New on DVD & Blu-Ray: 'Rush', 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2', 'Last Vegas'

Rush - Director Ron Howard makes a racing movie that isn't just about racing, but about the rivalry and intriguing relationship between real-life Formula One racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The movie balances the racers' personal life, their careers, and the impact their relationship has on each other from the moment they began competing. An underrated film of 2013 filled with great performances. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde, and Alexandra Maria Lara. 

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 - After scientist Flint Lockwood's food machine created a fiasco of large proportions, the food island where he used to live with his friends is shutting down to be cleaned up. Meanwhile, Flint gets to work at Live Corp Company with his idol Chester V, the Bill Nye of the movie, but with much more sinister intentions. But when Flint learns that his machine still works and is creating food animals, he, Sam, and friends must band together to save the island. The film has a voice cast that includes Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Will Forte, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Terry Crews, and Andy Samberg.

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Last Vegas - Billy, Paddy, Archie, and Sam grew up together in New York and were inseparable as kids. While their friendships remain, life has taken them on different paths and to different places across the U.S. When Billy proposes to his girlfriend, the four friends reunite for a glorified and final bachelor party that might get a little more complicated when old secrets come into play and threaten Billy and Paddy's relationship. The film stars Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline. 

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The Fifth Estate - After two documentaries last year, Julian Asange of WikiLeaks became more of a famous name than he already was. Choosing to take the path of a non-documentary, Bill Condon focuses his story from the point of view of Asange's former friend and WikiLeaks partner Daniel Berg. Based on Berg's book, the movie follows the two as they build and expand their website and reveal world secrets, while giving us a glimpse into their rocky relationship. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl, David Thewlis, Alexander Beyer, Dan Stevens, and Alicia Vikander. 

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Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa - 86-year-old Irving Zisman journeys from Nebraska to North Carolina in order to bring his grandson home to his real father. Of course, as they venture on this road-trip adventure, a hidden camera chronicles the adventures they have and the people they meet. The film stars Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll. 

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Metallica: Through the Never - Trip, a young roadie for Metallica, is sent on an urgent mission during the band's show. But what seems like a simple assignment turns into a surreal adventure. The film stars Metallica and Dane DeHaan. 

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The 7 Best Movie Duos of 2013

How can anyone resist a great movie duo? Whether they're romantic relationships, friendships, siblings, or bromances, no one can deny that these types of duos, when combined with great actor chemistry and great dialogue, can be what makes or breaks a movie. Movie duos can carry a movie, make us laugh, make us cry, connect with them, or just enjoy their banter. 

So, I've compiled a list of the seven best movie duos of 2013 that have been the most memorable. Once again, I admit to being indecisive, so they're in no particular order because no one is necessarily better than the other, though some might be dearer to my heart than others! 

Her - Theodore and Samantha (Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson) 

• Not many onscreen romantic couples can sway you with a few conversations like Theodore and Samantha did in Spike Jonze's film. Sure, Samantha's an artificially intelligent operating system, but their relationship is natural and full of witty and genuine moments that it's kind of hard not to like them.  

The Kings of Summer - Joe, Patrick, and Biaggio (Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias)

• Ok, so this is technically cheating because it's a trio and not a duo, but Joe, Patrick, and Biaggio wouldn't be anything without the other in some way. And so, I've gone and included all three of them. Initially, Joe and Patrick leave their parents and build a house in the middle of the woods, learn to be independent and grow. Biaggio doesn't so much tag along so much as he just kind of blends in. He's the middle man and weird persona who keeps the peace... and the humor. 

Philomena - Philomena Lee and Martin Sixsmith (Judi Dench, Steve Coogan)

• Judi Dench and Steve Coogan make for a great dynamic duo. Based on a true story, Martin Sixsmith helps Philomena search for her long, lost son who was adopted without her consent fifty years ago. Coogan and Dench have an easy relationship and although they seem to be polar opposites, their interactions are filled with witty banter and deep conversations. 

Rush - Niki Lauda and James Hunt  (Daniel Bruhl, Chris Hemsworth)

• Hollywood loves making sports movies, but it's been awhile since there's been one that makes you really feel for the characters. Ron Howard gets it right when he decided to make a film about the rivalry between Formula One racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Daniel Bruhl and Chris Hemsworth have an onscreen bitterness and hatred towards each other, but the duo respect the other underneath it all. Bruhl and Hemsworth prove that angry looks and quick-witted banter works regardless of the movie subject. 

