Just after Movie Fanatic premiered two new photos of Michelle Williams as the spitting image of Marilyn Monroe, we get to see her on video as My Week with Marilyn has released its first trailer.

The Oscar buzz for Williams is intense and judging by her work we see in the trailer, it's completely warranted. Also stellar is Kenneth Branagh, who plays Laurence Olivier in the film.

My Week with Marilyn follows Monroe to the UK as she stars opposite Olivier in 1957’s The Prince and the Showgirl. The film is based on the book The Prince, the Showgirl and Me by Colin Clark who left a week out of the memoir that describes serving as Monroe’s assistant while she shot the film. My Week with Marilyn explores that missing week.

My Week with Marilyn Trailer

The final poster for the Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots has arrived. Antonio Banderas is Puss in Boots and to quote the kitty, “Looking good never looked so good!” How true, Puss, how true.

DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures are releasing Puss in Boots October 28 and we cannot wait to follow the exploits of Puss before he met Shrek.

The film will premiere in 3D, IMAX 3D and regular 2D and stars Salma Hayek as Kitty Softpaws, Zach Galifianakis as Humpty Dumpty and also features Billy Bob Thornton as Jack, and Amy Sedaris as Jill (yes, that Jack and Jill). 

Don't miss our Puss in Boots commercial parody videos. Look out Old Spice guy, Puss in Boots has got you by a mile!

James Bond films' titles have always been a subject of debate, anticipation and always capture the films' essence perfectly. As Daniel Craig traverses the globe filming the twenty-third edition of the James Bond franchise, questions have been raised as to what the title is beyond the moniker James Bond 23.

Word has emerged that the title of the latest Bond flick will be Skyfall. So, what do you think?

Skyfall, if that is indeed what it will be called, is slated for a late 2012 release (finally!) and may or may not be Craig’s final foray in the Bond tuxedo. Reports have been swirling that Idris Elba may be the next James Bond. But, that’s neither here nor there as we are all about James Bond 23, er, sorry, Skyfall.

The reason for the speculation that the title is in fact Skyfall emerges from Sony Pictures buying the domain names related to that title. Purchased web addresses include JamesBond-Skyfall.com and Skyfallthefilm.com.

Even without the what-is-the-name ruckus, we for one, are excited about Academy Award winning director Sam Mendes helming his first Bond flick!

George Lucas has known Steve Jobs for decades. You can imagine his sadness, shared with the rest of the world, as news of his passing spread yesterday. Lucas sold Jobs Pixar and thanks to him, we now have a successful studio that produced hit films from Toy Story to Wall-E. Lucas released a statement remembering his friend and captured the feeling of the world in the process.

"The magic of Steve was that while others simply accepted the status quo, he saw the true potential in everything he touched and never compromised on that vision,” Lucas said.

“He leaves behind an incredible family and a legacy that will continue to speak to people for years to come.”

There is no question Jobs’ legacy will go down with the Fords and Edisons of the world. When Jobs died at 56 on October 5, the world collectively stood in awe, both missing the man and comprehending the vastness of his contributions to our society, technologically and altruistically.

The Avengers has been releasing photos and having snippets of its visuals in trailers such as the Captain America Blu-Ray trailer, but now the real deal is almost upon us.

Marvel Studios has announced that the first full trailer for The Avengers will be available online on October 11. Movie Fanatic will bring it to you as soon as it’s live.

The Avengers has to be the movie event of 2012. By combining the biggest hit heroes of the Marvel universe, it is a super, superhero movie.

Joss Whedon is directing his cast that includes Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye.

Stay tuned!

As The Hunger Games has one of the most of the most passionate followings of any series out there, Lionsgate has been marketing the film shrewdly (including the MTV VMA teaser). Their latest interactive means is the release of Hunger Games District Badges covering most of the book’s 12 districts. First up, we have the one for Jennifer Lawrence’s Katiss -- Mining!

The various districts of Panem, including Power and Masonry are on full display on the film’s astounding website. Next up, we present the badge for District 9 -- Grain.

Masonry, aka District 2, has its badge adorned with sledgehammer and shovel. For those who have been playing along at the film’s website that determines what district and you are from and if it's Masonry, you should display your badge proudly. Me thinks it’s the best one! Maybe that's because that is where I landed... just maybe!

Here’s a few more from the Districts with District 7's Lumber first:

… and District 8, aka Textiles.

