One of the best films I saw at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival was writer-director Martin McDonagh‘s (In Bruges) dark comedy Seven Psychopaths.  The film centers on a screenwriter (Colin Farrell) suffering writer’s block, who then gets drawn into the mischief of his two dog-napping friends (Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken) after they kidnap a pooch belonging to a psychotic gangster (Woody Harrelson).  For more on the film that also stars Tom Waits, Zeljko Ivanek, Abbie Cornish, and Olga Kurylenko, here’s Matt’s review, seven clips, and all our previous coverage.

The day after the world premiere I sat down with Woody Harrelson for an exclusive interview.  We talked about collaborating with Martin McDonagh and did he change any of the script, how he landed the role, how it was originally going to be played by Mickey Rourke, his desire to write more and direct a play in NYC, and he talked a little about The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire.  Hit the jump to watch.

[This is a re-post of my review from the Toronto International Film Festival.  Seven Psychopaths opens today.]

A way to work through writer’s block is to write about the writer’s block. At least you’re writing, and you may get something more creative than if you had carefully mapped out your path. I’m not sure if writer-director Martin McDonagh suffered a case of writer’s block on his way to creating Seven Psychopaths, but the end result is brash, brilliant, wickedly fun, and the best film about screenwriting since Adaptation. Psychopaths is viciously funny, delightfully clever, and meta without being cloyingly self-conscious. McDonagh’s machine-gun script races with energy fueled by wild performances from stars Sam Rockwell, Colin Farrell, and Christopher Walken. The movie doesn’t simply break through writer’s block; Seven Psychopaths gleefully blows the block to hell.

Next week, Martin McDonagh‘s Seven Psychopaths hits theaters.  The film centers on a screenwriter (Colin Farrell) suffering writer’s block, who then gets drawn into the mayhem created by his two dog-napping friends (Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken) after they kidnap a shih tzu belonging to a psychotic gangster (Woody Harrelson).  CBS Films is premiering special posters for the film, and we’re proud to debut Chris Thornley‘s art for Harrelson’s character.  The studio is also asking fans to create a new poster, and CBS Films wants you as the psychopath.

Hit the jump for more details. and to see Thornley’s full poster.  Seven Psychopaths opens October 12th.  Click here to read my review.

CBS Films has released seven clips from Martin McDonagh‘s upcoming film Seven Psychopaths.  The film centers on a screenwriter (Colin Farrell) suffering writer’s block, who then gets drawn into the mischief of his two dog-napping friends (Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken) after they kidnap a pooch belonging to a psychotic gangster (Woody Harrelson).  I had an absolute blast with the flick when I saw it at TIFF, and found the movie to be painfully funny and incredibly clever.

Hit the jump to check out seven clips.  The film also stars Abbie Cornish, Olga Kurylenko, and Tom Waits.  Seven Psychopaths opens October 12th.

Rejoice, The Hunger Games fans!  Production has officially started on the Francis Lawrence-directed follow-up, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.  According to their press release, the film “will shoot primarily in existing locations in and near Atlanta, Georgia.  The film will subsequently be shot on location in the beaches and jungles of Hawaii before wrapping in late December, 2012.”  Perhaps more importantly, the director has recorded a video message for fans, announcing a worldwide sweepstakes that will win some lucky fans a chance to visit the set and participate in a cast and crew Q&A!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, in addition to Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Wright, Tony Shalhoub, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jena Malone, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen, Bruno Gunn, Alan Ritchson, E. Roger Mitchell, Meta Golding, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland and Woody Harrelson.  Hit the jump for the video from Francis Lawrence and details on the fan set visit contest. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens November 22, 2013.

A way to work through writer’s block is to write about the writer’s block.  At least you’re writing, and you may get something more creative than if you had carefully mapped out your path.  I’m not sure if writer-director Martin McDonagh suffered a case of writer’s block on his way to creating Seven Psychopaths, but the end result is brash, brilliant, wickedly fun, and the best film about screenwriting since Adaptation.  Psychopaths is viciously funny, delightfully clever, and meta without being cloyingly self-conscious.  McDonagh’s machine-gun script races with energy fueled by wild performances from stars Sam Rockwell, Colin Farrell, and Christopher Walken.  The movie doesn’t simply break through writer’s block; Seven Psychopaths gleefully blows the block to hell.

A red band trailer for director Martin McDonagh‘s (In Bruges) dark comedy Seven Psychopaths has been released.  The film follows a trio of dognappers (Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, and Christopher Walken) who steal the wrong shih tzu and end up running afoul of a psychotic gangster (Woody Harrelson).  I actually think I slightly prefer the green band trailer, but the cast is still aces in this clip.  Walken again steals the show with his genius looks/delivery, but there really doesn’t seem to be a weak link anywhere.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Tom Waits, Gabourey Sidibe, Abbie Cornish, and Olga Kurylenko.  Seven Psychopaths opens on October 12th.

The acclaim of Breaking Bad and The Wire over the last decade have demonstrated that there is a devoted following that wants to see the inner workings of illegal drug trade.  So of course it is Wire creator David Simon who concisely explains the allure of dealing in the new trailer for the documentary How to Make Money Selling Drugs:

“Look around, this is the environment of post-industrial America.  The work has gone away… The only factory that remains is the drug trade.  And they’re hiring!  They’re the only people hiring.”

