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Whatever you do, don't throw Michael Mann's Heat (or God forbid, The Godfather II) into the DVD player prior to venturing off to your local theater to see Righteous Kill. Part of you might want to watch the film that last featured Robert De Niro and Al Pacino opposite one another to get you in the mood, but you'll surely be disappointed when the popcorn's run out and what you're watching on the big screen doesn't even belong in the same conversation as the film you just watched at home. That's because Righteous Kill is a predictable pile of pass me the paycheck, with both De Niro and Pacino phoning in a combination of past performances -- of men with tough, no-nonsense New York City exteriors and sly, slickly-delivered one-liners. This isn't the De Niro and Pacino of old ... it is, unfortunately, the older De Niro and Pacino.

Since Righteous Kill was written by Russell Gewirtz, there are definitely similarities between this and his last script, Inside Man -- both films are about men who do bad things for the good of the people. Righteous Kill opens with a voice-over from Detective Turk (De Niro) against some grainy, black-and-white video. Turk tells us he's killed 14 people during his years as an NYPD cop ("most people respect the badge ... everyone respects the gun"), but they were all lowlife thugs who deserved it. After some quick-yet-stylish (and somewhat annoying) cuts back and forth through time, we finally arrive at a pretty standard whodunnit with both Turk and his partner Rooster (Pacino) hot on the tail of a serial killer who leaves the equivalent of third-grade poetry with each of his victims. Roses are red, violets are blue ... I guessed all of Act III and so will you.

Some new images from the film Righteous Kill have popped up over at Collider, and we finally get our first look at Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and the legendary 50 Cent together ... in the same scene! Talk about a cinematic wet dream. And is it just me, or does Fitty look like he's about to drop a smackdown on poor Robbie D? And Pacino is all like, "You ain't no Raging Bull anymore buddy. Step off." And De Niro is like, "Step off? You tell this rapper-turned-wannabee actor to step off. I ain't steppin' off." And then Fitty is like, "I can, and will, tear you in two with my eyes."

Righteous Kill, which arrives in theaters on April 18, stars De Niro and Pacino (in their first on-screen pairing since Heat) as two New York City detectives on the hunt for a killer that may or may not be one of their own. Fitty? Wanna fess up to somethin' here? The flick also stars John Leguizamo, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Dennehy and the ultra sexy (but not as popular as she should be) Carla Gugino, who you can see snuggling up to a very lucky De Niro in the photo below. I kid, but I actually think this film will turn out pretty good. Even if the plot covers the same old generic serial killer whodunit territory, how can it not be fun to watch this cast interact with one another? I'm definitely "game" (but don't mention that word around Fitty or else you're in for a world of pain).

Well, with a title like Real Men Cry, I guess it's a relief that this won't be a movie about men taking sensitivity training. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Mark Ruffalo, Amanda Peet and Ethan Hawke have signed for the leads in autobiographical crime drama called Real Men Cry. The film was written by actor-turned-director Brian Goodman, and is his autobiographical story about a local Boston boy who overcomes his criminal past. "Hawke and Ruffalo will play childhood friends Paulie and Brian, respectively, who are forced to survive on the tough streets of South Boston through a life of petty thievery. They join a local gang of criminals, but Brian finds it hard to reconcile his work and friendship with Paulie and his relationship with his wife (Peet) and son."

After years of petty criminal acts and drug and alcohol abuse, Goodman was finally incarcerated and began to turn his life around. Goodman told THR, "I came from a broken home and was living in survival mode. I have three bullets in me, one in the back of my head." Goodman began to score parts in small, local films in the late '90s, and also crossed paths with boy-band veteran Donnie Wahlberg at a high stakes card game in Boston. Wahlberg, another native of Boston's mean streets, even collaborated with Goodman on the script with fellow Boston actor Paul T. Murray. According to THR, the film has been put on the fast track; now that casting is already underway, I wouldn't be surprised if the film is aiming for a 2008 release.

Is it bad that part of me doesn't care whether Righteous Kill turns out to be the crummiest, most overly-hyped piece of garbage this side of the equator? Is it wrong for me to say that I'll probably enjoy it for the simple fact that Robert De Niro and Al Pacino will finally -- after all these years -- be able to share some quality screen time? And is it horrific of me to believe that these two guys could play hop-scotch for an hour and a half, and I'd still leave the theater with a smile on my face? Probably not, since I have a feeling a lot of you are in the same boat as I. I think. Yup, thanks to some dude named Sean Henri, we get a first look at De Niro and Pacino together on the set of Righteous Kill. As of now, Henri only has two pics up on his blog (although he does promise more), in which both De Niro and Pacino can be seen walking up to what appears to be an apartment door, as well as one showing them standing in front of a Tow Away Zone sign (which is the pic you see to the right of your screen -- click on it for a larger version, courtesy of Sean Henri).

