Lincoln Told Spielberg To Screw Via Classy Rejection Letter

Not only did Abe Lincoln abolish slavery, apparently he had the balls to tell Steven Spielberg to hit the bricks not once, but twice. Third time was a charm for the famed director as Daniel Day-Lewis finally agreed to the role after Tony Kushner (MUNICH) turned in his draft of the script for Lincoln.

Spielberg couldn't help himself when presenting the Best Actor Award to Day-Lewis at the NY Film Critics Circle Awards and read his first rejection letter.

Dear Steven,

It was a real pleasure just to sit and talk with you. I listened very carefully to what you had to say about this compelling history, and I’ve since read the script and found it in all the detail in which it describe these monumental events and in the compassionate portraits of all the principal characters, both powerful and moving. I can’t account for how at any given moment I feel the need to explore life as opposed to another, but I do know that I can only do this work if I feel almost as if there is no choice; that a subject coincides inexplicably with a very personal need and a very specific moment in time. In this case, as fascinated as I was by Abe, it was the fascination of a grateful spectator who longed to see a story told, rather than that of a participant. That’s how I feel now in spite of myself, and though I can’t be sure that this won’t change, I couldn’t dream of encouraging you to keep it open on a mere possibility. I do hope this makes sense Steven, I’m glad you’re making the film, I wish you the strength for it, and I send both my very best wishes and my sincere gratitude to you for having considered me.

THR

"Last Exorcism Part II" Trailer

Continuing where the first film left off, teenage Nell Sweetzer is found dirty and terrified in the woods having just escaped a demon ritual in which a cult helped her give birth to a demon baby.  Confused and scared, Nell is examined by doctors but she doesn’t remember much about the previous few months except that as a result of everything, her family is now dead.  She is moved into Davreaux – a girls’ halfway house in New Orleans, where she will try to put her life back together with the help of the therapist, Frank Merle.  She even begins to date a boy named Chris and starts a job at a local hotel.  But something doesn’t feel right to Nell.  She is being sought after by the demon who possessed her in the first LAST EXORCISM.  It wants Nell, but in a different way than before…

Yahoo Movies via ShockTillYouDrop

"Girls Against Boys" Trailer

In the film, naïve college student Shae (Panabaker) is tormented by several men in a matter of days and reaches her breaking point. She is drawn into coworker Lu’s (Nicole LaLiberte) twisted plan for revenge and together, the two embark on a gruesome killing spree, terrorizing and brutally murdering not just their attackers, but any man who gets in their way. However, after a wild weekend of retaliation, the friendship between the girls shifts into a dangerous obsession, and their perverse game becomes a desperate struggle for Shae to maintain control against Lu’s deadly and seductive influence.

Apple Trailers via ComingSoon.Net

"A Haunted House" Poster

In the parody of the Paranormal Activity franchise, newlyweds Malcolm (Marlon Wayans) and Kisha (Essence Atkins) move into their dream house and quickly find they’re not alone. But it’s not the house that’s haunted, but his wife that is possessed with spirits – or as Malcolm calls it – “relationship baggage.” Malcolm hires everyone from a priest to modern day ghost busters to rid her of the demon, determined not to let the evil spirit ruin his marriage... or his sex life for that matter.

ShockTillDrop.Com

French Poster For Harmony Korine's "Spring Breakers"

Spring Breakers tells the story of four sexy college girls as they plan to fund their spring break getaway by burglarizing a fast food shack. But that's only the beginning... At a motel room rager, fun reaches its legal limit and the girls are arrested and taken to jail. Hungover and clad only in bikinis, the girls appear before a judge but are bailed out unexpectedly by Alien (Franco), an infamous local thug who takes them under his wing and leads them on the wildest Spring Break trip in history. Rough on the outside but with a soft spot inside, Alien wins over the hearts of the young Spring Breakers, and leads them on a Spring Break they never could have imagined.

Ecran Large via ComingSoon.Net

"Pacific Rim" Alternate Trailer

I guess one trailer in the past month just wasn't enough for Warner Bros as an alternate "Pacific Rim" trailer was revealed at Qualcomm's presentation at CES in Vegas. Guillermo del Toro was live and in the flesh to present this different version featuring a couple of new shots.

