"Hostel 3" Trailer

High stakes gambling takes on a sinister new meaning in this third chapter of the terrifying HOSTEL series. While attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas, four friends are enticed by two sexy escorts to join them at a private party way off the Strip. Once there, they are horrified to find themselves the subjects of a perverse game of torture, where members of the Elite Hunting Club are hosting the most sadistic show in town.

Fox Searchlight To Release "The Descendants" November 18, 2011

From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar®-winning SIDEWAYS, THE DESCENDANTS is set in Hawaii and follows the unpredictable journey of an American family at a crossroads. Matt King (George Clooney), a husband and father of two girls, must re-examine his past and navigate his future when his wife is in a boating accident off Waikiki. He awkwardly attempts to repair his relationship with his daughters - 10 year-old precocious Scottie (Amara Miller) and rebellious 17 year-old Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) - while wrestling with a decision to sell his family’s land. Handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries, the Kings own some of the last priceless virgin parcels of tropical beach in the islands.

When Alexandra drops the bombshell that her mother was in the midst of a romantic fling at the time of the accident, Matt has to take a whole new look at his life, not to mention his legacy, during a week of momentous decisions. With his girls in tow, he embarks on a haphazard search for his wife’s lover. Along the way, in encounters alternately funny, troublesome and transcendent, he realizes he’s finally on course toward rebuilding his life and family.

Fox Searchlight Pictures presents, an Ad Hominem Enterprises production, THE DESCENDANTS, directed by Alexander Payne with a screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash and based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The ensemble cast includes George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Nick Krause, Amara Miller, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel and Patricia Hastie.

The creative team includes producers Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, director of photography Phedon Papamichael, ASC, production designer Jane Ann Stewart, film editor Kevin Tent, A.C.E., costume designer Wendy Chuck, co-producer George Parra, music supervisor Dondi Bastone and executive music producer Richard Ford.

Magnolia Takes US Rights to Michael Cuesta’s "Roadie"

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnolia Pictures announced today they have acquired US rights to ROADIE, a new drama from director Michael Cuesta (L.I.E., Twelve and Holding, Showtime’s Homeland) featuring wonderful performances from Ron Eldard, Bobby Cannavale, Jill Hennessy and Lois Smith.  The film written by Gerald Cuesta and Michael Cuesta, and produced by Mike Downey and Sirad Balducci.
 
In a transformative role, Eldard plays Jimmy, a longtime roadie for the legendary Blue Oyster Cult, who has just been fired by the band. With nowhere else to go, he returns home to see his aging mom in Forest Hills, Queens, where a wild encounter with two old high school friends shows him that some things never change.
 
Magnolia is releasing ROADIE through its Ultra VOD program, debuting the film on all VOD platforms on December 2nd,  followed by a theatrical release on January 6, 2012.
 
“ROADIE features a career-best performances from Ron Eldard and he’s matched every step of the way by the ensemble,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Michael Cuesta has skillfully crafted a terrific film that will resonate with anyone who’s had to revisit where they came from.”
 
The deal was negotiated for Magnolia by SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Head of Legal and Business Affairs Chris Matson, with Kevin Iwashina and Christine D'Souza of Preferred Content, and Graham Taylor of WME working on behalf of the filmmakers.

Nicholas Sarkozy Drama "The Conquest" Trailer

THE CONQUEST, the droll fly on the wall French drama about Nicolas Sarkozy's rise to power, starring Denis Podalydès as Nicolas Sarkozy, Florence Pernel as Cécilia Sarkozy, Bernard Le Coq as Jacques Chirac, Hippolyte Girardot as Claude Guéant and Samuel Labarthe as Dominique De Villepin.  THE CONQUEST was adapted and directed by Xavier Durringer from a script by writer/documentary filmmaker Patrick Rotman (CHIRAC). Political journalist Michaël Darmon served as writing consultant
 
The day is May 6, 2007, France's run-up to the presidential elections. As the French people are getting ready to go to the polls to elect their new president, presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy has shut himself away in his home. Though Sarkozy soon knows he has won the election, he is alone, gloomy and despondent. For hours he has been trying to reach his wife, Cécilia but to no avail.  The last five years unfurl before our eyes, recounting Sarkozy's unstoppable ascent, riddled with in-party backstabbing, media manipulation, riots, sarcastic confrontations and extra-marital affairs.

THE CONQUEST chronicles the volatile right-leaning Sarkozy's startling rise to become President of France and the emotional and psychological stakes involving the conquest of power.  On the day the diminutive Sarkozy conquered his ultimate ambition, his wife, who for twenty years had struggled to pull the man she loved from the shadow into the light, walked out on him for another man. Renowned French playwright Xavier Durringer exposes with knowing and sardonic overtones the absurdness behind political campaigning. Based entirely on public documents and first person accounts, THE CONQUEST reveals the inner machinations of a bitter campaign in a new media age.

Long the subjects of journalistic accounts analyzing how modern elections are won going back at least to Theodore White's 1960 classic "The Making of the President," politicians - either living, recently deceased or thinly disguised - are turning up more frequently in feature films. THE CONQUEST is part of this vibrant sub-genre of generally satirical films that includes the upcoming IDES OF MARCH, THE IRON LADY, GAME CHANGE and recent films such as W., THE QUEEN and IN THE LOOP. However, THE CONQUEST is the first film to expose the drama surrounding the election of a leader during his term in office.

