From movies, documentaries, novels and non-fiction books to plays and podcasts, serial killers have fascinated in pretty much every medium possible. The mind of a killer, their disturbing motivations, their often perverse behavior and their unknownable, sociopathic thinking is not unlike our obsession with the great white shark: culture is always fixated on apex killers and the more mysterious and impossible to peg, the more fanatical we are about their own preoccupations and psychotic neuroses.

Continue reading The Essentials: The 25 Best Movies About Serial Killers at The Playlist.

So, checking into the six, almost seven month mark of 2010, where do we stand?

In pretty good shape. While the year has delivered a pitiful summer so far and pretty tepid mainstream prospects, as usual, the indie and foreign markets have dug deeper to give us something much more enriching.

Continue reading 2010: The Best Films Of The Year… So Far at The Playlist.

The British helmer has shot eighteen feature-length films since his 1995 debut with “Butterfly Kiss” (two of which are documentaries made with Mat Whitecross) and he’s barely slowed down to take a breather since, taking on disparate project after project, of different styles, genres, and tones, including a moody, existential sci-fi film (“Code 46”), a rock concert porn film (“9 Songs”), a bleak chamber drama (“Jude”), a serial killer film (‘Butterfly Kiss’), the post-modern Madchester music scene saga (“24 Hour Party People”) a Western (“The Claim”) and his latest, a pulpy and dazzling noir (“The Killer Inside Me”) to name just a few.

Continue reading An Appreciation: The Films Of Michael Winterbottom at The Playlist.

Continue reading In Theaters: ‘Toy Story 3, ‘Jonah Hex,’ ‘Cyrus,’ ‘The Killer Inside Me,’ ‘I Am Love’ at The Playlist.

Marketed as a “Step Brothers”-esque comedy, “Cyrus” is actually something much different, and surprisingly complex and rich. Pulling off a careful balance between broad comedy and darker dramatic notes, “Cyrus” is a mature, intelligent and yes, very funny look at the difficulties of a fledgling relationship in midlife.

Continue reading Review Recap: ‘Cyrus’ & ‘The Killer Inside Me’ at The Playlist.

Meaning, Lars Von Trier’s perceived misogynist picture that scandalized audiences last year with its genital mutilation (among other things) and Winterbottom’s grizzly adaptation of Jim Thompson’s infamous pulp novel has also had audiences up in arms because of its graphic depiction of violence against women (lead actor Casey Affleck plays a deranged sheriff who punches Jessica Alba’s prostitute character into a pumpkin-like pulp) and its overall shocking tone (Affleck plays a police offer-turned-serial killer).

Continue reading Exclusive: Michael Winterbottom Talks ‘The Killer Inside Me’ at The Playlist.

The film centers on sheriff Lou Ford, a bored small-town West Texas cop played by Casey Affleck who spirals into a ruthless, sociopathic murderer digging himself further and further into a hole by trying to cement his innocence when evidence looks suspicious.

Continue reading New Poster & Trailer For Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Killer Inside Me’ at The Playlist.

With the release of a new trailer though, hopefully things will pick up for what is undoubtedly an exciting collaboration between the prolific and versatile Winterbottom and the ever-brilliant Casey Affleck — whose anti-hero protagonist here evidently dominates, teasing with a creepy voice-over at the start not unlike the actor’s work in Andrew Dominik’s ‘The Assassination Of Jesse James.’

The neo-noir story centers on sheriff Lou Ford (Affleck), a bored small-town West Texas cop who spirals into a ruthless, sociopathic murderer digging himself further and further into a hole by trying to cement his innocence when evidence looks suspicious.

Continue reading Michael Winterbottom’s Controversial Neo-Noir ‘The Killer Inside Me’ Shines With First Trailer at The Playlist.

Continue reading IFFBoston ’10 Review: ‘The Killer Inside Me’ Is Intriguing, Occasionally Scattered Neo Noir at The Playlist.

First up, Alejandro Amenábar’s “Agora” has been penciled in for a May 28th release by Newmarket Films. The film, which got a tepid reception at Cannes last year though became a smash hit in Spain, stars Rachel Weisz and Max Minghella and depicts Hypatia’s struggle to save the wisdom of the ancient world while embroiled in a love triangle.

Continue reading ‘Agora,’ ‘The Killer Inside Me’ & ‘Life During Wartime’ Get Summer Release Dates at The Playlist.

Continue reading First Look: Jessica Alba Bruised & Battered In ‘The Killer Inside Me’ at The Playlist.

The actor’s entrancing stare is just teasing and daring you to check out the film in spite of everything you’ve heard. Just weeks ago, it was the talk of Park City for it’s reported brutal and graphic depiction of violence against women.

The film is an adaptation of a Jim Thompson novel of the same name and centers on a murderous small-town Texan sheriff.

