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Features the voices of: Mayu Matsuoka, Anne Watanabe, Kumiko Asô, Nao Tôyama, Keiji Fujiwara, Akiko Yajima, Masachika Ichimura | Written by Miho Maruo | Directed by Keiichi Hara

Outside of literally three or four movies, my viewing of Japanese animated movies is completely reliant on Studio Ghibili. That said, I adore the studio and every one of its movies, with Spirited Away being one of my all time favourites. So it was about time I checked out the output from other animation filmmakers in Japan.

As the title would suggest, The Wonderland does have a few influences from Alice in Wonderland. But to be honest, there’s nothing too obvious and it definitely does not feel like a retread of that story. The day before her birthday, a young girl, Akane, meets an alchemist named Hippocrates and his student Pipo. Along with an antique shop owner, Chii, who she is kind of friends with,...

Giovannis Island Trailer. Mizuho Nishikubo‘s Giovannis Island / Giovanni no Shima (2014) movie trailer stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Yukie Nakama, Masachika Ichimura, Kaoru Yachigusa, and Yusuke Santamaria. Giovannis Island‘s plot synopsis: “In the aftermath of the most devastating conflict mankind had ever experienced, the tiny island of Shikotan became part of the Sakhalin [...]

Continue reading: Giovanni’S Island (2014) Movie Trailer: The Aftermath of War Animated...

Masachika Ichimura, Koji Yakusho, 13 Assassins The St. Louis Film Critics' choices have mostly matched those of other Us-based critics' groups, including Michel Hazanavicius' French-made (but Hollywood-set) The Artist for Best Film, along with Hazanavicius for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay; Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash's The Descendants for Best Adapted Screenplay; and that film's George Clooney for Best Actor. Also: critics' fave Albert Brooks as Best Supporting Actor for Nicolas Winding Refn's thriller Drive. [Full list of St. Louis Film Critics winners.] More unusual was the choice of Rooney Mara as Best Actress for her portrayal of Swedish hacker/crime fighter Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remake. Or Constance Marks and Philip Shane's Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey for Best Documentary. Or even Bérénice Bejo as Best Supporting Actress for The Artist, as the likes of Jessica Chastain (The Help/The Tree of Life...

Usually, this spot is reserved for our weekly rundown of the new movies available to stream on Netflix Instant but August is a dead month and there is only one notable movie new to streaming this week. That movie happens to be pretty big and awesome though. So in honor of The Expendables coming to Netflix Instant, let’s run down the best action movies streaming on Netflix:

New Movies Streaming on Netflix Instant Watch – Sunday August 28th The Expendables

Rated R | 2010

Flickchart Ranking: #1703

Times Ranked: 15833

Win Percentage: 47%

Top-20 Rankings: 31 Users

Directed By: Sylvester Stallone

Starring: Sylvester Stallone • Jason Statham • Jet Li • Dolph Lundgren • Eric Roberts

________________________________________________

The Best Action Movies on Netflix Instant Valhalla Rising

Rated R | 2009

Flickchart Ranking: #3389

Times Ranked: 2716

Win Percentage: 51%

Top-20 Rankings: 4 Users

I cannot recommend Valhalla Rising enough. It’s visually amazing (every frame of the film is staged as if it’s a painting) and thoroughly unique.

We have a contest, giveaway, sweepstakes for one copy of 13 Assassins (2010) on DVD for two (2) lucky winners. This 13 Assassins DVD contest, giveaway, sweepstakes illustrates 13 Assassins‘ release by Magnolia Home Entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray on July 5, 2011.

13 Assassins was directed by Takashi Miike and stars Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya, Goro Inagaki, and Masachika Ichimura.

13 Assassins‘ plot synopsis: “a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan’s feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a wartorn future.”

For more 13 Assassins‘ photos, videos, and information, check out our 13 Assassins Page.

Two winners will receive:

- (1) 13 Assassins

To Enter:

1. Follow @FilmBookdotCom on Twitter (click below).

Follow @filmbookdotcom

2. Tweet: I just entered to win 13 Assassins on DVD @FilmBookdotCom. You can too here: http://bit.ly/mjaIHq #13assassins...