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed up former pilot and an untested trainee who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

"InAPPropriate Comedy" Trailer, Poster, & Photo

Trailer Courtesy Of ComingSoon.Net

A no-holds barred sketch movie starring Brody as "Flirty Harry," a tough, no nonsense cop with a soft middle and a flair for fashion; Schneider in a dual role as both a sleazy, horny psychologist and a curmudgeonly porn critic alongside his enthusiastic counterpart Rodriguez; Lohan living out her fantasy of taking an ultimate revenge on the salivating paparazzi who haunt her, and Shaffir as "The Amazing Racist," whose hilariously offensive hidden-camera encounters with members of different ethnic and minority groups push everyone's buttons.

"Things I Don't Understand" January 2013 Screening Dates

The critically acclaimed and award winning "Things I Don't Understand" is starting 2013 with several screenings on the west coast next week!

On Saturday Jan 12th, 2013 6:00pm we screen in competition at the Idyllwild Cinema Fest in Idyllwild, CA and on Friday Jan 18th 3:45pm at the Irvine International Film Fest in Irvine, CA.

Later in the month "Things" screens in competition in Lafayette, LA at the Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival and is screening as part of the Centro Cultural São Paulo Curation in Brazil of great modern independent cinema alongside: Mike Birbiglia's "Sleepwalk With Me Movie", "Room 237", Joe Swanberg's "Art History", Lynn Shelton's Your Sister's Sister and many more great films

Award winning actress Molly Ryman's performance in the film as "Violet Kubelick" was named one of the Top Female Performances on 2012 by the San Diego Reader and San Francisco Film Critic's Circle president, Tim Sika, called it "absolutely wonderful" and will be hosting a screening for the film in San Jose.

WINNER BEST FEATURE 2012 Indie Spirit Film Festival 2012 Philadelphia Independent Film Festival Feature) 2012 Hard Acre Film Festival 2012 Burbank International Film Festival 2012 Sycamore Film Festival 2012 New Jersey Film Festival 2012 Coney Island Film Festival 2012 Laughlin International Film Festival 2012 Dreamland International Film Festival AUDIENCE AWARD 2012 White Sands Int'l Film Festival 2012 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival (Audience Award, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress) OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2012 Northwest Ohio Film Festival (Winner- Best Actress Molly Ryman) 2012 Albuquerque Film Festival 2012 San Diego Film Festival 2012 Jaxon Film Festival 2012 San Pedro International Film Festival 2012 Catalina Film Festival 2012 New Wave Salon 2012 Washington DC Reel Independent Extravaganza 2012 Twin Cities Film Fest (Breakthrough Achievement – Molly Ryman) 2012 Tallgrass Film Festival (Stubbornly Independent Nominee) 2012 Greater Reading Film Festival, 2012 Dutch Tilt Film Festival 2012 Mt. Hood Independent Film Festival 2012 Weyauwega Int’l Film Festival 2012 Beverly Film Festival 2012 California Independent Film Festival 2012 Big Apple Film Festival 2012 International Film Festival of Antigua Barbuda 2012 Anchorage International Film Festival, 2012 Sao Palo Cultural Festival of Cinema 2013 Idyllwild Cinema Fest 2013 Irvine International Film Festival 2013 Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival

"...surprisingly enjoyable thanks to a beautiful script penned by Spaltro... outstanding performances by his cast... insightful and meaningful " - Twitch

“One of the best indies on the festival circuit... full of grace notes and raw emotional power, superbly acted and sensitively written and directed by Spaltro” – Bill Desowitz, Immersed In Movies

"A bold character-driven drama... defies expectations and affirms Spaltro as a true independent storyteller" - Dann Gire, The Chicago Daily Herald

"...a sophomore slump it is not. Its assured craftsmanship, fine performances and provocative themes have made it one of the most buzzed-about pictures on the festival circuit" - Matt Fagerholm, HollywoodChicago.com