For all the District badges, head over to The Hunger Games website and join in the interactive fun. 

Evan Rachel Wood considers her turn in the George Clooney starring and directing cinematic storm The Ides of March, her most treasured role to date. Wood sat down with Movie Fanatic to dish her career and how The Ides of March is a pinnacle, “so far.”

Wood plays Molly in The Ides of March -- an idealistic intern who winds up in the midst of what could be the scandal that destroys a promising presidential campaign on the verge of wrapping up the Democratic nomination.

The actress dishes working opposite Ryan Gosling (check out our Ryan Gosling Ides of March interview) and how the scenes with the actor was among her favorite. She also talks about what it meant to her to be directed by an icon in Clooney. Wood even lets us in on what the latest is with her singing career. If you think Wood sings like a bird as an actress figuratively, you should hear her vocal prowess.

Movie Fanatic: What was the appeal of playing Molly? Was it that she was so driven?

Evan Rachel Wood: Yeah, I loved that about her. I loved how confident she was and I thought it was cool to have this girl that was really young but she’s grown up in this world. She’s really used to it and she’s not intimidated by it. She’s just throwing all these guys off their game. It’s awesome and so much fun to do.

Movie Fanatic: The vulnerability part was that tricky since she really knows how to play the game but has that one Achilles heel that kind of got her into trouble.

Evan Rachel Wood: I think the thing about Molly and the one thing that the situation she gets herself in shows, is that she wasn’t doing any of that to gain anything. If she wanted to, she could. She could use that situation to her advantage. She doesn’t because I think she was really just a young girl who was having fun and living in the moment and just got herself in a terrible situation and she’s just terrified. I think she’s one of the few honest people in the movie. She’s very direct about what she was after and I think she was actually good hearted. She just made some bad choices.

Movie Fanatic: You spent most of your time with Ryan. How did you find him personally and professionally?

Evan Rachel Wood: When you’re going to work with someone like that, you hear that they’re amazing and talented and beautiful and you’re like “Okay, whatever.” Then, you get around them and you’re like “God damn it! You’re so good!” It makes you mad because he’s such a great actor but he’s also just a really cool guy and interesting and creative [laughs]. He’s a great partner.

Movie Fanatic: He had a few things to say about you too!

Evan Rachel Wood: Oh, did he now?

Movie Fanatic: That you have a great memory for starters.

Evan Rachel Wood: Oh yeah. He calls me a hard drive [laughs] because he’d always try to stump me on movie quotes and I’d always know exactly what movie it was and I could quote it. He’d be like “God. How do you do that?”

Movie Fanatic: Was working with George Clooney like a dream -- both as actor and director?

The Ides of March Trailer

Evan Rachel Wood: George was amazing because he’s an actor, so he knows how to work with you and talk with you. He sympathizes with what you have to do so he makes it really fun. I think George knows that if he has a happy cast and crew, that he’s gonna have really good work. He’s smart. He knows what he wants, so things get done quickly. But, they’re done really well. That’s an ideal situation.

Movie Fanatic: Did he shoot you with his Nerf gun?

Evan Rachel Wood: Yes!

Movie Fanatic: What were you doing when he shot you?

Evan Rachel Wood: Nothing! [Laughs] He just does it. I think I hijacked that Nerf gun a couple of times actually and I was shooting people. I think it got passed around.

Movie Fanatic: Any good practical jokes that George concocted? We’ve heard on more than one occasion he’s the best prankster there is…

Evan Rachel Wood: He didn’t pull any on me. But, I think the worst joke that he pulled on me was having the reputation of being a prankster so I was so paranoid every day on set. I was constantly like “When’s it gonna happen?” But, with Ryan, he’d be giving him direction while very subtly just shooting a slight mist on his crotch with water so Ryan couldn’t feel it. They’d be having this deep discussion and George would be giving Ryan this big wet spot and he’d go do the scene and we’d be like “Oh my God. He has no idea that’s there.” It was amazing [laughs].

Movie Fanatic: As a young person, are you involved in the political process and if not, has this movie made you want to be more involved?

Evan Rachel Wood: I don’t know. I try and stay informed as much as possible but as far as getting involved, I just get too upset and emotional about it. I’m the person when there’s a big political debate in a room, I’ve gotta leave because I just can’t go there. It’s so upsetting. People ask me if I would get behind a certain candidate and I don’t think I’d ever really be able to do that because it’s not about the candidates anymore. I don’t think it matters who you elect at this point. It’s like “Okay, we’ve really got to start rethinking these things.”