Rank the week of July 5th’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Hobo With A Shotgun

(DVD and Blu-Ray | Nr | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #3839

Times Ranked: 1526

Win Percentage: 47%

Top-20 Rankings: 7

Directed By: Jason Eisener

Starring: Rutger Hauer • Gregory Smith • Molly Dunsworth • Brian Downey • Nick Bateman

Genres: Action • Adventure • Crime • Crime Thriller • Thriller

Rank This Movie

Wake Wood

(DVD and Blu-Ray | Nr | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #15374

Times Ranked: 35

Win Percentage: 32%

Top-20 Rankings: 0

Directed By: David Keating

Starring: Eva Birthistle • Ella Connolly • Amelia Crowley • Aidan Gillen • Timothy Spall

Genres: Drama • Horror

Rank This Movie

13 Assassins

(DVD and Blu-Ray | Nr | 2010)

Flickchart Ranking: #2732

Times Ranked: 1084

Win Percentage: 59%

Top-20 Rankings: 8

Directed By: Takashi Miike

Starring: Koji Yakusho • Takayuki Yamada • Yusuke Iseya • Gorô Inagaki • Masachika Ichimura

Genres: Action • Ensemble Film • Period Film • Samurai Film

Rank This Movie

Bloodrayne: The Third Reich

(DVD and Blu-ray | R | 2010)

Flickchart Ranking: #17903

Times Ranked: 30

Win Percentage: 42%

Top-...

Chicago – You will see a lot of movies this season that don’t deliver on their set-up. Whether it’s because they’re setting up the audience for another installment in a blockbuster franchise or just the fact that movies made by big studio committees often drop the ball, it’s simply a fact. Whatever one can say about Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” opening this weekend at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago and currently available On Demand, it absolutely, undeniably delivers the goods. And those goods are soaked in blood.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

If you’re unfamiliar with the prolific Miike, he earned a stateside following with a series of ultra-violent films and became a critical darling after releasing the terrifying “Audition.” With the kind of output that matches most entire studios, Takashi Miike has continued to make interesting films but only a handful make an impact in the U.S.

13 Assassins

Directed by Takashi Miike

Starring: Koji Yakusho, Goro Inagaki, Masachika Ichimura, and Mikijiro Hira

Release Date: April 29, 2011

The lethal dose of violence in 13 Assassins is heightened to such a degree of ferociousness, and yet never does it come off as an overwhelming force that serves as an impediment to our enjoyment. Rather, it plays out to resemble a macabre, lyrical meditation that we gawk at, despite the many severed limbs and decapitated bodies. Instead of being confined to the suffering grounds of 19th century feudal Japan, where bodies writhe in perpetual anguish in the dirt due to swords piercing into human flesh, 13 Assassins identifies with human elements like integrity, devotion, self-sacrifice, and loyalty that all samurais universally adhere to. This is not to say that the film bypasses all things representing violence. There is a battle scene that lasts the film’s final 50 minutes. It is astoundingly coherent and...

Having seen and enjoyed cult Japanese swordplay films before, including the original of this remake, I had a feeling I knew exactly how the plot of this particular period drama would develop and hoped that knowing the end of the story wouldn’t ruin the rest of the film. You see, the plot of these films are as old as the subject matter themselves, and have appeared in enough Hollywood films that even the most infrequent of film goers will know how it goes.

Fortunately, cult director Takeshi Miike - of Ichi the Killer and Audition fame - is able to refresh the subject matter and shows a genuine care in how the film is produced. The skilful craftsmanship of the director is present throughout and allows you to sit back and enjoy the simplicity of the spectacle unfolding before you; without being distracted by the inevitability of what will happen.

13 Assassins, the new movie from acclaimed director Takashi Miike, is currently playing in theaters and we certainly have to celebrate this new release. We have a contest lined up and we're giving away official posters signed by Takashi Miike to give away to our readers. You know these signed one-sheets will go fast, so be sure to enter this contest today.

Winners Receive:

13 Assassins poster signed by director Takashi Miike

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

Cult director Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic...

Reviewed by Annlee Ellingson

(from the 2010 AFI Fest)

Directed by: Takashi Miike

Written by: Daisuke Tengan

Starring: Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yûsuke Iseya, Gorô Inagaki and Masachika Ichimura

Insanely prolific Takashi Miike’s remake of Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 film starts with a dramatic suicide. It ends with a bloody 45-minute showdown between the titular warriors and an army of 200 men. Between this isolated act and the gory battle that avenges it are some slow, too-deliberate exposition and development, but the rousing finale, along with heavy thematic questions about the samurai code of loyalty and moments of levity, make it well worth the wait.

