It’s Wednesday, so apparently that means that every film studio and their mother has decided to unleash some first looks of their hugely anticipated projects, coinciding  with the much talked about marketplace at this year’s Cannes Film Festival comes a-calling.

First up, we have our first look at the upcoming comedy-drama THE LONGEST WEEK starring Jason Bateman, Billy Crudup and Olivia Wilde. The debut film from Peter Glanz, best known for the AMC web show The Trivial Pursuits Of Arthur Banks, WEEK has an impeccable cast, and given these photos, it appears to be one hell of a debut for the TV A-lister. Hit the jump for the synopsis, photos, and our first looks at films starring James Franco and Shia LaBeouf.

When Conrad’s (Bateman) wealthy parents took a 20 year vacation to Paris, they left him to be raised by their hotel staff at the age of 11. Now in his early 30’s, Conrad’s troubled life is filled with chasing girls, relaxing, and enjoying all the comforts of a prestigious hotel. However, all that changes when his parents divorce, ending his trust fund and forcing him out on the street. After some advice and 200 dollars from his therapist, hilarity ensues as Conrad begins his new life. Broke, homeless, and single, Conrad moves in with an old friend, Dylan (Crudup), while trying to sort his life together. Conrad finally meets the girl of his dreams, Beatrice (Wilde) and realizes this is the girl to turn his life around; although he soon discovers she is actually Dylan’s girlfriend! Will he be able to keep his friendship with Conrad and still win over the love his life, or does everything come crashing down as he is in way over his head?

Next is the newest film starring the ever-prolific James Franco, MALADIES. Also starring the team of Catherine Keener, David Strathairn, Alan Cumming and Fallon Goodson, the film is directed by Franco’s right hand man, Carter (he only goes by the one name), and is considered his follow-up to his work on General Hospital. I’m kidding you not. Just read the premise:

MALADIES follows three people struggling to coexist together in a little house in a beach town, separated and bonded by their mental illnesses from the rest of the world. Franco plays a former actor whose schizophrenia forces him to leave his craft and remain only a shell of his former self. Keener supports his the cross-dressing best friend whose struggle with her own gender identity precludes her from keeping the group together, and Goodson rounds out the trio as Franco’s sister whose mental detachment exacerbates the tensions already prevalent in the house.

Finally, there is director Frederik Bond's THE NECESSARY DEATH OF CHARLIE COUNTRYMAN with Shia LaBeouf,   following the titular young man who falls for a girl “who will probably get him killed."

When Charlie meets the absolutely irresistible Gabi she’s already been claimed by Nigel, an insanely violent crime boss with a gang of thugs at his disposal. Armed with little more than his wit and naïve charm, Charlie endures one bruising beat down after another to woo Gabi and keep her out of harm’s way. Finally his exploits of blind valor create such a mess that he’s left with only one way out; to save the girl of his dreams, must Charlie Countryman die?

Think BRICK, but probably less inventive. Honestly, all joking aside, the film sounds really pulpy and fun, and the photo looks really solid. Overall, I can’t wait to check this one out, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for it when it hits next year.

Source Voltage / Voltage / Voltage