The 12 Days of Christmas – Day 4: ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’

2008’s Iron Man undoubtedly made Robert Downey Jr. the biggest star in the world, but 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is, I think at least, the movie that proved Downey was serious about being an actor again. All that charming aloofness, smart-alickiness, and smirking attractiveness were on display in director Shane Black’s film, and the two have since played nice together – just look to Iron Man 3 for proof.

But this is a series about Christmas movies, so let’s talk about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which is set during the season. A twisty-turny neo noir adapted by Black from the original pulpy novel by Brett Halliday, the movie is a movie about making movies, about what actors do when they act, about the ins and outs of Hollywood and how crummy and deceitful and entertaining and cynical it all can get. So here are the five reasons why you should make Kiss Kiss Bang Bang part of your Christmas movie rotation – and yes, Michelle Monaghan makes an appearance. Prepare your lustful jets.

+ Reason 1: Because these opening credits are amazing. The animation! That music! The nod to the original novel! Yes, yes.

+ Reason 2: RDJ’s narration! As the protagonist, petty-criminal-turned-actor Harry, he’s so smug and meta, it’s a lovely thing. No line of dialogue is wasted, but it’s also not overwritten, which means you get gems like this: “Don't worry, I saw Lord of the Rings. I'm not going to end this 17 times.” Who can deny that level of self-awareness? And all that fourth-wall breaking? No one.

+ Reason 3: Val Kilmer. Does anyone miss Val Kilmer like I miss Val Kilmer? Sometimes I think about him in Heat, and it makes me miss his hot ‘90s days, and then I watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and I laugh and laugh and laugh and I wish he would have gotten more shots at being a comedic actor. His take-no-bullshit attitude, coupled with RDJ’s absurdity, make them an excellent pair. Oh, and Kilmer’s playing against type as a private detective named Gay Perry who is, you know, gay. Just watch Kilmer’s facial expressions whenever RDJ is doing something. The man redefines the depths of a smirk.

+ Reason 4: Michelle Monaghan … 

… because obviously.

+ Reason 5: The one line you should say to all your loved ones this holiday season.

I mean, I know I will be.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is available through Netflix’s disc service and can be rented through Amazon’s InstantVideo.  

Read More

15 Actresses Deserving of Oscars Attention (But Probably Won't Get It)

The other day one of my fellow critics in WAFCA asked who I thought the best supporting contenders ought to be this year, and they were shocked... SHOCKED I tell you, when Meryl Streep's name wasn't mentioned for Into the Woods. Well, why would it be? Why would I mention her when there are so many others who were better than her this year who, sadly, won't get any kind of attention because their last name isn't Streep. Come to think of it, I complained about the same thing last year while compiling this list. Unfortunately, sh*t never changes.

Here is a list of my favorite female performances of 2014 that probably won't get a sniff of Oscars buzz, or just may have been overlooked in general. Because we're still pretty early in the season that meant leaving some names off I'd normally put on, such as Marion Cotillard for Two Days, One Night, Carrie Coon for Gone Girl, or Renee Russo for Nightcrawler, because there's still a chance they'll get in. I also would have included Rinko Kikuchi for the odd Fargo-esque dramedy Kumiko the Treasure Hunter, but it doesn't officially come out until next February despite being nominated for an Indie Spirit Award. Whatever. One thing I'm happy about is that my list skews crazy young, with most of the actresses stars on the rise or just beginning to break out into their own. And no, I didn't pick any of these women because they're hot. That list comes later. So let's just get right to it, and look out for the rest of our "Best Of" breakdowns all month!

