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Sam Rockwell made a surprise cameo appearance on the latest episode of HBO’s The White Lotus and it makes total sense for him to be on the show if you know more about his personal life!

The Oscar-winning actor guested as Walton Goggins‘ character Rick’s old friend who evidently owes Rick a favor, but he’s now sober and found religion, so he’s not interested in getting drunk with Rick.

Sam‘s character went viral when he revealed his addiction to sex and partying, specifically how he began sleeping with men so that he can feel like “one of these Asian girls.”

So, why does Sam‘s appearance make sense?

Keep reading to find out more…

For those who don’t know, Sam‘s real-life partner is Leslie Bibb, who is playing Kate, one of the three female friends.

Sam and Leslie have been in a relationship...

Quick ViewA serendipitous meetingNavigating Hollywood through mutual support and collaborationSurprise on-screen performance in The White Lotus

The romance of Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell is nothing short of a Hollywood romance. From their meeting at the Chateau Marmont to appearing on the same television show, the couple’s romance has stood strong for 15 years. They started dating back in 2007. Though the relationship was not serious initially, they soon fell in love. Their enduring relationship of 15 years has captivated their fans and withstood the test of time. Marked by mutual respect, shared passion, and individual success, the couple offers a glimpse into their Hollywood romance.

Sam Rockwell in Jojo Rabbit | Fox Searchlight Pictures

Rockwell was at the West Hollywood hotel for the filming of the movie Frost/Nixon when they met in the lobby. It all started with an exchange of a smile and the rest is history. For the last fifteen years,...

Will Forte is one of the most reliable names in comedy. Whether it's leading the absurd action of "MacGruber," lending his voice to animated comedy in the likes of "Rick and Morty" and "The Simpsons," or bringing to life various incarnations of Abraham Lincoln in "Clone High," "The Lego Movie," and "America: The Motion Picture," you can always count on Forte to inspire plenty of hilarity. But there's also a gentle charm to his presence when he's not driving the comedy bus. That's what makes him the perfect choice to play a father in the Sundance-selected family comedy "Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out."

Directed by Jake Van Wagoner, the film follows teen girl Itsy Levan, who finds herself suddenly stuck in the middle of nowhere after her home-flipping parents move their family out of the big city. At her new school, Itsy meets the quirky but intelligent Calvin Kipler,...

Today is March 1st, which means we have a whole new set of titles to tell you about that just dropped on Netflix. The streaming service has 54 new movies/TV shows from nearly every major studio, including Warner Bros., Paramount and Sony, and while that number is still ten less than what we got last March, there’s far more original content on the service than there was a year ago. So, trust me when I say you’ve got plenty of options.

So many options, in fact, that I often find myself browsing for so long that I can’t decide on what to watch until it gets too late and I go to bed instead. First world problems, right?

In any case, below you’ll find the full list as well as a few descriptions of some personal favorites. Or some that I just felt like commenting on.

Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)

This week’s question: Inspired by a tweet from Matt Zoller Seitz, what widely despised (and/or financially disastrous) movie from the last few years will eventually be considered a classic?

Carlos Aguilar (@Carlos_Film), Freelance for MovieMaker Magazine/Remezcla

The curios case of “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” evidences how critical consensus can shift in strange ways from festival premiere to theatrical release, and how easy it is for people to jump on the backlash train. Clearly, not everyone has to love Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s adaptation of Jesse Andrews’ novel as much as I do, but it was shocking to see how a film that was so instantly beloved at Sundance,...

Hey, there’s another movie out this weekend that’s “based on a true story”, but as the Monty Pythons would say, “And now for something completely different”. It’s not a gripping disaster like Deepwater Horizon (although its release problems were a disaster), but a “caper farce”. This flick concerns a real life heist like The Brink’S Job, but committed by The Gang That Couldn’T Shoot Straight. This crew gets by on sheer, bumbling stupidity because nobody would ever seriously refer to them as Masterminds.

The first mastermind we meet is Loomis Fargo money transport armored truck driver David Ghatt (Zach Galifiankis) circa 1997. Via voiceover he explains that he leads a dull life, that he’d even welcome a hold-up, despite the fact that he’ll soon tie the knot with his off-kilter fiance’ Jandice (Kate McKinnon). His world is soon rocked by the hiring of his new work partner,...

