Chris Rock Is Ready To Play A Game In The Trailer For 'Spiral: From The Book Of Saw'

I really need to read into the story of how Chris Rock got involved in the Saw franchise, for someone like Rock who has stuck mainly to comedy with a few semi-dramas thrown in here and there, it certainly seemed like an odd pairing. I'd be lying if I didn't say I had some concerns over the tone remaining in the right place (not that the quality of the franchise hadn't dropped significantly since it's heyday). Well, we just got our first look at the film in the form of a quick 1:30 teaser and it certainly looks like all of the pieces are in the right place. Add to that the possibility for some social commentary, the killer is targeting cops, which could add enough weight to the story to take it out of the throw-away Friday night horror category, and you could have something special here. Plus we get a quick F-bomb from that master, Samuel L. Jackson.

Spiral: from the Book of Saw is directed by horror vet Darren Lynn Bousman, based on a story developed by Rock, who obviously takes the lead role. He's joined by Jackson, Max Minghella, and Marisol Nichols, with the film hitting theaters on May 15th.

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Chris Rock Joined By Samuel L. Jackson And Max Minghella In New 'Saw' Film

Chris Rock is making a Saw movie. Not enough time has passed for us to totally wrap our brains around that one, but just think if we're getting Rock on such an unlikely project, his cast is probably going to be just as wild. Well, that's exactly how it's turning out to be.

Rock's buddy Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, and Riverdale's Marisol Nichols have joined Chris Rock's Saw film, which we now know he will also star in. Rock will play a detective investigating a series of grisly murders, with Jackson as his father, Minghella as his partner, and Nichols as the police captain. 

This marks the 9th film in the Saw franchise, which was created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell back in 2004. Rock cooked up the story himself, with franchise vet Darren Lynn Bousman directing. Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg wrote the script that looks to expand on the Saw legacy after 2017's Jigsaw really failed to catch on. Even so, it says something that the low-budget series of films have only grossed less than $100M once and that was for the dreadful Saw VI in 2009. There may still be an appetite for this brand of "torture porn" out there.

Saw hits theaters next year on October 23rd, just in time for Halloween. 

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Review: 'Teen Spirit', Elle Fanning Shines As An Aspiring Pop Star

The last few months have seen an abundance of overnight pop star movies. Teen Spirit could easily be folded into the mix and dismissed as just another frothy movie about a teenager with a dream. And yet, first-time director Max Minghella delivers a film that is deeper than it appears.

Elle Fanning is Violet, a Polish immigrant who lives with her mother in a town somewhere outside of London. Violet is isolated and lonely, but dreams of stardom. One night, in the middle of an intense situation, Violet meets Vlad (Zlatko Buric) and eventually convinces him to act as her guardian so that she can attend an audition for the competition show, Teen Spirit.

Fanning gives a performance that is simply lovely. She is a girl who has little in common with her classmates or with her fellow competitors. She is an outsider, partly because her status as an immigrant makes her a literal outsider, and partly because she just doesn't know how to connect with others. Her relationship with her mother (Agnieszka Grochowska) is the kind of tumultuous relationship that many mothers and teenage daughters experience. Theirs, however, is magnified by financial strain and an absent father. Fanning navigates a range of emotions, always managing to keep her innermost feelings to herself. Her gift is in letting those feelings brew just beneath the surface, only boiling over at exactly the right time.

The young star is great on her own, but becomes mesmerizing when she shares the screen with Buric. The two forge a bond that is similar to many we've seen before. Vlad becomes a substitute father figure for Violet, and Violet stands in for Vlad's estranged daughter. This has its own set of challenges, but the two are perfect together. What starts as a tenuous acquaintanceship of convenience becomes something much deeper and more meaningful as time goes on.

The strange thing about Teen Spirit is that it takes place now and yet it feels like a film that could have fit in nicely around 1997. It has the gritty, slightly rough aesthetic of a 90s indie flick. Fanning sings all of her own covers of songs that were popular three or four years ago. The tones and pallet and costumes do not suggest a modern film that takes place in 2018 or 2019. But Minghella pulls it all together in a way that many veteran directors would have struggled. He has a gift for crafting a story, and to take on a musical as his first project only adds an extra element of difficulty that he is ready for.

