clooney: No, there really weren't. Some of the speeches I used were some of the things my dad used to write about in the late 70s in the newspaper. And the idea that he had these issues that he had, seem to pop up every week. People think it's about the John Edwards thing, but this was written before the John Edwards thing even broke.

George Clooney in The Ides of March

Movie Fanatic: Do your own political views influence what you do on film?

George Clooney: Not particularly. I didn't think of this as really a political film, I thought of this as a film about sort of moral choices, not about political strife. I thought it was a fun moral tale, and once you put it in politics it sort of amps up the problems. I thought that was fun.

Movie Fanatic: The film makes it difficult to become idealistic. What are you trying to say?

George Clooney: [Laughs] In general it takes about two years to get a film made. Mostly we're reflecting the moods of our country and our world. And if this film reflects some of the cynicism, that's probably good, it's not a bad thing to hold up a mirror to our politicians. But that wasn't what the film was designed to do. There isn't a person you have met that hasn't been met with moral questions. Everyone makes moral choices to better themselves and hurt others along the way and whether the means justifies the ends. And whether that’s on Wall Street -- it could have been better in Wall Street -- anywhere, that was our point.

Movie Fanatic: Do you think the system is broken? Can the two parties in the U.S. get along?

George Clooney: I think it's cyclical. I think we're at a period of time where it's probably not our best moment in politics. But if you look at the things Jefferson and Adams did to each other, the 1800 election was pretty rotten and evil. Things change and are cyclical, so I'm hopeful.

Movie Fanatic: How do you think this film speaks to our world today?

George Clooney: People think that films somehow are trying to lead society. Mostly we're reflecting the moods and thoughts that are going on in our country and around the world. It's not a bad thing to hold a mirror up and look at some of the things we're doing.

Movie Fanatic: Did you enjoy filming in Ann Arbor?

George Clooney: We loved it there. First of all, Ann Arbor is an amazing city. We got there on St. Patrick’s Day and everyone was drinking beer and everyone was screwed up. I was like, “This town was made for me [laughs].”

Movie Fanatic: And you also filmed in Detroit, talk about a town fighting to stay alive…

George Clooney: When you go to Detroit, you see a town that is resilient. They’re just fighting to win again and there’s an energy to that. Just watching a city really fighting to get back on its feet and watching the inner strength of a city is tremendous.

Movie Fanatic: There seems to be so many examples in real life of how what happened in The Ides of March could be tomorrow’s headlines. Do you think this sort of thing happens all the time and did you insert that into your story?

George Clooney: There's just so many ways to get in trouble with this answer [laughs]. There were enough examples that we just picked little pieces of whatever we wanted.

DVD Release: Fast Five, Tarantino's Classics Hit Blu-Ray

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It’s a DVD and Blu-Ray bounty this week as one of the year’s biggest hits (Fast Five) comes home and one of the greatest films of the 1990s (Pulp Fiction) finally lands on Blu-Ray.

Fast Five: Five Five brought the entire franchise’s cast back and added Dwayne Johnson for what was undoubtedly the best of the series. The gang heads to Rio to attempt a heist with a $100 million payoff. Incredible action and the powerful repartee between Johnson and star Vin Diesel makes this Fast film electric.

Fast Five Blu-Ray
Buck: A documentary that not only captures Dan Brannaman’s horse trainer’s impeccable methods, but also how those lessons transfer to life, is a joy to witness. The film had a pretty successful run in theaters over the summer, and should enjoy a wider audience on home video.

Buck Blu-Ray
Scream 4: The fourth in the Scream franchise stars the big three from the series: David Arquette, Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox. This time out, filmmaker Wes Craven has Campbell returning home to the town where it all began, and you guessed it: Ghost Face begins to extol his wrath once again. Smart, if not often times predictable, Scream 4 is a worthy addition to the franchise.

Scream 4 Blu-Ray
African Cats: DisneyNature is achieving greatness once again with its Earth Day release of African Cats. Never has a documentary taken audiences inside the world of African Cats as DisneyNature achieves in this pic.

African Cats Blu-Ray
Pulp Fiction/Jackie Brown: Quentin Tarantino releases two of his greatest films on Blu-Ray for the first time. Check back with Movie Fanatic later for our complete review of this astounding set.

Pulp Fiction Blu-Ray
The Lion King: The fall's box office champ finally comes out on Blu-Ray. The astounding transition from film to Blu-Ray shows why Disney is at the top of its game with home video. Check out the Movie Fanatic The Lion King Blu-Ray review.

The Lion King Blu-Ray

Three New Puss in Boots Images: One Cool Cat

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As the release date for Puss in Boots gets ever closer (check out the Puss in Boots trailer), audiences get more and more from Paramount Pictures. Whether its three new images, like we have today, or Puss in Boots commercial parodies than ran last week, audiences have to have cat scratch fever that is only going to get worse as the October 28 premiere date gets ever closer.

Our first image has our favorite film cat giving his icy stare as a full moon shines its light behind him. The night is his, and so is this first full length Puss in Boots film. No sight of that Shrek guy anywhere.

Antonio Banderas stars in Puss in Boots
Next up in the Puss in Boots new photo trifecta, is Puss battling an enemy with his usual flair and panache. Puss in Boots also stars Salma Hayek as Kitty Southpaws and Jack Galifianakis as Humpty Dumpty.

Kitty Southpaws and Puss in Boots
Lastly, we have Puss enjoying his favorite beverage while still sporting his sword ready to defend justice.

