Well it appears as though today was one hell of a news day if you are in the business of setting release dates, particularly if your name is either Magnolia Films, or Sony Pictures Classics.

First, SPC has had a busy day today, with announcing release dates for films from Zhang Yimou, Woody Allen, Stephen Frears, and more.

According to The Playlist, Zhang Yimou’s neo-remake of Joel and Ethan Coen’s BLOOD SIMPLE, one of my all-time favorite films, and one of the best films that you most likely haven’t seen, entitled A WOMAN, A GUN AND A NOODLE SHOP will open on September 3^rd. For those who know much about the original and how crazy Yimou’s films can be, the idea that the film reportedly features a rap written by the filmmaker, this should scream must see. This allegedly plays starkly more comedic than the original classic piece of noir, so I’m far more interested in this than most remakes.

Next, the company has set September 22^nd for Woody Allen’s YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER.  The film got middling reviews coming out of Cannes, and yet both Allen and the cast (including Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, and Freida Pinto) have me quite excited no matter what the reviews have been.

Later in the year, on October 8^th, SPC will release TAMARA DREWE, Stephen Frears’ adaptation of the hit graphic novel. The film stars the wonderful and absolutely stunning Gemma Arterton, and with a director like Frears behind the film, this is one that I will definitely not be missing.  t got really solid reviews out of Cannes, so hopefully this one lives up to the hype.

Finally, the company will finish off the year releasing the Nigel Cole film MADE IN DAGENHAM, Sylvain Chomet’s Jacques Tati inspired animated film THE ILLUSIONIST, and Mike Leigh’s Cannes star, ANOTHER YEAR on November 19, Christmas Day, and December 29 respectively. All three are films that I really just cannot wait to lay my eyes on, so these dates can’t get here soon enough.

In other release date news, Magnolia Pictures has picked up the SXSW premiere film, BARRY MUNDAY, and will release the film on VOD on August 27, with a theatrical release coming on October 1. The film stars Patrick Wilson and Cybill Shepard and follows a playboy who loses his testicles after a fight with the father of one of his recent lovers. Sounds interesting. Yeah, that’s an understatement.