Teen Spirit may not venture into a lot of new territory, but it uses the familiar to craft a particular and specific story. This is a tale of a young woman, but she could be anyone who dares to dream of a life they aren't born into. Anyone who feels alone in the world, and yet manages not to get discouraged by their lot. Violet's journey isn't unique. But the way she faces it is the real journey anyway.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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'Teen Spirit' Trailer: Elle Fanning Sings Her Heart Out In Max Minghella's Directorial Debut

Hollywood is currently obsessed with exploring the nature of pop superstardom, and casting big names to headline movies on the subject. Lady Gaga's performance in A Star is Born has her staring at a possible Oscars victory, while Natalie Portman played an unusual pop princess in Vox Lux. Now it's Elle Fanning's turn in Teen Spirit, which finds the young actress performing a number of contemporary hits.

Marking the directorial debut of actor Max Minghella, Teen Spirit, which clearly draws its name from the Nirvana classic, follows a young woman who longs to escape her small town by winning a singing competition that make her a pop superstar. This is the third trailer for the film we've seen and each one is more earnest than the last. That's not a bad thing because Fanning does earnest very well, and she's clearly got the voice for songs by Robyn, Ellie Goulding, and others that she'll be performing.

Here's the official synopsis: Violet (Elle Fanning) is a shy teenager who dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent, and ambition. Driven by a pop-fueled soundtrack, Teen Spirit is a visceral and stylish spin on the Cinderella story.

Also starring Rebecca Hall, Zlatko Buric, and Agnieszka Grochowska, Teen Spirit opens April 5th.

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Hear Elle Fanning Cover Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" In New 'Teen Spirit' Trailer

After 2018 produced such musical dramas as Vox Lux, A Star is Born, and Bohemian Rhapsody to both critical and box office success, 2019 is looking to follow suit. Teen Spirit stars Elle Fanning and features music by Robyn, Ellie Goulding, Teagan & Sara, Annie Lennox, Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepson, and many more, with the new full trailer promising a unique synth-pop musical experience.

Marking the directorial debut of actor Max Minghella, Teen Spirit stars Fanning as an aspring pop star whose dreams are edging closer to reality. In the footage we get to see and, most importantly, hear Fanning as she performs all of the songs herself. We've heard her sing before in various roles but nothing quite like this.  The film co-stars Rebecca Hall, Zlatko Buric, and Agnieszka Grochowska.

Here's the synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Violet lives with her mother on a small farm on the Isle of Wight. Her days are spent doing chores, waiting tables, and attending secondary school, where she keeps to herself. But in her free time — spent alone in her room, in the fields with her beloved horse, or at an under-attended open-mic night — Violet surrenders to song. She’s a naturally gifted singer for whom pop stardom might not be mere fantasy.

Teen Spirit hits theaters on April

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'Teen Spirit' Teaser: Elle Fanning Has Popstar Dreams In Max Minghella's Directorial Debut

With a last name like Minghella, stepping out on your own can be tough. Max Minghella has had to escape the shadow of his father, the late great director Anthony Minghella, and has largely done so as an actor appearing in everything from The Social Network to his recurring role on The Handmaid's Tale. A few years ago he took the first steps to following in his father's footsteps as screenwriter on the offbeat thriller The 9th Life of Louis Drax, and now he makes his full directing debut with Teen Spirit, which is due to premiere at TIFF soon.

The title obviously brings to mind the iconic Nirvana track, but the film itself has been described previously by Minghella as "a piece of pop entertainment". It stars the ubiquitous Elle Fanning as a young woman in a small European town who dreams of becoming a pop superstar, dreams that are closer to reality than she may know. The film co-stars Rebecca Hall and Zlatko Buric, and based on this teaser looks like a more youthful take on A Star is Born.

SYNOPSIS: Seventeen-year-old Violet lives with her mother on a small farm on the Isle of Wight. Her days are spent doing chores, waiting tables, and attending secondary school, where she keeps to herself. But in her free time — spent alone in her room, in the fields with her beloved horse, or at an under-attended open-mic night — Violet surrenders to song. She’s a naturally gifted singer for whom pop stardom might not be mere fantasy.

Teen Spirit has yet to land a release date, but that may change if the Toronto debut goes well.

