I'm glad that I didn't know anything about Resurrecting the Champ before studying its new poster (apologies to Martha for not reading this post or this one last year) This way, I was able to look at the thing objectively and judge its worth as a marketing tool for the film. From what I could figure out, the movie is about boxing, it stars Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett and the latter's character has a son, making it as much a family drama as a sports drama. Oh, and according to the tagline, it is based on a true story, though a true story about a lie. So, my guess, again just from the poster, would be that Hartnett is the boxer, Jackson is his trainer, and the lie, maybe about how good the boxer is, is told to Hartnett's son. Sure, it doesn't sound that interesting, but the one-sheet isn't that interesting either.

So, how did I do? Well, aside from the boxing, and the obvious part about its stars, I was way off. According to its new trailer, the film is actually about a reporter (Hartnett), who is sure that a homeless man he has met (Samuel L. Jackson) is an old boxing legend. What even the trailer doesn't make clear, though, is that the man is not the famous person Hartnett's character thinks he is (but the man does have an interesting voice, thanks to Jackson). So what is up with the kid on the poster? Well, the official plot synopsis does mention the reporter has to reevaluate his relationship with his family, so I guess it represents that (the kid is Dakota Goya, who plays Hartnett's character's son). It is interesting that he appears so prominently on the poster, considering he's barely in the trailer. I've never been much for boxing movies (no, not even Raging Bull), so I'm not that interested in Resurrecting the Champ, even though I want to like another movie by Rod Lurie, because he did such a great job with The Contender. This poster doesn't do anything to change my mind, either, with its Hartnett-as-Peppermint Patty photo and its blazing, cloudy with a chance of Armageddon background. Sorry, Yari, try again.

Click on the poster for a larger size image. Check out the trailer after the jump.

It is an experience that many great filmmakers before have had to go through. Now it is Darren Aronofsky's turn. He flopped big with a pet project, last fall's The Fountain, and now he must work as a for-hire on a studio film he's not personally invested in. Fortunately Aronofsky's strengths as a filmmaker are enough that he won't be stuck with just any old project. Instead he may be able to work with actors as popular, talented and bankable as Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg, both whom are set to star in Paramount's boxing biopic The Fighter. Aronofsky is currently in talks to helm the movie, which we told you about in February.

If Aronofsky signs on, it will likely be his next film, probably even ahead of Black Swan, which was put on the fast-track back in January. But if he passes on the project, it could be because he's a big fan of Billy Elliot (you know, for choosing ballet over boxing). It is hard to imagine Aronofsky making a mainstream boxing movie focusing on themes of brotherhood and redemption -- this is how the studio has been describing the concentration of Paul Attanasio's rewrite of the script -- but this only makes me hope that he takes the job. Sometimes it is more interesting to see a stylish filmmaker take on work that is unexpected of him. There's always the possibility for disaster, but there's also a great chance that it will at least be a cool-looking disaster.

A few months back the inescapably terrible filmmaker known as Uwe Boll decided that he'd had enough of the bad reviews. But instead of channeling his frustrations into trying to make, y'know, a good movie for once in his life, Dr. Boll (yes, Dr.) decided that his only course of action was to ... challenge his detractors in the boxing ring. Let's translate this into schoolyard terms: You think my movies suck, and therefore I'll be waiting for you after school so that I can punch you a few times, thereby allowing myself to feel better for a little while instead of actually addressing the issue at hand, which is this: I really am an idiot.

Yeah, this makes sense. The guy's so furious about reactions to his hilariously terrible ouevre that he's willing to humiliate himself to an even goofier degree. Apaprently it's not enough for Boll to enjoy his title as Today's Worst Filmmaker; he also seems intent on becoming The Planet's Most Insufferable Bully, too. And here's the best part:

He's finding no takers, boxing-wise. Aside from one stalwart 16-year-old, nobody's nibbling on Boll's boxing poll. Sounds to me like the arrogant crybaby has a little too much time on his hands. I'm willing to start a petition and pass around the collection plate: Let's get Uwe Boll enrolled at USC Film School. Hell, we can even turn it into a reality series at the same time! Uwe, call me!

It's a college movie. No, it's a boot-camp movie. Wait, it's both. Annapolis takes place at the U.S. Naval Academy (commonly called Annapolis) in Maryland, one of the five American institutions of higher education for kids who just can't seem to make up their mind whether to join the armed forces or attend university following high school. Well, that is putting it rather simply. Like the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Annapolis preps its students to become officers in its respective branch of the military in addition to awarding them bachelor degrees. It doesn't charge tuition — in fact it pays those enrolled a weekly salary — but the Naval Academy is one or the toughest schools to get into, and it is even tougher to remain in.

This doesn't stop Jake Huard (James Franco), one of the incoming freshman, or plebes, in Annapolis' class of 2008. He manages to be admitted despite his lack of good grades. I assume he also falls short in the areas of SAT and ACT scores, leadership experience and any number of other expectations the school is likely to have of its applicants. What he does have is a dream, which he's had since he first laid eyes on the campus from his home across the river, as well as a nomination from a congressman — a requirement, not a guarantee, for acceptance. Oh, and he likes to box.