Movie Fanatic: Do you have a favorite scene in The Ides of March?

Evan Rachel Wood: I think that’s one of my favorite scenes is the bar scene with Ryan. I think it’s so great that it’s so subtle and the tension is so good and it’s funny too -- it’s also sexy. I think it’s cool to see a really subtle seduction like that. It’s kind of nice.

Movie Fanatic: What do you think audiences will take away most from the film?

Evan Rachel Wood: That there’s no hero and no villain. It just leaves you with a lot of questions and makes you question yourself. And the fact that it’s not really about politics. It’s about people and these weird games and moral dilemmas and whether or not you’re going to compromise yourself for what you believe is the greater good and what the best way of going about that is. It’s a weird thing.

Movie Fanatic: You’ve done costume pictures, drama and an upcoming comedy, what is left? Do you want to be a superhero?

Evan Rachel Wood: I do! I would totally be a superhero. I really would actually. I never get offered superheroes or comedies because they have an idea of who I am as an actor I guess.

Movie Fanatic: So you can kick butt?

Evan Rachel Wood: Totally! I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I can kick butt. I wasn’t good at ballet and I was a fighter I guess so I just needed that so I did it for years until I got my black belt.

Movie Fanatic: How’s your music career going?

Evan Rachel Wood: I’m singing. I’ve been singing a lot recently for fun and sharing it. It’s something I’ve done privately. I’ve put three videos now and I sang at the after party for Ides of March. I’ve been collaborating with a few people just lending my voice to certain things and it’s been fun. I don’t know if it’s something I’d want to do fulltime but I would do another musical but it is really hard to top The Beatles (in Across the Universe).

Movie Fanatic: You transitioned from child star to adult actress seamlessly. Why did it work so well for you and not so well for others?

Evan Rachel Wood: I always did kind of adult material so I think it was easier for me to have an in to that world. I always felt like I was playing older than I was so I think that’s what helped. I feel like it’s because I never did, young, cutesy roles.

Movie Fanatic: Do you think you sacrificed a childhood to be in entertainment?

Evan Rachel Wood: I did sacrifice my childhood in certain aspects. I’ve been acting and working since I was five. I think that’s why, for a few years, I went “Okay, I’m going to go be as crazy as possible right now because I didn’t have adolescence. I didn’t have a childhood. If I’m going to get really serious about this career then I wanna have my fun.” So I did some sight-seeing and it was crazy. I got to know myself really well and now I’m really ready to commit and to work hard.

Writer-director Abe Sylvia grew up in Norman, Oklahoma in the mid-to-late 1980s -- the setting and time for Dirty Girl. The film is not necessarily an autobiographical look, but it was clearly inspired by his experiences in the Midwestern town. Sylvia sits down with Movie Fanatic for an exclusive video interview to talk about his hometown inspiration, his stellar Dirty Girl cast including Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier, as well as how he lucked out in getting every classic ‘80s song he wanted for his amazing soundtrack.

Dirty Girl is the story of two teens, played by Dozier and Temple, who decide that life for them in the small town is not enough as both yearn for so much more. When Temple’s character decides to track down her real father in California, the duo head out on a road trip that will define them, inspire them and, most of all, provide them with a friendship that knows no boundaries.

Don't miss the Dirty Girl trailer!

Dirty Girl Director: Exlcusive Video Interview

The Ides of March, based on the play Farragut North, is the second directorial effort for George Clooney. And like his first, Good Night and Good Luck, his role in the film is relatively minor as compared to the cast that shines around him.

In the play that The Ides of March is based on, the Clooney character - a Northeast governor facing a crucial Ohio Democratic presidential primary - is not seen. Oh, he is talked about by political operatives of both sides of the final two candidates in line to run for president.

Establishing the Governor Mike Morris character in The Ides of March as a living, breathing entity is far from an actor-director who inserted a character for the sake of screen time. Not only does Clooney control the behind the scenes action on The Ides of March, his character centers the morality tale for our time.

Yet, it is not Clooney’s movie.

Ryan Gosling commands almost every frame of the film. His political communication expert is the best at what he does. Gosling’s Stephen Myers, even in this presidential primary’s eleventh hour, is being courted by the other side -- specifically, Paul Giamatti’s political consultant Tom Duffy.

