Director: Jerusha Hess

Screenwriters: Jerusha Hess and Shannon Hale

Cast: Keri Russell, Jennifer Coolidge, Bret McKenzie, JJ Feild, James Callis, Georgia King, and Jane Seymour.

Official Synopsis: Jane’s life-size paper doll of Mr. Darcy and her “I Love Darcy” tote may be tattered, but even in her thirties, she hasn’t grown out of her obsession with all things Jane Austen. Careworn by love, she saves enough to fulfill her dream of stepping into Austen’s world and heads to Austenland for an “immersive” vacation to eschew all things modern. And it couldn’t be more perfect. There’s an imposing manor with verdant grounds for afternoon promenades, rosy-faced servants, trusty steeds for hunting expeditions, gilded drawing rooms for evenings spent in polite conversation, and, yes, gallant young suitors. Unfortunately, due to limited funds, she’s relegated to lesser quarters and drearier costumes than fellow bachelorette guests, but her cares melt away as she catches the eye of a young footman, and she’s swept into a romantic adventure she could never have imagined.

Performances

Keri Russell is extremely likable as the Pride and Prejudice obsessed Jane Hayes, but doesn't really start to shine until after the obligatory makeover montage.

The supporting cast all does a fantastic job, possibly due to the fact that many of them have played very similar roles before. Jennifer Coolidge once again proves that she is the master of playing an American who completely butchers the English accent - something she famously did on an episode of Friends. Bret McKenzie puts his Flight of The Conchords musical skills to use in some memorable scenes. And JJ Feild is also in familiar territory as Henry Nobely, the resident Mr. Darcy of the themed vacation house - he played something of a version of this similarly named character (Henry Tilney) in 2007's television adaptation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. 

Coolidge has to go deep into the ridiculous and annoying to earn laughs, but she scores some of the biggest audience reactions. But it's James Callis (Battlestar Galacica) who goes nearly unrecognizable, and steals just about every scene he's in as the flamboyant Colonel Andrews. 

The film's possible breakout star however is Feild. His character is a tricky one and gets more layered as the film goes on. He effortlessly weaves through brooding and charming and looks like a cross between Michael Fassbender and Tom Hiddleston and has the same potential to breakout as they have - he's even got a Marvel film under his belt with Captain America.

Story and Direction 

Based on Shannon Hale's novel, and adapted for the screen by Hess and Hale, Austenland is a cute comedy with an interesting premise. Mixing role playing actors and real lovelorn women can, as the movie states, "become a complicated thing," but it keeps your interest and keeps you laughing - even though the predictable twists don't always keep you guessing. 

Jerusha Hess co-wrote films like Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre with her husband, director Jared Hess. With the exception of the opening scenes, Jerusha's directorial debut is much more polished than the quirky collaborations directed by her husband. Jerusha also utilizes music to greater effect, particularly with the end credits scene - make sure you stick around for that.

Similar To  

Apparently not similar to the book, or so I hear. There are many moments that are similar to Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and once we get to Austenland, the comedic tone with the fish out of water moments feels very reminiscent of the middle act of Wedding Crashers.

Chances You'll See It in Theaters

With Twilight author Stephanie Meyer producing and financing the film, studios should be jumping at the chance to cash in on the same Twihard tweens who don't have anymore Twilight films to blow money on. Throw in actual thirty-somethings who are long-time Austen fans, and you've at least got your female bases covered.

While we still have yet to hear details about the next series of Star Wars movies, we can only hope they will be better than the prequels. That's not to say there weren't some things I like in episodes I-III (the lava battle between Obi Wan and Anakin remains my favorite duel), but on the whole I think it can be done better. The following list is just a breakdown of three logical advantages and disadvantages I think the next three films will have that the prequels lacked. Enjoy and post your own thoughts below!

Advantage 1: Limited Lucas Involvement.