The Spectacular Now - Sutter and Aimee (Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley)

• Rarely do teen films these days make any lasting impressions. Half the time, they make teens look stupid, shallow, and uninteresting. This film does the opposite and what makes the film even more special is the chemistry and relationship between Teller and Woodley. They have a natural and genuine relationship that builds on friendship before moving into romance. They make a great duo simply because they work really well together in all respects. 

Star Trek Into Darkness - Spock and James T. Kirk (Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine)

• Probably one of the most well-known and loved duos is the friendship between Spock and Kirk. That doesn't change in J.J. Abrams' reboot of the franchise nor in its sequel. Spock's logic vs. Kirk's emotionally-fueled decisions makes for a great balance and their constant banter makes for great entertainment all while keeping the momentum of the film going. 

White House Down - President Sawyer, Cale (Jaime Foxx, Channing Tatum)

• The White House took a double hit in 2013 with both this film and Olympus Has Fallen. But only a duo that includes Tatum and Foxx is worthy of any kind of respect. The film has drama mixed with humor, and a lot of it is thanks to them. If there was any doubt that Tatum's character wasn't qualified to protect the president, all doubt is removed when you see the two of them working side by side. 

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The PDC Staff Picks the Most Underrated/Overrated Movies of 2013

To call something overrated or underrated is usually pretty controversial, but especially when you're a critic. What it tends to mean is that you're battling back against the popular opinion of learned colleagues, and those discussions can get pretty heated. It's not as simple as saying "Hey I like this better", what you're saying is a certain movie doesn't deserve the respect it's getting, or another is deserving of more than your colleagues are willing to give. There's a little bit of personal criticism that comes with it that can't really be avoided.

We here at the Punch Drunk Critics engage in our share of disagreements (Julian is dead wrong about Man of Steel and he knows it!!) in which one of us has had to face an uphill climb to back or rip a certain film we feel strongly about. And so we got together to list the movies we felt were underrated or overrated during 2013, and as usual it turned out pretty interesting. Enjoy. And no, Anchorman 2 isn't on anybody's list, but it probably should be.

Roxana Hadadi

UNDERRATED

Teens in 2013: The Kings of Summer, The Bling Ring, The Spectacular Now

When did everyone stop caring about movies starring teenagers, unless they were Twilight or The Hunger Games? The ‘80s and ‘90s were full of great coming-of-age films, and yet it feels like the 2000s have been shortchanged when it comes to the genre—which was especially frustrating when 2013 saw the release of some great teen-centric films that were slapped with R ratings, isolating them from the younger audiences who really should have been seeing them. No surprise, then, that the three movies were promptly forgotten by moviegoers. The summer releases of The Kings of Summer, The Bling Ring, and The Spectacular Now went largely unnoticed by the general public—bringing in about $1.5 million, $19 million, and $6.8 million, respectively—which is frustrating given how well-acted, emotionally true, and affecting they all were. If Emma Watson licking her lips and dancing seductively in a club couldn’t get people out for Sofia Coppola’s “Bling Ring,” then The Kings of Summer (about three boys who rebel against their parents and run away) or The Spectacular Now (about young love between a teen alcoholic and his too-kind-for-her-own-good classmate) didn’t have a chance. And yet these are movies that you need to see, to remember how those ages felt and to wrap yourself in the yearning and desire and freedom that went along with adolescence. We shouldn’t forget those feelings, or these films.

OVERRATED

Gravity

Sure, Alfonso Cuarón’s film starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney was undeniably beautiful—to look at. But can we all admit that the story was lacking; the dialogue sometimes clunky and frustrating; and the final plot twist obvious and expected? Bullock’s and Clooney’s performances were solid and the tension omnipresent, but the fantastic visual effects, for me, didn’t engross me in the story; they kept me outside, looking in. Instead of feeling engrossed, I felt like an interloper. Gravity is a visual achievement for sure, but let’s not pretend it was the best film of 2013.

