A24 recently send us over stills and the official trailer for Sofia Coppola's upcoming film "The Bling Ring". Coppola's new film stars Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, Taissa Farmiga, Claire Julien, Israel Broussard, Katie Chang, Georgia Rock, and Gavin Rossdale. "The Bling Ring" hits theaters in limited release on June 14th.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at:http://www.theblingring.com/

Plot Synopsis:

In the fame-obsessed world of Los Angeles, a group of teenagers take us on a thrilling and disturbing crime-spree in the Hollywood hills. Based on true events, the group, who were fixated on the glamorous life, tracked their celebrity targets online, and stole more than 3 million in luxury goods from their homes. Their victims included Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, and Rachel Bilson, and the gang became known in the media as “The Bling Ring.”

In THE BLING RING, Oscar Winning filmmaker Sofia Coppola takes us inside the world of these teens, where their youthful naivete and excitement is amplified by today’s culture of celebrity and luxury brand obsession. The members of the Bling Ring introduce us to temptations that any teenager would find hard to resist. And what starts out as youthful fun spins out of control, revealing a sobering view of our modern culture.

With an ensemble cast starring Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, Taissa Farmiga, Claire Julien, Israel Broussard, Katie Chang, Georgia Rock, and Gavin Rossdale, THE BLING RING is written and directed by Sofia Coppola.

Coppola also serves as producer with Roman Coppola and Youree Henley. Executive producers for the picture are Michael Zakin and Francis Ford Coppola for American Zoetrope, alongside Fred Roos and Paul Rassam. Emilio Diez Barroso and Darlene Caamano Loquet also acted as Executive Producers via their Nala Films label.

Reteaming with Coppola is costume designer Stacy Battat, production designer Anne Ross, Editor Sarah Flack, and Cinematographer Harris Savides.

"The Bling Ring": Official Trailer

Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate recently announce the upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". The film is written and directed by acclaimed author Stephen Chbosky and stars Logan Lerman(Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief),Emma Watson(the Harry Potter franchise), Ezra Miller(We Need to Talk About Kevin), Mae Whitman (TV’s “Parenthood”), Nina Dobrev (TV’s “The Vampire Diaries”), Dylan McDermott (TV’s “American Horror Story”), Kate Walsh (TV’s “Private Practice”), Joan Cusack (Showtime’s “Shameless”) and Paul Rudd (upcoming This is 40).

Special Features on the DVD and Blu-Ray include Audio commentary with Screenwriter/Director Stephen Chobsky, Audio commentary with Director Stephen Chbosky and the cast, “Best Summer Ever” featurette, Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary with Stephen Chbosky and Dailies.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower hits DVD and Blu-Ray on February 12th. The film will also various VOD platforms three weeks earlier on January 22nd.

Press Release:

Acclaimed author Stephen Chbosky makes his screenwriting and directing debut with The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the adaption of his acclaimed best-selling coming-of-age novel. The film, which has been heralded as The Breakfast Club for a new generation, arrives on Blu-ray Disc (plus Digital Copy and UV), DVD (plus Digital Copy and UV), Video On Demand and Pay-Per-View on February 12 from Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE company. The Perks of Being a Wallflower will also be available on EST January 22, three weeks prior to the Blu-ray, DVD and Video On Demand release.

Featuring stellar performances from a young ensemble cast, The Perks of Being a Wallflower centers around a freshman named Charlie (Logan Lerman, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief) who is always watching from the sidelines until a pair of charismatic seniors takes him under their wing. Beautiful, free-spirited Sam (Emma Watson, the Harry Potter franchise) and her fearless stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller, We Need to Talk About Kevin) shepherd Charlie through new friendships, first love, burgeoning sexuality, wild parties, midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the quest for the perfect song. The film also stars Mae Whitman (TV’s “Parenthood”), Nina Dobrev (TV’s “The Vampire Diaries”), Dylan McDermott (TV’s “American Horror Story”), Kate Walsh (TV’s “Private Practice”), Joan Cusack (Showtime’s “Shameless”) and Paul Rudd (upcoming This is 40).

The Blu-ray Disc and DVD will include two audio commentaries; one featuring screenwriter/director Stephen Chbosky, and the other with Chobsky and the cast, deleted scenes, dailies and a featurette. The Perks of Being a Wallflower Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99 and $29.95, respectively.

BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*
• Audio commentary with Screenwriter/Director Stephen Chobsky
• Audio commentary with Director Stephen Chbosky and the cast
• “Best Summer Ever” featurette
• Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary with Stephen Chbosky
• Dailies

Summit Entertainment recently released stills for their upcoming release of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". It's based on the best selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, who also writes and directs the film. The film stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" hits theaters in limited release on September 21st.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://perks-of-being-a-wallflower.com/

Plot Synopsis:

Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up. Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is a moving tale of love, loss, fear and hope-and the unforgettable friends that help us through life.

