Opening in theaters on May 25th is the third installment of the extremely popular science fiction comedy franchise Men in Black, this time entitled Men in Black 3. The new film once again stars Grammy-winner Will Smith (Ali) and Oscar-winner Tommy Lee Jones (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Agents J and K, respectively, and was also directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (Get Shorty) who helmed the first two installments. In addition to the return of Smith and Jones, the new movie also features Oscar-nominee Josh Brolin (Milk) as a younger version of Agent K, as well as performances from two-time Oscar-winner Emma Thompson (Love Actually), Alice Eve (ATM), Jemaine Clement (HBO's Flight of the Conchords), Nicole Scherzinger (Fox's The X Factor), David Rasche (United 93).

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with makeup effects artist Rick Baker (The Wolfman, The Nutty Professor, Ed Wood) to discuss his work on Men in Black 3. The legendary makeup artist talked about the new movie, creating the '60s era aliens and his inspirations for them, why setting the film in the '1960s helped keep the third installment fresh, advances in CGI since the first movie, the importance of using both practical as well as CGI effects, working with director Barry Sonnenfeld for the third time, having to make two different versions of the film's villain, and why Harry & the Hendersons holds a special place in his heart. 

What if I told you there was a new short film in which Jennifer Garner uses flamboyant lies and occasionally bawdy innuendo to attract the attentions of Alfred Molina as an increasingly exasperated priest?  You'd want to check that out, right?  After all, it's the erstwhile Elektra Natchios and Doc Ock sharing a confessional.

Garner and Molina star in Serena, a short clocking in at just under twelve minutes, during which Garner plays the title character, a woman who is running out her priest's patience, but for fascinating reasons.  Serena is written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia, the man behind last year's Oscar-nominated Albert Nobbs and episodes of the HBO series In Treatment and Six Feet Under.

David R. Brooks and Zev Brooks are the sibling filmmakers behind The Yankles, a film about an Orthodox Jewish baseball team with a very unorthodox coach. Though both brothers co-write the script, David helmed the direction of the film while Zev acted as Producer. The Yankles is a comedy about a hapless Orthodox Yeshiva baseball team that earns a ticket to compete in the college world series. The team hires Charlie Jones, played by Brian Wimmer (Footloose, Flipper) to coach. Charlie is a washed-up, ex-major league center fielder on parole for multiple DUI convictions and desperate to fulfill his community service. While The Yankles strive for success on the field, Charlie works to rebuild his reputation and relationships. The film, which has garnered numerous awards at domestic and international film festivals, is a hilarious and touching story about redemption. The Yankles opens in theatres today, Friday, May 18th.

I recently had the chance to speak with David and Zev Brooks about The Yankles. The filmmakers discussed their long, arduous seven-year journey to make a film with no prior track record and independent from any Hollywood or studio help. The brothers also discussed working with real-life husband and wife actors, tricks for shooting on such a tight budget, the stunts involved in shooting a sports movie, the themes in their film, and their influences.

Supreme leader, Chief Opthamologist, and excellent swimmer, General Aladeen of the People’s Republic of Wadiya, addressed hundreds of journalists from all over the world recently in New York City. General Aladeen is the latest alter ego of Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Brüno), a comedian known for promoting his films with in-character stunt appearances. In his latest film, The Dictator, which opens Wednesday, May 16th, Cohen plays a misogynistic, anti-Semitic dictator of a fictional country in Northern Africa, called Wadiya.

Synopsis: A group of British retirees decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self.

Cast: Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith

Director: John Madden

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Release Date: May 4, 2012 (U.S.)

Warner Bros. has capped off this week of weeks by releasing the first domestic trailer for The Campaign, an election year comedy that stars Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as rival North Carolina politicians attempting to win a Congressional seat.  Though I'd like to recommend a moratorium on any trailer using the song "Taking Care of Business," the trailer does include Will Ferrell punching a baby, so yeah.

Paramount Pictures has released a new red band trailer for The Dictator, a film that's rated R on account of, "Strong crude and sexual content, brief male nudity, language and some violent images."  Given that description and the fact that this is the latest collaboration between star Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles, you'd expect this The Dictator trailer to be far filthier than it actually is.

Synopsis: Based on Steve Harvey’s best-selling book, Think Like a Man follows four interconnected and diverse men whose love lives are shaken up after the ladies they are pursuing buy Harvey’s book and start taking his advice to heart. When the band of brothers realize they have been betrayed by one of their own, they conspire using the book’s insider information to turn the tables and teach the women a lesson of their own. The movie is directed by Tim Story and written by Keith Merryman & David A. Newman.

Cast: Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara , Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union, Chris Brown

Director: Tim Story

Written By: Keith Merryman & David A. Newman

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Release Date: April 20, 2012

It's pretty much standard operating procedure for oppressive totalitarian rulers to plaster their visages over every available surface.  The promotional campaign for the comedy The Dictator has adopted the style of repressive egomaniacal dicksplashes by relying on portraits of Sacha Baron Cohen as Admiral General His Excellency Aladeen, overlord of the fictitious Middle Eastern nation of Wadiya.  By now, audiences are familiar with the sight of Baron Cohen in his ridiculous beard and sunglasses.

Earlier this week, we learned that it'll be five extra days before The Dictator arrives in theaters, but a taste of the comedy is already online.  The first official clip from the comedy has arrived, and it demonstrates that while star Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles have a made straightforward narrative, they've maintained their commitment to brazenly presenting insulting ideas with a straight face.