It's the last day of the year, and consequently the last weekend with just three releases battling for screens this week. Naturally the biggest hit will be the one I don't want to see, but what can you do, there's no accounting for taste. Film of the week has to be the one with lots of naked Jake Love and Other Drugs, but I've seen both of the non Jack Black starring releases and the other one is a better film so make of that what you will (or just realise that my exciteability scoring may not be completely related to quality - for proof look at what picture I'm using again). 
Before I run down the releases I thought I'd just spill a bit of background on what has been a fascinating year for cinematic releases. Overall 486 films have seen the inside of British cinemas - not including documentaries and re-releases - that's 14.6% up on 2009. I saw just 41, less than 10%, down both as a proportion and in real terms against 2009. Naturally the largest producer of films has been the US with something like 40% of the total output. The rest of the top five were UK, India, France and Germany. The remaining 15% of films represented 45 other countries. Liam Neeson was in the multiplexes more than any other actor with Chloe, Clash of the Titans and The A-Team being backed by up voice work in Ponyo, The Dawn Treader and the reconstructive doc The Wildest Dream. Julianne Moore was the most prominent female, and I think it's safe to say her work was generally better received.
Perhaps as curious as the films that are released is the group that aren't. As we reach the end of the year there are inevitably some high profile movies that we must assume will never see the inside of a British cinema. There's Joel Schumacher's Town Creek with it's Nazi occult themes and starring the other one from "Prison Break", the short collection New York, I Love You might not have been as successful as Paris, Je t'aime but it's failure to be released - even to be withdrawn one week before a release date - is surprising. Finally I am shocked to see Oren Moverman's Oscar nominated drama The Messenger starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson and Samantha Morton hasn't had a whisper of a UK release, maybe the subject matter is still too raw for us.
Gulliver's Travels
I actually heard some very positive buzz from an exhibitor earlier this year about Jack Black's latest travesty which probably proves the lengths they'll go to sell tickets. It's a laughably unfunny trailer and even the orange advert they made on the way seems poorly written.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Friday, 31 December 2010
Take Jake, three times a day (Out this week - 31/12/10)
Ben Kingsley
Happy Birthday to
Ben Kingsley
67 today
If we have learnt just one thing in 2010 it's that you shouldn't completely trust Ben Kingsley. He's either lying barefaced (as in Prince of Persia) or just evading the truth (like Shutter Island) and I doubt he bucked the trend in the Bollywood con movie Teen Patti. Next year though he's set to play Geogre Meliere in Scorsese's Hugo Cabret and I con imagine he's a heroic and honest figure in that so maybe he's on the turn.
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Somewhere
2010. Dir: Sofia Coppola. Starring: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Chris Pontius, Nunzio Alfredo 'Pupi' D'Angieri and Michelle Monaghan. ●●○○○
The Random House Dictionary defines metaphor as "something used, or regarded as being used, to represent smething else." As such it becomes a vital weapon in the armoury of the modern film maker, however like all tools it must be used sparingly lest the audience get wise to your tricks. Unfortunately no one told Somewhere director Sofia Coppola this so her latest film is so packed with metaphor it's virtually unwatchable.
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Jude Law
Happy Birthday to
Jude Law
38 today
2011 is going to be a very exciting year for Jude Law fans, of course he'll be reprising his Dr. Watson for the blockbuster sequel, but he'll also be starring to two 3D movies by respected directors. Martin Scorsese's Hugo Cabret and Steven Soderbergh's Contagion will both feature Jude gorgeous features being thrust out of the screen at us.
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Tuesday Trailers - The Dilemma
And so the trailers for super January weekend continue - there was an alternate couple of (linked) trailers that I planned to show today but one of those hasn't been released yet - I very much doubt the film will be either, but that's another story. In the meantime please don't judge me when I show you the trailer for Ron Howard's latest "comedy". To be frank I am dreading this movie more and more with each trailer they release, as much as I like the concept and the female cast members. And that's ignoring the debacle that met this films first trailer with it's poorly judged lame joke.
The Dilemma opens on 21 January 2010.
