This is too bizarre to not share. More pics and the story are here. [Thanks Nick]

We’ve been looking forward to Todd Hayne’s upcoming Dylan film, “I’m Not There.” Seeing David Cross as Alan Ginsburg will be worth the price of admission. Luckily, Aquarium Drunkard has two MP3 downloads from the soundtrack to hold us over. You can grab Jim James and Calexico covering “Goin’ to Acapulco” and Mark Lanegan covering “Man in the Long Black Coat” here.

This will cure Monday blues. [Thanks Rumproast]

by Dave Thomas

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Southland Tales
It’s November, which means it’s time once again for the studios and their indie divisions to start pulling out the heavy hitters, family films and occasional horror counterprogramming.
November 2
AMERICAN GANGSTER
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Denzel vs. Crowe
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is excellent to the tune of #120 in the IMDB Top 250, pre-release. You’d expect no less from Steve Zaillian writing, Ridley Scott directing and the leads I’ve already mentioned. And those of you who thought you saw Common in the trailer, you did.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Opening in fairly thick competition, but this will be hard to beat. $65mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Who won’t get a nod from this movie?
———————————————
MARTIAN CHILD
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kiddie K-Pax
WILL IT SUCK?
Variety describes it as “sententiously moralizing.” I’m not 100% sure what that means, but it doesn’t sound good. They like the leads, though: John Cusack and newcomer Bobby Coleman as the Martian tyke. From the director of Max, which was, well, okay.
Incidentally, in the book on which this is based Cusack’s character is a gay, single father. In this version, he’s a hetero widower. Hmm…
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Feel good dramedy is gonna come more from Dan in Real Life‘s second frame than this. $22mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Cusack has a better shot with his other hetero widower role.
———————————————
BEE MOVIE
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Antz with wings. And Jerry Seinfeld.
WILL IT SUCK?
All the hallmarks are there for a good Seinfeld ep, from the setting to the writers. Co-director did Prince of Egypt, which was, well, okay. Haven’t seen anything from it yet that actually looks funny, though. I get the feeling I’d rather watch Seinfeld do stand-up for 90 minutes.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Basically has the demo to itself, with just the slightest leeching from Fred Claus the following week. $120mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Depending upon how reviews pan out, it’s easy game for Best Animated.
———————————————
DARFUR NOW
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc about six activists (including Don Cheadle) who try to make a difference in the Sudan.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. It’ll be interesting to see if people can get past their prejudices against celebrities touting causes to get into the film (Clooney’s up in here, too).
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If Leo can’t sell global warming, I don’t know if Cheadle can market Darfur. $1mil.

(more…)

They’re getting huge overseas and their record features Feist! Check out “Diamonds On Fire” (with Feist) here. Strangely, they haven’t been picked up by a label yet in the U.S. From their MySpace page:

Danceable folk, bedroom disco, and lost love laments; these are just a few facets of Rubies. California-based trio, Rubies, are three young ladies that push the boundaries of how we perceive pop music. The poised and dynamic range of songwriting keeps the listener excited by offering fresh and honest versions of future dancefloor and living room classics. Simone Rubi (lead vocals, keyboards) entices the crowd while Terri Loewenthal (bass) keeps them dancing. Add Amy Cooper’s shimmering guitar, the harmonies of all three voices and beats provided by machine or borrowed man. While it could be in a crowded avant-garde discotheque in NYC, a motorik infused warehouse in Berlin, or the pine-needle carpeted redwoods of Big Sur, the energy of Rubies will have you dreaming of your first crush. Rubies have just finished their first album. We were lucky enough to have helping hands from Eirik Glambek-Boe (Kings of Convenience) and his new group “Kommode”, Leslie Feist, Karl-Jonas Winqvist (Blood Music), Dan Judd (Sorcerer), Lars Skoglund (Laakso, Peter, Bjorn and John), Maria Eriksson (The Concretes) and a small army of other talented folks from all over the world.

There’s more music and some videos on their MySpace page.