The Long-Awaited First Trailer for 'Fantastic Four' is Here!

Here it is! After months of literally nothing from Josh Trank's Fantastic Four reboot, yesterday we got our first official set photo and now the trailer has arrived weeks ahead of schedule. From the beginning it's been clear that Trank was working from a very different version of Marvel's "First Family" than fans were accustomed to, and with the melancholic, deep sci-fi flavor of this trailer he seems to have hit the nail on the head. And the best part is that it still keeps plenty under wraps to be discovered later. Impressive, but the key is going to be how the fanboys react.

The film stars Miles Teller as Reed Richards, Kate Mara as Sue Storm, Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm with Toby Kebbell as Doctor Doom, renamed Victor Domashev. Here's the official synopsis:

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Fantastic Four opens August 7th.

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Jonah Hill Confirmed for 'Arms and the Dudes'; Miles Teller may Join Him

With a pair of Oscar nominations under his belt, Jonah Hill is no longer just the kid from Superbad, he's someone directors seek out for any variety of roles. A few months ago we learned he may be considering a role in Arms and the Dudes, a true crime comedy from The Hangover director, Todd Phillips, and now Hill has been confirmed for it while another actor circles a role.

According to THR, Hill has taken one of the lead parts in Arms and the Dudes, which Phillips will direct and  co-write with Jason Smilovic, writer of the action-comedy Lucky Number Slevin. And that's not all as The Wrap says Whiplash and Fantastic Four star Miles Teller is s eying a role in the story of two Miami Beach stoners who become arms dealers after winning a $300M contract with the government. Jesse Eisenberg, Shia LaBeouf, and Chris Pratt have been circling the film for weeks but it looks like Teller is the frontunner at this point.

Hill is currently filming the Coen Brothers' Hail Caesar!, while Teller can be seen in theaters now in the jazz drumming thriller, Whiplash, opposite JK Simmons.

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Marc Webb's Next Film is 'The Only Living Boy in New York'; Miles Teller in Talks to Star

Marc Webb has only directed a pair of The Amazing Spider-Man films, and yet they count as the bulk of his resume. After beginning his career in the world of music videos, Webb brought that experience to his debut feature, (500) Days of Summer, and became an instant sensation, earning him the Spidey gig. But with The Amazing Spider-Man 3 put on hold while Sony figures out where things went wrong with the franchise, Webb now has time to focus on other projects, and that's exactly what he's doing.

Variety reports that Webb's next film may be the indie drama The Only Living Boy in New York, which had been put on hold while he worked in the Spidey-verse. Even better, Miles Teller is said to be in talks to star in the film, thus giving it the star it needs to move forward. Penned by Allan Loeb, the story follows a young man who gets romantically involved with his overbearing father's mistress after first trying to end the affair.

Webb is also considering the Fox Searchlight drama, The Gifted, but it looks like The Only Living Boy in New York will take precedent. He had also been eying the spy thriller Cold Comfort, but that seems to be off the table for now.  Teller recently wrapped up a role as Reed Richards in Fox's Fantastic Four relaunch, and is about to lace up the boots for the boxing drama, Bleed for This.

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Interview: Miles Teller, Paul Reiser, and Damien Chazelle Talk 'Whiplash'

Right now it's really good to be Miles Teller. He's been dubbed the next big thing at two consecutive Sundance Film Festivals, starting with last year's powerful teen romance, The Spectacular Now, for which he and Shailene Woodley shared dramatic acting awards. This year he came back swinging in Whiplash, playing a jazz drumming protege at the mercy of his ruthless instructor, played by J.K. Simmons. And since then, things have only gotten better with major roles in Fantastic Four and the boxing biopic, Bleed for This.

In my opinion, it'll be Whiplash that pushes him to the next level. He gives a commanding, physical performance and the intense interactions he has with Simmons are amazing. I had a chance to take part in a roundtable interview with Teller, co-stars Paul Reiser and Austin Stowell, and writer/director Damien Chazelle about Whiplash. Sine first seeing the film at Sundance I've been expecting that it would be a fall season powerhouse, but often the gap of time in-between causes the festival buzz to die out. That hasn't happened in this case and the anticipation for it has only gotten greater. Check out the interview below, and my review of Whiplash here.