"a little independent gem of a film --- David Spaltro is a helluva filmmaker and a storyteller" - Debbie Lynn Elias, MovieShark

“…A refreshing earnestness… Spaltro seems poised to make a big impact on the indie scene in coming years” – Eric Armstrong, The Moving Arts Film Journal

"A- ... a thought-provoking drama...Spaltro once again establishes himself as one of the most promising of the younger directors" - Howard Schumann, The Critical Critics and Talking Pix

"...just blown away by the film - the script, direction are brilliant" - Anne Brodie, Monsters and Critics

"Coherent, enlightened and funny... Spaltro orchestrates a bluesy atmosphere " Ray Young, The Flickhead

"**** dark and thoughtful, but never boring. His direction is fluid, the script moves, and the editing is fantastic." Charles Tatum, Efilmcritic

"features a handful of performances by actors who, if their work here is any indication, deserve to be household names…" Asbury Park Press, Alex Biese

"The movie’s strengths are its performances (especially by Molly Ryman as Violet), dialogue, and the relationships" CentralJersey.com

"Ryman is absolutely stunning… this film is beautiful, intelligent, and in-your-face" – Jeri L. Jacquin, Movie Maven

"...a well-crafted and accomplished film... Spaltro's writing and directing is exemplary throughout" - Gary Collinson, The Flickering Myth

"an impressive follow-up effort... memorable performances.... realistic look into the life of young adults" Karen Bernardello, New York Examiner.Com

" '...Around' star Molly Ryman leads the exemplary cast of up-and-coming actors... Grace Folsom really shines in her debut" - ScreenToday.org

"A remarkably honest film that works on all levels, with wonderful performances by the ensemble cast" -Jeff Rector, Head Programmer Burbank International Film Festival

"A perspicacious dramedy with (mostly) sharp (or at least snarky) banter... fun (and funny)" - Matt Prigge, Philadelphia Weekly

“a thoughtful drama that rewards a little touch of faith in the things we can’t quite put our finger on" –Dennis Cozzalio, The House Next Door

“Ryman and Matthias are terrific… succeeds quite well” – Diana Saenger, SD East County Gazette

" One Of The Best Filmmakers Of 2011" -- Tommy Lightfoot Garret, Highlight Hollywood

"A cinematic treat" -- Peter Nellhaus, Coffee Coffee and more Coffee

"Spaltro has a knack for creating an involving experience due to the richness of the characters he develops." – Brent Pantaleo, Picture Show Pundits

“8/10…“ - Dirk Sonnisken, Smells Like Screen Spirit

“An absolutely splendid film” – Movie Warehouse

"a tremendous vibe when Molly Ryman is onscreen... a great film" - Scott "Kubrick" Sawitz, InsidePulse

“Things I Don’t Understand is the kind of movie you really want to be associated with, be it as a critic, an artist or a fan." -- Lamar Kukuk, Lamar's Movie Palace

“…a journey of self-discovery far more realistic than most movies that try to imbue the same theme with clichés” – Nic Baisley, Film Snobbery

" great comedic dialogue... funny and refreshing" -- Courtney Smalls, Big Thought From A Small Mind

"a genuinely warm film that reflects a real understanding of people and the relationships we form... very strong performances" - Paul Pritchard, PulpMovies.com

“*** ½” – Ben Kenber, FilmArcade

"hits the bulls-eye with its humor and unyielding heart... a film filled with strong performances all around" - Brian Skuttle, Sonic Cinema

"Ryman perfectly leads the cast... Spaltro’s writing displays a soothing essence formulated by a realistic story" - Veronica Barriga, Behind The Hype

"Ryman gives us a smart, pretty, cynical heroine, and the superb performance of Folsom provides the pathos... an amusing and thought-provoking flick." - Kay Durbin, Film Dilettante

"Spaltro has ambitiously embraced the audiences wanting more by putting weighty theories into the mouths of twenty-somethings searching for answers" - Jared Mobarak, Film Stage

"…full of interesting characters, realistic dialogue... further proof that you don’t need a huge budget to make an effective movie" – Sean Canfield, The Daily Rotation

"One film you aren't likely to forget... refreshing to see that a filmmaker’s ideas and intrigues can be successfully expressed on a budget" - Lost In Reviews

"A solid indie effort with a couple of great performances...Ryman is a perfect lead...Director David Spaltro shows a lot of promise" – Movie Cynics

"This indie treat shows a filmmaker destined to go places — willing to take chances and make a film that is fearless in its treatment of the strong female character” - Cinemecca

“Achieves some significant successes… Folsom, Ryman and Spaltrol excel - Andrew Wickliffe, The Stop Button

“…a creative, thoughtful offering… a worthy follow-up to Spaltro’s splendid first feature” – Betty Jo Tucker, Reel Talk

"Flight" On Blu-ray, DVD, Digital & On Demand Feb. 5

Paramount Home Media Distribution announced today that Robert Zemeckis' Flight, starring Denzel Washington, will be available on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand on February 5th.

Written by John Gatins, the film tells the story of Whip Whitaker (Washington), a commercial airline pilot who miraculously lands a plummeting airplane during a breathtaking sequence. But despite his heroics, Whip comes under investigation and begins what may be an even more harrowing personal descent.

Flight also stars John Goodman, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, Bruce Greenwood, Melissa Leo and Brian Geraghty.

The film will be available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with UltraViolet™ and special features that take audiences behind-the-scenes to learn about the film's journey to the screen, how the filmmakers created the terrifying plane crash, and more. In addition, the two-disc set includes highlights from a Q&A panel. The film will also be available as a single-disc DVD.

All Blu-ray releases available for purchase will be enabled with UltraViolet, a new way to collect, access and enjoy movies. With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them – reliably and securely – to a variety of devices.

The Flight Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The combo pack includes access to a digital copy of the film as well as the following:

Blu-ray
· Feature film in high definition
· Origins of Flight
· The Making of Flight
· Anatomy of a Plane Crash
· Q&A Highlights

DVD
· Feature film in standard definition

The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The disc includes the feature film in standard definition.

"Wreck-It Ralph": Digitally Feb. 12 & DVD/Blu-ray March 5

Walt Disney Animation Studios announced today the debut of the hit arcade-game-hopping adventure Wreck It Raph marking a Disney first with the early release of the HD Digital and HD Digital 3D on February 12, followed by the 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack, 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, SD Digital and On-Demand release on March 5.

Wreck It Raph takes viewers on a hilarious journey. For decades, Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) has played the bad guy in his popular video game. In a bold move, he embarks on an action-packed adventure and sets out to prove to everyone that he is a true hero with a big heart. As he explores exciting new worlds, he teams up with some unlikely new friends including feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman). The film is directed by Emmy-winner Rich Moore.

The Wreck It Raph Digital and Blu-ray Combo Pack have over an hour of all-new bonus features, including deleted and alternate scenes, the theatrical short “Paperman,” plus much more.

Here is the overview of the various available products:

HD Digital
SD Digital
4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray +DVD + Digital Copy)
2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray +DVD)

Includes:
* Bit by Bit: Creating the Worlds of “Wreck-It Ralph” – Fans of the film will get a look at five new worlds created for “Wreck-It Ralph.” The short takes viewers into Game Central Station with the artists who brought Sugar Rush, Hero’s Duty and Fix It Felix Jr. to life.
* Alternate & Deleted Scenes – Four separate scenes are highlighted with an introduction and optional audio commentary from director Rich Moore.
* Video Game Commercials – Viewers can check out the commercials created for the video games featured in the film - Fix It Felix Jr., Sugar Rush, Hero’s Duty and Fix It Felix Hammer.
* “Paperman” – This animated short film played in theaters before “Wreck It Ralph.” It tells the story of a young man in an office who sees the girl of his dreams in a skyscraper window across the street. But how can he get her attention?
Blu-ray Exclusive Bonus Materials

Includes:
* Disney Intermission: The Gamer’s Guide to “Wreck-It-Ralph” – When the film is paused, host Chris Hardwick appears on screen to guide viewers through a series of 10 video segments offering an inside look at the many video game references, Disney references and other hidden surprises featured in the film.