For fans of the original trilogy who still weep over the fact that Han shot first, then Greedo, then they both did or hates blinking Ewoks this is a huge plus for the new series. Good or bad, George Lucas can't change s*** once it's out. His limited involvement also means he can't further diminish your childhood by emasculating Darth Vader or Luk...well let's stick to Vader. The long and short of it is this series has been around since 1977, and it's time for a fresh set of eyes.

Disadvantage 1: We Need New Idols.

Obi Wan, Yoda, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Jabba The Hutt, The Emperor, Jedis, a whole Death Star of Storm Troopers, Miscellaneous Rebel Alliance Fighters. These icons and so many more all met their end in episodes I-VI and can never, ever return (most likely). How is this a bad thing? As mentioned above, Star Wars fans hate change, and given the fact that there are only a limited number of classic characters to return to, the creators will have to win us over with a whole new set of just as loveable characters. We saw how well that worked last time.

Advantage 2: Original Story

This is where killing off many beloved characters and not having to shoot a prequel comes in handy. The writers of Episode VII only have to pay a limited amount of fan service to the characters we know and love, and then surprise us with what comes next. It would be cool if they were to play into some of the storylines introduced in the novels, but it seems doubtful. I'm sure with all the controversies fans have had in the past with tweaks and changes, better safe than sorry, so just start anew.

Disadvantage 2: No One Will Be "Good Enough" To Direct This Movie.

As of this time there has been no official announcement as to who will be directing the new Star Wars films, but I can guarantee the general response given a general scenario.

Famous well known director: "I'm sorry. I love their work, but I just don't think they can do a good job with this franchise."

Unknown obscure director: "IS DISNEY TRYING TO F*** US RIGHT NOW?!"

Outside of Stephen Spielberg (who I personally would think would do a terrible job, but that's probably because I'm a fan), there isn't a single director I think the fans will universally agree on until they see the actual movie. If it's an obscure director and they succeed, they'll be sky-rocketed to success and taken on the bumpy ride that ultimately drove Lucas to walk away from the game. Well-known directors will be heralded for doing what Christopher Nolan did to Batman and will be starting all over again at its end with X/XI/XII. Whoever helms the franchise won't earn it until the fans say so, this is for certain.

Advantage 3: Good Or Bad, Everyone Will See This Movie.

This is going to be "the geek event of the century." We are talking about a set of films no one thought would happen. Old geeks will go with their children, and some with their grandchildren. We have a franchise that has now spanned and captivated an audience over a course of 3 generations which means bukuu bucks at the box office and a huge turn out at the theater. It's going to break box office records regardless of what critics say about it. People will be discussing and dissecting these films years from now and one would hope Disney is not looking to sully their good name by destroying one of the top movie franchises in the world.

Disadvantage 3: Good Or Bad, Everyone Will See This Movie.

We as geeks are all too used to being disappointed and will continue to throw money at things even if they upset us. Hollywood knows it, marketing teams know it, and our creditors know it. It's an addiction to be a geek, and even if we read the most horrid review of the film Thursday morning...we will still be suited up and ready to go come midnight. I can hope they won't serve us up a mediocre story with lackluster performances a second time around, but I know I'll still watch if they do. 

It looks like director Guillermo del Toro is finally going to make more films for us, and it's all going to start with Pacific Rim. After than he's going to get started on a new horror movie called Crimson Peak. This guy knows how to entertain the fans with the story he tells. It's going to be awesome to see what other future projects he ends up bringing to life on the big screen. 

Jeff Victor created an incredibly cool cartoon style evolution of the films that he's directed over the years. Here's a note from the artist about the director...

One of my favorite directors has to be Guillermo del Toro. No other director can create a more intriguing mix of horror and humor than del Toro. I remember being incredibly impressed with Mimic when I first saw that in 1997, then a few years later, being overwhelmed with the beauty and suspense of the Devil's Backbone. Pacific Rim, as of this writing, hasn't come out yet, but you bet I'll be there opening night to check it out! As a side note, I would kill to visit his "man-cave" called Bleak House, where he keeps all his horror themed art, toys, and trinkets. If you haven't seen it, you can sneak a peek here: 

What's your favorite Del Toro movie!?