A meeting between the two sets off a firestorm of political espionage where the audience keeps thinking they’re at the end of that journey down a questionable moral road that only to find it keeps adding to the mountain of everything is not what it seems.

Gosling provides the movie’s balancing act. Every great political film treads water around the line of right and wrong and the reality of the political process. And as Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman did with their collective acting prowess in All the President’s Men, Gosling commands it in a single character.

Giamatti is in the film for barely 20 minutes, yet his impact weighs heavy on the entire story. Philip Seymour Hoffman, as Gosling’s campaign boss, wields an acting power that is subtle and subversive. In director Clooney’s wheelhouse, this is a cast primed for grand slams every time. Even Jeffrey Wright as a Democratic presidential candidate, who recently dropped out, is another bombshell waiting to happen in every scene he inhabits.

Marisa Tomei is a New York Times reporter, and although she sends shivers as Ida Horowicz, her character never gets fully fleshed out to add to the weight of the entity that is The ides of March.

The Ides of March Trailer

Clooney (don't miss our George Clooney Ides of March interview) and writing partner Grant Heslove first planned on filming The Ides of March in 2008. Then, Barack Obama won the presidency and there was too much hope on the political landscape to make a movie with such cynicism towards the political process.

In no way a statement on the Obama presidency in 2011, The Ides of March’s timing is perfect as today, the headlines are permeated with like-minded scandals that breathe of fire, yet still are managed to be swept under carpets -- unfortunately while still disenfranchising many.

Clooney and company establish a world in The Ides or March that feels like a play that it was based on, and still does not feel like the audience is watching a play on film. With a cast of award-winning actors, a story that compels, and a scope that is truly beyond that of a single political dalliance, The Ides of March moves us to action.

Young Adult stars Charlize Theron, is directed by Jason Reitman and is written by Diablo Cody.

What else do you need to know, right?

The film comes out on December 16 and stars this Oscar-winning actress as a teen literature writer who returns to her Minnesota roots with one goal in mind: win back her high school sweetheart, played by Patrick Wilson. Who cares that he's happily married with children?!?

Check out the official trailer now and look for Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman this spring:

Young Adult Trailer

Writer-director Abe Sylvia may have grown up in Norman, Oklahoma, in the 1980s, yet his film's Dirty Girl locale and time period of his youth are only the launching pad for his coming of age comedy that is equally as funny as it is fierce with drama. Although Sylvia took inspiration from his upbringing -- that much is sure -- the director has stressed the story is a work of fiction. But, when a filmmaker pours that much of his heart and soul into a movie, the results, based solely on effort, have to be pleasing. Dirty Girl is that and more and it begins with his cast.

Sylvia wrote and directed the film that follows Danielle (Juno Temple) and Clarke (Jeremy Dozier), two unlikely teenage friends who discover they have more in common than appears on the surface.

Danielle is a promiscuous teen (thus the title!) who has grown up without a father that her mother (a brilliant Milla Jovovich) has told her left them when she was merely a baby. Because of her attitude and lack of caring about school, her principal sends her from her “normal” class to a classroom full of misfits in need of specialized instruction.

It is there that she meets Clarke. They are forced together to work on a school project and her disdain for the overweight and clueless teenage boy is quickly warmed by Clarke’s persona which she discovers as Danielle begins to truly know him.

Clarke appears to have the typical Normal Rockwell-like family. His mother and father are still married, yet a personal secret and lack of motivation keeps him under constant ire from his father (Dwight Yoakam). His mother (Mary Steenburgen) is sensitive to his feelings of inadequacies, yet is too fearful of her husband to act to help him.

Danielle becomes aware of Clarke’s living in the closet with his sexuality and she is the first person to truly accept him for who he really is. It is there in Dirty Girl that the first moments of true charm take over the film. Witnessing Clarke begin to be himself and find his true self is the film’s triumph.

Dirty Girl’s cast is stellar. Yoakam and Steenburgen are each in their element and bring so much more to what could have been cardboard cutout characters. But, Dirty Girl is the Temple and Dozier show. (Check out our exclusive Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier video interview.) The U.K. born Temple nails the Midwest accent and brings so many levels to her character. It’s hard to believe the actress is so young. Dozier, discovered from an audition tape made in his Texas dorm room and sent to Sylvia, establishes himself as an actor to watch. We cannot wait to see what each does next. Temple, for one, is due to be seen in several upcoming blockbusters including The Dark Knight Rises.