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Review: 'Whiplash' starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons

 NOTE: This is an edited reprint of my review from the Sundance Film Festival. Whiplash opens on Oct. 10th.

The story goes that in 1937 legendary saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker, at the ripe young age of 16, dared to improvise while in a jam with drummer Jo Jones. At first his ambitious gamble seemed to pay off, but Parker got ahead of himself and lost the beat, causing Jones to hurl a cymbal at him. Rather than discouraging him, Parker left the club saying "I'll be back", and after a year of intense practice he returned and the rest is jazz music history. That story of Parker's perseverance is the engine that drives Whiplash, a film that has affectionately been called "Full Metal Jacket at Juilliard". It's a nickname that fits.

Miles Teller, who scored at last year's Sundance with The Spectacular Now, returns to Park City in his most physically demanding role yet as Andrew, a first-year student at a prominent New York City conservatory. He has a dream of not only being a great jazz drummer, but the greatest drummer ever, and when we meet him he's practicing late into the night. That's when he catches the eye of Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), the school's tough-as-shoe leather instructor. Andrew wants a spot on Fletcher's top notch jazz ensemble, a place where careers can be made.

Taping up his fingers like a boxer tapes his fists; Andrew works his hands to the bloody bone to gain Fletcher's favor. Gaining a spot on his team thanks to Fletcher's mind games, Andrew comes to learn that he can lose his spot just as easily. Enduring incredible physical and mental abuse at Fletcher's hands, Andrew is put through a brutal baptism by fire. To be the best he'll have to endure the worst, or be just another one of the many who have crumbled when pushed beyond their limits. At the same time, Andrew must contend with a skeptical father (Paul Reiser), a family that doesn't respect his career, and a girlfriend who may be too much of a distraction. If he's ever going to be one of the greats, like his idol Buddy Rich, there can be no outside life. There can only be the drums; there can only be the type of dedication that drove Charlie Parker, whose story is repeated often by Fletcher as a motivating tool. When he's not berating his pupils, that is.

Whiplash has had quite the journey to the big screen, beginning as a Black List script by writer/director Damien Chazelle, that was turned into a short film that took home the Jury Award at last year's Sundance. The feature version plays with your emotions like a conductor leading his band, steering away from the typical "overcoming the odds" crowd-pleaser. Chazelle never sticks to the sheet music, adding a moral quandary that threatens the already-tense relationship between mentor and student.

Playing the drums has never been depicted quite like this, showing just how physically demanding it can be. Dripping with sweat, muscles quivering with every strike; if Teller didn't do all the drumming himself it would be a shock, that's how convincing he is. Andrew's motivations are a little underdeveloped, but Teller is given plenty to work evolving from fresh-faced newbie to someone who can master the incredible pacing required for a jazz drummer. Simmons hasn't had a role this good in a very long time, and it's easy to forget just how intimidating he can be when in full a--hole mode. It's too early to start talking about Oscars and things of that nature, but it's safe to say that Teller and Simmons are in top form.

A number of classic jazz standards (you'll be hearing "Whiplash" in your head for hours after) make for a rousing soundtrack fans of the genre will be dying for, and the film moves at a brisk rhythm Count Basie would be proud of. Whiplash begins and ends on a high note, building to an exciting, brilliantly executed moment that will have audiences cheering and begging for an encore.

 Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan Talk 'Fantastic Four' Changes; Marvel Refuses to Help Promote Film

In case it hasn't been made pretty clear already, Josh Trank and 20th Century Fox's version of the Fantastic Four is going to be totally different from anything we've seen before. And that includes anything we've seen in the comics pages. And it goes far beyond the mixed casting of Kate Mara, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell as Marvel's "first family" of superheroes; they are going to be different in other fundamental ways. And at least according to Teller, who will play brainiac Reed Richards, it's because of those changes that he was convinced to come aboard. He recently told Vulture...