Puss in Boots Still

Real Steel: Sugar Ray Leonard Keeps Film Boxing Real

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Sugar Ray Leonard walks into a room and the man charms. Sure, he’s a cultural icon having achieved the moniker of one of the best boxers ever. It was that pedigree and his easy demeanor that made him the perfect choice to serve as boxing coach and choreographer for Hugh Jackman and the robot boxers of Real Steel.

Dakota Goyo and Sugar Ray Leonard at Real Steel Premiere
Leonard spoke with Movie Fanatic at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills recently and let us in on a few secrets about filming the Real Steel robot boxing tale that is equally a compelling father and son story. The champ dishes what Jackman (don't miss our Hugh Jackman interview) brought to the table, his first reaction upon seeing his boxing moves in living color as executed by the robots Atom, Zeus and the others as well as answers the question: What are his favorite boxing movies?

Movie Fanatic: Hugh Jackman’s father was a boxer. How did you find him when you got in the ring to train him?

Sugar Ray Leonard: Hugh wanted to look the part. It was my objective to not really go through the punches and everything, I wanted him to know and feel like what it was to be a fighter or a trainer. The key was when he did throw the punches, or shadow box with Atom, that he had to exhibit in his face that power and speed. He had to surrender, stop being Hugh Jackman -- that guy on Broadway -- that was the only way it would resonate and come across the screen.

Movie Fanatic: How was it different getting him ready then to be a trainer of Atom, the robot?

Sugar Ray Leonard: That too, because a trainer and a fighter is a special relationship because they trust each other. But, there’s also an intimacy whereas at some point you don’t always have to talk to your fighter, you look at him. And you know what he’s thinking. I had that same relationship with my trainer back in the day. Once he pulled that off, I knew the rest would be easy.

Movie Fanatic: Fighting is about heart too, how do you know when they have a heart of a fighter?



Sugar Ray Leonard: Once they hit that defining moment when there’s a point in a bout – whether he goes down or suffers a cut – that’s when you see that intestinal fortitude. That ability to reach down and grab that thing we call energy. I do motivational speaking all the time and use boxing as a metaphor. The difference with people who make it, is that much of a difference it’s that person who wants it that much more who is going to through the pain that allows him or her to reach down and continue towards success. That was another thing that I was trying to the convey to Hugh.

Movie Fanatic: How interested in the movie business are you?

Sugar Ray Leonard at the Real Steel Premiere
Sugar Ray Leonard: I’m a fighter and I love boxing, but this was brought to my attention by Stacey Snider (DreamWorks executive), our kids go to the same school. At a parents teacher meeting -- I do go to those things [laughs] – she had a script in her hand and said, “I think I have something for you.” Once I read it I thought this is great. When I got on set, I saw these guys on stilts with motion capture suits. I still didn’t get it with the robots. At some point when I was choreographing and looked on the robots and I saw robots doing what I choreographed, I said, “Holy (expletive)!” This is it! Because of technology, these robots can really throw the punches. It’s not like back in the day with Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em. If they had that capability, we would have sucked [laughs].

Movie Fanatic: Did you have to change your boxing style to fit the robots in Real Steel?

Sugar Ray Leonard: None at all. In fact, I gave all of them a real signature move that one robot would hit the other robot below the belt, real low, I said that’s a good punch… you feel it! Atom reminds me so much of myself because he’s a little, quiet guy like me. So, there’s a few of my punches in there with Atom.

Movie Fanatic: You’re so integral into this film working as well as it does. What other boxing movies struck a chord with you?

Sugar Ray Leonard: The boxing, there are few, that really hit home with me and really resonated with me is The Champ. I cry every time I see it. I love it. Raging Bull was another. The Hurricane I thought Denzel Washington did a superb job. Rocky, have to give it to Sly. I saw Rocky the night before my first professional fight. I was not the underdog. It was about the heart -- that really got me. And The Fighter, that was a great movie too. Certain movies really hit home. Not because they execute the punches the right way, it’s because of this [points to his heart].

Movie Fanatic: Would you ever be interested in producing your own animated boxing film where you could just create a world by scratch? I think that would rock!

Sugar Ray Leonard: Would you finance it? [Laughs] I’m in such a great place in my life, this has been a special experience with Real Steel. It happened at a point in my life where I was able to really enjoy it. This part of my journey… it’s going to look great on my resume [laughs]. Working with cast, the crew, it has been truly awesome.


Movie Fanatic: Each robot has a different style. Where did you get the inspiration for those styles?

Sugar Ray Leonard: Zeus was without question, George Foreman. I pulled a piece of (Marvin) Hagler here, a little bit of (Roberto) Duran there, a bit of Tommy Hearns.

Movie Fanatic: Lastly, do you miss boxing?

Sugar Ray Leonard: I don’t miss getting hit [laughs]. But I do miss the camaraderie and the strategy. I was really good at that.

The Lion King Blu-Ray Review: Beautiful

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The Lion King Blu-Ray is a work of art. It is astounding on many levels, but foremost: Who knew colors could be so vibrant?

The Lion King Blu-Ray Still
The Lion King finally arrives on Blu-Ray for a limited run from the Disney vault. Movie Fanatic cannot stress enough how important this Blu-Ray is for any movie fanatic’s home video collection.

The film famously landed in theaters for a box office record breaking run a few weeks ago in 3D utilizing the format better than most films out today. To witness the level of excellence on the Blu-Ray release only further shows why fans flocked to theaters to see a film they’ve witnessed a hundred times.