+Julian Lytle 

UNDERRATED
Rush

Man I don’t understand why there isn’t more people talking about one of the best films I’ve seen all year and clearly the best sports film all year. Let’s be honest here movies about the actual sport of car racing are pretty much boring. For me the greatest film in the car racing genre is Talladega Nights. Now you can say “Julian don’t you love The Fast and Furious franchise” and I say “ Man that ain’t about no sports, that’s about awesomeness”  but seriously Rush got me so involved in this story of these two men James Hunt and Niki Lauda probably got me the most invested in two characters this whole year. It let me see Chris Hemsworth as something other than Thor and it showed me just how good of an actor Daniel Bruhl is. Between this and Cinderella Man, Ron Howard has the lock on making dude movies that make dudes cry.

OVERRATED
The Butler

Man I don’t really even get how this movie is doing so well. This movie is essentially "Black Forrest Gump" in terms of the way it handled its main character’s travel through history. I think for me main issue with the movie is how it’s far too loose with the facts for to completely sell itself on being a TRUE story. For all the acclaim for Oprah’s performance I think what bothers me the most is that her character arc makes no sense at all. It didn’t work for me and it’s one of the few times where I don’t get how or why it worked for many others. I think this half decent movie is being boosted by the situation of Hollywood neglecting an audience.

+Travis Hopson

UNDERRATED

Blue Caprice

I don't shock easily; nor do many movies come out of nowhere and punch me in the face quite as hard as Alexandre Moors' Blue Caprice. One of the very first films I saw this year back before it ever had a hint of distribution, the subject matter was both worrying and intriguing. The Beltway Sniper shootings of more than a decade ago are still an open sore here in the District, and other movies on the matter have done a good job of sensationalizing it. But not Moors, who instead turns it into a terrifying character study on killer John Allen Muhammad, played with unsettling efficiency by Isaiah Washington, and the forces that turned him into a monster. Moors and writer R.F.I. Porto delve deep into Muhammad's twisted, "me against the world" psyche, but the real trick is how they make us understand without sympathizing. They're also quick to show how quickly Muhammad's sickness can be spread as he takes on a fatherly role to the wayward Lee Malvo (Tequan Richmond), the two forming a deadly and disturbed pair taking out their frustrations with the world on total strangers. But this isn't about the shootings themselves; it's about the shooters, and by the time they finally do take up arms we are sufficiently shaken to our boots. I turn up my nose every time I hear someone listing the likely Best Actor contenders because Washington's name is never mentioned when it needs to be in the discussion.

OVERRATED
Blue Jasmine
Two movies with Blue in the title? Guess what my back-up choice would have been? Yep, Blue is the Warmest Color. So overrated. But no, Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine wins it, mainly because it sits at a staggering 91% right now on Rotten Tomatoes, which boggles my mind. You ever ask anybody what they like about the film? The answer is always the same: Cate Blanchett. Well, first of all nobody should be surprised by that. But second, she's not that damn good, and the problem with her can be laid at Allen's feet. Allen has never been the type to hover over his actors and give them notes on how to play a scene (unless they're playing a role he would've done himself), and there were a handful of times when someone needed to rein Blanchett's twitchy self in just a little bit. Tone it down a notch, take it up a notch, whatever. She's good, but let's not go overboard because she insults a lot of people and always has a drink in her hand. Speaking of insults, Allen's ruminations on class divisions  are amateurish at best. Whether it's the blue collar working stiffs or the high-minded rich everybody falls neatly into caricature, and Allen doesn't seem the least bit interested in exploring what really makes these people tick. Throw in a couple of extraneous characters; you could merge Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Dice Clay and the story wouldn't miss a beat; and what you've got is another decent if uninspiring Woody Allen effort. Can he go back to just touring us through Europe, please?

