Paul Dano

Year-end awards are supposed to honor the best in cinema. But it might be more accurate to say they honor a narrow sliver of the best in cinema; only films released from October thru December; only the stuff promoted by the big studios; only movies deemed “important” or “serious” or “biopics about dead famous people.” The impulse to make lists and give out prizes is a good one, but more often than not that impulse results in one big echo chamber, with pundits predicting — and critics and guilds rewarding — the same half-dozen contenders.

Following his impressive english-language debut with the dystopian sci-fi Snowpiercer, South Korean director Bong Joon-ho is set to reunite with star Tilda Swinton for his follow-up, the mysterious monster movie project Okja. And like Snowpiercer, Bong’s new multilingual film is looking to cast a slew of well-known, english-speaking stars, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Kelly Macdonald and Bill Nighy.

I know Brian Wilson, the genius behind the great pop group the Beach Boys, had a tough decade or two after the collapse of his band. But to transform from Paul Dano to John Cusack in the span of a couple years? Those are some seriously hard times...

The first trailer for Love and Mercy has arrived, in which Paul Dano and John Cusack take on the role of music legend and Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson. Love and Mercy generated some positive word of mouth on the festival circuit last year, and since then, we’ve been anticipating the release of this biopic, which promises great performances from both Dano and Cusack in this intimate story about Wilson’s triumphs and struggles.

‘Love & Mercy’ – which premiered this week at the Toronto International Film Festival – isn’t the first movie to try to explore the life of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. There was the 1990 television movie ‘Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys,’ which told the story from the late Dennis Wilson’s perspective. Then there was the more expensive-looking, but still made for television ‘The Beach Boys: An American Family’ that aired in 2000. So, yes, we’ve seen Brian Wilson’s mental health dramatized before.

Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare: his 6-year-old daughter and her young friend are missing

Before you get all judgmental and say, "But that 'Napoleon Dynamite' guy is in this!", just hear us out. The new trailer for indie flick 'For Ellen' has dropped and with it, all the feelings in our hearts as Paul Dano attempts to connect with his estranged six year-old daughter.

Writer Calvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano) has a severe case of writer's block until he dreams of his perfect girl and literally writes her into existence in 'Ruby Sparks,' the new film from 'Little Miss Sunshine' team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Feris. Ruby, played by Zoe Kazan -- who also wrote the script -- is the epitome of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but in this meta tale of romantic expectations,

Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris haven't worked together since their breakout hit 'Little Miss Sunshine' way back in 2006. They're back together on their latest film, 'Ruby Sparks,' and the trailer is a delightful slice of whimsy.