The Lion King Blu-Ray already has us thinking it is one of the year’s best home video releases. Not only for its crispness of sounds and visuals, but also the extensive extras that made it impossible to put down the Blu-Ray remote.

We received The Lion King in the Blu-Ray and DVD combo pack. The Blu-Ray features astound. There are four never released deleted scenes that for any fan will only add to the love they have for the film. The Lion King Blu-Ray even has a deleted song and given the fact that the film won Oscars for its music, the new track is a terrific treat. The home video release also includes rare insight from producer Don Hahn through his The Lion King: A Memoir. And Movie Fanatic adores when animated films come home on video and include a blooper reel -- simply, brilliant.

As is the case with most Disney flicks that have a great score, the Blu-Ray features the always fun Disney Sing Along Mode, which allows viewers to join in on the musical merriment of The Lion King. And again, considering the quality of the music, not to mention its place in the pop culture landscape, the Sing Along Mode has never felt so fine as it does on The Lion King.

Arthur Christmas Trailer Premiers: Movie Fanatic Marks Christmas in October

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Arthur Christmas doesn’t arrive in theaters until November 23, but Movie Fanatic was treated yesterday to the first 30 minutes of the animated film. Not only that, but Sony Pictures Animation threw a wonderful celebration fete, complete with Christmas cookies!

James McAvoy is Arthur in Arthur Christmas
What we took away from the first third of the film is Arthur Christmas has the potential to be an instant Christmas classic. The animation is stellar, the storytelling top notch and the acting performances by the cast led by James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Bill Nighy and Ashley Jensen brings the entire film a sense of warmth and wonderment.

Jensen was in attendance and greeted us with a level of excitement that was contagious.

“When I first started doing this film, years ago, I just had a baby and I was voicing to literally light drawings,” Jensen said. “Each time I went in, they animation became richer and more vivid to what we just saw today. I think it’s a wonderful and exciting Christmas film. It’s got magic dust in it. It’s got Santa in it! It’s a warm happy very festive film for the whole family.”

The uniqueness of Arthur Christmas is how the film takes audiences into the world of Santa Claus and how he manages to deliver billions of presents across the globe in one single magical evening. It is established that there have been about a dozen Santas since the first Christmas, each entrusted with the task of achieving the impossible.

On this particular Christmas, the current heir to the Santa throne, Steve (Laurie) is seen orchestrating a hi-tech gifting assault from the North Pole command center that goes off without a flaw as his father successfully closes another Christmas with the phrase, “Mission Accomplished.”

The only thing is Arthur, Santa’s second born son, discovers that a little girl in England had her present left behind. What’s he to do? With Grand Santa -- his grandfather -- in tow, they set off on an adventure to ensure that every little boy and girl enjoys the miracle of Christmas.

Ashley Jensen Celebrates Arthur Christmas
Arthur Christmas will be premiering in 3D and comes from Aardman Animations (Wallace and Gromit) as well as Sony Pictures Animation.

Immediately following the 30 minute tease, Movie Fanatic headed out into the “cold” of Sony Studios where snow dotted the landscape, carolers sang Christmas’ greatest hits and children made Christmas cookies to utter delight. It is this kind of environment that is sure to foster another smash hit for the studio that recently enjoyed The Smurfs box office success.

Outside at the Christmas event, Jensen captured the spirit impeccably.

“Christmas is all around us, we even have real snow,” Jensen proudly stated. “I always think it’s a little bit funny to be in California at Christmas. Me, coming from Scotland, it’s a little bit strange not having to wear sweaters, coats, scarves and hats. But here, the sun is shining, this is rather nice because you can enjoy Christmas, but you don’t have to hap yourself up, as I would say.”

Arthur Christmas Event
Like a child’s joy on Christmas morning, you can imagine our thrill when we awoke to a brand new Arthur Christmas trailer. We bring it to you below! Merry Christmas everyone (in October!).

The Ides of March Exclusive: Max Minghella Visits Movie Fanatic

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Max Minghella is visiting with Movie Fanatic at the Toronto Film Festival for an exclusive chat about The Ides of March and lets us in on how it was being directed by the one and only George Clooney.

Max Minghella in The Ides of March
Minghella had seen the play Ides of March is based on, Farragut North, several times. So, when word got out there was a movie being made, he made sure he could be in the film. As the son of a director, Best Director Oscar winner Anthony Minghella, he keenly knew what a good director can do for a film. He saw that quality in Clooney and trusted him completely to not only direct him as Ben Harpen -- political aide to Clooney’s presidential candidate -- but also to bring a play he adored to the big screen.

Movie Fanatic: When you first read the script for The Ides of March, what was it that first spoke to you about that film?

Max Minghella: I had seen the play in New York twice and in L.A. twice. I found out there was a film happening. There were various attempts at the movie and I didn’t think it would ever come together. Then I found out it was going to happen. I just wanted to read it out of curiosity as a fan of the original material. Then I remembered there was this little part in the play that carried over to the movie. I just wanted to play that part really badly so I put myself out there.

Movie Fanatic: How do you think the film fits in with our current political climate in the U.S.? It’s kind of volatile to say the least.

Max Minghella: It’s incredibly pertinent in a very on the nose way, but, also in other ways. What was interesting about the film, and politics for that matter, is you’ve got a mass group of people you’re trying to convince of an ethical position. It’s normally a good thing that comes from a good place. But, then you have to figure out how to manipulate everyone to get everybody on board with this idea that for whatever reason, they might not understand it’s the right thing. I think somewhere in that process, you lose track of what the original idea was in the first place and it becomes about the game. It’s kind of a fun game. I think that’s interesting. I hope it will make the world more passionate about the role of politics in our lives. How it is and how it dissolves and how it gets confused. Anything that sheds light on something in a smart and honest way is helpful.