Teller: “It’s different in every way. All those actors were a lot older, their characters were in different places. The tone of this film is completely different: We don’t have Michael Chiklis in a big Styrofoam thing, and I think that [a more grounded approach] is what people are into — X-Men: First Class is doing that. You’re dealing with these characters but you’re making them real people in how they exist day-to-day. People wanted it to be taken more seriously than the kind of Dick Tracy, kitschy, overly comic-book world.”

He went on to talk to MTV about how Trank had to really fight for the cast he wanted, and sell Fox on the approach.

Teller:  “I ended up meeting Josh [Trank] a year before and the script was going through some stuff. Then I tested for the role of Reed Richards; I think I'm the only person that did. But absolutely, it took a lot of convincing. For me with Reed Richards, I know Josh [Trank] really had to [pull for me]. Josh did for all of the characters. For Jamie [Bell], he really vouched for [him]. For [Jordan], he was like, ‘This is my guy’ from the bat. He was very specific on who he wanted to play these characters. I was his guy for it."

Trank might have known Michael B. Jordan was his guy, but having an African-American as the typically white Human Torch has pissed a lot of people off. Then again these are the same folks who cried about Idris Elba as Heimdall. Friggin' Heimdall. Nobody cares about Heimdall. Anyway, Jordan has always taken the criticism in stride, and he continued to do so while speaking with the New York Daily News...

Jordan:  “I don’t think about it. Can’t make everybody happy. I loved comic books. Japanese animation, cartoons, so to be able to play a character that I always fantasized about and always wanted to be — to have powers and stuff like that — and to be a part of Marvel’s family, it’s a huge deal for me. I’ve known about this character and playing this role for almost two and a half years now. So when I get all these new questions about how I’m feeling about it, I’m like, ‘You know, I’m feeling pretty good about it.’”

Short of a couple of set photos showing the Thing and Toby Kebbell's Doctor Doom, Fantastic Four has been kept completely under wraps, not even making an appearance at Comic-Con. And perhaps that's because Trank wants to keep the team's new look a secret for as long as possible because according to Jordan even the costumes will be different. He tells ABC News...

Jordan:  "It's a new look. We are all in containment suits. The costume process definitely took some time to get in and out of that thing, especially since I was bulking up. It was a little more snug during filming. We got through it man. It was a process, but we did it. It was hard work."

So basically, don't count on anything being as you remember it. And don't count on Marvel giving this movie much in the way of support. Rumors have been swirling for months that Marvel/Disney would be ceasing any promotion of the Fantastic Four so as not to help their rivals at Fox, who own the film rights. Marvel's decision would include cancelling the Fantastic Four comic book, removing the characters from posters, toys, promo art, everything. Bleeding Cool has now confirmed this to be true, and it's an unprecedented move for the company to make. And at least in my opinion it's the first shot across the bow at studios who took advantage of Marvel's bankruptcy years ago and acquired the rights to some of their prominent characters.

Of course, it's easy for Marvel to do this with Fantastic Four because the comic doesn't sell all that much, but would they dare do the same with Spider-Man, whose rights are now owned by Sony? What about the X-men, another Fox film property? Probably not, but then again they did just kill off Wolverine, the X-men's most popular character.

Anyway, the Fantastic Four reboot is set to open August 7th 2015.

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Cinema Royale #78- The Equalizer; Two Night Stand

On this weeks' show, Denzel Washington reunites with his Training Day director to equalize the #&#&# out of the Russian mob in The Equalizer! Plus, Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton make for a charming couple, but is Two Night Stand a walk of shame?

+Mae Abdulbaki of Punch Drunk Critics and Movies with Mae joins us to help you decide what to see in theaters this week! 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!

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Review: 'Two Night Stand' starring Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton

Modern dating is a jungle of random hook-ups, Internet dating sites with questionable profiles, and other hurdles When Harry Met Sally never had to contend with. In fact, if you want to get a safe if disturbing look at how romance has changed just take a gander at the current state of romantic comedies, which have been forever altered by social networking and the ease it brings to casual sex. But does that simplicity come with the price of reduced intimacy? Of course it does, and in Two Night Stand two desperate millennials looking for easy sexy are forced to actually get to know one another, with modestly charming and even perceptive results.

First-time director Max Nichols (son of director Mike Nichols) chose wisely with his leads, Miles Teller and the lesser-known but bubbly Analeigh Tipton. She makes for an unconventional romantic lead which works because the same applies to Teller, an actor who has shown incredible range in more serious films in the past. He's not called upon to do quite as much here, although Nichols and screenwriter Mark Hammer have an ear for millennial lingo, crucial considering the film is basically a two-hander set in one cramped apartment. Tipton plays Megan, stuck in a rut since her longtime boyfriend left her, and now she spends Saturday nights lounging at home in frumpy sweatpants. Encouraged by her roommate (Jessica Szohr, with Kid Cudi as her boyfriend) to get back out there, Megan hits an online dating site for a quick hook-up, something she's never done before. She quickly meets Alec (Teller), who seems to be exactly what she's looking for; meaning he's cute, uncommitted, and not a serial killer. A quick scan via webcam confirms no bodies hanging on his apartment walls.

The night of awkward sex ends with the equally embarrassing "walk of shame", but not before the two realize they have nothing in common. Attempting to flee his Brooklyn crib and back home, she's prevented by a Roland Emmerich-style blizzard that has shut down the city. She's not going anywhere, and is stuck getting to know Alec when she hoped to never see him again. If you guessed this would be the chance for two heart-hardened strangers to fall in love after only a few hours then you're right. The path to getting there is a bumpy one comedically, as the script tries too hard to come up with catchy, pseudo-intellectual quips about dating. The phrase "Benjamin-Buttoning" is used to describe Megan's backsliding in life, but the silly lingo doesn't do much to acquaint us with either character. Nor does the silly sitcom plotting that involves vomit, overflowing toilets, and petty crime provide much in the way of laughs.

It's not until the film takes a more serious turn that Nichols and Hammer start dropping a few pearls. A frank conversation about men and women helping one another have better sex has some real insights. And once we see Megan and Alec put all of their emotional cards on the table it also opens up the performances by Teller and Tipton. Both strike a believable vulnerability as two people who have been bruised by love and are reluctant to give it another shot. Teller seems to be able to build chemistry with anybody, a rare talent that should take him far. Tipton has the much flakier role to play and she manages to be endearing rather than irritating. Ultimately, Two Night Stand is about the way such people use whatever is at their disposal to protect themselves from more hurt. Sometimes that's a convenient half-truth, or a dating profile that needs an update. 

 Rating: 3 out of 5

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Miles Teller Finds the Rhythm in New Trailer for 'Whiplash'

The last major studio film of the summer came and went last week with Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, and now it's time to turn our attention to the fall and the potential awards favorites. It's also a time when many of the most lauded films from Sundance begin to emerge, and one of those is Whiplash, which won both the Audience and Grand Jury drama awards at the festival while earning raves for stars Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons.

A new international trailer for the jazz drumming film has been released and it reveals exactly why many have dubbed it Giulliard's Full Metal Jacket. Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, the film stars Teller as a jazz drummer with aspirations of greatness, but finds his mettle tested by his terrorizing instructor at a prestigious New York academy. A definite crowd-pleaser with two powerful lead performances, the film is one I expect to make a lot of noise when it opens, which is why I'm quoted on the movie's poster saying "Whiplash will have audiences cheering and begging for an encore." Believe that.

Also starring Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist, and Austin Stowell, Whiplash opens October 10th. Check out my interview with the cast here.


Whiplash International TRAILER 1 (2014) - Miles Teller Drama [HD] by MovieTrailerz

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Trailer, Poster, and Clips from Rom-Com 'Two Night Stand' Starring Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton

Check out the charming but forgettable rom-com What If this weekend and what you'll find is the familiar story of two best friends who are clearly soul mates except one is too blind to notice. It's been done to death, but right alongside it is the oft-told story of two people who try to build a relationship from a one night stand and the obvious problems that causes. We saw that particular tale recently in the remake of About Last Night, now we're getting it one more time with Two Night Stand, which has just released an unimpressive trailer.

Analeigh Tipton (Crazy Stupid Love, Warm Bodies) plays a young woman whose life is in disarray. Her roommates (Jessica Szohr, Kid Cudi) want her to move out, and she's still struggling with a major break-up. So to get things back on track she decides to have a one night stand with Alec (Miles Teller, The Spectacular Now), but when it's time for the "walk of shame" she can't leave because of an epic snowstorm. Stuck in an incredibly awkward situation they decide to be honest with one another, for better or for worse.

These do not look like characters I'd want to be stuck anywhere with, much less watch a movie about, and that's sad because Tipton and Teller are usually worth paying money to see. Directed by Max Nichols, Two Night Stand opens September 20th. Check out the trailer below plus a bunch of clips.


Two Night Stand Trailer by Stuff We Like


Two Night Stand - Movie CLIP - You Can Order It (2014) HD by MovieTampan


Two Night Stand - Movie CLIP - Morning After Argument (2014) HD by MovieTampan


Two Night Stand Movie CLIP - This is Big (2014) - Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton Movie - Trailer Addict by Trailer-Addict

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J.K. Simmons Demands Perfection from Miles Teller in Trailer for 'Whiplash'

Here's the thing about Damien Chazelle's Sundance hit, Whiplash: it's about jazz drumming. Excited? Probably not, and that was one of the core issues the young writer/director had to face when developing this story about a drumming prodigy and his mentor. The music doesn't immediately lend itself to the cinematic experience. So what was the solution he landed upon? First he gave much of the music more of an upbeat edge, like with the central track, Bob Ellis' "Whiplash"; he crafted a true underdog story audiences can related to; and finally the casting of Miles Teller and JK Simmons in the most dynamic performances of their careers.

All of these factors are prevalent in the first Whiplash trailer, which should give you an idea why many say it was the breakout film in Park City. Teller plays Andrew, a first-year student at a prestigious NYC conservatory, with dreams of being the greatest jazz drummer ever. But to do it he'll have to survive tough-as-leather instructor Terence Fletcher (Simmons) and the perfection he demands of his students. The "Full Metal Jacket at Juilliard" descriptors are more than accurate, but also is the praise heaped on Teller and Simmons. Teller played his own drums throughout and his performance is one I compared to the physical demands of athletes. Obviously, you get the idea this is a personal favorite of mine. It's certainly a crowd pleaser and "will have audiences cheering and begging for an encore."

Whiplash hits theaters on October 10th, and I'm calling it now that Simmons is going to get a Best Supporting Actor nomination out of it. If you're interested in more, check out my interview with Chazelle, Teller, and the rest of Whiplash's cast.

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Emma Watson and Miles Teller Head to 'La La Land' for Damien Chazelle

While there are plenty of stand-out films that emerge from Sundance each year, there are few that can boast winning awards as a short, then taking home both the Audience and Jury awards as a feature. Damien Chazelle's jazz drummer film Whiplash is one that has earned those accolades, winning raves not only for himself but star Miles Teller. And with their partnership off to such a good start the two are looking to work together again on another music-themed film, only this time with a huge star in tow.

Teller and Emma Watson are in talks to star in La La Land, a two-hander described as a song-and-dance romance about two dreamers, one an aspiring actress and the other a cocky jazz pianist, who fall in love but find it difficult to find a love/art balance in cutthroat Los Angeles. Chazelle will pen the screenplay, aiming to tell a story about " big dreams, the big city and the kind of love that makes life feel like a musical."

Production on La La Land wouldn't begin until next February, giving Teller time to wrap up Fantastic Four, Insurgent, and the Vinny Pazienza biopic, Bleed for This. Watson will be seen next in Regression opposite Ethan Hawke.  [TheWrap]

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Miles Teller Can't Get the Rhythm in First 'Whiplash' Clip

What those who have never picked up a pair of drum sticks can't possibly know is how grueling being a drummer can be. It's a physical and mental endurance test that also requires incredible amounts of timing and synchronicity with the rest of the band. If the drummer screws up then the whole thing is thrown off. Writer/director Damien Chazelle captures just how taxing it can be as a drummer in his debut feature, Whiplash, and now we finally have the very first clip.