Denzel Washington
Happy Birthday to
Denzel Washington
56 today
There are few actors working today more reliable and technically proficient than Denzel. It's just a shame he tends to waste that talent in showstopping garbage such as Book of Eli and Unstoppable. He must have a heck of fan club, mind, even with dross in his back catalogue the average US gross of his last 10 films has been over $73m.
Monday, 27 December 2010
Pink Elephants on Parade (Film News - 25/12/10)
So, that title could be in relation to the Christmas period and the inevitable slide into alcoholic stupour that often accompanies it. I know I may have had one or two too many over the last few days, and I very much hope all of you did also. Alternatively it could be related to this weeks top story. By the way news is pretty thin on the ground at the moment, oddly enough Hollywood gets a few days off the party too, so there isn't much to write about. There are some schedule changes mind, and I done a look at production news so the week isn't completely wasted.
Our Wild Life
The only new project I've heard about in the last 7 days is this conservation related piece that may be enticing Philip Noyce away from the Salt sequel. It's a biopic about Dame Daphne Sheldrick who campaigned her entire life for the protection and conservation of African elephants, including perfecting the formula and husbandry for raising milk dependent baby elephants and rhinos, indeed it's difficult to understate her impact on these endagered species.
Here is Daphne, more can be found on her work at http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp
The film itself has had a somewhat rocky road to here (and it's surprising I didn't know about it), first Nick Cassavetes was attached to direct, but following his script revision he was promptly fired by New Line who then approached Walter Salles. Since then Salles (who had interested Julia Roberts in the role) has bailed leaving Noyce to potentially pick up the pieces. No news yet on casting but apparently Kate Winslet is ineterested. More on this as soon as I know.
Read on for wandering cowboys, unsung pop stars and another wild creature.
Gerard Depardieu
Happy Birthday to
Gerard Depardieu
62 today
How does the poem go? Sometimes I think I will never view, a French film without Gerard Depardieu. Whilst silly there is an elemnt of truth in the ditty. Gerard has made 150 films since 1970 - a staggering 3.75 per year (not including television work). Coming up soon will be a role in Ang Lee's version of Life of Pi whcih I am very excited about.
Friday, 24 December 2010
Booking my ticket to my own circle of hell (Out this week - 24/12/10)
Do you want the good news or the bad news? Well, the good news is that's it's Christmas weekend. We all have the opportunity to spend time in the loving arms of our families, feasting on festive treats and spreading the joy of the season. The bad news: cinemas are virtually no go areas. This is officially the worst week I can remember, certainly the worst since I've been writing up the releases. The even more horrifying news is that I have to choose a film of the week - I can't just advise to stay at home or go sledging - so under duress I have to pick the plain awful looking Little Fockers. I'm so very sorry.
I also missed a few films over the past few weeks so there is a mini catch-up as well.
Arthur and the Great Adventure
Belated sequel of the French produced digi-animation. Now with more R'n'B stars in the cast, including Will-I-Am and Snoop Dogg - you have to wonder what their agents were thinking - and the revenge of the villainous Maltazard.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Frederic Forrest
Happy Birthday to
Frederic Forrest
74 today
Now retired Forrest came close to breaking through as one of his generations leading men several times in the 1970's but alas it was never to be. His most recent big screen outing was the disappointing All the King's Men remake in 2006.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
2010. Dir: Michael Apted. Starring: Geogie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter and Gary Sweet. ●●●○○
As a child I positively devoured C.S. Lewis' Narnia novels, expectantly turning each page in a desperate need to find out what happens. I was high on the drama and excitement of the stories, and none more so than The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader which as well as having a proper boy's own adventure plot also tapped into my pre-adolescent desire to sail away into the great unknown. Coming back to the story in some way allows me to relive those heady days of youth, however we cannot go back. To use a biblical quote that no doubt Clive Staples would approve of: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11.
Ralph Fiennes
Happy Birthday to
Ralph Fiennes
48 today
It's been a wizard year for Ralph, he's not quite top of the UK cinema with 5 starring roles but his Voldemort is far more memorable than any other villian in 2010. Coming next year is his directorial debut, an adaptation of minor Shakespearean tragedy Coriolanus.