Directed by Jon Avnet (who helmed the still-unreleased Pacino flick 88 Minutes), and written by Inside Man scribe Russell Gerwitz, Righteous Kill follows two veteran detectives (De Niro, Pacino) who team up to track down a serial killer. The film also stars John Leguizamo, 50 Cent, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Dennehy and the very adorable Carla Gugino (who I just happen to have a major crush on). Martin Scorsese is also rumored to have a cameo in the film as Lt. Winnfield, although nothing official was ever announced. But it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he showed up for a brief scene just to have the opportunity to square off in a room against his old pal and a guy who, surprisingly, has never starred in one of his films. Go figure there, huh? Anyway, enjoy the pics and look out for Righteous Kill to hit theaters sometime next year.

[via JoBlo]

Whenever I hear or see that Donnie Wahlberg has a new gig, I imagine an excited and nervous Johnny Drama. Never mind that it is actually Wahlberg's cousin, John Alves, who is the basis for the Entourage character. I prefer to think that it's the former New Kid on the Block who is the real-life Drama. However, I can't even imagine how crazy Drama would be if he got the kind of job that Wahlberg just got. It may actually be his best non-television role since, well, ever. It's more like the kind of job his more-famous brother Mark would get (if he wanted to slum it just a bit). It's a part in Righteous Kill, the Jon Avnet-directed film that has the honor of reuniting Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. It also stars 50 Cent. Wahlberg announced the gig while promoting his Spike TV miniseries The Kill Point, though he didn't mention anything about his character nor did he say how big a role it would be. What he did say is that it's going to be a challenge and that he gets to drive to Boston every night. That sounds pretty significant to me.

Righteous Kill, which was scripted by Inside Man screenwriter Russell Gewirtz, is about two detectives tracking down a serial killer. Pacino and DeNiro play the detectives. 50 Cent plays a drug dealer who helps them out. Could Wahlberg be the serial killer? Since we don't yet know any other actors cast in the film, I'd maybe make the assumption. Of course, the part of the killer could be quite small. And he probably wouldn't have too much screen time with Al and Bob. And Wahlberg did imply he'll be working closely with the acting legends. So, I'd rather make the assumption that Wahlberg is another one of the good guys (or, as in the case of 50 Cent, someone who aids the good guys). Either way, I'm happy for the guy. Additionally, feel free to check out this newly-released teaser poster for the film (which may or may not be legit). Righteous Kill hits theaters next year.

Do you like movies about dolls that come to life and go on a murderous rampage? That's a rhetorical quesiton -- everyone likes those movies. There are Chucky people and Puppetmaster people, but no one can deny the sheer creepiness that comes from watching the waxy face of a child's doll start slowly twisting with evil life. James Wan, the writer/director of Saw, knows this full well, and we've finally got a peep at his next movie, Dead Silence, which seems to be about an entire army of crazy ventriloquist dummies that start terrorizing a town. The film, which stars Donnie Wahlberg and Amber Valletta, is being released by Universal Pictures on March 23rd and IGN has obtained the first full trailer. It has a sort of old-school 80s horror feel, with the present-day events being based around one character from the past who tangled with dolls and lost, and now exists as a ghostly cautionary tale/possible villain.

"There's an old ghost story around here about a woman named Mary Shaw," the narrator tells us in the trailer, as we get all kinds of weirdo imagery of an old lady doing a ventriloquist act. Then there's lots of running-around-with-flashlights stuff. The creepiest part of the trailer is reserved for the ending, when we hear a doll's nursery rhyme, that begins..."Beware the stare of Mary Shaw....she had no children.....only dolls."

Here's what we know already: Darren Lynn Bousman, the young filmmaker who cut his teeth on Saw 2, will be returning to direct Saw 3, which will arrive in theaters this October. Already signed to return are writer/producers James Wan & Leigh Whannell, and actors Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, and Donnie Wahlberg.

And today JoBlo treats us to a few more Saw-bits, none of which are all that dazzling, but they're intreresting enough if you're a big geeky fan of the Saw series -- like I so definitely am. Looks like Saw 3 is scheduled to begin production in Toronto on May 1st, and the casting directors are presently on the hunt for "Lynn, a married mother in her late 30s who is kidnapped by Jigsaw" and "Jeff, a dad who has never recovered fully after his son died. It was an accident but he's never been able to forgive himself."

Seems the producers are looking for "name actors" for these roles -- but ones who (obviously) don't already have a gig lined up for May. More details as they become available.

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.