[This is a re-post of my review from the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.  Spring Breakers opens today in limited release.]

Harmony Korine‘s Spring Breakers is a wild, aggressive, mildly disturbing, darkly comic, and surprisingly thoughtful film about hedonism so thick you’ll about to choke on it. For college kids who feel entitled to a good time and never want the party to stop, Spring Breakers takes their debauched desires, and plays them out to a grotesque degree where the characters are tested in how far they’ll go to keep the passion of spring break burning forever (the other burning will require penicillin). Complimented by the glorious stunt casting of James Franco as a goofy drug dealer, Spring Breakers defies simple explanation, and sends the audience spinning as we grasp for some kind of anchor in this sweaty mosh pit of a movie.

I realize that it’s a little too March to be discussing my favorite holiday gifts, but I only recently had the opportunity to dive into one of mine and, as a result, I feel the need to share it’s greatness with our readers. The ESPN 30 for 30 Collector’s Set Blu-ray is an outstanding collection of sports documentaries that is rife with social commentary and almost sure to have something for sports and/or documentary fans alike. Before I get accused of paid programming, I’ll disclaim that all thirty of its films aren’t home runs (that’s right, a sports pun). Moreover, I’m fairly sure that all of the series’ entries are available to watch instantly on Netflix right now making the physical collection redundant for some. Regardless of how you partake, I encourage you to sift through the series, find a topic that interests you, and give it a shot.

All recommendations aside, this week’s Top 5 features a healthy portion of Iron Man 3 coverage (including the new trailer), Oz the Great and Powerful interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Mila Kunis, and more, the first trailer for The Hangover Part III, a sizable Justice League movie rumor, and the new trailer and poster for Will Smith and Jaden Smith‘s After Earth. As you may be expecting, a brief recap and link for each of the above waits after the jump.

We can find truth in deception.  We find the deeper truth beneath the artifice.  Sam Raimi‘s Oz the Great and Powerful makes no secrets of its deception, and shows how deception can be used for good or evil.  We just don’t call it deception when it’s used for good.  Then it’s an illusion, not a trick.* Oz creates a beautiful illusion that we can get lost in not because of the visual effects wizardry or the size of the canvas, but because of the honesty of the characters and Raimi staying true to his oddball style.

Opening this weekend is Disney and director Sam Raimi’s fantastic prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Oz The Great and Powerful.  The film centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  Loaded with incredible visuals, amazing 3D, and a beautiful world created by production designer Robert Stromberg (Alice in Wonderland, Avatar), Oz is the type of movie that definitely should be seen on a movie screen and it’s absolutely worth the extra charge to see it in 3D.  Oz The Great and Powerful also stars Zach Braff and Joey King.

Recently, I got to speak to the James Franco.  We talked about how he got involved in the project, the way Raimi sold him on the role, what it was like to walk on the yellow brick road for the first time, and more.  In addition, we also talked about Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s This Is the End (which looks fantastic).  Hit the jump to watch.

It was nigh on three years ago that one mister James Franco, a largely unknown film student at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, presented his behind-the-scenes documentary of Saturday Night Live to the delight of audiences at SXSW. Entitled Saturday Night the film charmed audiences and critics alike once again at Tribeca, (link 1) was then picked up by Adam Yauch’s Oscilloscope, and then… silence.

Until today that is. Hit the jump for news straight from the Franco’s mouth.

From director Sam Raimi, Oz the Great and Powerful imagines the origins of the wizard that was first brought to life in author L. Frank Baum’s book The Wizard of Oz, in a fantastical adventure that utilizes 3D to enhance what is truly an awe-inspiring movie-going experience.  When small-time circus magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is unexpectedly carried from Kansas to the vibrantly beautiful Land of Oz in a tornado, he soon meets three witches – Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams) – who are unsure about whether he truly is the great wizard that they’ve been expecting.  In one of the biggest tales of fake it ‘til you make it, Oscar must use his magical skill and a little ingenuity to help good triumph over evil.

At a press conference at the film’s press day, actor James Franco talked about working with Sam Raimi again, getting to learn magic from Lance Burton for the role, why he enjoys working with Mila Kunis, the inner journey his character goes on and finding a balance in his eclectic career, while actress Mila Kunis talked about playing Theodora as a normal girl who gets her heart broken, making the character her own, the best part about playing a witch, and how much she enjoys doing wire work, which she says she’ll be doing a ton more of on her next project, the Wachowskis’ Jupiter Ascending.  Check out what they had to say after the jump.

A new trailer has dropped for Sam Raimi’s Oz the Great and Powerful.  This one minute glimpse into the land of Oz sets the stakes of the battle to come and features plenty of clashes between witches, wizards and more.  Watch James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz take to the screen in the special effects spectacular starting March 8th.

You can also check out these recently-added clips and behind-the-scenes footage, along with interviews from Steve’s set visit: 30 things to know about the film plus a video blog, and his interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, and Joey King.  Hit the jump to watch the new trailer.

