New York Film Critics Circle Awards 2011

The New York Film Critics Circle today announced its 2011 via Twitter, and Michel Hazanavicius's critically acclaimed film "The Artist" took home the prize for best picture. Emmanuel Lubezki won best cinematography for Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life."

Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin can share the award for best screenplay for "Moneyball." Brad Pit was named best actor for his performances in "Moneyball" and "The Tree of Life". The NYFCC selected Michel Hazanavicius of "The Artist" for best director.

Meryl Streep won best actress for her role as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." Jessica Chastain took home best supporting actress for three films: "The Tree of Life," "The Help" and "Take Shelter." Albert Brooks was named best supporting actor for "Drive."

"Margin Call" was voted best first film, and Werner Herzog's "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" won best non-fiction film. "A Separation" took the award for best foreign film. The NYFCC did their best to race to the polls and be the first to announce their 2011 winners.

Trailer for Brad Pitt's 'Moneyball'

In case you've been waiting impatiently for this one, the first trailer for "Moneyball" with Brad Pitt is now online, and you can check it out after the jump. The film is based on the book by Michael Lewis, and a release date is planned for Sept. 23, 2011.

The film tells the story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players. Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman co-star.

"Moneyball" almost didn't happen, but Aaron Sorkin was brought in to rewrite Steven Zaillian's script. Steven Soderbergh was attached to the project as well, but he was replaced by Bennett Miller, director of "Capote." Anyway, looks good...

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Movie Review: 'The Tree of Life'

Seen on: June 7, 2011

The players: Director: Terrence Malick, Writer: Terrence Malick, Cast: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain

Facts of interest: Heath Ledger was originally cast in the lead role, but it eventually went to Brad Pitt.

The plot: The eldest son of a 1950s-era Midwestern family sets out on an existential journey that leads him to question his faith while seeking answers to life’s most challenging mysteries.

Our thoughts: Terrence Malick has always been enamored (perhaps even obsessed) with the human condition. For the reclusive auteur, it is life’s great mysteries, its unexplainable inscrutabilities that are the fodder of his art. "The Tree of Life," his most sprawling and overwrought film to date, attempts to answer the great “whys” of our existence by starting at the very beginning.

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Brad Pitt to star in 'Cogan’s Trade'

Brad Pitt must have enjoyed working with Andrew Dominik on "The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford," because the both of them are teaming up again for "Cogan's Trade."

Heat Vision reports "Trade" is a crime comedy that follows Jackie Cogan (Pitt), an enforcer investigating "a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game under protection of the mob." Sounds cool!

Word is Dominik is also trying to recruit Sam Rockwell, Casey Affleck, Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem. No deals are in place, but that looks like quite the dream cast. Pitt has "The Tree of Life" coming soon.

Fox Searchlight to release 'Tree of Life'

Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired the theatrical rights to Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," which stars Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain. The studio said it will release the film next year.

"Terrence Malick has crafted a deeply moving, keenly observed and magisterial film. Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and the entire cast's performances are simply amazing," said the studio's Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley.

"The Tree of Life" is the impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950s chronicling the journey of the eldest son Jack (Sean Penn) through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years.

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Brad Pitt to star in 'World War Z' adaptation

Brad Pitt is apparently attached to star in Paramount Pictures' big-screen adaptation of "World War Z," which is based on Max Brooks' bestseller. It's a thriller about a worldwide war trigged by zombies.

We have not heard much about the project for a while now, but J. Michael Straczynski wrote the script, which Matthew Michael Carnahan rewrote. Marc Forster ("Monster's Ball") is attached to direct the flick.

In the book, a U.N. researcher interviews survivors from all over the world about what happened 10 years ago during the bloody international crisis. Pitt's involvement should boost the project's exposure.

In related news, Paramount will also develop a movie based on Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide" and "The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks." This all sounds pretty intriguing, right? (Source: MTV)

New 'Megamind' trailer still rather weak

DreamWorks Animation's "Megamind" is still on track for release Nov. 5, 2010, and a brand-new feature trailer debuted online recently. To tell you the truth, I'm still disappointed. I already failed to enjoy the film's teaser trailer back in March, and while this one shows us more story, it still fall short...

The film follows a supervillain (Will Ferrell) who slips into a deep crisis after he finally defeats his rival Metro Man (Brad Pitt). As a result, he creates a new hero (Jonah Hill) who has evil intentions himself. This may sound appealing and all, but sadly enough, we don't really get to see any of that in this trailer.

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First 'Megamind' teaser looks mega-weak

A very first teaser trailer for Tom McGrath's upcoming 3D animation adventure "Megamind" (formerly "Oobermind") has debuted online, and you can check it out after the jump. Granted, it's short, but it doesn't look appealing or funny. Okay, the animation looks decent, but at this stage, that's it. The rest looks and feels rather lame. "Megamind" hits theaters this November.

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Brad Pitt to adapt 'Dark Void' video game

Brad Pitt and his Plan B production house have acquired the film rights to Capcom's upcoming video game "Dark Void," which will hit stores in North American and Europe in late January 2010.

The plan is to develop the game into a franchise, and Pitt may end up starring in the project as well. The game follows Will, a pilot who crash lands in the Bermuda Triangle following a routine mission.

Will wakes up to find himself in an alternate world resembling a primitive earth where aliens with superior technology are planning to take over civilization. He decides to stop them along with some humans.

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'Basterds' is Tarantino's highest grossing film

This is not really a surprise, but Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is now the filmmaker's highest grossing film. "Basterds" now officially raced past Tarantino's previous No. 1 film "Pulp Fiction.

"Pulp Fiction" generated $107.9 million domestically, and "Basterds" just reached a total gross of $109.9 million after recent weekend earnings of $3.6 million. The film opened everywhere August 21, 2009.

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