Dirty Girl Trailer

Where Dirty Girl slips a bit is when Clarke and Danielle hit the road and search for her biological father she learns lives in California. Clarke has had the worst fight of his life with his father that borders on child abuse while Danielle is not ready to allow her mom’s boyfriend (William H. Macy, sizzling in a supportive role) to take on a father figure persona while she still yearns for her real patriarch.

Dirty Girl then becomes a road trip movie. Sure, the astounding 1980s soundtrack rocks their journey. But, it is here that the film drifts into formula. We’ve seen the story of two people stuck in a car figuring out life’s lessons before and Dirty Girl does not bring too much new to the genre. What does resonate is the final moments of the film’s third act.

There’s an understanding and acceptance that permeates those final frames that collectively make this comedy, with serious helpings of drama, deliver.

With a superstar cast, a timely premise and a director equally adept at comedy and action, Tower Heist is looking like a winner.

Universal has released the second trailer from the Brett Ratner directed film that stars Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Tea Leoni, Michael Pena, Alan Alda and recent Academy Award nominee Gabourey Sidibe. Told you about that cast!

Ratner (Rush Hour, X-Men: The Last Stand) appears to have Tower Heist firmly in his wheelhouse and solely based on their scenes together in the trailer, Murphy and Stiller are a comedy-action duo that explode on screen.

The film is timely in that its story follows a Wall Street financier who is found guilty of a Ponzi scheme that has milked investors of hundreds of millions of dollars, including the staff at the luxury tower where he lives. Stiller, Broderick, Affleck, Pena and Sidibe are workers at the building and they too have lost their entire savings and retirement to the building’s once beloved resident.

Tower Heist hits theaters November 4. Like what you see? Check out the first Tower Heist trailer!

New Tower Heist Trailer

The true star of Real Steel is not Hugh Jackman or the astounding robots that inhabit the world of director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum). It is Dakota Goyo, who plays Jackman’s estranged son, who steals the show. He manages to capture more in an expression than a hundred actors that immediately come to mind. Goyo has phoned Movie Fanatic to exclusively talk about his entire Real Steel experience and what’s next for a future talent to keep an eye on as the years pass.

Goyo was quite the humble 'tween and his blissful glow from the entire Real Steel experience is irresistible. Audiences might recognize Goyo, as he played young Thor to Chris Hemsworth’s adult in Thor and the talented thespian, in our opinion, is simply getting going with his knockout work on Real Steel.

Movie Fanatic: What sticks out in your mind from the making of Real Steel?

Dakota Goyo: As soon as I finished filming Real Steel, it hit me: I just made a Steven Spielberg movie with Hugh Jackman and robots! It’s been an experience I never thought I could accomplish. Also, just getting that experience of working with that great script written by John Gatins, he’s such an amazing writer. I hope he continues to write because he’s an absolute talent.

Movie Fanatic: What was it like working with Hugh? We did a Hugh Jackman interview last week and he could not say enough about you.

Dakota Goyo: Working with Hugh, it’s an incredible feeling. It’s amazing and incredibly cool to work with Wolverine. He’s Wolverine! Because it’s Hugh Jackman, it was nice to see he is such a nice guy. He’s so positive and energetic. Getting to work with him was an unbelievably amazing experience.

Movie Fanatic: I understand it wasn’t just computer generated robots. There were real robots on the set. Was that impressive for you to witness?

Real Steel Trailer

Dakota Goyo: It took about four days of being on the set until I first saw them. But when I saw the four robots just standing there, nine feet tall, it’s incredible. Getting to see real robots with their heads and hands really moving, they light up, it blew me away.

Movie Fanatic: What did you most enjoy about the story of Real Steel?

Dakota Goyo: I liked how the father and son come together. Max and Charlie, they get along so good at the end. At the beginning, they hate each other. Max is sad. His mother had died. Charlie is almost just like a robot, because he has been around them for so long. There’s no connection with Max.

Movie Fanatic: Of course the key to any actor’s joy is the director. What did you take away from Shawn Levy?

Dakota Goyo: He’s really energetic. When you’re with him, you get energetic. He’s so positive and encouraging. Getting to work with the guy who directed Night at the Museum, for me, was a thrill.

Movie Fanatic: Evangeline Lilly, you have many scenes with her. Were you a fan of Lost and did she come off as motherly as she does in the film in real life?

