Writer/director Gus Van Sant‘s Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot—now playing in limited release after world-premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival—is based on the true story of artist/cartoonist John Callahan (Joaquin Phoenix) who became a quadriplegic and nearly lost his life after a night of drinking with his friend (Jack Black). Eventually, he enters treatment for his alcohol addiction in AA and finds comfort from his girlfriend (Rooney Mara) and a charismatic sponsor (Jonah Hill). Along the way, he starts drawing irreverent and shocking cartoons which get published in the New Yorker, Penthouse, and Playboy. As you might expect from a movie that stars Joaquin Phoenix and Jonah Hill, the performances are fantastic and reason enough to seek out this film. Read More here

Robert De Niro is in talks to join Joaquin Phoenix in Warner Bros’ Joker origins movie starring Joaquin Phoenix. Todd Phillips is directing and co-wrote the backstory tale of Batman’s archnemesis, which is described as a gritty character study but also a broader cautionary tale of a man disregarded by society who becomes the ultimate supervillain. Read More here

The Toronto Film Festival has unveiled a rich roster of Gala and Special Presentations screenings for the 2018 edition that runs September 6-16. Among the world premieres are Felix Van Groeningen’s addiction drama Beautiful Boy from Amazon and based on the memoirs of David and Nic Sheff, with Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet starring.

The Sisters Brothers
Jacques Audiard
USA/France/Romania/Spain
North American Premiere

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The Venice Film Festival has come up with another intriguing lineup which — despite mostly on-the-nose pre-reveal speculation — also offers some surprises, notably the Coen Brothers’ The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs landing in competition. Artistic Director Alberto Barbera unveiled the full roster this morning in Rome, setting the stage for the awards season kick-off and providing a window onto some of the major titles we expect to be talking about throughout the next six months. (What’s more, the Hotel des Bains is back — sort of.)

VENEZIA 75 (COMPETITION)
The Sisters Brothers, dir: Jacques Audiard

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Damien Chazelle’s space drama “First Man” will open the 75th edition of the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, August 29. The Venice Film Festival is gearing up for its 75th edition in August, and the potential slate of world premiere movies is reconfirming the festival’s reputation as an awards season launching pad. A new report from Variety says the festival has its eye on high profile Oscar contenders like Luca Guadagnino’s “Suspiria,” Alfonso Cuarón’s “ROMA,” and Jacques Audiard’s English-language debut “The Sisters Brothers,” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Jake Gyllenhaal. Read More here

Gladiator star Joaquin Phoenix is to play Batman’s nemesis The Joker in a stand-alone film exploring the origins of the cackling comic book villain. Co-written and directed by The Hangover director Todd Phillips, the currently untitled film is set to begin shooting in New York this September. According to the Hollywood Reporter, it will be both “a gritty character study” and “a broader cautionary tale”. Read More here

A career filled with unconventional choices has led the Oscar nominee to a banner period working with Lynne Ramsay, Gus Van Sant and Jacques Audiard. Read More here

The Flash rewritten, taking inspiration from Back To The Future. Read More here

The first trailer for Jacques Audiard’s The Sisters Brothers features Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly as assassin brothers. The movie is Audiard’s follow up to his Palme D’Or Winning Dheepan, which premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The trailer for Sisters Brothers shows hints of the work of the Coen Brothers with quirky characters mixed with comedic, yet dark situations. The film is based off of Patrick Dewitt’s acclaimed novel of the same name and follows two brothers, Eli (Joaquin Phoenix) and Charlie Sisters (John C. Reilly) who are hired to kill a prospector who has stolen from their boss. Read More here