Earlier I posted that “Charlie Wilson’s War” is opening December 25th, Christmas Day. However today, Universal Pictures announced they have accelerated the release date of “Charlie Wilson’s War” by four days, moving the film from Tuesday, December 25, 2007, to Friday, December 21.

Adam Fogelson, Universal Pictures’ President of Marketing and Distribution, stated, “We saw an opportunity to advance the release of this film and are taking advantage of that. We’ve seen how strongly “Charlie Wilson’s War” plays and can’t wait to get it in front of audiences everywhere. We are confident that their enthusiastic word-of-mouth will be one of the things that helps us continue playing strongly through this terrific movie going period.”

The film, starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman, tells the outrageous true story of how one congressman who loved a good time, one Houston socialite who loved a good cause and one CIA agent who loved a good fight conspired to bring about the largest covert operation in history. Director Mike Nichols, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman bring George Crile’s best-selling book to the screen.

Universal Pictures Presents – In Association with Relativity Media and Participant Productions – A Playtone Production of a Mike Nichols Film: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War,” starring Amy Adams and Ned Beatty. “Charlie Wilson’s War” is based on the book by George Crile, and it is from a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. The film is directed by Mike Nichols. www.charliewilsonswar.net

Popularity: 1% [?]

Hollywood Reporter’s “Women’s Entertainment Power 100″ reports Reese Witherspoon will be paying this round girls. Vibrant actress takes $15 million to $20 million per movie. Angelina Jolie is even but the Reporter still lists Witherspoon on top as the highest-paid actress.

Here is a complete list of female stars with top earnings per film:

Cameron Diaz $15 million

Nicole Kidman $10 million to $15 million

Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock $10 million to $15 mill

Drew Barrymore and Jodie Foster $10 million to $12 million

Halle Berry $10 million

Popularity: 1% [?]

Nicholas Cage returns December 21st with “National Treasure: Book of Secrets.” This time he tries to clear his grandfather’s name while acting with some top stars: Helen Mirren, Ed Davis, Jon Voight and Harvey Keitel.

Cage as Ben Gates, once again, travels far and wide to Eiffel Tower, Mount Vernon, Mount Rushmore and the Lincoln Memorial as he tries to locate 18 missing pages from the diary of John Wilkes Booth.

Sounds like a sure box office storm.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I love Academy Award nominee John C. Reilly as an actor. His diversity amazes me. As Dewey Cox, I feel different about Reilly’s ability. I am going to stretch my imagination and hope that it works. I am sure it will work.

The movie “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” is a parody on the music industry. Cox goes through the struggles of stardom, drugs, rehab and more rehab. His comeback is huge, changing the world a little, perhaps.

Cox even mingles with Elvis and The Beatles.

Movie is R rated but is a comedy.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Samuel L. Jackson firmed up his role as a nanny in “Man That Rocks the Cradle.” Jackson will play, Marion Delacroix, a reputed “kid whisperer” from the South.

Jackson work is full with “1408″ and “Resurrecting the Champ” on the shelves. He is in production on the “The Spirited.” He recently wrapped up “Lakeview Terrace,” “Jumper” and “Iron Man.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

I never thought I’d see the day when “The Munsters” would be made into a modern-day movie.  I remember watching the show, which by many is considered a classic, and I guess I was under the assumption that it would stay that way.  However, I was wrong.  Today it was revealed that the Wayans brothers are planning on making one of their next projects creating a movie version of the classic TV show.

In a recent interview with MoviePictureFilm.com, Sean Wayans discussed their plans for turning the TV series into a feature film.  The brothers won’t be starring in the film; they’ll just be writing and producing.

The movie version of “The Munsters” will be PG-13, according to the Wayans brothers.  They’d like to make it an R rated film, but are planning on the PG-13 rating to pander to kids who can’t get into the R rated films.  Apparently, when they were doing R rated films before, the kids all wanted to see it, but were too young to get in so they’d buy tickets for another movie and then sneak in.  So while everyone saw the films, they never got the box office credit.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Beginning on December 1st at 2pm, MTV News & Docs “True Life” series will continue to explore critical issues facing teens today in a special four hour engagement.  MTV will air four brand new episodes of the award-winning series.  Episodes to air include:

• True Life: I’m Looking for my Father
• True Life: I’m Going to Rehab
• True Life: I Live in the Projects
• True Life: I’m in an Arranged Marriage

MTV’s True Life series engages and informs viewers, exploring topics relevant to young people by telling their stories through first-person accounts.  The program also delves into issues on cultural trends, covering matters relating to lifestyle subjects such as health, sex, drugs, spirituality, money, and more.

So tune in this Saturday to catch these brand new episodes.  In the meantime, check out this video from the “MTV True Life: I Live in the Projects” episode airing soon.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Available for purchase on DVD beginning December 11th is “Undead or Alive” from South Park director Glasgow Phillips.  The film is a unique and unusual take on the Old West, in which an innocent cowboy, Luke, with his reluctant, Elmer, fleece a crooked sheriff and attempt to disappear in the desert.    But only Geronimo’s smart and beautiful niece Sue can help them solve a mysterious Indian curse, and escape from Sheriff Zombie’s bloodthirsty posse.

In this interesting Western-meets-Horror flick, the question ultimately is, will romance between Luke and Sue blossom, or will the undead permanently keep them apart?

Screenhead readers interested in snagging a copy of this cool DVD can leave a comment, and we’ll pick a winner through a random drawing.   When you leave your comment, just make sure you use an email address (no one else will see it but us) so that we can contact you if you are chosen as the winner.  To be eligible you must live in the US, Canada, or UK.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I been searching the Internet to find out about the film “Juno” to see what it has in store for such a huge audience base, teenagers. “Juno” is looking good.

Fox Searchlight describes the film:

“JUNO stars Ellen Page as the title character, a whip-smart teen confronting an unplanned pregnancy by her classmate Bleeker (Cera). With the help of her hot best friend Leah (Thirlby), Juno finds her unborn child a “perfect” set of parents: an affluent suburban couple, Mark and Vanessa (Bateman and Garner), longing to adopt. Luckily, Juno has the total support of her parents (Simmons and Janney) as she faces some tough decisions, flirts with adulthood and ultimately figures out where she belongs.”

Sounds like a fun movie and perhaps an underlying message to teenagers.

All the reviews I read recommend the film. It opens December 5th, which is coming up quick. I am sure your mom or dad will be more than happy to drive you to the movie theaters to see this well-thought-out flick on teenage pregnancy.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Sundance Film Festival drives the industry in many ways with, hopefully, a beacon to guide the film industry to a better creative spark. 81 film premieres out of 121 films gives that first sentence proof.

The key to Sundance 20008 is diversity, according to the festivals director Geoffry Gilmore, who told Variety, “…The differences are not so much aesthetic as in the points of view, in a way of understanding the reality around us. They deal with the pain of existence and an awareness of the existential dilemma, but the solutions are not ideological but personal, and often told through dark comedy.”

“The fact is that the world around us is a very troubled place, but the response of the filmmakers isn’t always dark but is about people finding a way through it and about persevering, not succumbing.”

Added to the tremendous diversity of films are 51 new filmmakers.

Some of the films Variety mentioned are “Slingshot Hip Hop,” “Choke,” “Phoebe in Wonderland” and “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh.“

The lineup runs Jan. 17-27 in Park City, Utah.

‘Phoebe in Wonderland’

Popularity: 1% [?]