Dakota Goyo: We had a real chemistry, we got along great. She’s such a sweet girl. She’s so pretty. Having to work with her, she was on Lost, like you said, and I’m a huge fan. Me and my brother have watched and re-watched every single scene in that show. When I saw her in real life, I was taken aback. It was incredible.

Movie Fanatic: The Los Angeles premiere for Real Steel was crazy. For you as a young actor, what was all that attention like?

Dakota Goyo: I have been to many premieres, but the Los Angeles premiere was crazy. I went to the London one, it was big -- lots of media and I saw Atom the robot for the first time since filming, so it was fun. Then, we went to Toronto, which was not too big, but nice because I had a lot of family and friends come because that’s where I’m from. So, it was nice to see the movie with all of them. But, when we got to L.A., there was a huge crowd, thousands of people. It was incredible. There were flashes everywhere. I mean, my eyes were still seeing flashes when I was watching the movie [laughs] -- people were screaming, my ears were ringing. There were also a lot of Disney stars that I see on TV all the time, so I got to meet some really cool people that I look up to and really adore.

Movie Fanatic: What do you have coming up?

Dakota Goyo: I have a DreamWorks Animation film called Rise of the Guardian, that’s up next. I can’t wait for people to see it.

Movie Fanatic: There was a lot of talk that everyone in Real Steel would love to come back for a sequel. I bet you hope that is the case too.

Dakota Goyo: I really do hope there’s a sequel. It’s going to be such a great experience to work with everyone again. I also look forward to being older and seeing onscreen how much I’ve grown from the first one. I really hope it happens.

The Ides of March has premiered to collective critical praise (check out our The Ides of March review) and despite its feeling that political heroes are flawed, it is still an inspiring tale of personal triumph.

George Clooney is Governor Mike Morris, who is running for president. The Ides of March catches him in the all important Ohio primary being led by his top political aides, Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling) and Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Hot on their campaign trail is a New York Times reporter, Ida Horowicz (Marisa Tomei), who is yearning for a big story on the eve of the primary that will decide the Democratic nominee.

As the real life 2012 presidential campaign kicks into gear, we’ve pulled some sizzling The Ides of March quotes to feed that political fire.

Stephen Myers: I've worked on more campaigns than most people have by the time they're 40. He's the only one that's actually going to make a difference in people's lives. | permalink

Ida Horowicz: If your boy wins, you get a job in the White House. He loses? You're back at a consulting firm.
Stephen Myers: He has to win. | permalink

Tom Duffy: You are working for the wrong man. | permalink

Governor Morris: What do you think you have, Stephen? | permalink

Stephen Myers: We're gonna be fine. We have to do it, it's the right thing to do and nothing bad happens when you’re doing the right thing.
Governor Morris: Is this your personal theory? 'Cause I can shoot holes in it.
Stephen Myers: Well there's exceptions to every rule... | permalink

Stephen Myers: I'm in. I'm coming to work for you.
Tom Duffy: Revenge makes people unpredictable. We can't have that.
Stephen Myers: What if I had something else?
Tom Duffy: Like what?
Stephen Myers: Something big. | permalink

Stephen Myers: I'll do or say anything if I believe in it, but I have to believe in the cause. | permalink

Paul Zara: There's only one thing I value and that's loyalty. And without it, you're nothing. | permalink

Johnny Depp must adore green eggs and ham because news has broke that the superstar is set to bring the life story of Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, to the big screen.

Depp is producing the project and he is in talks to also play the iconic children’s author. Universal Pictures is eager to get the project off the ground and with Depp attached, even simply as producer, consider this biopic a go.

Infinitum Nihil, Depp’s production company with Christi Dembrowski, will have a hands-on creative power over the project and Movie Fanatic cannot imagine anyone else but Depp in the lead role.

Depp is no stranger to bringing great literary figures to the big screen. His turn as J.M. Barrie, the Peter Pan author, in Finding Neverland is one of his best. Even Depp’s pseudo take as what was basically Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was legendary.

Noteworthy is that Universal is close to releasing the adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax which has a planned release date of March 2012.

Next up for Depp? Check him out in The Rum Diary trailer.

Emma Watson is stepping out of Hermione’s shadow with her first major post-Harry Potter role in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The film has released two new photos and it’s great to see Watson out of that Hogwarts uniform!

The film is completely from the mind of Stephen Chbosky, who served as director and screenwriter, as well as the author of the book on which it is based. The teenage coming of age story features Watson as a high school student outside of Pittsburgh as she navigates the minefields of growing up and becoming an adult while catching the eye of the titular Wallflower, played by Logan Lerman.

