Looks like Mr. Hawke will have to learn how to play the violin. Or at least act like he knows how to play the violin. The thesp will star in A Late Quartet, directed by Yaron Zilberman (2004′s Watermarks). The film will tell the story of a 25-year-old string quartet and the departure of one of its members, who’s dealing with Parkinson’s Disease. [The Playlist]

Hawke’s violinist will be one wrought with guilt due to infidelity/betrayal. That sounds about right.

Hawke’s been on a nice, ‘back-to-the-basics’ run of decisions, after a trio of not-so-great crime films (What Doesn’t Kill You, Staten Island, Brooklyn’s Finest). He’s still working on Richard Linklater’s neverending 12-year project, he’s got the New York, I Love You-sounding Tonight at Noon in post along with Woman in the Fifth, a super-interesting sounding film with a noir-ish plot, co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas.

In short, the man’s been consistently undervalued and hopefully this indie work/push into thriller territory will remind people how essential he is to American cinema.

Do you like Ethan Hawke? Will he make a good violinist?

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While the cinematic gems promised by any collaboration from Marion Cotillard, Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke should result in a smile sneaking across the face, it appears that their low-budget indie project, Second Coming, might jerk a few tears instead.

According to The Playlist, the trio is set to star in the Richard N. Gladstein (Finding Neverland, Cider House Rules) and Laura Bickford (Traffic, Che)-produced drama about John Zener (Ruffalo), an actor whose life gets thrust into the limelight after starring in a controversial film surrounding the second coming of Christ. After said controversy results in the paparazzi-caused death of his wife (Cotillard, who is also executive-producing) and daughter, Zener is caught in an emotional struggle to maintain his own sanity, and ventures through New York City, France and Spain to rid himself of his former life.

The film is also said to be produced by French producer Ludovic Dardenay, and co-star Anjelica Huston and Thandie Newton. It will also be the first feature film effort of director Nenad Cicin-Sain, wrote the screenplay as well. There is no word yet on who Hawke will play, but seeing him onscreen with the above talent should be a treat nonetheless. After all, he’s just so damn handsome.

So what of it? Are you excited to see actors like Cotillard, Ruffalo, Hawke, Huston and Newton come together? With previously nominated producers like Gladstein and Bickford in the mix, will we have a tear-jerking Oscar contender on our hands? Sound off.

Years ago, director Antoine Fuqua showed great promise with the truly excellent Training  Day. Over the past few years he’s been unable to live up to that bart set with King Arthur, Tears of the Sun, and the even the decent B-movie Shooter. While most of those films suffered from studio interference, they still didn’t serve as the best follow-ups. Does Brooklyn’s Finest? For the most part, yes.

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Lionsgate | Australia/USA | 98 min.

A vampire film with considerable bloodwork and vicious characters that also contains genuinely original ideas? That’s a nearly impossible thing to find in this now overpopulated genre, but Daybreakers is a rare exception. It’s not a great film as it contains a few underwhelming problems, but at least it’s ambitious, original and ultimately an entertaining experience. Read the full story

The trailer for director Antoine Fuqua’s latest film Training Day Tw… I mean Brooklyns Finest has been released. The film stars a returning Ethan Hawke to Fuqua’s directions. As well as Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes. Check out the trailer below: Read the full story

MTV Movies Blog (via FilmSchoolRejects) has the exclusive poster for the new vampire movie Daybreakers.  Starring Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill, Daybreakers takes place in 2019 where 95% of the Earth’s population has become a vampire, and with only 5% of humanity left, not enough blood is able to fulfill the vampire’s craving.  Humans are also being harvested of their blood to try and provide as much blood as there can be for the new vampire population.  Hawke plays a vampiric scientist who attempts to save humanity through his research.  Part of the poster is above, and you can click here to view the full poster at MTV.

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By Dan Mecca

This list intends to pay homage to recent classics that have not been given the appropriate respect. In no particular order:

1. Lord of War (2005)  - dir. Andrew Niccol

Nicolas Cage as a smooth-talking gunrunner. The opening credits alone are haunting.

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Today Sony Pictures has picked up blaxploitation film Black Dynamite for $2 million. It is the story of 1970s African-American action legend Black Dynamite. The Man killed his brother, pumped heroin into local orphanages, and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black Dynamite was the one hero willing to fight The Man all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. Firstshowing.net reports that Sony believes “the franchise has the potential to become as big as Austin Powers or the Friday films. They’re planning to spend a lot of money marketing it later in the year and put it out sometime in the second half of 2009.”

Here is a trailer thanks to Firstshowing.net:

Yesterday Antoine Fuqua’s (Shooter, King Arthur) crime-drama Brooklyn’s Finest was picked up by Senator Entertainment (and co-venture with Sony Pictures) for less than $5 million, with a promise of $10 million in marketing. Variety reports that Senator will release the film in the fourth quarter for awards consideration. They also say the ending may be reworked. Starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, and Ethan Hawke, the film is about three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths.

Black Dynamite looks like it delivers from the early positive reviews, but I can see Brooklyn’s Finest being a bit boring.

Are you looking forward to these films?

UPDATE: The list below was written in January of 2009. I suggest checking out our new list, 65 Must See Movies of 2010. Click the image below to see:

So 2008 is over, come on, it’s time to move on. Here are 50 great reasons to go to the theater this year:

January

My Bloody Valentine 3-D (Jan 16^th)

Synopsis: After surviving a fatal accident that claimed the lives of five of men in a mine shaft, Harry Warden performed a horrific killing spree on Valentines night in the town of Harmony, killing 22 people before he was shot to death.

Why You Should See It: Early screening reports have said there is more sex, limbs, and buckets of blood than one can handle. The 3-D gimmick is the only reason this is on my list. If implemented right it should be a great time at the movies.

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