+Mae Abdulbaki 

UNDERRATED
Rush

Like Julian, I'm surprised that this film kind of came and went and never really got the attention it deserved. People just seemed to forget about it and it flew right under the radar, becoming overshadowed by its competitors. What's great about Rush is that you don't have to know that much about race car driving because Ron Howard chooses to focus on the film's main characters and their rivalry and interactions with each other. It's a film for everyone really, and is able to balance great drama and emotion, sprinkled with lighter moments throughout and, of course, race cars. Daniel Bruhl and Chris Hemsworth are both fantastic in their roles as real race car drivers Nikki Lauda and James Hunt, respectively, and make the movie all the more worthy of watching.  Overrated Captain Phillips The first time watching this film didn't really do anything for me. Sure, it's Tom Hanks, but really Barkhad Abdi is much more entertaining as a character than Captain Phillips ever was. Yes, I also know that it's based on a true story, but the whole film was underwhelming, Tom Hanks' performance only great in the last few minutes of a film that goes on for far too long and doesn't carry enough emotion. Watch A Hijacking. It's not based on a true story, but its premise is generally the same and is a much higher quality film.

OVERRATED
Captain Phillips

The first time watching this film didn't really do anything for me. Sure, it's Tom Hanks, but really Barkhad Abdi is much more entertaining as a character than Captain Phillips ever was. Yes, I also know that it's based on a true story, but the whole film was underwhelming, Tom Hanks' performance only great in the last few minutes of a film that goes on for far too long and doesn't carry enough emotion. Watch A Hijacking. It's not based on a true story, but its premise is generally the same and is a much higher quality film.

John Nolan

UNDERRATED
Disconnect

As per usual I go against the rules…or rather misunderstand the rules. I had to put in my due diligence before choosing Disconnect here and the consensus on RottenTomatoes.com holds this flick at a fresh 68%, so the issue here isn't’t really that people were saying it was bad…it was more that they weren't saying it was good loud enough for the audience to hear. The genius of this movie is that it works on two totally different levels, one of which the director did not intend (though I’m not sure how he didn't see this aspect of the interpretation coming). Disconnect is a movie of intertwining story lines, ala Crash, all revolving around the dangers of the internet… be it identity theft, online bullying, or underage webcam sex workers, this is the description the film’s director,  Henry Alex Rubin, hates. He prefers to think of it as a film about innocent lies with dire consequences, the realization that our preconceived notions are extremely off, and the odd way we can connect anonymously with people whom we would never associate with face to face. It’s win win, you can watch this film on a surface level and be extremely entertained, if not a bit freaked out. You can also watch it on the deeper meaning level and have your world view…or at least certain specific views, brought into question. A film that never got the attention it deserved and will sadly fall into the void of overlooked films Disconnect is easily my most underrated film of the year.

OVERRATED
Inside Llewyn Davis

I’ll just get this out of the way, Oscar Issac is amazing in the film, that part of this movies hype is deserved. This movie was very Drive-like in that there are a lot of silent and awkward scenes, the biggest difference is that Issac says more with a look than most do with their complete faculty’s… even with that the awkward feel is overbearing. The best way I can describe my feelings on this flick is to compare it to something you’d see in an art gallery. You know the old cliché where all the rich ladies in their mink coats with their monocled husbands standing close by, checkbook in hand, talking about the genius of a particular work. Then you walk up to see said work and it looks like someone sneezed on a canvas with a bloody nose and called it something catchy like “Eternalus” or some other pretentious made up word…yeah that’s how I felt about Llewyn Davis outside of Issac’s performance. You need only know that there was talk of a best supporting actor nomination for John Goodman, who I normally love, who’s entire performance consisted of acting like a stoned whacked out weirdo who spoke nonsense randomly for 5 minutes in the middle of the movie. I. JUST. DON’T. GET. IT.

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Box Office: 'Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2' Devours Top Spot; 'Don Jon' Opens Strong

1. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2- $35M
Because animated family comedies will always beat a hokey rom-com with no stars, a film about race car drivers, and a male-oriented flick about porn, Sony's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 dominated with a $35M debut, more than triple its closest competition. That's good for the fourth biggest September opening ever, and $5M more than what the first film did back in 2009, and that finished up its run with $243M worldwide. Expect this one to surpass that total, mostly due to expanded international grosses, and the fact that it's the only major animated film until November.
2. Prisoners- $11.2M/$38.95M
Slipping 45% in week two is the dark crime thriller Prisoners, which perhaps was a little too disturbing to keep audiences coming back for more. The film will still surpass its $46M budget, and a possible Oscar push will only help the bottom line.
3. Rush- $10.3M/$10.5M
Expanding into national release after a quiet open last week, Ron Howard's F-1 racer Rush brought in a modest $10.3M. A 1970s-set racing flick is a tough sell, even with Chris "Thor" Hemsworth's face on all of the movie posters. If anything it proves he's still got a long way to go before he's a true A-lister. F-1 racing has always been more of an international sport, and the $13M foreign haul suggests it should run laps over the competition overseas.
4. Baggage Claim- $9.3M
Despite a dreadful marketing campaign that made Baggage Claim look like one of those unrealistic "hot chick can't get a guy" movies (which it is!), the Paula Patton-starrer did well enough in its opening weekend to turn a profit. It's a clear win for Patton who has been stuck in a number of thankless roles ever since Jumping the Broom earned her some accolades. She won't win any awards here, but it shows there is an audience to check her out, regardless of how unbelievable the story may be.
5. Don Jon- $9M
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is someone who is making moves to become a bankable box office star, and Don Jon may be the first step in doing just that. He makes a successful directorial debut with the romantic comedy about a womanizer who also happens to be a porn addict. That aspect is pretty well-known at this point, although the TV spots have done a pretty good job of hiding it. At a budget of only about $6M the film is already in the black, but the 'C+' Cinemascore suggests audiences won't be coming back for more.
6. Insidious Chapter 2- $6.7M/$69.5M
7. The Family- $3.7M/$31.6M
8. Instructions Not Included- $3.3M/$38.5M
9. We're the Millers- $2.8M/$142.4M
10. Lee Daniels' The Butler- $2.4M/$110.2M

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Cinema Royale #34- 'Rush'; 'Don Jon' Early Best Actress Predictions

The Oscar season has begun, and many are predicting Ron Howard's Rush to be a definite contender. But does the Formula One flick starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl have goods to reach the finish line?  Plus, we'll take a look at Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut, the sex addiction comedy Don Jon!

Plus, we'll be joined by the Cinema Siren +Leslie Combemale  to wrap up our insanely early Oscar predictions, picking the Best Actress nominees.

You can find Cinema Royale every single week on Blogtalkradio, Itunes, Libsyn, and Podomatic. Listen to this week's episode below...

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Review: 'Rush, Starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl

What kind of person would strap himself into what is essentially a bomb and race around a track at an ungodly speed without an ounce of fear? Only the "rebels, lunatics, and dreamers", that's who. Ron Howard's Rush is about two such men, brash Englishman James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and the analytical Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl), two men forged in the fires of an intense rivalry that would power Formula One racing in the 1970s. The aptly-named Rush is all gears, drive shafts, adrenaline, and burning rubber, and it's easily Howard's most impressive and confident film in years.

In his second teaming with Frost/Nixon scribe Peter Morgan, Howard has delivered a sexy cool thrill ride that will hook you right from the starting gate. The danger in any sports film, and is especially true with a niche like F-1 racing, is to make it more than just the nuts, bolts, and rules of the road. Rush is at its heart the ultimate guy flick, about two vastly different guys whose hatred for one another was only surpassed by their desire to be the best, no matter the consequences.

When we first meet Hunt he's storming into a hospital, dressed in his racing gear and bleeding from the face. Clearly injured, he's still all swagger and braggadocio, and within moments he's bedding one of the nurses (Natalie Dormer in a throwaway role, sadly) and embarking on a whirlwind fling. Hunt is a live-wire magnetic guy with a personality that makes everybody love him, or at least want to be in his orbit. He leads with the chin and thinks from his gut, staring down death without a moment's hesitation. Lauda is almost too perfect a rival for him. The chilly, rat faced Kraut is the picture of cold, clinical precision and intensity, but his chilly demeanor makes him a pariah with few friends. To him, racing is a business, one to be considered and examined with a fanatical monk-like discipline. Their divergent philosophies only converge at the single aspiration of becoming an F-1 world champion.