When I caught up with Watson to dish Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in New York this past summer, her excitement for her first big post-Potter role was palpable.

“It was just the most incredible experience. I had the best six weeks,” Watson said. “I'm very excited about that movie. Having an experience like that outside of Harry Potter is what really convinced me that acting really is what I should be doing. I'm excited about the idea of being an actress now in a way that I wasn't so sure of before.”

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, from Summit Entertainment, arrives in theaters for spring 2012.

The fall movie season, aka Oscar bait time, is in full swing. With The Ides of March leading the way, one of the best films of 2011 is on display. Not to be outdone, Disney has released a fantastically fun, cheer in your seat instant classic in Real Steel. So, what’s the "reel" deal with the movies of the week of October 7, 2011?

Real Steel: Hugh Jackman stars as a washed-up boxer who now is a promoter/trainer of robot boxers in the wildly popular world of the Robot Boxing Federation. At the beginning of the film, Jackman is down on his luck and has just discovered that his son whom he barely knows is now under his care as his mother just died. That father-son bonding experience is at the heart of Real Steel. But, the action is also fantastic as the robots move so effortlessly you would swear it was the film’s boxing coordinator Sugar Ray Leonard in the ring himself. Check out our Real Steel review!

Real Steel Trailer

Dirty Girl: Dirty Girl is both a drama and a comedy, but hardly a dramedy. It takes place in Norman, Oklahoma in 1987 and yes, the soundtrack is fantastic. Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier shine as a pair of teens who find each other when each needs a friend the most. It is funny, heartfelt and one of the surprises of the fall.

Dirty Girl Trailer

The Ides of March: Riveting, powerful and exquisite are all terms to describe George Clooney and his latest foray into directing. In The Ides of March, Clooney is a Pennsylvania governor running for president. It is the eve of the Ohio primary election, one which will determine who the Democratic party representative will be on the fall ballot. Ryan Gosling is a political aide to Clooney, and he is simply one of an all-star cast that shines. Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood all star in this crisp political thriller.

The Ides of March Trailer

The Human Centipede 2: The follow-up to the gross-out film of last year, The Human Centipede. When a film’s ad campaign includes a barf bag, you get what this picture is going for and apparently, it succeeds.

The Human Centipede Trailer

The Avengers trailer may debut on Tuesday, but Marvel Studios and Disney are wasting no time in fanning fan’s fire of eagerness. Three new Avengers photos have been released and the first has Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow with the most determine of glares.

Jeremy Renner is the perfect Hawkeye and his own version of the glorious superhero glare comes as he is either landing or taking off.

Marvel and Disney has also released the official synopsis:

Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel’s The Avengers is the super hero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, Marvel’s The Avengers brings together the mightiest super hero characters as they all assemble together onscreen for the first time.

The third photo is our first look at How I Met Your Mother star Cobie Smulders who appears delighted to be in this cast from the below photo of her on set.

Hot Tub Time Machine, it is not.

On March 9, 2012, John Cusack will take on poet Edgar Allen Poe in The Raven, a psychological thriller that brings this mysterious author to life.

Directed by James McTeigue, look for the film to focus on Poe's final days, as he focuses on a killer whose victims are all killed in an unusual manner: their deaths are based around short stories written by Poe himself. Intriguing... and teased in the following official trailer:

The Raven Movie Trailer

Real Steel delivered an early knockout at the box office this weekend, easily besting all comers, including the powerful duo of George Clooney and Ryan Gosling.

The Hugh Jackman-anchored, robot-based action flick earned over $27 million on Friday and Saturday, backed by strong reviews, including our very own. It helped that Jackman made every talk show circuit and, well, it Hugh Jackman. Seriously, that guy rules.

Real Steel Feature Length Trailer

We've corralled the top 10 movies from the weekend below, a list that does NOT include one of the bigger bombs in recent memory: Jason Statham's Killer Elite, which cost $70 million to make and is unlikely to earn back half of that...

1. Real Steel, $27.3 million
2. The Ides of March, $10.4 million
3. Dolphin Tale, $9.2 million
4. Moneyball, $7.5 million
5. 50/50, $5.5 million
6. Courageous, $4.6 million
7. The Lion King, $4.6 million
8. Dream House, $4.5 million
9. What's Your Number?, $3.1 million
10. Abduction, $2.9 million