Masterminds is the summation of the strangest cinematic formula imaginable. You know director Jared Hess from such quirkiness as Napoleon Dynamite and Don Verdean, which he wrote alongside his wife Jerusha. You’ve witnessed how far off the beaten path his vision wanders, and you’ve probably sat there dumbfounded by the likes of Napoleon’s family and Nacho Libre. So what does Relativity Media do with such an individualistic filmmaker, who seems more comfortable writing his own material? Give him a ready-made script penned by three fairly fresh writers, cast A-list names and attempt to restrain Hess’ awkwardness for mainstream success. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, much like the actual bank heist Hess’ film is based on, everything.

Zach Galifianakis stars as Loomis Fargo security guard David Ghantt, who’s described as the lovechild of “Kenny Rodgers and Kenny Loggins.” His dreams of an exciting professional career that...

There’s a pretty good heist story buried underneath the muddled, sloppy mess that is “Masterminds.” After all, the film is based on the true story of the 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery, in which an employee of the armored truck company attempted to make off with nearly $20 million in a daring (and daringly stupid) act of criminal inspiration. Jared Hess’ film, his followup to the critically maligned “Don Verdean,” is so deeply unfunny that it’s probably wise to imagine what could have been. Despite a stacked cast of typically reliable talent, including Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Owen Wilson, Hess’ feature is practically anti-comedy, a punishing 94-minute endurance test with nearly zero return.

Despite the zany nature of the story, much of the screenplay (from Emily Spivey, Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer) sticks to the facts of the wild tale of the criminally ill-fated...

Kristen Wiig and Zach Galifianakis cannot redeem this asinine heist caper that trades wit, style and excitement for wacky outfits and crazy hair

When I got up this morning I didn’t think I’d go to bed with a vision of Zach Galifianakis sharting in a swimming pool. There’s nothing in my medicine cabinet or on my liquor shelf that can help me right now.

In December 2015, I reviewed Jared Hess’s Don Verdean and, after suffering through it and his previous catastrophe, Gentlemen Broncos, I vowed I would never see one of Hess’s movies again. Had I known Hess was the director of Masterminds when my editor gave me this assignment, I would have fibbed and said I had an evening dental appointment. Frankly, a tooth extraction without painkillers would have been far more enjoyable.

Continue reading...

Way back in May of 2015, it was heavily rumored that Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson were ready to reunite for Shanghai Dawn, the third chapter in their Shanghai Noon trilogy, following the original in 2000 and Shanghai Knights in 2003. Now, it's being reported that the long awaited sequel is finally moving forward. Both actors will return to their roles as Chon Wang and Roy O'Bannon.

Shanghai Dawn is currently in development at MGM. Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess will be at the helm of this next Western adventure. Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, who wrote the first two movies, are responsible for the story. Theodore Riley and Aaron Buchsbaum are writing the script.

No story details have been released at this time. The first movie follows the bumbling Chon Wang (Jackie Chan), who works as an Imperial guard in the Forbidden City of China. When Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Liu) is taken hostage,...

After the uneven Don Verdean, Jared Hess is returning to adventure comedy with more of an action tinge in the new trailer for the long-delayed Masterminds. Sad-sack night guard for an armored car company David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) is getting married to Jandice (Kate McKinnon), who comes in a package with her mother. He aspires to be something more, believing he is destined for adventure. Enter Kelly (Kristen Wiig), a new employee with a plan to rob the bank with her cohorts (including Owen Wilson), all the while special agent Scanlon (Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones) is hot on their tail.

Throw in a crazed hitman played by the always-game Jason Sudeikis, Hess’ oddball stylings, and the guaranteed constant improv from the cast, and what you get is the makings of a goofy, potentially dark action-comedy to kick off the fall. Here’s hoping it doesn’t get too bogged down...

If you’ve ever wondered where writer-director Jared Hess came up with idea for his debut feature film, 2004’s deadpan cult comedy “Napoleon Dynamite,” Hess’s 2002 short film “Peluca” holds the answer. Hess shot the nearly nine-minute short for an assignment at Brigham Young University and premiered it the following year at the Slamdance Film Festival.

Watch: New Trailer For the Jared Hess Comedy ‘Masterminds’

Shot on black and white 16mm film, the short stars Jon Heder as “Seth,” who is Napoleon Dynamite to a T, just with a different name. Hess shot the short in his hometown of Preston, Idaho over the course of just two days, shooting at many of the same locations seen in the feature film, like the local high school and thrift store. The title “Peluca,” the spanish word for wig, refers to a wig Seth and his friends Giel and Pedro purchase in the short.

Divine Access doesn’t hold any almighty answers to questions of existence, mainly because it doesn’t have to. Filmmaker Steven Chester Prince isn’t here to expose religion, but to investigate a flock’s mentality through the vision of one enlightened soul. In a very Don Verdean kind of way, this is a redemptive story about false prophets, and the power that holy command holds over people. It’s concerned with questions of how we choose to find meaning in the most simple, straight-forward acts of living that couldn’t Possibly be misconstrued (or so you’d think). You’ll laugh, cringe, and hopefully think a little bit, mostly about how living your life is a lot more important than worrying about what comes next. Praise be to – well – whoever!

Billy Burke stars as Jack Harriman, a southern slacker who spends his time wooing women through higher means of manipulation.

Stars Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan and Jemaine Clement take fans behind-the-scenes of their new comedy Don Verdean, which debuts on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD formats on March 1. This bizarre comedy comes from writer-director Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), and hit theaters back in December, after debuting at last year's Sundance Film Festival. As you can see from the preview below, this certainly isn't your typical comedy, but Jared Hess has definitely assembled an all-star cast.

Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan and Jemaine Clement put a comedic spin on evangelical fraud in the wildly funny adventure, Don Verdean, arriving on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD (plus Digital) and Digital HD March 1 from Lionsgate. The "absurdly funny" (Wnyn-tv) Sundance Film Festival favorite is currently available On Demand and features laugh-out-loud performances by Leslie Bibb, Primetime Emmy&#174 nominee Will Forte and Danny McBride.

From the writers of Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre comes a comedy of biblical proportions.

A woman (Anna Kendrick) who can't find the right guy meets a unique hitman (Sam Rockwell) with a bizarre moral code in the first trailer for Mr. Right, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies. This new comedy from Focus World hits theaters on April 8, going up against Relativity's Before I Wake, Universal's The Boss and Stx Entertainment's Hardcore Henry. As you can see in the trailer below, Mr. Right puts a new spin on the romantic comedy, through the eyes of an unorthodox couple.

Hyperactive at the best of times, Martha (Anna Kendrick) has gone full-on manic since her latest breakup. She babbles, parties like a monster, cooks everything in sight - and is looking to do something terrible when she meets Francis (Sam Rockwell). To anyone else, Francis's approach would come across as creepy, but Martha can't help but be intrigued. They seem a perfect match: she's bananas, he's bananas... except...

Depending on your age, the '90s programming at Nickelodeon was either a childhood staple or was part of late nights of your high school/college years. Either way, the run of shows was very strong, and in this era of maximizing IP value, it's a bit of a surprise the network hasn't done anything with them...until now... Variety reports that Nickelodeon is going to ambitiously put characters from all their '90s shows into a single movie, "NickToons," with "Napoleon Dynamite" director Jared Hess to helm the project. That's right, the worlds of "Doug," "Rugrats," "Ren & Stimpy" and "Ahh! Real Monsters" will collide (and, hopefully, "Hey Arnold!") for what's being described as a "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"-esque film. Hess is also writing the project with regular collaborator Jerusha Hess, and it's certainly an ambitious undertaking. Read More: Review: 'Don Verdean' Starring Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan,...

Crossovers and shared universes are certainly hot properties on both the big screen and small screen alike, as evidenced by The CW's Arrow and The Flash, along with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Universal's upcoming shared monster universe, and much more. Today we have word through Deadline that Paramount is developing a new movie based on the iconic Nicktoons cartoons, that will feature a slew of beloved characters. The feature will reportedly include characters from hit shows such as Rugrats, The Ren and Stimpy Show, Rocko's Modern Life, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and The Angry Beavers.

The studio has set Jared Hess (Don Verdean) to direct and co-write the script with his wife and frequent collaborator, Jerusha Hess, based on an idea by Ali Mendes. No specific plot details were given, nor was it revealed how these various animated TV worlds will cross over, but the project was said to be in...

It isn’t often we get an R-rated movie with such a high-profile cast (read: Deadpool) let alone an R-rated and hand-drawn animation featuring a host of funny and talented actors. The Adventures Of Drunky is about to fix the latter though, and it’s got a cracking cast to help Aaron Augenblick’s cheeky feature hit the ground running.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seven Psychopaths star Sam Rockwell, Steve Coogan and the award-winning Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent) will lend their vocal chords to Augenblick’s riotous tale. Out of luck and out of love, it’s Rockwell’s titular barfly who finds himself caught up between God and Satan, and the two celestial beings strike a bet to push his character through heaven and hell – quite literally, in fact – to rescue the woman he holds nearest and dearest (Nina Arianda).