Alone in the forecourt of an imposing palace, a nobleman commits hara-kiri, the camera focusing on his face as he carves, to protest the rape and murder of his daughter-in-law and beheading of his son by Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira (Gorô Inagaki), the vile brother of the shogun.

Reviewed by Annlee Ellingson

(from the 2010 AFI Fest)

Directed by: Takashi Miike

Written by: Daisuke Tengan

Starring: Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yûsuke Iseya, Gorô Inagaki and Masachika Ichimura

Insanely prolific Takashi Miike’s remake of Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 film starts with a dramatic suicide. It ends with a bloody 45-minute showdown between the titular warriors and an army of 200 men. Between this isolated act and the gory battle that avenges it are some slow, too-deliberate exposition and development, but the rousing finale, along with heavy thematic questions about the samurai code of loyalty and moments of levity, make it well worth the wait.

Alone in the forecourt of an imposing palace, a nobleman commits hara-kiri, the camera focusing on his face as he carves, to protest the rape and murder of his daughter-in-law and beheading of his son by Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira (Gorô Inagaki), the vile brother of the shogun.

Koki Mitani’s already-big upcoming comedy Once in a Blue Moon (Suteki na Kanashibari) just got a little bigger.

It was previously announced that the film would star Eri Fukatsu as a third-rate lawyer who’s forced to depend on a 421-year-old ghost (Toshiyuki Nishida) as the sole witness to her client’s innocence.

Earlier today, a bunch of new names were added to the cast list, including Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (Smap), Masachika Ichimura, Takayuki Kinoshita (Tko). Fumiyo Kohinata, Takashi Kobayashi, Kan, Sen Yamamoto, Keiko Toda, Kazuyuki Asano, Katsuhisa Namase, Zen Kajihara, Kenji Anan, and Yoshimasa Kondo.

In addition to the casting update, Toho also revealed the theatrical release date: October 29, 2011.

Sources: Tokyograph, Cinema Today...

Directed by Takashi Miike

Featuring Koji Yakushho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya, Goro Inagaki

It comes as no surprise that the latest outing from Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi The Killer) is a no-holds barred celebration of the rituals of penetration – the sword-on-flesh variety.

13 Assassins plunges the audience straight into a swift hara-kiri ritual, and the dominant aesthetic of the movie subsequently involves metal tearing into muscle. Although he has worked in many different genres, from family films, to musicals, to taboo-breaking horror, Miike is perhaps at his best (and at his most internationally appealing – go figure!) when his narratives revolve around evisceration. 13 Assassins is his entry into the extensive jidaigeki genre, Japanese period drama about the Edo era, featuring samurai, shoguns, fleeing villagers, and lots of swordplay. Miike plays strictly by jidaigeki rules. Rather than reconstruction he sticks with tradition; every character is an archetype, every situation a set piece. The...

Prolific cult Japanese auteur Miike Takashi returns with perhaps his most ambitious work yet in “13 Assassins”, a remake of the 1963 Kodo Eiichi classic “Jusan-nin No Shikaku”. Marking his first proper foray into the period samurai genre, though one of his more commercially friendly outings, the film is still very much recognisable as a Miike work, with a script by Tengan Daisuke, with whom he previously worked on “Audition” and “Imprint”. Certainly, it sees the director working with a far bigger budget than usual, not to mention an all star cast that includes Yakusho Koji (“Shall We Dance”), Yamada Takayuki (“Crows Zero”), Iseya Yusuke (“Sukiyaki Western Django”), Hira Mikijiro (“Goemon”), Matsukata Hiroki (“Tajomaru: Avenging Blade”), and Masachika Ichimura. Thanks in no small part to a thrilling 45 minute climatic battle scene, the film has been a big hit with festivals around the world, as well as winning over the critics, claiming four...

Empire have posted a new UK trailer for 13 Assassins, a remake of the 1963 Eiichi Kudo film.

Directed by renowned filmmaker Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer), 13 Assassins stars Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Hiroki Matsukata, Kazuki Namioka, Gorô Inagaki and Masachika Ichimura.

A group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord.

Check out the UK trailer below:...

Here's the trailers and a Featurette for Takeshi Miike's remake of the 1963 Eiichi Kudo film 13 '13 Assassins,' starring Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya Koyata, Goro Inagaki, Masachika Ichimura and Mikijiro Hira.

