Here is a pair of director stories for you to check out:

• Peter Landesman (Parkland) is attached to rewrite and direct Down by the River, a revenge thriller inspired by Charles Bowden’s non-fiction book about the murder of the younger brother of a DEA official and undercover agent by a Mexican drug cartel.
• Kim Jee-woon (The Last Stand) is now attached to direct an adaptation of Ed Brubaker’s graphic novel, Coward.

Hit the jump for more on each movie.

Director Kim Jee-woon (The Good, The Bad and the Weird) couldn’t have picked a bigger action star in Arnold Schwarzenegger to make his American film debut with The Last Stand.  The old school actioner pits a small town sheriff’s department up against a ruthless drug lord and his high-powered militia as they attempt to blast their way through a border town.

In a recent interview (facilitated by a translator), Kim talked about transcending the language barrier as a director, directing Arnold as the man he is instead of the characters he’s been, relying on old fashioned practical effects over digital manipulations and even revealed two or three deleted scenes that will appear on the eventual Blu-ray and DVD.  Hit the jump for our interview with Kim Jee-woon for The Last Stand.

Lionsgate has released a new one-minute trailer for director Kim Jee-woon’s action film The Last Stand.  The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a retired LAPD officer who now works as a border town sheriff.  When a notorious cartel leader escapes from FBI custody, the sheriff and his ragtag group are all that stand between the criminals and the Mexican border.  This trailer still walks the confusing line between gritty actioner and slapstick comedy, and it’ll be interesting to see if modern audiences are game for a film with this kind of 80s action comedy tone.  Also, is it just me or has Schwarzenegger’s accent actually gotten worse since his tenure as Governator?

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Forest Whitaker, Rodrigo Santoro, Johnny Knoxville, Jaimie Alexander, Luis Guzman, Peter Stormare, Zach Gilford and Genesis Rodriguez.  The Last Stand opens on January 18, 2013.

There’s no better action movie combo than Arnold Schwarzenegger and big guns, so it’s great news that The Last Stand has both in spades. Making his return to the lead role of a big, bold action film, Schwarzenegger stars as retired LAPD officer turned border town sheriff, Ray Owens. When a notorious cartel leaders escapes from FBI custody, only Owens and his patchwork band of lawbringers stand between the criminals and the Mexican border. Adding a bit of fun alongside Schwarzenegger’s brawn is Johnny Knoxville, who provides a necessary service to the department as well as his unique brand of humor.

I had the privilege of checking out The Last Stand on a set visit last year and I can’t wait to see it on the big screen. Be sure to check out our set visit interviews with Arnold Schwarzenegger, director Kim Jee-woon, Eduardo Noriega and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Hit the jump to see the final poster for the film, which opens January 18th, 2013.

Last night I uncovered a gem from 2011 for the first time and my only regret is that I didn’t take the time to seek it out sooner. Writer/director Thomas McCarthy‘s dramedy Win Win is not only consistently funny but also chock full of both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments. The performances are terrific all-around, the script is strong albeit somewhat easy to telegraph, and the wrestling scenes are even surprisingly intense at times (I mean, it was nominated for a prestigious ESPY for “Best Sports Film” after all). Matt gave the film his full endorsement when he reviewed it at Sundance 2011 and I’m doing the same here today.

Movie recommendations aside, in what was yet another busy week around these parts, the five standouts include our Skyfall interviews with Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, director Sam Mendes and more, a Beautiful Creatures set visit recap, the first trailer for Brad Pitt‘s World War Z, even more set visit goodness from Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s The Last Stand, and ongoing development news for the next Star Wars trilogy. Keep reading for brief recaps and links to all of the above.

The sheriff of a small border town stands in front of a notorious drug cartel leader, blocking his path across the bridge that will take him safely out of the country.  Wanting to avoid a physical confrontation with the much larger man, the cartel leader attempts to buy him off. The sheriff responds by discarding his gun belt and shedding his jacket, dropping it to the ground.  The men rush each other.  They trade blows, neither getting the upper hand until the sheriff lifts the man into the air and prepares to slam him to the asphalt.  Director Kim Jee-Woon calls cut and sheriff Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) slowly lowers cartel leader Gabriel Cortes (Eduardo Noriega) to the ground with the assistance of the actor’s stunt wires.

It’s late October 2011 and we’re on set of The Last Stand, Schwarzenegger’s first starring role since leaving the governorship of California and his triumphant return to the big screen.  While we’ll have interviews with the cast and crew of the film later on this week, you can hit the jump right now to view our “20 Things to Know” for The Last Stand.  Also starring Forest Whitaker, Rodrigo Santoro, Johnny Knoxville, Jaimie Alexander, Luis Guzman, Peter Stormare, Zach Gilford and Genesis Rodriguez, The Last Stand opens January 18th, 2013.

After directing hit films A Tale of Two Sisters; The Good, The Bad, The Weird; and I Saw the Devil, Korean director Kim Jee-woon makes his American debut with The Last Stand (watch the new trailer here).  The stylized Western stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as retired LAPD officer turned sheriff, Ray Owens, who settles in the peaceful border town of Sommerton Junction.  When cartel leader Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) escapes from the FBI and makes a run for the border, Owens and his small-town sheriffs department are the only things standing in his way.

During our set visit to The Last Stand, Kim Jee-woon (and his translators) took the time to participate in a round-table interview to talk to us about the film, the difference between Korean filmmaking and the American studio process, the style he brings to The Last Stand, whether he ever intended on coming to Hollywood, his physical directing style and how it feels to have Schwarzenegger starring in his American debut.  Hit the jump to check out our interview with Kim Jee-woon from our set visit to The Last Stand.

A new full-length trailer for director Kim Jee-Woon‘s actioner The Last Stand has been released.  The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the old sheriff of a sleepy border town who’s called to action when a drug kingpin flees an FBI prisoner convoy, and tries to make his way to Mexico.  This trailer gives us a better look at the action outside of the border town involving Forest Whitaker‘s law enforcement character and also highlights some of the lighter aspects of the pic.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Eduardo Noriega, Rodrigo Santoro, Johnny Knoxville, Jaimie Alexander, Peter Stormare, Zach Gilford, and Genesis Rodriguez.  The Last Stand opens January 18, 2013.

The first trailer for Kim Jee-Woon‘s The Last Stand has gone online.  Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the old sheriff of a sleepy border town who’s called to action when a drug kingpin flees an FBI prisoner convoy, and tries to make his way to Mexico.  It’s a good premise for nice little action-thriller, but Schwarzenegger seems totally miscast.  He’s just not really meant for small movies because he’s a big persona.  There’s nothing subdued about him.  So when a huge guy with a thick Austrian accent is wandering around a small town like it’s no big deal, he seems horribly out of place.  Maybe it will work better in context, and I really like the action on display from Kim Jee-Woon.  It’s a nice break from the shaky-cam antics other directors may have brought to the picture.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film also stars Forest Whitaker, Eduardo Noriega, Rodrigo Santoro, Johnny Knoxville, Jaimie Alexander, Peter Stormare, Zach Gilford, and Genesis Rodriguez.  The Last Stand opens January 18, 2013.

Filming has begun on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comeback film The Last Stand and the movie has added two more actors to its cast.  Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker and masochist Johnny Knoxville have signed on to Kim Jee-Woon’s crime drama.  Schwarzenegger will play sheriff of a sleepy border town who serves as the last line of defense against a drug cartel leader (Eduardo Noriega) headed for the Mexican border.  Harry Dean Stanton, Rodrigo Santoro, and Luis Guzman have also been announced to co-star.

There’s currently no word on who any of the supporting actors other than Noriega will play.  Whitaker recently signed on to star in the voodoo thriller Vipka, and Knoxville will co-star with Patton Oswalt in an untitled comedy from Todd Rohal.   The Last Stand also stars Harry Dean Stanton, Rodrigo Santoro, Luis Guzman, Zach Gilford, and Jaimie Alexander.  Hit the jump for the press release, which includes the full synopsis.

Any day with two Arnold Schwarzenegger-related stories is a good day. Earlier we reported that The Governator is confirmed to return in The Expendables 2, and now comes word that Peter Stormare is in final negotiations to star as Schwarzenegger’s foe in The Last Stand. Kim Jee-Woon (I Saw the Devil) is set to direct the western which will serve as Schwarzenegger’s return to acting following his sabbatical as Governor. The actor stars as the sheriff of a sleepy town near the Mexican border who is the last line of defense between a drug kingpin on the run and Mexico.

Variety reports that Stormare will play a seasoned war veteran who acts as the main villain’s right hand man. George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau) wrote the latest draft of the script. The Last Stand is slated for release on January 18, 2013.

We’ve got a couple of new release dates for you today. First up, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s return to the big screen following his sabbatical as Governator The Last Stand has been slated for a January 18^th, 2013 release (per Box Office Mojo). Directed by Kim Jee-Woon’s (I Saw the Devil), the western centers on a disgraced LAPD cop who is now the sheriff of a sleepy border town. When a drug kingpin is headed for Mexico with a hostage and entourage in tow, the sheriff is the only thing that stands between him and freedom across the border.

Additionally, Alexander Payne’s first directorial project since 2004’s Sideways, the drama The Descendants, is set to open in limited release on November 23^rd, one full month before its previous release date. The film stars George Clooney as a wealthy landowner in Hawaii whose wife suffers a serious boating accident, leaving him to take care of their two daughters on his own. The film opens against Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, The Muppets, and Piranha 3D, but the November release sets it up nicely for an awards season run. Hit the jump to read the full synopsis for The Last Stand.

Yesterday, we reported that Arnold Schwarzenegger would make his return to film in director Kim Jee-Woon’s (I Saw the Devil) western The Last Stand. Tonight, Lionsgate has confirmed the ex-Governor’s involvement in the pic and has released a detailed plot synopsis in the process. Per the release, The Last Stand will see Schwarzenegger take on the role of Sheriff Owens, a former LAPD officer who begins patrolling a sleepy border town shortly after a botched operation leaves his former partner crippled. Hit the jump to check out the complete synopsis. As we reported yesterday, The Last Stand is budgeted at around $30 million and is expected to begin shooting this September.

It’s hard to know how interesting another country’s cinema is when all you get are a handful of films each year, but South Korea has produced some of the most interesting genre films for the last decade. From the works of Bong Joon-Ho (Mother, The Host) to Park Chan-Wook (Old Boy, Thirst), to the great adventure yarn The Good, The Bad, The Weird. Whether we’re getting the best of the best, or if there’s more to discover is hard to know, but regardless, they are some great film-makers working there today.

The latest film to hit stateside is I Saw the Devil, which takes the serial killer genre and finds a new way to make it fresh for the modern era. The film stars Lee Byung-hun (G.I. Joe’s Storm Shadow) and Choi Min-sik (star of Oldboy), as a cop and a killer whose lives become intertwined in a tale of revenge from director Kim Jee-woon (A Tale of Two Sisters). Our review of the Blu-ray follows after the jump.