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Writer-director Nastasya Popov’s feature debut is a hilariously heartfelt reminder that immigrants make America (and cinema) great.

In the earnest comedy-drama Idiotka, Anna Baryshnikov plays Margarita Levlansky, a budding fashion designer living with her grandmother, father and brother in a tiny apartment in West Hollywood, “not the fancy part, the Russian part.”

With her family five months behind on rent, Margarita lands a spot on Slay, Serve, Survive, a new fashion competition series whose producer Nicol (Camila Mendes) takes a shine to her adversity and potential screen presence. But the role requires her to open her life up to the world, baring all her family’s struggle for a shot at the American Dream.

The clever comedy-drama spotlights post-Soviet life in L.A.’s gay capital for Jews who “weren’t considered real Russians or Ukrainians.” It’s a particularly relevant piece of representation amid the ongoing strife with Russia,...

A scene from Balloon Animal. Courtesy of First Bloom Films

This review of the movie, Balloon Animal is starting off slowly, which serves a couple of purposes. It takes more patience than usual to read, as does the film to enjoy. The decision begins with writer/director Em Johnson, who has earned quite a few awards and nominations on the festival circuit (including the St. Louis International one) for a handful of shorts before this feature.

An old cliché that has been the basis for many books and movies is a protagonist who tires of the humdrum of an average childhood or adult life and runs off to join a circus. This one gives us a young woman named Poppy Valentine (Katherine Waddell) who is been raised in her father’s (Ilia Volok) traveling circus and feels like running away to live in the mainstream. Spending her life as a...

Eat your heart out, Austin Butler. As wild as Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" biopic got at certain points, it's safe to say it never quite managed to top the zaniness on display in "Agent Elvis," Netflix's new animated series that sees the King of Rock and Roll suit up to use his world-famous talents in a slightly different way. We've been following this oddity of a concept for quite some time now, with our first look at the adult-oriented and violent show last year promising the sort of alternate history mayhem that only animation can truly do justice to. Like a cross between "Archer," Hulu's "Hit-Monkey," and other similarly out-there premises, "Agent Elvis" promises to pack quite the punch.

The story sees Elvis secretly recruited by the government to maintain his wildly successful cover story as the legendary entertainer by day, while lending his services to protect his...

"Libra", the Season 2 finale of the Cinemax genre TV series "Femme Fatales", features "Libra", a costumed, justice-seeking female superhero, created by comic book writer/illustrator Bob Layton :

"Libra", starring Betsy Rue, Adam Huss, Steve Railsback, Ilia Volok and Jeff Fahey, was directed by Robert Meyer Burnett, from a script by Buckaroo Zang, based on a story by Bob Layton. 

"...in 'Libra', a woman creates her own superhero identity to avenge the death of her mother at the hands of her gangster father."

Based on the magazine of the same name, "Femme Fatales" the TV series is introduced by mysterious and enigmatic host, 'Lilith'  :

"...'Femme Fatales' features powerful, sexy and dangerous women inspired by and styled in the tradition of film noir/graphic novels, with stories inspired by classics 'Double Indemnity' and the original 'Twilight Zone' TV series. In each stand-alone episode, women...

Stars: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Benedict Wong, Clive Owen, Douglas Hodge, Ralph Brown, Linda Emond, Ilia Volok, E.J. Bonilla, Victor Hugo, David Shae | Written by David Benioff, Billy Ray, Darren Lemke | Directed by Ang Lee

Apparently a script that has been floating around Hollywood since 1997 and only now, I’m guessing with the availability of CGI technology, coming to the screen, Gemini Man tells the story of top-notch assassin Henry Brogan. One of the worlds, if not The, premier assassin. Only Henry wants to retire and we all know that government agencies can;’t just let great assets like Henry retire. Ever. Well they can if their dead… And that what Clive Owen’s Clay Verris wants to do. Kill Henry. Only to kill an assassin as good as Brogan you need an equally good assassin. And what better than a clone?

From the get-go you can’t help...

With March in full swing, we have another big batch of horror headed home this week that genre fans should keep an eye out for, including one of my most anticipated releases of the month: Scream Factory’s Collector’s Edition of The Craft (so excited to call the corners with this new Blu-ray!). Beyond that, we have even more great titles to get excited about, including the criminally underseen Kolobos from Arrow Video, Man’s Best Friend, featuring one of my favorites—Ally Sheedy—and Nicolas Pesce’s Piercing, which features some brilliant performances from the likes of Mia Wasikowska and Christopher Abbott.

Other Blu-ray and DVD releases for March 12th include Garden Party Massacre, She Wolf, The Greasy Strangler: Special Director’s Edition, Lifechanger, Silk Scream, and The Wild Pussycat.

The Craft: Collector’s Edition (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)

Sarah has always been different. So as the newcomer at St.

In its first production following a hit Off-Broadway run, Jesse Eisenberg's The Revisionist receivesits West Coast debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in a new production directed by Robin Larsen. Leading the cast is Tony Award-winning star of August Osage County Deanna Dunagan, Seamus Mulcahy and Ilia Volok. Opening Night is tonight, April 1, in the Lovelace Studio Theater.