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Morning Glory
Back to our super Friday in January here's a little something that will appeal to a vastly different audience to Black Swan. I've heard Roger Michell's latest comedy compared unfavourably to both The Devil wears Prada and Broadcast News, two films it clearly owes a debt to, however this still seems to have enough zip to please it's target audience. Curiously the Daybreak news programme Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton front is the same name as the current beleagured ITV breakfast show here in the UK - can't wait to see how the BBC film reviewers stick the knife in with that.
Morning Glory will be released on 21 January 2011.
Samuel L. Jackson
Happy Birthday to
Samuel L. Jackson
62 today
He's cooler than cool and has a massive output of movies, there isn't really a lot I can say to introduce Sameul L. I worry that he's happy to ride on his reputation these days and I very much hope that his best work isn't all behind him.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
Yeeee-har (Film News - 18/12/10)
True Grit must be quite good. I say that not because of it's two SAG nominations (for Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld) this week, or even because of its positive critical receptioon so far. Far more important in Hollywood circles is it's immediate impact on the cinematic landscape for the next few years. It appears to be fully resurrecting the Western genre, completing the process started by The Assassination of Jesse James, 3.10 to Yuma and TV's superb "Deadwood" over last last decade. This week alone there have been three new Western themed movies announced proving the once moribund genre is back for good. 
It's always been a minor surprise that the Western was temporarily faltering, the true American film genre is as much an influence on the national Psyche as a reflection of it. You could argue that Revisionism was it's undoing, the recognition that the 19th century wasn't as black and white (hatted) as the John Ford (director of The Searchers above) and Anthony Mann output would have us believe. With the modern murkiness underpining the moralty of the push into the West was have to accept the European settlers were as complicit in the violence as the Native Americans, and certainly more responsible in it's creation, and with the humanisation of that faceless enemy the cattle baron's and hired killers became the primary bad guys until the delineation between one side and the other became impossible.
True Grit, as with it's 1969 version, has a very clear antagonist (Josh Brolin's scarred Tom Chaney - we should also expect the Coen themes of retribution to return; it's a world where every negative action has a clear reaction on the perpetrator. And that in itself must be the path the post-revisionist Westerns will need to tread.
Untitled Spike Jonze/Charlie Kaufman Collaboration
In spite of all this talk of Western tropes I'm actually opening with a far more exciting cinematic prospect. Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman, the mind bending Director and Writer behind Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. have apparently made up their differences and are currently schlepping between the studios with an original idea (although as yet no script).
I suspect it's going to be a tough sell in today's financial environment, and it could be that the process may end up a lot more interesting if they go outside the studio system, however I would love to see their next movie together. Definitely one to look out for.
Read on for our three Westerns and a Pulitzer prize winning adaptation.
Jake Gyllenhaal
Happy Birthday to
Jake Gyllenhaal
30 today
Yes, I have put today's birthday picture a bit lower in the post in order to let it be bigger, and I fully believe looking at it tha I'm fully justified in doing so. The good news is tat Jake is only 10% younger than me, so I'm feeling less of a perv for drooling as I have in the past. Coming up (obviously) is Love and Other Drugs and his also rumoured to b in Garry Marshall's New Years Eve. 
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Ooh la la - (Out this week - 17/12/10)
It's a quiet week with only seven major releases - a couple of which you can very easily discount as being utter trash (seriously this is the first time I've had to dish out 2 one blob marks in the same week). Although it's trash that wins the day in the end, narrowly pipping Facebook romance documntary Catfish and proving my sexuality once and for all, the film of the week is Burlesque.
Animals United
Slightly preachy looking European animation, with the voices recast for a British audience (James Corden and Stephen Fry become the headliners, Vanessa Redgrave and Jim Broadbent add some class). It's all about wild beasts grouping together to protest against man's destruction of their habitats - and for kids.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Rachel Griffiths
Happy Birthday to
Rachel Griffiths
42 today
I don't wish to undermine the talent of this fine Aussie actress, in both film and through a very strong TV record ("Six Feet Under" and "Brothers and Sisters" have both seen great work) but her family, according to imdb at least, appear to be even more eclectic in terms of their work (her mother is an Art Consultant, her uncle a Priest and her brother a Ski Instructor).
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Liv Ullmann
Happy Birthday to
Liv Ullmann
72 today
I wanted a picture of Liv that reflects the often fragile characters that she performed for Ingmar Bergmar over her 10 collaborations between 1966 (Persona) and 2003 (Saraband). It's a selection of films that fully marks her place in film history.
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Miral
2010. Dir: Julian Schnabel. Starring: Hiam Abbass, Freida Pinto, Omar Metwally, Alexander Siddig and Ruba Blal. ●●●○○
Over the years cinema has been littered with personal filmaking, statements from writers, directors or actors with which they intend to pass on their wisdom and change the way we, as an audience, view the world. On rare occasions these efforts are memorable, often they are risible, but mostly they are worthy but oh so very dull. Unfortunately Miral, the fourth biopic directed by former New York artist Julian Schnabel, falls distinctly into that third category.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Tuesday Trailers - It's a Kind of Funny Story
We interrupt the flow of trailers for 21 January (with it only having just started) with the news of a schedule change that has moved another film ahead. Anna Boden's and Ryan Fleck's follow up to their baseball drama Sugar surprised everyone by being a left of field comedy with "it" star Zach Galifianakis and whilst reviews haven't been glowing I'm very curious to see how they cope with this sort of story.
It's a Kind of Funny Story is released on 07 January 2011.
Monday, 13 December 2010
Changing the landscape (Film News - 11/12/10)
So we're back with film news as well. A few small stories this week, none of the list looks likely to turn into box office gold but they all should be worth a look if they ever get made.
Mike Leigh's JMW Turner biopic
Mike Leigh might be taking a break from modern slices of life and will instead focus on a 19th century artist JMW Turner, whose romatic evocations of steamtrains and oil landscapes was a major precurser to the Impressionistic movement (see below in the 1844 work Rain, Steam and Speed).
Luckily for Leigh there's plenty in Turner's personal life for him to get his teeth into. Turner's mother was committed when he was still an adolescent and later in life he suffered from bouts of depression and was known for being eccentric. With this in mind it could be thematically close to most of Leigh's other work whilst skirting close to the lightness of tone in his other biopic Topsy Turvy.
Indeed the relationship between sanity and art may end up forming the backbone of this film, and it's certainly a subject that would go down well with audiences, critics and (lets face it) the Academy as well.
Read on for clues about the financial meltdown, a schedule filler and an unlikely remake.
Jamie Foxx
Happy Birthday to
Jamie Foxx
43 today
Foxx has always struck as an actor who believes the hype about himself. Don't get me wron - he is very good and resists the easy route in performances - bu sometimes a touch of humility may be nice.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
You Can Check out any time you like (Out this week - 10/12/10)
But you can never leave, but more on that later. Late this weekend - and my excuses for this week are even more pathetic than usual. On Friday night it was our Christmas party and I must confess that yesterday I was horribly unwell, my head throbbing I couldn't focus on the screen for long. Today I'm feeling a little better so catching up.
Did anyone guess the link to this week's film in the title? Well it's from the classic Eagles track Hotel California and probably perfectly encapsulates this week's RLAG film of the Week: Somewhere.
Band Baaja Baaraat
There are a couple of Bollywood entries this week, the first of which looks like it's going to give it's target audience exactly what they suspected - it's a romatic comedy set at Delhi University she's organised and has her life planned and he's a slob (ish). Sit back and enjoy.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Jennifer Connelly
Happy Birthday to
Jennifer Connelly
40 today
As we rush to celebrate the great performances of 2011 let us try to remember that the female stars under the watchful gaze of Darren Aronofsky have always been under pressure. Connelly, who faced all sorts of humiliation in 2000's Requiem for a Dream is an ideal case in point. Most comfortable in straight laced dramas Jennifer will be making an effort to be funny in the upcomiing Ron Howard comedy The Dilemma.
