Just hours after the red band The Watch trailer debuted featuring Jonah Hill's character describing the sexual lengths to which he go with R. Lee Ermey, news has emerged of the actor's involvement in decidedly more dramatic project.  Hill is apparently set to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street for living legend Martin Scorsese.

Opening in theaters on March 16th is the new action comedy from directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) called 21 Jump Street, which is based on the classic '80s TV series that launched Johnny Depp's career. The new film stars Academy Award-nominee Jonah Hill (Moneyball), who also wrote the screenplay, and in addition features performances from Channing Tatum (Haywire), Brie Larson (Rampart), Dave Franco (Fright Night), Ellie Kemper (Bridesmaids), Rob Riggle (The Lorax), Nick Offerman (TV's Parks and Reacreation), and Ice Cube (Three Kings), as well as cameos by Holly Robinson Peete, Peter DeLuise, and Johnny Depp, who all reprise their roles from the original series.

IAR's very own Dana Gardner recently had a chance to sit down with actors Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Rob Riggle, and Ice Cube in New York City to discuss 21 Jump Street. The actors discussed the new film, their characters, why Hill didn't want to write just another remake of a TV series, Channing's impressive comedic skills, improvising on the set, where Ice Cube got inspiration for his role, how the film's cameos help add a sense of authenticity to the project, and what might happen in possible sequels.

With Oscar ballots due earlier this week, and only a few days to go until the Oscars on Sunday, February 26th, here is how things stand in the race for the gold... 

Way back last May, we saw the first image from Cogan's Trade, starring International Movie Star® Brad Pitt as the title character, Jackie Cogan.  Since the protagonist is a professional dealer in violence as a mafia enforcer, Pitt looked appropriately unscrupulous, sporting a greasy sorta-pompadour, tough guy leather jacket, and a giant shotgun. 

After months of hearing nothing about film, several new images from the film have emerged online today.  One eliminates the threatening shotgun but goes in closer on Pitt's profitably handsome face, while another provides our very first look at Ray Liotta playing the card game that forms the crux of the Cogan's Trade plot.  Yet another offers the first look at James Gandolfini wearing some sweet tea-shades.

With its famous traffic, ubiquitous smog, and abhorrent city planning, Los Angeles tends be a bit of a punching bag for the rest of the country, from the Midwest to New York City.  While one could argue the cultural and aesthetic value of the city all day, it is without a doubt the premiere city in America for moviegoing.  There are, of course upscale theaters like the Arclight or the Landmark, and there are unparalleled revival houses such as the New Beverly, the Aero, and the the Silent Movie Theater. 

In addition to this embarrassment of riches, there's the cinematic programming at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Wilshire Boulevard.  Film Independent, the very same non-profit organization that puts on the annual Independent Spirit Awards celebrating the best in independent film, has a year-round weekly film series curated by critical luminary and KCRW's The Treatment host Elvis Mitchell.

As is customary, this year's Oscar nominees were announced at 5:30 in the morning here on the West Coast, meaning many a bedraggled awards season enthusiast is starting off their day puzzling over just who and what is now officially up for an Academy Award at the 84th Annual ceremonies. 

The American Cinema Editors have announced the nominees in both film and television for the 62nd Annual ACE Eddie Awards.  The Eddies aren't just the most adorably named honors of the season, they're one of the many awards given out by professional guilds, as opposed to critical organizations.  So add the Eddies to list of officially-announced Guild nominations like those of the Art Directors, Producers, Writers, Directors, and Cinematographers.

The ACE nominated movies are definitely in keeping with the pattern that has emerged over this year's awards season.  Like last night's Golden Globes, the nominees are divided into dramatic and comedic categories.  Drama-wise, the only sort-of surprise is War Horse, edited by regular Spielberg collaborator Michael Kahn – a surprise not because of any fault with the movie, but because it's getting shut out more than expected.  Hugo, The Descendants, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and Moneyball round it out, while The Artist, Midnight in Paris, Bridesmaids, Young Adult, and My Week With Marilyn are all nominated as comedies.

With just days to go before the Oscar nominations are announced on January 24th, it is now time to narrow down the predictions to 5 in each category. Rather than list each name alphabetically, the contenders have been listed in the order of their likelihood of receiving the nomination. In each category, the 5th slot could possibly go to a “dark horse” instead…

Pop quiz, hotshot.  Which season is it?  If you answered "Winter," then you were technically correct.  If you answered "Awards Season," then you're also correct, albeit to a lesser extent.  And you might want to dial back your focus on movie awards.  While critical organizations have been handing out honors for the last month, this week has seen the unveiling of nominees from professional guilds, which tend to be more reliable predictors of future Oscar pomp.  First we had the Producers Guild nominations, followed by yesterday's announcement of the Art Directors Guild nominees and now the Writers Guild of America have issued their 2012 screenplay nominations.

After the brief respite provided by the holidays, it's time again to be reminded that awards season is in full swing, distracting us from the world at large with the sort of pompous self-adulation that can only be found during these months of fevered Oscar talk that invariably includes words like "buzz."  One night of "What are you wearing?" in February just doesn't cut it, though, so we get months of awards leading up to the big show, and all those awards are gauged by their relationship to the Oscars.  The Producers Guild of America has its own annual awards, and today the PGA officially announced the nominees from film and television.