'Savages' Moves To Summer Release, Opening Dates For 'Trouble With The Curve', 'The FP', 'Bullhead', 'Chico & Rita'

Good news for those eager to find out exactly why Benicio del Toro is picking on Blake Lively in that first image from Savages: Universal has just shifted the opening date for Oliver Stone's latest from September 28 to July 6. Savages is the only film currently scheduled to go up against Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man, which hits three days before on Tuesday, July 3. It's a bold move on the studio's part, but it may also be a smart one — Savages could be ideal counter-programming to the comedies, actioners, and superhero flicks due out around the same time this summer.

Based on a book by Don Winslow, Savages stars Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson as a pair of small-time pot dealers who get roped into working for a Mexican cartel that kidnaps their shared girlfriend (Lively). The impressive cast also includes Uma Thurman, Salma Hayek, John Travolta, Demián Bichir, and Emile Hirsch.

After the jump, new release dates for Clint Eastwood's Trouble With the Curve, Drafthouse Films' The FP, and lesser known Oscar nominees Bullhead (also from Drafthouse Films) and Chico & Rita.

Also recently announced were opening dates for two indies from Drafthouse Films, the newish distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse. February 17 marks the debut of Michael R. Roskam's Bullhead in select New York, Los Angeles, and Austin theaters. Recently named as one of the nominees for the Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar, the Belgian crime drama centers around a cattle farmer (Matthias Schoenaerts) who's forced to faced his own demons when an investigating federal agent is murdered and a woman from his past reenters his life. Here's Germain's Fantastic Fest review.

One month later, on March 16, we'll be seeing the limited theatrical opening of The FP, which earned tons of buzz at last year's SXSW. (See the trailer here.) Set in a retrofuturistic, post-apocalyptic universe in which rival gangs turn to video game dance fighting (think Dance Dance Revolution) to settle their scores, the plot follows... well, here's the synopsis:

After hometown hero BTRO (Brandon Barrera) is slain on the dance platform by trash-talking thug leader L Dubba E, his protégé little brother JTRO (Jason Trost) vows never to duel again and vanishes into self-imposed isolation. A year later, he's located by distressed former gang-mate KC/DC (CRANK 2's Art Hsu) and learns of the desperate state of The FP. Not only is the neighborhood in pieces; the villainous L Dubba E has his claws on Stacey (Caitlyn Folley), JTRO's ultimate crush. There's no other choice; our hero must return to restore order and regain the pride of his hometown. KC/ DC enlists guru BLT (Nick Principe) to school JTRO in the sacred art of ancient "Beat-Beat" technique via rigorous training sequences. Eventually, JTRO defeats enough low-ranking challengers to earn his cage match with Dubba E, and hopefully win back The FP along with the heart of Stacey. THE FP is a fury of fancy footwork, triumphant montages, and neon street wear that Moviefone calls "a rare ready-made cult hit!"

Got that? Good.

Finally, let's close with the release date that's actually coming up the soonest — but only for some folks. New Yorkers will get their chance to see Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal's Best Animated Film nominee Chico & Rita next Friday, February 10, when the picture hits Manhattan's Angelika Film Center. The rest of the U.S. will be able to catch the film as it expands nationally throughout February, March, and April, but specific times and dates have not been announced at this time.

Featuring music by Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Cole Porter, Tito Puente, Chano Pozo, Bebo Valdés, and more, the picture centers around an ambitious young piano player in '40s Cuba who develops a relationship with a talented and beautiful singer.