To see the evolution of Johnny Depp click here, for Natalie Portman click here, for Tom Hanks click here, for Stanely Kubrick click here, Jim Carrey click here, and for Charlize Theron click here.

Before Midnight

Director: Richard Linklater

Writers: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

Official Synopsis: We meet Celine and Jesse nine years after their last rendezvous. Almost two decades have passed since their first encounter on a train bound for Vienna, and we now find them in their early forties in Greece. Before the clock strikes midnight, we will again become part of their story.

SPOILERS AHEAD. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Performances

If you're reading this, you already know about the first two movies in this series and you know how the second film's cliffhanger is one of the best endings of the past ten years. You also know that these films succeed because of the phenomenal performances of their leads, and for this third entry, Hawke and Delpy slip back into character with no problem. Jesse and Celine are nine years older, have two kids, and live in Paris (so that's what happened at the end of Sunset!), but are visiting Greece for a summer and staying with a writer friend of Jesse's. Long fluid conversations between the couple and their friends continue to serve as the currency of this series, and here the characters discuss the topics of life in the modern world, technology's effect on love and romance, our place in the universe, the differences between men and women, societal expectations for men versus women, the validity of marriage, and much more.

Story and Direction

Linklater continues to capture incredibly intimate moments between his actors (including some frankly sexual ones here, too), and while it's been a few years since I've seen the first two movies, Before Midnight goes to much darker places with the material and isn't afraid to get into the dirty truths of a long relationship. Again he uses multiple long takes to capture the naturalism of the couple's conversations, and with nothing but dialogue to latch on to, he and the actors lure us deeper into the lives of Jesse and Celine.

But here's the thing: their lives aren't that extraordinary, and every conversation they have in this movie feels totally real and relatable in a way that the dialogue from the first two films couldn't quite accomplish. The movie balances humor with utterly devastating emotional sequences; while the first movie was about exploring first love and the second dealt with the difficulty of life as a thirtysomething, this one gets into some harsh and personal territory between the two as a kink in the armor reveals some deeper issues bubbling beneath the surface for both of them. Before Midnight is a progression of ups and downs, alternating between being soul-crushing and inspiring, and is a terrific conclusion to a wonderful trilogy. Unless, of course, they decide to make another movie nine years from now.

Similar To

Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, obviously. There really isn't another franchise like this one.

Chances You'll See It In Theaters

If I were a betting man, I'd say this will stay in limited release. As passionate as the fanbase for this film is, probably 30% of them are here and will see it at Sundance, and I don't imagine studios will think that the other 70% will be a big enough audience to justify a wide release. 

Here is a TV spot for Michael Bay's Pain and Gain, which stars Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Mackie, and Dwayne Johnson. After seeing the trailer, I can safely say that this is one Michael Bay movie I am actually looking forward to seeing. I love the mix of comedy and action. 

Synopsis:

From acclaimed director Michael Bay comes “Pain & Gain,” a new action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie. Based on the unbelievable true story of three personal trainers in 1990s Miami who, in pursuit of the American Dream, get caught up in a criminal enterprise that goes horribly wrong. Ed Harris, Tony Shalhoub, Rob Corddry, Rebel Wilson and Bar Paly also star. The film is based on magazine articles by Pete Collins, with a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and produced by Donald DeLine, Michael Bay and Ian Bryce.

The film  also stars Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Tony Shalhoub, Bar Paly, Rebel Wilson, Ken Jeong, and Yolanthe Cabau, and arrives in theaters on April 26. Watch the TV spot and let us know what you think.

Pain and Gain TV Spot from Michael Bay Dot Com on Vimeo.

Follow Jim on Twitter and Tumblr

Retired Artist Drew Struzan revealed to Fanhattan that he has been approached by Walt Disney Pictures to design art for Star Wars: Episode VII and beyond. 