Two new clips and 13 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage have been released from Sam Raimi‘s Oz the Great and Powerful.  The film centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  We previously saw a clip showcasing the conflict between Theodora and Evanora, as well as Oz and his cohorts “traveling by bubble”, which should be impressive on the big screen in 3D.  The new clips showcase the film’s attempt at comedy by showing Oz’s frustration with his traveling companions, Finley (voiced by Zach Braff) and China Girl (voiced by Joey King).

Hit the jump to check out the previously released clips and the new ones as well as the behind-the-scenes footage.  Also, click on the respective links for Steve’s set visit: 30 things to know about the film plus a video blog, and his interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, and Joey King.  Oz the Great and Powerful opens March 8th.

A bounty of new material from director Harmony Korine’s upcoming film Spring Breakers has made its way online, with a new red-band trailer, two TV spots, and a featurette awaiting your eager eyeballs.  The movie centers on a group of girls (played by Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine) who go to disturbing lengths to keep their spring break going, and their journey becomes even stranger when they encounter unhinged drug dealer, Alien (James Franco).  There’s plenty of new footage to thumb through in these materials, and the featurette provides an interesting look behind the scenes of the film.

Hit the jump to check out the new red-band trailer, TV spots, and featurette.  Spring Breakers opens on March 15th.

A new red-band trailer has been released for Harmony Korine‘s Spring Breakers.  The movie centers on a group of co-eds (played by Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine) who go to disturbing lengths to keep their spring break going, and their journey becomes even stranger when they encounter unhinged drug dealer, Alien (James Franco).  The fun thing about these trailers is that they can’t really spoil the film, because so much of what defines Spring Breakers is the tone.  And as strange as these trailers make the movie look, they’re somewhat misleading, because the flick is not constant, poppy intensity as much as it’s something that absolutely overwhelms the audience.  I caught the film at TIFF, and I can’t wait to see what the widespread reaction will be when the film opens next month.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  Spring Breakers opens in New York and L.A. on March 15th, and opens nationwide on March 22nd.

Walt Disney Pictures has released a new clip from director Sam Raimi’s upcoming Wizard of Oz prequel Oz the Great and Powerful.  The film centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).   This clip features Franco and Williams’ characters traveling by bubble through the film’s colorful scenery, and while it’s a nifty look at the world that Raimi has created, it really does seem like it would best be enjoyed on a giant screen in bright 3D.

Hit the jump to watch the clip, and if you missed any of Steve’s set visit coverage, check out 30 things to know about the film plus a video blog, and his interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, and Joey King.  Oz the Great and Powerful opens in 3D on March 8th.

Disney has released the first featurette for director Sam Raimi’s Wizard of Oz prequel Oz the Great and Powerful.  It’s actually a fairly in-depth look behind the scenes of the film, as we’re treated to interviews with Raimi and many of the cast members including James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Zach Braff.  The focus is on how Raimi brought the world of Oz to life with the help of production designer Robert Stromberg and costume designer Gary Jones, and it’s clear that this was an absolutely massive production.  Jones and Raimi also provide insight into designing the iconic Wicked Witch, with Raimi noting that he wanted “a big, scary green witch,” instead of taking a more subtle approach to the character.

Hit the jump to watch the featurette.  If you missed any of Steve’s set visit coverage, check out 30 things to know about the film plus a video blog, and his interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, and Joey King.  Oz the Great and Powerful opens in 3D on March 8th.

We’ve got some new French posters to share with you today from Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers.  As you can see, the hook of this particular feature is “young attractive women in bikinis.”  Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine star as the titular Breakers who encounter the rapper Alien (James Franco) and experience a Spring Break they will never forget.  You can check out Matt’s review of the film here, along with a green and red-band trailer.  Spring Breakers opens stateside on March 22nd.  Hit the jump to see the new posters. 

Prior to last Sunday, Zero Dark Thirty was my favorite pic of 2012 by a considerable margin. However, after my matinee viewing of Silver Linings Playbook, that margin has been replaced with a draw. Whereas Zero provided me with a tension that left me on the verge of breathless at moments, Playbook‘s spectacular performances and head-on portrayal of mental illness and our ability to help each other cope/prevail proved not only hugely entertaining but also quite cathartic.

My 2012 movie scorecard aside, this week’s Top 5 includes our set visit coverage of Oz the Great and Powerful, Duncan Jones being tapped to helm the World of Warcraft movie, more visit coverage from the set of Jack the Giant Slayer, a slew of news from X-Men: Days of Future Past, and a Sundance 2013 wrap-up. A brief recap and link to each of the above is promised after the jump.

An international red band trailer for director Harmony Korine’s new film Spring Breakers has made its way online.  The movie centers on a group of girls (played by Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine) who go to disturbing lengths to keep their spring break going, and their journey becomes even stranger when they encounter unhinged drug dealer, Alien (James Franco).  Like the first domestic trailer, this clip highlights the film’s overall nuttiness and Franco’s sublime work as Alien (a nugget of Alien wisdom: “Titties and big booties, y’all, that’s what life is about”).  It also happens to involve more cursing and Britney Spears sing-alongs.

Hit the jump to watch the new trailer, and click here to read Matt’s positive review of the film.  Also, if you missed them, click here to check out 24 images from the movie.  Spring Breakers opens on March 22nd.