Trailer - Cloud Atlas

Hollywood's making another successful novel into a feature film. This time.... Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Susan Sarandon star in a mind-bending spiritual sci-fi type story that takes place over various timelines. Yeah, wrap your head around that. It's from the co-directors of The Matrix.

In theaters October 26th.

Read more »

Poster - The Words

[IMDb]

Read more »

Trailer - Celeste and Jesse Forever

Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg star in Celeste and Jesse Forever, a dramedy about "a divorcing couple that tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people." Jones co-wrote the script with her writing partner Will McCormack (who has a supporting role) and gives her the opportunity to showcase her talent in a more raw, nuanced, multi-dimensional character. Jones' on-screen chemistry with Samburg is a perfect fit, making it an instant Reel Artsy favorite.

Celeste and Jesse Forever hits theaters on August 3rd. (NYC & L.A.)

Official Site: http://sonyclassics.com/celesteandjesseforever/

Read more »

HBO's The Loving Story

I'm intrigued by this slice of bittersweet American history. It seems like the kind of story that, when fictionalized, would become Oscar-bait for its starring actors. Something like The Help. Regardless of that, I'm curious to see what fresh point-of-views the director uncovered in this real-life saga.

The Loving Story is a documentary about Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple living in Virginia in the 1950s, and their landmark Supreme Court Case, Loving v. Virginia, that changed history.

It premieres Feb. 14th (Valentine's Day) on HBO at 9pm.

Official Site: www.lovingfilm.com

Read more »

Christmas Cupid

ABC Family's Christmas Cupid starring Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) and Christina Milian (Love Don't Cost a Thing) is now available online. The story offers a modernized romantic comedy version of A Christmas Carol.

"a  high powered Hollywood publicist finds herself haunted by the ghost of her recently departed infamous client. With just days away from Christmas she goes on a journey to meet the ghosts of her ex-boyfriends from the past, present and future."

It's not awards related but it's the kind of upbeat movie to get you in the holiday spirit.

Official Site: http://abcfamily.go.com/movies/christmas-cupid

Read more »

Update: Cole

I wrote about this film back in 2008 and there's finally a place to see it. If you have access to IFC's Sundance Selects via your cable provider you can watch the movie On Demand.

Cole has spent his entire life picking up the pieces of his shattered family and using them as the basis for his writing and recreating an alternative reality. When Cole gets the opportunity to bring his talents to the city, he sees his potential for the first time - that he can get out of his small town and make his life what he had wanted it to be.

And the new trailer...

Official Site: www.colethemovie.com

Read more »

Why Am I Doing This?

Why Am I Doing This? is a comedy about a struggling actor and comedian trying to make it in Hollywood. It stars Anthony Montgomery (I'm Through With Girls), Lynn Chen (Saving Face) and Tom Huang who wrote and directed it. It's the type of quirky multicultural story that independent cinema needs.  I'm hoping that Huang forms a Judd Apatow-like band of actors and crafts more starring roles for Montgomery and Chen (plus Sheetal Sheth, James Kyson Lee and Fernanda Andrade).

You can catch Why Am I Doing This? on the big screen for a limited engagement at the Laemmle Music Hall theater in Los Angeles until May 20th.

Official Site: www.whyamidoingthis.net

Read more »

Beastly (New Trailer)

I'm not expecting brilliance but I'm curious to see what new elements they bring to the classic tale of man/monster meets woman. This one is set in high school and stars Vanessa Hudgens, who was recently named "female rising star" at the Showest Awards. The supporting cast includes Neil Patrick Harris so you can look forward to some scene-stealing comedic moments.

In theaters July 30th.

Official Site: www.beastlythemovie.com

Read more »

Watch Now: Rashida Jones in NY-LON

Did you know that Rashida Jones (Parks & Recreation) and Stephen Moyer from True Blood were in a British TV show together? Thanks to Hulu.com you can watch all seven episodes of the short-lived series NY-LON.

NY-LON follows the troubled romance between a bohemian New York record store clerk, Edie, and London stock broker Michael, after their chance meeting in his city.

Those of you long-time Reel Artsy readers know that Jones is one of my favorites so it's nice to see her in a role where she gets plenty of screen time. Her character is likable and she has good chemistry with Moyer, plus the soundtrack is enjoyable too.

I've embedded the first episode:

Watch the rest at www.hulu.com/ny-lon

Read more »

Scandinavian Film Fest (Los Angeles)

The Scandinavian Film Festival is a great place to catch up on Oscar-nominated foreign films. It takes part over two weeks showcasing films from various Nordic countries. The following are my favorites from the first session:

Original (Denmark)
It's a quirky film about a guy, his mentally ill mother, his wacky best friend and an offbeat singer. That's how strangely entertaining the story is. Original comes across refreshing sweet in an Amélie kind of way.