Did those ten years go by in a flash or what? With “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” we have reached the end of the boy with the lightning scar’s journey which culminates in his long awaited battle with Lord Voldemort. “Part 1” was slower, more drawn out and didn’t have as much action, but this was the case with the book so that had to be expected. But with “Part 2,” we get an all out action packed epic combining unforgettable characters with great special effects. We walk out of it somewhat exhausted but very much satisfied with its powerful conclusion, and we’re relieved it didn’t end the same way as “The Matrix Revolutions” did.

Unlike the other summer blockbusters of 2011 which value special effects over character, “Part 2” does the reverse; the key to this franchise is how emotionally invested we get in these characters. The more you realize that, the less it matters how noticeably good the visual effects are (BTW, they are excellent). This in part should explain why all those Harry Potter wannabes like “Percy Jackson” or “Eragon” never made much of a dent in our collective consciousness when they were brought to the silver screen.

My hat goes off to every single actor in this movie as everyone gives their all to this thunderous climax. Daniel Radcliffe in particular deserves much credit and proves that his casting as the famous wizard boy truly was a stroke of genius. He imbues every scene as Harry with tremendous heart and soul, and Radcliffe makes this iconic character all the more human instead of some generic hero. Seeing him grow up from the first film to the last is a joy as we watched his talent grow along with him.

Ditto as well for Rupert Grint and Emma Watson who finally get to do you know what in this movie. In a lot of ways they have the harder job here; playing characters forced to hold their on against the famous Harry Potter. If they seemed a bit one dimensional in the first movie, that certainly changed with each successive sequel. Rupert has grown so much to where his squeamish behavior has given way to a well earned heroism which was shown to great effect in “Part 1.”

Emma Watson has also given Hermione Granger more depth and complexity throughout the series, showing vulnerability and a longing which finally comes clean after she and Ron destroy one of the Horcruxes. She’s always made us care about Hermione even as her know it all attitude threatens to alienate those closest to her. This is not to mention that she has grown lovelier over the years as well.

Actually, one actor who almost steals the show here is Matthew Lewis who returns as Neville Longbottom. The character started out as a bumbling and disorganized student far more comfortable with Herbology than anything else. Matthew brought this character to life in wonderful fashion, and then he burned the character into our memories in “Order of the Phoenix” as we came to learn more about Longbottom. With “Part 2,” Matthew (much like Rupert) has earned his heroic status as he keeps up the fight against he who shall not be named.

But of all the performance in “Part 2,” my favorite by far was Alan Rickman’s who you come out believing was the only actor on earth capable of inhabiting the character of Severus Snape. We learn even more things about Snape this, and it will forever change to way you perceive the character. Alan deserves to be seen as one of England’s finest actors both on stage and in film, and his work in these films is further proof that there’s more to him than Hans Gruber in “Die Hard.”

“Part 2” brings back many actors from the previous films such as David Thewlis as Remus Lupin, Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange, Emma Thompson as Sybil Trelawny, and Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood among others. I dare you to find a single weak performance from this entire cast as they inhabit their characters and give a full life to J.K. Rowling’s vivid (not to mention highly profitable) imagination. Now keep in mind, I said weak and not bad. We should all know by now that there are no bad performances to be found in the “Harry Potter” movies!

Of course, there’s no forgetting Ralph Fiennes who breathes life into the infinitely evil Lord Voldemort in a way others could not. While Voldemort’s first appearance in ‘The Goblet of Fire” felt like a let down, Fiennes made up for that with his vocal command and subtle movements which showed he never had to move much to instill fear at the mere mention of his name. How many other actors could deliver the line “Harry Potter is dead” with such nasty relish and fearsome satisfaction?

Now while I’m kind of bummed Nicholas Hooper didn’t come back to score the “Deathly Hallows,” I can’t complain with Alexandre Desplat’s work as he is now one of the premiere composers in movies today. Along with his brilliant work on “The Tree of Life,” this tops off what has been a great year for him so far. Desplat manages to weave the themes John Williams created all those years ago to where you cannot tell their work apart from one another, and he adds immeasurably to the story’s sheer emotional power.

But much of the credit should go to director David Yates who (along with Alfonso Cuaron) was one of the best things to happen to the “Harry Potter” movie franchise. Yates does excellent work in balancing out the characters with the destruction surrounding them, and he lets the actors move the film forward as opposed to the visual effects doing it for them. Yates digs deep into these characters’ lives which we have followed almost religiously for quite some time, and he never ever renders them as superheroes but as regular human beings caught up in a fight others cannot easily comprehend. It’s his attention to character which makes “Part 2” all the more enthralling.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” could have easily been anticlimactic as the book it was based on came out a few years ago, and we already know of Mr. Potter’s fate before this movie’s release. With the last of these movies, Harry has indeed earned our goodbyes for a second time. “Part 2” is an adventure filled with emotion that has us enthralled all the way to the very end. Even if we know the outcome, we’re still caught up with what’s going on.

All in all, it’s been a remarkable journey watching these kids grow up in a place of wonder which later gave way to a stark darkness that threatened to destroy them all. Some will say the “Harry Potter” movies got too dark, but that’s because they never bothered reading the books. It also shows that we all have a dark side within us. It is not something to be ashamed of as it is something we must overcome. Knowing this is a necessary part of growing up. Thank you J.K. Rowling for that!

* * * * out of * * * *