If that’s too heady for you, director Matthew Cooke also interviews rappers 50 Cent and Eminem as well as actors Woody Harrelson and Susan Sarandon.  However, Cooke’s best talking heads are the folks who actually earned their living in the drug market, including “Freeway” Rick Ross, who ran a drug empire in Los Angeles in the 1980s. How to Make Money Selling Drugs looks to be a slickly produced examination of a fascinating subject, so check out the trailer after the jump.

Yesterday, we showed you the entertaining trailer for Martin McDonagh‘s Seven Psychopaths.  The movie follows a trio of dognappers (Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, and Christopher Walken) who steal the wrong shih tzu end up running afoul of a psychotic gangster (Woody Harrelson).  But the gangster is only 1/7th of the film’s group of psychopaths, and CBS films has released seven character posters highlighting the eponymous lunatics.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.  The film also stars Olga Kurylenko, Abbie Cornish, and Tom Waits.  Seven Psychopaths will debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, and opens domestically October 12th.

The first trailer for Seven Psychopaths has been released, and it left a big smile on my face.  It looks like director Martin McDonagh has delivered the same darkly comic verve he brought to In Bruges, and the entire cast looks terrific.  I’m particularly impressed that the trailer quickly breaks down all the psychopaths and still squeezes in the brief synopsis: three hapless dog kidnappers steal a pup from a gangster.  When you pair a brilliant cast with McDonagh’s comic sensibilities, you probably have a great movie in store.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film stars Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Gabourey Sidibe, Abbie Cornish, and Olga Kurylenko.  Seven Psychopaths opens on October 12th.

Recently, Robert Pattinson (Twilight) put rumors to rest and confirmed he would not be jumping franchises to join The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire.  The role in question was that of Finnick Odair, a fellow contestant in the games of the second book from Suzanne Collins’ bestselling trilogy.  It’s now looking like the frontrunners for the role may be Taylor Kitsch (Battleship), Garrett Hedlund (TRON: Legacy) and Armie Hammer (Mirror Mirror).  While the casting might seem a bit premature at the moment, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is on a bit of a short schedule owing to star Jennifer Lawrence’s prior commitments and a screen debut of November 22nd, 2013.  Presumably returning for the sequel to Lionsgate’s newest moneymaker are Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz and Donald Sutherland with director Francis Lawrence.  Hit the jump for more on the casting of Catching Fire.

You’re driving down the street, and it’s suddenly blocked off.  You notice these weird yellow signs with nonsensical letters or numbers.  There’s unusual glow lighting up a neighborhood you can’t usually see from your house.  What you might have here is a film company shooting in your town.  It happens a lot, and you never know where they might pop up…until now.

The following is a semi-comprehensive list of films currently shooting, what they’re shooting, and where they’re shooting.  We’ll be telling you where you might get to see the very famous, the kinda famous and (if all goes well) the soon-to-be famous. While we can’t list every single movie, television show, or student film in production, you’ll get a pretty good idea of what the heck is going on where all those people are buzzing about.  Want to know where in the world are Matt Damon, Harrison Ford, Sylvester Stallone, Woody Harrelson, and Leonardo DiCaprio? Hit the jump for more.

In a somewhat unsurprising move, Summit Entertainment announced today that the Hunger Games follow-up has now officially been titled The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.  The pic is based on author Suzanne Collins’ second book in the Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire.  Brand recognition is everything when it comes to tentpoles, and audiences are consistently treated as though they’re unable to put two-and-two together when the exact same cast returns in a new movie with a different title.  Nevertheless, Summit added The Twilight Saga moniker to all the Twilight films, so the move was almost inevitable.  Hit the jump for more.

When we first heard about True Detective, an anthology cop drama whose first season will star Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, Anonymous Content was still shopping it around.  Adam wrote, “I’m selfishly hoping it lands on HBO.“  I have great news for you Adam, and readers—it did!  It did land on HBO!  THR reports the premium cable network ordered eight episodes for the first season, scripted by Nic Pizzolatto (The Killing).  McConaughey and Harrelson play two detectives who are drawn into the search for a serial killer in Louisana: “The investigation of a bizarre murder in 1995 is framed and interlaced with testimony from the detectives in 2012, when the case has been reopened.” Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre) will direct all eight episodes of the first season.  If True Detective is successful, the plan is to clean the slate in future seasons with a similar structure, but tell a new story with a different cast.  I am rooting for this and the American Horror Story season two reboot to work.  It opens up an exciting new model for American television—something more involved than a standalone miniseries, but still longform storytelling with a schedule suited for the likes of McConaughey, Harrelson, and Fukunaga.

Some big name casting news for you today.  Here are the headlines:

• Willem Dafoe will join Christian Bale and Casey Affleck in the dramatic thriller, Out of the Furnace, written and directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart).
• Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) will star in the 1950s period piece, Brooklyn, adapted from Colm Toibin’s best-selling novel about a woman torn between her family in Ireland and her new found love for an American.

Hit the jump for more on both projects.