Baltasar Kormákur's action adventure thriller Contraband starring Mark Walhberg and Kate Beckinsale is getting  a big push. I’ve seen more tv spots for this film so far than I have for some of the big holiday releases. Frankly, despite its January (US) release date, this looks like a solid action thriller. It's a remake of an Icelandic film called Reykjavik-Rotterdam. While I didn't see the original, the trailer for this one makes it look like it kicks all kinds of ass.  

The synopsis: A security guard with financial troubles considers a return to his smuggling ways when an associate offers a potentially lucrative opportunity. 

We know that that's not even half the story though.  It's another one of those tales where like Michael Corleone said in Godfather 3, "just when I think I'm out…they PULL me back in", only this time it's family man Mark Wahlberg who gets sucked back into 'the life' thanks to his ne'er do well brother. Kate and the kids are in all sorts of danger. Ooooo.

In the clip below, the excellent Giovanni Ribisi, is doing his slimeball best to intimidate our Marky Mark, after first appearing to kiss his ass. “You’re a tourist. This ain’t your world anymore man! You’re a tourist…you can’t trade on status you don’t have!”

Contraband also stars the equally excellent Ben Foster, J. K. Simmons, Lukas Haas, Caleb Landry Jones, Diego Luna and Marky Mark's older brother, Robert Walhberg. Contraband opens January 13 in the US and 16 March in the UK.

source

Poor Marky Mark. Just when he thinks he’s out, they pull him back in a la Michael Corleone in Godfather 3.  Contraband is another one of those tales wherein a family man, this time it’s Wahlberg, who gets sucked back into 'the life' thanks to his ne'er do well brother. Last week we showed you the new poster for Contraband that showcased a bit more of the cast and (unfortunately) less of Mark Wahlberg’s torso. We've shown you the US trailer, which kicked all kinds of ass and now we have the UK version and of course, it goes even further. Thank God for the internet so that we always know what we’re missing!

The synopsis: A security guard with financial troubles considers a return to his smuggling ways when an associate offers a potentially lucrative opportunity. 

We know that's not even half the story though. Kate Beckinsale plays Wahlberg’s devoted wife and it appears Kate and the kids are in all sorts of danger.

Contraband is a remake of an Icelandic film called Reykjavik-Rotterdam. The cast of this one  includes the excellent Giovanni Ribisi, the equally excellent Ben Foster and David O'Hara, J. K. Simmons, Lukas Haas, Caleb Landry Jones, Diego Luna and Marky Mark's older brother, Robert Walhberg. Contraband opens January 13 in the US and 16 March in the UK.

Vavavavoom! Emma Stone, looking like Jessica Rabbit come to life, chats with co-star Sean Penn on the set of  Ruben Fleischer's Gangster Squad with costar Sean Penn. We’ve seen Emma as Grace Faraday before, but this is our first look at Penn as gangster Mickey Cohen. Grace is Mickey’s ‘moll’ as well as the object of Sgt. Jerry Wooters’ affection. Wooters is played by Ryan Gosling.

Gangster Squad is filming in LA using a lot of the actual locations mentioned in LA Times staff writer Paul Lieberman's series of articles "Tales of the Gangster Squad". Here's the Warner Brothers synopsis: "Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and – if he has his way – every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with not only his own paid goons, but also the protection of the police and the politicians who are under his control. It's enough to intimidate even the bravest street-hardened cop… except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgts. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters who come together to try to tear Cohen's world apart."

The movie also stars Robert Patrick (Off. Max Kennard), Michael Pena (Navidad Ramirez, Kennard's partner), Giovanni Ribisi (whose death in Saving Private Ryan still reduces me to tears. He plays electronics expert Conway Keeler) and Anthony Mackie (Off. Coleman Harris). The release dates for Gangster Squad have been moved up from 2013 to October 19, 2012 in the US and 9 November in the UK. Woot! 

Tomorrow is the official release of James Cameron’s Avatar and it has received much hype over the last little while with it receiving a couple of Golden Globe nominations earlier this week including Best Picture and Best Director.

The thriller/sci-fi movie stars Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, Michelle Rodriguez and CCH Pounder.  Michelle looked positively lovely at the premiere.

In case you haven’t seen it, I have included the official Avatar poster that has been released.  Will you be seeing this movie?

At the premiere:

• Audrina Partridge
• Leona Lewis
• Rhea Perlman
• Danny DeVito
• Tom Arnold
• Jamie Lee Curtis
• Giovanni Ribisi
• Bill Paxton
• Virginia Madsen
• Cheryl Tiegs
• Brendan Frasier
• Joel Moore
• Bryan Singer
• Cuba Gooding Jr.

Pictures after the break

(more…)

Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow were honoured last night in Beverly Hills by the Fulfillment Fund whose goal is to empower youth through education:

Together, Leslie and Judd have demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy through their support of organizations for the homeless and 826 LA, a writing and tutoring center for disadvantaged youth

Leslie and Judd are such a cute couple, and despite the fact that he’s a very successful writer, producer and director and he and Leslie have been together for 12 years, he is still kind of amazed he landed such a hot girl.  That’s very adorable!  He credits Gary Shandling with teaching him how to write.

Joey McIntyre, Amy Smart, Giovanni Ribisi, and Gary Shandling also attended.

Pictures after the break

(more…)