Like an angel one shoulder and a horned imp on the other,...

With just one week left before Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18, this weekend was expected to be less than impressive. Warner Bros.' In the Heart of the Sea is the only new wide release, with most projections predicting it would make enough to unseat The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, which has won at the box office for three weeks in a row. Box Office Mojo reports that In the Heart of the Sea couldn't quite overtake The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, which won for the fourth weekend in a row with $11.3 million, just above In the Heart of the Sea's second place take with $11 million.

In the weekend before blockbusters such as Avengers: Age of Ultron and Jurassic World opened, the box office saw a significant downturn, as fans got ready for those highly-anticipated movies to hit theaters. It's no surprise that...

Jared Hess is still having trouble getting out of his own shadow, but Don Verdean may just be the film that opens things up for him. After Napoleon Dynamite, many of the reviews of his films included the line, “Well, it’s no Napoleon Dynamite,” and it can be a struggle when many people fall so […]

The post New Don Verdean Clips Showcase Jared Hess Oddity appeared first on FilmReview.com.

On paper, Don Verdean seems like it might have had some satirical potential. It’s a comedy about a “Biblical archaeologist” and con-man (Sam Rockwell) who travels America’s churches marveling the faithful with his discoveries, his books, and his VHS-grade promo videos about all the cool God stuff he finds in The Holy Land. When he’s encouraged by a famous, wealthy Evangelical pastor (Danny McBride) to look for some major new artifacts, Don winds up going too far – first purporting to have found the pillar of salt that is Lot’s Wife, then the skull of Goliath – and starts doubling down on his lies. But Don’s heart, we suspect, is good. “Finding treasure in the earth is meaningless if it doesn’t help get to heaven someone that wouldn’t otherwise,” he tells his loyal assistant Carol (Amy Ryan, adorable but largely wasted), and we know he means it.

How much thought do you put into your breakfast cereal? Do you pour it each morning automatically, by routine, giving little mind to what this meal may have to do with Satan? If so, Will Forte is here to help: In this exclusive clip from the new comedy Don Verdean, directed by Napoleon Dynamite helmer Jared Hess (and out today in theaters, on demand, and on iTunes), Forte plays a nutty pastor preaching to his flock about the dangers of deviant cereals like Grape Nuts. Eventually, this mendacious man of the cloth will become entangled with Sam Rockwell (playing the movie's titular biblical archaeologist), but for now, just press play and let Will Forte educate you. You'll be glad you did, and so will your morning routine.

Okay film fanatics, when you hear the word archeologist, who do you immediately think of? That’s simple, you picture the rugged Harrison Ford as the dashing, whip-crackin’ Henry Jones, Junior better known as Indiana Jones, first introduced in 1981’s Raiders Of The Lost Ark (hmm, that itself may be an ancient artifact). First and foremost he’s a dashing action hero, but he’s also a man of ethics and morals, stated in his catchphrase “It belongs in a museum!”, along with his other sayings “Snakes. I hate ’em!” and “It’s not the years, it’s the mileage”. So are all seekers of the past, so noble? Well, the title character of the new film from the makers of Napoleon Dynamite certainly doesn’t follow in the well-worn boots of ole’ Indy. He’s got few qualms about fudging the facts and digging where he’s not permitted.

Sam Rockwell cuts a great figure as a con man. Based on performances in “Matchstick Men,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” and even “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” Rockwell appears able to slip into a particular zone of earnest dishonesty without any real effort at all. (Not drawing any conclusions about the man here; that’s talent.) Even when he’s working in a minor mode, as in “Don Verdean,” that talent is enough to command some attention. Rockwell plays this film’s title character, a “Biblical archeologist” whose work is more than a bit suspect. He’s made a living by unearthing Biblical artifacts, to the delight of the faithful. But is he for real? Around this figure, writer/director Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite”) builds a comic diversion pitched somewhere between soft satire and madcap adventure. Don is on the decline, but he’s recruited by Tony Lazarus...

