Universal Pictures has released the official trailer for the neo-noir/heist thriller Contraband. The film catapults Mark Wahlberg into tough guy hero mode (a role that’s recently become his signature), with this going back to his Italian Job roots. The film also stars Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi, Caleb Landry Jones, J.K. Simmons and Ben Foster.

Watch the trailer below:

Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does best—running contraband—to settle Andy’s debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Foster), to head to Panama and return with millions in counterfeit bills. Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate (Beckinsale), and sons become their target.

Contraband seems to be going for a potent cocktail of a dark and gritty crime thriller mixed with multiple surges of heist action that puts all players involved at high risk. As mentioned above, Wahlberg is paying his usual self, so don’t expect big life changing character acting to occur, especially when the action and bloody conflicts seem to be the main attraction here.

The movie is actually a remake of the 2008 Icelandic thriller Reykjavik-Rotterdam, and it looks like it’s getting an American makeover (similar to the contemporary makeover that the Italian job spawned in 2003). Regardless, there hasn’t been many decent heist thrillers recently,so hopefully Contraband will satisfy in that department.

Contraband hits theaters on January 13, 2012.

Read similar posts to Contraband trailer at Filmonic

Despite the main roles in the Spider-Man reboot being filled fans have still been wondering who will play Daily Bugle chief J. Jonah Jameson, played masterfullly by J.K. Simmons in the trilogy. Despite some casting speculation nothing has been confirmed, but now IGN has cleared things up.

The site did some digging and it turns out…J. Jonah Jameson won’t even be in Marc Webb’s movie.

The new Spider-Man movie has been filming for a few weeks now, and there’s still been no word on who has been cast as Peter Parker’s boss, Daily Bugle chief J. Jonah Jameson.

This prompted us to do a little digging and we found out from very reliable sources that it’s because … J. Jonah Jameson won’t be in the movie. That’s right, Spidey fans. We’ve confirmed that no one will be growling “Parker!” in this 3D reboot.

J.K. Simmons nailed the character and was the comic relief of Sam Raimi’s movies, but I guess Webb didn’t find the need to include the character. Maybe the reboot will be a bit more serious in tone with no comedic characters, or maybe J. Jonah Jameson will be introduced in future films.

Read similar posts to Who will play J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man reboot? at Filmonic

Yahoo! got themselves a new poster for The Men Who Stare at Goats. The film stars George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, J.K. Simmons and goat (who’s real name cannot be revealed due to an ongoing legal dispute between the Goat Actors Guild and the Association of Hoofed Beings).

The film is ‘inspired by a real story’ and follows reporter Bob Wilton (McGregor) who is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of “Warrior Monks” with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy’s thoughts, pass through solid walls and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. When the programme’s founder, Bill Django (Bridges), goes missing, Cassady’s mission is to find him.

Click here to watch the trailer!

Read similar posts to The Men Who Stare at Goats poster (with added goat) at Filmonic

George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, and J.K. Simmons are in a movie together. It’s called The Men Who Stare At Goats, and it looks quite good. The film is ‘inspired by a real story’ and follows reporter Bob Wilton (McGregor) who is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of “Warrior Monks” with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy’s thoughts, pass through solid walls and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. When the programme’s founder, Bill Django (Bridges), goes missing, Cassady’s mission is to find him.”

If you look closely you will see Stephen Lang, who plays Col. Quaritch in Avatar, and Glenn Morshower who played General Morshower in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Nice bit of military typecasting there.

The Men Who Stare At Goats will be released on November 6th in the US and January 22nd in the UK.

Read similar posts to The Men Who Stare At Goats trailer at Filmonic

The great J.K. Simmons recently spoke to MTV and revealed that filming for Spider-Man 4 should begin sometime in 2010, and that he isn’t looking for increased screen time, which is a shame because everything seems a lot more fun when he is on screen.

“I saw Sam [Raimi] at his Christmas party.”

“We’ve definitely brainstormed ideas for Triple-J, but I have no desire to make Triple-J more of the focus of those movies,” he said. “The amount that I did in 1, 2 and 3, is just exactly right. Like be the wolf. Come in, blow in, do a week, blow out, be the comic relief, and hit the road. And let Tobey and everybody else do the heavy lifting.”

Both Sam Raimi and Tobey Mcguire are expected to return, but have yet to formally commit. Kirsten Dunst is also up in the air, although the actress has voiced her willingness to continue as Peter Parker’s love interest.

Read similar posts to J.K. Simmons happy to remain comic relief in Spider-Man 4 at Filmonic

Jennifer’s Body, the movie were Megan Fox takes a topless dip in a lake, has been set a release date of September 18th 2009. As well as Fox, the film stars Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody and J.K. Simmons and was written by Juno writer Diablo Cody.

In the film, a gorgeous cheerleader (Fox) is possessed by a demon and starts feeding off the boys in a small Minnesota farming town. Her “plain Jane” best friend must kill her, then escape from a correctional facility to go after the Satan-worshipping rock band responsible for the horrible transformation.

Read similar posts to Jennifer’s Body release date at Filmonic

Brad Pitt and George Clooney are at it again! No, it’s not a flashy title for the next Ocean’s movie, nor is it a buddy heist romp. Burn After Reading is the story of what happens when some slackers find a disk of secret CIA information, and what they do with it–THEY TRY TO SELL IT.

As you can see, the film stars heavyweights such as Brad, George, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich, J.K. Simmons and Frances McDormand. Filming has already completed and the movie is slated for a September 12 release!

Read similar posts to Burn After Reading Trailer! at Filmonic

Spider-man trilogy director Sam Raimi spoke to SHH about Spider-Man 4. Would come back to direct? Has he read the script? And how does he feel about recasting?

“James Vanderbilt is writing the script and I’m excited to read it. I think it’s going to be done in a few months,” Raimi told us, adding, “I’m hoping it’s as great as our discussions were about it and I’m hoping it feels right for me because I love Spider-Man. I’m hoping I’m well rested enough to embrace it and I’m hoping Sony wants me to do it. If all of those things come together, I would love to do it. There are a lot of unknowns about the future.”

And how does he feel about re-casting key players if needed? “I’d hate to re-cast anybody in the future, I can’t imagine that.”

In other Spidey news J.K. Simmons who plays J. Jonah Jameson, editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, spoke to IESB about the fourth Spider-Man movie.

“I spoke to Tobey in, I guess it was February… sort of awards season time,” said Simmons. “and, y’know, he’s certainly amenable to doing some more and hopefully we’ll be able to get everybody back and make another good one.”

…if Sam were not the director but was, still had a hand in it then I would certainly have a reasonable amount of faith in it. You know? Obviously if he’s the director I’m there a 100%. If he’s not involved at all, which I think is VERY unlikely, then it would be a situation that I would have to think about. But if he’s involved, hopefully directing or at least as a producer then I’m pretty confident that it would be something that I want to do. Plus they pay money.

Read similar posts to Sam Raimi And J.K. Simmons Talk Spider-Man 4 at Filmonic