But first they have to get through the lower-tier Formula 3 races, and the film does itself a great justice by letting us in on the ground floor of their epic conflict. It's in the minor leagues that we see the origins of their mutual contempt, and it opens the door to a richer experience as the contentious relationship evolves. Hunt always seems to be one step behind Lauda; trailing behind him in securing big money deals, landing the more advanced cars, and then hitting the big time in the F-1 circuit. But Lauda never had Hunt's fearlessness or natural charisma, and certainly not his gift with the ladies.
Sadly, those ladies aren't given a whole lot to do in the film other than serve as window dressing. Olivia Wilde has a spot of tea in the role of Hunt's first wife, Suzy Miller, who would ultimately ditch him for the more glamorous Richard Burton. Alexandra Maria Lara plays Lauda's wife, Marlene, who after an assured introduction is given little to do but look really concerned about his safety.  This is a bro movie so perhaps it's understandable the ladies would get the short end of the stick, but it's still disappointing to see that side of their lives basically ignored. Morgan's script shares some of the same thematic beats as Grand Prix and Days of Thunder, the "competition as life microcosm" aspect a familiar one in most films in the genre. A minor problem that Morgan has always had rears its ugly head as he tends to underline the film's themes unnecessarily. This is most noticeable towards the end as the film stretches for a coda that is fairly obvious to anyone who has been paying attention.

Fortunately, Hemsworth and Bruhl are absolutely amazing in what are career-defining performances. Hemsworth gets a chance to prove he's capable of more than playing an Asgardian thunder god. He exudes confidence and sexual energy in every scene, and is careful not to overplay it to the point where Hunt becomes more of a caricature. It's Bruhl who really comes away looking like a champion, giving the icy Lauda warmth that wins us over as he goes through some pretty severe life challenges. While the difficulties he faces are best left unspoiled for those who haven't yet hit Wikipedia, Lauda must eventually learn to put aside his "outsider" reputation and let others through his emotional wall. He's also forced to come to grips with his own mortality and limitations, a lesson that doesn't come easily. Both actors are great separately but they are superb when sharing the screen as Lauda and Hunt's career-long battle gives way to a mutual respect and realization that they aren't so different.
Aided by Hans Zimmer's riveting score and breathtaking cinematography by Danny Boyle's favorite DP, Anthony Dod Mantle, the race sequences thrust you right in the heart of the action. Howard, who has always been one of Hollywood's safest and least inspiring directors despite his box office successes, makes you feel every gut-wrenching twist and turn of the track. You can practically smell the ozone and exhaust fumes in every visceral, action-packed moment. The final rain-soaked race is an emotional and visual stunner, momentous in execution because of the incredible stakes involved.

Even if you don't know a tail pipe from a tail feather, Rush will win you over with its brilliantly-staged action and deft attention to character detail. It's a stirring tribute to two men who didn't just compete for a living, but competed as a way of life and drove one another to become the best in the world.

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The Must-See Movies of September

September 6th

Adore
Director: Anne Fontaine
Cast: Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel, James Frechevile, Ben Mendelsohn

Adore has gone through multiple titles since debuting at this past Sundance, and while producers aren't going to admit it, the reason probably has to do with the film becoming something of a joke. Once titled The Grandmothers and Two Mothers, the film stars super actresses Naomi Watts and Robin Wright as best friends who enter into sexual relationships with the other's son. Yeah, so it's a little creepy on its face, and some early reviews say it's hard to get beyond the premise even as the two leads are play their roles honestly. 

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New Posters for 'Don Jon', 'The Family', and 'Rush'

"Everyone Loves a Happy Ending" on the new poster for Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Don Jon, but will it be a happy beginning to his directorial career? The fan friendly actor's charm has helped the film win over audiences at Sundance and SXSW, and with a cast that includes Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, and Tony Danza, plus a clever little cameo from Anne Hathaway and Channing Tatum, it could be decent fall season sleeper. Gordon-Levitt plays a New Jersey bro who can basically have any woman he wants, but none compare to the ladies he obsesses over in the porn movies he's addicted to. Don Jon hits theaters on September 27th.

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Third trailer for 'Rush' hits the web

It's about damn time we had another movie with Formula 1 racing in the background. That might seem like a joke but I mean it in all seriousness. The last movie of it's kind, to my memory, was the Sly Stallone flick Driven. It's a world ripe for Hollywood. Cocky drivers, endless money, life or death situations, alcohol, beautiful women and bad decisions. All of which are showcased in this new trailer for Rush.