Going Clear: Hess’ Uncomfortable Religious Comedy Defuses Subversive Potential

Religion and comedy don’t make for comfortable bedfellows, at least not for films attempting to play it safe by simultaneously poking fun at blind belief while expecting us to empathize with an inability to question basic tenets of any particular religious belief system. This is exactly the tone director Jared Hess strikes with his new comedy Don Verdean, a film about a well-meaning religious charlatan preying on the superstitious beliefs of Christians devoted to finding archaeological relics supposedly proving various mythological instances from the Bible. Rather than castigate his characters, we’re meant to laugh at their desperate antics in a sort of moral fable whose agenda is made palatable by its notable cast members allowing for a work around from falling into a religious niche market.

A decade ago, biblical archaeologist Don Verdean (Sam Rockwell) discovered an artifact in...

A mediocre comedy sketch is stretched over 90 minutes in this starry flop conclusively proving Napoleon Dynamite was a blip in the career of Jared Hess

A typical Saturday Night Live sketch lasts about five minutes. That’s just enough time to get in your premise, your broadly drawn characters, their funny hair and clothing, a few quality zings and – if we’re being honest – a moment or two of awkward miscalculations. Jared Hess, the director of the unexpected indie success Napoleon Dynamite and, more recently, the wretched Gentlemen Broncos, seems to think he has the goods to break this rule. Comedy is, of course, subjective, but atrocious storytelling is undeniable. This (alleged) satire of a Bible-belt huckster getting in-too-deep with a pair of rival churches is idiotic and unfocused, and sitting through its tedium is a sufferance more befitting of Job. I’d call it offensive to religious people, but...

Movie: Don Verdean Director: Jared Hess (‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ ‘Nacho Libre’) Starring: Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Leslie Bibb, Will Forte and Danny McBride People tend to take extreme measures to cover their failures from the public they so desperately wish to be admired by, particularly their followers who were once so dedicated to their work and contributions to society. But sometimes those excessive actions they take wind up garnering even more attention than their original work, and can ultimately tarnish the acclaim they previously achieved. That motivation to reclaim your former glory in your professional career with a seemingly captivating new project, only to disappointingly fail because of your [ Read More ]

The post Don Verdean Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Religious themes will always spark controversy, but it’s never Jared or Jerusha Hess’ intention to lace Don Verdean with stinging societal commentary. Satire certainly exists, but in a more goofy, overexposed kind of way that makes light of men who build congregations around insane epiphanies and phony beliefs. The Hess’ don’t seek controversy, as Don Verdean exists in their silly realm of quirky character pieces like Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre, and Gentleman Broncos - but this is certainly their most grounded effort to-date. This isn’t a case of Team Hess jumping ship, just an attempt at more straight-laced comedy and almighty exploitation. No flying spaghetti monsters, I promise!

Sam Rockwell plays a biblical artifact hunter named Don Verdean, who spreads the Lord’s word by proving scripture passages with evidence. Aided by his research assistant Carol Jensen (Amy Ryan), Don spends his days trying to prevent already...

This was originally reviewed as part of our Sundance 2015 coverage. Plot: Don Verdean (Sam Rockwell) is a self-described “biblical archaeologist” whose findings are often met with disbelief and derision. Now eking out a living on the church lecture tour, Don gets his big break when a pastor (Danny McBride) offers to finance his digs in the Holy Land, provided he bring something back that will bring... Read More...

In what could best be described as the "calm before the storm" at the box office this weekend, Warner Bros.' In the Heart of the Sea is the only new wide release, with Universal's Legend expanding nationwide. According to projections from BoxOffice.com, In the Heart of the Sea is set to take in $17 million during its opening, which is low by mid-December standards, but should be enough to end the three-week reign of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. The low figures are attributed largely to the massive release of Disney's Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 18.

In the weekend before blockbusters such as Avengers: Age of Ultron and Jurassic World opened, the box office saw a significant downturn, as fans got ready for those highly-anticipated movies to hit theaters. It's no surprise that this weekend will not be any different, since Star Wars: The Force Awakens...

This week’s episode of our podcast We Are Movie Geeks The Show is up! Hear Wamg’s Michelle McCue, Jim Batts and Tom Stockman discuss the weekend box office. We’ll review The Heist, Don Verdean, The Danish Girl, Chi-raq, Krampus, and MacBeth. We’ll preview The Revenant, Concussion, In The Heart Of The Sea, and the new Chipmunks movie. We’ll talk about some older movies playing in St. Louis this week and talk about the film critics awards that are rolling in. We Are Movie Geeks The Show is a weekly podcast and can be heard streaming at ONStl.com Online Radio.

Here’s this week’s show. Have a listen:

http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/Wamg-12-7-54.mp3

The post This Week’s Wamg Podcast – Chi-raq, Krampus, MacBeth and More! appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.

Despite dropping a whopping 64.2% at the box office this weekend, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 still managed to hold on to the top spot for the third week in a row with $18.6 million. The franchise finale opened in the top spot with $101 million, although that tally was the lowest debut of all four movies in the blockbuster franchise, and it took in $51.6 million over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, beating out Pixar's The Good Dinosaur, Warner Bros.' Creed and 20th Century Fox's Victor Frankenstein. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 bested this weekend's only new release, the holiday horror-thriller Krampus, according to http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/|Box Office Mojo}.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 has now earned $227.1 million after opening on November 20. Krampus debuted in second place this weekend with $14.5 million, earning a $5,520 per-screen average from 2,902 theaters. Warner Bros.' Creed stayed put in third place this weekend with $15.54 million,...

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 has had no trouble taking down its competitors during its first two weekends at the box office. The franchise finale opened in the top spot with $101 million, although that tally was the lowest debut of all four movies in the blockbuster franchise, and it took in $51.6 million over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, beating out Pixar's The Good Dinosaur, Warner Bros.' Creed and 20th Century Fox's Victor Frankenstein. While it is expected to drop significantly again in its third frame in theaters, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 will end up on top once again, overtaking this weekend's only new release, the holiday horror-thriller Krampus, according to the projections at Pro.BoxOffice.com.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is expected to take in an estimated $24.7 million over the weekend of December 4, with Pixar's The Good Dinosaur ($20.3 million) and Creed ($17.5 million) expected to remain...

It's been six years since Jared Hess' last film "Gentlemen Broncos," but the offbeat director of "Nacho Libre" and "Napoleon Dynamite" is back with his predictably absurd and surprisingly star-studded "Don Verdean."  Read More: Why Jemaine Clement, Unlikely Romantic Hero of 'People Places Things,' Wasn't Sure What Kind of Film They Were Making Starring Jemaine Clement, Will Forte, Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan and Danny McBride, "Don Verdean" follows the titular character (Rockwell), a biblical archaeologist in search of holy artifacts in a sacred land. When Verdean comes up short, he is forced to cover up his shortcomings with a plot that eventually leads to a comic conspiracy of epic proportions.  To catch a peek at the film before it opens in theaters and On Demand December 11, check out the exclusive stills below.  Read More: Danny McBride Returning to HBO in 'Vice Principals' From 'Eastbound and Down' Production.

Today we have the trailer for the upcoming "Don Verdean" comedy, starring Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Leslie Bibb, with Will Forte, and Danny McBride. Check it out below. Plot: Hired by an ambitious small-town pastor to find sacred relics in the Holy Land, a self-proclaimed Biblical archaeologist comes up short and his attempt to cover up his failure fuels a comic conspiracy. The new movie is directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre) and is set to hit select theaters on December 11th. Trailer:...

Jared Hess is in a strange class as a director, and if something doesn’t shift soon, he’s never going to manage a poster that doesn’t say, “From the director of Napoleon Dynamite.” Don Verdean just might be that shift. Hess has had some serious gaps between films, and his post-Dynamite work only includes Nacho Libre, […]

The post Sam Rockwell Aims To Bamboozle Religious History In ‘Don Verdean’ Trailer appeared first on FilmReview.com.

If Indiana Jones were living today -- and living at all, to begin with -- would he be battling evangelical ministers in pursuit of religious artifacts? Or maybe he would be working for one, like Don Verdean, an archeologist specializing in the Bible in the new comedy from the husband/wife team of Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess (Napoleon Dynamite). Sam Rockwell stars as the title character in the movie, somewhat unrecognizable (supposedly people on the set didn't know it was him) underneath a dirty blonde wig and beard. Joining Rockwell is a terrific ensemble of comedic actors. There's Oscar-nominated actress Amy Ryan as Verdean's assistant, Jemaine Clement as his Israeli friend and guide, Danny McBride as the pastor he works for, Leslie Bibb as the pastor's...

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Napoleon Dynamite helmer Jared Hess returns to screens December 11th with his latest slice of oddity. Sam Rockwell stars as as the titular Don Verdean, a Biblical archaeologist hired by a small town church to bring ancient artefacts from the Middle East back to the Us to restore the church to relevance. This goes every bit as strangely as you'd expect in a Jared Hess film.Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Leslie Bibb, Stephen Park, Will Forte, and Danny McBride also star in this one and while mileage certainly varies for people where Hess is concerned I've always loved the guy and the freshly released trailer made me laugh out loud more than once. Check it out below....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Among other things Sam Rockwell is looking for the Holy Grail of artifacts, the Holy Grail, in the trailer for the new comedy Don Verdean. Hired by an ambitious small-town pastor to find sacred relics in the Holy Land, a self-proclaimed Biblical archaeologist comes up short and his attempt to cover up his failure fuels […]

Read Sam Rockwell is Looking for the Holy Grail in Don Verdean on Filmonic.

Sam Rockwell and Danny McBride are on a mission from God in the riotous first trailer for Don Verdean, the all-new comedy coming by way of Napoleon Dynamite duo Jared and Jerusha Hess.

Toplining the flick as Biblical archaeologist Don, Rockwell is channeling a comedic energy not unlike his turn in Seven Psychopaths as the naive and dim-witted explorer, who is tasked with unearthing the fabled and forgotten skull of Goliath from the sun-kissed hills of Israel. All of this is in an effort to reap the benefits of stumbling upon such a discovery, but when Don fails to locate the asset, he finds himself spinning an old yarn in order to cover both himself and his bumbling number two Boaz (Jermaine Clement) from the wrath of McBride’s character.

As Rockwell’s character so gleefully puts: “untruths are necessary for the greater good,” and that ought to give you...

Despite making a big splash with his 2004 feature debut Napoleon Dynamite, filmmaker Jared Hess has not been seen on the big screen since 2009’s Gentlemen Broncos, with his only other work in the meantime being the animated Napoleon Dynamite animated series. Hess is set to return to theatres later this year, however, with a new film, his first in six years.

Titled Don Verdean, the film is directed by Hess and co-written by Jared and Jerusha Hess, both of whom have worked together on the screenplay for all the films Jared Hess has directed. Sam Rockwell leads the cast this time around, joined by Jermaine Clement, Will Forte, Danny McBride, and Amy Ryan. The film’s synopsis is as follows.

Hired by an ambitious small-town pastor to find sacred relics in the Holy Land, a self-proclaimed Biblical archaeologist comes up short and his attempt to cover up his failure fuels...

With his Masterminds currently in release limbo due to the bankruptcy at Relativity, the next film we'll see from Napoleaon Dynamite director Jared Hess will be Don Verdean. Sam Rockwell, Danny McBride, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement and Will Forte star, and the first trailer has just arrived.As you'll have gathered from that, the film sees Rockwell's Biblical archaeologist Don and his sidekick Boaz (Clement) hired by McBride to find the skull of Goliath in Israel. But when Don comes up short, his failure fuels a farcical conspiracy. Sometimes "untruths are necessary for the greater good".Don Verdean premiered at Sundance at the start of this year, and gets a lmited Us theatrical release and an online rollout courtesy of Lionsgate on December 11. There's no UK release date so far.

Bear witness to a hoax of biblical proportions in the funny new trailer from Lionsgate Premiere’s Don Verdean.

Hired by an ambitious small-town pastor to find sacred relics in the Holy Land, a self-proclaimed Biblical archaeologist comes up short and his attempt to cover up his failure fuels a comic conspiracy.

Join Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Leslie Bibb, Will Forte and Danny McBride in this hilarious satire from the director of Napoleon Dynamite & Nacho Libre (Jared Hess), arriving in theaters and on demand December 11.

Check out the film on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DonVerdean

Twitter: twitter.com/lgpremiere #DonVerdean

The post Sam Rockwell, Will Forte And Danny McBride Keep The Faith In New Don Verdean Trailer appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.

This just in: The Holy Grail of biblical archaeology is the Holy Grail. Now get ready for a hoax of biblical proportions. Here’s the first trailer for Don Verdean, the latest romp from the team behind Napoleon Dynamite. The title character (Sam Rockwell) is an archaeologist renowned for discovering artifacts tied to the Bible. He hooks up with small-town pastor Tony Lazarus (Danny McBride) who funds his trip to Israel in search of Good Book-related relics to bring home…...