Movie Fanatic: I agree, and in some ways you can see it in some of the Obama fans who may feel disillusioned by what’s happening versus the hope that was promised. Like you said, there’s a game that starts with ideas. Do you think that the same ideas raised by the play made it into The Ides of March?

George Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Max Minghella in The Ides of March
Max Minghella: Absolutely. The film is mesmerizing. Sometimes play on film feel like plays on film. George has done a great job elevating the material and making it something different. It’s bigger. It feels like a movie to me. It doesn’t feel like you’re watching a play made into a movie. Yet, it still maintains what I loved about the play Farragut North.

Movie Fanatic: Two questions about George (don't miss our The Ides of March George Clooney interview). How did you find his set and him as director?

Max Minghella: He’s very practical. He doesn’t do a lot of takes. He has a very clear idea of what he needs to get out of the scene and what he doesn’t need to get out of a scene. He makes his actors feel really safe. Plus, his movies are really good. He is so intelligent and you feel that he has amazing taste and you can relax and give yourself up to somebody. At the same time, anytime he gave you direction, it always felt right to me. It always felt smart and help me get to where I was trying to go.

Movie Fanatic: The second part of the question is, as an actor, what does it mean to have a director who is an actor?

Max Minghella: Yeah, he probably gets it a little more. He always exactly understood what I was trying to do. It helped me figure it out. Some very practical things that were astounding -- like he would say, “Take the cell phone out a little bit later.” Tiny little things, but those are the things that can really help an actor. Those little bits, moments, that makes it all feel real. He’s very good at pinpointing the little things.

Movie Fanatic: For am movie like this where you were a fan of the play and worked so hard on it as a film as an actor, as it’s about to released to the public, what are your feelings and emotions as the world is about to discover The Ides of March?


Max Minghella: You have no idea how people are going to react to something. It doesn’t change how I feel about it, honestly. I think all I care about is what I think of it. If it’s something I’m proud of that I want my family and friends to see, those are the thoughts I have. I could love this film and think it’s brilliant and people could find ways to dislike it. This is a movie that people could want to hate. It’s a really easy movie for people to hate. It’s like a political campaign. It’s got nothing to do with what the message was in the first place. It’s about how do you manage the politics of it. It’s funny, over time you realize that. It doesn’t make you happy when people love it and it doesn’t make you depressed when they don’t.

Movie Fanatic: What do you look for in a script that makes you want to be a part of it?

Max Minghella: It’s a lot of things. Am I going to want to go to work with these people? I am excited about it. Do you trust the director? As an actor, you have very little control over the final product. So, is this someone you trust? Also, I ask myself: Am I the right person for this? Sometimes you’re not. It’s about how you can contribute usefully.


Real Steel Movie Review: A Cheer in Your Seat Flick

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The surprise of 2011, in terms of movie expectations versus what we experience in the theater, has to be Real Steel. Hugh Jackman is at his best as a former boxer with one more shot at the title. The film is a triumph of the spirit and will leave you cheering in your seat!

Real Steel: Robot Boxing
Real Steel follows Jackman’s Charlie, a former boxer who came close to being the champ right as the sport of boxing moved from humans to robots who could inflect more damage on each other - something for which the public was yearning.

The film’s opening sequence expertly introduces the characters and how Charlie is desperate to get behind a robot winner. It is here that actor Kevin Durand shows why he is one of Hollywood’s most underrated actors. He becomes one of Charlie’s nemeses. That’s just it, there are so many people who are wishing ill on Jackman’s character that there seems to be no life jacket to pull him to safety.

Family and the bond that is shared between blood relatives is a theme of Real Steel. At its heart it is a father and son story, although it is also a Rocky like tale of boxing supremacy when the David takes on Goliath. The combination of the two elements makes Real Steel one of the film year’s biggest unexpected gifts.

The technology of the film is also impressive. Real Steel’s robots each have their own personalities, boxing styles and movements that recall some of boxing’s greatest. Never for one moment is there doubt that what eyes are seeing in the ring is nothing less than an all out brawl for victory, regardless of whether the competitors are robots or humans.

Jackman sizzles, but so does his supporting cast. Spotlights are deserved for Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie and in a break out movie moment, Dakota Goyo as the 11-year-old son Jackman has to take responsibility for when his mother dies.

Real Steel takes place in a not so distant future. The American heartland is still as it is today, yet director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Date Night), lays out a film that possesses the little things to have us believe Real Steel’s landscape is beyond our time - but within grasp of what is real. So many films with future landscape forget that technological progress is slow, even if it seems otherwise. Real Steel plays within those boundaries and is just another example of how when the devil is in the details, this film doesn’t stray from staying true to itself.

Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo in Real Steel

The triumph of Real Steel is not that it exceeds expectations. As we heard from the film’s boxing consultant in our Sugar Ray Leonard interview, the key to a good boxer and a good boxing film is heart.

Jackman’s latest is so full of that mojo that the journey inspires the audience through its fictional storyline to comprehend that life is one knock down away from being over. Yet, with the right fortitude, anyone can get up and and still raise their fists in victory.

The Adventures of Tintin: New International Trailer Debuts

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The Adventures of Tintin has debuted its latest trailer, and it’s a UK sneak peak from the highly anticipated animated film.

The Adventures of Tintin: New Still
Any film from the creative teaming of Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson has to garner attention. With Jackson producing and Spielberg directing, Tintin already looks like a winner.

Toss in the fact that it has Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jamie Bell, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook providing the vocal work and you’ve got a Christmas present that arrives on December 21.

Bell plays is a journalist who never backs down from finding the truth. That passion lands him on the adventure of a lifetime.

Mission Impossible 4 Gets an IMAX Early Release

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Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is due to premiere in theaters December 21. But Paramount Pictures announced today that a giant version of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) will arrive days earlier on December 16  on IMAX screens. Good timing, as Movie Fanatic just debuted the Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol IMAX poster!

Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 4
Mission Impossible 4 is the fourth in the series that is based on the popular television series from the early days of the format. Cruise brought the Ethan Hunt character into a more modern, hi-tech world of super-spying and the franchise has banked oodles of dollars ever since.

Anticipation is high for Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, so it is not surprising that the studio feels they have a winner on their hands and by releasing the film five days early on the biggest film format available, it can only feed that fire.

Disney's Doing it Again: Rereleasing Modern Classics in 3D!

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Disney and Disney Pixar favorites are about to go through what The Lion King did so successfully: They’re getting a 3D makeover and being rereleased on the big screen. This news is hardly a surprise, given the fact that The Lion King 3D has cracked the top 10 highest grossing movies of all time. But, why this is a win for audiences is because the 3D technology used in The Lion King 3D was exquisite and honestly made us yearn for more Disney delights in 3D.

The Cast of Monsters, Inc
Disney and its partners at Pixar announced that they are bringing The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. and Beauty and the Beast back to theaters in the 3D format in 2012 and 2013.

“Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we’re fortunate to have a treasure trove of both,” president of the Walt Disney Studios Alan Bergman said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D – and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen.”

The 3D rerelease schedule is as follows:

Beauty and the Beast: January 13, 2012
Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo: September 14, 2012
Disney-Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.: January 18, 2013
The Little Mermaid: September 13, 2013

First Photo: Russell Crowe in Costume as Jor-El in Man of Steel

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The wait is over as we are finally catching a glimpse of one of our favorite actors, Russell Crowe, tackling one of our favorite franchises, Superman. The first photos of Crowe in costume as Jor-El have arrived and we have to admit: He looks pretty sharp!

Russell Crowe on Man of Steel Set
Warner Bros is shooting its Man of Steel reboot in Vancouver with Henry Cavill as the title character. Superman is also known by his real name, Kal-El, son of Jor-El. The casting of Crowe as Superman’s pa is a stroke of brilliance. If anyone can step into the shoes of the 1970s Jor-El (Marlon Brando), it’s the Oscar winner from Australia.

Man of Steel will be busy for quite some time as the release date for the film isn’t until June 14, 2013. Its cast is an impressive one including Cavill and Crowe, but also Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburne. And who could forget our villain -- General Zod -- as played by Michael Shannon, who told Movie Fanatic about it exclusively!

Ryan Gosling Talks to Movie Fanatic about The Ides of March

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The Ides of March is truly a Ryan Gosling movie. George Clooney may star as a Pennsylvania governor running for president during the pivotal Ohio primary, but it is Gosling’s political aide who lies at the heart of what is The Ides of March. Gosling visited with Movie Fanatic and takes us inside the Clooney set and what it was like working opposite such an astounding cast including Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright and Max Minghella.

Ryan Gosling in The Ides of March
The actor is having quite a year. He recently starred in Drive -- don’t miss our Ryan Gosling Drive interview -- and scored a summer box office hit in Crazy, Stupid, Love. But it is his work on The Ides of March that should land him a spot at the Kodak Theatre as an Oscar nominee.

In our Movie Fanatic interview, Gosling talks about Ides, his next picture, Gangster Squad, as well as what it meant to him to act opposite a star in Clooney who was also the film’s director.

Movie Fanatic: You have a lot of one-on-one scenes opposite Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, George, Philip and so on. As an actor how do you prepare for that volley and what did it mean to you?

Ryan Gosling: It meant I was scared every day. Obviously Phil, but Marisa too, she’s one of my favorite actors. She’s never bad. To me, she’s like Gene Hackman. She’s never been bad. You can’t find a bad Marisa performance, no matter how bad the film is. She’s always great. The same is true of Paul and same with Jeffrey Wright. I did learn a lot from them but they’re secrets. I don’t want any other actors to know.

Movie Fanatic: Did you discover anything about yourself or filmmaking during this process?

Ryan Gosling: I learned a lot from everybody. But I learned a lot from Philip Seymour Hoffman. Watching him work was something that I really needed… He puts it all on the line, every take. And that’s rare.

Movie Fanatic: What kind of research did you do to get into your character’s head?

Ryan Gosling: This film really is in George’s wheelhouse so I just talked a lot with George about it and he gave us a lot of documentaries and books to read. I talked to some people that want to remain nameless but I had a lot of help.

Movie Fanatic: Was it more important for you to work with George on this or tackle the subject matter?

Ryan Gosling: The subject matter was interesting but I was really compelled by working with George and this cast. I think it’s a very interesting subject matter. And what I think is interesting about it is it’s not a political film. You don’t have to know anything about politics to enjoy it. It’s a thriller. It’s supposed to be a good time at the movies. It could be set on Wall Street or in Hollywood.

Movie Fanatic: What’s the difference between working with a film school trained director and one who also acts, as George does in the film?

Ryan Gosling and George Cloony on The Ides of March Set
Ryan Gosling: I’ve never worked with an actor-director before and so this was my first time. And also it’s hard to compare it. There’s no one like George so I can’t imagine if I worked with another actor-director it would be a similar experience. He’s a very unique guy. He’s doing so much all at once. He’s the director. He’s the producer. He’s the writer. He’s the star. He’s working on his project with satellites above the Sudan. He’s got 10 practical jokes in the works at all times. I don’t know how he does it.

Movie Fanatic: George was wearing so many hats in this film, did you feel comfortable approaching him with any question?

Ryan Gosling: That’s the amazing thing is he never felt anything but present. He was multi-tasking and wearing so many hats and yet all he wanted to talk about was the scene and your performance.

Movie Fanatic: George is a notorious prankster. Did he pull any on you?

Ryan Gosling: Sure. It’s always on the verge of happening. You have to keep your eye out. There was a certain point we had a Nerf gun behind the camera and if he didn’t like a take, he’d shoot.

Movie Fanatic: This film could be seen as reflecting society’s feeling that politics are broken. Do you think the little guy can still make a difference?

Ryan Gosling: I’d hate to think it’s hopeless. Ides of March is more a cautionary tale, I guess. His dilemma is a real one in that he wants to be effective, he wants to effect change in the country but he can only be effective in the White House. And if his candidate is not going to get there, that presents a real moral dilemma for him. Does he dance with the one who brought him or does he jump ship and get into office so he can change people’s lives?

Movie Fanatic: So do the ends justify the means?

Ryan Gosling: That is the question -- the idea of necessary evils. After severing your heart from your brain, is it possible to ever reconnect them again?

Movie Fanatic: Have you ever taken any jobs just for the money, like your character flirts with?

Ryan Gosling: Yeah, when I was a kid, I did everything for the money. I didn’t really want to be an actor, I just wanted the money. I did that from when I was 12 to 18 or 19. Then at a certain point, my mother said, “You’ve worked enough for money -- so now, don’t ever do that again. You’ve done enough of that already.” So I tried to take her advice.

Movie Fanatic: Many child stars don’t make it to the next part of a career.

Ryan Gosling: It’s hard to make the jump from being a child actor to an adult actor because it’s hard to change people’s perceptions of you. If I hadn’t gotten The Believer, if Henry Bean wasn’t crazy and hadn’t hired me because I was the worst choice for the role and liked that idea [laughs]… I was gift-wrapped a career. That’s what you dream of. Because all I had done was children’s television. Trying to make films, it was very difficult. So that movie was a real gift for me. Evan (Rachel Wood) has really made the transition really elegantly as well but I think it’s because she never really was a kid. I think we always saw the woman in her so then she didn’t really have to change anyone’s ideas. Everyone knew it and they were just waiting for it to come out.

Movie Fanatic: Would you say that money’s not an issue anymore?

Ryan Gosling: I like you too much to talk about money [laughs].

Movie Fanatic: You have great chemistry with Evan Rachel Wood. Did you two get along well?

Ryan Gosling: We got along like a house on fire. She’s really special. She’s one hell of an actress and kind of a genius. I think she has a photographic memory. Her mind is a scary place [laughs].

Movie Fanatic: What else do you have coming up?

Ryan Gosling: I’m doing a film right now called Gangster Squad which is a 1950s gangster picture with Ruben Fleischer (director) and Sean Penn plays Mickey Cohen. It’s got a great cast. Josh Brolin is the lead and Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Patrick, Emma Stone, Michael Pena. Nick Nolte just signed on, that’s pretty exciting.

Ryan Gosling Stars in The Ides of March
Movie Fanatic: What’s your role?

Ryan Gosling: I’m still trying to figure that out [laughs]. I’m on it right now and it’s a mystery to me.

Movie Fanatic: What makes a film the next one for Ryan Gosling?

Ryan Gosling: For me now it’s all about the filmmaker. If you’re not on the same page as the filmmaker there’s no point in doing the film. I used to think that you could still get your point of view in somehow but it doesn’t really work. I’ve got Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine director), I’ve got Nicolas (Drive director). In some way, I’ve been dating filmmakers for the last 10 years and now I want to get married.

Movie Fanatic: Finally, I want to congratulate you on that last scene in The Ides of March, because you did the whole thing with your eyes. Your eyes were dead, it was great.

Ryan Gosling: I give good dead eyes [laughs]. It’s on my list of special skills next to horseback riding.

The Help Comes Home on DVD and Blu-Ray

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For those who missed one of the best films of 2011 in theaters -- The Help -- there is good news today from Disney. The Help will be released on Blu-Ray, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand on December 6.

Emma Stone in The Help
The Help became a surprise box office smash this past summer and has already been honored for awards including the Hollywood Film Awards for its ensemble cast. Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Sissy Spacek, Jessica Chastain and Bryce Dallas Howard (who dishes to us exclusively about The Help) came together and created movie magic with The Help’s big screen adaptation from the beloved bestseller by Kathryn Stockett.

Not many movies get as funny, heartfelt and inspiring as The Help achieved in its story of volatile race relations in the 1960s South. Stone’s character befriends some Jackson, Mississippi maids in an effort to bring their stories of hardship and racism to the masses through a collection of vignettes she chronicles in a book by the same name as the film.


Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown Blu-Ray Review: Tarantino's Triumphs

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Quentin Tarantino has gone to his vault and released, for the first time, two of the films that defined him: Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. The first went down as one of the best, if not the best, film of the 1990s and influenced an entire generation. So, how do both Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown hold up on their long awaited Blu-Ray release?