Here is what he had to say via ComingSoon:

Oh my god, I’m trying to be retired!" Struzan laughs. "You know, I spent 35 years painting 'Star Wars'. I painted 'Star Wars' before most of you were born! But I guess there is always a chance. There’s no intention. But I would love to have a day off every now and again, and I have to work a weekend and all through the night. If the opportunity arises, it will be a real temptation. But it’s going to have to be a real temptation to get me away from my wife and my little grandkids and my family. Away from the green trees and the blue skies for a change instead of just locked in the studio. But, you know, never say never. All things are possible.

Struzan has done some epic movie art for films like The Thing, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, as well as past Star Wars films. At least Struzan will be able to focus some time to actually staying retired, since Episode VII won't be here until 2015. I love Struzan's work and would love to see what he has in mind for the new Star Wars triology.

Follow Jim on Twitter and Tumblr

Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater answer questions after the Before Midnight world premiere.

Make sure to checkout Ben Pearson's written review.

Director: Richard Linklater

Writers: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

Official Synopsis: We meet Celine and Jesse nine years after their last rendezvous. Almost two decades have passed since their first encounter on a train bound for Vienna, and we now find them in their early forties in Greece. Before the clock strikes midnight, we will again become part of their story.

I loved the original Mad Max movies because of the cool characters, action and cars. Here is a video from the Mad Max Fury Road set that shows some cool cars in action. George Miller directs Tom Hardy in this latest installment of the franchise. Unfortunately, the vehicles in the video are not new. We've seen them in various photos from the set that have been shared before. 

The film is set for a 2014 release, so we will hopefully get a trailer in the relative furture. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the rant back section below. 

Follow Jim on Twitter and Tumblr

During a recent intervew with MTV, Marvel's Kevin Feige gave an update on Iron Man 3. He talked about Robert Downey Jr.'s performance and character development, the Mandarin, and director Shane Black.

"Robert Downey Jr. gave his all to this performance. He left no stone unturned."

Feige goes on to say:

"So much of the journey of 'Iron Man 3' is informed by Tony's experiences in 'The Avengers. It's almost like post-traumatic stress: he really has retreated after the events of 'The Avengers' into his workshop, where he's building advanced versions of his suits. He has [designed] a version of the suit that can latch onto him in individual pieces ... anytime, anywhere. As he starts to realize, it's basically because he doesn't want to be out of the suit: he's seen a lot of things in 'Avengers' and has encountered a lot of powerful people, much more powerful than he is.

"It brings us back to the Tony we met in the first part of 'Iron Man' where he's removed from that convoy and brought to the cave with nothing but a box of scraps. It's fun for all of us to watch Tony try to figure out how to get out of that scenario. Much of the movie is Tony in the middle of the country without his tools and a fairly broken suit to help him. But that's his superpower: he wasn't born on Asgard, he wasn't hit by gamma rays, and he doesn't have the super soldier serum. His power is his brain. It's fun to put Tony Stark in a corner with nothing and see how he can get out of it."

Ben Kingsley plays The Mandarin in the third film, and he looks like one villain that is extremely viscious. Feige had this to say about the character:

"We felt there was leeway to explore the Mandarin in a way that hasn't been explored before. We found we couldn't point to any sort of definitive Mandarin story in the comics— but if you print this, I'm sure a million fans will point to a specific story — so as we've done with many of the films, we did an amalgamation. The Mandarin is relentless: he's a non-stop threat, and you've seen that in the first teaser trailer when Tony Stark's house tumbles into the sea. He doesn't mess around, this guy."

Director Shane Black steps in to helm this installment, and Feige revealed that he is happy with the direction Black took the universe.

"No one has been shy — myself, Robert and [original 'Iron Man' director Jon] Favreau — about how Shane worked in the shadows of the first 'Iron Man' film, helping with certain scenes and helping with tonal things,This film, it's much less the culmination of the previous 'Iron Man' movies in part three: this is 'Iron Man: A Shane Black Film.' That, to me, is by far the most unique thing about this movie."

With The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises raking in the cash at the box office, it does not look like audiences will be getting tired of superhero movies anytime soon. Feige revealed that he thinks that "Tony Stark can stand a few more films."

"Characters like James Bond and Batman, whose stories go on and on and on — I think Tony is one of those characters. Where we go directly after 'Iron Man 3' ... I'm not looking too far ahead. I'm looking to finish 'Iron Man 3,' getting into 'Avengers 2,' and then seeing where we go from there. But I do think we have more Tony Stark tales to tell, and we'll take it one movie — or maybe two movies — at a time."

Iron Man 3 arrives in theaters on May 3 in both 2D and 3D theaters. 

Follow Jim on Twitter and Tumblr

I recently had a chance to see Park Chan-wook's latest film, Stoker, up at Sundance, and I freakin' loved it! So far it's my favorite film up at the festival. The movie is hauntingly beautiful, and Chan-wook did an incredible job directing it. An new international trailer has been released for the movie that was scored by DJ Shadow. You've got to watch it when it's released. It stars Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, and Mia Wasikowska, all of which were incredible in the movie. 

Here's an excerpt from my review: "The film was beautifully jacked up. I've always loved the Park's direction, but I think this is could be his best film production to date. It's his first English language movie, and he nailed it! His direction in this movie is brilliantly mesmerizing! I was sucked right into the story the moment that the movie started, and it never let me go. Hell, I wanted to see the story continue after it was over! The script was fantastic, and the cinematography was incredible. I loved how most of the storytelling was done through visuals."

Here's the Synopsis:

After India’s father dies in an auto accident, her Uncle Charlie, whom she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother, Evelyn. Soon after his arrival, India begins to suspect this mysterious, charming man has disturbing ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, the friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

The movie comes out on March 1st, so you wont have to wait long to see it. Here's the new trailer:

Source: Empire (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36230)

Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij are back with another film, similar to The Sound of My Voice. The East is about a shadowy anarchist group and a private intelligence operative (Marling) who goes undercover to stop it. Ellen Page, Alexander Skarsgard, Julia Ormond, and Patricia Clarkson also star.

Synopsis:

In THE EAST, Sarah Moss (Marling) is a brilliant operative for an elite private intelligence firm whose top objective is to ruthlessly protect the interests of their A-list corporate clientele. She is assigned to go undercover to infiltrate an anarchist collective known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations. Living amongst them in an effort to get closer to their members, Sarah finds herself unexpectedly torn between two worlds as she starts to fall in love with the group’s charismatic leader, finding her life and her priorities irrevocably changed.

Watch the trailer in HD at Apple, and below:

Follow Jim on Twitter and Tumblr

Source: SlashFilm (http://www.slashfilm.com/the-east-trailer-sound-of-my-voice-director-zal-batmanglij-and-star-brit-marling-explore-another-shadowy-group/)

Toby Jones is set to return for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. SuperheroHype (via HeyUGuys) reports that Jones will reprise his role as Arnim Zola, one of the villains of the sequel. He will join Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan from the first film.

In the comics, "Zola was a genetic engineer who created clones and various monstrosities for Hitler. He also captured his own mental self, inserting it into a robot, and survived the war." In the first Captain America, fans were briefly given a glimpse of the blueprints for the robot, so we may actually see Zola as a robot in the sequel.

Anthony and Joe Russo will direct franchise newcomers Anthony Mackie in the role of the Falcon and Frank Grillo as Crossbones. Also along for the ride are characters from Marvel's The Avengers, including Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Cobie Smulders. The film arrives in 2D and 3D theaters on April 4, 2014.

Follow Jim on Twitter and Tumblr

Source: SuperHeroHype (http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/174541-toby-jones-will-return-for-captain-america-the-winter-soldier)

Robert Rodiguez and Frank Miller are currently in the process of making Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, and as you know, many cast members of the original movie will be back to reprise their roles. Until now, we didn't have confirmation on if Bruce Willis would be back, but in a recent interview with MTV, Rodriguez confirmed his return, which is pretty cool. 

Bruce is back, so you'll be seeing him.

He also talked about Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character, described as a smooth talking gambler named Johnny. But the director goes on to reveal more about the role that he plays in the story, saying,

It's a new character. He plays a gambler, a very cocky gambler, who comes in and tries to beat the biggest villain in Sin City at his own game. The story's called 'The Long, Bad Night.' He beats the wrong guy in a game and bad stuff happens to him.

The movie is set to be released in 3D on October 4th, 2013. Rodriguez says it'll blow our minds.

We're really playing with stuff because that's a very two dimensional world and to see that stylization in 3D, it'll blow people's minds. 3D hasn't been used like this yet.

Yeah... we'll see how mind blowing it ends up being. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is based on the comic created by Miller, who is also co-directing the film, from a screenplay written by Academy Award winner William Monahan (The Departed). Rosario Dawson, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, and Jamie King are reprising their roles in the film. Then there's Jamie Chung and Dennis Haysbert who are replacing Devon Aoki and Michael Clarke Duncan.

The plot for Sin City 2 comes from the stories A Dame To Kill For, Just Another Saturday Night, and a new one Miller wrote called The Long, Bad Night, which apparently centers on Alba's character, Nancy Callahan, who will be the connection between the two films.

A few days ago we reported some new story and character details on an awesome Zombieland TV series being developed for our viewing enjoyment. Broadcast Now recently reported that Amazon is developing the property as an original series. It looks like they are following in the footsteps of Netflix, which is producing several original TV series as well.

Each episode will be 30-minutes long, and it will stick with the original comedy/adventure/horror concept that we saw in the film. It will include the same characters, with a couple of new ones as well. You can read up on these characters and also catch a few hints at where the story will be heading right here.

This could end up being a great series, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Hopefully they are able to bring some solid production value to it, because if it looks like crap, it's not going to work. 

We've shared a ton of different Doctor Who inspired TARDIS dresses with you over the years, but this one is the most elaborate I've ever seen. What makes it so amazing, is that it comes complete with the TARDIS control room!

The photo was taken by Nenita Hiller, at the Boston science fiction convention Arisia, where it won at the Masquerade for Best in Class (Novice) Craftsmanship & Best Comedic Duo (Presentation), along with Jax Adele's 1950s space girl.

Source: io9 (http://io9.com/5977825/this-is-the-most-amazing-tardis-dress-weve-ever-seen)

Check out this incredibly entertaining video game inspired short/music video called Boss Wave. It was created by Kristofer Ström for the musical artist Xilent. Ström directed the film and created all of the design and CG animated effects. I think it turned out great! 

The video follows a guy controlling a mech suit, shooting up little robots and a few people along the way. In the end, he comes face to face with the main boss and has to fight it to the death. It switches back and forth between 16bit fun, and awesome CGI animation graphics. I think many of you are going to enjoy this, so check it out and tell us what you think! 

Xilent 'Boss wave' (official music-video) HD from ljudbilden on Vimeo.

Director: Jim Mickle

Screenwriters: Nick Damici, Jim Mickle 

Cast: Bill Sage, Ambyr Childers, Julia Garner, Michael Parks, Wyatt Russell, Kelly McGillis

Synopsis: A seemingly wholesome and benevolent family, the Parkers have always kept to themselves, and for good reason. Behind closed doors, patriarch Frank rules the roost with a rigorous fervor, determined to keep his ancestral customs intact at any cost. As a torrential rainstorm moves into the area, tragedy strikes and his daughters Iris and Rose are forced to assume responsibilities that extend beyond those of a typical family. The most important task the girls face is putting meat on the table— but not the kind that can be found at the local supermarket. As the unrelenting downpour continues to flood their small town, local authorities begin to uncover clues that bring them closer to the secret that the Parkers have held closely for so many years.

