Trailer - Blue Like Jazz

Director Steve Taylor's new film stars Marshall Allman (True Blood) as a student wrestling with his religious identity as he goes to college and finds himself among people who are not very accommodating when it comes to religious belief. It was based on Donald Miller‘s semi-autobiographical book and was adapted for the screen by Miller, Taylor, and Ben Pearson. Fans of the book actually helped raise nearly three times a goal of $125k on Kickstarter to get the movie finished. Faith is a fascninating subject that rarely gets an even-handed approach that allows it to explore ideas. Vera Farmiga's excellent Higher Ground is a rare exception that comes to mind. They can be tricky but this definitely looks like something worth seeking out. FYI the song in the trailer is 'Muscle'n Flo' by Menomena. Blue Like Jazz will premiere on March 13 at SXSW and then will be released in theaters by Roadside Attractions on April 13.

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Game Change

Directed by Emmy winner Jay Roach (Recount, the Austin Powers films), HBO's Game Change follows John McCain (Ed Harris), Sarah Palin (Julianne Moore), and their unsuccessful bid for the White House. Moore looks spot on here and I can't wait to see her and Harris clash on the campaign trail. The script was written by Roach’s Emmy-nominated Recount writer Danny Strong, who adapted it from John Heilemann and Mark Halperin‘s bestselling book of the same title. Game Change premieres on HBO Saturday, March 10 at 9PM.

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Trailer - Return

Writer/director Liza Johnson's debut film has been earning rave reviews for Linda Cardellini's harrowing performance. Back from a tour of duty, Kelli (Cardellini) can't wait to rejoin her family in the Rust Belt town she's always known. She's ready to experience the feelings of everyday life but slowly her world comes to feel unfamiliar. Her friends love her but seem preoccupied with trifles. Her children need more focused attention than she can give, and as much as he tries, her husband Mike (Michael Shannon) doesn't understand what she's been through. It will open in select theaters on February 10th and will available on iTunes February 28th.

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TV Tonight - Touch

Kiefer Sutherland returns to TV in a new hour-long drama created by Tim Kring (Heroes). Martin (Sutherland) is a widower who struggles to connect with his mute son Jake (David Mazouz) until he learns that the boy has the special ability to divine and perhaps direct hidden patterns and connections across the globe. In the pilot, Martin gets help from a social worker and an educator in an attempt to bond with his son, whose obsession with numbers appears to enable him to predict the future. Martin slowly recognizes Jake's gift, which plays out in a plot involving a lottery winner (Titus Welliver, the Man in Black from Lost), and a globally traveling cell phone. It was written by Kring and directed by Francis Lawrence (Water for Elephants, I Am Legend). Premieres tonight at 9/8c on FOX.

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Trailer - Griff The Invisible

Australian writer/director Leon Ford's debut film stars Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) as Griff, a shy and awkward office worker by day, who finds escape from his ordinary life by assuming the identity of a fantastic superhero each night. Griff's secret is jeopardized when he meets Melody (Maeve Dermody). It looks like a really sweet film that combines two of my favorite things: superheroes and quirky indie romances. Can't wait to check it out. Now playing at the Nuart Theatre in LA!

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Elite Squad 2

Director José Padilha's blockbuster sequel is making its way to the states after becoming the highest grossing film of all time in Brazil. More than a decade after waging urban war on the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Captain Nascimento (Wagner Moura) remains the controversial head of BOPE, the special-forces military police. Government officials hope to weaken the rash, but publically adored, officer by taking him off the streets and giving him a desk job in the State Department. Never one to fall in line, a maturing Nascimento must adapt his old tactics to a new position and a new enemy. I caught the film at LAFF this week and I really liked it. It's a political drama disguised as an action film and it works incredibly well. Moura's fantastic performance gives the film an emotional core that keeps you completely invested. It also works as a stand alone film so you don't have to see the first one to enjoy it. New Video has acquired the rights (retitled Elite Squad The Enemy Within) and it's scheduled to be released in October.

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Trailer - The Descendants

The new film from writer/director Alexender Payne (Sideways, Election) stars George Clooney as an indifferent husband and father, who is forced to re-establish his relationship with his daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident. Trailer looks great, especially the running in flip-flops bit. Payne's films always manages to find the perfect balance between drama and comedy and I can't wait to see this. Coming this December.

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Trailer - Another Earth

Writer/director Mike Cahill's intriguing sci-fi drama about a duplicate version of earth was picked up by Fox Searchlight after garnering buzz at last year's Sundance. It's a great premise and the haunting trailer has definitely peaked my interest. FYI the song used is 'That Home' by The Cinematic Orchestra. It will screen at this year's Los Angeles Film Festival, which starts June 16th.

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Trailer - Norman

Director Jonathan Segal's new film stars Dan Byrd (Easy A, Cougar Town) as a loner who while dealing with his father's battle with cancer unintentionally gets caught in a lie that he, in fact, has cancer. Trailer looks fantastic and I have heard really good things. Plus it co-stars the always great Richard Jenkins as his father and was scored by Andrew Bird! It has been making the festival rounds and hopefully will get distribution soon. For more info check out the official site.

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Poster - The Ledge

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Trailer - Perfect Sense

Can't wait for the new film from British director David Mackenzie (Mister Foe, Young Adam). It's about two people who fall in love as an epidemic begins to rob people of their sensory perceptions. Interesting premise and the trailer looks fantastic.

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Poster - The Devil's Double

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Poster - The Tree of Life

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Poster - Wrecked

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Trailer - Win Win

One of my favorite writer/directors is Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor). He makes fantastic character studies that stay with you. His third film stars Paul Giamatti as a high school wrestling coach who ends up looking after a runaway teen. Looks great and I think McCarthy will definitely transcend the typical sports movie cliches. It was a hit at Sundance and got picked up by Fox Searchlight. Opens March 18th.

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Poster - Beginners

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Trailer - Heartbeats

Writer/director Xavier Dolan's film tells the story of a very common French theme, the love triangle. In case you're wondering, the delightful song from the trailer is Dalida's cover of Cher's 'Bang Bang'. Opens in limited release today.

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Poster - Black Death

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Poster - Trust

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Poster - Waiting For Forever

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