There’s zero empirical evidence to back up the theory, but here at Limited Paper we tend to think that there aren’t a lot of hard-core collectors out there with big Valentine’s Day plans.  Quite frankly, when the vast majority of your spending money is being pushed towards one fancifully-colored 24x36” sheet of paper after another, there isn’t much budget left for schmoozing the ladies (or the gents, if that’s your thing).  Sure, you could’ve bought her that diamond-encrusted toaster she’s always wanted, but there’s something like 400 prints dropping this week:  one has to prioritize.

But what if you have a significant other…and they’re also into poster collecting?  Well, good news, buddy:  Bottleneck Gallery’s Get a Room (opening in NYC this Friday) is filled with a ton of romantic, movie-themed posters your guy or gal will be jazzed to have hanging on their wall, and we’ve got preview pics for you (including new work from Craig Drake, Godmachine, and Cuyler Smith) after the jump.

Hope you like rumors, because I have a nice one for you to chew on. If you knew who director Marc Webb was before taking over the Spider-Man reboot, then you likely saw his previous film, (500) Days of Summer. Now that Webb has moved onto a much larger picture, it comes as no surprise that he has gathered quite a nice cast.  We recently reported that Sally Field would be filling in as Aunt May alongside Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben. The latest casting rumor is setting up a reuniting of Webb and Zooey Deschanel, who previously worked together on Summer. Hit the jump for Deschanel’s rumored role and full cast details.

[UPDATE: Sony has confirmed the story, but only mentions one movie, not three. Full press release after the jump.]

While I thought Sony was going to wait awhile and take meetings with a lot of people before deciding on who to give the Spider-Man franchise to…it looks like I was mistaken.  That’s because Vulture is reporting director Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer) is not only going to direct the next Spider-Man movie…he’s going to direct the next three!!  They’re also reporting the rebooted franchise is going to focus “far more on the private life of Peter Parker.”

With Webb’s name floating around the franchise for the last few weeks, it’s not exactly a surprise that he’s being given the keys to the Ferrari.  But I’ll admit to being shocked that he’s getting a three picture deal as he hasn’t demonstrated his ability with a huge budget and massive special effects.  I’m not saying he can’t do it…I just think there is going to be something in the contract that lets the studio get rid of him if it doesn’t work out.

If Vulture’s report is true, expect a press release very soon.  The next big question is going to be…who gets cast as Peter Parker and does he look like he could be in High School.  I really don’t want a twenty five year old playing seventeen.  More as we hear it.

(500) Days of Summer director Marc Webb may be taking over for Sam Raimi on the Spider-Man reboot.  Sources say that Webb met with Spider-Man’s producers in an effort to possibly get production underway for a Summer 2012 release date.  The overly lengthy timeframe is most likely due in part to the fact Sony is looking to shoot Spider-Man in 3D.

Find out more about why Webb may be a good and bad choice for the director’s chair after the jump.

The WGA has announced their nominees for Best Original, Adapted, and Documentary screenplays today and because so many great films were ruled ineligible, these nominees are kind of a joke.  Avatar is getting way more love for its spectacle than its story (protect the Hometree from the Sky People), (500) Days of Summer‘s structure is impressive but the characters and story are completely vanilla, Julie & Julia is half a good movie, and Crazy Heart is a two-hour commercial for Alcoholics Anonymous.

Now here’s a list of movies that were rule ineligible:  Inglourious Basterds, District 9, In the Loop, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Up, and A Single Man.  I suppose the only bright spot of all this is that The Hangover received a nomination, which is hilarious.

Hit the jump for the full list of nominees.  Winners will be announced on February 20th.

(500) Days of Summer is both a movie and a statement on the current independent film movement. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as a couple who begin the film at the end of their relationship. It’s mostly over but there’s some slivers of hope, but then the film shows how they came together as it shows the end of the road. It’s a charming “quirky” low budget romantic comedy that found an audience over the summer of 2009, and my review of (500) Days of Summer is after the jump.

The Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) has chosen Up in the Air as their choice for the Best Picture of 2009.  I’ve twice applied for membership in SEFCA but because I’ve only been a professional film critic for three years instead of five and only ascended to the managing editor of a major movie website, I don’t get to participate.   That being said, I don’t take much offense to their choices and I’m happy that they’re helping to build the momentum towards Kathryn Bigelow becoming the first woman in history to win the Best Director Oscar.  However, I wouldn’t give a single award to (500) Days of Summer, which landed on the Association’s Top 10 list and got the award for Original Screenplay (which is the film’s most boring aspect).

Anyway, hit the jump to move past my bitterness and see the full list of winners.

Film Independent’s Spirit Awards are meant to honor “indie” films, i.e. no blockbuster movies allowed but if you played at some festivals and didn’t cost a lot of money, you’re in consideration.  The Spirit Awards are a good indicator of what smaller films could be getting a shot at Oscar nominations in various categories.  Usually, their nominees are pretty solid and play like a nice alternative universe where the Oscars went to more deserving nominees (last year The Wrestler won Best Film and Best Actor).

But this year’s choices are obvious mixed with disappointingly bizarre.  In a year where some strong, hard-sell films came out of Sundance with strong buzz, the Spirit Awards have instead shown love to movies like Two Lovers, Cold Souls, and (500) Days of Summer.  It’s not that any of these films are resoundingly bad, but when placed alongside obvious contenders like Precious and A Single Man, it feels like Film Independent (who chooses the nominees) were struggling to fill all the nomination slots.  It’s even more bizarre for what you won’t find: Colin Firth for A Single Man; any nominations for A Serious Man beyond cinematography, direction, and the Robert Altman Award; and a Best Director nomination for Marc Webb just to name a few.  Hit the jump for the full list of nominees.  The 2009 Independent Spirit Awards will air on March 5, 2010 at 8pm PST on IFC.’

Marc Webb is in a good place right now. “500 Days of Summer” has done remarkably well, pulling in almost $37 million in worldwide box office receipts (on a small budget), and is one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year. Now new director is in talks to remake another love story (or not): “Just Another Love Story,” a 2008 Danish film by Ole Bornedal. More about the new film after the jump.

Sometimes it feels like I open ABC’s home page, and there’s a new show there to greet me, or more often than not, two. Well, now there are two new shows, and they’re not “Defying Gravity” or “Flash Forward.” Variety reports that ABC is toying around with pilots for Jerry Bruckheimer’s drama “Hopscotch” and David Dobkins (“Wedding Crashers”) comedy “Friends With Benefits.” More on the two shows and the various names attached to them after the jump.

Despite losing some steam between Friday and Saturday, “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cora” easily dominated the weekend with an estimated domestic take of $56.2 million and another $44 million from international markets.  That’s the good news for fans of the Real American Hero.  The bad news is that this week is as good as it gets for “Joe”…

As the narrator of “(500) Days of Summer” tells us in its opening, “This is not a love story.”  That may be but it’s certainly one that’s in love with its own storytelling.  The biggest frustration is that while that storytelling is phenomenal, the story it’s telling is thin, unemotional, and isn’t worthy of Marc Webb’s brilliant direction.

All child actors should look at the success of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and know that not only is there potentially a future for them as adults, but that if they work at it and choose smart projects, they can be one of the best actors working today.  Gordon-Levitt is an incredibly short guy and it was a joy talking to him about his newest film “(500) Days of Summer” along with other topics like bringing this film as well as short he directed to Sundance, an online collaborative art project called hitRECord and playing a big baddie in the upcoming “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”.  Hit the jump to read the full interview.

After you see “(500) Days of Summer”, you’ll understand why director Marc Webb is about to break out in a big way.  He’s provides the film with an unbridled creativity that never feels too abrasive or unnecessarily draws attention to itself.  I recently had the opportunity to speak with him about how he approached this unconventional romantic comedy, what it was like taking the film to this year’s Sundance Film Festival, his plans for the film’s DVD, and his upcoming film “The Spectacular Now”.  Hit the jump to read the full interview.

Fox Searchlight probably has another hit on their hands with “(500) Days of Summer”, an unconventional romantic comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.  The film played to rave reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and everyone I know is going gaga for it. Unfortunately, I’ve missed every screening so I can’t tell you what I think. But based on the clips, it looks great. Also, when all the jaded critics I know rave about a film, it’s definitely something worth seeing.

Curious? After the jump are seven clips so take a look: