Quick Movie Review: "Devil"

Seen on: September 20, 2010

The players: Director: John Erick Dowdle, Writer: Brian Nelson, Cast: Chris Messina, Logan Marshall-Green, Jenny O'Hara, Bojana Novakovic

Facts of interest: M. Night Shyamalan developed the film's story.

The plot: Five strangers get on an elevator that breaks down and causes panic among them. Is the devil lurking anywhere close by?

Our thoughts: John Erick Dowdle’s “Devil” is the first movie in M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Night Chronicles” series, and while this little horror thriller lacks the kind of originality that would set it apart from others in the genre, the film still boasts a solid pace that provides 80 minutes of decent entertainment.

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Trailer and poster for Baumbach's 'Greenberg'

Noah Baumbach is one of my favorite indie filmmakers out there, and his latest project is titled "Greenberg," a comedy/drama starring Ben Stiller. A trailer is now online, and you can watch it below.

In the film, Roger Greenberg (Stiller) ends up housesitting at his brother's home in Los Angeles. There, he strikes up a friendship with his brother's assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig), an aspiring singer.

Judging by this trailer, it looks like "Greenberg" may be a little more comic than Baumbach's previous films "Margot at the Wedding" and "The Squid and the Whale." Stiller also looks promising as well.

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Big Hollywood casting update: Kirsten Prout joins 'Eclipse;' Chris Messina boards 'Devil'

Here is a list of recent casting news straight out of Hollywood via the trades and the Web:

• Kirsten Prout from "Kyle XY" and "Elektra" is joining Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in David Slade's "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," which is shooting now. E! reports she will play Lucy, a vampire gal who teams up with Maria, played by Catalina Sandino Moreno.

• Evan Rachel Wood is the latest to join James McAvoy, Robin Wright Penn and Justin Long in Robert Redford's "The Conspirator," a drama about Mary Surratt, the only woman in a group charged with conspiring to kill Lincoln.Wood's recent credits include "Whatever Works" and "The Wrestler." (THR)

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Latest Hollywood casting deals: Keanu Reeves joins 'Crime;' Rashida Jones boards 'Monogamy'

Here are some of the latest casting deals out of Hollywood:

• Keanu Reeves ("The Day the Earth Stood Still") will star in and produce Malcolm Venville's "Henry's Crime," a romantic comedy in which the actor plays a good guy falsely accused of robbing a bank. Sacha Gervasi ("Anvil! The Story of Anvil") wrote the screenplay. (Variety)

• Rashida Jones from "I Love You, Man" and Chris Messina from "Julie & Julia" are set to star in "Murderball" co-director Dana Adam Shapiro's "Monogamy." Details are being kept under wraps for now, but the plot follows a couple facing several challenges in their relationship. (The Hollywood Reporter)

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Simmons, Messina to find ‘Invisible Sign’

J.K. Simmons and Chris Messina have signed on to join Jessica Alba in Marilyn Agrelo’s upcoming drama “An Invisible Sign of My Own.”

Based on the novel by Aimee Bender, the film follows a reclusive math teacher (Alba) whose life takes a turn when a new science teacher starts working at her school.

Details about Messina’s and Simmons’ roles are unknown at this point. Variety describes the project as an "Amelie"-style indie.

Simmons can currently be seen onscreen in “Burn After Reading.” His future projects include “Jennifer’s Body” and “Crazy on the outside.”

As for Messina, he most recently starred in Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Humboldt County.” He’ll also appear in Nora Ephron’s “Julie & Julia.”

Final word: Sounds like an interesting project, although I’m not quite sure about this “Amelie”-style thing. “Amelie” is a unique masterpiece no one can get remotely close to.