 Tessa Thompson- Dear White People



Charlotte Gainsbourg- Nymphomaniac Vol. 1 & 2




Carla Juri- Wetlands



Jenny Slate- Obvious Child


Emily Blunt- Edge of Tomorrow




Shailene Woodley- The Fault in Our Stars




Kristen Stewart- Camp X-Ray




Emily Browning- God Help the Girl



Tilda Swinton- Only Lovers Left Alive



Michelle Monaghan- Fort Bliss



Mia Wasikowska- Tracks




Kaitlyn Dever- Men, Women & Children



Juliette Binoche- A Thousand Times Good Night



Agata Trzebuchowska- Ida




Rosario Dawson- Top Five

Read More

Review: 'The Best of Me', Starring Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden

Without fail, it's guaranteed that we get a new Nicholas Sparks film every year. It's like he cranks these suckers out in his sleep. The last few of the films based on his books have been abysmal to say the least. (Safe Haven and The Lucky Ones come immediately to mind). They're usually the same kinds of characters. Throw in a small river town, some sexual tension, angst, and voila, a bona fide Sparks work has emerged. The Best of Me is not the best of his book-to-film adaptations, but it is most certainly better than its several predecessors, if only because it's at least better acted. 

In present day, Dawson Cole (James Marsden) is an oil rig worker when an accident lands him back on solid ground. "A miracle" is what the doctor calls his life, seeing as how he survived an explosion and a 100-foot fall into the ocean. Dawson, who's not a man willing to

believe in destiny, begins to believe that he survived for a reason. He's drawn back to his hometown after the loss of Tuck (Gerald McRaney), a father-figure and guardian to Dawson from his past. He has to face his regrets, his past guilt over a past accident, and his violent father (Sean Bridgers). 

Amanda (Michelle Monaghan) has been married for 18 years, her son's about to begin college, and her marriage is far from being anywhere near the definition of happy (whatever that definition might be). She's given up a lot of dreams, but is also drawn back to her hometown after the death of Tuck. This is where she ends up facing her old high school boyfriend (surprise, surprise) after 21 years apart. Their unexpected reunion brings sadness, hope, and a reevaluation of their lives and are reminded of what they'd lost and of how they bring out the best in each other. 

If you go into this movie with even a hint of high expectations, you will be utterly and completely disappointed. But if you're very aware of the kind of film this is in advance and you've set very low expectations, then you might find it decently enjoyable. It won't blow you away. There are some plot points that are either irrelevant or contrived, but given the fact that the trailers made it out to seem like it was The Notebook part 2, you might be a little relieved that it isn't. 

While Sparks always follows formula when it comes to his writing, The Best of Me is at least semi-entertaining, especially if you're a sucker for the romance genre. There isn't anything breathtaking about it (except for maybe the garden scenes with that gorgeous tree in the background) and a lot of it feels like we're following the same beaten path, but James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan seem to make the best of their cheesy lines and talk about destiny. Their chemistry is palpable and while the film is melodramatic, at least it knows it is and generally tends to stay within its own boundaries. 

If you sit there and think about this movie's plot for too long (regardless of how simple it is), you will start to find holes in it, so don't bother trying. Any attempt will give you a headache and make you question Sparks's fictional world of too-in-love people and the medical system. One of the film's major flaws, however, comes in the fact that the actors who play the younger versions of Dawson and Amanda (Luke Bracey and Liana Liberaton,

respectively) don't look a thing like their older counterparts. Sometimes, it almost feels like the film is telling two completely different character stories. At first, the transition is a little jarring and the rest of the scenes which come after take a little getting used, but the younger actors do a good enough job.

All in all, and in comparison to Nicholas Sparks's other film adaptations, The Best of Me isn't all bad. If you're really into these kinds of films, you'll want to check it out because you'll probably find it entertaining, cheese and all. It does have themes of regret and talk of life's lost ambitions, which is nice. There's also a lot of talk about destiny, which gets annoying, but the romance is definitely there and it's still sweet and doesn't feel contrived in comparison to its predecessors. You'll see the ending coming a mile away, but as far as romances go, this one isn't terrible (if we are to only rate it based on the world of Sparks, whose films seem to have their own genre). This movie will only make you roll your eyes a couple of times for its cheesy moments, but at least you won't give yourself a headache doing it the entire film. 

Read More

Cinema Royale #77- The Maze Runner

On this week's Cinema Royale, Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone, True Detective) joins in to talk about her new film, the heartfelt military drama Fort Bliss. Directed by Claudia Myers, the film centers on a decorated soldier trying to reconnect with her son after an extended tour overseas.

Plus, our resident YA expert +Sandie Angulo Chen  gives her thoughts on this week's big film, The Maze Runner, starring Teen Wolf's Dylan O'Brien!

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe for free, or find the show on ITunes, TuneIn, and the Cinema Royale app!

Read More

Interview: Michelle Monaghan Talks 'Fort Bliss', Balancing Parenthood and Duty, and More

We're so accustomed to seeing Michelle Monaghan in supporting roles, usually in romantic comedies, that we forget just how talented she really is. Leading dramatic roles haven't come often but when they have Monaghan has knocked them out of the park. In 2006 she earned a great deal of praise for her performance in Trucker, and she's earning equally strong reviews for Fort Bliss. Directed by Claudia Myers, the film stars Monaghan as a decorated Army medic who returns home after a 15-month tour only to have trouble acclimating to civilian life. Her 5-year-old son barely recognizes her, her ex-husband has a new woman, and another deployment looms on the horizon.

Authenticity abounds both in front of and behind the camera. Myers spent years directing short films for the U.S. military, while Monaghan worked closely with soldiers and parents to get a sense for how they've dealt with the pull of parenthood and duty. The film also deals with the subject of sexual assault against female servicewomen, a problem that has been revealed to be all too common of late. Along with my colleague Tim Gordon, I had a chance to talk with Monaghan about Fort Bliss, what she learned while researching the film, and working with Myers on her debut feature.

Fort Bliss is in theaters now. You can check out my review here.

Read More

Review: 'Fort Bliss' Starring Michelle Monaghan

Back in 2006 Michelle Monaghan, who we've grown so accustomed to in cheery girlfriend roles, gave a career-making turn in Trucker, a small but emotionally powerful film about a mother forced to juggle motherhood with an inconvenient job she loves. Monaghan was barely recognizable from an emotional standpoint, playing harder and edgier than we've ever seen her, but it showed the full scope of her talents. She's even better in Claudia Myers' tough and resonant Fort Bliss, a film which connects on similar themes of motherhood and duty, but from the perspective of a returning soldier.

Maggie Swann (Monaghan) is a top notch Army medic returned home after a 15-month deployment in Afghanistan. There she knew who she was and what to do. She could count on the men and women beside her, and the adrenaline rush of war was easy to get addicted to. Things aren't so certain back home, though. Her five-year-old son barely recognizes her, preferring Maggie's ex-husband (Ron Livingston) and new girlfriend (Emmanuelle Chriqui). She's not used to the lack of structure the outside world holds, and certainly can't deal with her screaming son or his sleepwalking. Emotional vulnerability is tucked away as if to show it would be an admission of weakness. Not the best quality for a mother to have, nor does it make her budding relationship with a car mechanic easier.

Myers puts Maggie through the paces in showing her disconnect with the civilian world. She's torn between motherhood and her patriotic duty; struggles with the death of a fellow soldier; and quietly resents her son and ex-husband for moving on. The military wants her skills but doesn't seem to respect her as a woman, and that's before an attempted sexual assault complicates her feelings further. Where do her priorities lie? Are they with her family, or with the Army? Is it possible for a soldier, whether they be male or female, to have a military career without sacrificing everything else? If there's one false note it's Myers' neatly-packaged answer to that question.

With an authoritative presence Monaghan demands your attention. She's the sole focus here and carries the full weight on her shoulders, capturing the unique difficulties faced by women in the armed services. It's a lot to chew on, and Myers keeps Maggie's story truthful and grounded, a testament to the real men and women who deal with these issues each day. It's a familiar story but an honest one that Myers, who worked closely with the military on this and other projects, clearly feels a personal responsibility to get right. There aren't a lot of fireworks or surprises in Fort Bliss, but it's a well-told story that pays respect to our men and women in uniform. 

 Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Read More

Chris Evans, Michelle Monaghan, Anthony Mackie and More in First 'Playing It Cool' Trailer

So what is it that causes a movie with an A-list cast to get delayed indefinitely? While sometimes it has to do with legal issues, like with Dakota Fanning's Effie Gray, more often than not it's because the movie isn't very good. But even then the right cast usually trumps quality, and that would seem to be the case with Serena, the period drama with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. But what about the romantic comedy Playing it Cool? It's been gathering dust since 2012 and even though the first trailer is out the film still doesn't have a release date.

The reason for the delay can't have anything to do with the cast because it's pretty phenomenal from top to bottom. Chris Evans, Michelle Monaghan, Anthony Mackie, Aubrey Plaza, Luke Wilson, Topher Grace, Martin Starr, Giovanni Ribisi, and Philip Baker Hall lead this one about a screenwriter who really wants to do a big action movie but is encouraged to write a romantic-comedy instead. Naturally this proves to be a problem because he doesn't know the first thing about love and doesn't believe it exists...until he meets the perfect woman. And maybe that's the issue with this film, which used to go under the title A Many Splintered Thing, is that it sounds like any of a million other similar movies. But that shouldn't be a problem given the generic state of rom-coms nowadays, and their continued box office success.

Chances are Playing it Cool with arrive some time in 2015 but for now it's on the shelf.


Playing it Cool - Official Trailer (2014) Chris Evans by MovieSpawn

Read More

Lady Antebellum Help Love Survive in Trailer for 'The Best of Me'

Earlier this week we learned the eleventh schmaltzy adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel was in the works with a movie titled The Choice. It's basically a carbon copy of his other cheesy work, but guys have a lot more of this stuff to contend with before that film arrives. Before The Longest Ride hits theaters early next year, true love will be put to the test in The Best of Me, and if the film wasn't cheesy enough already the latest trailer features a new song by Lady Antebellum.

James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan play actors who should make wiser career choices old flames who saw their relationship destroyed by meddling townsfolk 20 years ago, but now are reunited for the funeral of an old friend. And Marsden's character apparently survives an oil rig explosion, which triggers a flashback confirming his true feelings for her. There will be lots of fighting, kissing in the rain, and Marsden grinning like the most handsome madman ever. Basically, this looks terrible and the track by Lady Antebellum is overbearing as Hell.

Directed by Michael Hoffman with Luke Bracey (The November Man) and Liana Libertado co-starring, The Best of Me opens October 17th. Why not just push it back a couple of weeks and go for Halloween where it belongs?

Read More

First Love Endures in Trailer for Nicholas Sparks' 'The Best of Me'

Say what you want about Nicholas Sparks movies following the same worn-out formula, it's one that is pretty consistent at the box office. So what if the casts and directors are as interchangeable as the stories themselves, the fact is people enjoy unabashedly romantic stories about love defying seemingly insurmountable odds. Since these adaptations come out like clockwork every year, the latest entry The Best of Me is right around the corner and here's a new trailer for it.

Starring Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden (Oh...poor James), the story is pretty familiar, meaning it's kind of ridiculous. It begins with an oil rig explosion only Michael Bay could love, sending Dawson (Marsden) flying into the ocean where he flashes back to his high school sweetheart, Amanda (Monaghan). Their love endured despite societal forces trying to drive them apart, until he goes to jail for a crime of passion. Reunited twenty years later at the funeral for an old mentor, the passion is rekindled even as Dawson continues to struggle with his past.  Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato play the younger-aged lovers, while Gerald McRaney and Schuyler Fisk co-star in smaller roles.

Directed by Michael Hoffman, The Best of Me opens October 17th.


The Best of Me-Official Trailer #2 (HD) Nicholas Sparks by Trailersstv

Read More

First Look at Adam Sandler and Peter Dinklage in 'Pixels'; 'Space Invaders' Movie On the Way

With the superhero market all but cornered by Marvel and Warner Bros., studios looking for the next big thing have begun turning their attention to video game movies. Uncharted, Assassin's Creed, Metal Gear Solid, and Splinter Cell are just a few of the modern console games headed to theaters with big league talent attached. But in the upcoming Adam Sandler comedy, Pixels, and the long-developing Space Invaders film, the plan is to hit a high score indulging in the coin-operated glory of the '80s.

