Adventures in Marketing || ||

Seriously, Maybe Don't Ask Woody Harrelson Just Anything

Here's a doozy to add to the annals of great PR stunts gone wrong: Last Friday, Woody Harrelson took to Reddit to promote his latest film, Oren Moverman's Rampart, in which he gives a pretty terrific and tough performance as a corrupt L.A. cop. Harrelson's been an open book to the world in the past, so why not sit him down for a session of "Ask Me Anything" with the users of the internet's arguably most powerful (and famously no bullshit-taking) community?
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The Artist's Jean Dujardin: Too Sexy for French Censors (But What About Oscar?)

Banned in France! Well, kinda: Movie posters featuring Oscar-nominated Jean Dujardin, up for Best Actor for his turn as a silent film star in the sweet and wholesome The Artist, have been deemed too racy by French censors who recommended that certain billboards for Dujardin's French language film Les Infidels (The Players) be taken down. Judging from the film's redband trailer, Les Infidels is a comedy that features lots and lots of sex. Dirty sex. Upside down sex, suggest the naughty, naughty posters!
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Latest Skyfall Image: Go Poolside with James Bond

The latest publicity shot to come from the Skyfall set is several steps up from the Banal 007 meme witnessed a while back, though it's still pretty banal: Daniel Craig, with his back to the lens, sits on the ledge of a pool. At night. Ripped. Part movie photo, part gay-resort brochure.
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Today in Star Wars Insanity: Vader Burgers, Darth Tea and the Church of Jediism

If Yoda shilling for cup noodles made your skin crawl and your soul cry “Nooooo,” get ready to feel the Force sell-out even harder, and weirder, with a recent spate of George Lucas-approved shameless Star Wars marketing tie-ins. First, there’s Darth Maul and Yoda stumping for Lipton iced tea. Embarrassing, but that’s nothing compared to the super disgusting idea of a Darth Vader-themed hamburger featuring black-dyed buns. Blech. These are not the burgers you’re looking for, at least not to eat.
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The Paperboy Poster With Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman: Journalism School Musical

There've been updates about The Paperboy's casting for awhile, but only now do I realize the gravity of what's occurring. Um, wow: Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron are sharing a screen! And John Cusack! And Matthew McConaughey, for the hell of it! And -- what now? -- Lee Daniels is directing! They should call this quaint tale Extra Precious: Based on the Cutie 'Zac' by Efron. Synopsis and impressive poster after the jump.

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There is a Leaked Prometheus Trailer, and It Is Kind Of Awesome

Earlier today 20th Century Fox unveiled a shiny new look at Michael Fassbender in Ridley Scott's 2012 Alien related event pic Prometheus (via Empire), all blond and space-suited. Exciting! As if that wasn't enough to get your juices flowing, an unofficial version of the first trailer for the sci-fi thriller oozed onto the interwebs mere hours ago, and although it's shaky-cammed with fuzzy audio and is even labeled "Leaked"... it's kind of adrenaline-pumpingly awesome.

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Dark Knight Rises Viral Blitz: Bane's Gotham Attack Plans Revealed? (PICS)

Heads up, Dark Knight Rises watchers: A cool bit of viral marketing just arrived on my doorstep detailing what appear to be the dastardly plans of Tom Hardy's S&M baddie Bane. If you're remaining spoiler-free, I'd advise you not to hit the jump for more... not that I can really make heads or tails of the elaborate map of Gotham City he's marked up with his dastardly plans. Fire's about to rise, y'all!