In the era of the Shogun, an evil young lord rapes and kills, assured of immunity by law. But he didn’t count on the Thirteen Assassins. A feared secret force, each with their own deadly skill, the Assassins undertake a suicide mission to wipe out the Lord. As he embarks on a perilous journey, the Assassins close off his escape route and ambush him in a village of death. But little do they know, they are outnumbered four to one by the Lord’s crack team of bodyguards. The streets will run red.

It gets released 6th May for Ireland and the UK.

Trailers:

Featurette:...

“The time has come to lay down your lives for a better cause.”

If you’re a fan of legendary Director Takashi Miike’s work or martial arts movies in general, 13 Assassins looks to be one of hottest foreign genre movies of 2011. Check out the trailer, it’s pretty intense and feels like a cross between Braveheart and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

13 Assassins is Directed by Takashi Miike and stars Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya Koyata, Goro Inagaki, Masachika Ichimura and Mikijiro Hira.

Story:

Cult director Takeshi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan’s feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a wartorn future.

13 Assassins comes to theaters on April 29th, 2011.

Magnet Releasing have unveiled a brand new trailer and poster for ultra-violent period-horror film 13 Assassins, a remake of Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 black-and-white Japanese film of the same name.

Directed by renowned Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike (Ichi The Killer) from a screenplay penned by Daisuke Tengan, the film stars Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Hiroki Matsukata, Kazuki Namioka, Yûsuke Iseya, Gorô Inagaki, Masachika Ichimura, and Mikijiro Hira.

Read more on New trailer and poster for Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins...

The 13 Assassins Movie Trailer has premiered. Takashi Miike‘s 13 Assassins (2010) stars Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya, Goro Inagaki, and Masachika Ichimura. 13 Assassin’s plot synopsis: ”Cult director Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan’s feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a wartorn future.” Why can’t Hollywood make an action movie this hardcore and sensational looking. Sucker Punch looks like it has nothing on 13 Assassins. The last American film that I saw that looked this good was Kill Bill. Oh that’s right, movie studios like there films PG-13 to maximize the amount of people that can see the film. Miike really should be given an American film to direct with a free hand.

After garnering strong reviews since its Venice/Toronto premiere last fall, Takashi Miike‘s 13 Assassins is finally hitting theaters here in the Us. Judging from this new trailer, it looks to be an amped-up version of Akira Kurowasa‘s classic masterpiece The Seven Samurai. While it is impossible to touch that film, I can’t wait to see what Miike has up his sleeve. The film stars Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya Koyata, Goro Inagaki, Masachika Ichimura, Mikijiro Hira and you can see the trailer below via Apple.

Synopsis: Cult director Takeshi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan’s feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a wartorn future.

Magnet will release the film on...

Very few filmmakers have the ability to shock an audience quite like the master of that emotion, Takashi Miike.

That’s exactly what was given to attendees at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, although in a much different way than viewers of his films are used to. The director has returned to the film world with his latest piece, the shogun action thriller 13 Assassins. Arguably his most action filled film since Ichi The Killer, Miike is not only one of the film world’s most beloved foreign names, but he’s also one that doesn’t like to stick to the same genre multiple times in a row.

And thank heavens he doesn’t, because 13 Assassins is a samurai action-er unlike anything we’ve seen in a very long time.

Seemingly inspired by tales like Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, 13 Assassins follows the story of Shogun official Sir Doi, who...

...Or we should say "Cheat Sheets" since this year's SXSW Film Festival boasts over 140 films, requiring more than just one page to cover every single one of the narrative and documentary features that will be playing in Austin from March 11th through 19th. While the festival has already provided a very helpful schedule to flip through and Pdf of the screening grid online, consider this your quick hit guide to all the features at the festival - every title leads to its corresponding festival page in addition to links to trailers, official sites, filmmakers' Facebook pages and Twitter accounts so you can follow the action from the festival or from home.

Meanwhile, there will be plenty of action during these next two weeks on IFC.com where, in addition to our live video page, Matt Singer (@mattsinger) and I (@mfrushmore) will be filing reviews and interviews throughout the film festival.

Ok peeps! The lineup has been announced for SXSW 2011. South by Southwest 2011 kicks off on March 11th in Austin, Texas and runs through March 19th. Check out the strong film lineup !

13 Assassins:

Director: Takashi Miike, Writers: Shoichirou Ikemiya & Daisuke Tengan

Distressed by the Lord’s murderous rampage, top Shogun official Sir Doi secretly calls on esteemed samurai Shinzaemon Shimada to assassinate the evil Naritsugu. Outraged by Lord Naritsugu’s vile acts, Shinzaemon willingly accepts the dangerous mission.