Teen Spirit • Teaser #tiff18 pic.twitter.com/AktJuN7cHP

— Max Minghella (@maxminghella) September 5, 2018

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Oscar Isaac Is A Double Agent In 'The Garbo Network'; Elle Fanning Has 'Teen Spirit'

After Star Wars: The Force Awakens and X-Men: Apocalypse, Oscar Isaac has kept a pretty low profile. He has a few projects on the way, though, and now he's adding one more in WWII thriller, The Garbo Network. Penned by William Wheeler with no director attached yet, the film is based on real-life double agent Juan Pujol Garcia, a Spanish man who convinced the British and Germans to hire as a spy, although he was actually in allegiance to the U.K. He helped create an entire fictional network of spies that helped the British deceive Germany about the invasion of Normandy. Isaac's upcoming films include [THR]

Another day, another role for Elle Fanning. Now she's got Teen Spirit, the directorial debut of Max Minghella. She'll play a young girl in a small European town who has dreams of becoming a pop star. With the help of an unlikely mentor, those dreams are within reach. [ScreenDaily]

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Review: 'The 9th Life Of Louis Drax' Starring Jamie Dornan And Sarah Gadon

Part supernatural murder mystery, part romantic drama, part coming of age story, The 9th Life of Louis Drax arrives as the country is swept up in Stranger Things fever, with the two sharing similar Spielbergian traits. Liz Jensen's novel was famous among Hollywood circles for years, once having been shepherded by the adaptation maestro Anthony Minghella. Since his passing it was son Max Minghella who took over the screenwriting reins, with Alexandre Aja, fresh off another offbeat supernatural offering in Horns, stepping behind the camera.  Aja promptly mangled Joe Hill's quirky horror novel that time, and those hoping he'd find redemption here will be disappointed at what he's done to Jensen's complicated but endearing narrative.

Jensen used the story of 9-year-old Louis Drax (Aiden Longworth) to look at deeply flawed, morally conflicted characters and fractured psyches. Even the boy narrator, who is stuck in a coma, is something of an unreliable storyteller. Louis is an unusual, highly intelligent boy who for good reason believes he will die an early death. He's miraculously survived eight near-fatal accidents already, but it's the ninth that probably should have gotten him. Somehow he managed to live through a fall from a cliff while picnicking with his estranged parents, Natalie (Sarah Gadon) and Peter (Aaron Paul), the latter disappearing in the incident as well.

This has made Peter the likely suspect in Louis' attempted murder, but the mystery surrounding his whereabouts isn't where the story's concern lies. That would instead be with Dr. Allan Pascal (Jamie Dornan), the doctor running some unusual experiments to try and wake Louis up from his coma. These experiments would include cheating on his wife with Louis' mother, and having conversations with a mysterious creature tied to the boy's magical resiliency. Deception is the key, but none of these characters are interesting enough for us to care if they are being straight with one another. Questions surface regarding Natalie's role in Louis' accident due to her flirtations with Allan. Meanwhile, the self-important doctor seems all too willing to commit professional and personal malpractice. Even Louis is in conflict with what he knows to be true and what he's willing to accept about the people who love him most. Even as a child going through something quite extraordinary, Louis is still a child first and one of the few things the film gets right is showing his perspective.

The sub-Grey's Anatomy hospital romance isn't nearly as intriguing as the vivid landscape seen in Louis' still active mind. Done in gothic tones evoking the style of Guillermo Del Toro, the fantasy elements are a welcome respite from the sluggish "whodunnit" and passionless affairs of the adults in Louis' life. Unlike Del Toro, Aja is never capable of drawing an emotional connection between the surreal and Louis' reality, leaving them pretty but ultimately empty.

Dornan, coming off a wooden performance in Fifty Shades of Grey, is stiff and emotionless here as well. The same goes for Gadon who has repeatedly had this problem, although it seemed she had turned a corner after she was so good in Indignation. Only Paul seems comfortable with the material, offering a heartbreaking and sensitive portrayal, but it may be that he's absent from most of the film's awkward tonal shifts. The 9th Life of Louis Drax had potential to be so much more, but the wondrous story at its core is populated with dull and, ironically, lifeless characters.

Rating: 2 out of 5

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Jamie Dornan Investigates 'The 9th Life Of Louis Drax' In New Trailer

It's been a circuitous route to the screen for supernatural film The 9th Life of Louis Drax. The original directors attached to adapting Liz Jensen's novel were the great Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella. However, both directors passed away and the project languished for a while until Anthony's son, Max, took over as screenwriter. He brought in his Horns director Alexandre Aja, snagged a then-hot star in Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey), and now here we are with the first trailer.

Also starring Sarah Gadon, Aaron Paul, Oliver Platt, Barbara Hershey, Molly Parker, and Aiden Longworth as 9-year-old Louis Drax, this peculiar film centers on the titular boy whose life has been full of strange coincidences and near-death encounters, culminating in a fall that leaves him in a coma. Dornan plays the doctor who begins investigating the nearly fatal accident and the odd circumstances surrounding the boy's life.