Continue reading Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Killer Inside Me’ Sticks To Its Guns With New Poster at The Playlist.

The picture follows two British officers, one played by Jim Sturgess, as he tries to track down Jewish militant groups who are responsible for terror attacks against British soldiers and Arabs in the lead up to the partition of Palestine in 1948.

Continue reading Colin Firth & Matthew MacFadyen Join Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Promised Land’ With Jim Sturgess at The Playlist.

Based on a Jim Thompson novel of the same name, the film stars Casey Affleck as a murderous small-town Texan sheriff and was criticized to no end for its reported depiction of violence against woman, played by Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson. Simon Baker, Bill Pullman, Ned Beatty and Elias Koteas also co-star.

Continue reading Sundance Headline Stealers ‘The Killer Inside Me’ And ‘Winter’s Bone’ Get Picked Up at The Playlist.

That’s how one woman responded to “The Killer Inside Me” which has proven to be an early contender for this year’s “Antichrist.” Director Michael Winterbottom though has now come out in defense of his film, an adaptation of pulp writer Jim Thompson’s 1952 novel of the same name.

“It’s a brilliant book. And it is shocking.

Continue reading Michael Winterbottom Defends Sundance Controversy Maker, ‘The Killer Inside Me’ at The Playlist.

The film reportedly depicts the brutal, severe bashing of women by its protagonist, Casey Affleck’s small town cop/psychotic murderer, Lou Ford, which is detailed as follows by Movieline — obviously full of spoilers:

After making love and discussing their plans to reconvene a few weeks down the line, Lou pulls on a pair of black gloves, then begins to punch [Jessica Alba’s character] in the face, at full force, repeatedly.

Continue reading ‘The Killer Inside Me’ Does To Sundance What ‘Antichrist’ Did To Cannes at The Playlist.

“Abel”
Diego Luna’s directorial debut follows a young boy who returns to a father-less home and must take over the patriarchal head of the household role.

Continue reading Our 15+ Most Anticipated Sundance Film Festival 2010 Picks at The Playlist.

The official in-competition line-up (or more of it anyhow) for the 60th annual Berlin Film Festival has been announced and aside from Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost Writer,” which was previously announced as premiering at the event, the cine fete has added a few films from Sundance including Michael Winterbottom‘s “The Killer Inside Me” (starring Casey Affleck, Jessica Alba) and the Allen Ginsberg trials film, “Howl” starring James Franco.

Additional Sundance films include Nicole Holofcener’s “Please Give” starring Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt and Catherine Keener, plus Lisa Cholodenko’s “The Kids Are All Right” starring Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska and Mark Ruffalo.

Continue reading 60th Berlin Film Festival To Show ‘Greenberg,’ ‘Howl,’ ‘Killer Inside Me’ & Zhang Yimou’s Coen Brothers Remake at The Playlist.

The following synopsis raves on about Affleck’s performance which doesn’t surprise us, his a supreme talent. The page also informs us that film comes in at 148 minutes which is just shy of two and a half hours.

Based on the novel by legendary pulp writer Jim Thompson, “The Killer Inside Me” tells the story of handsome, charming, unassuming small-town deputy sheriff Lou Ford, who has a bunch of problems.

Continue reading Sundance First Look: Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Killer Inside Me,’ Spencer Susser’s ‘Hesher’ at The Playlist.

A long-form promo trailer for Michael Winterbottom’s “The Killer Inside Me” has made its way online and you can see it below.

Continue reading Long-Form Promo Trailer: Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Killer Inside Me’ Starring Casey Affleck, Jessica Alba & Kate Hudson at The Playlist.

Based on a Jim Thompson novel — the author who co-wrote Stanley Kubrick’s classic-heist-caper “The Killing” — “The Killer Inside Me” is set in the 1950’s and centers on a West Texas sheriff, played by Casey Affleck, on his downward spiral from a boring small-town cop into a ruthless, sociopathic murderer trying to cement his innocence when the evidence looks suspicious.

Continue reading First Look: Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Killer Inside Me’ at The Playlist.

Rachel Weisz has been loosely attached to play iconic actress Hedy Lamarr in Amy Redford’s indie tale “Face Value.” The film will center on Lamarr’s eccentric life, with a particular focus on her less-publicized second career as a scientist which saw her help create a method of changing frequencies that would be instrumental in modern wireless communications.

Continue reading ‘I Love You Phillip Morris’ Gets Picked Up, Simon Baker Joins Casey Affleck’s ‘The Killer Inside Me,’ New Line Taps Into Ensemble Comedy Cash Cow at The Playlist.

Continue reading Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Killer Inside Me’ Starts Filming- Joaquin Phoenix Mock-Doc Finished? at The Playlist.