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Teri Garr
Happy Birthday to
Teri Garr
63 today
It's a sad fact of life that the most promising and talented comedic performers often have the most tragic personal lives, such is the case with Oscar nominee Garr who was diagnosed with Multiple Scerosis in 1983 and suffered a Brain aneurysm in 2006. Not that she's allowed it to slow her down, Teri has been performing as recently as 2007 in the indie breakout Kabluey.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Michael Clarke Duncan
Happy Birthday to
Michael Clarke Duncan
53 today
Whilst he has had a thoroughly sucessful career you have to wonder if the 6 foot five and impossibly built actor would have been better rewarded with more diverse roles if he wasn't that size.
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Kirk Douglas
Happy Birthday to
Kirk Douglas
94 today
A true titan of film Kirk's influence as an actor and producer has left a mark as recogniseable and deep as his dimpled chin. Famously said his sond didn't have his advantage of being born into abject poverty.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Kim Basinger
Happy Birthday to
Kim Basinger
57 today
A much better actress than she's generally given credit for, largely because her choices over the years have been spotty at best. My favourite Basinger performance is in L.A. Confidential, but she also recently wowed in The Burning Plain. What's your top choice?
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Black Swan
There's usually one day in January/February where it simply becomes impossible to watch all the interesting movies that are being released, usually because they all happen to be bona fide Oscar contenders. In 2011 this will be different, as the 21 January sees the release of five films which I am looking forward to, but only this ballet horror (well, virtual horror) has a ghost of a chance in the awards season. The other four films will be trailered in coming weeks, but for now sit back and watch the preview of the most I am most excited about seeing:
Black Swan will be released on 21 January 2011.
Ellen Burstyn
Happy Birthday to
Ellen Burstyn
78 today
Irrevocably connected (due to permanent spinal injury as well as her indelible performance) to a certain infamous horror movie from the early 1970's - I doubt I need to namecheck it out here - the Detroit born Burstyn has been wowing viewers with her complex and multifaceted screen persona for decades.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
A trip to the 60's - (Film News - 04/12/10)
Still surrounded by snow miles from home, but at least I'm back on a computer that works - ish. With that in mind I'm going back to the on the fly version of rounding up the big news on the cinematic front. To be honest I quite like the energy and pressure involved in this - it keeps me focussed on the task in hand and I'm able to condense the stories into one hour of writing! On the other hand I can't get a cup of tea half way through and I'm sure my spelling gets worse. But, what can you do?
Inherent Vice
With The Master's funding having dried up (no connection to the apparent anti-scientology message of the script) Paul Thomas Anderson has found himself looking for a new project. Until this week when he's started to be linked with Thomas Pynchon's private eye yarn Inherent Vice. Taking the tropes of Chandler and Hammett, Pynchon looks at the tail end of the summer of love and a plot to kidnap a multi-billionaire. Robert Downey Jnr is rumoured for the marijuana addicted dectective Doc Sportello.
I love detective stories and the chance to see Anderson take on this sort of convoluted plot is delicious, so this is definitely one to look forward to.
Read on for African war stories, labyrinths and two (yes, two) musical adapatations.
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Conflict resolution - (Out this week - 03/12/10)
Somewhat complicated week - not least because of the range of quality films hitting cinemas. I am currently typing in a random hotel in Bournemouth, and am beginning to worry if I'm going to make it back to Manchester this weekend, let alone make it to the local multiplex. I love snow, but apparantly the UK road network is less keen on the concept. (And the computer I'm using is so crap I can't copy and paste so the blobs are just numbers!!!) Film of the week - should it be relevant - is Miral.
No picture either I'm afraid - damned if I can work this thing...
Bathory
The first out of the gate of the Elizabeth Bathory movies, this one stars Anna Friel as the alleged bloodthirsty Countess. This version aims to act as a counterbalance to the popular myth and attempts to show the accusations of mass murder were simply a reaction to a womans quest for power in a world of men.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: 3
Marisa Tomei
Happy Birthday to
Marisa Tomei
46 today
Marisa keeps on getting better with age. And whilst this could be referring to her fantastic looks and pole dance ready body, I'm also talking about her performances which have really grown over the years. I'm currently really looking forward to seeing how she fits into George Clooney's political picture Ides of March.