The 9th Life of Louis Drax opens September 2nd, and looks to be an intriguing mix of fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi thrillers.

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Review: 'Horns' starring Daniel Radcliffe and Juno Temple

After graduating from the magical confines of Harry Potter, it would have been easy for Daniel Radcliffe to simply sit back and continue to do what's familiar. Instead we've seen quite the unpredictable streak; embracing his dark side in the Gothic horror The Woman in Black, playing Beat Generation writer Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings, and even venturing into traditional rom-com territory in What If. Horns brings Radcliffe back into the realm of the supernatural, but also into territory he's never tread: film noir, dark comedy, and Greek tragedy.

Directed by Alexandre Aja based on the devilishly fun novel by Joe Hill, Horns is a gear shift not only for Radcliffe, but for the filmmaker as well. Aja has mostly kept busy in the horror genre, but has never really planted a flag in a specific style. So a psychotically tense film like High Tension feels nothing like the goofy, exploitative Piranha, which doesn't come close to resembling The Hills Have Eyes. His diverse ability makes Aja perhaps the most obvious choice to handle an odd mix of tones, although the results are a little bit messy in execution.

Radcliffe is Ig Parrish, the suspect in the rape and murder of his girlfriend Merrin, played by Juno Temple in yet another role that finds her as the surreal object of desire. The small-town residents all hate Ig with a passion and believe he's gotten away with the crime; even the local media has him pegged as the killer. But Ig insists he's innocent, drowning himself in alcohol and vowing to avenger Merrin's death by finding the true killer by any means necessary. And as if his prayers had been answered, the following morning sees him waking up with two magical horns sprouting from his head that force others to confess their deepest, darkest sins. Here is where Aja seems most comfortable, indulging in the bizarre and comical side of Ig's investigation into his newfound powers. Basically, Ig brings out the worst in everybody. A hateful bartender wants to burn his own bar to the ground; a pair of cops reveal their deep passion for one another; and a gaggle of news reporters break out into a pier six brawl just to get a scoop. Even Ig's twitchy musician brother (Joe Anderson) is susceptible, but his altruistic childhood friend Lee (Max Minghella) is strangely immune.  The townsfolk's deep-rooted revelations only get weirder by the encounter, and soon Ig has thrown everything and everyone into chaos. Perhaps it's due to our affinity for Radcliffe, but Ig remains a sympathetic character despite his clear enjoyment of the damage he's causing. Or more likely it's because the people he meets are so depraved. Heather Graham is terrific as a fame-whoring waitress who lied to the cops about Ig just so she could get on the news. These people deserve whatever they get, but does Ig deserve to give it to them? The screenplay by Keith Bunin teases but barely considers Ig's use of his satanic gifts.

It's as Aja transitions into serious mode that things get a little messy. Through Ig's drunken flashbacks we're treated to what amounts to a whimsical, nostalgic romance, and while it's beautifully shot it doesn't conform to the dark tidings of the present. As Ig learns more and begins closing in on the suspect, he understandably grows more demonic with rage, and the film begins to embrace its horror aspects fully. But it can't completely escape the silliness of what came before, except during the truly heartbreaking scenes with Merrin's distraught father (David Morse), who believes his daughter was murdered by the man she loved.  Plenty of sinister revelations are to come, and numerous red herrings are thrown out, but other than Ig few of the suspects are interesting enough to be compelling.  That's not a knock on the performances, which are solid all around. This is Radcliffe's show, though, and it's genuinely fun to watch him in something this weird that is clearly aiming for mature audiences. Not only does he drop a lot of F-bombs, he does some truly heinous things that are very un-Harry Potter. With his scruffy beard and sullen eyes, Radcliffe looks like a man who has lost love only to find sadness and rage, and it's a tragic side to the actor that we've rarely had a chance to see. He's great here, but these Horns just aren't as sharp as they could have been.

Rating: 3 out of 5

For more, check out my interview with Alexandre Aja here!  Horns is available now On Demand!

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Jamie Dornan to Star in Max Minghella-Scripted 'The 9th Life of Louis Drax'

Back in 2004 Anthony Minghella optioned the rights to Liz Jensen's best-selling novel, The 9th Life of Louis Drax, to be the latest in his long list of successful adaptations. Unfortunately, he passed away before the film ever got moving, but his son Max Minghella is picking up where Dad left off by making his screenwriting debut on the film. And as production is gearing up to begin, a red hot star has just come aboard.