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New Posters for 'Riddick', 'Despicable Me 2', 'Rush', 'Pacific Rim', and More

"Survival is his revenge". While the Internet waits with baited breath for word on Vin Diesel's meeting with Marvel, the brawny actor is also busy getting the word out on Riddick, the third film in his Chronicles of Riddick series. The latest in a string of one-sheets is a sun scorched image of the titular Furyan, stranded on a dangerous planet from which there is no escape other than to alert his many enemies. Katee Sackhoff, Dave Bautista, and Karl Urban co-star when Riddick opens on September 6th.

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New trailer for F-1 racing drama 'Rush' starring Chris Hemsworth

"More powerful than fear itself is the will to win". A new trailer for Ron Howard's Formula One racing film, Rush, has been released. Chris Hemsworth puts down Mjolnir and stars as brash English racer James Hunt, who in the 1970s was locked in a heated rivalry with Austria's Niki Lauda, played by Daniel Bruhl. The previous trailers have focused a lot on the personal drama between the two men, who are basically polar opposites in every way other than the lengths they'll go to be victorious. This cut packs a lot of intense racing action in a brisk 90 seconds, and looks like Howard's most promising film since Frost/Nixon, which also featured a script by Rush screenwriter, Peter Morgan.

Universal Pictures certainly has high hopes, giving it an Oscar-ready September 20th release date. Check out the trailer below....

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New posters for 'Star Trek Into Darkness', 'The Way Way Back', 'The East', 'Pacific Rim', and more

Star Trek Into Darkness isn't all about the beef between Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and the mysterious John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), although Paramount has certainly made it seem that way by their marketing approach. There are a number of great characters who have largely been ignored, but now they're getting some love thanks to a cool series of character posters. Sulu (John Cho), Bones (Karl Urban), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), Scotty (Simon Pegg), and new addition Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) are all in their element in these new one sheets. Am I the only one who has some serious questions about Carol Marcus and her true allegiances? Star Trek Into Darkness opens on May 17th.

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New domestic trailer for 'Rush' starring Chris Hemsworth

Following closely behind this week's U.K. trailer for Rush, Universal has now unveiled a new one aimed at U.S. audiences. Coincidentally, there seems to be more of an emphasis on character, specifically on Chris Hemsworth as Formula One racer, James Hunt. The story focuses on his rivalry with Brit racer Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl), even after Lauda suffered a terrible accident that left him in a coma.

Directed by Ron Howard and written by his Frost/Nixon scribe, Peter Morgan, this looks like the most thrilling race track film in quite some time. But will it appeal those who aren't fans of the sport? Check out the trailer below, and look for Rush to hit theaters on September 20th.

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First trailer for Ron Howard's 'Rush' with Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl

Other than the occasional documentary like last year's Senna, films set exclusively in the world of auto racing are few and far between. The racing genre hasn't had a truly successful one here since 1990's Days of Thunder, but Ron Howard is hoping to change that with his Formula One film, Rush, starring Chris Hemsworth and Inglourious Basterds star Daniel Bruhl.

The first high-octane trailer has arrived, and it looks like a story that hopes to explore the mindset of men who routinely put their lives at risk on the track. Hemsworth plays English racer James Hunt, who in the 1970s had a long-running rivalry with Austrian Niki Lauda, played by Bruhl.  In 1976 the two were challenging one another for the World Championship, until Lauda crashed during the German Grand Prix, leading to a victory by hunt. After spending time in a coma, Lauda was back on the track six weeks later and again chasing hunt for the title.  Olivia Wilde, Christian McKay, and Alexandra Maria Lara co-star, with Russell Crowe rumored to be making a cameo as actor Richard Burton.

Howard appears to be using some of the same visual flourishes he employed in Frost/Nixon, and overall this looks like the most promising racing film in some time. Universal certainly sees potential Oscar gold , which is why they have Rush speeding into theaters on September 20th.

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1st look at Ron Howard's F-1 racing flick, 'Rush'

Is it possible Universal has Oscar hopes for Rush? The Formula One racing flick certainly has the pedigree, with the Frost/Nixon duo of writer Peter Morgan(also wrote The Queen) and director Ron Howard. The studio recently awarded the biopic a September 20th 2013 release date, which could put it into the thick of next year's action, and now we're getting our first photos from it as well.What was the last racing flick that really mattered at the Academy Awards, anyway? Grand Prix?

