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A movie heist is pretty much the same as a real-life one: you're only as good as your crew. And writer/director Jonathan Sobol managed to put together an expert one for the follow-up to his acclaimed debut "A Beginner's Guide to Endings."

For "The Art of the Steal," a border-hopping crime comedy full of double-crosses and high stakes heists, Sobol convinced big names like Kurt Russell, Terence Stamp, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel to come along for the ride. And for his part, Baruchel said the decision to join up was an easy one. He liked the script and cast, and he and the Canadian writer/director shared a mutual affinity for making movies at home, as well as knowing when to pepper the tightly-scripted heist plot with bits of improvised humour.

Moviefone Canada sat down with Baruchel and Sobol during the Toronto International Film Festival, where we heard about Sobol's heist movie inspirations,...

Toronto - Let's just call it as it is: Jay Baruchel is a freakin' cool dude. The self-described movie nerd took the train into Toronto Tuesday to help promote "The Art of the Steal," a new heist comedy that premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. And, thankfully, the 31-year-old Montreal resident is still as blunt and friendly as ever when talking to the press. Written and directed by Jonathan Sobol ("A Beginner's Guide to Endings"), "Steal" features an impressive cast including Baruchel, Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, underrated comedy chameleon Chris Diamantopoulos, Jason Jones ("The Daily Show"), Katheryn Winnick and...

Throughout his career, Kurt Russell has built up so much goodwill for me that I totally buy him as an aging motorcycle stunt driver turned master criminal in the first trailer for The Art of the Steal, which is set to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival next week. Russell decides to pull --- wait for it --- "one last job" after cracking up his bike, putting together a team that includes his half-brother, Matt Dillon, who is supposedly the "idea man." The cast also features Terence Stamp, Jay Baruchel, and Jason Jones (from The Daily Show With Jon Stewart). Jonathan Sobol (A Beginner's Guide to Endings) wrote and directed. Heist movies are a dime a dozen, and this one could easily be a...

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

Dimension Films has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the heist comedy The Black Marks, starring Kurt Russell. Russell has been fairly quiet since portraying Stuntman Mike in Death Proof, but probably couldn’t resist the offer to play someone by the name of “Crunch Calhoun”.

According to Deadline, The Black Marks was written by the film’s director, Jonathan Sobol (A Beginner's Guide to Endings), and co-stars Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel (She's Out of My League). Production is expected to begin later this month in Canada.

Dimension Films, the genre movie division of The Weinstein Company, has picked up the U.S. distribution rights to director Jonathan Sobol's (Everything is Connected) latest movie, The Black Marks. The comedy, which will star Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel, will go into production in Canada later this month. Nicholas Tabarrok, who produced Sobol's last movie, A Beginner's Guide to Endings, is producing for Darius Films, with Jeff Sackman (Sacrifice) executive producing.

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Link | Posted 1/5/2012 by BrentJS

Kurt Russell | Matt Dillon | Jay Baruchel | Jonathan Sobol...

Dimension Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the heist comedy 'The Black Marks' from Darius Films.

Kurt Russell plays Crunch Calhoun, a third rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief, who agrees to do one more lucrative art theft with his untrustworthy brother Nicky (Matt Dillon).

Crunch reassembles the old team and comes up with a plan to steal a priceless historical book, but the successful heist leads to a far riskier plan devised by Nicky. Jay Baruchel also stars.

Jonathan Sobol ("A Beginner's Guide to Endings") penned and will direct the feature which begins production this month. Nicholas Tabarrok is producing.

Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel are getting together for one last big score.

The three thespians are wasting no time getting the new year started as they're headed to the considerably colder climes of Canada for the heist comedy, "The Black Marks," according to The Playlist.

"The Black Marks" centers on Crunch Calhoun (Russell), a third-rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief who reassembles his old team and joins forces with his ne'er-do-well brother, Nicky (Dillon), in order to steal a priceless historical book. This leads to an even riskier heist devised by Nicky, and things will most likely go right down the toilet from there.

No word on what role Baruchel will be playing, but it's probably safe to assume that he's part of Russell's gang o' thieves. The film will be written and directed by Jonathan Sobol ("A Beginner's Guide to Endings").

"The Black Marks" sounds...

Dimension Films has acquired U.S. rights to the "The Black Marks" from Darius Films, which begins production this month. The film, written and directed by Jonathan Sobol ("A Beginner's Guide to Endings") stars Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel. Here's the synopsis, per Dimension: Crunch Calhoun (Russell), a third rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief, agrees to get back into the con game and pull off just one more lucrative art theft with his untrustworthy brother Nicky (Dillon). Crunch reassembles the old team and comes up with a plan to steal a priceless historical book, but the successful heist leads to another, far riskier, plan devised by Nicky. What the brothers don’t realize is they each have their own agenda and their plan goes awry in this con movie about brotherhood, honor and revenge. Darius Films principal Nicholas Tabarrok is producing the film with Jeff Sackman as executive producer.

Dimension Films announced that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the heist comedy The Black Marks from Darius Films starring Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel. The film is written and directed by Jonathan Sobol ( A Beginner's Guide to Endings ). The announcement was made today by Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company. Crunch Calhoun (Russell), a third rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief, agrees to get back into the con game and pull off just one more lucrative art theft with his untrustworthy brother Nicky (Dillon). Crunch reassembles the old team and comes up with a plan to steal a priceless historical book, but the successful heist leads to another, far riskier, plan devised by Nicky. What the brothers don.t realize is they...

0:00 - Intro / Jay's Trip 17:25 - Review: Fright Night 51:55 - Review: Conan the Barbarian 1:15:40 - Trailer Trash: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 1:20:35 - Other Stuff We Watched: Hot Coffee, Score: A Hockey Musical, A Beginner's Guide to Endings, Liberia 77, Trigger, Pontypool, Daydream Nation, Small Town Murder Songs, Major League, Crazy Stupid Love, Final Destination 5, Field of Dreams, Master Chef, Fright Night, Child's Play, Whatever Works, Billy Madison, Baseketball, Fright Night: Part II, Louie: Season 1 2:09:50 - Junk Mail: TF3, Pirates 4, Favourite Batman and West Memphis 3, Original Planet of the Apes Origin Story, Reversible DVD and Blu-ray Covers, Good Books on the Filmmaking Process, Amazon.com, Film Junk Action Figures 2:34:25 - This Week's DVD Releases 2:36:55 - Outro » Download the MP3 (73 Mb) » View the show notes » Vote for us on Podcast Alley! » Rate us on iTunes! Subscribe...

Here are the new MPAA ratings from Bulletin No: 2177.

The 5th Quarter: Special Edition Rated PG For thematic material, some language, medical images and brief smoking. Note: Edited Version. Content Is Different From PG-13 Rated Version, Bulletin No. 2153 (1/5/11). Assassination Games Rated R For strong brutal and bloody violence, torture, language and some sexuality/nudity. A Beginner's Guide To Endings Rated R For language including some sexual references. Benda Bilili! Rated PG-13 For some drug material. Breaking The Press Rated PG For brief teen partying, sensuality, some language and thematic material. Conan The Barbarian Rated R For strong bloody violence, some sexuality and nudity. Release Date: August 19, 2011 The Convincer Rated R For language, and brief violent and sexual content. Friends With Benefits Rated R For sexual content and language. Release Date: July 22, 2011 Good Day For It Rated R For some violence. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Rated...

iPOP has been up to its eyes in film festivals, meeting exciting new directors and running into some iconic stars along the way. Among the events iPOP has been covering: Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon appeared at the Toronto International Film Festival to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Thelma and Louise" and discuss its enormous impact. "A Beginner's Guide to Endings," the debut feature of director Jonathan Sobol, opened New ...

The U.S based Sales Agent and Production Co. company comes to Cannes with items for sale and surprisingly enough, they've got a Main Comp entry in Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive. We've got big eyes for a title Sierra/Affinity is repping in Oren Moverman's Rampart which I predict great things for, and Matt Piedmont directorial debut film which might confirm the genius I found in his Sundance winning short films. Here are some items in their upcoming slate. Casa De Mi Padre (House Of My Father) by Matt Piedmont - Post-Production Drive by Nicolas Winding Refn - Completed Shark Night 3D by David Ellis - Post-Production A Beginner's Guide To Endings by Jonathan Sobol - Completed Beastly by Daniel Barnz - Completed Catch .44 by Aaron Harvey - Completed Darling Companion by Lawrence Kasdan - Post-Production Man On The Train by Mary McGuckian - Completed Rampart by...

The trailer of Jonathan Sobol's A Beginner's Guide to Endings is already online. The film is currently being screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

According to the Tiff, here's the story:

Duke White (Harvey Keitel) hasn’t been an ideal father to his five boys. An inveterate gambler who never experienced a windfall he couldn’t blow within twenty-four hours, he has come to the end of his rope, literally. Years ago, he signed up his three eldest sons for unsafe drug tests that turned out to have dire consequences: the boys’ life expectancy have been substantially reduced. Upon receiving the news after their father’s funeral, the sons return to their family home in Niagara Falls, where they respond to their eminent demises in different yet equally hilarious ways.

Womanizing Cal (Scott Caan) is determined to hook up with Miranda (Tricia Helfer), the one girl who got away.

Toronto -- Look for American talent to light up Canadian acquisition titles at the Toronto International Film Festival next month.

As Canadian indie movies increasingly cast Hollywood stars as boxoffice draws, Toronto organizers on Tuesday unveiled a Canuck movie lineup dominated by imported stars performing alongside local talent.

Toronto booked a gala slot at Roy Thomson Hall for Jonathan Sobol's "A Beginners Guide to Endings," which stars Harvey Keitel, Scott Caan and Wendy Crewson, and a world premiere for Jacob Tierney's "Good Neighbours," a Montreal-set thriller that stars Scott Speedman, Emily Hampshire and Jay Baruchel.

U.S. and other foreign talent figures in the mix for "A Night for Dying Tigers," the Terry Miles drama starring Jennifer Beals and Gil Bellows, while another Canuck drama, Ed Gass-Donnelly's "Small Town Murder Songs," is top-lined by Swedish actor Peter Stormare, Jill Hennessy ("Law and Order"), Aaron Poole and Martha Plimpton.

By Wrap Staff

Sierra Pictures has acquired the international sales rights to Darius Films’ "A Beginner's Guide to Endings," the studio announced on Wednesday. The comedy will star Harvey Keitel, Jk Simmons, Scott Caan, and Jason Jones. Jonathan Sobol who wrote the script will also direct.

Filming is expected to be completed by this summer with a targeted premier at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2010. Sierra will begin selling distribution rights to comedy in Cannes in May.

In the movie, following the untimely death o...

Because we can't possibly cover all the cool movie news out there, we've created "News, Schmews, Etc.", some quick links to movie news around the web we hope you'll enjoy. Pictures are clickable. Because you asked for it, a Little Miss Sunshine musical is on its way Tim Burton goth spread in "Harper's Bazaar" is everything you probably thought it'd be Smoking hot cylon Tricia Helfer joins dramedy A Beginner's Guide To Endings What's...