EW has the first photo of Sandler, Michelle Monaghan, Josh Gad, and Peter Dinklage in Pixels, which is based on the awesome short film by Patrick Jean about aliens who attack the earth in the guise of  8-bit video game characters.  Sandler plays a former video game champion called upon by the President (Kevin James) to save the world. Chris Columbus is directing for release on May 15th 2015.

One of the many digital aliens you'll find in Pixels will be based on the classic game, Space Invaders, which has had a film in the works for years. Well now Warner Bros. has picked up the rights and Akiva Goldsman (Winter's Tale, The Da Vinci Code) is on board to produce. Other than Pac-Man, Space Invaders is probably the most recognizable of the old school games. Chances are it will look more like Battleship than Pixels, though. We'll see. [TheWrap]

Read More

Trailer for Nicholas Sparks' 'The Best of Me' Starring James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan

If the overly sentimental, wildly formulaic stylings of Nicholas Sparks are your thing, then it's fortunate you never have to wait long before another adaptation of his unusually popular books hits theaters. Like clockwork they arrive in theaters each year, ruining your boyfriend's day with the promise of sitting through another improbable story of love surviving every manner of conveniently-placed obstacle. Well, it's that time of year again, fellas, so might as well gird your loins and get ready.

The first trailer for The Best of Me looks like every other Sparks film, except this one stars James Marsden (replacing the late Paul Walker) and Michelle Monaghan, both deserving of so much more. It follows two old lovers who were split up as teens because some old guy said so, only to be reunited twenty years later when they start making up for lost time. There will be lots of hugging, making out, and jumping in large bodies of water. This  looks thin even by Sparks standards, and I can't imagine having to endure it.

Directed by Michael Hoffman with Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato co-starring, The Best of Me opens October 17th.

Read More

Trailer for 'Fort Bliss' Starring Michelle Monaghan

It's a shame that much of Michelle Monaghan's career has seen her in forgettable roles in big films, because she's capable of so much more. One of her strongest turns came in the little-seen indie drama, Trucker, and HBO recently put her talent to good use in True Detective. Unfortnately, she just signed up to basically be a paperweight with legs in Adam Sandler's video game comedy, Pixels. But at least there's one film coming up that has a little bit of substance to it.

Monaghan headlines Fort Bliss, a military drama written and directed by Claudia Myers, with the trailer now making its way online. She stars as a single mother and decorated soldier returned home from Afghanistan after a lenghty tour, only to discover that she doesn't share much of a bond with her son who barely knows her. With another deployment looming, she must find a way to reconnect with her child, while balancing her duties as a mother and a soldier. Ron Livingston, Freddy Rodriguez, Dash Mihok, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Manolo Cardona co-star.

There's no release date yet but this looks like something that will be hitting festivals and art house theaters at some point.

Read More

Michelle Monaghan Joins 'Pixels'; Benicio Del Toro Boards 'Sicario'; Amy Ryan Has 'Goosebumps'

* Michelle Monaghan, last seen twisting Woody Harrelson into emotional knots in True Detective, has joined Adam Sandler in Pixels. Also starring Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, and Kevin James, the big screen adaptation of the viral short film follows a group of guys who come to the rescue when New York comes under attack by 1980s video game characters. Monaghan takes over the female lead that Jennifer Aniston had been considering. [TheWrap]

* With Emily Blunt coming aboard Denis Villeneuve's Sicario earlier this week, the film gets even more impressive with the addition of Benicio Del Toro. Described as similar to No Country for Old Men, the story takes place on the U.S./Mexico border where a female cop and two mercenaries track down a drug lord. But once they cross into Mexico, they find that things are even more dangerous and violent than expected. Del Toro will play one of those mercs, "an assassin hired by the U.S. government to help bring down the Cartels, which are responsible for the death of his family." [TheWrap]