Upperdog (Norway)

I'm not familiar with Norwegian cinema but this was a great introduction. Upperdog tells the story of a brother and sister who were adopted by different families and how they end up meeting in an unlikely way. It skillfully weaves in charming romantic stories along with the heavier family issues for a completely delightful film experience.

Terribly Happy (Denmark)

Terribly Happy is the Danish submission for "Best Foreign Film" at Academy Awards this year and once you see it you'll understand why. Set in smalltown Denmark the community is eerie and secretive. Without giving too much away this film will definitely surprise you and its enigmatic catch phrase linger in your mind.

Official Site: www.scandinanvianfilmfestivalla.com

Read more »

Japanese Story

Toni Collette is a great actress and if you haven't seen her in Japanese Story it's worth a watch. The film is about two people who get stuck in the Australian outback and the relationship they form amid their struggle to survive.

Available on Netflix.

Read more »

Our Family Wedding

Here's the trailer for the America Ferrera movie that I mentioned last year. It's a romantic comedy about a black family and a Latino family coming together for a wedding celebration. Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia play two fathers who can't stand each other. Lance Gross is the groom. Looks interesting enough...

In theaters March 12th.

Read more »

Wonderful World

Writer/director Josh Goldin's debut film stars Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Philip Baker Hall. It is currently available on demand and will be in limited release on Jan 8th.

Read more »

According to Greta

The Hilary Duff and Evan Ross movie I wrote about here and here finally opens in theaters this weekend. It's on a limited showcase in Los Angeles but hopefully it will roll out on more screens. The supporting cast features Ellen Burstyn and Melissa Leo.

A young suicidal and rebellious teen gets sent to her grandparents for the summer where life takes an unexpected turn.

Official Site: www.gretathemovie.com

Read more »

Outsourced

This flick was in the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006, and released on DVD September 2008 but somehow I managed to miss it until recently. This movie follows Todd (Josh Hamilton) from his job in the United States to India where he supervises a call center and falls for one of his charming employees (Ayesha Darker). This unorthodox rom-com breaks barriers not only for the interracial romance, but also for the demystifying of outsourcing North American call centers and humanizing the workers that man those telephone lines. It is a movie with more than one message and a delightfully quirky film.

 

by Lisa Charleyboy from Urban Native Girl Stuff

Read more »

Tall Enough

For those of you who became instant Barry Jenkins fans after watching Medicine for Melancholy here's his latest project: a short film called Tall Enough.


[H/T Issa Rae]

Read more »

Rashida Jones To Star In Indie Rom-Com 'Monogamy'

Reel Artsy fav, Rashida Jones (Parks & Recreation, I Love You Man), has an upcoming film gig that will hit the festival circuit in 2010. According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Monogamy is an indie romantic comedy that...described by filmmakers as a "cautionary tale about sex, photography and fear of marriage," the film will center on a young couple's relationship and its trials.

Her co-star is Chris Messina from Away We Go and Julie & Julia. That makes Monogamy #1 on my list of next year's must-see movies.


[H/T Rama's Screen]

Read more »

Rosario Dawson 2x

Rosario Dawson has a couple upcoming films:

First, Dawson has been cast alongside Kevin James in a romantic comedy called The Zookeeper. They make an odd couple but I'm sure it's going to be hilarious! Here's what Variety reported:

The Zookeeper centers on zoo animals trying to teach the keeper their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams.

Adam Sandler, whose Happy Madison shingle is also a producer on the pic, will voice a capuchin monkey. Cher's voicing a giraffe, John Favreau a bear, Sylvester Stallone a lion and Judd Apatow an elephant.

Second, The Hollywood Reporter noted that Dawson joined the cast of Unstoppable, an action/thriller starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine (Star Trek).

Unstoppable is about the desperate efforts of a veteran engineer and novice conductor to stop a train laden with toxic cargo speeding out of control toward a nearby city...Dawson will take on the role of a train dispatcher helping the men via radio.

So that's two Rosario Dawson roles to look forward to in 2010!

Read more »

My Faraway Bride

My Faraway Bride (a.k.a. My Bollywood Bride) came on TV one night so I gave it a try. It's cheesy but I liked it.

My Faraway Bride tells the story of Alex, a copy-writer dreaming of being an adventure novelist someday, who meets and romances Indian beauty Reena, while she is vacationing in California.

As long as you don't come in with Slumdog Millionaire expectations you'll be okay. It's more along the lines of a Lifetime movie.


Official Site: www.myfarawaybride.com

Read more »

Neo Ned

Neo Ned stars Gabrielle Union and Jeremy Renner in an interesting spin on a love story...

Committed to a psychiatric hospital, a neo-Nazi falls for a black woman who channels Adolf Hitler.

Weird, huh? Don't let the outlandish plot turn you away. It's actually an intriguing story, one of the most interesting roles I've seen Gabrielle Union in. And Jeremy Renner is an actor to take notice of especially with all the buzz surrounding The Hurt Locker.


You can watch Neo Ned on the Starz channel in August. Give it a try!

Read more »