If it does turn out to be an Oscar contender, that would catapult Chris Hemsworth into a whole new level beyond just just being a franchise heavyweight. The 1970s set flick chronicles the intense rivalry between the brash British racer, James Hunt(Hemsworth), and his Austrian nemesis, Nicki Lauda, played by Daniel Bruhl(Inglourious Basterds). Olivia Wilde, Natalie Dormer(The Tudors), Alexandra Maria Lara(Control), and Christian McKay(Me & Orson Welles) co-star. Check out the new snaps below....

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Sure Shots: Olivia Wilde; The Last Stand; Arrested Development

* The ubiquitous Olivia Wilde has landed yet another high profile gig, and now I'm more convinced than ever there's a doppelganger running around somewhere, probably side-by-side with the Jeremy Renner 'bot. She'll play supermodel Suzy Miller in Ron Howard's F-1 racing film, Rush. She instantly becomes the biggest star in a film featuring Daniel Bruhl(Inglourious Basterds) and Chris Hemsworth(Thor) as rivals Niki Lauda and James Hunt. Howard is said to be eyeing his A Beautiful Mind star, Russell Crowe, for a cameo as Richard Burton. Make that happen. [Screen Daily]

* Forget Natalie Portman, Thor should've set his eyes on the godly bod of Jaime Alexander instead. The actress, who played the warrior Sif in the superhero flick, has joined the cast of The Last Stand, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Directed by Kim Ji-Woon, Schwarzenegger plays a small town sheriff trying to stop a violent escaped criminal from making his way to the Mexico border. Alexander will be another member of the police force, joining Zach Gilford and Rodrigo Santoro. The Last Stand hits theaters on January 18th 2013. [Variety]

* A couple of days ago it was Showtime and Netflix vying to be the home of the new mini-season of Arrested Development(which may lead up to the movie), and now it looks like a couple of other contenders have entered the bidding. Hulu and IFC can be added to the list as well. Hulu hosts episodes of the show currently with over 100 million of them having been downloaded at this point. Crazy when you consider most people already own the DVDs. IFC reruns episodes of the show on it's channel daily, so it seems like a natural fit. I tend to not cover TV here, but if the show pans out and is a success there's a greater likelihood of the movie coming to pass. [Vulture]

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Sure Shots: Tom Cruise; Sam Rockwell; Rush

 
* Tom Cruise is re-teaming with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie(Valkyrie) on One Shot, a thriller based on one of the many Jack Reacher novels written by Jim Grant(pseudonym Lee Child). Reacher is an ex-military police officer, who wanders the country in an attempt to know it better. In One Shot, a sniper guns down five people with six shots. Quickly captured by the police, the case should be solved, until he asks to speak to one man: Jack Reacher. Having never read any of the Reacher novels, I can't say whether this is a good thing casting Cruise or not. But considering Reacher is described as being 6 foot 5, with a 50 inch barrel chest, something tells me this is a bad call, Ripley. Shooting begins later this year. [Deadline]

* The last two years have seen Sam Rockwell being unfairly snubbed by awards voters for his performances in Moon and Conviction. To me, studios should be beating down his door to front their pics. Well he's got another shot to show what he's made of, as ThePlaylist confirms he's now in talks to star in the indie feature, Better Living Through Chemistry. Jeremy Renner had been attached to the role for awhile, but due to his disgustingly busy schedule, had drop out. As he and Rockwell are close buds, it appears he was a factor in getting this deal started. Rockwell would play a small town pharmacist in a loveless marriage who gets mixed up in an affair that eventually turns deadly. Judi Dench, Michelle Monaghan, and Jennifer Garner are set to star as well in the film from debut writers/directors Geoff Moore and David Posamentier.

* Daniel Bruhl, who is most familiar as Nazi sniper hero Frederick Zoller in Inglourious Basterds, is in talks to join Ron Howard's Formula One film, Rush. He'd play Niki Lauda, the Austrian F-1 World Champion in a deep rivalry with fellow racer, James Hunt(Chris Hemsworth). While in a tight race for the championship in 1976, Lauda would suffer a terrible crash that left him in a coma for a short time. Peter Morgan(The Queen) wrote the script, and shooting may begin near the end of the year. Is it me, or is Rush starting to sound like a better film than The Dark Tower? Howard may just drop out of that one altogether.

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