"Southpaw" trailer, "Nocturn Animals", "American Hustle" Ditzy lawsuit, "Serena" (solid drama)

Thanks to tremendous work in films like "Prisoners," "Enemy" and last year's "Nightcrawler," Jake Gyllenhaal has become one of the more reliable dramatic actors currently working in Hollywood. After hitting a career peak in the shoes of Lou Bloom, Gyllenhaal has a handful of intriguing projects lined up for 2015, including adventure-drama "Everest," Jean-Marc Vallée relationship drama "Demolition" and gritty boxing drama "Southpaw," the latter of which just premiered a bruised and bloody trailer.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day") and co-written by Kurt Sutter ("Sons of Anarchy"), "Southpaw" stars Gyllenhaal as Billy "The Great" Hope, Junior Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World. When a family tragedy strikes and he loses custody of his daughter, Billy enters the battle of his life as he struggles to become a contender once again and win back those he loves. Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Rita Ora, Naomie Harris and Victor Ortiz also star.

The intense trailer above guarantees yet another highly physical performance from Gyllenhaal both inside and outside of the ring. The Weinstein Company will release "Southpaw" on July 31. Source: www.indiewire.com


From acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY) and starring Oscar nominated Jake Gyllenhaal (NIGHTCRAWLER, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN) comes a story of tragedy, loss and the painful road to redemption… Billy “The Great” Hope (Gyllenhaal) is the reigning Junior Middleweight Champion whose unorthodox stance, the so-called “Southpaw,” consists of an ineloquent, though brutal, display of offensive fighting… one fueled by his own feelings of inadequacy and a desperate need for love, money and fame. With a beautiful family, home and financial security, Billy is on top both in and out of the ring until a tragic accident leaves his wife dead and sends him into a downward spiral. His days now an endless haze of alcohol and prescription drugs, his daughter taken by Child Services and his home repossessed by the bank, Billy’s fate is all but sealed until a washed up former boxer named Tick agrees to take the bereaved pugilist under his wing so long as he agrees to his strict ethos. Relentless and utterly committed to a fighter that thinks as much as he throws punches, Tick rebuilds Billy into a new man: one that is agile, fearsome and uncompromising in the ring while thoughtful, loving and disciplined outside of it. Now, as he works to regain custody of his daughter and mounts a professional comeback, Billy must face his demons head-on as he learns that, sometimes, your greatest opponent can be yourself.

Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal are circling Nocturnal Animals, the thriller that's marking the return of fashion designer Tom Ford to the director's chair for the first time since 2009's A Single Man. Adams is in talks to star while sources say Gyllenhaal is attached to star as the male lead. Insiders also say that Joaquin Phoenix and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are also being sought for leading roles. Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com

Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper, co-stars in "American Hustle" (2013)

Producers of the semi-fictional 'American Hustle' are asking a judge to kill a lawsuit by paying attention to a character of "unreliable nature." Motion pictures like American Hustle are unquestionably expressive speech, so the judge will likely focus whether there was an issue of public interest implicated. The film loosely depicts the FBI's late '70s, early '80s "Abscam" sting operation, which resulted in convictions of prominent politicians and gained media focus. "Clearly, the statement attributed to Mr. Brodeur concerning microwave ovens has no relation whatever to the claimed protected activity of public interest," argues Brodeur's side, attempting to put the focus on part of the movie rather than the whole of the movie. Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper are great in a micro-indie film set 80 years ago in the Great Smoky Mountains. Lawrence is the hottest actress in Hollywood and she and Cooper share six Oscar nominations, and one win, between them. But “Serena” uses muscles the costars of “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle” stars don’t often get to flex.

Though Cooper’s Southern accent wavers, he uses his handsome, often flummoxed demeanor to tremendous effect, stomping around the woods to demand respect. Lawrence is superb and on ground familiar from her debut in “Winter’s Bone.” She makes Serena’s damaged inner life an obstacle to the respectability she clings to. Plus, she looks fantastic with a falcon on her arm.

The atmosphere surrounding them both is enveloping. While the story falls a bit into melodrama, that can’t chop away at the solid drama the stars and director build beautifully. Source: nydailynews.com


Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Lawrence ("Pale Blue Eyes") video.