Miles Teller stars in the feature version of Chazelle's Sunance Award-winning short film, playing a drumming prodigy under the tutelage of a drill instructor-like mentor played by JK Simmons. In this scene we see that Teller's character just can't get anything to perfection, he's either rushing or dragging, and soon Simmons' frustration reaches Bobby Knight levels.

This was the very first film I saw at Sundance and it was also one of the best, which is why it won the Audience and Grand Jury awards at the festival.  Whiplash opens October 14th. Check out the clip below, and also my interview with the cast and director here.

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Review: 'Divergent' Starring Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, and Theo James

The spine of nearly every popular young adult novel is the idea of personal identity; that journey of self-discovery in which the protagonist, usually a teenaged girl, finds her inner strength while saving the world. This typically means bucking the societal norms of some dystopian future, and if there's a cute boy to make out with then even better! Veronica Roth's Divergent, the first of her best-selling trilogy (aren't they all best-selling trilogies, though?) takes an overly simplistic, somewhat absurd approach to the theme of self-discovery but benefits by fully developing the world in which that idea is explored. However, it's that world which is left sorely lacking as the transition is made to the big screen, leaving the rest wide open to some harsh scrutiny.

Blandly directed by Neil Burger and based off a photo-copied script by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor, the world of Divergent is so bereft of stakes, momentum, and originality it becomes as taxing as the aptitude tests suffered by the lead character. In a future version of Chicago (an element hidden in the novels but freely revealed in the film, for simplicity's sake), humanity has been divided up into five ideological factions in the wake of a post-apocalyptic event. A somewhat muted Shailene Woodley plays Beatrice Prior, born into the faction known as Abnegation, noted for being selfless and extremely dull. The other factions are Candor (honesty); Amity (um, they're kinda friendly); Erudite (intelligence); and Dauntless, known for their bravery. At the age of 16, everyone must take an aptitude test to help decide which faction to choose. The system, installed mysteriously by the government, comes back inconclusive for Beatrice. Turns out she's a "divergent", someone with many attributes and thus unfit for any single faction. But Beatrice has always had her eye on the Dauntless because they run around, climb stuff, wear tight clothes, and get tattoos, so when the time comes to choose, that's where she goes.

The decision to switch factions is apparently a really big deal, the kind that breaks up entire families, but we are never really clued in why. The structure and rules of this society are poorly explained and full of logic gaps. A tension between the factions exists because the plot demands it be so, but the flimsy explanations for it leave much to be desired. Kate Winslet rocks a mean suit (it's all she does) as Jeanine, an Erudite leader fomenting hatred against Abnegation and specifically Beatrice's family. She's also on the hunt for divergents, presumed to be dangerous because they think for themselves or something. It's worth noting that, despite the separation into factions, each person can still think and act of their own accord. It's frowned upon but it happens, and that fact makes the whole divergent thing in desperate need of clarification.

Re-christened "Tris" after joining Dauntless, the majority of the film is how she acclimates to her new group. Becoming an official member of Dauntless is no picnic, requiring weeks of combat and mental training. Coming from Abnegation, she's nicknamed "Stiff" and must prove her mettle in any number of crazy tasks. With the exception of best friend Christina (Zoe Kravitz), the douche bag Peter (Miles Teller, Woodley's The Spectacular Nowco-star), and hunky trainer, Four (Theo James), most of the other initiates might as well not exist. It proceeds pretty much as one would expect it to with little in the way of surprises. Tris starts off lousy, and then goes through a quick montage where she starts improving her scores. Meanwhile, theoretical sparks fly between her and Four, who helps Tris hide her divergence while keeping his own secrets close to the vest.

While every adaptation should stand on its own, it's tough to look at the changes made and not get a little frustrated. Roth offers some good ideas to work with that may connect with younger audiences, namely how making those first adult decisions can be an alienating experience, judged by family and friends alike. Forging one's own destiny, even if it leads far from those held dear, is a rite of passage most teens can relate to. But the film removes any complexity, especially in Tris' relationships with her parents and Four. A big part of her character is the conflicted feelings she feels over leaving Abnegation, and the fear she has of losing her parents' love. It comes back up towards the big finale but without the proper context. Her budding love affair with Four could have been ported over from somewhere else and nobody would notice.

At 140 whopping minutes the pace is sluggish at best, only ramping up towards the end as a sinister plot comes to a head in a hail of gun fire. Woodley is no action star, and lacks the physical presence of Jennifer Lawrence, but she makes Tris' transformation from uncertain girl to confident leader believable and at times enjoyable. Even if her performance is a tad reserved it fits with her character's humble origins. If there's a reason to anticipate further sequels, it's her. While James' booming voice will have women swooning and guys jealous, that's pretty much all he has to offer as a romantic lead. Winslet rarely signs on for blockbusters like this, and hopefully the one-dimensional character she was given will remind her why.

Ironically, Divergent is meant to celebrate individuality yet there's nothing special about it to separate from the rest of the YA pack.

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Watch: Miles Teller, Paul Reiser, Damien Chazelle Talk 'Whiplash'

Right now it's really good to be Miles Teller. He's been dubbed the next big thing at two consecutive Sundance Film Festivals, starting with last year's powerful teen romance, The Spectacular Now, for which he and Shailene Woodley shared dramatic acting awards. This year he came back swinging in Whiplash, playing a jazz drumming protege at the mercy of his ruthless instructor, played by J.K. Simmons. And since then, things have only gotten better with major roles in Fantastic Four and the boxing biopic, Bleed for This.

In my opinion, it'll be Whiplash that pushes him to the next level. He gives a commanding, physical performance and the intense interactions he has with Simmons are amazing. While at Sundance, I had a chance to take part in a roundtable interview with Teller, co-stars Paul Reiser and Austin Stowell, and writer/director Damien Chazelle about Whiplash. The interview aired some weeks ago as part of my show, Cinema Royale, but now it's available for you to watch online.

Look for Whiplash to hit theaters later this year as Sony Pictures Classics has picked it up for distribution.

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The New 'Fantastic Four' Have Been Revealed!

After months of rumors and various casting reports, Josh Trank has decided on the young cast for his reboot of the Fantastic Four.When we spoke to Miles Teller some weeks ago he sounded pretty sure that a decision would be made in just a few weeks, and not only was he right but he has indeed been set to play Reed Richard aka Mr. Fantastic. He'll be joined by Kate Mara as Sue Storm aka the Invisible Woman, Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch, and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm aka the Thing.

Jordan was amongst the very first mentioned for film, stirring up a great deal of controversy in the process due to him being African-American. We'll see how Trank intends to handle that but the most likely scenario is that one or both of the Storms are adopted. Or they come from a merged family like The Brady Bunch, which could cause some interesting sibling tension.  Jordan, along with Teller and Mara, were high on Trank's list from the beginning and it sounds like their deals are mostly in place. Bell was a recent contender and is in "heavy talks" to finalize his deal.

The combination of Teller and Jordan have been busy, recently starring in That Awkward Moment and signing on for an upcoming heist thriller. Mara can be seen on Netflix series House of Cards and has a role in Wally Pfister's directorial debut, Transcendence. Bell will appear soon in Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac, and has some experience with motion-capture roles having starred in The Adventures of Tintin. 

Filming on Fantastic Four is to begin next month for release on June 19th 2015.  [TheWrap]

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Heist Thriller to Reunite Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller

Are Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan the new Ben Affleck and Matt Damon? While it may be a little early to make that sort of comparison, we could be seeing a lot of them as a package deal. The duo recently starred in That Awkward Moment, and it's looking very likely we'll see them both as part of the Fantastic Four reboot. And obviously they must be getting along famously because they're set to team up once again.

According to The Wrap, Teller and Jordan have come aboard an untitled heist thriller from That Awkward Moment writer/director Tom Gormican. Little is known about the plot but the action is said to take place in China and have a tone similar to Ocean's Eleven.