* Amy Ryan and Jillian Bell (Workaholics) have joined Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, and Odeya Rush in Goosebumps, based on the R.L. Stine books. Directed by Rob Letterman, the story follows "a teen named Zach Cooper, whose family moves to a new home where his new neighbor is a mysterious author. When a demonic ventriloquist's dummy unleashes the author's creepy creations, it's up to his niece Hannah and Zach to battle the evil forces and save their town." Ryan will play Zach's disbelieving mother, while Bell is his ditzy aunt. [TheWrap]

Read More

Trailer drops for 'Better Living Through Chemistry,' starring Sam Rockwell and Olivia Wilde

The thing about March 14, 2014, is that - and don't be too shocked about this - the Veronica Mars movie is NOT the only movie coming out that day. I know, it's ghastly. Clearly that should be the only thing released so that everyone can go out and experience the wonder and perfection and greatness that is our favorite teen detective, all grown up. But if you were in the mood for something a bit kookier, a bit more black comedy, with some Sam Rockwell dancing thrown in, then maybe you should check out the trailer for Better Living Through Chemistry.

The film stars Rockwell as a frustrated-with-life pharmacist, emasculated in his marriage to Michelle Monaghan's spin instructor. He then begins an affair with rich and bored Olivia Wilde, which leads to recreational drug use and extramarital sex aplenty! There's also a plot to fake a death, maybe, and a supporting role for Ben Schwartz, so at least that's something.

Otherwise, the trailer is somewhat underwhelming. Maybe because Wilde still isn't interesting - stop trying to make her happen, Hollywood, goddammit! - and this plot (man finds himself through an affair? that's never been done before) seems a bit cliched.

But watch for yourself, and then decide what to do on March 14. Me? I'm voting for Veronica Mars. But Better Living Through Chemistry will be another option for that day, if you're so inclined.

Read More

Michelle Monaghan Finds 'The Best of Me'; Catalina Sandino Moreno is 'Incarnate'; Gabriel Basso Joins 'Barely Lethal'

* You'll be shocked, shocked I tell you, to know that another Nicholas Sparks adaptation is on the way. Actually we learned about The Best of Me a few months ago, and now it has Michelle Monaghan as its leading lady. Directed by Michael Hoffman (The Last Station), the film centers on two former lovers "from opposite sides of the tracks" who rekindle their relationship years later when a friend's funeral brings them back together. What's the saying? "We accept the love we think we deserve"? Well, the same goes for acting roles. Monaghan deserves better than this. [THR]

* Rosario Dawson has dropped out of Incarnate, the indie horror starring Aaron Eckhart as an unconventional exorcist who meets his match in a demon-possessed little boy. In to replace her is another extremely talented actress, Catalina Sandino Moreno, who is probably best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in Maria Full of Grace. Filming is set to begin next month with Brad Peyton directing. [THR]

* The Kings of Summer continues to be a great launching pad for its three principle stars. Moises Arias has a key role in Ender's Game; Nick Robinson recently joined Jurassic World; and now Gabriel Basso has signed on to the action comedy, Barely Lethal. He'll play the wild best friend to Hailee Steinfeld, a teen assassin who fakes her own death and tries to attend a normal high school. Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Alba, and Sophie Turner co-star in the Kyle Newman-directed film. [TheWrap]

Read More

Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan line up anti-romantic comedy 'A Many Splintered Thing'

Despite seeming like a natural for it, Chris Evans hasn't really done much in the way of romantic comedies. Actually, the only one he's ever done as far as I can tell was the dead-on-arrival What's Your Number with Anna Faris. He may be jumping back into the genre soon, though, as word out of Toronto has him pairing up with Michelle Monaghan(Gone Baby Gone) for what is being described as an "anti-romantic comedy".

Deadline reports the duo will take the leads in A Many Splintered Thing, which is being described as in the vein of (500) Days of Summer and Amelie. Bold words, with promises of "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" overload. Evans will also serve as an exec-producer, which to me means he has a lot of faith in the project despite the relative inexperience behind the camera. Justin Reardon will make his directorial debut, and the Black List script comes from Chris Shafer and Paul Vicknair.

