The plot sounds very mysterious. It’s an action-comedy that begins when a small-town woman (Diaz) has a chance encounter with a mysterious man (Cruise). But is he the man of her dreams? Or her nightmares? Allegiances, betrayals, adventure and secrets are all on tap for this movie, directed by James Mangold and scheduled for a July 2, 2010 release.

More after the jump…

Image: splashnewsonline.com

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The film teams frequent collaborators director Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, who along with Mark Ruffalo plays a U.S. marshal. The partners are summoned to a remote island off the coast of Massachusetts to investigate the disappearance of a murderess from the island’s fortress-like mental hospital. Cripes, there’s something creepy about mental hospitals, in general, but especially those like this one which house the criminally insane.

The rest of the cast seems like a can’t-miss, as well: Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson and Max Von Sydow also star in this Paramount film. Watch the trailer, and see if it doesn’t creep you out. 

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But “The Burning Plain” might be different. It might be both a critical success AND a cool movie people want to see. It’s a romantic mystery about a beautiful restaurant manager whose confronted with her mysterious past by a stranger from Mexico. The story also follows a young motherless girl living happily with her father and his best friend until a tragic accident changes everything. Two teenagers (Jennifer Lawrence and JD Pardo) find love in the aftermath of their parents’ sudden deaths. And in an abandoned trailer, a housewife (Kim Basinger) embarks on a passionate affair that will impact Sylvia and the others.

It sounds a bit like “Crash,” doesn’t it? In fact, it’s directed by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga, who wrote the screenplay for “Babel,” another “Crash”-like story. “The Burning Plain” is rated R for sexuality, nudity and language. It’ll be available on Video on Demand Aug. 21, 2009, and in theaters Sept. 18, 2009. Check out the trailer:

Image: Magnolia Pictures

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Here are 14 stills from the movie that are making me even more geeked for it!

Images: TM and (c) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

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One thing people didn’t like about “The Da Vinci Code” was that the first part of the movie included lots of talking and explaining of the symbols and history. Still, it would be difficult to have a movie like this without the explanation, unless you’re a symbologist yourself and know what’s going on.

“Angels & Demons,” a sequel to "The Da Vinci Code" also based on a book by Dan Brown, includes quite a bit of explanation in the early scenes, as well. It’s kind of funny, because at one point, Tom Hanks’ character, Robert Langdon, looks at the Cardinals and says something to the effect of “Don’t you people even know your own history?” I had to laugh, because while I felt like Langdon was explaining a lot to moviegoers, it’s probably true that many Cardinals and priests don’t know their own history either.

The good thing is that Langdon doesn’t explain things in a preachy way. He seems to really love his work and love sharing it with others – even us sitting in the theaters.

The story begins with Langdon swimming in a pool at Harvard University, where he teaches symbology. (And way to go, Tom Hanks! He’s definitely logged some gym time for this movie!) The Pope has died, and just as a conclave of Cardinals is about to gather to elect a new one, four of them are taken hostage by a group claiming to be the Illuminati – an ancient society known for being at odds with the Catholic church.

The group announces that they’ll publicly murder each of the Cardinals, then detonate a canister containing powerful anti-matter created in a top-secret lab run by Dr. Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer). Exactly why this anti-matter is being made, I’m not really sure.

Langdon and Vetra join forces in a chase across Rome to follow the symbols, figure out where the Cardinals are being held, and stop the group’s diabolical mission. Meanwhile, also caught up in the story are the Pope’s right-hand man, Patrick McKenna (Ewan McGregor); the high-ranking Cardinal Strauss (Armin Mueller-Stahl), and Swiss Guard head Commander Richter (Stellan Skarsgard).

Aside from the overly talky parts of the movie (which, as mentioned, are pretty much a necessity when you’re explaining Catholic lore, conspiracies, and traditions), I loved all of the scenes in the Vatican’s underground tunnels, the streets of Rome, the churches, and the Vatican Archives, a highly guarded area that contains shelves and shelves of Catholic info. There’s a funny/dramatic scene that takes place in the Archives, which I won’t reveal. You’ll have to see the movie.

Overall, I wouldn’t mind seeing “Angels & Demons” again. It’s a fun, well-acted movie with some interesting plot twists and turns.

NOTE TO PARENTS: This movie has quite a few graphic scenes: Cardinals are “branded” with a symbol on their chest, and characters are imprisoned, stabbed, burned in a fire a la Joan of Arc, and shot. One even has an eyeball torn out – we don’t see the act, just the disembodied eyeball later. Language includes “damn,” “hell,” and “goddamn it.” Because of the violence, I don’t recommend it for kids younger than 14, but for older kids, “Angels & Demons” is well acted and features an interesting storyline and locations.

Images: Angels and Demons, Sony Pictures Releasing, 2009

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"Angels & Demons"

Directed by Ron Howard, the prequel to 2006’s "The Da Vinci Code" finds symbolist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) investigating the murder of a physicist, Leonardo Vetra. It all revolves around a secret brotherhood called The Illuminati, and Langdon, along with Vetra’s daughter, Vittoria (Ayelet Zurer, pictured at "Good Moring America" on May 14) end up searching for a destructive new weapon that could kill millions.

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material, "Angels & Demons" runs 138 minutes (so if you sneak snacks into the theater, bring lots).

More pics after the jump…

Ewan McGregor visited "Good Morning America" in New York City on May 13, 2009 and played a round of horse-shoes while there!

Tom Hanks visited "Good Morning America" in New York City on May 11, 2009 to promote the movie, as well as the Oscar Mayer Weiner Food Bank donations drive.

Ron Howard attended the "Angels & Demons" premiere in Rome, Italy on May 4, 2009.

Images: INF

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Pictured below are Alex Meraz as Paul, Chaske Spencer as Sam Uley, Bronson Pelletier as Jared, and Kiowa Gordon as Embry Call. Yep, it’s the Quileute Wolf Pack, and they look just fine to me. Your thoughts?

Photo Credit: TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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The sequel to “The Da Vinci Code” is directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, and Stellan Skarsgard. Hanks returns as Robert Langdon, now working to solve a murder and thwart a terrorist act on the Vatican. It’s all centered on a mysterious brotherhood called the Illuminati.

Check out movie stills here, 13 clips and trailers here, and photos below of Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, and Dan Brown.

Images: INF

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 Photo Credit: Magnet Releasing

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Nicolas Cage is usually pretty thoughtful in interviews anyway, and he and Paul sat down and discussed his new movie "Knowing," religion, changing his last name, and everything in between.

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