The first look at maverick French filmmaker Luc Besson’s new film, The Lady, comes not from a studio or distributor, but from  news agency, CNN. This makes more sense when one realizes that The Lady is about the struggle for democracy in Burma and the life of one of its leaders, Aung San Suu Kyi and the academic and writer Michael Aris, her British husband; a love story set against political turmoil.

The official synopsis: THE LADY is an epic love story about how an extraordinary couple and family sacrifice their happiness at great human cost for a higher cause. This is the story of Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh) and her husband, Michael Aris (David Thewlis). Despite distance, long separations, and a dangerously hostile regime, their love endures until the very end. A story of devotion and human understanding set against a background of political turmoil which continues today. THE LADY also is the story of the peaceful quest of the woman who is at the core of Burma’s democracy movement.

Luc Besson was at the vanguard of the French new wave back in the 80′s, and was responsible for films like Out of the Blue, La Femme Nikita, Leon (or as we probably know it, The Professional. We have Besson to thank for bringing Jean Reno to our attention. I defy you to name a bad Reno performance even if the movie was crap), The Fifth Element and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (the last two starring his baby-mama Milla Jovavich) as well as the screenplay for the film that turned Liam Neeson into an action hero, Taken.

The clip below features an interview with Besson as he discusses Aung san Suu Kyi, the making of the film and Michelle Yeoh’s performance. I’ll let him explain it:

The Lady will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The only other release date currently announced is Germany in March 2012. I’m sure that this is another film for which TIFF will earn it the attention it deserves and dates will be secured.

From Lionsgate via the film’s Facebook page, come a whole beastly boatload of hi-res new stills from Marcus Nispel’s Conan the Barbarian! (Lionsgate is my dealer of choice lately. How the hell did that happen?) The pics give us new, and in some instances first, looks at all of the major players, including Ron Perlman as Corin, Rose McGowan as Marique, Stephen Lang as Khalar Zym and Rachel Nichols as Tamara…and oh yeah, Jason Momoa as Conan.

Before he was ‘the Barbarian’, he was Conan the Cimmerian. The movie, based on the comic books of Robert E. Howard, chronicles his adventures across the continent of Hyboria on a quest to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village. “Live, love, slay” baby!

Conan the Barbarian in 3D (and thankfully in 2D) opens in theaters in the US on August 19 and 24 August in the UK and is rated a ‘HARD’ R for strong bloody violence, some sexuality and nudity. Everything you’d want from a barbarian, yes?

Gerard Butler took his fine form (and abs) to the field for  The John Kennedy testimonial match between Celtic and Manchester United at Celtic Park, in Glasgow. Sure it’s great that it’s for charity and he played against legend Henrik Larrson, but let’s talk about his abs, shall we?

Have a look. A long look at Gerard Butler’s abs and don’t tell me you don’t get lost in them. Then there is the tongue. It’s even better than in my dreams, but I digress. His abs have a life of their own. Gerard makes The Situation look like a couch potato.  Did you see that? His six-pack just winked at me!

And then there’s the video. The video is evidence that Gerard Butler has STAMINA, but did anyone in their right mind even doubt that? Having a great time, doing it for charity and looking that hot? That’s an amazing hat trick.

30 Minutes or Less is a comedy by Ruben Fleischer about two fledgling criminals Nick Swardson and Danny McBride) who kidnap a pizza delivery guy (Jesse Eisenberg), strap a bomb to his chest, and inform him that he has mere hours to rob a bank or else…

Now, I’ve seen trailers for this movie that looked mildy amusing. Not amusing enough, however, to make me stand in line at the theater even with a ticket to an advance preview. A free advance preview. So why, you might well ask, am I bothering to bring you this clip? You could say it’s a social experiment. I want to know if it’s just me, since the rest of the interwebz, and the film sites in particular, seem to be salivating at the prospect of seeing this movie. (I can’t even call it a film.) The plot actually sounds like it has potential and this wouldn’t be the first time a movie had to overcome the expectations created by trailers and clips and succeeded, if indeed it manages to do so.

I realize I’m probably not the core demographic, but I also know I have an open mind. Funny is funny and by the same token, Crass is crass and dumb is dumb.  So…is it just me?

The four actors who play the main characters (Swardson, McBride, Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari) all have some sort of hipster mystique that just plain escapes me. They’re all good in small doses. As the focus of a 90 minute film, however, I’ll pass. I’d rather go watch reruns of “Beavis and Butthead”.

30 Minutes or Less opens in the US this Friday August 12 and in the UK 16 October. (So they have two months to rethink their decision to see it if need be.)

Thanks to the French film site Filmosphere.com, the first trailer has been released for Ralph Fiennes‘ directorial debut, Coriolanus, a modern update on Shakespeare’s tragedy. Woot!!

Filmed in Serbia in the Spring of 2010, the script, by John Logan (Hurt Locker), keeps the Elizabethan language intact, but brings the action into the 21st century where its themes of class conflict, pride, betrayal and revenge are still relevant. The film has already gotten a lot of attention for Fiennes‘ performances both in front of (as Coriolanus) and behind the camera. Vanessa Redgrave has been generating Oscar buzz for her role as the title character’s mother Volumnia since Coriolanus had its world premiere at the Berlinale back in February. 

Intense. Violent. Passionate…sexy. Yeah…

Coriolanus, with Ralph Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave, Gerard Butler (Oh how I love typing those names together!), Jessica Chastain, Brian Cox and James Nesbitt, is an official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival and will open in New York and LA (grrrrr) on December 2.  I’ve no doubt there will be more still to come.
(Thank you Harvey!)

Jennifer Aniston Los Angeles Premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures "Horrible Bosses"

Of course the rumors of Jennifer Aniston 42, and Justin Theroux 40, trying to have a baby would start circulating, I mean they’ve been dating 4 months which is a lot by Hollywood’s standards.

US Magazine is saying that according to sources, Jennifer and Justin are taking their relationship to the next level (after four months) by talking extensively about marriage and babies:

“They have talked at length about getting married and starting a family,” “She is anxious for the next phase of her life and feels like this is the time.”

“They both want it to happen soon”

And she’s pulling out all the stops to make it happen by hiring a chef to make sure she is getting top nutrition and doing 45 minutes of yoga a day.

Don’t get me wrong if this makes her happy, good for her. Jennifer’s been through enough in the love-life department that the girl deserves happiness for sure. Given they are in their 40′s maybe 4 months to decide such life-changing events isn’t fast, I don’t know. What do you think?

Apparently this guy is THE ONE and she hasn’t felt this way about anyone since Brad Pitt.

Photo: WENN