Yahoo Movies

Cinema Italian Style 2011 Presents US Premiere Of "Terraferma"

TERRAFERMA, Italy’s Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film, will premiere at the Egyptian Theatre on November 10 with a presentation of the CIS BVLGARI Award to Terry Gilliam preceding the screening.  Further highlights include a panel presentation on tax incentives for filming in Italy. 

Cinema Italian Style 2011, will kick off on November 11th with the U.S. premiere of Emanuele Crialese's Terraferma, Italy’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2011 Academy Awards®.   Terraferma  stars Donatella Finocchiario, Filippo Pucillo and Giuseppe Fiorello will join Crialese for the red carpet event at the Egyptian Theatre hosted by Vittoria Puccini, hostess of the 2011 Venice Film Festival, and Pierfrancesco Favino (Night at the Museum, Angels and Demons, The Chronicles of Narnia).    Directed and co-written by Crialese, Terraferma,garnered the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Venice International Film Festival.

The 2011 edition of Cinema Italian Style (November 10-15) is dedicated to legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis.   De Laurentiis’ work and contributions to the world of cinema will be remembered and celebrated at a special tribute preceding the premiere of Terraferma.  Acclaimed director Terry Gilliam will also be presented with the CIS BVLGARI Award prior to the film’ screening.

The Cinema Italian Style 2011 program and the De Laurentiis homage will be announced on November 10 during a special event at the De Laurentiis family residence.   The Cinema Italian Style series is organized and produced by Cinecittà Luce and the American Cinematheque.  The two organizations  have worked side by side since 1995 to bring to Los Angeles the best Italian movies as well as films that have received significant recognition at international film festivals.

This year’s selection, assembled by film journalist, author and President of SNGCI (National Union of Italian film journalists) Laura Delli Colli, includes director Nanni Moretti’s Habemus Papam (We Have a Pope), Mario Martone’s Noi Credevamo, Cristina Comencini’s Quando la Notte (When the Night), Gianni di Greogorio’s Gianni e le donne (The Salt of Life), Paolo Genovese’s Immaturi (The Immature); Sergio Castellitto’s La bellezza del somaro (Love and Slaps); Francesco Bruni’s Scialla (Easy!), Giuseppe Gagliardi’s Tatanka, Alba Rohrwacher’s Corpo Celeste and Ricky Tognazzi’s Il Padre e lo Straniero (The Father and the Foreigner).  Each film will feature an introduction and Q & A led by La Repubblica correspondent Silvia Bizio.

The week-long Cinema Italian Style program includes a November 10 pre-opening event at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica with CIS Award recipient Terry Gilliam. Gilliam will meet the audience after the screening of his 1985 Oscar-nominated film Brazil and introduce his latest short film The Wholly Family which was shot in the street of Naples.  Further program highlights are a panel discussion on tax incentives for filming in Italy organized by A.N.I.C.A (Italian Association of Cinema Industries), the opening of Dress in Dreams’ new exhibition “Star Wigs” at the Italian Cultural Institute and film presentations at local universities and cultural centers to introduce the best Italian movies of the year to film students.

Every year Cinema Italian Style bestows the prestigious Cinema Italian Style Award upon representatives of Italian cinema and US cinema industry representatives who have unique ties to Italian cinema.   Past recipients include:  George Clooney, Penelope Cruz, Raoul Bova, Rick Nicita, Ed Limato, Anjelica Huston, Valeria Golino, Jo Champa, Dino De Laurentiis, Gabriele Muccino, John Turturro, Douglas Kirkland and Academy Award winners Vittorio Storaro (director of photography) and Milena Canonero (designer).

"Jiro Dreams Of Sushi" Poster

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious 3 star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar.

For most of his life, Jiro has been mastering the art of making sushi, but even at his age he sees himself still striving for perfection, working from sunrise to well beyond sunset to taste every piece of fish; meticulously train his employees; and carefully mold and finesse the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation.  At the heart of this story is Jiro’s relationship with his eldest son Yoshikazu, the worthy heir to Jiro’s legacy, who is unable to live up to his full potential in his father’s shadow.

The feature film debut of director David Gelb, JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI is a thoughtful and elegant meditation on work, family, and the art of perfection, chronicling Jiro’s life as both an unparalleled success in the culinary world, and a loving yet complicated father.

Eater.Com

"The Darkest Hour" International Poster

THE DARKEST HOUR follows five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The 3D action-thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects from the minds of visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov​ (WANTED, NIGHT WATCH) and director Chris Gorak.

Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" Poster

Hugo tells the story of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. With the help of an eccentric girl, he searches for the answer to a mystery linking the father he recently lost, the ill-tempered toy shop owner living below him and a heart shaped lock, seemingly without a key. Based on Brian Selznick’s award winning and imaginative New York Times bestseller, The Invention of Hugo Cabret​, this magical tale is Academy Award-winner Martin Scorsese​’s first film shot in 3D.

Another "In Time" Poster

When Will Salas (Timberlake) is falsely accused of murder, he must figure out a way to bring down a system where time is money -- literally -- enabling the wealthy to live forever while the poor, like Will, have to beg, borrow, and steal enough minutes to make it through another day.

"Puss In Boots" Sneaks With Lady Gaga

Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town.  This is the true story of The Cat, The Myth, The Legend…The Boots.