Bear witness to a hoax of biblical proportions with the new trailer and poster from Lionsgate Premiere's Don Verdean, arriving in theaters and on demand December 11! Join Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Leslie Bibb, Will Forte and Danny McBride as they uncover the world's most sacred relics in this hilarious satire. The trailer, courtesy of Fandango, introduces us to the latest colorful characters created by Jared Hess, the director of Napoleon Dynamite & Nacho Libre.

Hired by an ambitious small-town pastor to find sacred relics in the Holy Land, a self-proclaimed Biblical archaeologist comes up short and his attempt to cover up his failure fuels a comic conspiracy. The supporting cast includes Steve Park and Sky Elobar. Jared Hess also produces alongside Brandt Andersen and Dave Hunter. Grindstone Entertainment's Barry Brooker and Stan Wertlieb brought the project to Lionsgate.

Lionsgate acquired Don Verdean just before its debut at the Sundance Film Festival back in January.

Jared Hess introduced the world to “Napoleon Dynamite” over a decade ago. Now he returns with “Don Verdean," his first film in six years. Sticking with Hess's tradition of absurd and offbeat comedy, this film features his most star-studded cast to date. Sam Rockwell stars as Don Verdean, a biblical archaeologist in search of hidden treasures in the Holy Land. Failing to find the artifacts an American pastor hired him to find, the two are forced to cover up a hoax that’s gaining more attention than they can handle. The film also stars Amy Ryan, Danny McBride and Will Forte. Lionsgate Premiere will release "Don Verdean" in theaters and on demand December 11. Watch the trailer above. Read More: The Indiewire 2015 Fall Preview: The 28 Films We're Most Excited to See (That We Haven't Seen Yet)...

Don Verdean is a film that comes to us from Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess, and it looks like it will deliver some hilarious comedy. We have a trailer and clip for the film for you to watch today. The story centers on Sam Rockwell, who plays a Biblical archaeologist. When he sets out on his latest adventure, he finds himself caught in a feud between two rival congregations led by Danny McBride and Will Forte.

The movie has a fun cast that also includes Jemaine Clement as Rockwell's Holy Land associate, Amy Ryan as his assistant Carol, and Leslie Bibb as McBride’s wife. The film screened at Sundance earlier this year, and you can read our review for it here. In that review, Eli says:

"Hess dials back the zaniness in Don Verdean without losing his signature touches and provides a better stage for Rockwell and Clement, who...

While we wait to see what Disney does with its never-gonna-get-recast icon Indiana Jones, Napoleon Dynamite duo Jared and Jerusha Hess have mounted their own search for the Holy Grail. Don Verdean stars Sam Rockwell as a Biblical archaeologist who gets caught in the rivalry between two congregations led by Danny McBride and Will Forte. Needless to say, this is a much sillier quest than the one […]

The post ‘Don Verdean’ Trailer: The ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Duo Sends Sam Rockwell in Search of Religious Artifacts appeared first on /Film.

"Congratulations, your ministry is almost relevant again." Lionsgate has unveiled the first official trailer for Jared Hess new comedy Don Verdean, which premiered at Sundance this year and is about a Biblical archaeologist who digs his way into fraudulent trouble. Sam Rockwell stars as the titular character Don Verdean, also featuring Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement as an Israeli named Boaz, Danny McBride, Will Forte and Leslie Bibb. This is a very kooky, wacky, funky, fun comedy that smears religion and how easy it is to fall for the dream of getting rich. The trailer provides a solid intro to the story and gives a good look at what goes down, so have at it. The film premiered at Sundance, where I gave it a lukewarm review. Enjoy! Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Jared Hess' Don Verdean, direct from Fandango's YouTube: Hired by an ambitious small-town pastor to...

Even though his comedy Masterminds was delayed due to Relativity Media’s bankruptcy struggles, we’ll still see a new film from Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess this year. After premiering at Sundance, Don Verdean, which boasts the great cast of Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Danny McBride, and Will Forte, will open in December and the first trailer has landed today.

We said in our review, “Halfway through the film the script begins to go through the motions. Once Verdean makes a surprising decision, the rest of it is followed by an expected narrative. A comedy should be surprising, which, after the first act, Don Verdean is not. While Hess hasn’t made a good films in years, he’s not without his talent. There are some nice visual gags in the movie, especially a locked-off shot of Boaz dancing. This is unquestionably superior to Gentleman Broncos, and...