It's unclear where this would fall on either actor's schedule as both have a ton on their plate. Besides Fantastic Four which should shoot this summer, Jordan has the Rocky spinoff titled Creed, and has John Hillcoat's star-studded cop film Triple Nine. Teller is doing press rounds for Divergent, has Two Night Stand and Sundance award-winner Whiplash on the way, and recently agreed to boxing biopic Bleed for This.

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Doctor Doom May Switch Genders in 'Fantastic Four'; Kate Mara, Emmy Rossum Testing for Sue Storm

 We spoke to Miles Teller a couple of weeks ago at the Sundance Film Festival where he was promoting his new film, Whiplash, and he told us that casting decisions on the Fantastic Four reboot should be coming up soon. Looks like he wasn't far off as THR reports screen testing is underway now with a few more names added to the list of contenders, plus a couple that never made the cut.

Kate Mara and Emmy Rossum are said to have read for the role of the Invisible Woman, Sue Storm, with Elizabeth Olsen and Saoirse Ronan apparently out of the picture. Mara has been rumored previously, along with Girls star Allison Williams. Miles Teller has also tested for the role of team leader, Reed Richards, and appears to be the frontrunner with Kit Harington moving on to star in Testament of Youth. Meanwhile, Christian Cook (Romeo & Juliet) is in contention to play the ever lovin' blue-eyed Thing, Ben Grimm, but there's no mention of the previously-rumored Josh Gad.

Meanwhile, THR says that Michael B. Jordan is indeed locked in to play the Human Torch, exercising the option they had on him after starring in Chronicle for Josh Trank. But the most intriguing idea the story pushes is that Doctor Doom, the expected villain of the film, may be played by a female as the studio searches for a big name to take on the part. If they thought people were upset over an African-American Johnny Storm, wait until they propose a female Doctor Doom.

More auditions are expected over the coming days. Fantastic Four is expected to open March 6th 2015.

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Fear Wakes Up Shailene Woodley in New 'Divergent' Trailer

It's going to be a huge year for The Spectacular Now duo of Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller. While both are embarking on other, more mature efforts individually (White Bird in a Blizzard, Whiplash, The Fault in Our Stars), the duo is set to reunite (although not as romantic leads) in Divergent, another YA adaptation hoping to make a splash where so many have failed. Yesterday a brief 15-second teaser preview was released, and now the full trailer is here, along with the final teaser.

This is really Woodley's show, as she plays Beatrice "Tris" Prior, a young 16-year-old girl in a future where society has been divided up into five ideological factions: Candor, Abnegation, Erudite, Amity, and Dauntless. But when the time comes for Tris to decide which group she belongs in, it's discovered that she is a powerful Divergent and doesn't fit into any faction, making her a target.

Directed by Neil Burger and co-starring Theo James, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q, Zoe Kravitz, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Ashley Judd, Ansel Elgort, and Mekhi Phifer, Divergent opens March 21st, followed by the sequel Insurgent on March 20th 2015. Check out the footage below, followed by some new images.




Divergent: Final Teaser by Dread Central

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Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart Step in the Ring for Vinny Pazienza Biopic, 'Bleed for This'

The physicality of Miles Teller's drumming performance in Sundance hit, Whiplash, was one of the film's most impressive aspects, and my in my review I compared it to that of a professional boxer. Someone else must have been thinking the same thing, because Teller has just signed on to play boxer Vinny Pazienza in Bleed for This, a biopic that will co-star Aaron Eckhart.

It was a couple of years ago we learned that Ben Younger would be directing the film on the charismatic Pazienza, who earned the nickname the "Pazmanian Devil" due to his charismatic personality and ferocious fighting style. The film will chronicle Pazienza's rise to fame, which really took off in 1991 after defeating middleweight champ Gilbert Dele. Eckhart will play trainer Kevin Rooney, who helped Pazienza recover and return to the ring after a near-fatal car accident that many said would prevent him from walking again. Against doctors orders he came back to the ring and defeated the current champion, Luis Santana.

This is really looking like it could be Teller's big year, and this is exactly the sort of film that can help catapult him to the next level. It doesn't hurt that Martin Scorsese is lending his muscle to the film as an exec-producer.

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