Story and Direction

We Are What We Are is a beautifully shot thriller that opens and closes with a bang. Jim Mickle is able to capture a haunting atmosphere that completely immerses the audience in the unravelling mystery of the Parker family. There are plenty of flashback sequences peppered through the film that introduce us to the Parker's ancestors, whose migration to the Americas shaped the ways and traditions that Sage's character is willing to go to great lengths to preserve. While these could easily have been distracting to the flow and look of the film, they blend surprisingly well, and could even make for an interesting prequel. 

The experience of this film is built around a mystery, but I'm sure the synopsis, future trailers, and the poster above will likely (and unfortunately) reveal too much of the story. But even when the film shows its hand sooner than you'd like, the ending will undoubtedly still give you a shock and surprise that'll have you and your friends reeling long after the credits have rolled.

Performances

In order to be invested in the fate of the Parker family, you really have to buy into them as a real family. The authenticity the cast is able to bring to the twisted family relationships is truly what makes the film work. 

As family Patriarch Frank Parker, the usually clean-cut American Psycho star Bill Sage is so grizzly and menacing that his mere presence on screen makes you nervous in your seat. He spends most of his screen time being very subtle and stoic, but his performance has a lot of great little details so that when he does go off the rails it's all the more frightening.

Ambyr Childers carries a lot of the film as the eldest daughter who bares most of the family responsibilities following her mother's passing. Julia Garner as Rose acts kind of like the voice of the audience. You feel a lot of sympathy for her, so when she's in danger or contemplating something, you really feel the emotional weight of the character. She has great chemistry with Sage - they actually also played father and daughter in last year's Electrick Children - and the two share some of the most important scenes together.

Similar To

We Are What We Are is actually a remake of the 2010 Mexican film of the same name. Damici and Mickle used the original as a jumping off point for their script, but it tells a much different story with different family dynamics. The female leads and backwoods setting can feel very similar in tone to Winter's Bone.

Chances You'll See It in Theaters

I really hope this gets at least a limited release. Director of photography Ryan Samul truly did a great job with the look of the film, and it's one that would benefit from a viewing on the big screen. It's a very suspenseful horror mystery that may not be for everyone, but hopefully it'll get some good word-of-mouth to help give it a proper release.

Here's some more amazingly beautiful Assassin's Creed fan art created by a freelance artist based in China named Yuan, a.k.a. ChaoyuanXu. Yuan is creating a version of Assassin's Creed that's set in the ancient empire of China, and it's looks like it could be an incredibly epic game if it ever happened! We already showed you a few of the illustrations he did for this project last year, and since then he's created a lot more of them! I would love to see this turned into the video game that it deserves!

"With all due respect, I'm the best hope you've got."

Here's the first trailer for Olympus Has Fallen, which is one of two films that have been described as being Die Hard in the White House. It was directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), and it has a great cast of actors that includes Gerard Butler as the badass secret service agent who saves the day, Aaron Eckhart as the President of the United States, and Morgan Freeman playing the Speaker of the House. Basically the White House is attacked by a terrorist organization, and Butler is the only man who can stop it. The supporting cast also includes Angela Bassett, Dylan McDermott, Ashley Judd, Melissa Leo, and Rick Yune. The movie looks ridiculously over the top, but could be a fun, cliche action flick. The other White house movie coming out is Roland Emmerich’s White House Down. 

When the White House (Secret Service Code: “Olympus”) is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President, and avert an even bigger disaster.

The movie comes out on March 22nd, 2013. Check out the trailer and let us know what you think!

Here's a set of photos featuring an incredibly awesome female Commander Shepard cosplayer as what she calls "Biotic God." The cosplayer's name is Crystal Graziano, and she explains how she made the badass costume:

I made the suit of armor mostly out of foam, but the chest piece I sculpted and cast in urethane rubber. I made the bodysuit from a custom printed lycra with a design I lifted from a render. 

So... what do you think!?