In its first production following a hit Off-Broadway run, Jesse Eisenberg's The Revisionist is receivingits West Coast debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in a new production directed by Robin Larsen. Leading the cast is Tony Award-winning star of August Osage CountyDeanna Dunagan, Seamus Mulcahy and Ilia Volok. Previews began in the Lovelace Studio Theater on Tuesday, March 29. Opening Night is this Friday, April 1. Click below to hear what Eisenberg had to say about his play...

In its first production following a hit Off-Broadway run, Jesse Eisenberg's The Revisionist will receive its West Coast debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in a new production directed by Robin Larsen. Leading the cast is Tony Award-winning star of August Osage County Deanna Dunagan, Seamus Mulcahy and Ilia Volok. Previews begin in the Lovelace Studio Theater tonight, March 29. Opening Night is Friday, April 1.

In its first production following a hit Off-Broadway run, Jesse Eisenberg's The Revisionist will receive its West Coast debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in a new production directed by Robin Larsen. Leading the cast is Tony Award-winning star of August Osage County Deanna Dunagan, Seamus Mulcahy and Ilia Volok. Previews begin in the Lovelace Studio Theater on Tuesday, March 29. Opening Night is Friday, April 1.

Recently, CBS released the new, official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Hawaii Five-o" episode 21 of season 5. The episode is entitled, "Ua Helele'i ka Hoku (Fallen Star)," and it turns out that we're going to see some very interesting and dramatic stuff take place when the Five O team tries to hunt down murderers that are after diamonds that were attached to the victim's costume, and more! In the new, 21st episode press release: When A Performer Is Killed At An Elvis Impersonator Convention And His Body Is Stolen, Five-0 Must Find The Culprits Who Are After The Hidden Diamonds Sewn Into The Victim's Costume. Press release number 2: When a performer is killed at a convention of Elvis impersonators and his body is stolen, Five-0 are going to have to track down the culprits who are after the hidden diamonds sewn into the victim's costume. Also, Gabriel Waincroft will return...

Marion Cotillard heads to New York City in search of the American dream in the first domestic trailer for The Immigrant, following the international trailer released back in October. The actress plays Ewa Cybulski, who sets sail from Poland with her sister (Angela Sarafyan) to start a new life in New York City. After her sister becomes ill, Ewa must strike out on her own, when she meets Bruno (Joaquin Phoenix) who forces her into prostitution. Jeremy Renner co-stars as Orlando, a magician and Bruno's cousin who gives her hope for a promising future in this drama, written and directed by James Gray (We Own the Night), which hits theaters May 16.

In James Gray's The Immigrant, Ewa Cybulski (Marion Cotillard) and her sister sail to New York from their native Poland in search of a new start and the American dream. When they reach Ellis Island, doctors discover that Magda (Angela Sarafyan) is ill,...

"The Hub" - Dangerous secrets are being kept from Coulson’s team, and he works the system to save Ward and Fitz when they are sent on a Level 8 classified mission that may end in tragedy in "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," on the ABC Television Network. "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as Skye, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz and Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Jemma Simmons. Guest starring are Maximiliano Hernandez as Agent Sitwell, Charles Halford as Agent Shaw, Alison White as Marta and Ilia Volok as Vladimi. "The Hub" was written by Rafe Judkins & Lauren LeFranc and directed by Bobby Roth.

"The Hub" - Dangerous secrets are being kept from Coulson’s team, and he works the system to save Ward and Fitz when they are sent on a Level 8 classified mission that may end in tragedy in "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," on the ABC Television Network. "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as Skye, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz and Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Jemma Simmons. Guest starring are Maximiliano Hernandez as Agent Sitwell, Charles Halford as Agent Shaw, Alison White as Marta and Ilia Volok as Vladimi. "The Hub" was written by Rafe Judkins & Lauren LeFranc and directed by Bobby Roth.

"The Hub" - Dangerous secrets are being kept from Coulson’s team, and he works the system to save Ward and Fitz when they are sent on a Level 8 classified mission that may end in tragedy in "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," on the ABC Television Network. "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as Skye, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz and Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Jemma Simmons. Guest starring are Maximiliano Hernandez as Agent Sitwell, Charles Halford as Agent Shaw, Alison White as Marta and Ilia Volok as Vladimi. "The Hub" was written by Rafe Judkins & Lauren LeFranc and directed by Bobby Roth. Click on the images below to view the full-size versions.

The upcoming "Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D." episode, titled "The Hub" is written by Rafe Judkins, Lauren LeFranc and directed by Bobby Roth, airing November 12, 2013:

"...dangerous secrets are being kept from the 'Coulson' team, while he works the system to save 'Ward' and 'Fitz' when they are sent on a 'Level 8' classified mission that may end in tragedy..."

"Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." stars Clark Gregg as 'Agent Phil Coulson', Ming-Na Wen as 'Agent Melinda May', Brett Dalton as 'Agent Grant Ward', Chloe Bennet as 'Skye', Iain De Caestecker as 'Agent Leo Fitz' and Elizabeth Henstridge as 'Agent Jemma Simmons'.