Pulp Fiction on Blu-Ray
Both films went through a remastering directly under the supervision of Tarantino. Each offers bonus materials that have never before been seen.

Pulp Fiction: The arrival of Pulp Fiction on Blu-Ray is reason to cheer. For many, it is a film that stands above all others in the spectrum of a genre-defining movie. The film gave John Travolta a career boost and made Samuel L. Jackson a superstar. Pulp Fiction quotes permeate the landscape, even over a decade after the film’s release.

The Pulp Fiction Blu-Ray includes some extras that will be mind-blowing for the film’s rabid fan base. Some of the incredible features on the Blu-Ray include Tarantino’s Palm d’Or Best Picture speech at the Cannes Film Festival. The entire cast has gathered for a new set of interviews on the film that each paint clearly had a huge impact on their career. Also of note is a new “Critic’s Retrospective” that takes viewers inside the world of Pulp Fiction and why it is the important film it has been established to be.

Other don’t-misses on the Blu-Ray are the enhanced trivia track -- sure to be a highlight for those who think they know everything about the Pulp Fiction world -- the entire Charlie Rose interview with Tarantino from when the film was released, behind-the-scenes looks as well as deleted scenes, which all sizzle with the power that should be afforded a Blu-Ray release of this magnitude.

Movie Fanatic is proud to present a behind the scenes video showing Tarantino doing a little dancing of his own while filming Pulp Fiction's iconic Travolta-Uma Thurman dance scene.

Jackie Brown: Jackie Brown showed a softer, although still violent side of Quentin Tarantino. He again sought to reinvigorate a career as he did with Travolta in Pulp with his casting of Pam Grier and Robert Forster -- both huge stars of 1970s cinema. It too featured an all-star cast that added an icon to the fray in Robert De Niro.

Jackie Brown Blu-Ray
Jackie Brown doesn’t carry the weight of Pulp Fiction, but it is still a fantastic film. The soundtrack continued Tarantino’s use of music as a metaphor for what is happening onscreen. The film also marked a departure for him, as it was not original material. Tarantino adapted Elmore Leonard’s classic novel.

The extras on Jackie Brown bring the heat. Like Pulp Fiction’s Blu-Ray extras, there’s a never before seen “Critic’s Retrospective” that puts the film in historical perspective. There are the usual deleted and alternate scenes, but why these are so special on a Tarantino Blu-Ray is it almost serves as a filmmaking master class in how to create fantastic scenes -- yet Tarantino still had the presence of mind as a filmmaker to cut them from the final product.

And now as a bonus from the Jackie Brown Blu-Ray, we present a video from the home video showing Tarantino talking about the addition of De Niro to the Tarantino universe.

Dirty Girl Exclusive: Video Q&A with Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier

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The stars of Dirty Girl, Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier, sat down for an exclusive video interview with Movie Fanatic to talk about their heartfelt comedy that opens October 7.

Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier in Dirty Girl
The independent film takes place in Norman, Oklahoma, circa 1987 and comes from the mind of writer-director Abe Sylvia. Sylvia grew up in that community during that time, so it was quite easy for him to capture the spirit of the time and locale (don’t miss our exclusive video interview with him October 6).

In Dirty Girl, Temple is Danielle, a teenager with more than a little attitude, being raised by her single mother played by Milla Jovovich (who in the story is dating uber-Mormon, William H. Macy). She doesn’t feel like she fits in and above all else, misses the father she never knew.

Meanwhile, Dozier is Clarke, a closeted gay teenager whose father (Dwight Yoakam) has made his life miserable to the point where he considers running away almost every day. His mother (an astounding Mary Steenburgen) is a little more encouraging than his father, but herself lives in fear of Yoakam’s character.

The two become friends almost out of necessity and wind up forging a bond that is equally touching as it is fodder for some terrific film laughs. Be sure to check out the Dirty Girl trailer!

Dozier and Juno dish what they most liked about each other and how Dirty Girl is an important film that must be seen, as well as what it was like to have such esteemed actors portray their parents.

Two New Avengers Photos: Thor and Captain America Look Skyward

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The Avengers continues its feeding the fire of anticipation as Marvel Studios and Disney has released two new images from the film. The first (below) shows the two Chrises (Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans) looking upwards at what must not be something very good judging by their expressions. This is within days of the studio releasing The Avengers behind the scenes photos.

Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth in The Avengers
The second photo (below) shows Black Widow herself, Scarlett Johansson, conferring with The Avengers director Joss Whedon. She looks pretty serious. We can only imagine the crucial scene they’re discussing. If only we didn’t have to wait until May 4, 2012 to see the whole film.

Scarlett Johansson in The Avengers
Those lucky enough to be in New York City for that city's Comic-Con will actually get to witness 15 minutes of footage from the film.

Real Steel Exclusive: Anthony Mackie Lays the Mack Down

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Anthony Mackie commands the screen in Real Steel. That is not an easy task given he stars opposite the hugely talented Hugh Jackman, the absolutely adorable Dakota Goyo -- who plays Jackman's son -- and nine foot tall robots who box as smoothly as the man who choreographed their fight sequences, Sugar Ray Leonard (don't miss our Sugar Ray Leonard interview).

Anthony Mackie and Evangaline Lilly at Real Steel Premiere
Mackie visits with Movie Fanatic for an exclusive interview about Real Steel, but also his ever-building career that has seen him steal scenes from Matt Damon in The Adjustment Bureau, Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker and Anna Faris in What’s Your Number?

The star in the making also lets us in on his upcoming work including Gangster Squad with Ryan Gosling and the hotly anticipated Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Movie Fanatic: What was the shoot like for you? How would you compare it as opposed to some other shoots you’ve been on?

Anthony Mackie: Real easy. Shawn (Levy, director) put everybody in a position to succeed. I thought it was a lot of fun. It was really economical in that everything on the set just worked. From Craft Services to the CGI guys -- everyone was in sync. Shawn really made everybody do their job.

Movie Fanatic: What was your reaction once you first saw the real robots on the Real Steel set?

Anthony Mackie: I was flabbergasted. I believe in stuff going wrong. When I see a robot, it’s the Jack Bauer effect: If something’s not right you shoot it and ask questions later. I was freaked out by it. I had never seen anything like it. I didn’t even think it was possible to create nine foot tall robots like that motioning and moving around. It was too much. Robots don’t do that where I’m from [laughs]. My first thought was: We got to shoot it.

Movie Fanatic: Obviously a great scene between two actors is like a tennis volley. What was the time with Hugh Jackman like?

Anthony Mackie: Working with Hugh was fun. He’s a really smart actor. He gets what it takes of him. He knows the actor across from him doing a good job is not taking anything away from him. Whereas a lot of actors, you do your coverage, all of a sudden you turn around and they’re doing something completely different. Hugh was really humble, really cool, and really fun. Everything was about the movie. If I was doing something and I didn’t feel quite right about it, I could ask him about it and have a conversation as two actors trying to figure out a beat or a moment in a film. He’s the smartest, most humble, fun guy I’ve met in this business.


Movie Fanatic: That’s saying something.

Anthony Mackie: He has every right to be an (expletive) and he’s not.

Movie Fanatic: What kind of backstory did you give your character Finn? There could have been a lot of avenues you went down mentally with him.

Anthony Mackie: For me, the big thing was him wanting to be the best of the best. He wanted to figure out how to control this underground boxing world. When you’re looking at it, there has to be a way for people to fight their way to the top. When you look at Finn, he really wanted to explore the opportunity of using his love of boxing with his lack of skills and take it to that next level of promoting and facilitating people to get their boxers to that next level. He loved Charlie (Jackman) and he always adored Charlie as a boxer. So, when he met him, he was impressed. To be an underground boxing promoter and have somebody like Charlie fighting at my place, that’s a win-win for everybody involved. You don’t have to pay me to fight. You can fight for free. 

Movie Fanatic: The movie is about robot boxing, but it is really about so much more. What was it about the story that most resonated with you?

Anthony Mackie: I feel that I grew up in the age of the non-traditional American family. I think what resonated so much was the ability of the parent to try and find or conjure some sort of relationship with a kid. A lot of time on film there’s a fictitious relationship between parent and child. Whereas if you find something you and your kid are both truly interested in, it makes the bond all that stronger. And Charlie and his son in Real Steel have that. When I read that in the film, being a parent, it really hit home with me. It was poignant.

Movie Fanatic: Is working with CGI a challenge as an actor? I know there were those real robots you referred to, but there had to be some effects.

Anthony Mackie: On this one, they had actors on stilts with the suits on. As actors, you invariably develop a relationship with them, so the guy who was playing all the bad robots, we just joked around and talked (expletive) all day [laughs]. The guy who was playing the good robot, we actually became friends. It was really odd. But, we all had a good time and made fun of the idea of being involved in such an amazing project.

Movie Fanatic: You’ve been kind of busy lately. You’ve got a movie out, What’s Your Number? -- and this Friday, of course, Real Steel. How has life really changed for you? I know you have no say when a movie comes out, but you have two movies on two different Fridays, that has to feel pretty good.

Anthony Mackie and Hugh Jackman in Real Steel
Anthony Mackie: It feels great and I’m proud of both projects. I did What’s Your Number? for a very specific reason. I wanted people to see me in a comedic light. When you see Real Steel, I did it for a very specific reason. I wanted people to see me in an action film. People don’t think you can do something until they see you do it. I’m just trying to give people the opportunity to see me do everything until that question is no longer relevant.

Movie Fanatic: Well you killed it in comedy. If it’s possible to steal a scene from Anna Faris, you did.

Anthony Mackie: [Laughs] Thanks, man!

Movie Fanatic: How was filming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter? It’s finished, right?

Anthony Mackie: Yeah, we finished a few months ago.

Movie Fanatic: From the costumes to the story, it’s got to be like nothing anyone has ever seen...

Anthony Mackie: There’s something done with this movie that it's going to be a trendsetter the way The Matrix and Avatar were. I think working with a re-contextualization of history, it puts this film in a completely different mold. I think because of that, people are going to be drawn to it. Especially when they see the trailer, so stay tuned!

Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen: First Look!

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The Pretty Woman as The Evil Queen? Impossible!

Indeed, to many movie goers, the idea of Julia Roberts opposing Snow White in a re-imagining of this classic fairy tale is a difficult-to-fathom notion. But Relativity Media has released the first photo of the actress as this mean matriarch, staring down Lily Collins' character in the photo below:

Julia Roberts as the Queen

"She’s the cat that ate the canary,” director Tarsem Singh (The Cell, Immortals) tells Entertainment Weekly of Roberts' Queen. “From serial killers to anyone who does evil deeds, they basically have a devil-made-me-do-it excuse, or they hear voices. I decided for the evil queen, this is going to be a person who sees her [good] self - but there’s a mirror personality.”

This still-untitled retelling of Snow White will be released in March, a few months before Kristen Stewart and company deliver their own version via Snow White and the Huntsman.

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