David Ayer’s ‘Heart of the Beast,’ Starring Brad Pitt, Sets September 25 Release Date

UPDATE: Paramount Pictures announced that “Heart of the Beast” will be released in theaters on September 25.

EARLIER: I was wondering when Paramount would date this one. David Ayer’s Heart of the Beast, starring Brad Pitt, will come to theaters this fall, according to the studio. The film has been tested multiple times in recent months.

Early word is that it’s solid—nothing spectacular or especially original, but a sturdy survival thriller anchored by strong central performances and a standout dog performance. One attendee called it the “best thing Ayer has directed since Fury.”

In a recent InSneider newsletter, additional details about the film emerged. Here’s the synopsis:

Pitt plays an ex-soldier who, along with his German Shepherd dog, is suffering from PTSD. Their plane crashes after he suffers a heart attack while flying, so the film is about their struggle to get back to the mainland and survive the elements.

Word is that Pitt anchors the film with a strong sense of humanity, delivering a performance that blends strength with gentle composure. J.K. Simmons appears in a small but memorable role. The 100-minute film embraces a rugged survival tone reminiscent of Joe Carnahan’s The Grey, focusing on resilience and instinct in harsh conditions.

Written by newcomer Cameron Alexander, and co-produced by Damien Chazelle, this is one of three films Pitt might have coning in the fall, the other two being “The Adventures of Cliff Booth,” and “The Riders,” although both are still undated.

Pitt and Ayer previously collaborated on 2014’s “Fury,” an excellent WWII epic that grossed over $200M at the worldwide box-office. In fact, it’s probably Ayer’s best movie. The filmmaker’s other credits include “Harsh Times,” “Street Kings,” “End of Watch,” and “The Beekeeper.” Let’s not mention “Suicide Squad,” which Ayer has now completely disowned.

Venice Film Festival Cancels Jury Press Conference as Political Questions Mount

Festival press conferences have turned into landmines of political questioning, to the point where some artists would probably prefer to turn down being a juror at Cannes, Venice, or Berlin.

Anne Hathaway Joins Tom Cruise in ‘Days of Thunder 2’ — Sets June 2, 2028 Release

Hathaway is set to play a racecar team owner and engineer. Cruise will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle. Jonathan Levine (“Long Shot,” “50/50”) is confirmed to direct.

Alma Har’el Sets ‘Wet’ as First Film Since ‘Honey Boy,’ With Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Connor Storrie abd Odessa A’zion in Talks

It’s been seven years since Alma Har’el’s feature debut, “Honey Boy,” which was written by and starred Shia LaBeouf — she is now set to direct her next film, with a very talented cast.

Ridley Scott Says ‘Alien’ Franchise “Needs Some Help” After ‘Romulus’ Was Just “OK”: “I’ve Gone Back In”

Scott is suggesting something more significant than a simple return to the series: the filmmaker appears to believe the franchise has drifted off course.

Ridley Scott’s Best Films, Ranked by 120+ Critics: ‘Alien’ Tops ‘Blade Runner’ in Poll

Critics were asked to submit their personal five favorite Scott films. As you can imagine, since Scott has directed 30 films in a span of 5 decades, there was an assortment of choices available.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Good/Great Movies That Don't Deserve Their “Rotten" Scores

These 31 titles clearly have their share of detractors — that’s why they’re “rotten” — and I expect some people to question a few of these picks. That’s fine. However, I believe most are strong films, worth reevaluating.

‘Dune: Part Three’ Reportedly “Blew Away" Warner Bros. With Rough 3-Hour Cut as New Teaser Stuns

Today, “Dune: Part Three” tickets went on sale, this time non-premium formats were made available, and it was all accompanied by a brand-new teaser—and the footage is stunning.

What is David Fincher’s Best Film? 100+ Critics Say, No Contest, It’s ‘Zodiac’

We managed to gather 118 ballots from critics, programmers, filmmakers, and scholars. Each was asked to submit a single title, the one they believe to be the best of Fincher’s filmography.

Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Glimpses of the Moon’ (Apparently) Starts Production This Month in Italy

Coppola has described “Glimpses” as a “strange 30s-style musical.” No cast has been announced. The film is a loose adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel, “inspired” by Leo McCarey’s “The Awful Truth.”

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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