Guest stars include Maximiliano Hernandez as 'Agent Sitwell', Charles Halford as 'Agent Shaw', Alison White as 'Marta' and Ilia Volok as 'Vladimir'.

Click the images to enlarge...

1920. In search of a new start and the American dream, Ewa Cybulski (Marion Cotillard) and her sister Magda (Angela Sarafyan) sail to New York from their native Poland. When they reach Ellis Island, doctors discover that Magda is ill, and the two women are separated. Ewa is released onto the mean streets of Manhattan while her sister is quarantined. Alone, with nowhere to turn and desperate to reunite with Magda, she quickly falls prey to Bruno (Joaquin Phoenix), a charming but wicked man who takes her in and forces her into prostitution. And then one day, Ewa encounters Bruno's cousin, the debonair magician Orlando (Jeremy Renner). He sweeps Ewa off her feet and quickly becomes her only chance to escape the nightmare in which she finds herself. The Immigrant will open in Belgium and France this November. The Weinstein Company plans an early 2014 release in the states. Watch the international trailer now.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has already brought in a few familiar character's from the Marvel cinematic universe, such as Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and, of course, series star Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson.

Marvel has released a plot rundown for an upcoming episode titled The Hub, which reveals that Maximiliano Hern&#225ndez is reprising his role as Agent Stillwell from Thor and Marvel One-Shot: Item 47. It isn't known when this episode may air yet, but take a look at the synopsis below.

The Hub

Dangerous secrets are being kept from Coulson's team, and he works the system to save Ward and Fitz when they are sent on a Level 8 classified mission that may end in tragedy in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., on the ABC Television Network.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda May,...

"The Hub" - Dangerous secrets are being kept from Coulson’s team, and he works the system to save Ward and Fitz when they are sent on a Level 8 classified mission that may end in tragedy in "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," on the ABC Television Network. "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as Skye, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz and Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Jemma Simmons. Guest starring are Maximiliano Hernandez as Agent Sitwell, Charles Halford as Agent Shaw, Alison White as Marta and Ilia Volok as Vladimi. "The Hub" was written by Rafe Judkins & Lauren LeFranc and directed by Bobby Roth.

So, the last time we talked about this project, we were all like – take a look, Joaquin Phoenix is back, and he stars in The Untitled James Gray Project together with Marion Cotillard! Then, a strange thing happened and we were all like – the movie is now titled A Low Life! But today, we’re here to (finally) say that the real title is actually Nightingale, and to share more photos from the whole thing with you!

James Gray directed the movie from a script he co-wrote with Ric Menello, and beside Phoenix and Cotillard, Nightingale also stars Jeremy Renner, Angela Sarafyan, Dagmara Dominczyk, Glenn Fleshler, Tom Stratford, Ilia Volok and Antoni Corone.

In case you’ve missed the official synopsis, here’s a little reminder:

1920. In search of a new start and the American dream, Ewa Cybulski and her sister Magda sail to New York from their native Poland.

"Libra", the Season 2 finale of the Cinemax genre TV series "Femme Fatales", will air August 10, 2012, featuring a costumed, female superhero, created by comic book writer/illustrator Bob Layton :

"Libra", starring Betsy Rue, Adam Huss, Steve Railsback, Ilia Volok and Jeff Fahey, is directed by Robert Meyer Burnett, from a script by Buckaroo Zang, based on a story by Layton. 

"A woman creates her own superhero identity to avenge the death of her mother at the hands of her gangster father."

Based on the magazine of the same name, "Femme Fatales" the series is introduced by the mysterious and enigmatic host, 'Lilith'  :

"...featuring powerful, sexy and dangerous women inspired by and styled in the tradition of film noir/graphic novels, with stories inspired by such classics as 'Double Indemnity', 'Pulp Fiction' and the original 'The Twilight Zone' TV series. In each stand-alone episode, women find extraordinary ways of coping with their problems,...

Taylor Lautner dished on the making of one fight sequence in "Abduction" which sees him and Illia Volok facing off each other inside a train. The 19-year-old hunk initially shared, "We really did this. He throws me through a door. He throws me up against the bathroom's stall. He throws my face into the glass then it shattered. Being thrown around quite a bit."

The actor, played Nathan Harper in the thriller movie, explained that the scene was real and under a stunt coordinator's supervision. He said, "It was all for real, which is great and involved a lot of training as well. It's very specific and this was actually more dangerous one because we weren't wearing gloves, so if one of us messes up, we're literally getting punched with a bare fist."

After being told that their scene wasn't really selling, Taylor went full frontal in the next take...

Taylor Lautner appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman last night and had a great set story to share - the time he knocked out Abduction co-star Ilia Volok while shooting a fight scene on a train (see here for a preview of the scene). Apparently, director John Singleton asked Lautner to swing his arm further and Volok to put his face out more, and, as a result, during the next take Volok took Lautner's fist to the face. While he felt bad at first, once Volok came to and expressed that he was okay, Lautner said that he was somewhat proud of himself for being able to knock out a six-foot-something Russian ...