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By the Numbers: Breaking Down the New Expendables 2 Teaser

The new 60-second teaser for The Expendables 2 isn't quite as LOL-splosive as the poster we all saw a few weeks back, but it's still pretty great in its own sort of testosterrific way. What's its secret? Let's try breaking the magic down by the numbers:

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Watch the Trailer for Camp Hell, the Horror Pic Jesse Eisenberg Wishes He Could Take Back

To be fair, nothing in Jesse Eisenberg's recently filed lawsuit claims that he wishes he could take back his five-minute cameo in the low budget horror pic Camp Hell, about evil unleashing a bloodbath at a Christian youth retreat. (That's just a guess.) The actor is simply a stickler for truth in advertising and wants his fans to know he's "not the star of and does not appear in a prominent role in Camp Hell." As for co-stars Bruce Davison, Dana Delaney, and Andrew McCarthy... well, you're kinda stuck. Watch the unintentional horrors unfold in the trailer after the jump!

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'Boil Japan': Watch Yoda Shill for Instant Noodles in Japanese Commercial

"Believe in your own power, you must." Words of wisdom from Star Wars guru Yoda have finally found their true purpose: Instructing a nation of instant noodle-eaters to activate their inborn power... to boil water! Seriously. You thought Vader's "Nooooo!" was blasphemous? Where's your god now, nerds?

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Custom Bellflower Medusa Car Can Be Yours to Drive Around the Apocalypse For Just $250,000

After you watch the horrific repercussions of Twilight's sweet, placenta-chomping vampire romance this weekend, check out the indie drama Bellflower, one of the year's more vivid and gut-wrenching examinations of the more painful side of love. You think delivering a monster baby is stressful, Bella Swan? Just see what happens to poor Woodrow (writer-director Evan Glodell) in the aftermath of puppy love. At least he's got the kick-ass, flame-throwing, apocalypse-ready Medusa car to ride around in... which can be yours, Bellflower fans, for just a few (thousand -- OK, many thousands of) bucks!

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What Happy Madison Intern is Behind the Sad, Sad Jack and Jill Twitter Page?

It's Friday, opening day for Sony's legendarily crapped-upon Adam Sandler vehicle Jack and Jill -- so what better time to launch a Jack and Jill Twitter feed than today, amirite? So the timing's not so good; at the time of this writing the page is just a few hours old. But the Tweets?? PRICELESS. Trust me: Skip the movie, hold onto your $10, and instead give it to the poor Happy Madison intern you might imagine slaving away in the office on a Friday trying to drum up interest in the abysmal comedy one unintentionally hilarious awful Tweet at a time. After the jump, a selection of the mind-blowingly best-worst Jack and Jill Tweets thus far. You're welcome.

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Adventures in Marketing || ||

New Snow White and the Huntsman Art Suggests Alice-Like Tone

Set photos of an armored Kristen Stewart and the star's own description of Snow White and the Huntsman's bloody edge had me thinking this could be the more transgressive of the two Snow White projects in the works (the other being Tarsem's newly titled Mirror, Mirror, starring Lily Collins and Armie Hammer). The first official SWATH banner art, however, suggests something a bit more kid-friendly, even Alice in Wonderland-esque. Or am I reading too much into the fantastical, Photoshopped flora and fauna swirling around Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and the disembodied head of evil queen Charlize Theron?

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Dirty Girl Viral Blog Exposes 13-Year-Olds to Filthy Sex Fantasy Chatter (UPDATED)

How do you possibly promote a movie about a promiscuous high school student in the '80s? If you're ripping a page out of the Weinstein Co.'s Dirty Girl's marketing book, try launching a blog where users can anonymously share their deepest, darkest, most twisted sexual fantasies... then making it accessible for anyone aged 13 and up! Um, guys...?

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Adventures in Marketing || ||

You're Next Graffiti Art: Is Banksy at Fantastic Fest?

A cool bit of graffiti art popped up overnight at Fantastic Fest for Adam Wingard's buzz film You're Next, which screens later tonight. Passes to the hotly anticipated horror pic, which was picked up by Lionsgate after a Toronto Film Festival bidding war, sold out quickly online and with fest faves A.J. Bowen and director Ti West (who both star in the film) in town it's one of the hot tickets for tonight. Is Banksy in our midst as well, spraying movie promos all over Austin? Or Mr. Brainwash? (Or both, if they're the same person??)

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