A nice small batch of updates today including Priest, Heartless, Rising Stars and Leaving, plus a new poster for Marwencol (thanks for the link, James) which we previewed yesterday.

LEAVING

	Plot Summary: Falling in love with her contractor, a devoted wife decides she must leave her husband and her family to find happiness, but at what cost? Release Date: October 1, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: B+ Commentary: Kristin Scott Thomas is a fascinating actress, but ever since she went back to France to make films, she’s been doing some of her best work. This looks like another strong film for her, though it won’t appeal to most American audiences.	Rating: C Commentary: I’ve noticed that a lot of foreign posters are a bit simplistic, which works well to a certain extent, but isn’t about to draw in people who aren’t familiar with Scott Thomas’ work.
	Trailer Link: Apple Trailers Oscar Chances: I’m sure there will be some minor buzz for Kristin Scott Thomas, but I doubt she’ll make much headway, though if the film is submitted for Foreign Language Film consideration, it could be a potential nominee.

HEARTLESS

	Plot Summary: A young man makes a pact with a demon to eliminate the birthmark that has kept him at a distance from the fairer sex only to discover the price he must pay is for more than he bargained. Release Date: Coming Soon
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C+ Commentary: Despite having a lot of information on display, the trailer feels distant and unappealing. I like Jim Sturgess, but this doesn’t really seem like the kind of movie I would enjoy.	Rating: B- Commentary: It’s an effective poster despite a color palette that is severely limited. The images within the fire-heart are also a bit formulaic.
	Trailer Link: Apple Trailers Oscar Chances: None.

PRIEST

	Plot Summary: A vampire hunting priest is excommunicated when he attempts to investigate an attack he is certain was caused by vampires, but which the church feels will upset the balance. Release Date: May 13, 2011
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C Commentary: It’s such a high concept (a mixture of sci-fi, knights templar and westerns) that I want for it to work, but when a film steals this much from other films instead of trying to step out on its own with originality (see the trailer for Sucker Punch), then it’s very likely to be a dismal performer.	Rating: B- Commentary: The primary poster, featured at left, is just a recoloring and re-wording of the one used for the series below. The color is much warmer and thus more accessible, but is hardly very inventive. Rating: B- Commentary: Taking a page right out of Sucker Punch‘s playbook, this film is going with the individual character posters with distinct and slightly divergent backgrounds. However, the background is too limited in detail and the colors are a bit too cool (in degree of temperature, not awesomeness).
	Trailer Link: Yahoo Movies Trailers Oscar Chances: These kinds of films don’t do well at the Oscars, but Art Direction would be its one major chance.

RISING STARS

	Plot Summary: A group of young musicians take their band into a competition to make the best music video. Release Date: October 22, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C- Commentary: Stiflingly plotted, the trailer looks as generic and unexceptional as every other teen stars-on-the-rise movie I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t look like there’s anything emotionally investing or innovative about the film.	Rating: B- Commentary: While not the best poster they could have made, it has a nice color scheme that doesn’t remind me of every other generic poster out there. It’s still a bit over simplified, but works a lot better than the trailer does.
	Trailer Link: Apple Trailers Oscar Chances: None.

MARWENCOL, poster

	Plot Summary: A documentary about a man beaten senseless who finds life again by staging scenes of war with dolls. Release Date: October 8, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Previous Preview: Marwencol	Rating: C+ Commentary: Treating the subject like a comic book may be designed to appeal to some younger audiences, but that appeal is very limited considering that demo rarely ever heads to the movies to watch a documentary.
	Trailer Link: See Previous Preview Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview