Back in February when he was fresh off his Oscar-win, Danny Boyle told MTV he was considering a project called The Texas Killing Fields, which was in no way related to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but does speak to people’s fear of the Lone Star State and their decision not to mess with it.  The plot is mostly under wraps but it concerns two cops who discover that a recent murder in their jurisdiction is connected to the notorious “Killing Fields Murders.”

While Boyle ultimately decided not to do the film (he has since moved on to direct the survival tale 127 Hours), it has now moved into the hands of Ami Mann, daughter of Michael Mann (Heat), with Bradley Cooper and Sam Worthington attached to star.  Click the jump for more details.

Catalog titles FTW. I am one of those rare people who enjoy being “double dipped.” I like upgrading to Blu-ray if I love a film, because you only get to watch a movie for the first time once, and so a different and better transfer is a reason (at least for me) to get excited about a film you’ve seen a number of times. When I would go see something in the theater on multiple occasions, I’d often go to different theaters (or failing that, different seats). My reviews of the Blu-rays of Heat and Logan’s Run after the jump.

Debuting twenty-three years ago with “Manhunter”, there have been five films chronicling the enigmatic and terrifying serial killer Hannibal Lecter.  Though many of us have seen the first three (which are included in this collection), they were previously unreleased on Blu-Ray format until this past month.  If you haven’t seen these films, you owe it yourself to see them at whatever cost, but the Blu-Ray versions don’t necessarily add anything spectacular to the series.  Though worth watching, this collection of films doesn’t differ much from the previously released versions, and I am still waiting for some sort of “Ultimate Collection.” Keep reading after the jump to see why.

Ever since “Public Enemies”, I’ve started to become suspicious of this Michael Mann character.  Sometimes he gives me brilliant movies that I love and other times he shoots a 1920s gangster movie with a digital camera so it looks like grainy, anachronistic crap on top of being a painfully boring narrative.  So when I hear he wants to make a movie about Robert Capa, a man whose photos and life are both powerful and compelling, I’m not just hesitant about the idea, but kind of worried.  Hit the jump to read more about Capa, see some of his photos, and perhaps share my sentiment about Mann.

Currently playing in theaters is director Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies”. The film is set during the Depression-era’s great crime wave and it’s the story of the government’s attempt to stop legendary criminals John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. This operation transformed the FBI into the first federal police force. By now you’ve seen the trailers and commercials, so you know the cast is filled with famous faces like Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum and David Wenham.

Anyway, to help promote the film, our partners at Omelete sent me to cover the international press day and I was able to participate in a small press conference with Marion Cotillard. While Marion doesn’t have a huge part, she absolutely holds her own against Johnny Depp, as she plays his love interest Billie Frechette. After the jump is what she had to say about the movie and a lot more. Take a look:

Opening today is director Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies”. The film is set during the Depression-era’s great crime wave and it’s the story of the government’s attempt to stop legendary criminals John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. This operation transformed the FBI into the first federal police force. By now you’ve seen the trailers and commercials, so you know the cast is filled with famous faces like Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum and David Wenham.

Anyway, to help promote the film, our partners at Omelete sent me to cover the international press day and I was able to participate in a small press conference with Johnny Depp. During the interview, Johnny talked about making “Public Enemies”, all his upcoming films like “Alice in Wonderland” and “Dark Shadows”, and a lot more. Since he doesn’t do a lot of press, if you’re a fan, you’ll love the interview. Read or listen to it after the jump:

Director Michael Mann marches to the beat of his own drummer and I dig him for that.  He’s practically an indie director operating in mainstream Hollywood and gets to play with a lot of money and yet his films tend to lack commercial appeal once you strip away the stars and the premise.  Regardless of what you think of “Ali” or “Miami Vice”, were those films what you expected?  With “Public Enemies”, Mann has pulled yet another switcheroo, pulling in viewers with a tantalizing promise of “Heat” with 1930s gangsters and instead providing a cool and cerebral take on self-reflexive celebrity that may be intellectually rewarding but delivers few thrills.

Universal has sent over eight movie clips from director Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” and they’re all after the jump. While I saw the film the other night I’m still under embargo, so I can’t tell you what I think….

But I don’t think I’m breaking anything when I say the HD cinematography is either going to work for you…or it won’t. For me, some of the gun battles looked amazing. But I’m still not sold on HD.

Anyway, if you don’t know the story of “Public Enemies”…Set during the Depression-era’s great crime wave, the story of the government’s attempt to stop legendary criminals John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. This operation transformed the FBI into the first federal police force from the powerless agency it once was.

The film stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum and David Wenham and it’s in theaters July 1^st. Watch the clips after the jump:

We have some new character banners for Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” [via IMPAwards] just in case you forgot what Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Marion Cotillard look like in 1930s attire. They look nice.  Maybe it will be a fashion comeback.

Check out the new posters after the jump.  “Public Enemies” hits theatres on July 1st.