So what's the film about? It "tells the story of a young man disillusioned by love who meets a breathtaking young woman at a charity dinner by pretending to be a philanthropist. Turns out that she’s engaged to a guy who doesn’t like her going on dates. Challenged by the chase, and egged on by his eclectic friends, he feigns a platonic relationship in order to keep seeing her as he tries to conquer her heart."

Sounds like a totally traditional rom-com to me, so there must be something else that has been kept out of the synopsis.  Evans will be seen next playing a brutal killer in The Iceman, then suits up for Captain America: The Winter Soldier this January.

Read More

Michelle Monaghan to star in 'The Coup' with Owen Wilson and Pierce Brosnan

I'd like to call Michelle Monaghan underrated, but the fact is she make some questionable choices in the roles she takes. Every time she's great in a movie like Trucker or Gone Baby Gone, she goes out and stars in a film that doesn't do anything for her, like Eagle Eye. I'm getting the impression she's signed up for another such film in The Coup, which currently has Owen Wilson and Pierce Brosnan ready to star.

Her casting doesn't clear up any of the questions we've had about the tone of the film, which could either be a tough as nails action film or something sillier like The Matador. Directed and co-written by John Erick Dowdle(Quarantine), the story has Wilson as the patriarch of a family that moves to southeast Asia, only to get embroiled in a violent coup with rebels overrun the city. Monaghan will, of course, play his wife.

Filming begins this October, and hopefully by then we'll have this film pegged.

Read More

Trailer Time: Source Code, starring Jake Gyllenhall and directed by Duncan Jones

A futuristic, high tech Groundhog Day? Sign me up. I give Jake  Gyllenhall a lot of shit for his puppy dog face and ill-fitting attempts at being a ladies man(all of which you'll see in abundance in Love and Other Drugs). In Source Code he's in pure action mode, as a soldier sent back in time in a continual 10 minute loop to try and figure out the source of a terrorist attack.

This is Duncan Jones's follow-up to Moon, last year's old school sci-fi flick that has made him an instant favorite. The script was written by Ben Ripley, but I'm expecting big things from this mainly because Billy Ray(State of Play, Breach, Shattered Glass) did some punching up on it. The guy hasn't written a bad flick in years. I wonder, since he's also adapting 24 for the big screen, if Billy Ray didn't toy with the idea of a Jack Bauer cameo. He seems like a natural fit.

Source Code stars Gyllenhall, Michelle Monaghan, Jeffrey Wright, and Vera Farmiga. Look for it in theaters on April 15th, 2011. Check out the trailer below!

Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes with a jolt to find himself on a commuter train heading into Chicago. Although the other passengers all seem to know him, he has absolutely no idea where – or even who – he is. The last thing Colter remembers is flying a helicopter mission in Iraq, but here he is in someone else’s life going through someone else’s morning commute. Before he can do anything an express train zooms by on the opposite track and a bomb explodes, seemingly killing Colter and all the other passengers. Colter comes to in an isolation chamber, strapped to a seat, and wearing his military flight suit. He still has no idea what’s happening, except that he’s being spoken to by mission controller Carol Goodwin (Vera Farmiga), who calmly recites a series of memory questions to which Colter is shocked to realize he knows the answers.


He learns he’s part of an operation called “Beleaguered Castle,” but before he can progress any further, Goodwin starts up the machinery and suddenly Colter is back on the train, at exactly the same time he first appeared there, once again speeding through Chicago with the same group of commuters. Colter figures he’s in some kind of simulation exercise, with his task being to find the bomber on board the train before it goes off again. Living the explosion over and over, Colter must uncover the identity of the bomber, while also figuring out what the alternative universe of “Beleaguered Castle” is. Adding to the puzzle, Colter uses the second chance opportunities to make peace with his father, and to find romance with a fellow passenger on the train.

Read More