Fifty Shades of Grey's Jamie Dornan will star in The 9th Life of Louis Drax with the busy Alexandre Aja (Horns) directing. Minghella will also produce the film which centers on a 9-year-old Louis Drax, a boy who has something violent happen to him every single year. On his ninth birthday he mysteriously falls off a cliff during a picnic with his parents and ends up in a coma. Dornan will play Dr. Allan Pascal, who becomes drawn into a mystery that will test the boundary between reality and fantasy. Here's what Minghella had to say about the deal...

"Tim (producer Tim Bricknell) and I are thrilled this deeply personal project is being brought to fruition with passion and integrity," said Minghella. "We look forward to collaborating with Alex and Miramax to create a truly original movie that will captivate and surprise audiences."

It's good to see Minghella, always an underrated actor, following in his father's screenwriting footsteps. Filming is to begin in October.

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Daniel Radcliffe Brings Out the Devil in New 'Horns' Trailer

One has to give it up to Daniel Radcliffe for refusing to let himself get pigeonholed. In the time since he's left the Harry Potter world behind the choices he's made have been unpredictable and surprising in a good way. In everything from The Woman in Black to Kill Your Darlings to the rom-com What If, Radcliffe seems intent on challenging himself in new ways. And this fall he'll explore a much darker side in Alexandre Aja's horror/mystery, Horns.

A new trailer for the film has been released and it's just as crazy and twisted as the others, allowing Radclife to once again indulge in the supernatural.  Directed by Alexandre Aja (my interview with him here) and based on the Joe Hill novel, the story centers on Ig Parrish, a local outsider who sprouts magical horns on his head, which he uses to find the truth about his girlfriend's rape and murder, a crime which he stands accused of.

Also starring Juno Temple, James Remar, Max Minghella, Joe Anderson, and Kelli Garner, Horns opens on Halloween.


'Horns' Trailer #2- International by Punch Drunk Critics

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Daniel Radcliffe Has a Devilish New Look in First 'Horns' Trailer

Hard to believe that in all those years Daniel Radcliffe was Harry Potter he never had occasion to greet his rabid fans at San Diego Comic-Con. This despite there being a sizable number of attendees dressed as Hogwarts faculty and alumni, mixed with the occasional Death Eater. But Radcliffe will be making a trip to Comic-Con later this month, and the film that finally got him there is Horns. To help tease his appearance the first trailer for the film has been released and it promises a Radcliffe you've never seen before.

Horns is based on the popular novel by Joe Hill, and those who have read the novel know he's inherited his dad Stephen King's gift for horror. Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes) directs the adaptation which stars Radcliffe as Ig Parrish, who is accused in the rape and murder of his girlfriend. Waking up in the woods after a hard night of drinking, Ig discovers he's sprouted two small magic horns on his head that force others to indulge their worst urges and confess sins. Using his newfound abilities Ig tries to discover the truth behind the crime.

Also starring Max Minghella, Juno Temple, Heather Graham, Kelli Garner, Joe Anderson, and James Remar, Horns opens in the UK on October 31st but has yet to gain a U.S. date. 


Horns Official Teaser Trailer (2014) Daniel Radcliffe Horror HD by Newest Trailer

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Trailer for Ensemble Dramedy 'About Alex' with Aubrey Plaza, Jason Ritter, Jane Levy, and More

There must be an unwritten rule somewhere that every indie ensemble that looks vaguely like The Big Chill must have Jason Ritter involved. It's not necessarily a bad thing and he's certainly found his niche in the genre, something he talked about in my interview with him for The Big Ask, and he's got another such film on the way in About Alex.

Ritter stars alongside Nate Parker, Aubrey Plaza, Jane Levy, Max Greenfield, Max Minghella, and Maggie Grace in the dramedy that marks the directorial debut of writer Jesse Zwick. Here's the official synopsis although I'm guessing you can probably figure what this one's about because all of these movies deal with the same issues reflected by the current generation...

In ABOUT ALEX, a circle of twenty-something friends reunite for a weekend away after one of them suffers an emotional breakdown. Despite the group’s best efforts to keep it light and enjoy themselves, a tinderbox of old jealousies, unrequited love, and widening political differences leads to an explosion that, coupled with the flammable combination of drugs, wine, and risotto, cannot be contained. An honest appraisal of adult friendship for our current social media moment, ABOUT ALEX is a lighthearted look at the struggles of a generation that has it all – and wants more.

About Alex hits VOD and theaters August 8th, and along with the trailer here's also a new clip.