Cast: Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya, Goro Inagaki, Masachika Ichimura

Paul:

Director: Greg Mottola, Writers: Simon Pegg & Nick Frost

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite as two geeks who meet an alien named Paul (Seth Rogen) on a pilgrimage to America’s UFO heartland. Their road trip will alter our universe forever.

Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, John Carroll Lynch, with Sigourney Weaver, and...

The South by Southwest Film Festival announced its feature film line-up Wednesday, piling heaps of cinematic goodness on an already stellar program that includes Jodie Foster’s The Beaver, Duncan Jones’ Source Code, Ti West’s The Innkeepers, Conan O’Brien’s tour documentary, and the latest Simon Pegg-Nick Frost comedy, Paul, with Seth Rogen.

Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) returns to the festival with her latest film, Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, after the writer-director spoke on a screenwriting panel in 2009.

Plus a few favorites from the Sundance Film Festival last month, like Tom McCarthy’s Win Win, Morgan Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and Max Winkler’s Ceremony.

I’m extremely excited, even if I’m already having flashbacks to intense sleep deprivation. Like the last two years, I’ll be on the ground covering as much of the festival as I can within the packed 9 days of screenings,...

‘Tapping into the cultural zeitgeist,’ at SXSW 2011

Austin, Texas – The SXSW 2011 Feature Film Lineup was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The festival lineup will consist of 130 features, in nine full days of programming, promising to deliver a film-going experience unlike previous years.

With a reputation for taking chances on relatively unknown filmmakers, the SXSW panel of judges carefully picked 130 films from 1,792 feature-length film submissions, (1,323 U.S. and 469 international). The program consists of 60 World Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres.

The main competition categories return with eight Narrative Features, and eight Documentary Features, both competing for their respective Grand Jury Prize. New for films in competition this year, are awards for screenplay, editing, cinematography, music, and acting.

(The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week.)

Here are a few of the Features to be screened, among many others.

Narratives:

The Beaver (World Premiere)

Dir.

Readers of Sound On Sight can be sure that we will indeed be covering the SXSW Film Festival once again. As previously reported, Duncan Jones’ latest film Source Code is opening the festival and there will also be premieres for the documentary Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Greg Mottola’s Paul, and Jodie Foster’s The Beaver. Now the full line-up has been announced it is incredible.

Hit the jump to check out the line-up, and be sure to visit our site during the event.

The 2011 SXSW Film Festival runs from March 11 – 19th in Austin, Texas.

SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup

Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers.

"Win Win," starring Paul Giamatti, left, and Alex Shaffer, will screen at SXSW

Aimée Lagos’ thriller “96 Minutes,” starring Brittany Snow; Chris Eyre’s “A Year in Mooring” and “American Animal” from writer-director Matt D’Elia are among the films that will screen in competition at next month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

These films will be joined in the Headliners section by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan in Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win,” Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Rainn Wilson in “Super” and others previously announced including Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver,” Greg Mottola’s “Paul,” the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” from director Rodman Flender, and the opening-night world premiere of Duncan Jones’ “Source Code.”

The following are highlights from the lineup announced Wednesday, with descriptions provided by the festival.

Narrative Feature Competition “96 Minutes”

Director, Writer: Aimée Lagos

Four young lives. One night. One terrifying event.

"Win Win," starring Paul Giamatti, left, and Alex Shaffer, will screen at SXSW

Aimée Lagos’ thriller “96 Minutes,” starring Brittany Snow; Chris Eyre’s “A Year in Mooring” and “American Animal” from writer-director Matt D’Elia are among the films that will screen in competition at next month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

These films will be joined in the Headliners section by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan in Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win,” Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Rainn Wilson in “Super” and others previously announced including Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver,” Greg Mottola’s “Paul,” the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” from director Rodman Flender, and the opening-night world premiere of Duncan Jones’ “Source Code.”

The following are highlights from the lineup announced Wednesday, with descriptions provided by the festival.

Narrative Feature Competition “96 Minutes”

Director, Writer: Aimée Lagos

Four young lives. One night. One terrifying event.

The South By Southwest Film Conference and Festival announced this year's features lineup. The festival takes place March 11-19 in Austin, Texas.

There are a total of 130 features screening this year including 60 world premieres, 12 North American premieres and 16 U.S. premieres! This year the a total of 1,792 feature-length films were submitted, which is the most ever.

There are going to be some amazing films shown this yea. Opening night kicks off with Duncan Jones' Source Code (Moon). The fest rolls on with Jodie Foster‘s The Beaver, Greg Mottola‘s Paul, Sundance Grand Prize doc winner How to Die in Oregon, Errol Morris‘ Tabloid, Victoria Mahoney‘s Yelling to the Sky, Azazel Jacob‘s Terri. There will also be a special screening of Catherine Hardwicke‘s Red Riding Hood.

The Midnight and SXFantastic sections will be announced with the shorts program next week.

See the complete lineup below via...

The South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) just announced their entire 2011 feature film lineup, and there’s isn’t a lot of note, with regards to this blog’s focus.

Titles you should be aware of – all of which we’ve previously profiled on Shadow And Act – include, Victoria Mahoney’s feature film debut, Yelling To The Sky (which will actually make its world debut at the Berlin Film Festival later this month); plus Blacktino, the first feature film from writer/director Aaron Burns, a self-described “blacktino nerd from Austin, Texas,” who got his start at Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios doing visual effects; Benda Bilili, a documentary about a band of homeless, disabled Congolese; and last, but not least, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, a documentary about the black man that happens to be the man behind the puppet (which also played at Sundance).

There might be...

The South by Southwest Film Festival has announced their features lineup for the 2011’s Festival, which will take place March 11th to the 19th in Austin Texas. Read the full press release after the jump. SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers. The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week. “This is the most exciting moment for us. After a fantastic festival of discovery in 2010, we can finally unveil the line up for this year’s event,” says Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “SXSW prides itself on taking chances, sifting for...

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year's Festival, March 11 - 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers. The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week.

"This is the most exciting moment for us. After a fantastic festival of discovery in 2010, we can finally unveil the line up for this year's event," says Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson. "SXSW prides itself on taking chances, sifting for films that are the seedlings of the next generation of must-see artists. This year's line up is full of emerging voices and filmmakers who transcended the resources they had on hand, often with an alchemist's touch."

Over the course of nine days, 130 features will...

Back for its third year (see the 2010 edition) and bigger than ever, today kicks off the first in a fifteen-part look at the various cinematic releases hitting the U.S. in 2011. Each 'part' contains brief descriptions and editorial opinion/analysis of varying length covering twenty films. Expect the remaining ones to go up between now and the first major releases in mid-January.

Like all cinematic lists set within a timeframe, there's some overlap. Some films here have already opened worldwide but have yet to hit the U.S., some upcoming films you'd expect to be here aren't because they're either still in development or have already announced 2012 release dates, some were on last year's list but got delayed so have been included again (but with all new analysis).

I confined my list to films that have either set 2011 release dates or had begun/completed production, and only films that have...

Back for its third year (see the 2010 edition) and bigger than ever, today kicks off the first in a fifteen-part look at the various cinematic releases hitting the U.S. in 2011. Each 'part' contains brief descriptions and editorial opinion/analysis of varying length covering twenty films. Expect the remaining ones to go up between now and the first major releases in mid-January.

Like all cinematic lists set within a timeframe, there's some overlap. Some films here have already opened worldwide but have yet to hit the U.S., some upcoming films you'd expect to be here aren't because they're either still in development or have already announced 2012 release dates, some were on last year's list but got delayed so have been included again (but with all new analysis).

I confined my list to films that have either set 2011 release dates or had begun/completed production, and only films that have...

Earlier today, a new 34-second teaser trailer was added to the official website for Takashi Miike‘s upcoming remake of Thirteen Assassins.

The film’s ensemble cast is led by Koji Yakusho as Shimada Shinzaemon, a samurai who gathers together a team of 13 skilled assassins to kill the younger brother of the Shogun, Matsudaira Naritsugi (Goro Inagaki). Naritsugi is innately cruel, and uses the power of the shogunate to commit mass atrocities against his own people. The assassins attempt to ambush Naritsugi as he makes his annual journey from Edo to his own domain. Unfortunately, he’s under the protection of a skilled military tactician named Kito Hanabee (Masachika Ichimura), and the assassins find themselves outnumbered four to one. Hanabee is a former colleague of Shinzaemon, and although he personally detests Naritsugi’s actions, his dedication to the samurai code of honor dictates that he must protect him at all costs.