Friday, 3 December 2010
Julianne Moore
Happy Birthday to
Julianne Moore
50 today
It's very hard to believe this very sexy redhead has reached the half century? Julianne has done her fair share of popcorn movies however has always shown her true colours and enthusiasm in borderline arthouse work, such as her collaborations with Todd Haynes and Paul Thomas Anderson. The questions is whether she will secure her fifth Academy award nomination with The Kids are All Right.
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Woody Allen
Happy Birthday to
Woody Allen
75 today
Writer, Director, Actor, Jazz Clarinetist, there isn't a lot that Woody can't do, and for most of his career everything he touched turned to gold. Unfortunately we have seen a declines over the last 15 years, possibly not helped by his churning of projects (he has directed at least one film per year since 1982). You will meet a Tall Dark Stranger has already has it's US release and is scheduled to come out here in March, the next onw after that will be Midnight in Paris.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Tuesday Trailers - The Green Hornet
The studios clearly aren't sure what to do with this Comic book adaptation maybe because of the difficult production history and slightly fun look to the trailer. Originally slated for a Autumn release it's been pushed back into the gravyard of January Stateside. Of course I'm going to go to reward the Seth Rogen weight loss plan which seems to have done wonders for the formerly chubby comedian.
The Green Hornet is released on 14 January 2011.
Amy Ryan
Happy Birthday to
Amy Ryan
41 today
Like yesterday's birthday honouree Amy slogged away in the business for many years before breaking out in TV's "The Wire" and an oscar nomination for Gone, Baby, Gone - a performance so good Blake Lively was clearly channeling it in Ben Affleck's directorial follow-up this year. Next up for Amy in Win Win where she play the wife of part time wrestling coach Paul Giamatti.
Monday, 29 November 2010
Don Cheadle
Happy Birthday to
Don Cheadle
46 today
Cheadle first came to my attention as the scene-stealing Mouse in 1995's The Devil in a Blue Dress but he had been working steadily on TV and in films for over 10 years before that knockout performance. Short of his Mockney in the Ocean's movies he is always putting in considered and solid performances.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Peronal News - 28/11/10
As promised last week here is a very small snippet of persoanl news - I have applied to go back to school.
That is to say I have applied to a couple of Drama Schools to do a one year masters course. I believe that training in technique is not only vital if I want to progress in the quality of my acting, but also in the future of any career.
I won't tell you which courses I have applied for, but I will tell you the first audition will be in December. Wish me luck!
Ben
Brake, brake, brake! (Film news - 27/11/10)
It almost goes without saying but the last couple of weeks where I've been unable to access a computer for lond stretches of time there were news stories coming thick and fast, exciting new projects on the go every few minutes. Now that I'm back, gently typing away at my desk with all the time in the world, the presses seem to have stopped. It's been Thanksgiving week, of course, which had led to many news organisations running on lower staff and consequently fewer stories, but ultimately I'm left with just two items which got my attention. Luckily we have some release date changes otherwise I'd be considering if it was worth coming home this weekend at all.
Jayne Mansfield's Car
In a fit of pique at the current state of cinematic releases actor/director Billy Bob Thornton has decided to just write his own. He is quoted as saying: "I think because of the nature of movies they are making these days. They are really not my bag as much. I figured that instead of sitting around complaining that I really don’t want to be in a superhero movie or cartoon or a 3D vampire movie and all that kind of thing, I’ve written movies before, so why not write one."
I personally feel the star of Eagle Eye and Faster may have more of a point if he had touch more integrity in his film choices, but that's by the by.
The title is probably going to be a bit of a red herring. Jayne Mansfield, as you probably know, was tragically killed in a car crash in 1966 with less than 25 films under her belt. This film won't be a biopic of Mansfield (below) or even her car (not pictured). Instead it will focus on the randomness of life and death and the impact of the Vietnam war on a community in Alabama.
Thornton has made a number of films in the late 90s, notably Sling Blade which garnered mass acclaim and an Oscar so it will be good to see him back in the directors chair.
Read on for a surprise return to Anarene and the latest changes to release dates.