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Review: 'The Internship', starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson

A lot has changed in the eight years since Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn crashed their last wedding.  It's pretty amazing that they've waited this long to get back together, considering the way that film barreled its way into the cultural zeitgeist (remember when wedding crashing was a serious thing for a while?) and set a new standard for R-rated comedy. But now the duo is back, and they're no longer the young, hip dudes who swept bridesmaids off their feet with a slick line or Wilson's "Aw shucks" charm. They're older, less cool, and much less raunchy in the PG-13 rated The Internship, a comfortable and surprisingly funny workplace comedy that succeeds only on the charms of its two stars.

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1st trailer for 'The Internship' with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson

It's been a long time since Wedding Crashers, and many have been wondering when Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn would reunite on the big screen. Well, wonder no longer.  The duo is back and while The Internship promises the same old schtick we've come to expect from them, it's undeniably cool to see them together again.

Directed by Shawn Levy, the film has Vaughn and Wilson as two unemployed middle-aged guys who are too old for the current job market. Out of desperation, they accept an internship at Google, where they enter the "mental Hunger Games" against younger, smarter, and more savvy upstarts vying for the same job. The chemistry between the two is what works, and will make you smile if nothing else. It definitely appears as if an Old School/Dodgeball scenario will breakout, with the two older guys leading a group of less-qualified interns. Max Minghella, Dylan O'Brien, Rose Byrne, and Jessica Szohr co-star.

The Internship could be good for a chuckle or two. We'll find out when it opens on June 7th.

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Kieran Darcy-Smith lines up Oscar Isaac and Max Minghella for 'Memorial Day'

As the Aussie invasion continues with the likes of Joel and Nash Edgerton, David Michod, and Ben Mendelsohn making big waves in Hollywood, Kieran Darcy-Smith is following right behind. His vacation thriller Wish You Were Here was a hit on the festival circuit, and with Joel Edgerton starring it's set to get a 2013 push to capitalize on his presence in Zero Dark Thirty and The Great Gatsby. Darcy-Smith has a few other projects perculating on the kettle, including writing a sequel script for the awesome Tomorrow, When the War Began.

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Musings: How do the guys in '10 Years' measure up?

 

I’ve never been to a high school reunion, maybe because I dread seeing people that I never really liked all that much anyway — and what if they’re more successful than me?! — and I’m just neurotic enough to get crazy over that. So I’ll be getting my high school reunion experience from the Channing Tatum romantic comedy 10 Years, which stars him (arguably the most successful male movie star of 2012) and a bunch of his friends. And his wife. Grumble.

But when I say “a bunch,” I mean a bunch: The ensemble comedy, written and directed by Jamie Linden (who worked with Tatum back on Dear John), is jam-packed with people, including Justin Long, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Anthony Mackie, Oscar Isaac, Ari Graynor, Rosario Dawson and more. And as I mentioned, it also stars Jenna Dawson-Tatum, reuniting with her husband onscreen before joining the cast of American HorrorStory this fall — a good career move for her, I’d say.

Look over those names again, though: Tatum, Long, Pratt, Mackie, Isaac … and a bunch of other dudes round out this film; by my count, 12 altogether. They’ll all be playing some high school archetypes, right? And isn’t high school where dating and crushes run wild? With that theme in mind, how dateable are the film’s dozen male stars? Who would you be overjoyed to take you out to dinner, and who would get relegated to helping you with your homework? Because I have nothing better to do than fantasize, let’s do this — ranking the men from Nos. 1 to 12, depending on who would be the best to date and the worst.

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Review: '10 Years' starring Channing Tatum and Rosario Dawson

The reunion movie. Always a reliable cinematic avenue for exploring the harsh disappointments and regrets that come with post-high school life. Darn all that responsibility! 10 Years isn't aiming to break the mold in that regard. It sticks to many of the same high school archetypes we've all come to know and recognize. But what separates it from something like the raunchy and mean-spirited American Reunion is that it takes a serio-comic approach. If The Big Chill and Can't Hardly Wait mated, 10 Years would be its spawn, only with a fantastic ensemble that alone is worth the price of admission.

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Max Minghella circles 'Horns' with Daniel Radcliffe

If you can look past last year's terrible alien invasion film, The Darkest Hour, then it's clear that Max Minghella is a star on the rise. Hard to believe the same guy who was so bad in Art School Confidential that I nearly walked out on it has starred in some of my favorite recent films in The Social Network and The Ides of March. He's also got a handful of great ones on the way, and now he may be about to add one more to the pile.

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